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UP to 15,000 people marched in Ennis in November 2003 to oppose the proposed downgrading of Ennis Hospital, which was recommended in the controversial Hanly Report. Last Saturday, a paltry figure of about 70 people turned up to listen to members of the Mid-West Hospital Campaign present a case for the return of a fully functioning Accident and Emergency Department to Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals. A lot of public representatives also decided to stay away. The attendance included Deputy Cathal Crowe, Deputy Joe Carey, Senator Timmy Dooley, Councillor Mark Nestor and Councillor Donna McGettigan. Despite the poor turnout, one of the main organisers, Noeleen Moran, was satisfied with the attendance when questioned by the Clare Champion. “We are getting this campaign up and running after two years of lockdown. It is not an easy thing to encourage people to be in crowds after Covid-19 but we are satisfied with the turnout today. “We only spent two weeks advertising this protest. …

A 73-year-old west Clare farmer credits his fitness and his time in the boxing ring to surviving being caught up in a “raging bull fight” at Kilrush mart seven years ago. At Ennis Circuit Court, James Vincent Fitzpatrick told the court that but only for being “very fit” and his time in the boxing ring “I was a dead man”. He said: “I don’t think anyone else would have gotten out of it alive. Only for I am the type of the man who would not give in – you have to kill me before I die.” During his personal injury action against Clare Marts Limited And Clare Co-Operative Marts Limited, Mr Fitzpatrick broke down in the witness box as he recounted the bull fight at the loading area at Kilrush mart on October 7 2015 during which he sustained a ‘crush’ injury to his right leg. A farmer and a cattle hauler from Burrane, Killimer, Mr Fitzpatrick described how …

LOCAL retailers Joe Greensmith and Anne Keyes are inviting people to support the Tour de Mace static cycle in-store in order to raise funds for their charity partner, Down Syndrome Ireland. The event will take place on May 28 and 29 from 10am to 5pm at the store on the Lahinch Road. This store is one of many Mace outlets involved in running this rewarding charity event throughout summer 2022. The retailer is hosting a unique in-store static cycle event whereby customers can donate 15 minutes to 1 hour of their time to cycle and contribute much needed funds to Down Syndrome Ireland. Customers and staff can sign up beforehand by calling into the store to select their cycling time slot or else they can sign up on the day. They are encouraging customers who aren’t participating to come along and join in on the celebrations and donate funds towards Down Syndrome Ireland. Each Tour de MACE makes a real …

CLARE parents of children with Cystic Fibrosis have told of their fears for their childrens’ future if they cannot access a “miracle” drug at the centre of a dispute between the Health Service Executive and a pharmaceutical company. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland estimate that around 140 children aged six-years-old to 11-years-old are already are on the drug Kaftrio, but 35 children with a particular genotype are not as they are outside the 10-year Portfolio Agreement that was signed by the HSE and Vertex in 2017. Emma Fitzpatrick from Sixmilebridge is mother to eight-year-old James and says the drug would mean “everything” to their family, improving her son’s quality of life. She was “devastated” when she received a call from James’ consultant to say that he would not be getting the drug. “Literally you have your fingertips on this miracle – and it is a miracle to us. It is not a cure, but it’s the nearest we will ever get to …

PRESIDENT of Ireland Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina will visit Ennis this Saturday where they will pay tribute to all those behind the county capital’s success in being named Ireland’s Tidiest Town in 2021. The couple will attend a ceremony at President Higgins’ former secondary school of St Flannan’s College and during the visit he will unveil a plaque marking Ennis’ win in the national competition. Ennis Tidy Towns’ chairman Cormac McCarthy tells us that the local committee are “over the moon” to be hosting the president and his wife. He reveals that the ceremony will be particularly focused on the important role that the local community had in securing the win for Ennis. “It’s going to be a wonderful event and we have had great support in the organisation from St Flannan’s College, where the president went to secondary school, as well as getting logistical support from the Ennis Municipal District which is very appreciated.” Ennis Tidy …

CAR hire prices at Shannon Airport are six times more expensive than tourists arriving at Madrid will face, and more than twice as pricey as in London. On Wednesday afternoon, going through the Shannon website, the cheapest car rental for the sample period June 10-17 was €1106.87. For an SUV for the same period the cost was €1,991.97. In contrast, someone travelling to Madrid and hiring a vehicle for the same period would face equivalent prices of €158.02 for a small car or €258 for an SUV. At Heathrow the prices quoted were €512 and €767.82. Obviously the huge disparity in prices puts Ireland at a serious competitive disadvantage, and Lahinch hotelier Michael Vaughan said that it is damaging the country’s reputation as a place to visit. “People are feeling really badly about it and we’re getting a very bad image.” He said he recently spoke to one person from North America who was struggling to arrange transport for a …

THE Ryder Cup is set to bring a big economic boost to the Mid West in 2027, and homeowners in Clare may be able to make tens of thousands of euros through renting their houses to golf fans. The accomommodationfortheevent website is providing a platform for those seeking to rent their houses, and in a number of cases the sums being sought are eye watering. A sum of €17,000 is currently being sought for one four-bedroom house in the Bunratty/Cratloe area. While it’s a huge sum for what’s a short event, it is by no means exceptional, with several property owners looking for more than €40,000 and some up to €50,000. Not all of these are in particularly close proximity to Adare either, with one outside Listowel seeking €45,000. A sum of €28,000 is being sought for an apparently unremarkable three bedroom house in Limerick city. Brian Higgins of www.accommodationfortheevent.com said that many houses in Clare would be of interest …

AN announcement by the Minister of Health that the HPV vaccine is to be made available free of charge to all women under 25 has been welcomed by the family of the late Laura Brennan. Since Laura’s passing three years ago the Brennan family have fought tirelessly to increase awareness of, and access to, the life saving vaccine. The Brennans are now stepping away from the campaign with Laura’s father Larry saying, “As a family we feel that we have achieved what we set out to do.” Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has written to the HSE telling it to outline a vaccination programme for women, as well as a catch-up programme for girls and boys in secondary school who missed out for various reasons including the pandemic. In a message posted on social media confirming the move, Minister Donnelly paid tribute to Laura, who died from cervical cancer in 2019, and the Brennan family. “Our goal it to eradicate …