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SINN Féin continued its campaign for an Irish National Health Service with a series of engagements today (Tuesday) in County Clare, concluding with a public meeting ‘Save our Health Service’ at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. The party’s health spokesperson Deputy Louise O’Reilly said, “For the last number of weeks, we have taken our campaign for an Irish National Health Service on the road and have already visited Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Westmeath, Cork and Limerick.” She said they had a series of meetings in Ennis, including with the INMO, Clare Crusaders, Shandoc campaigners, SIPTU disability workers and other individuals. “Sinn Féin is campaigning for an Irish National Health Service and an end to the chaos in our hospitals. We want to hear from as broad a range of voices as possible,” she concluded

Gardaí in Ennistymon are appealing for witnesses following a break-in to the local parish church on Easter Sunday night/Easter Monday morning. The break-in was discovered at 10am on Monday morning. A number of doors were damaged and an undisclosed sum of money was stolen from the Trocáire and Easter collections, which were in a safe in the sacristy. This the second second break-in to a church in Clare in just over a week, but Inspector Paul Slattery of Kilrush Garda Station said he he doesn’t believe the incidents are connected. Help in solving both crimes can be directed to gardaí in Ennistymon on 065 707 2180.

CHOCOLATE is made with cocoa beans, and cocoa beans contain methylxanthine alkaloids in the form of theobromine and caffeinea, which are toxic to dogs. Chocolate can also contain high amounts of fat, which can put your dog’s health in jeopardy as well. How much is too much? Different dogs react differently to the methylxanthines and reactions can vary according to the age, size and overall health of the dog. The smaller the dog, the smaller the dose needed to produce an effect. If your dog’s health is already weakened by other medical conditions, they are more susceptible. The same holds for older dogs. Theobromine is present in differing amounts in chocolate: white chocolate has 1mg/oz, hot chocolate 12 mg/oz, milk chocolate 44-66mg/oz, semi-sweet chocolate 260mg/oz, dark chocolate 450mg/oz, while baking/bitter chocolate or cocoa powder varies as much as 150-600 mg/oz. A potentially lethal dose in a 16-pound dog is only one pound of milk chocolate. Only two ounces of baking …

THE Trump family’s relationship with the American media, particularly CNN and the New York Times could not be described as convivial. However, speaking to The Clare Champion in Doonbeg this week, Eric Trump has expressed particular distaste for how elements of the American media have written or spoken about his brother Barron, who turned 11 last month. “There was an unspoken rule for years that you do not attack the (young) children of the President of the United States. They have nothing to do with the administration. They didn’t have any part in being put in that role. They are very willing to attack him and I find that awful. They are willing to attack (sister) Tiffany as well. If they attack me the difference is I was out on the campaign trail, side by side with him for 18 months. I put myself in the cross fire so tee off on me but it’s sad when they do it …

SHOULD Trump International in Doonbeg be successful in obtaining planning permission from Clare County Council to build revised coastal projection works on Doughmore beach, next to the resort, the owners will implement a €30 million investment programme. Eric Trump, who runs the Trump organisation with his brother Donald Junior, spoke at length about his plans to The Clare Champion on Tuesday evening. He was on a two-day visit to West Clare. While he offered views on issues ranging from US President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb an air base in Syria to a possible hard post-Brexit border, the 33-year-old was keen to stress his personal commitment to the Doonbeg resort. “It’s tens of millions. Easily €30m, when everything is said and done,” he confirmed when asked about potential investment plans, pending the planning application. “We have a massive plan for an unbelievable ballroom here, which will create hundreds of construction jobs, as well as full-time jobs. We have plans to …

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross has today (Wednesday) announced the commencement of the drug driving provisions in the Road Traffic Act 2016. One of the key measures in the legislation provides for preliminary drug testing, which will enable gardaí to test motorists whom they suspect of driving under the influence of drugs at the roadside. The new garda powers mean gardaí can now establish roadside checkpoints, mandatory impairment checkpoints (MIT), to test drivers for the presence of both alcohol and drugs. The new drug testing devices (Dräger DrugTest 5000) involve testing a sample of a driver’s saliva for the presence of cannabis, cocaine, opiates (e.g. heroin, morphine) and benzodiazepines (e.g. valium). The new devices will also be available in Garda stations. The MBRS has found that of the 3,020 specimens of blood and urine that it received in 2016, 24% confirmed positive for drugs other than alcohol. Of these, 91% were specimens from male drivers, most …

Bunratty-based businessman Maurice Walsh has been appointed Chair of Clare Tourism, the group responsible for the tourism marketing and promotion of County Clare. Mr. Walsh, who is General Manager of Durty Nelly’s, assumes the role held by Ennis hotelier Paul Madden since 2015. In his opening address to the Clare Tourism Steering Group, comprising tourism representatives from each of the five geographical areas of County Clare, Mr. Walsh said he is committed to exploring “new and innovative ways or promoting Clare as one of Ireland’s top visitor destinations.” “Through www.clare.ie, the hosting of networking events and our presence at trade shows in Ireland and overseas, Clare Tourism members are committed to promoting and marketing the county through different avenues to continue to keep Clare at the top of the destinations list in the country. We are also committed to increasing the overall number of bed nights and the average spend of day-trippers to our many visitor attractions,” he said. Mr. …

Aldi has announced that a new store will open on Thursday, April 20 in Ennistymon. With a shop floor spanning 1,140 m² and 80 free car parking spaces, the new store will be Aldi’s third in County Clare, the others located at Francis Street in Ennis and Ennis Road, Kilrush. In the last five years Aldi has recruited over 70 new Irish suppliers, meaning Aldi now partners with more than 175 Irish producers. Over 50% of Aldi’s supplier spend is now with Irish suppliers, producers and manufacturers.