Regional

THE lack of public rehabilitation services for patients following the closure over Christmas of a unit in St Joseph’s Geriatric Hospital, Ennis has provoked anger. The Rehabilitation Unit in St Joseph’s, which can accommodate 11 male and 11 female patients, was closed at short notice on Monday, December 23 last. It also provides respite support for Clare carers, who are looking after family members that require 24-hour care, such as Alzheimer’s patients. This is the first time that this unit closed in the last four or five years. While the HSE is unable to give a definite date for the reopening of this unit, the agency predicted this service would resume “when demand increases, most likely next week”. HSE West Health Forum member, Councillor Brian Meaney, is “shocked” with its closure and has requested the HSE to allocate whatever resources are necessary to fast track the re-opening of this unit. Councillor Meaney stressed this rehab unit provided a vital recovery …

ELECTRICITY should  be restored to all homes in County Clare by the end of the day, according to the ESB. Power outages occurred in many areas, as a result of the storm-force winds of recent days. Throughout the West and South-West, ESB repair crew had a very busy few days dealing with power lines brought down by falling trees and damage to high voltage lines. In the Ennis area, as many as 200 houses were without electricity up to Sunday afternoon, while pockets of other parts of the county were also affected. Met Éireann’s forecast is for continued bad weather with a warning to motorists to watch out for ice on roads, especially minor roads, in the event of temperatures dropping below freezing on wet surfaces.  

ALL-Ireland hurling hat-trick hero, Shane 0’Donnell will operate on a more leisurely pace on Christmas Day that he did in late September when he officially launches the annual GOAL Mile. O’Donnell will be up bright and early on Christmas morning and he is hoping that the people of Ennis and surroundings will come out and join him in support of the event. The now traditional seventh GOAL Mile will take place on Christmas morning in the Fair Green, St Joseph’s Hospital side, at 11am. Shane will be blowing the whistle to get this year’s mile underway. Mary Collins, organiser told us that she is delighted that Shane agreed to get on board and support the GOAL Mile. “It’s fantastic that Shane will be there to blow the whistle and get the mile going, he is a real role model to so many people in Clare. The GOAL Mile is always a fantastic event taking place every year in the Fairgreen …

A FATHER of three is pleading with Ennis Town Council to help make a Christmas promise to his family come true – that they will not have to continue to live in their home that has been riddled with mould and damp. Ayobami Oyedele has been living in Clancy Park as a tenant of the town council with his family for the past five years and he says that his house is now inhabitable. “I promised my family that we are not going to be here at Christmas, it is just so bad the dampness is all over. I don’t know how I am going to keep that promise,” he said. When contacted by the Clare Champion, a spokesperson for Ennis Town Council stated that while they do not comment on individual circumstances, they could confirm there have been ongoing discussions with the family. They added that contact would be maintained towards addressing their circumstances. Mr Oyedele said that he …

THE Frawleys of Derryguihy, which translates to the Stormy Oak Wood, saw the townland live up to its name when their hay barn was lifted and carried over the family home, at the height of a storm on Wednesday of last week. The barn roof travelled 60 feet from its original location and miraculously only caused damage to five slates on the roof of Brendan and Patricia Frawley’s home in Kilmurry McMahon. They were at home at the time of the phenomenon, which the family has labelled “a tornado”. Ivor Frawley, Brendan and Patricia’s son, who has a garage next to the family home, spoke about what he witnessed during the peak of the storm. “I was working in the garage. The storm just got ferocious all of a sudden. The intensity and the rain; I never saw anything like it. It was like a tornado for a minute at the height of the storm. The door was closed but …

THE  Lions Club of Ennis has come together with Ennis Rotary Club in aid of Cahercalla Hospice this Christmas with the creation of a Remembrance Christmas Tree in the county capital’s Market Square. People can remember a loved on by placing a ribbon on the town’s Christmas tree in their name for a €5 donation to the charity. According to a spokesperson for the organisers, the charity fundraiser has proven very popular over the years and they are encouraging people to continue their generous support. “The Remembrance Christmas Tree is a way for people to remember a loved one. It could be a loved one who has passed away or indeed someone overseas or someone away from home this Christmas time. As well as remembering someone, the tree will also raise much needed funds for Cahercalla. Both the Lions Club of Ennis and Ennis Rotary Club have come together on this initiative and we are delighted with the support we …

THE fifth annual community Christmas Day Dinner will be held in Gort on December 25. Anyone who is on their own and would like some company on Christmas day is invited to come along. Organisers are also seeking volunteers to help out on the day and donations to support the event. “I originally started the community/family dinner when I myself was alone at Christmas, and wished I wasn’t. The feeling of family/community is very important, so that it doesn’t feel like an organised event, rather a friendly gathering every Christmas. I have people who have attended every single year. I am now married, but still feel strongly about continuing the dinner, as I feel there is a great need for such events. People don’t realise how many people are alone and lonely out there. You may be homeless and sleeping in a car, you could be a retired couple who haven’t the strength to cook and nowhere to go, a …