News

Gardaí in Ennis are investigating a suspicious fire which caused extensive damage to a house in the town on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred at around 3pm at the property at Gordon Drive in the Cloughleigh area of Ennis. Two units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service responded to a report of a domestic fire at the address. Several Garda units including members of the detective branch also responded to the multiple calls made to the emergency services. On arrival at the scene, fire crews found that that front door and sitting room window were both ‘well alight’. Fire crews set about tackling the blaze and quickly established there was no in the house at the time. It’s believed the house was targeted with petrol bombs which destroyed both the front door and window and caused fire damage inside. Parts of the house not directly affected by the blaze suffered smoke damage. An adjacent property was also affected by …

PLANNING permission has been granted for the construction of an air cargo hub and logistics/distribution facility at Shannon Airport. According to the planning application the facility would be 2705m2 in size, with an office area of 335m2. Shannon Group has held talks with Amazon about it opening a base at the airport, but it’s still unclear as to whether it has been lined up to use this facility. Regarding its location, the planner’s report on the application said, “The proposed 1.718 hectare greenfield site is located at Rineanna South, within the Shannon Airport lands. “It is north of the Shannon Estuary and south west of Shannon Town. The proposal would be accessed off the N19 and backs onto the airport runway. “The site is currently occupied by a manicured green area. There are large industrial buildings to the west of the proposal site, the runway to the north, the N19 to the south and more green area to the west. …

THE Shannon unit of the Order of Malta is marking 50 years of operations this year and is looking to get a premises of its own. At the March meeting of Shannon Municipal District, Councillor Donna McGettigan put forward a motion asking that the Council help the unit to acquire a place of its own. In a written response to her motion, Senior Executive Officer Jason Murphy said, “The team in Shannon MD recognises the valuable contribution the Order of Malta has made to the town and surrounding areas over the last 50years. “Shannon MD will work with the local group and explore available avenues to assist them in identifying suitable space.” Councillor McGettigan also proposed that a civic reception be afforded to the group. Lieutenant Eavan Dempsey is the officer in charge of the Shannon unit of the Order of Malta and she said it would be great if it finally had its own premises. “We don’t have anywhere …

AN Ennis home carer has been honoured for her work in the Limerick community. Omotola Ifebajo was honoured at a special ceremony at Comfort Keepers’ office in Limerick as a finalist for the Comfort Keepers Carer of the Year 2021 award. Following the judges’ selection based on set criteria and including online voting, Omotola was chosen as one of twelve finalists in the running for the prestigious accolade of Comfort Keepers Carer of the Year 2021.  Originally from Nigeria, Omotola who lives in Ennis is a mother of four children and has been a carer for Comfort Keepers for over five years. She became a carer after taking care of her own mum, an experience that showed her how vulnerable the elderly can be and the difference home support can make to their lives.  According to the nominations from co-workers and clients, Omotola is amazing at her job. She is caring and very reliable. She has so much patience and kindness and is a lovely easy …

CHEQUES for €11,773.91 were presented to both Cahercalla and Milford Care Centre recently, the result of fundraising at Element Six. Each year the company along with its staff members choose a charity to support for the coming 12 months. As 2020 approached the company had received many nominations for two charities, Cahercalla Hospice and Mildford. Throughout the course of that year it did hold some events, but given the pandemic it was extremely difficult to raise any substantial sum of money. However there were still fundraising events such as a 6km walk, a coffee morning, an ice cream day and walk in the 12 O’Clock Hills. As the pandemic prevailed, workers in Milford and Cahercalla battled Covid-19, trying their best to protect nursing home residents and patients. The front line workers went far beyond the call of duty to keep them safe, while also providing love, reassurance, company and care. They kept families in regular contact through window visits, video …

INCREASED supports including translators must be put in place for Clare’s Ukrainian school population “as a matter of priority”. That’s according to Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe who outlines that hundreds of displaced Ukrainians have taken up residence in the county, with more expected. Voluntary groups and donations from members of the public have been hugely forthcoming, but more help is needed, he says. “Over the past fortnight, I have visited most of the accommodation centres that are being used to house Ukrainian refugees in the county,” said Deputy Crowe. “These people have come from very harrowing situations and are hugely appreciative of the warm welcome they’ve received from the people of Clare. “It’s incredible to think that, on Census night 2022, 1.5% of Clare’s population – ordinarily 118,000 – are now Ukrainian nationals. “In 100 years’ time, when people look back and study this period of our history, this will tell a lot about who we are …

PATIENTS shouldn’t feel the need to request politicians to assist them with medical card applications, according to a local health campaigner. John Wall, a terminally ill prostate cancer patient campaigning for people with a terminal diagnosis to have improved access to medical cards, is working to make it easier for people to access medical cards as part of his role on a new government committee. Mr Wall is a patient advocate on Communications and Information Working Group on Medical Cards, which also includes representatives from the Irish Cancer Society, Irish Hospice Foundation, Age Action Ireland and Citizen’s Information. The Quin resident believes it is vital that clear information is provided to applicants on how to access medical cards. “I am not looking from this group to change the rules that are in place. I am trying to use the rules that are in place to allow people to access services that are in place using medical cards.” Following a meeting …

THE Ennis Primary Healthcare Centre on Station Road will be fully operational before September the Minister for Health has stated. In response to a Dáil question from Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that HSE Estates has advised that the centre is scheduled to become operational during the third quarter of the year. “The opening of the Station Road centre will be a significant development in the delivery of community-based health services for the people of Ennis and the surrounding area,” Minister Donnelly explained. As well as providing a full range of GP, nursing, therapy and dental services, the centre will also offer specialist nurse led clinics for the treatment of leg ulcers, as well as access to community diagnostics. The minister outlined, “The staff based in Station Road will form part of the new Community Healthcare Network for the area which will help us to develop more integrated care based on the needs of …