Ennis

A Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report, from an announced inspection of a nursing home in Ennis, found 10 out of the 18 ‘outcomes’  were non-compliant, two of which were categorised as ‘major’ non-compliance. The HIQA inspection took place at Ennis Nursing Home, Showgrounds Road, on September 30 and October 1 of this year but the report was only published last week. Despite the issues of non-compliance, the report states that residents of the nursing home told the inspector they were happy living in the centre and they felt safe there. Staff also demonstrated good knowledge of the residents’ care needs when speaking with the inspector. However, “significant improvements were required in the documentation of nursing assessments and care plans and medication management”. The report found major non-compliance in the area of safeguarding and safety. The inspector found that training in adult protection had not been delivered to all staff or was overdue for some others. Improvements were required …

UP to 1,200 nurses in the Mid-West look set to approve industrial action early in the new year over “unsafe” plans to provide more than 100 extra beds in corridors and unsuitable rooms at Ennis Hospital and other local acute hospitals without extra staffing. Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) and SIPTU will ballot for industrial action during the first week of January over a new HSE escalation plan, which is designed to tackle chronic overcrowding in the emergency department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The general consensus indicates this ballot for industrial action will be approved by a large majority, paving the way for a work-to-rule as a starting point possibly during the third or fourth week of January. INMO representative, Mary Fogarty has demanded to know who sanctioned the reconfiguration of acute hospitals services in the Mid-West, which involved the closure of 24-hour emergency services in Ennis without putting the required additional resources into …

Active Ennis Leisure Complex has today (Friday) been presented with its 14th White Flag Award. The prestigious awards scheme, which is coordinated by Ireland Active and endorsed by Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), is the only comprehensive quality and excellence award for Irish health and leisure facilities. Ennis Leisure Complex is the only facility in Clare to have received the White Flag every year since the award scheme’s inception in 2001. The White Flag Award was presented to Tim Forde, Active Ennis general manager, by Mayor of Ennis, Johnny Flynn and Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe. Mr Forde said, “The staff are immensely proud to have achieved the benchmark for highest standards within the health and leisure industry. They regard this success as a vote of confidence in the range and quality of services provided at Ennis Leisure Complex, including the 25-metre public swimming pool, state-of-the-art gymnasium, and various training and fitness programmes.” He added, …

THE retail community in Ennis have created a series of magical, sparkling windows allowing the public to dip into the world of Christmas fantasy. Their imagination was inspired this year by the theme of The Clare Champion’s annual window display competition, Frozen in Ennis. This is the 11th year of the competition and entrants were invited to, once again, give free rein to their creative sides and they certainly Let it Go. The wide interpretation of Frozen in Ennis, inspired by the 2013 Walt Disney film, the highest grossing animation movie of all time, was reflected in the glittering shop fronts all around the town. Since its release last year, Frozen has become a firm favourite with children of all ages. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen, it tells the story of a fearless princess who sets off on an epic journey along with a rugged iceman, his loyal pet reindeer and a naive snowman, in …

THE Clarecastle-born director of a charity, bringing hope to very young children in Kenya whose lives have been blighted by sexual abuse and prostitution, is appealing for people to help build a refuge for the children. Ray of Sunshine Foundation director, Olive Halpin, and patron, RTÉ’s Derek Davis, will launch the 2016 building project with a fundraising Festive Night of Food and Fashion in the Inn at Dromoland next week. Children in Kenya, who have been abused and some trafficked in the sex trade from as young as three years old, are relying on the charity to bring some light and hope into their darkness. “These children have been abandoned when they are of no more use to the people who abuse them and they are left deeply scarred, physically, emotionally and mentally, having experienced only the world’s ugliness,” Ms Halpin said. She added, “The Ray of Sunshine Foundation is working to show them beauty and a future. These beautiful …

TWICE as many people are asking St Vincent de Paul (SVP) for assistance this year as did three years ago, while the society’s income has fallen by a quarter. Also, many people who used to help SVP at Christmas are now asking them for assistance, as falling salaries and State-imposed charges hit home. Clare area SVP president, John Cullinane, is appealing for last-minute public and corporate support in the run-up to Christmas. “We have our Christmas collection this weekend in Ennis. The church gate collection will get underway at vigil masses on Saturday and at all masses in Ennis churches on Sunday. We need it more than ever this year,” he said this week. “In the past three years, requests for our assistance have gone up by 104% and our income has gone down by about 25%. We have a lot of repeat people who make requests of us – probably 75% of our requests are from the same people …

A record price of €390,000 was achieved for a house and 13.6 acres at a public auction in Ennis this week. The house, located between the church and school in Deerpark, Doora, was the home of the late Fr Paddy Lynch. The house is set back some 350 metres from the road and is approached by a tree-lined avenue. Dating to the 1700s, it is a small period house and is need of refurbishment. Nevertheless, more than 35 parties viewed the house over the past five weeks and in excess of 60 people packed the Lemenagh Room in the Old Ground Hotel for the auction on Thursday afternoon. “Bidding opened at €200,000 and briskly reached €370,000 in €10,000 increments. Five further bids brought down the hammer at €390,000,” auctioneer, Paddy Darmody of Sherry FitzGerald MccMahon reported. “I have been with Sherry FitzGerald McMahon for more than 35 years and this house is unique in that it is a small country …

THE outskirts of Ennis could soon have its own Obama Plaza-style rest stop and “drive thru”, providing in the region of 100 new permanent jobs. Managing director of Supermac’s Ireland, Pat McDonagh, who already has business interests in Ennis and Shannon, has applied to Clare County Council for a major motorway service area and a rest area at Kilbreckan, Doora, at Junction 12, on the Galway to Limerick M18. Supermac’s planning application includes a service station and convenience shop, a food court and drive thru, offices, staff facilities, a canopy, fuel facilities, parking and circulation space, children’s play area, picnic area and access provision and infrastructural works, including lighting, signage, landscaping, on-site waste water treatment and access to the nearby roundabout on the N85. The Supermac’s boss said the company is delighted that the economic boost generated by the provision of 100 new permanent jobs, as well as additional seasonal jobs is coming to County Clare. An additional 75 jobs …