News

LAWS against coercive control need to be expanded to cover all circumstances where the abuse occurs, according to a South Galway mother-of-three who was subjected to a harrowing ordeal by a Kilrush man. That’s the view of Sourney Linnane, who is delighted with the findings of a national survey of 1,000 Irish adults commissioned by Safeguarding Ireland and carried out by RED C. Martin Mulqueen (53), Ballynote, Kilrush, but with an address in Bawn Street, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, was the third person to be jailed for coercive control in Ireland recently. Mulqueen pleaded guilty during this trial to three sample charges, including coercive control, assault, and assault causing harm on dates between March and October 2019. Last March, he received a combined sentence of 54 months, with the final 20 months suspended for four years. The sentence was backdated to the time he went into custody. Coercive Control is a pattern of behaviour which is designed to exert control over …

THE National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is inviting people in Clare with memories of boats and boat building in their community to submit their stories to an online archive of Irish heritage.  The NMI memory project is looking at the vibrant maritime heritage along Ireland’s western coast. The project is part of Age & Opportunity’s Bealtaine Festival – celebrating creativity as we age throughout the month of May. It is envisioned the memories, stories and family photographs collected will help inform the development of a new exhibition gallery about vernacular Irish boats at the NMI – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, County Mayo. The NMI has a collection of over 30 traditional Irish boats including some of the oldest currachs in the world. Curator with the National Museum of Ireland, Noel Campbell, wants to hear from people in Clare who can help the Museum tell this story. “Did you grow up in a fishing community? Was your family …

UL Hospitals Group has this afternoon announced widespread cancellations as they continue to be adversely impacted by the ransomware attack on HSE IT systems. Among the cancellations from tomorrow are outpatient clinics and elective inpatient and day case procedures. The statement reads, “We regret that from Tuesday, May 18, widespread cancellations in scheduled care will across our six sites. From Tuesday the following service disruptions are expected across the following hospitals University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, St John’s Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital. “All outpatient clinics are cancelled. All elective inpatient and day case procedures are cancelled. This is with the exception of time-critical cases and these patients will be called directly in advance. All diagnostics including x-ray, CT scans, MRI appointments and cardiac investigations are cancelled. Endoscopy services are cancelled.” Services that will go ahead include Maternity services including ante-natal clinic, dialysis treatment, Cancer day ward (chemotherapy and radiotherapy), Acute Fracture Unit (UHL) …

FLOOD relief works that were due to begin in Springfield, Clonlara next week, have hit yet another hitch, it was revealed to council members last Monday (May 10). The matter was raised by Councillor Michael Begley who ask officials for the revised completion date for the works, which were first mooted in 2016. The works, which are designed to finally remove the risk of severe flooding that has hung over the area for more than a decade-and-a-half, had already been dealt a blow by pandemic restrictions. There had been widespread relief at the prospect of them finally getting underway. “We’re now waiting for two reports,” Councillor Begley noted, at the monthly meeting of Clare County Council. “One of those is from the hydrologists and the other will come from the consultants thereafter.” Chief Executive Pat Dowling noted that the latest obstacle to the works is “quite new”. “A particular matter has arisen,” he said “We have to await the outcome. …

AN AMBITIOUS plan to create the Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience has been given the green light, following a Part 8 planning application by Clare County Council. The signing-off on plans to redevelop The Old Rectory in Mountshannon was described at the May meeting of the authority as “a major step forward for tourism in East Clare”. Councillor Pat Burke said he was delighted to proposed the adoption of the Part 8 plan after a successful public consultation period. “There are exciting times ahead now for the area,” he said. “We recently had RTÉ’s Nationwide and Channel 5 putting a spotlight on Inis Cealtra and had a workshops with consultants appointed to the Holy Island project. “My compliments to all involved from the Tourism section of the council for the ongoing work and for advancing the Holy Island plans. This is another major step forward for tourism in East Clare and we’re getting there slowly but surely.” The motion was seconded …

A CLARE student has taken second prize in the Intermediate Category at the National Final of this year’s Student Enterprise Programme. Mae Kivlehan, from Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon, was awarded for ‘Tried & Tested, which was a cookbook with a compilation of recipes from sports stars, celebrities and locals. The winning student worked under the guidance of her teachers, Laura Garvey and Caitriona Hynes. The finals of the Local Enterprise Office initiative were broadcast virtually on Friday from Croke Park with An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Ambassador Derval O’Rourke speaking with host RTE’s Rick O’Shea, as students and teachers watched on from across the country. The Junior Category was represented by The Art Co from Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon and the Senior Category was represented by Portable Pouches from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point. Praising the winning students and all those representing Clare at the National Finals, Padraic McElwee with Local Enterprise Office Clare said: “This is a proud day for …

THE Heathrow slots at Shannon could become vulnerable after the current obligation on IAG to retain them at the Clare airport expires in September 2022, but with airlines now requiring public support, there is an opportunity for the Government to secure the connectivity. That’s the view of Lahinch hotelier Michael Vaughan, a former President of the Irish Hotels Federation. “Those slots are in the hands of IAG now to do what they want. I think it’s a very serious concern and I’m glad it’s being raised. It was on a lot of people’s minds before the pandemic. “Now IAG are asking the UK government for an immediate bilateral to establish an air corridor between the US and the UK. You could be looking at a greater yield on them for transatlantic as opposed to Shannon. I’d fear for it, certainly. “I know there were attempts earlier on to ensure that what amounted to State aid to Aer Lingus would be …

A CLARE-BASED tech company, which has been dubbed ‘Tinder For Jobs’, has won a top business award, writes Owen Ryan. Get The Shifts, which offers an on-demand staffing platform to hospitality businesses, has been named as Most Innovative Temporary Staffing Solutions Provider 2021 in the EU Business News Irish Enterprise Awards. The award highlights the continued success of Get the Shifts as they deliver high quality, experienced staff to clients for shift work with as little as three hours’ notice. The EU Business News Awards recognise “exemplary Irish business demonstrating outstanding levels of excellence, customer service and innovation.” In making their selection, the EU Business News Irish Enterprise Award considered Get the Shifts’ achievements under various criteria such as business performance, longevity, business growth and any significant innovations. Speaking about the award, Hannah Wrixon, General Manager of Get the Shifts said, “We are absolutely delighted and honoured to have been recognised by EU Business News for this award. “It is …