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Clare’s total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has jumped by 37 today with a total of 360 cases now having been confirmed here. It is understood that the vast majority of those 37 cases came from 35 of those which were denotified from neighbouring Limerick. There have now been a total 1,650 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Sunday, 31 May, the HPSC has been notified of 77 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 25,062 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Saturday 30 May (24,985 cases), reveals: · 57% are female and 43% are male · The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years · 3,286 cases (13%) have been hospitalised · Of those hospitalised, 408 cases have been admitted …

A BALLYVAUGHAN-based GP is one of the researchers involved in a survey, which aims to establish whether a new Irish contact tracing application will help in the fight against Covid-19. Professor Liam Glynn and Dr Michael O’Callaghan are two of the researchers from the University of Limerick and National University of Ireland Galway, who are involved in an online survey that concluded on Friday. Professor Glynn stressed contract tracing doesn’t remove the need for everyone to continue hand washing, hygiene and continue social distancing. Until a vaccine is developed or effective anti-viral treatments, Professor Glynn said the key to containing the virus is to try and isolate confirmed cases as quickly as possible with rapid contract tracing. The two doctors are doing this independently and haven’t been commissioned by the HSE to carry out this research. Professor Glynn stressed contract tracing software will only be effective if more than half the population agree to use it. “We are delighted with …

IN 2009 Brian Hogan suffered severe brain damage after an unprovoked attack left him blind and partially paralysed. However, he hasn’t let that stop him. Brian who lives in Acquired Brain Injury’s (ABI) residential service in Clarecastle has gone from needing to use a wheelchair to taking on a mammoth walkathon challenge. Brian has vowed to walk the equivalent of 20 laps of Thomond Park, and just last weekend he surpassed his fundraising target of €10,000 for ABI, with donations still coming in. He will be taking on his final lap in style early next month, walking around the famous Thomond Park rugby pitch. Speaking about the fundraiser, Brian explains, “My fitness levels prior to my assault in 2009 were excellent as I attended the gym four times a week. I swam, ran and cycled. I was a non-smoker and in excellent health. As a result of my Acquired Brain Injury I suffered a right-side hematoma causing left sided weakness. …

TWO crafty Whitegate ladies are putting their skills to good use by producing a range of handmade fabric face masks, and raising funds for Raheen Community Hospital in the process. Mum and daughter Geraldine and Aoife Burke, who have both studied textile design, have made over 150 masks to-date and the items, which are machine washable and have a slot for filters, are available in local shops. Once the road map for reopening Ireland was announced, and guidance provided recommending the wearing of face coverings in settings like shops and public transport, Geraldine and Aoife drew on their design and crafting skills and began to get creative. Raheen Community Hospital is a facility that is close to the hearts of everyone in East Clare and for the Burkes, it is particularly special. “My father-in-law, Billy Burke, was in Raheen for nine years,” Geraldine explained. “He was a wonderful man, with a larger than life personality. The care he received at …

AN ENNIS doctor has been appointed to a new paediatric cardiology service at UHL which is expected to improve patient access and reduce anxiety for families in the Mid West. Limerick has been designated an Area Children’s Cardiac Centre under the All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network. The regional service has now commenced through the appointment of Ennis woman Dr Rachel Power as consultant paediatrician with a specialist interest in paediatric cardiology. Nurse specialist Georgina Purcell has also been appointed to support this significant service development. The All-Island Congenital Heart Disease All Island Network was established in March 2015 and is the first clinical network of its kind delivering world-class specialist care irrespective of borders or politics. The network manages an all-island service delivery model for congenital heart disease in children, building on existing services and drawing them together in a network of care which is patient focused and locally responsive. The establishment of Area Children’s Cardiac Centres, as part of …

A historic amenity area in Killaloe has received a major facelift thanks to the work of a new group of volunteers. Armed with a wide array of landscaping equipment, 17 volunteers completed a major clean up of Tobermurragh Well and the adjoining recreational area recently. Tobermurragh near the Pier Head, is named after Brian Boru’s great grandson who was baptised at this well. However, it is not a holy well and previously supplied the town with water before a piped water scheme came into operation. At the end of the nineteenth century the well was enclosed by a red-brick building. The concept of volunteers uniting to take on local projects has evolved out of the Covid-19 Community Response teams on both sides of the river. Eddie O’Gorman, who used to work in McKeogh’s hardware shop and has his own hardware business for a period, who has collected a wide selection of landscaping equipment such as hand tools, strimmers, blowers and …

Two more people have died in Ireland from Covid-19 with 66 new cases of the virus confirmed. There have now been a total 1,652 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. There is now a total of 24,990 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Friday 29 May (24,924 cases), reveals: · 57% are female and 43% are male · The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years · 3,283 cases (13%) have been hospitalised · Of those hospitalised, 408 cases have been admitted to ICU · 7,963 cases are associated with healthcare workers · Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,042 (48% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,477 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,416 cases (6%) · Of those for whom transmission status is …

THE Office of Public Works has insisted that plans to re-develop Knockanean National School will alleviate traffic problems outside of the school after concerns about the proposal were raised by the local authority. The Office of Public Works (OPW) submitted a planning application for the re-development of Knockanean National School earlier this year. The plans include the construction of eight new classrooms, with an existing four-classroom block retained and integrated into the new build. Clare County Council sought further information on the new plans, and according to the response the OPW have insisted that just renovating the existing school would not “help in any way in alleviating the traffic ad hoc parking on the main public road”. It points out that the school currently has 11 classrooms and the proposal will result in just one additional classroom. “By moving the location of the building back further in to the site it creates space at the front and in doing so …