News

PLASTICS found in fish are entering the human food chain, research supported by a Mountshannon academic has confirmed. Dr Alvin Orbaek White, who works at Swansea University, has just released the findings of a project he supported in Barcelona, which involved a boat-builder and marine biologist catching and examining fish for the presence of plastics. The work was inspired by an idea from artist and boat builder, Mark Redden, with laboratory experiments and scuba diving instructions from marine biologist, Charlie Gaborit. With an estimated 51 trillion micro plastic pieces in the sea, the team of young entrepreneurs and scientists went out in a traditional currach as part of a short scale experiment looking at how micro plastics affect fish stocks and can then enter the human food chain. The work was sponsored by Dr Orbaek White’s start-up TrimTabs. The team’s work was project managed and filmed by Clément Esso and a video, just released, graphically illustrates the plastics problem. “For …

SIGNIFICANT progress has been made bringing Cahercalla Community Hospital and Hospice into compliance with national regulations, according to a report produced by an independent watchdog. An inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) of the Ennis long-stay residential facility last September found non-compliance across multiple regulations. A meeting was held with the registered provider and representatives following the previous inspection as an escalation. On this inspection, inspectors followed up on the last inspection findings and found that significant progress had been made to bring the centre into compliance with the requirements of the regulations. The governance and management structures had been strengthened and were now in line with the centre’s statement of purpose and function. In addition, the provider has increased the monitoring and auditing of the service, which lead to improved oversight of the service provided to the residents. However, inspectors found one area relating to the availability of staff in the direct provision of care had …

A group of Ireland’s leading media organisations have come together to form an unprecedented coalition, and today launch a public fundraising campaign, ‘Ireland for Ukraine’. The campaign aims to raise vital funds for those affected by the conflict, as well as those who have been displaced. The campaign is inspired by the incredible level of public support from Ireland for Ukraine to date. The initiative will feature across local and national radio, television, print and online media, with all proceeds received by registered charity The Community Foundation for Ireland, who have 22 years’ experience in philanthropy and grant making. Fifty per cent of the funds collected will be distributed to the Irish Red Cross, Concern, UNICEF and Trocaire. The other 50% will be pooled into a fund for grant aid applications available to Irish organisations and local groups assisting the anticipated 200,000 incoming people who have been forced to flee Ukraine and are seeking the safety of our communities in Ireland. Donations …

SOME of the town’s issues with flooding could be alleviated if the County Council cleaned out the local storm water infrastructure a councillor has claimed. Councillor Gerry Flynn put forward a motion at the Shannon Municipal District’s March meeting asking that the Council clean out all the storm water infrastructure in the town. He claimed a lack of necessary maintenance is causing a lot of flooding issues throughout Shannon and deemed the current Council policy to be “reactionary”. “I believe a more proactive approach is necessary to improve this facility as a lot of necessary gullies and silt channels are restricted and are less effective due to the lack of regular maintenance.” A written response from Senior Executive Engineer Tom Mellett claimed that doing the work suggested is already a priority and that a lot has been done. “Recent weather events have highlighted what is an ongoing concern for this office. “In relation to drainage works the Shannon Municipal District …

A PLANNING decision on a proposed €20 million development by Lidl Ireland in Ennis has been put on hold with further information being sought from the developers. Clare County Council raised a number of concerns about the proposed development including its potential “adverse impact” on the town centre. The further information request means the decision process will be paused until a response is received within six months. Lidl is seeking planning permission for the development of a new store and mixed-use development at the junction of the Clare Road (R458) and Toberteascain Road, which, if given the go-ahead, will include 20 residential apartments, a café and two commercial units. According to the discount supermarket giant if given the green light the development will create 30 local jobs along with 100 more during construction. In the further information request the planning authority acknowledged that the proposal is largely in response to the zoning objectives of the site. It stated however, “Having regard …

A US-bound passenger jet diverted to Shannon Airport last night after the crew declared a medical emergency reporting a young child had fallen ill. Turkish Airlines flight TK-29 was travelling from Istanbul, Turkey to Newark, New Jersey in the US at the time. The flight was about 250 kilometres west of Co Mayo when the crew turned around. Shortly before 9pm, the flight crew made radio contact with air traffic controllers in Shannon and advised them they had a medical emergency on board and wished to divert to Shannon Airport. The crew reported that a young child had fallen ill. The Airbus A330-300 jet made a U-turn and routed directly to Shannon Airport. In the meantime, the National Ambulance Service was alerted and paramedics sent to the airport ahead of the jet’s arrival. It’s understood that there was a doctor on board the aircraft who assessed the child and advised the crew to divert to seek medical assistance. The flight …

EMPLOYMENT in a Shannon aviation company will more than treble over a six year-period from this Friday when a new takeover of a neighbouring business takes off. Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) employs 320 in its existing hangar, 120 in its UK base and will take on about 300 new employees from Lufthansa Technik. The new hangar, which is almost three times the size of the AAG building, can accommodate nine narrow body Ryanair sized aircraft or two wide body and four narrow body aircraft. Back in April 2015, when investor Patrick Jordan bought the company it was employing about 217. Revenue have grown from €15 million to a projected figure of €80 million by the end of the year, with AAG chief executive, Shane O’Neill expecting growth to more than €100 million over the coming years. Barring some unexpected major setback, Mr O’Neill believes overall employment could increase up to 1,000 in a few years. AAG services, maintains and repairs …

Derek O’Connor continues to dominate on the point-to-point scene and the Tubber jockey partnered two winners at the recent Tipperary Foxhounds’ fixture at Lisronagh. The first race at the Clonmel venue was the Goffs UK Aintree Sale four-year-old maiden. Nine faced the starter here and it was fitting that O’Connor – who is Irish agent for Goffs UK – should take the spoils when guiding the impressive Act Of Authority to victory. Trained in County Kilkenny by Ellmarie Holden, this son of Authorized, who was one of seven debutantes in the nine-runner field, went off 2/1 favourite. Sent to the head of affairs after half-a-mile, Act Of Authority stayed on well in the closing stages to repel the challenge of fellow first-timer Jet Smart by two lengths. A €145K store purchase at last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale, the winner is now more than likely to come under the hammer at the upcoming Aintree Sale. Half-an-hour later, O’Connor completed his …