News

YOUNG men in Clare are being urged to ‘Use Your Brain Not Your Fists’ when heading out over the Christmas period, with gardaí warning about the consequences of being involved in assaults. “We are appealing to young males to “Use Your Brain Not Your Fists” and think of the consequences for yourself and others of being involved in assaults – you could lose your job, your ability to travel and even go to jail. “We want to remind people of the potentially devastating physical and mental impact on victims of assaults.” Meanwhile, gardaí are asking young people to ‘Be Safe, Be Streetwise’ and make PLANS when heading out socialising over the Christmas period. Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks explains PLANS stand for, “P -Plan your night out – how are you getting there and back? L – Let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. A – Avoid walking alone and in dark places. N – …

WHEN Maria Molloy sent out an SOS for some help with the Lions Club ‘Message in a Bottle’ there was no need for The Police! Karen Kelleher, Clare County Commissioner, stepped up and worked closely with 1st and 4th Clare Venturers(Ennis) to encourage a collaboration between them and the Ennis Lions Club project leader to prepare packages for the forthcoming Message in a Bottle Launch 2023. In return the young adults will have earned a community badge. Maria was effusive in her thanks to the young adults who made up over 500 packs for Ennis Lions Club declaring “They were really super from start to finish of this project”. Message in a Bottle is a simple idea promoted by Lions Club of Ireland. It encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details in a common place, where, in cases of emergency, the attending service teams can easily access them. The information required is very basic but can be …

A NATIONAL Coast Guard representative body is supporting calls from Clare’s Oireachtas members for the establishment of an independent review of the national management of the Irish Coast Guard organisation. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, the national executive of the Irish Coast Guard Volunteers Representative Association (ICGVRA) confirmed it fully supported calls from Clare deputies and senators for an independent inquiry into Irish Coast Guard management. In last week’s Clare Champion, Senator Martin Conway called for fundamental review of Coast Guard operations throughout the country, provided it is independent and it includes a stipulation national management must cooperate as some personnel at national level have serious questions that need to be answered. Deputy Cathal Crowe said he can’t see how Coast Guard units nationwide can perform to their optimum when the national organisation has inadequacies in terms of how it is being led. Independent Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne said she would support an independent review once it provided …

WITH no restrictions on travel this year, Shannon Airport is expecting its busiest Christmas since 2019 and anticipates it will welcome almost 75,000 passengers through its doors from now through to New Year’s. Airport staff are preparing to welcome visitors from across the globe over the Christmas season with the renowned Shannon Airport welcome, while the terminal building has been decked with festive decorations which include a 12-foot tree in the arrival’s hall and a life-size Santa sleigh for visitors to sit-in and take memorable photos. Visitors to the airport collecting loved ones and those arriving at Shannon, were met with the sound of carol singing in the arrivals hall by St Senan’s National School (Shannon) this Tuesday. Tomorrow, children from St John’s National School (Shannon) will be performing between 10.15 and 11.45 am. #NEWS 🎄 @ShannonAirport is expecting to welcome almost 75,000 passengers through its doors from now through to New Year’s – busiest Christmas season in three years. …

THE parents of the late Laura Brennan have spoken of their pride at the impact of her campaigning and of the comfort they receive from knowing how many lives will be saved through a vaccination programme named in her memory. They were speaking as Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced the opening of the HSE’s online registration portal for the Laura Brennan HPV (human papilloma virus) Vaccination Catch-Up Programme. Eligible people can register on www.hpv.ie for an appointment for a free vaccine which will be administered through HSE vaccination clinics and schools. The programme is supported by Bernie and Larry Brennan, parents of the late Laura Brennan who campaigned for higher uptake of the HPV vaccine before her death from cervical cancer in 2019, aged 26. Free HPV vaccines will be offered to all boys and girls in second-level education who were previously eligible to receive the vaccine and who have not yet received it.  It is also open to young women up to …

As many as 10 Traveller families may be involved in violent feuds in Ennis, a court has heard. At Ennis district court, solicitor Tara Godfrey said she had been told by a garda that up to “10 Traveller families” are involved in different feuds. Ms Godfrey was representing a 41-year-old Ennis man who gardaí allege is one of the “main aggressors and instigators” in one of the feuds. Patrick McDonagh, a married father of eight with an address at Dun Na hÍnse, Lahinch Road, Ennis, appeared in court charged in connection with a violent incident in the Considine Road area of Cloughleigh on Tuesday night, December 13. McDonagh, faces two charges of criminal damage and a further charge of producing a weapon during the course of an offence, contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. Judge Mary Larkin refused McDonagh’s application for bail and remanded him in custody. Detective Garda Brendan Rouine of Ennis garda station …

A WEST Clare couple have lent their voices to this winter’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) fundraising campaign that shows the sacrifices made by volunteers each Christmas. As the RNLI launches its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, the search and rescue charity is highlighting the volunteers who will be on call over the festive season to save lives at sea. Kilrush couple, Pa Ryan and Liezel Brand both volunteer on the lifeboats but this Christmas only Pa will be on call, as Liezel gave birth to their son Conor, earlier this year. Pa and many more volunteers around the country may have to sacrifice their precious family time over the festive season to save others this Christmas. That is a very real possibility, as over the past five years, RNLI lifeboats have launched 55 times in Ireland during the festive period, bringing 44 people to safety. Liezel Brand came to Clare from Robin Island in South Africa and joined the lifeboat …

Record high attendances at the Emergency Department (ED) in University Hospital Limerick in recent days have led management to cancel all but the most urgent elective surgery and outpatient diagnostics at the hospital this Monday. The unprecedented level of ED attendance is driven by a surge in patients with respiratory infections, including COVID-19, flu and RSV, and significant numbers of people with trauma injuries resulting from slips and trips on the ice over recent days. Yesterday saw 221 people attending the ED, and 251 on Saturday: the busiest weekend ever recorded at the hospital. This morning’s decision, taken in line with our Escalation Plan, includes the redeployment of medical staff to the ED, and the transfer of appropriate trauma patients to Croom Orthopaedic Hospital for treatment. A spokesperson for UL Hospitals Group said, “We have been directly contacting all patients with surgery or diagnostics appointments scheduled for today, and these appointments will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity. We apologise …