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A FREE, interactive online maths resource for students and teachers in Ireland, which includes an option for live one-to-one tutorials, has been launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The online maths lessons have been developed by Galway company, ALISON, a global leader in free online learning, in partnership with the award-winning tutoring company Maths Doctor from Macmillan Science & Education. The lessons, which are delivered by experienced maths tutors, are aligned with the Irish Leaving Certificate Project Maths Syllabus, for both Higher and Ordinary levels. To access the video lectures, students simply register and log on to the ALISON site. They then choose a maths topic of interest to them from the course and can also link in with a maths tutor who is available to take them through syllabus lessons. “Ireland is very much to the fore of online learning and resources such as those developed by ALISON and Macmillan have a significant role to play in maintaining our position …

FUNDING of almost €96,000 for a tourism signage plan for the Burren has been announced this Monday  by the Minister for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring. The project includes key elements to help visitors navigate the Wild Atlantic Way through the Burren including: A scheme of directional signage for visitor attractions; Signage for the Black Head Coast Road; Amendments to the tourism directional signage on the N67 route from Kinvara to Lisdoonvarna via Ballyvaughan; Distinctive village and town name boards; Village information boards. “The Burren Signage Plan is a great example of how a signage scheme for a wider destination can be integrated into the Wild Atlantic Way, encouraging visitors to explore the wider destination,” the minister said.  

THE response of the local communities in assisting their neighbours in need, as well as those in public services who have been working to deal with the aftermath of recent storms, was lauded by Tanáiste Eamon Gilmore at the 25th annual tourism conference in Ennistymon over the weekend. “This Government has responded to the severe weather damage, making €70m available for a pprogramme of repair and remediation works in the areas affected. This is in addition to the €25m announced for the Department of Social Protection’s Humanitarian Assistance Schemes. We are currently awaiting an assessment from local authorities of what is required to deal with damage from the latest storms to hit these shores. “As well as dealing with the consequences of the recent weather, the OPW are looking at what is required for the future in the way of additional coastal defences; flood protection works and a national flood warning system. They will be reporting back to Government on …

A REQUEST made to members of the national GAA referees panel to highlight an awareness of cancer Clare referee Rory Hickey had his head shaved at the Éire Óg clubhouse. “Back in the autumn, the members of the national referees group were asked to do something to heighten an awareness of cancer. Some of the lads participated in a fundraiser in November and others are doing their project now,” the Ennis man told The Clare Champion. “In conjunction with Micheál Malone from D Barber shop in Francis Street, we decided to participate in a shave and dye project,” explained the Éire Óg GAA clubman, who had his head dyed on Monday last. At Thursday’s event, Rory and Micheál completed the project. “Unfortunately, everyone we speak to has a cancer-related story. Even in our own club, we have had some cancer-related losses over the years,” said Rory, adding that he lost an uncle to cancer in the not too distant past. …

By Dan Danaher A RANDOM meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny blossomed into a great working relationship with one of the co-founders of an innovative award-winning tree mapping company, who has strong links with Killaloe. Enda Keane, who was educated in Killaloe, met Mr Kenny by chance at Merrion Square, Dublin back in December 2011 and they spent about 30 minutes talking about his business, Treemetrics, which has won and been nominated for numerous national and international awards. Born in Cork, Enda and his family moved to Killaloe when he was nine.His father, Paddy was a wildlife officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service so it was no great surprise when Enda followed in his footsteps by studying forestry in UCG and UCD. In addition to delivering an address at an official function at Treemetrics’ headquarters in Cork two years ago, the Taoiseach also gave the company a huge boost to their international profile by citing them as one of …

By Owen Ryan SHANNON Airport’s recovery has progressed much more quickly than he expected when he moved to separate it from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has acknowledged. On a visit to the airport, he said the fact that Shannon had moved into profit in 2013 (it was understood to be losing well over €100,000 a week in 2012) had surprised him. “To be brutally honest, as minister I really didn’t think the airport would manage that in year one. I thought it would have taken maybe three years for that to be done, so that’s one of the areas where we’re ahead of schedule really. It does mean that the airport is in a stronger position now to invest and to do things like build new hangars. Obviously, if you’re making losses you’re eating into your reserves and it’s harder to borrow. If you’re turning a profit, it’s much easier.” Mr Varadkar met with Shannon …

THE month of January saw a huge amount of rainfall at Shannon, Met Éireann figures show. While the amount of rainfall was above average everywhere, at few weather stations was it as extreme as Shannon, where it was 72% above average. Temperatures were very much in line with what is to be expected, while the amount of sunshine was slightly above normal.

THE storm on Wednesday, February 12 was among the worst to hit Ireland since records began. Wind speeds hit up to 170kph, causing severe damage to forests. The worst affected area was the south of Ireland and the damage has been increased further by heavy rain and constant storms experienced by the country since December. Damage caused by wind is called wind-blow. Early reports suggest that wind-blow damage has occurred in recently thinned plantations and plantations older than 15 years. What should you do if your forest has been affected by wind-blow? If you own a forest that has been thinned or is older than 15 years, you should do the following: · Contact your local FEL forester for advice and a free site visit. Freephone 1800 719399; · FEL will carry out an assessment of the damage and provide advice as to what to do next; · If your forest is insured against wind-blow, FEL can assist you with …