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REALLY passionate about his business, the initial lockdown was very hard for Patrick Bourke, and there are probably few people who are as disappointed to be closing again as the retailer who runs prominent men’s clothes shops in Ennis and Kilrush. “We were closed for 12 weeks already and this is six weeks, so it’s more than a third of the year. Outside of the fact that it’s a third of the year, it’s a time when we would have done 40% of our business,” he said on Tuesday afternoon, as the spectre of lockdown loomed. While they didn’t run an online store earlier in the year, they have one in place now, just in time for another lockdown. It has made a flying start and Patrick says it will be good for business and will keep him busy over the coming weeks. “We launched online last week, and it has been beyond our expectations. It won’t replace the lost …

“HORRIFIC and shocking” were the words used by Clare’s Green Party senator to describe a rise of almost one-third in the number of barring orders breached in this county over the last nine months. Senator Róisín Garvey expressed grave concerns about the figure, which was revealed to members of Clare’s Joint Policing Committee by Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran. The Garda chief outlined that there had been 52 breaches relating to barring orders and safety orders between January and September of last year. Over the same period in 2020, the figure increased by 16 to 68, a rise of 31%. The number of domestic disputes increased by 7% in the first nine months of this year. Reacting to the figures, the Inagh-based senator questioned what additional supports were in place to respond to the situation. “This is an really shocking figure,” she said. “If you have a barring order, you fear for your life. Breaches like this are horrific. What I …

MARTS will continue to operate under Level 5 restrictions, but all sales will move online and access to the premises in Ennis, Kilfenora, Scariff and Kilrush will be strictly controlled. Sellers are asked to book a time to ‘drop and go’. Similarly, buyers must pre-book a viewing time when they will be able to look at animals in the mart yard. They must then leave the mart and make their bids remotely either online or through an app. “It is going to be tough, there’s no doubt about that, but we’re determined to keep the service to farmers going,” said General Manager of Clare Marts, Martin McNamara. “We’ve already being conducting a lot of business online and Level 5 means our sales will now move entirely online. Sellers need to book with us in advance so that they can drop their animals off at the mart and go. Buyers, who might be working on behalf of a number of customers, …

WITH the country now under further Covid-19 restrictions, a University of Limerick study has been examining the effect that lockdown can have on the mental health of children and adolescents. Covid-19 has caused major disruptions to the lives of families, through social distancing measures, school closures and lockdown, all of which threaten the wellbeing of young people and their families. Researchers at UL have been exploring the specific impact of one month in lockdown on the mental health of children and adolescents. The study, entitled Co-SPACE (Covid-19 Supporting Parents, Adolescents and Children during Epidemics) is led by Dr Jennifer McMahon and a team of researchers at UL. It is linked to a study of the same name in the UK led by Professor Cathy Creswell and Dr Polly Waite of the Department of Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford. “Increasingly researchers and practitioners are concerned about the effects of strict restrictions, such as those experienced from March to June, …

FRUSTRATION at poor broadband across large sections of East Clare has intensified as more people try to work and study from home in response to the pandemic. One Tulla resident has told The Champion of her efforts to improve her family’s service which has involved contacting ten different providers, to no avail. The women, who lives just a few kilometres from the town, is a customer with Eir and uses a mobile broadband dongle. “I originally had broadband through the phone line and the service was very poor,” she explained. “The mobile device is supposed to provide wireless internet for up to ten devices, but if you have any more than two connected, it is a disaster. I’m working from home and my daughter was in Leaving Cert, so her studies had to take priority. At best, the service is okay, but that’s all. It is affected by bad weather too, which doesn’t help.” After trying ten different service providers …

THE total cost of refurbishing the Scariff Health Centre (SHC), which closed recently, is about €300,000, according to the Mid-West HSE. The HSE has confirmed the SHC will close for between six to eight weeks to accommodate a major refurbishment. Services will be relocated to Tulla Health Centre, Broadford Health Centre and Scariff Medical Centre for the duration of these works. Responding to Clare Champion queries, the Mid-West HSE estimated the total cost of the refurbishment to Scariff Health centre is approximately €300,000. The regional health authority also confirmed the main contractor carrying out this work is James Malone Construction Ltd, Ballybeg, Ennis. Services will be offered in a number of facilities by public health nurses or clinicians to their clients in Tulla, Scariff and Broadford. Patients have been made aware of the alternative arrangements. James Malone Construction Ltd was established in 1971 and has continued to be a family run business. It carries out a wide range of building …

Brian Lohan has named his first championship team as Clare manager for Sunday’s Munster SHC clash with Limerick. After recovering from a broken hand, Aidan McCarthy has been passed fit to start at wing back, with centre back Pat O’Connor and Seadna Morey completing the half back line up. David McInerney will partner Tony Kelly at midfield with Eibhear Qulligan makes his championship debut in goal. Clare team v Limerick: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Jack Browne (Ballyea), Conor Cleary (Miltown, St Joseph’s), Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Pat O’Connot (Tubber), Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona); David McInerney (Tulla, c), Tony Kelly (Ballyea); Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe), David Reidy (Eire Óg), David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona); Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin), Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge), Shane O’Donnell (Eire Óg).   Limerick boss John Kiely unveiled his line up on Friday evening.

Ahead of Halloween this year, Clare County Council is advising members of the public not to take part in any activities that are contrary to public health guidelines or measures under Level 5 of the Government’s Covid-19 plan, such as bonfire gatherings. The local authority have also stated that given the current high level of risk associated with Covid-19, children and families should not move between houses to trick-or-treat in the way that traditionally happens at Halloween. Clare County Council and Clare County Fire and Rescue Service are also urging members of the public and businesses not to supply any waste material to persons who do not hold a valid waste collection permit. The call comes in advance of the Hallowe’en period, which traditionally has been used by some people to illegally dispose of waste material on bonfires. The uncontrolled burning of waste, particularly in bonfires, is illegal and releases toxic pollutants into the air, which are known to be …