Lifestyle

MID-West parents are to be supplied with “free baby boxes”, in addition to important literature, when they leave the University Maternity Hospital Limerick, it has been announced. The proposal, which is being introduced at no cost to the HSE, is now at a stage where all the necessary groundwork has been carried out and has been  launched  this Friday. Over the last two months, the University Maternity Hospital Limerick, led and co-ordinated by Dr Mendinaro (Naro) Incha, have been working on a project to distribute free baby boxes to the parents of all newborn babies. It is expected to be rolled out in the next few weeks. Among those involved in the project is Dr Emma Kearney of Ennis Family Medical Centre. She has contributed to the initiative by helping to prepare an online information resource, which will be given to all new parents, along with their baby box, before they leave the hospital. This type of project, which was introduced …

Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Ann Norton cut the tape today to officially open the new €1.75 million covered building for market traders in Ennis town centre. Councillor Norton completed the formalities in the presence of Clare County Council, CEO, Past Dowling; Mayor of Clare, Councillor Bill Chambers; President of Ennis Chamberof Commerce, Jean McCabe and street trader, Gobnait Kelly. The ceremony marked the completion of phase one of the redevelopment of the market at Garraunakilla, the site of the Farmers’ Market. Councillor Ann Norton said, “This very significant investment by Clare County Council in the heart of Ennis will enhance the market to standards expected in the modern age. It will provide traders with a quality and convenient location to promote their locally-sourced and produced goods. We will continue to enhance the facility over the coming months so that its use can be maximised for the town.” “In developing this project, Clare County Council, supported by the elected members, local …

PEOPLE who Google Scariff from now on could be directed to a galaxy far, far away as a planet with the same name is to feature in the eagerly-anticipated Star Wars: Rogue One film. Filming for the eighth instalment of the Star Wars franchise took place in West Clare in May. It took the county by storm and it seems Clare’s association with Star Wars is set to continue with this latest announcement. Director Gareth Edwards revealed that the upcoming Star Wars: Rogue One would feature the planet Scarif at the Star Wars Celebration event in London recently. He outlined it is based on a paradise world and that they had to go to a paradise to film it. Sadly, East Clare lost out in this regard, as filming was done in the Maldives. However, that is not to say that Scariff won’t benefit from this latest revelation, as locals believe it has firmly put the town on the galactic …

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) has voiced concerns regarding ongoing media reports in relation to issues people are experiencing accessing adequate home supports. The ASI is today calling for a definitive statement from the Health Service Executive as to the viability of rolling out all 500 promised Intensive Homecare Packages for people with dementia, promised under the National Dementia Strategy amid this climate of uncertainty.Currently, just some 133 packages have been delivered out of a promised 500. Head of advocacy and public affairs with ASI, Tina Leonard said,“We are hearing concerning reports from services around the country that people with dementia and their carers are finding it increasingly difficult to access home care supports. We would now call for a definitive statement and timeline from the HSE at this time as to whether there is indeed a freeze on the provision of these supports. “Continued cuts to home help and home care packages means people with dementia are being …

ORBIS Ireland will be teaming up with Lufthansa Technik to host the annual Plane Pull For Sight at Shannon Airport on September 10. All funds raised on the day will go directly towards Orbis’ sight-saving work in Southern Ethiopia, where it is working to eliminate preventable blindness and restore sight to rural villagers in the poorest regions of Ethiopia. The plane pull involves competing teams of 25 vying with each other to pull an aircraft 12ft in the shortest possible time. The fundraiser is suitable for corporate groups motivated to try something new while having fun, teams from the general public and families looking for a fun day out. Speaking after a previous event, Ann Marie Browne of AWAS said, “It really was a fantastic day. Everyone really enjoyed it and have been praising it to the rest of our colleagues today.” Orbis is the result of an alliance that has been forged between the medical and aviation industries. Back …

  SCIENTISTS studying animal behaviour have growing evidence that species ranging from mice to primates are governed by moral codes of conduct in the same way as humans. Until recently, humans were thought to be the only species to experience complex emotions and have a sense of morality. Professor Marc Bekoff, an ecologist at University of Colorado, Boulder, believes that morals are “hard-wired” into the brains of all mammals and provide the “social glue” that allow often aggressive and competitive animals to live together in groups. Wolves live in tight-knit social groups that are regulated by strict social rules. Wolves also demonstrate fairness. During play, mature wolves will “handicap” themselves by engaging in roll reversal with younger wolves, showing submission and allowing them to bite, provided it is not too hard. Prof Bekoff argues that without a moral code governing their actions, this kind of behaviour would not be possible. If an animal bites too hard, it will initiate a …

GALWAY-based traditional music teacher and singer Róisín Rodgers has always been inspired by the iconic traditional singers of our time, among them the late great Robbie McMahon. His passing has been felt throughout the traditional music community and the title of his traditional song, The Fleadh Down in Ennis, is being used as a slogan for this year’s All-Ireland Fleadh. Róisín took on the challenge of learning and singing this song, which is 10 verses long, and carries the history of the first All-Ireland Fleadh to be hosted by Ennis in 1956. It was one of two songs that earned her a first place finish in the Connacht Fleadh last year. Now the 25-year-old singer will be filmed by Fleadh TV singing the iconic song. Although she hails from Ballinruan, Róisín now lives in Galway, where she teaches music privately. “I started learning it out of love for the song. I entered the Connacht Fleadh and it was amazing what …

A huge number of people  are descending on Ennis  today (Thursday), ahead of the main competitive events that will determine who will take All-Ireland titles across 180 categories. The Fleadh Cheoil organising committee estimate in the region of 30,000 to 35,000 people attended the opening day events on Sunday, including 12,000 at the opening ceremony, the Boffin to Burren concert at Glór, the Tulla Céilí Band at Cois na hAbhna, the luminarium, aifreann traidisiúnta, the Gig Rig and evening pub sessions, as well as performers, volunteers, stage crews, security, TV crews and other service providers. This figure is expected to increase exponentially from today, with the influx of 6,000 competitors, their families and friends, as well as visitors and music and dancing enthusiasts. With this surge, gardaí are anticipating that opportunistic crime such as pickpocketing will occur and are advising the public to be mindful of this, particularly in large gatherings of people. Clare’s Garda Chief Superintendent John Kerin warned, “The real type …