The Clare Echo 07/01/21

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JAN 7 2021

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Covid-19 infection rate peaks PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

O Ennis Hospital staff nurse Noreen Kelly Nagle administers the Covid-19 vaccine to porter David Crowe as he becomes the first Clare staff member to be vaccinated yesterday morning

Varadkar made call to back Hynes contract TWO of Ireland’s most high profile politicians played their part in separate incidents resulting in one Clare company receiving an €87m contract from the HSE and one woman obtaining a twelve month contract extension.

Former Minister for Transport, Shane Ross (IND) revealed that he was encouraged to extend the contract of Rose Hynes for twelve months in August 2019, by then Taoiseach Leo

Varadkar (FG).

It has also emerged that Alan Kelly (LAB) contacted senior health officials to recommend an Ennis company to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to the HSE, from which it has received €87m.

For more on these stories, see Page 12 and 6

VER 800 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Co Clare over the past fortnight.

Clare’s highest level of infection since the start of the pandemic has been attributed to an intensified period of social gatherings and widespread community transmission in the lead up to

Christmas. Widespread household gatherings during the festive period have added to the amount of confirmed cases, The Clare Echo has learned.

A subsequent increase in cases has been recorded in nursing homes and residential care facilities.

Data validated by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed that on January 2nd, the county recorded its highest ever daily increase of cases when a total of 183 confirmed cases were announced in Clare over a 24 hour period.

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Email: ger.naughton@clareecho.ie or niall@clareecho.ie This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Press Council’s Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Press Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie

l WHAT A DOSE: Staff nurse Caroline Mulligan giving the first COVID-19 vaccine in Ennis Hospital to Dr Mary Kennedy, Medical Assessment Unit on Wednesday

HE COVID-19 vaccination programme for MidWest healthcare workers was rolled out to Ennis Hospital on Wednesday.

The arrival of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the County Clare capital town has been welcomed by frontline healthcare workers who have been challenged as never before throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The first healthcare worker at the hospital to be vaccinated was Dr Mary Kennedy of the Medical Assessment Unit, who received her vaccine from Staff Nurse Caroline Mulligan.

Dr Kennedy said: “This is a day we have all been waiting for in Ennis Hospital and the arrival of these vaccines gives us all hope that an end is in sight.”

It is planned initially to administer 50 doses per day to healthcare staff.

For Dr Kennedy and all those who received vaccinations today, a second vaccination is required after a threeweek period.

This is part of a regional vaccination programme that will see the vaccine administered to all staff in UL Hospitals Group, the HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare Organisation and other healthcare settings.

Vaccination at the region’s main acute hospital, University Hospital Limerick (UHL), got under way on Monday, and at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) on Tuesday.

Business determined to €225k to tackle coastal bounce back from click erosion in Spanish Point and collect setback PÁRAIC PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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CLARE businesses expect to be hurt by the decision to cancel all click & collect services as part of lockdown measures approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday but remain determined to overcome the setback.

Click and collect has accounted for 25 to 30 percent of the online presence of Patrick Bourke Menswear, Patrick explained. As a result of the latest setback, Bourke is now considering joining up with other companies to absorb the extra charge associated with deliveries. “It is going to hurt our system until we found a way around it,” he admitted.

Presently, five members of Bourke’s Menswear full-time staff have been retained.

Demand will determine if this number fluctuates. “On our website we’re driving sales by price, we’re in the middle of a shoe promotion at the moment and are losing money on our shoes to get rid of them at the moment, it is a way of creating cashflow and getting rid of the ends of lines which is what we’re at. I’m hoping we will be able to hold on to everybody for as long as we can”.

“Nobody had ever mentioned the cancellation of click and collect before. I can see the reasoning behind it, it is to try cut down movement but unless they close down everything else as well, the movement will still be there,” he told The Clare Echo. Patrick added, “We had 10 to 12 click or collects on average per day. January and February are

the quietest months in retail anyway, they are only a fraction of what other months would be”.

Staff at the Ennis store of Bourke’s Menswear had already noticed customers were slower to arrive for their click & collect orders after Christmas when Level Five restrictions returned. “People are not moving around as much as they were, we can see it across the way there is no queue for the €2 Shop since they reopened after Christmas but no matter what time we looked out during the summer or the lockdown, there was a queue outside the €2 Shop. We’re a resilient business, if there is a worry among people regarding gift vouchers and exchanges we will honour everything when we reopen, if people have a query we are in the shop between 10am and 3pm every day so they can ring us, let nobody worry in an emergency we will look after them”.

Speaking on Wednesday morning, Managing Director of Willow, Jean McCabe issued a note of caution that many small businesses would not be able to move their activity online and would lose out following the cancellation of click & collect services.

Further supports for SMEs were required during the latest stage in the pandemic, McCabe believed to “keep people employed and ensure that businesses are in a position to continue to trade”. The Deputy Chair of Retail Excellence felt business owners were “fearful” of the investment, effort and expertise associated with online retail but detailed that a number of small businesses were utilising social media channels for click and collect.

MCMAHON

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STORM protection works are to be carried out at Spanish Point following allocation of €225,000 by the Government.

Rock armour will be constructed over 75 metres with the cliff face to be protected while the car park and public access road will be made safer. Over the past 50 to 60 years, more than 30 metres of land has been destroyed in Spanish Point by coastal erosion.

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure Patrick O'Donovan (FG) confirmed the allocation prior to Christmas. The announcement was welcomed by Cllr Shane Talty (FF) as "very welcome news" for the local community.

l PROTECTION: Spanish Point beach

A request for funding for coastal protection works at Spanish Point was submitted

by Clare County Council in 2018. Council engineer Steve Lahiffe and the Spanish Point Community Group headed by Marion Treacy have been praised for their efforts in raising awareness on the matter.

Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) stated, "This vital funding will be used to protect the cliff face which has been badly undermined by sea erosion over the years.

Spanish Point's "wonderful seaside amenity area" will be maintained and enhanced as a result of the works, Cathal Crowe TD (FF) believed. "Decades of ferocious Atlantic waves have wreaked havoc on the area and devoured vast parts of the land. Unlike the predominantly rocky coastline of Clare, the dunes and cliffs at Spanish Point mostly consist of loose shale stones and compacted gravel and mud".

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Estimated bill of â‚Ź20m for flood defence works in Ennis PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

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N ESTIMATED â‚Ź20m is being spent on flood defences projects in the Ennis Municipal District while ongoing concerns regarding the structural stability of the Clarecastle Flood Barrage have been raised.

Construction on the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme began in March 2019 and is scheduled for completion in August 2021. The Ennis Lower Scheme at Harmony Row has recently commenced with other schemes on the agenda including Thomond Villas in Clarecastle and Shalee Drive/Victoria Court in Ennis. â‚Ź20m alone is the estimated total budget for the South Flood Relief Scheme. Construction costs of â‚Ź14.3m along with land costs, design, advance work, supervision, archaeology and contingency plus "a reserve for future operational

and maintenance costs" form the bill, senior engineer with Clare County Council SeĂĄn Lenihan outlined.

Flooding at St Flannan's College and surrounding areas, Ballybeg and the Clare Abbey flood plain will be dealt with under the scheme. It has three elements, the St Flannan's culvert, the Ballybeg culvert and the flood defence to the section of the River Fergus from Doora Bridge on the Quin Rd to the N85 Bridge at Clareabbey. The first two elements of the scheme

are now complete "with only minor snags remaining to be addressed".

Sheet piling work on the riverbank defence is "ninety five percent complete" but "seasonal environmental constraints" will prevent work on the pump station and landscaping from progressing until April.

April 2021 is earmarked as the completion for the Ennis Lower Flood Relief Scheme which has a calculated cost of â‚Ź400,000. The final part of the scheme in mid-winter and extends from the Club

l CONSTRUCTION: Flooding at Clareabbey Photo by Joe Buckley

Bridge to Bank Place on to the opposite side of the river to the Abbey St car park. Flooding risks will be mitigated by a sheet piled wall which "will be clad in stone on the riverside and capped in cut stone creating a nice vista".

Development of a flood relief scheme for Thomond Villas in Clarecastle will be done by Malachy Walsh & Partners. The development includes construction of embankments and walls with an expected fee of â‚Ź400k. "Significant environmental challenges" lay in the Council's path, Lenihan advised as the proposed works are located near a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.

Funding applications have been made to the Office of Public Works (OPW) to take the scheme to detailed design and planning stage.

The Council has also applied to the OPW for funding to carry out a feasibility study over two years for two areas in Ennis town, Shalee Drive and Victoria Court. A hydrologist will have to be appointed to con-

duct the study.

Necessary funding is also to be sourced by the local authority "to carry out a high level assessment of the Barrage at Clarecastle," Lenihan stated.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) has committed to continue lobbying for the relocation of the Clarecastle flood barrage. "The sea tides come all the way up Shannon Estuary up to the Fergus Estuary but is held back with the coastal flood barrage at Clarecastle". He raised concerns surrounding the "structural stability" of the Barrage and "its ability to deal with rising sea levels which are way in excess of what it was designed to in last century. If it collapsed it would I believe overwhelm all the flood defences in Ennis at time of high sea level and high rainfall".

Senior engineer in the Ennis MD, Eamon O'Dea detailed than a company has been engaged to do a structural survey of the Barrage with work to be undertaken on the foundation to its doors in the Spring time.

Sean Hegarty remembered

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FORMER Clare Person of the Year and a leading figure in the Irish construction industry, Sean Hegarty has died, writes PĂĄraic McMahon.

Prior to Christmas, the death was announced of Lahinch native, Sean Hegarty.

In the weeks since, his contribution to the county has been admired and praised. In 2002, he was named as Clare Person of the Year.

Alongside Christy Killeen, the late Myles Clancy and legendary Clare hurler the late Jimmy Smyth of Ruan, Sean was a founding member of the Friends and Supporters of Clare GAA which was based in the capital where he had resided for over five decades. He stayed at his holiday home in Liscannor regularly on his summer holidays.

In excess of â‚Ź500,000 has been raised by the group since its formation in 1990 which has been distributed to schools, clubs and county teams at various levels in Clare. Hegarty maintained an integral role in the group's ongoing fundraising efforts.

He had a long involvement with the Clare Association in Dublin and was a former Chairman of the organisation. His daughter NoirĂ­n is a former Editor of The Sunday Tribune and currently works for Lonely Planet while his daughter Orla is the Professor of Architectural Planning and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin.

A past pupil of Ennistymon CBS, Sean graduated with a degree in civil engineering from NUIG before going to work for building firms P.J. Walls and McInerney. In 1971, he and his wife Carmel who hailed from Miltown Malbay, established Sean Hegarty Earthworks Ltd. Responding to the massive growth in urban renewal, regeneration and conservation, Sean founded Hegarty Demolition Ltd in 1990. When development of Croke Park commenced in 1993, Hegarty Demolition

Ltd. was the contractor appointed for the demolition of the Cusack Stand. Incidentally, a number of seats salvaged from the stand were donated by Sean to the Michael Cusack Centre in Carron.

The company was also chosen for several large-scale civil engineering projects including the restoration of St Mel's Cathedral in Longford. His proposed move of Blake's Corner in Ennistymon was rejected

by Clare County Council.

Hegarty held an active role in the construction industry, he was the founding Chairman of the Irish Association of Demolition Contractors and played a significant role in the implementation of waste management legislation for the industry. From 1998 until 2003, he served as Chairman of the Irish Association of Demolition Contractors and following this spent five years as Chairman of the Construction and Demolition Waste Council.

Sean is survived by his wife Carmel, daughters NoirĂ­n, Orla and Bronagh, brothers, son in laws, grand-children, nieces, nephews and work colleagues.

l ADMIIRED: The late Sean Hegarty

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Labour call lands EKO PPE contract PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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l WINNING COMBINATION: Donnellan’s Centra Ennis have announced that they will sponsor the

St Flannan’s College Harty Cup team for 2021. “We are delighted to be sponsoring the St Flannan’s College Harty Cup team again this year, it’s such an amazing achievement after winning last in 2005 and again in 2020. Let’s hope we bring more luck for 2021,” said proprietor Gerry Donnellan.

He is pictured with his daughter Edwina and with St Flannan’s students Diarmuid Cahill and Conner Hegarty

N INTERVENTION from a high-profile Irish politician assisted an Ennis company in becoming the biggest supplier of PPE to the HSE last year and obtaining €87m in the process.

In June of last year, The Clare Echo reported that EKO Integrated Services Ltd, was providing the most PPE to the HSE of all Irish companies.

This week it emerged following a report by The Sunday Times that Tipperary TD Alan Kelly (LAB) emailed HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid and head of procurement Seán Bresnan to recommend the use of EKO Integrated Services to source PPE from China. An email alerted HSE officials that EKO was capable of sourcing PPE from China, supplying medical equipment and building modular intensive care unit rooms in the space of 10 weeks, in tandem with a Chinese company.

Kelly's correspondence stressed that the matter was "time sensitive" so the HSE had to "get in touch straight away" to avail of what EKO could offer. The

Labour Party leader had previously been in favour of the Ennis company's plans to develop the Abbey Court hotel in Nenagh for residential development.

By the end of October, the HSE had spent €87.87m with EKO, ordering millions of gloves, gowns and goggles within days of Deputy Kelly's email. Another €1.75m is to be given to EKO later this month by the health authorities.

Complaints had been lodged by Crumlin's Children Hospital that the gowns provided by EKO had packaging saying they were not for medical use, The Sunday Times reported. This was described as a translation error by EKO. No issues had been raised by the HSE with the quality of the PPE obtained from EKO. A spokesperson for EKO said the company was not affiliated to any political party or politician. "EKO feels a sense of pride and privilege to have been in the right place at the right time to deliver considerable emergency supplies when the need was at its greatest in Ireland." Situated at Áras Smith O'Brien, Bank Place, Ennis, company filings from 2018 detailed that EKO had net assets of €221,000. Its Chief Executive is Eugene Keane, a former director of Keco Construction which had liabilities of €33.1m after it entered receivership in 2010.

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Further thefts at Tulla Graveyard PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

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HEFT from graveyards in Co Clare continue to be an issue.

More thefts were reported to An Garda SĂ­ochĂĄna at Tulla graveyard over the festive period. Between 22nd December and 25th December 6 ornamental barrels were stolen from three family graves and a decorative box was stolen from another grave.

Addressing the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting in October, Chief Superintendent SeĂĄn Colleran urged the public to continue to report incidents of thefts from graveyards and confirmed 18 thefts had been reported at Tulla Graveyard up to that juncture in 2020.

Grave ornaments, flowers and toys are among the items

reported as stolen over recent months.

Elsewhere, an unsecured white mountain bicycle at the rear of an apartment at Ardcaoin, Gort Road was stolen between 8 p.m. on Monday,

21st December and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 23rd December.

In Liscannor, a tank of diesel was stolen from a yard at Ardacra between 7 p.m. on Stephen's Day and 1 p.m. the following day, 27th December.

l STOLEN: 18 thefts from Tulla graveyard were reported in 2020

Clare GardaĂ­ seek public assistance in Christmas crime investigations PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

GARDAĂ? are seeking the assistance of the public into an investigation following criminal damage to a house at Miltown Malbay on Christmas Eve while a man's car was put on fire in Hermitage on New Year's Day. At 11.55pm on Christmas Eve night, four windows were smashed in a house at Carrowkeel in Miltown Malbay.

The public's assistance is being sought by GardaĂ­ in Ennistymon into the incident of criminal damage.

Anyone who has any information or anyone that may have seen this damage caused are asked to contact Ennistymon Garda Station on 7071020.

On New Year's evening at 8:05pm, a man living in the Orchard Lane estate in Hermitage saw bright lights outside his bedroom window, when he

looked out he saw two males running from his car which they had set on fire.

Gardaí at Ennis Garda Station are asking for the public's assistance in this investigation – if anyone was in the Hermitage/Orchard Lane area on New Year's evening between 7.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. and saw this incident occurring or saw anything suspicious contact Ennis Garda Station on 6848100.

A burglary occurred at a house Cahersherkin, Ennistymon on Wednesday, 30th January between 4 and 4.30 p.m. Between 11 a.m. on Wednesday, 30th and 9 a.m. on Thursday, 31st December a house in a rural location in Caheramore, Kilshanny was also broken into by forcing the front door, the house was ransacked but nothing stolen.

If anyone has any information or saw anything suspicious in the areas of Cahersherkin or Caheramore on the last Wednesday or Thursday, they are asked to contact Ennistymon Garda Station on 7071020.

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Sixmilebridge ‘at risk of flooding if weir gates are not replaced urgently’ SIXMILEBRIDGE is at risk of flooding if replacement weir gates are not installed, a local representative has warned, writes Páraic McMahon.

An appeal for the replacement of weir gates at the Battlement of Fredericks Square "as a matter of urgency" was issued by Cllr John Crowe (FG) at a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District.

He flagged, "They are incapable of controlling the flow of water downstream.

“The gates have not been replaced in over 50 years and now is the time considering the good work that has already been done on the bridge and the river downstream".

Council engineer Aidan O'Rourke

noted, "the weir gate is located in private property and as such is not a Council asset to be replaced". He commented that the matter would be referred to the dangerous structures section of the Council's Building Control Team.

"We are very fortunate to have escaped flooding. These gates helped to protect the Bridge and the people's houses. Now that these gates are in serious bad situation, I don't think it makes any difference who owns them," Cllr Crowe stated.

He added, "Cut out the red tape and get these gates sorted out.

We've been lucky for the last couple of years but how long is a piece of string".

l PROTECTION: The weir gates in Sixmilebridge are over 50 years old

Photo by Joe Buckley

Gardaí urge parents to be involved online following a 'traumatic incident' PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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LARE Gardaí are appealing to parents to be involved in their child's online life following a reported "traumatic" incident for one family in the county.

During Christmas week a report was received from a parent that her teenage son, who believed that he was speaking to a female on his Facebook account, sent explicit pictures of himself to this person.

Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Tríona Brooks stated, "Shortly after this a demand was made for a substantial amount of money or else the pictures would be shared.

“No money was given over and the link was shared with some of his friends but fortunately the link could not be opened. This was very upsetting and traumatic for the parent and teenager".

Sergeant Brooks added, "Children are spending a lot more time online at the moment.

“It's no harm to have a conversation with your child about the importance of their safety when online. Children need to understand that they must not share any personal information online."

Risks associated with online activity for younger persons as identified by Gardaí include

l CHILD SAFETY: Online activity can be risky

loss of privacy – sharing information in public that should be kept private, inappropriate content - adult material violence dangerous dares or challenges, cyberbullying – bullying in the form of abusive and threatening texts or emails, messages on social media and chat rooms or the posting of photos, online grooming - individuals targeting children through sexual coercion or extortion.

Brooks advised, "The most important thing is to communicate with your children about what they are doing online. Familiarise yourself with the apps and websites they are using.

“Learning about the internet is the most effective way for you to protect your child from online dangers.

“Be involved in your child's online life, set rules and limits for internet use and keep the lines of communication open with your child and make sure your child can come to you if anything happens online that upsets, worries or scares them".

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Clare experiencing record level surge of COVID-19 PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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O CLARE has experienced a record-level surge of COVID-19 over the past fortnight.

In the region of 800 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Clare in the past 14 days which is the highest level of infection recorded in the county since the start of the pandemic.

This record-level surge in Clare can be largely attributed to an intensified period of social gatherings and widespread community transmission in the lead up to Christmas. This was followed by widespread household gatherings during the festive period. Since, there has been an increase in cases at nursing homes and residential care facilities.

Director of Public Health Mid-

West, Dr Mai Mannix told The Clare Echo, "We know from previous evidence that Clare had been one of the leading counties in tackling this pandemic. Up until very recently, Clare was seeing low single digit increases on a daily basis.

But the high incidence rate we are seeing in the county also reflects how serious the situation can become in just a matter of days and weeks".

She described the present situation in the Mid-West as "critical".

There have been more than 3,000 COVID-19 cases reported in the past two weeks across the MidWest region, which now has a 14day incidence rate of more than 700 per 100,000 population. This is higher than the national average.

"I am appealing to everyone to restrict movements, stay at home, and significantly limit all social contacts as much as possible. We are now in the mitigation phase, and our focus is to not only prevent and control

further cases and outbreaks, but also to prevent further COVID-related deaths in the community. We urgently need to reduce numbers of cases in the coming weeks, and in Level 5 restrictions, the best thing we can do is to stay home and hold firm, in order to protect ourselves and our vulnerable loved ones," Dr Mannix stated.

She outlined, "The most effective way to approach this phase of the pandemic is to consider each and every one of us potentially infectious, adhere to the core public health guidelines and minimise social contacts. Your individual actions now will help save lives and ensure that the health service can deal with all those who need care,

lPANDEMIC: The Covid-19 testing facility at Shannon Airport

Photo by Joe Buckley

both COVID and non-COVID care".

Dr Mannix said they have now reached full capacity for COVID-19 tests with sampling now prioritised for persons with symptoms. Close contacts are not being tested at present and are asked to restrict their movements for 14 days, if symptoms develop, they are then asked to self-isolate and phone their GP for advice. Due to demand for testing, Cusack Park has reopened as a testing facility.

An influx in calls from the public looking for testing results and seeking changes to appointments for swabbing has also been experienced.

"We are extremely busy as we deal with a record number of cases, and we must endeavour to utilise our resources efficiently. We ask people to not contact our department in relation to changing appointments for swabbing and to follow the above process".

Severe restrictions return as Covid takes hold again PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

SEVERE restrictions as seen in the first wave of Coronavirus have returned following a concerning increase in the spread of the virus.

Following a meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, it was agreed to close schools from Monday due to rising COVID-19 infections, Leaving Certificate students are an exception to this and will be allowed to attend school three days a week.

The Government remain determined that the traditional Leaving Cert exams will proceed in June.

Special schools and classes will also remain open. Online learning will be applicable for other classes and year-groups.

Non-essential construction projects will stop at 6pm on Friday evening.

Work on social housing that is nearly completion will be permitted, but only if it satisfies set criteria.

Large infrastructure projects and large school building projects can continue.

Health projects specific to Covid-19, housing adaption grants, and critical maintenance for rail, roads and utility projects are also exempt.

Emergency maintenance or repair work by plumbers, electricians and gas workers are permitted.

Essential workers would be allowed to form a bubble with another household in order to provide childcare if they do not have an existing arrangement, under plans discussed by the Cabinet. Childcare services, including regulated childminders and other childcare arrangements, will be permitted to continue to provide services but only for vulnerable children and children of essential workers.

Click and collect services for non-essen-

tial retail are to be replaced by delivery.

The pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) will remain untouched until the end of March.

Cuts announced in February to the PUP will not go ahead, the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe (FG) confirmed.

A travel ban for passengers from Britain and South Africa has been extended until Saturday.

Speaking on Wednesday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly (FF) said everything remained focused around one message which was to “stay home”.

At a press briefing earlier this week, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan revealed, “we haven’t been as concerned at any point in the pandemic as we are right now”. Current levels of infection are unsustainable as “it puts people in funeral homes,” he commented.

Daily counts of COVID-19 are “significantly in excess” of the first and second wave, the Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Professor Philip Nolan stated.

“We are seeing numbers which I have never anticipated that I would have to report on,” he admitted.

“Just over 3,000 cases per day on average were reported from December 28th to January 4th.

Healthcare workers are facing “a tsunami” of new cases, Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) stated when announcing the new measures.

“We are in a battle against an ever-changing virus... the lockdown we are introducing today is reflecting that stark and essential reality”.

The Taoiseach warned “truly enormous damage can be done if we let down our guard against our virus in any way in the time ahead”.

The Tanáiste Leo Varadkar (FG) stated, “January is the month in which we all stay in”.

lTHIRD WAVE: Rapid testing at the RocDoc facility in Shannon

Photo by Sean Curtin True Media

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Lahinch GP urges compliance with COVID-19 restrictions PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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NTENSIFIED COVID-19 restrictions should not deter the public from presenting with potentially serious illnesses.

Dr Michael Kelleher, a General Practitioner based in Lahinch appealed to the people of Clare to continue to follow public health advice by staying at home unless travelling for essential purposes, regularly washing hands, maintaining a social distance of two metres, restricting movements plus covering coughs and sneezes.

He highlighted that people should consult their GP if they come across health issues they are concerned about. "Time will tell but I expect we will see adverse consequences from late detection of serious illness or indeed existing

illness not being managed optimally because of loss of contact with healthcare professionals. Certain chronic ailments need regular input from healthcare management and that has certainly been adversely impacted in the last ten months".

Whether it is a lump or any other detection that may cause alarm, the Lahinch man insisted contact should be made with health professionals. "The health service is still working and in particular the GP service is still working, we may have restricted access to our building and people may be screened before they are given an appointment but anybody that has something which in anyway sounds serious is going to be seen and dealt with, the issue is where people may fail to present".

From speaking with fellow GPs, it was observed following the conclusion of previous lockdowns whereby an influx of individuals presented with illnesses later than

they should have reducing the ability to deal with issues at an early stage.

A careful screening process is in place for his family practice in Lahinch. "We have pushed out an awful lot of our elective work, a lot of general practice is elective care and a large part of general practice is care of chronic disease so where we can and we feel it is safe to do so we would have pushed it back several weeks and in some cases a few months. We're managing a lot more remotely either by telephone or by video," Dr Kelleher told The Clare Echo.

This July, Michael will celebrate 35 years of running the practice in Lahinch after taking over the reigns from his father. The impact of COVID-19 will not be quantified for years to come, he expected. "We'll be assessing the impact of COVID for many years, we've learned a lot about COVID in the past year but we've still so much

more to learn. Like any major global event, the shockwaves it generates may run for some time, the aspects to that include immediate healthcare, long-term health, immediate and long-term social impact, economic effects, all of those are intertwined with health, it will be quite some time before you can measure it all".

Presently, he is concerned with the rise in confirmed cases over recent weeks and said every effort must be made to bring down the numbers. "I would absolutely encourage people to be careful at limiting their contacts with others until we get the numbers down and get the R number below 1, it is possible to do that but it will take drastic adherence to the advice. It will be tough advice for seven or eight weeks but the consequences of not doing it are even worse such as rolling lockdowns running on for months and months rather than several tough weeks to try get on

top of it again. The chink of light at the end of this is we do have two vaccines approved and more coming down the track that are at the approval stage, if we keep to the pathway we will see the vaccines and they will have a huge impact".

lWARNING: Dr Michael Kelleher

Photo by Don McMonagle

Scheduled surgeries and outpatient appointments at Ennis Hospital and UHL deferred until further notice PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

SCHEDULED surgeries and outpatient appointments at Ennis Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, Nenagh Hospital, St John's Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital have been deferred.

On Tuesday evening, UL Hospitals Group made the announcement with the procedures deferred until further notice.

All affected patients are being contacted directly by the hospital. University Maternity Hospital Limerick is unaffected by the reductions.

The move has been made to prioritise high volumes of emergency COVID-19 patients and non-COVID patients. Patients affected by the cancellations will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity.

All care options should be considered before presenting to the emergency department at UHL which remains open for emergency care and patients must continue to present for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attack and stroke.

Emergency and trauma theatre continues to operate and time-critical outpatient appointments are also being accommodated both face-to-face and virtually.

Patients whose appointment or procedure is being affected are being con-

tacted by the hospital in advance. The reductions in service are being kept under continuous review by the UL Hospitals Group Crisis Management Team, which is currently meeting on a daily basis.

Visiting bans which were imposed across the hospital sites at the outset of the pandemic in March 2020 remain in force.

"We are now at a critical juncture as we expect the volume of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital will soon exceed the numbers we treated during the first wave.

This will present tremendous challenges for our hospitals and for our communities across the MidWest.

Since the start of the pandemic we have significantly increased staffing levels and bed capacity," CEO of UL Hospitals Group, Colette Cowan stated.

She added, "We are currently under considerable pressure but managing.

However no healthcare system could continue to cope with the current rate of increase in community transmission; hospital admissions and ICU admissions.

“The current rate of growth is unsustainable and we are depending on the public to again follow the public health advice as they have done in the past. It is imperative that people stay at home, that they keep their distance, wash their hands and take all the simple precautions to help us through this most challenging phase yet."

lHEALTH CRISIS: University Hospital Limerick

Services which continue include:

•Dialysis (UHL) •Cancer services (oncology and haematology day ward; haematology and oncology OPD clinics; medical oncology clinics; rapid access clinics; Ward 4B appointments) (UHL) •Fracture Clinic (UHL) •Other outpatient clinics: Time-critical only following clinical decision, with patients being contacted in advance •Paediatrics: oncology/radiology day case/diabetes education (UHL) •Ante-natal clinic; colposcopy clinic; diabetes in pregnancy clinic; elective c-sections and induction of labour (UMHL)

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

Phonecall from Leo Varadkar influenced Shane Ross to extend Rose Hynes' tenure PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

R

paraic@clareecho.ie

OSE Hynes' extension as Shannon Group Chairperson in August 2019 arose following a phone call by the then Taoiseach, a former Minister for Transport has claimed.

Writing in his memoir, 'In Bed With The Blueshirts', former Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross (IND) revealed that current TanĂĄiste Leo Varadkar (FG) encouraged him to extend the contract of Bellharbour woman Rose Hynes as Chairperson of Shannon Group.

Hynes was due to step down from the post on August 28th of 2019 when her five year term as Chair of the Group responsible for Shannon Airport, Shannon Heritage and Shannon Commercial Properties expired.

In a chapter of the book titled 'Mandarins Rule, Ok' detailing the influence held by civil servants in

the Leo Varadkar led Government, Ross recounted the events that led to Ms Hynes receiving a 12 month extension in the role. He said he "crossed swords" with the chairs of the DAA, CIÉ and Shannon Group before becoming Minister in May 2016.

He wrote, "The third appointment that promised to be an awkward encounter was Rose Hynes' position as chair of the Shannon Group. She had originally been appointed as chair of the Shannon

Airport Authority – again by Leo (Varadkar) – in 2013 and had been promoted to the chair of the Shannon Group on its incorporation in 2014. She was long past her sell-by date as a non executive director".

Ross continued, "Rose Hynes had been a director of the Bank of Ireland during the crash and chaired its remuneration committee when it was handing out outrageous salaries to top executives".

He highlighted that she was appointed to the board of Aer Lingus

lHOT SEAT: Rose Hynes, Shane Ross and Mary Considine

Photo by Arthur Ellis

in 1997 by former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes and stated, "Rose had a good line to the Blueshirts".

Varadkar did not make contact with Shane Ross regarding the departures of Padraig Ó Riordåin from the DAA or Vivienne Jupp from CIÉ but made an exception when it came to Rose Hynes.

A strong case for the North Clare woman remaining in the role was made by the then Minister's Department officials who believed that Shannon Group was facing "a crisis" and needed Rose at the helm.

"I was determined not to give her this extension and I told my officials so. They strongly resisted but in the end threw in the towel and suggested that I tell Rose myself ".

Subsequent "terse conversations" between Ross and Hynes followed.

Following one such discussion, the Dublin native came to the conclusion that he was dealing with "a shrewd judge" who felt he would be gone as Minister at the end of a potential one year contract extension.

"Rose was a street fighter, not giving up without a battle. She

wanted to stay giving a host of reasons why she should including the recent setbacks at Shannon Airport following several blows, not of her making".

They agreed that the Minister would consider "out of courtesy" for an extra few days her future as Chairperson. Ross wrote that less than five minutes after another conversation with Rose ended, he was contacted by the then Taoiseach who sought a phone call to discuss the matter.

Varadkar questioned if there was a case to keep Ms Hynes in place due to Shannon being in a difficult situation and whether he had a potential successor lined up.

In what he labelled "realpolitik", Ross outlined that he texted the Taoiseach a number of days after their phone call to inform him that he proposed to reappoint Rose for another 12 monts despite it not being the "original intention".

When the extension concluded in August 2020, Ms Hynes stood down from the post. No successor has been appointed by current Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP).

New owners of Shannon Town Centre promise revamp PĂ RAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

SKYCOURT Shopping Centre is under new ownership.

As part of the change of management, SkyCourt will be renamed Shannon Town Centre which was the original name of the shopping centre.

A series of changes and a revamp of the centre have been promised over the coming weeks "to enhance the shopping experience and expand the variety of shops within the centre".

Already, vacant units have had 'to let' signs erected outside their doors when there was previously none.

Immediate actions have been welcomed by locals with Love Shannon among the first to herald the new era.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) described SkyCourt as "a failed entity".

He felt Clare County Council missed an opportunity in the early 2000s to capitalise on the potential of the shopping centre.

"The right move would have been for the local authority to go in and take it over, there is a precedent of the local authority doing that".

lUPDATE: Skycourt Shopping Centre Photo by John Mangan

Â

TAKE AWAY COCKTAILS

Each Cocktail Bottle Serves 4

Arts & Entertainment 13

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

Fantastic Farrells take the spoils in TG4 talent show PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE family were announced as the winners of the TG4 talent show, 'Réalta agus Gaolta'.

The Farrell family from New Quay were declared as the winners of the series which aspired to find the country's most entertaining act of 2020.

42 acts participated in the show which was broadcast over eight episodes and presented

by Eoghan McDermott.

Known locally for performing as a quartet, the Farrells managed to bring excitement to North Clare over the festive period with their success and how they impressed the judg-

ing panel which was comprised of sean-nos singer Irial Ó Ceallaigh, broadcaster and producer Sinéad Ní Uallacháin, broadcaster and producer and guest judge, singer Nell Ní Chróinín.

All four Farrells are students of Coole Music, Shónagh, Mia, Euan and Noah performed

lIN THE GENES: Shónagh, Mia, Noah and Euan Farrell

their own rendition of the Cranberries song 'Zombie'. They are members of various orchestras and chamber music groups attached to Coole Music.

Their parents Brian and Ellie Farrell have a small family run coach hire business, Burren Coaches and the children have often played for Brian's tour groups from the USA. With the decline in business on account of COVID-19, the siblings used the time to practice together on a more frequent basis.

Shónagh the eldest of the four siblings who turned 19 in December played the lead violin and sang while Mia (17) played viola, Euan (14) played the cello and Noah (10), played violin.

They combined their music with vocals and dance moves into a well-polished act that convinced the judges.

O'Hallorans and Kulczynskis fly the Clare flag in Ireland's Fittest Family TWO Clare families are flying the county flag in the latest series of Ireland's Fittest Family, writes Páraic McMahon.

Created by Clare men, James Sexton and Davy Fitzgerald, the popular RTÉ show returned for its eighth series on Sunday evening.

Two Clare families have made the shortlist of 16 that are vying to take home the title and the €15,000 cash prize.

Donncha O'Callaghan is the mentor for the O'Halloran family from Kilkishen. James (54) works as a plumber and formerly represented his county in both soccer and hurling, he continues to play five-a-side soccer. Clodagh (24) is

a teacher who currently lines out with UL Bohs and Munster in rugby and Newmarket-on-Fergus in camogie.

Jamie (23) works alongside his father as a plumber, he formerly played soccer at underage level but more recently began training in Muay Thai. Leanne (18) won the title of Munster's Young Leading Rider, horse-racing has become the priority for the childcare worker who played camogie and ladies football growing up.

Clarecastle's Kulczynskis are under the watchful eye of Derval O'Rourke.

Originally from England, Leroy (49) started training for obstacle races last September despite never running in

his life. He now runs a minimum of 40km every seven days and works as a cycling instructor. Nicola (47) takes part in fitness programmes and likes to run, hike, swim and cycle, she describes herself as a yoga and Pilates enthusiast.

Sabian (18) has multiple national titles in triathlons, aquathons and duathlons and has represented his country across Europe. He is a swimmer, mountain biker, road biker and used to run cross country.

Luca (15) is an Enduromountain biker and skateboarder. Described as a "science lunatic" by his family, he has a pet ant farm and his motto is "if it don't burn it goes bang".

lFIT: James, Leanne, Clodagh and Jamie O’Halloran

lFAM: Sabian, Luca, Nicola and Leroy Kulczynski

‘A life devoted to music’ CLARE Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have led the tributes to a Newmarketon-Fergus man who devoted his life promoting CCE, writes Páraic McMahon.

Pat Liddy was one of six children Dan, Séamus, Pat, Cyril, Attracta and Peggy, his parents were farmers and their home at Lislea, Newmarket-on Fergus was a house full of music, singing and dancing.

The Liddy family name is synonymous with Comhaltas and with traditional music in general.

Pat devoted his life to promoting Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, in the 1960s he helped set up a number of branches throughout the county.

He was passionate about set dancing and with his wife Nora they ran the hugely successful Cine Rínce set dancing club at Cois na hAbhna for many years. Pat was an excellent set dancing tutor and he was a fixture at Scoil Fleadh Nua, he also adjudicated at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for many years.

Apart from set dancing Pat loved singing and he attended many of the singing clubs in Co. Clare and beyond.

His long time friend and neighbour Robbie McMahon held his "First Friday" sessions at Duggan's Pub in Spancilhill where Pat was a regular visitor.

Pat was chairman of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 1977 when it returned to Ennis after a gap of 21 years, In 2006 Cois na hAbhna was redeveloped with the support of State funding, a new management board was put in place by Comhaltas HQ, where Pat served as treasurer.

Pat is survived by his wife Nora, children Gearóid, Cathal and Triona, grandchildren and extended family.

lRIP: Pat Liddy

14 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum With

With With

Clare Echo farming columnist Joe Melody reflects on 2020 from an agricultural perspective and points to a rallying in the dairy sector to make a decent year

A

NEW year always heralds in new hope but also opportunity to reflect on the year that was.

Agriculture as an industry has a lot to be thankful for during 2020. Amongst the atmosphere of fear and anxiety that overhung the early part of the year mainly due to the projections of what havoc COVID-19 would wreak on not just human life but also on people’s livelihoods and in our case the price of food.

This day last year as farmers we were after coming out of period of subdued cattle prices but dairy markets were on the rise.

However with the proliferation of the virus, all bets were off as to where farmers incomes would end up.

Milk prices took a dive in February but by May were starting to see the green shoots of a recovery. The fact that all the milk that farmers produced was processed and that no link in the supply chain dropped out of operation was a testament to the good work and planning of all involved.

Another example of how resilient our dairy production and marketing model is in this country was the fact that not a single litre of milk had to be spilled out due to a lack of market for the product.

I know that several of my dairy farming counterparts in England had to spill milk down the drain into slatted tanks as their processor had no market for it as a lot of UK milk goes directly to the food service i.e. restaurants and hotels and these being shutdown cut all markets for these farms.

In Ireland we luckily have a much more balanced product mix from our milk and much more is exported to various countries that also spreads our risk. To this end our dairy sector was able to weather the worst of the COVID-19 storm and actually rally in the second half to have a decent year all in all.

In the beef side of farming there was a more subdued start to 2020 coming out of a negative cycle of prices punctuated by the beef protests of late summer 2019. As the year gathered momentum especially towards the back end, it proved to be a sellers market.

What I found interesting especially in the last weeks of December was that factory agents seemed happy to pay 30-40 cent per kg more in the mart for finished cattle than the same factories were paying for direct sales from the farm.

We have moved away from the winter finishing of cattle in the past year, but if I was selling finished cattle I would be inclined to bring them to the mart as these agents obviously have more flexibility if not a carte blanche to buy the cattle the factory needs.

We enjoyed a quiet Christmas with only the minimal amount of routine jobs to be done. We housed most of our weanling dairy heifers last week. Considering the rainfall we’ve had to the end of 2020, I’m well reminded that we as farmers in this part of Ireland have a great factory for producing food but its just a pity sometimes that said factory has no roof on it.

ď ŹLOOKING FORWARD: Joe Melody housing the weanling dairy heifers

A new year, the same story

A

S 2021 rolls in, so does the ongoing saga of Coronavirus roll on. New year, same story.

With record numbers being hit and hospitals suddenly seeing a massive increase in people admitted with severe cases, the Government needed to take decisive action.

Firstly, I must put my hands up. I was one of those who thought a partial opening of the economy was a good thing at the beginning of December.

With numbers falling dramatically and things seemingly under control, I felt that the public should be trusted with an opening up of some businesses and home visitations. I said in my column at the time that it was down to each one of us to do the right things to ensure that, in such a scenario, cases remained low.

It is clear from what has transpired in the interim, though, that some people just could not help themselves. I saw this first-hand with deplorable lack of hand hygiene, incorrect mask wearing and hand sanitization in large stores and shopping centres, coupled with an absolute disregard for social distancing.

That is before considering the reports of further house parties that occurred throughout the Christmas break.

There was even a Covid cluster reported form a marquee set up for a 30th birthday party in West Clare in late December. Some people, it seems, just cannot be trusted, and they have ruined it for everyone.

Not only that, but from reports from testers and contact tracers I have spoken to, there was an alarming number of people who displayed symptoms and simply ignored them, electing instead to travel cross country to celebrate Christmas with family, thereby infecting them all.

There is no other word for it but selfishness. Now we find ourselves entering another full lockdown with schools and all non-essential work shut. The natural tendency is to blame nameless, faceless lobby groups and of course, politicians, but the fact of the matter is that it is individual people that spread the virus and no one else. In this war,

the virus is the true enemy, but we have also shot ourselves in the foot.

It appears the case that news of a vaccine led to people letting their guard down, despite multiple warnings not to. Even though the roll out has started, it will take months to vaccinate just the healthcare staff and the over 65’s.

The Pfizer vaccine is set to see 40,000 doses delivered a week. But it is worth keeping in mind that each of these will need a booster shot dose in three weeks’ time, meaning whatever number of doses we receive will vaccinate half that number of people.

It is the same story for the Moderna vaccine, of which the Government had initially ordered 880,000 doses. In total, to vaccinate the roughly 80,000 healthcare staff and 700,000 people over the age of 65 will take over 1.5 million doses of vaccines. Even if the Moderna vaccine matches the roll out of the Pfizer one, we are still talking about roughly 20 weeks of a vaccination programme before the most vulnerable section of society is vaccinated.

For herd immunity to take effect, a population needs somewhere between 67% and 80% immunity. At the lower end of that immunity figure, at the current roll out rate, we would be looking at roughly two years to vaccinate our way to herd immunity. This is not viable. A speed up is needed

and early indications are that Government are intending to do just that.

Where the Government’s hopes lay is that, given the fact Moderna’s vaccine can be kept at normal refrigeration temperatures for up to a month, that this vaccine can be ramped up significantly. It is the same story for the, yet, unapproved Oxford vaccine, which has begun roll out in the UK. The European Medicine’s Agency has requested further information from the vaccine’s producer before it gives it the all clear.

These two are set to become the main vaccinations for the general population here and the hope is that the speed of distribution of these can at least half the amount of time it will take us to get to herd immunity.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it is still a long way away. The tunnel is proving longer than any of us had hoped it to be. There is a school of thought that the economy can reopen when the over 65’s, healthcare workers and those with serious underlying conditions, estimated as 25% the population.

This means 2.4 million is the magic number of vaccination doses required if this is true. It is all down to a matter of medical logistics from here.

In the meantime, stay home, stay safe and protect the health service.

ď ŹCOVID: chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Professor Philip Nolan

COLUMNIST 15

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

TASTY AS HELL CHICKEN BREAST Kearney Cooks

S

O THE new year is upon us, and we have all survived. I have gained a few pounds over the Christmas and I need to do something about it. So I will start by eating a bit healthier, eating more veggies and fruits, and trying to cut out as much fatty foods as I can. That doesn’t mean my dinners still can’t be tasty as hell, just means that they are less likely to stop my heart.

My first dish this month will take inspiration from Chinese meat sung dishes.

For this dish I will make a dressing, a slaw and a yummy chicken breast which we will serve in lettuce cups or wraps.

For this recipe you will need For the dressing: • 1 chilli • 2 garlic cloves • 1 knob of ginger • Half an onion • Juice of 1 Lime • 30 ml soy sauce • 20 ml oyster sauce • 10 ml fish sauce.

Senator Martin Conway

A

For the slaw: • 1 carrot • 1 Spring onion • Half a red onion • Some parsely or coriandor.

Chop your ingredients up very finely and horse all your ingredients into a bowl and set aside for later. (You can use a grater for the carrot if you’re lazy like me)

hour.

Then fry it in a hot pan, a few minutes on either side until its cooked. No harm to fire a squirt of lime juice over the chicken as it cooks.

When it’s cooked set it aside for plating up time.

TO PLATE UP On a big plate or board, place a big pile of slaw, some of the spicy dressing and your sliced up chicken breast. Take a lettuce ( iceberg or cos work good) and cut it in half, and use the lettuce leafs as cups.

In a lettuce cup, pile in some slaw, some dressing and some of your chopped chicken and eat it like a wrap.

If you want to add some chopped peanut or sesame seeds to this they both work great with these flavours too.

This sort of meal can work great as a light snack, a sharing starter or even as a light main course.

Enjoy

Steve K

The chicken: • 1 chicken breast per person • 4 tblsp natural yoghurt • Juice of one lime Salt and pepper for seasoning Flatten your chicken breast by putting it between two sheets of clingfilm and give it a hefty beating with a rolling pin.

Season your chicken heavily with salt and pepper and marinate it in the lime juice and yoghurt for a half

FOR VIDEO DEMO, SCAN THE QR CODE WITH YOUR PHONE

We are putting lives at risk by sharing falsehoods

Opinion

S THE new year gets underway we all hoped that Covid-19 would have been well supressed and we could begin the long road to rebuilding our lives but sadly that is not the case. Too many people have tested positive, are sick and sadly have died from this awful virus. As we all redouble our efforts to flatten the curve again we do so in the knowledge that there will be brighter days ahead.

It was heartening to see Dr. Catherine Motherway administer the first vaccine in the Mid-West to Rosaleen O’Brien a nurse in the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick. By the end of this week 32,000 frontline healthcare workers and 3000 residents and staff in long term care facilities will have received the Covid-19 vaccine.

Over the past 200 years in Ireland, apart from clean water vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention. The World Health Organisation tells us that 207,500 people died from measles last year, the same measles that most of us would consider a pretty mild affliction.

In the 1970’s an average of seven children died every year from measles here in Ireland. Many survivors were left with permanent disabilities including deafness or brain damage.

Put all these ingredients together in a blender and blend the shit out of them.

Strain your mix into a bowl and set aside for later.

Senator Martin Conway (FG) discusses Covid-19 vaccine misinformation Then something close to miraculous happened in 1985. Ireland began a vaccination programme against measles. The number of cases here declined dramatically, from 10,000 in 1985 to just 201 in 1987. It was the clearest example in recent history of the effects of a vaccine at first hand.

Everyone of us who lived through that era could only draw one conclusion – vaccines work.

Another near miracle was also happening around 1985. The internet was being born. What it empowered us to do, changed humanity forever. It gave us all a voice to say the things we wanted to say, in a domain where we could reach thousands of people with the click of a button.

In Clare, we were one of the first Counties in Ireland to embrace this technology when Ennis became Ireland’s Information Age Town and every house was given a computer and access to the Internet. Little did we know back then that the two worlds of medical science and information technology would eventually collide early in the 21st century, with pretty alarming consequences.

Jonathan Swift once lamented that “falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it”. Falsehoods about the Measles Mumps Rubella vaccine began circulating on the internet about 20 years ago. With the advent of social

media in recent years, the falsehoods took flight in earnest with the truth always struggling to catch up. They are now having a devastating effect on vaccination rates.

In 2018, Europe recorded 84,462 cases of measles, up from only 5,273 cases in 2016. In 2018 the UK lost its ‘measles-free’ designation from the WHO, three years after the measles virus was eliminated from the country. Here in Ireland there are concerns that we could lose ours, with the number of cases having risen by 260 per cent, increasing from 25 cases in 2017 to 90 cases in 2019.

There’s a lesson to be learned here.

Blatantly false information circulating on social media caused thousands of parents worldwide to deny their children the MMR vaccine and people suffered from a completely avoidable and often serious illness. As we prepare to embark on another life- saving global vaccination programme to rid ourselves of Covid-19, we need to learn from the mistakes of the past.

In the context of the upcoming Covid-19 vaccination programme the WHO has already flagged what it describes as an “infodemic”, an overabundance of information coming at us from all angles, with very little time to determine what is the truth and what is misinformation. To quote the WHO – “Without the appropriate

trust and correct information, campaigns to promote effective vaccines will not meet their targets, and the virus will continue to thrive. Misinformation costs lives”.

We now more than ever need to studiously check the facts on the vaccine by using the websites of the HSE, the WHO and other trusted institutions. We shouldn’t share information without first checking if it’s accurate and based on sound scientific research. By casually sharing that social media post, or the rumour heard on the bus yesterday, we are putting lives at risk. It’s that simple.

So what do we know so far about the Covid-19 vaccination programme that we have embarked upon? What are our scientists, our healthcare professionals and our pharmaceutical regulators telling us?

Firstly, the vaccines that have been developed for use in Ireland do not entail injecting us with the Covid-19 virus. The vaccine does not give you Covid-19. Instead it contains only a snippet of the virus, one particular protein, a smart messenger in essence.

It teaches our immune system to recognise that Covid-19 protein if it encounters it again, and to react by immediately shutting down infection.

Secondly, the vaccines do not alter or interact with your DNA in any way. Human cells can naturally break

down and get rid of that messenger protein soon after they have finished using the instructions.

Thirdly, the vaccine development has not been rushed, no corners have been cut. The process of testing and approving these vaccines will be as robust as it was for any vaccine in the past. The timeline for developing Covid-19 vaccines was shortened considerably because of the massive global investment made in researching the vaccine, and the pooling of the greatest scientific minds on the planet, all working towards a common goal.

In addition, because of the massive numbers of people already infected with Covid-19, it was possible to carry out large clinical trials in a short timeframe.

These vaccines are the result of an unprecedented global collaboration to address the global challenge of our lifetime. This is all of humanity working together for the right reasons and in all our interests, perhaps something we need to do a little more of.

I will be taking a vaccine the minute I have access to one. Having read the advice given by the HSE and WHO, I know that I’m doing the right thing for me and my family. We need to believe in science and in healthcare professionals who have our welfare at heart. We need to champion truth over misinformation.

16 FEATURES

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

GREEN CLARE

Take the New Year green challenge CIAN O’BROIN

H

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ERE are some helpful baseline tips to start off your year on the right foot and play your part in combatting the current climate crisis we now find ourselves truly enveloped within.

Invest in a reusable shopping bag - Packaging waste makes up just over one million of the approximately 2.7 million tonnes of municipal waste from homes, schools and businesses.

Plastic now accounts 19 per cent of general waste bins in Irish households. It takes 500 years for a plastic bag to decay once it’s in a landfill. Ensuring that you have an adequate number of reusable bags, primed and readied in the boot of your car each week, you can help reduce plastic waste in Clare.

Try Sustainable Transport – We have all seen an increase in people both cycling and

walking since the start of the pandemic. By going green with your commute in Clare, you personally nullify the fact that vehicles have a major impact on our environment — with the EPA reporting that 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation; according to their findings, a typical passenger vehicle emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Try purchasing a bike, electric scooter or commuting by foot if possible.

Try Shopping local and sustainably - shopping local is beneficial for the environment and your community. help curb the energy and resources necessary for transportation and packaging at big box stores.

There are some personal benefits, too, as shopping at local grocery stores and farmers markets, it’s likely you’ll get fresher produce.

Give up/Eat less meat – Veganuary is one challenge that many sustainable thinkers dip their toes into in the new year. This doesn’t mean you have to give up meat entirely, simply reduce the amount on your plate each week. This would soften the effects of farming on the planet. Research in 2011 found

lSUSTAINABLE: Reduce plastic with reusable shopping bags

lPLANT BASED: A vegan diet is one of the biggest ways to reduce your carbon footprint

that 119.1 million tons of methane were produced globally by livestock passing gas.

A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use, and water use. Join a local community group – Over the past year, The Clare Echo has highlighted the fantastic work of a multitude of voluntary environmental organisations such as Tidy Towns, Wild About Miltown Malbay, the Shannon Wetlands Restoration Project and many more.

Litter pickups, beach cleans and seed planting not only benefit the environment

but provide a social platform to connect with your local community.

Reach out to Clare County Council to find the group that is nearest and best suited for you in 2021.

Stay Informed – Staying informed on the ongoing and aggravating climate crisis is the best way to consistently attune yourself to the needs of our planet. Keep following The Clare Echo’s Green Clare page where we will both celebrate and investigate the most prevalent environmental issues within our county and ultimately hope to inspire our readers to do more for their local environment in 2021.

FEATURES 17

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

Care for our kids RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

M

ANY of us had big goals and aspirations for last year, but, just a few months into the year 2020, chaos and panic seemed to overwhelm our country and our world.

And, if we are being honest with ourselves, perhaps the panic overwhelmed even our minds, hearts and souls at times. And so far, as we dip our toes into 2021 each day still seems to bring about more bad news than good news, and we have had to learn how to live life differently than we have ever had to live before. It can be difficult right now to find clarity in what life is really all about.

Life as we know it has changed for many people. Adults are used to being faced with stressful situations at times in life albeit maybe not used to dealing with a pandemic, but one question that rings louder in my ears is, how are all of these changes impacting our children’s lives? Especially when it comes to their mental health and peace of mind. Our children need peace and love now more than ever as we continue to journey into this new year of 2021.

Prayer for our children

Let us pray for our children in these uncertain and difficult days.

Please look after your greatest treasure which is your children as this is a crucial time during this dreadful Coronavirus time for them and for us and for all our children in Ireland and in our world.

If we believe in the goodness of one another and in the true sense of community and care and genuine love for another then we will do whatever we can to help, care, support and love everyone as much as we humanly can for there are a lot of people and especially children in need in our county, our country and our world!

I pray now for children in our communities who live without either of their parents: children whose parents have died, children removed from their parents as a result of abuse or neglect, children that have been abandoned or have experienced being unloved and uncared for and children who have run away from home.

You care for these little ones God, and not one of them is lost from your sight. Guide, guard and protect these children. Comfort each one who feels unloved, unwanted, uncared for and afraid.

Give wisdom to people especially those in power who make decisions

about children’s lives that they will make a difference for good in children’s lives. Empower those who care for them to be loving, caring, trustworthy and compassionate.

Instil in our government leaders a passion and a will to protect the most vulnerable especially our children. We also pray for parents and children who have been wrongly separated, that you will end their agony and help them to be reunited. We pray this prayer for everyone’s needs but especially for our children and the world’s children that they may be cared for, loved and given the chance and right to life that every child deserves. Amen.

Be You in 2021

To the person or child who has lost his or her spark. To the person or child whose get up and go, has well and truly gone. This is for you. This is to remind you, that you don’t have to be everything to everyone, every day. You didn’t sign up for that. Remember when you used to Laugh? Sing? Dance?

Play? Throw caution to the wind?

Remember when you used to forgive yourself more quickly for not always being perfect. You can get that back again. You really can.

And that doesn’t have to mean letting people down or walking away.

It just means being kinder to you, feeling brave enough to say no sometimes. Being brave enough to stop sometimes. And rest. It starts the moment you realise that you’re not quite who you used to be.

Some of that is good, some of that is not. There are parts of you that need to be brought back. And if anyone in your life is not okay with that… they are not your people.

Your people will be glad to see that spark starting to light up again.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, hold in tenderness and prayer the collective suffering of our world at this time especially the people and families affected by this awful Covid-19 pandemic. We grieve for those precious lives lost and vulnerable lives threatened. We ache for our loved ones, friends, neighbours and ourselves, facing an uncertain future.

May we all be faithful to the behavioral and medical advice provided and may God inspire us to be generous in our proactive care and solidarity and may I offer up this comforting blessing for you, the reader on your life's journey as we continue to enter into 2021 that you may see the light in the darkness during these challenging

times because of the Coronavirus!

May you feel the loving presence of those who hold you in their thoughts and prayers! May your spirit find what it needs to sustain you on this journey of life! May you discover your inner strength and face all difficulties with dignity and grace.

May you be filled with comfort, love, strength, grace and a lasting sense of peace! May the light of your soul guide you. May the light of your soul bless the work that you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart. May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul. May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work. May your work never weary you.

May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement. May you be present in what you do. May you never become lost in bland absences.

May the day never burden.

May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities and promises. May evening find you gracious and fulfilled. May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected. May your soul calm, console and renew you. May there always be work for your hands to do.

May your purse always hold a coin or two; May the sun always shine on your windowpane; May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; May the hand of a friend always be near you; May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. May the blessing of God's soft rain be on you, Falling gently on your head, refreshing your soul.

With the sweetness of little flowers newly blooming. May the strength of the winds of Heaven bless you, Carrying the rain to wash your spirit clean. Sparkling after in the sunlight.

May the blessing of God's earth be on you, And as you walk the roads, May you always have a kind word for those you meet.

May joy and peace surround you, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now and bless you evermore! May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.

May the soft winds freshen your spirit. May the sunshine brighten your heart. May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you, and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love now and always.

I also pray for us all to have the power to be gentle, loving, kind and caring to one another and to ourselves; the strength to be forgiving and be forgiven; the patience to be understanding and compassionate and merciful; and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding to what we believe to be right and good and peaceful.

Amen.

Xcessible Bronze Award for Clare Sports Partnership PÁRAIC MCMAHON

F

paraic@clareecho.ie

OLLOWING almost a year of development work internally, Clare Sports Partnership has been awarded the Xcessible Bronze Award by national pan-disability sport organisation, Cara.

Xcessible has been developed to help support and empower national governing bodies (NGBs) and local sports partnerships (LSPs) to provide positive and meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport and physical activity.

Speaking about the award, John Sweeney, Co-ordinator of Clare Sports Partnership, said: "When we were asked to pilot this programme in December 2019, I knew that this was a nod to the important work that James Murrihy in our Sports Inclusion Programme has been doing over the past decade.

"I had no doubt that we would achieve the standard set by Cara. The achievement is testament to the dedicated work of all the staff and the board of directors of Clare Sports Partnership. Building a strong foundation for inclusion and nurturing the relationship with Cara has always been a priority for Clare Sports Partnership."

Presenting the award, Odhrán Doherty, National Sport Inclusion Co-ordinator with Cara, said: "The panel was hugely impressed with your work under the five objectives of the programme and in particular the cultural change that you have achieved throughout the organisation

in relation to inclusion. The panel was also impressed with the connectivity between staff and board members and also with the open conversations among staff that are now happening organically to plan and develop activities."

In order to achieve the award, Clare Sports Partnership was required to provide evidence of its work and journey and presented to the Xcessible panel at the end of November on its experiences, results and the outcomes of work completed in line with the objectives of the Xcessible Award.

James Murrihy, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer (SIDO) with Clare Sports Partnership, said: "We are absolutely delighted to achieve the inaugural Xcessible Bronze Award. Thanks to Cara for their support throughout the process. I would like to thank my colleagues and the board for embracing the cultural and organisational change throughout the process and we look forward to beginning our Silver journey in 2021."

Mr Ger O'Halloran, Vice Chair of Clare Sports Partnership, said: "The Bronze Award is a fitting result for the inclusion work being led by SIDO, James Murrihy, and being delivered by all associated with Clare Sports Partnership. It is great that we have taken the first steps towards the aim of Gold accreditation. It's always crucial to have long-term plans that can easily complement the daily work of the staff on the ground."

Clare Sports Partnership will now work towards the Xcessible Silver Award and beyond.

For more information on their inclusive sports programme, see www.claresports. ie.

lDELIGHTED: Sports Inclusion Disability Officer with Clare

Sports Partnership James Murrihy Photo by Burren Eye Photography

18 COMMUNITY

Community MILFORD MILFORD ANNUAL 10K RUN

Milford Hospice announced this week that its annual 10km fundraising campaign, kindly supported by Dell Technologies. will take place over the last weekend of January 2021 as a virtual event. The 10km Run/Walk, now in its ninth year, will be staggered over two days, 30th and 31st January 2021, to allow participants to take part while adhering to all social distancing and mass gathering rules.

The event is open to runners and walkers

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

DOORA of all levels and abilities with the proceeds going directly to support the work of Milford Hospice across the three counties of Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary.

Early-bird registration is now open, with a fee of €15, so early registration is encouraged. Participants can register on Milford Care Centre’s website, www.milfordcarecentre.ie or for further details please feel free to contact the Fundraising Department on 061 485860.

COUNTYWIDE RED CROSS APPEAL

Irish Red Cross Clare would like to thank all of their volunteers and loyal supporters who supported the work being done by the Irish Red Cross in Clare.

In 2020 they completed a total of 256 community transports, traveling from all corners of Co. Clare to hospitals all over Ireland free of charge to the people of Clare for Medical appointments. Volunteers completed a total of 8,119 hours in 2020 despite COVID 19 Level 5 restrictions.

This year they expect to add to their fleet of vehicles with their second Community Sup-

port vehicle, which is being part fund by a CLAR Grant of €42,685.00. They expect to have this in place by May or June 2021.

They need your support to keep the wheels rolling – Donate to gofundmeirishredcrossclarecommunityservices.

Continue donating to their counter top boxes which are in shops, chemists, and some pubs all over Co. Clare Irish Red Cross Clare are looking for Clare Businesses to donate and reduce the debt on their New Building. Contact James Lafferty Irish Red Cross Clare Area Treasurer at (086)8323456 for further information.

Mental Health Reform in association with First Fortnight are hosting an online conversation cafe on youth mental health in the mid-west. This meeting will take place on Zoom at 5.30pm on Thursday 14th January and is opened to everyone to join. It will also be streamed live on Mental Health Reforms’s twitter account.

“We invite people across Limerick, Clare and Tipperary to take part in a conversation

raised €310 during their Christmas Jumper and Hot Chocolate Fundraiser for the Brothers of Charity

ONLINE VIRTUAL WALKING CLASSES

ONLINE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

lCHOCOLATE FOR CHARITY: Students Emilie, Charlie and Thomas from Doora NS who

exploring youth mental health issues across the region.

“Our event will explore some of the challenges young people face in maintaining good mental health and will create a space for young people to come together to look towards better mental health services and supports” says event organiser Elisa O’Donovan.

To join the meeting email eodonovan@mentalhealthreform.ie or contact 086-8353990

ENNISTYMON

Local Clare activity company, Nordic Fitness Ireland are running a free programme of online walking classes in January. Nordic Fitness Ireland run walking programmes for health and fitness (Including Nordic Walking).

“2020 was a challenging year which we have successfully navigated and have built up a loyal group of locals who participate in our walking programmes, which include both outdoor walking events and online classes.

“As we have entered another tight lockdown period, we recognise many people will not get the usual kickstart to their New Years resolutions for fitness.

“To help motivate individuals to kickstart 2021, we will be running a series of FREE classes online for walking fitness. Walking is one of the best ways to stay fit and maintain mental wellbeing and is suitable for everyone.

“We have years of experience of walking.

Tony has completed numerous ultra mara-

thon events as well as climbing Everest in 1993.

“Joanne has completed marathons and triathlons and was a nurse for nearly 40 years and well aware of the importance of looking after both physical and mental well being.

We are both qualified fitness walking instructors.

“We will run 3 online sessions during the week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Tuesdays: Stretch and Flex Online for Walking.

Thursdays: Walking Fit Online.

Saturday: We will encourage people to go out for their own walk then join us and others for coffee and chat afterwards via Zoom to share their experience of their walk.

“We often have guest speakers on these Zooms to share exciting walking adventure stories.”

All our sessions are visible and can be booked for free during lockdown on our website www.nordicfitnessireland.com.

DOORA ROAD SAFETY

lGIFTS APLENTY: While students of Scoil Mhainchín, Ennistymon NS weren’t able to

pay their usual Christmas visit to Ennistymon Community Hospital for music song and dance, they were delighted that principal Helen, parent rep Diane, and student Hollie got to deliver personalised gifts of handmade decorations and cribs as well as personalised bookmarks and cards etc for each resident. “Sincere thanks to Matron Orla and staff,” said a spokesperson for the school

"Near-miss incidents" on the L8172 road in Doora have led to consultations surrounding the provision of warning signs at both entry points.

Citing "near-miss incidents" at the location, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) appealed for efforts to be undertaken to slow down the traffic on the "narrow and windy road". In a motion before the Ennis Municipal District, she highlighted that it was being used as a shortcut between the Quin Rd and the Tulla Rd. Inspections of the road had been completed, senior engineer Eamon O'Dea informed the December meeting of the Ennis MD. Consultations were ongoing with the Council's road design section "to confirm the appropriate provision of warning signs at the entry points from the Knockanean and Quin Roads".

O'Dea outlined, "The nature of the road

would restrict road traffic speeds and drivers are obliged (a) to exercise due care and attention at all times (b) should always take the prevailing road conditions into account and (c) always drive taking other users of the road into account".

Increased signage would be a step forward, Colleran Molloy believed. She described the road as "tricky".

"It is the link road to the Quin Rd and the Tulla Rd. I had a motion on the very first bend on this link which is very dangerous," Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said as he seconded the motion.

In response, O'Dea stressed that both were "different roads".

He acknowledged that a unformed approach with signage is needed "so that the people are getting the same form of signage in other areas". He warned that if Daly's motion was progressed, the Ennis MD faced the prospect of introducting signs "for every bendy road in the Municipal District".

RECRUITMENT 19

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

Recruitment

Sponsored by

Finding you the right candidate, Hassle Free Jobs in Clare

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Beckman Coulter receive health and wellbeing award PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

N EAST Clare company has been named as the winner in the Best Employee and Wellbeing Strategy in the HR Leadership and Management Awards 2020.

At a virtual event, Beckman Coulter received three accolades including first place in the Best Employee Health & Wellbeing Strategy category and second place honours for Best Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and also Best Employer Branding Programme.

The biomedical devices company, which currently employs over 460 people in Ireland, has

recently completed a significant expansion of its Tulla facility.

Senior HR manager, Karen Kelly expressed her pride with the accomplishments of the HR team at Beckman Coulter. "These awards confirm the team's true dedication to supporting all our employees here in Co Clare across health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and employer branding all of which complement our overall engagement strategy".

Beckman Coulter's Clare site is manufacturing key serology products (assays) in the fight against COVID-19. Serology (or antibody) testing can be a vital tool for determining who has already been infected and might have immunity to a virus. Serology testing measures a person's levels of antibodies, created as an immune response to an invader.

l DEDICATION: Beckman Coulter, Tulla

Establishment of air-cargo bridge at Shannon Airport ‘a huge opportunity for Mid-West’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

l ECONOMY: Brexit could benefit Shannon Airport Photo by Joe Buckley

A CLARE TD is leading the call for the creation of an "air cargo bridge" at Shannon Airport post-Brexit.

Establishment of an air cargo bridge could rejuvenate Shannon and the MidWest but also provide opportunities for the Irish economy according to Cathal Crowe TD (FF).

He outlined, "I've been speaking extensively with Damien Regan from Sixmilebridge and Kieran O'Callaghan from Limerick in recent months and I formally requested that they be given an opportunity to come before our committee to outline this excellent plan".

"Although air cargo only accounts for 1% of all cargo exported from Ireland, it has a very high monetary value – it's estimated it counts for 30% of the value of all our exports.

"At the same time, we are trucking exports from Shannon to the UK, for it to be flown to every corner of the globe which makes zero sense.

"Damien and Kieran are proposing that post-Brexit we would have an air cargo facility to ensure that Ireland is perfectly positioned to be a stepping-stone between

North America and Europe," Deputy Crowe explained.

Shannon Airport's runway and facilities make it the best positioned Airport in the country for the proposal, they argued.

"I made the point, as I have done before, that Boston Scientific continue to manufacture high end medical devices with each cargo crate valued at around a million euro – yet these crates sit on the apron of Shannon's runway, in close proximity to grounded jets, get trucked by night to Rosslare and on to Heathrow, from where they get flown to their international destinations.

Crowe told a recent sitting of the Oireachtas Transport Committee that the Irish government look at what the Luxemburgish state has done to guarantee solid air connectivity for its cargo outputs.

"CargoLux is owned by the Luxembourg government, which has a 56.6% stake – has recorded annual profits €200 million.

"Although civilian air travel might be down, there is no slowing of the movement of cargo between countries.

"This is a unique opportunity and there's an essential need for an air cargo to be developed here.

"I don't think trucking can meet the needs of our nation and I hope the government can consider state involvement."

20 CLICK FOR CLARE

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

Fujifilm, where people get ‘that local contact’ CIAN O’BROIN

F

cian@clareecho.ie

UJIFILM’S Wonder Photo Shop opened its doors to Ennis in 2007, seeing off a hard-hitting recession in its first few years through adaptability and innovation, tells owner Niall Considine.

In the early stages, the shop contained five cabinets full of cameras.

“We weren’t wedded to the idea of a traditional camera shop and decided to dump our camera range.

Over the years you learn what sells and what doesn’t,” he states.

Niall affirms that the store offers the highest quality products from the best people. Last year, renovations allowed for further wall space, offering customers an unmatched in store wall art experience. “It feels comfortable, like a café. The head of Fujifilm walked into the store and was completely astonished,” Niall informs.

Printing photographs from

phones is a popular service offered in store.

Niall also notes the growth in popularity of wall art with frames, large canvas prints, block mounted photos as well as pixtiles, which offers a method of showing off a collage of your favourite photos, all taking off. Photobooks are also a customer favourite, offering a printed book with photos from a particular event.

This mitigates the disarray of having birthday or wedding photographs strewn across several different phones. Personalised gifts such as mugs and keyrings have been the most popular this Christmas, Niall admits, “This year people wanted personalised items and photos as they weren’t able to see each other.”

Niall has noted a decent number of customers moving to ordering online since the start of the pandemic. With a background in both technology and photography, online trading presented few challenges to Niall as most products were already online. “It was grati-

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO START SHOPPING IN CLARE EAST CLARE ArraTek www.arratek.ie Bia Folláin Healthstore www.biafollain.ie Bridge House Studios bridgehousestudios.ie East Clare Yoga www.eastclareyoga.com Glendara Art www.glendaraar.com Happy Out Forest School happyoutforestschool.ie Inward Bound Mindfulness inwardboundmindfulness.ie Palm Free Irish Soap palmfreeirishsoap.ie Planet Tri www.planettri.ie The Greene Room www.greeneroom.ie Wilde Irish Chocolate wildeirishchocolates.com ENNIS & SURROUNDS BEO Wellness www.beowellness.ie Berka Solutions www.berksolutions.com Blackbird Jewellery www.blackbirdennis.ie Brass Boutique www.brassboutique.ie Bridget Haren Hair www.bridgetharen.com Buckets.ie www.buckets.ie Carestore www.carestore.ie Carmel T Madigan Art carmeltmadigan.com Carries Bakery www.carriesbakery.ie Candles With Character candleswithcharacter.ie

Club Dangan & CD2 clubdanganmenswear.com Cornucopia www.cornucopia.fashion County Boutique www.countyboutique.ie Ela Maria Boutique www.elamaria.ie Ennis Art School ennisartschool.com Ennis Blinds www.acmeblinds.com Ennis Electrical www.enniselectrical.ie Ennis Gourmet Store gourmet-hampers.ie Ennis Home Furniture ennishomefurniture.com Fitness4Fun www.fitness4fun.ie Fun Kidz Klub www.funkidzklub.ie GA Sports www.gasports.ie Gift Works giftworksstore.com Jackson’s Pig & Poultry www.jacksonspp.com K2 Hair www.k2hair.ie Kilkenny Shop www.kilkennyshop.com La Jolie Femme www.lajoliefemme.ie Laserderm Clinic www.laserderm.ie Maureen Grogan Therapies maureengrogantherapies.ie Max Business www.maxservices.ie Meya Boutique meyaboutique.com Mods & Minis www.modsandminis.ie

day’s between 11am and 4pm.

He states: “As soon as the doors opened once again between the lockdowns, people came back in.

It’s that personal touch and advice that you don’t get anywhere else.

“People need that local contact, whether it’s a technical question or a sensitive product like something for a wedding or a funeral.

“We are also one of the only photoshops that develop on site.

Dropping off and collecting physical prints is important and this is why we are not completely closed.”

Visit fujiennis.ie to check out any of the services or products in store, or simply call the store during opening hours at 065-6848635 or email info@fujiennis.ie.

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO VISIT FUJI ENNIS

fying to catch that wave,” he states, alluding to the popularity of online sales as soon as the Instax polaroid cameras were placed on the online

NAIIAD Designer Jewellery www.naiiad.com Neighbourfood www.neighbourfood.ie Nozomi Shoe Boutique www.nozomishoes.ie Quin Art Shop https://quinartshop.com/ Old Ground Hotel oldgroundhotelennis.com Ollie’s Tours www.olliestours.com Pamela Scott www.pamelascott.com Patrick Bourke Menswear patrickbourkemenswear.ie Physio Recovery Room physiorecoveryroom.connect. tm3app.com Rena Casey Lewis art renacaseylewis.net/ Rochfords Pharmacy rochfordspharmacy.ie Risk Assess It www.riskassessit.com Salon Glow www.glow.ie Siar Photography www.siarphotography.ie Smelly Bees www.smellybees.com Strike Sport www.strikesport.org Sweet N Green www.sweetngreen.ie The Candle Emporium www.candleemporium.ie The Record Break therecordbreak.com The Woollen Market thewollenmarket.com The Wine Buff www.thewinebuff.com Tomas O Maoldomhnaigh www.tomasartist.ie/ Vigour www.vigour.ie Water Online www.wateronline.ie Western Herd www.westernherd.com Wix & Wax wixandwaxireland.com Wonder Photo Shop www.fujiennis.ie

store. In spite of the pandemic, film drop off and click and collect are available from the store on Monday, Wednesday and Satur-

Wowwee.ie www.wowwee.ie YOU Therapies www.youtherapies.ie 2 For Joy https://www.2forjoy.ie/ NORTH CLARE Airmid Natural Handmade Skincare www.airmidsoap.com Anam Coffee www.anamcoffee.ie Banner Books http://bannerbooks.ie Burkedale House & Cottage burkedalehouseandcottage.com Burren Smokehouse www.burrensmokehouse.com Celtic T-Shirts www.celtictshirts.ie Climb It www.climbit.ie Doolin2Aran www.doolin2aranferries.com Doreen Drennan Art doreendrennan.com Doolin Ferry company https://doolinferry.com/ Eko Tree Cashmere ekotreeknitwear.store Folded Leaf www.foldedleaf.ie Glas Grazing www.glasgrazing.ie Healing Hearths healinghearths.com Hitching For Hope hitchingforhope.com Irish Crafts Online irishcraftsonline.com Irish Hand Weaves http://www.irishhandweaves.ie/ Irish T-Shirts www.irishtshirts.ie Kenny Woollen Mills kennywoollenmills.com Lahinch Art Gallery lahinchartgallery.com Lahinch Surf Shop lahinchsurfshop.com Moher Cottege www.mohercottage.com Morrisson Gallery phillipmorrison.com Nature’s Pocket https://naturespocket.ie/

LOCAL TOUCH: (left) Fujifilm’s Wonder Photo Shop in Ennis

Nordic Fitness Ireland www.nordicfitnessireland.com Olive & Crew www.oliveandcrew.ie Rowena Sheen Jewellery www.rowenasheen.com Ruth Vaughan Photography ruthvaughanphotography.com Secret Fashion Fixes secretfashionfixes.ie St Tola Goat Farm www.st-tola.ie Susan Quirke Meditation www.susanquirke.com The Design Lodge www.designlodge.ie The Russell Gallery www.russellgallery.net The Salmon Bookshop www.salmonpoetry.com Tunes From Doolin tunesfromdoolin.com West Clare Flowers westclareflowers.ie SHANNON AREA Ann McBride Design www.annmcbridedesign.com/ Avokado and co avokadoandco.com Back Baller www.backballer.com Carrygerry Country House carrygerryhouse.com Creative Clay creativeclayireland.com Genisis Beauty www.genisisbeauty.net Gleeson Goldsmiths gleesongoldsmiths.ie KMF Eco www.kmf.ie Lavender Beauty www.lavenderbeauty.ie Shannon Springs shannonspringshotel.com The Inn At Dromoland theinnatdromoland.ie Torpey Hurleys www.torpeyhurleys.com SOUTH EAST CLARE Galanta Jewellery www.galanta.com Hungry Soul hungrysoulplantpower.com

I-Spy Clothing www.i-spy.ie JC Safety www.jc-safety.ie ONS Site Support www.onsitesupport.ie WEST CLARE Anchor Crafts anchorcraftskilrush.ie Armada Hotel www.armadahotel.com Carsten Krieger Photography irelandsnaturestories.com Cocolemon Hair www.cocolemon.ie Cottage Garden Centre cottagegardencentre.ie Daisy Days www.daisydays.ie Irish ICE Cards www.irishicecard.ie JJ Corry Irish Whiskey www.jjcorry.com John O’Dwyer Concrete johnodwyerquilty.ie Kilbaha Gallery www.kilbahagallery.com Loophead Alpacas loopheadalpacas.ie Malone’s Pharmacy malonespharmacy.ie Nevsail Watersports nevsailwatersports.ie Nia Natural Beauty nianaturalbeauty.com Riverside Hair & Beauty www.rsbeautyshop.ie Sallyann’s Handmade Bags sallyannsbags.com Sew Irish www.sew-irish.ie Smaointe www.smaointe.com SMT Consultants www.smt.ie The Family Store www.thefamilystore.ie The Pantry Cafe www.pantrykilkee.ie Perfect Touch Beauty Salon www.theperfecttouch.ie Wild Atlantic Living wildatlanticliving.com Wild Irish Seaweed wildirishseaweeds.com

CLICK FOR CLARE 21

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

Covid didn’t halt Maureen’s dreams of reflexology business TADHG HOLLAND

R

news@clareecho.ie

EFLEXOLOGIST Maureen Grogan has been providing physical therapies since 2004. She had just given up her job as a medical secretary to work full time at her Ennis based practice Maureen Grogan Therapies when the pandemic hit and she was forced to close. Maureen Grogan spoke to The Clare Echo about how she got started in reflexology, the effect the pandemic has had on her business and how she is hopeful for the year ahead.

“I qualified as a reflexologist in 2004, while working in a respite house for children with intellectual disabilities and I really loved it. My case studies really found it beneficial and subsequently told others about my treatments and it grew from there. That was before Facebook or websites or anything, it was just word of mouth. I had a busy little part time practice while continuing to work as a social care worker and for the last two years as a part time medical secretary.”

This year Maureen made the decision to run her practice full time only to be closed nearly as quickly as she could open. “I had to close on the 14th of March until July which left me in a state of shock for about two weeks before I dusted myself off and got on with it.” said Maureen.

“I became involved with 14 other wonderful therapists in the

Wellness Lounge to provide free online support for people during the first lockdown. We had over 1700 members in the group and feedback was fantastic. Membership grew rapidly and with the interaction it was very clear that this was a lifeline for many who were

the pandemic. “Most of my business at this stage comes from referrals but new clients do check out the website before they come and I have had a good few enquiries through the website. Most of my work is hands on but I am a Neals Yard Organic Skincare Consultant

LOCAL TOUCH: Reflexologist Maureen Grogan

not coping well.”

Maureen also availed of the Clare LEO trading online voucher allowing her to set up a website which has helped her throughout

and I have a shop on my website for Neals Yard Products and Gift Vouchers are available online.”

Reflexology is now considered an essential service meaning Mau-

reen has been able to keep providing all her therapies through the second and current lockdown which include many types of reflexology such as Reflexology Lymphatic Drainage, Facial Reflexology, Reflexology for Cancer Care, Fertility Reflexology, Hot Stone Foot Reflexology, Hot & Cold Stone Facial Reflexology and Reflexology for Pregnancy & Post-Partum. Maureen also provides facial anti-ageing treatments such as Holistic Facial, Facial Cupping, Facial Reflexology and Zone Facelift as well as Integrated Energy Therapy, Ear Candling and Phytobiophyics.

For Maureen it appears to have been a year of ups and downs “Initially it was [difficult] but once I got over the shock of having to close my business I chose to see it as an opportunity for personal and career development and I did lots of training online to add to existing skills. Clare LEO were just fantastic and really supported small businesses like mine with lots of training and mentoring and the courses were just brilliant and were a great focus for me also. I think if you can you really do have to look for the good in every situation and I think Covid gave us the opportunity to really realise what matters in terms of the importance of good health, family, friendship and looking after each other. Like every other small business there has been a loss of earnings during the closures and costs of PPE sanitising etc but you do what you have to do to keep yourself and your clients safe but outside of Covid it has

been a great year. There is always something to be grateful for and I find that if you focus on gratitude even for the small things everything works out for the best.”

Maureen says she has a positive outlook for 2021 “The first few months are going to be a challenge for sure but if we all do what we are asked and keep each other safe we will come out the other side of this. I’m very blessed to have the loveliest of clients who were all so understanding when I had to close and who came back as soon as I reopened. My lovely husband Kevin and my girls Sarah, Hannah and Emily are the most important part of my life and I'm so blessed to have a wonderful group of friends who are my soul buddies and are just the best fun and we keep each other going. I love my job and my clients and it's a privilege to be able to do the work I do. My philosophy in life is to bless and prosper each other, and at the end of the day we need to support each other as we are all just walking each other home.”

If you wish to find out more about Maureen Grogan therapies you can do so at https://maureengrogantherapies.ie/.

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO VISIT MAUREEN’S WEBSITE

BREXIT ANOTHER REASON TO SHOP ONLINE IN IRELAND STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

CONSUMERS are beginning to see new additional charges and taxes when shopping with British retailers, following the agreement of the Brexit deal between the UK and the EU. New rules took effect on January 1 which will see VAT and excise duty being applied to many transactions - some of which are a cause for confusion not just among consumers but also with international retailers. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is advising consumers here

to seek a refund if British sellers apply a UK VAT charge to their transactions.

According to RTE, Minister of State Robert Troy has warned consumers to educate themselves on the new rules, admitting that some retailers are not informing consumers about the changes.

“Some online retailers are alerting consumers to these charges and some are including these additional charges in their final price,” he said. “Consumers though need to check out each retailer’s policies and also whether there may be additional charges from the delivery company in respect of fee collection, for example.”

Purchases under €22 will not face additional charges, but any-

thing over €22 will see the addition of an Irish VAT charge.

Goods valued at more than €150 will also be subject to customs duty. The amount to be charged will vary depending on the nature of the item.

Consumers are also being warned that only goods bought from the UK that are of UK origin will avoid tariffs under the Free Trade Agreement in place.

Moneyguideireland.com has highlighted that consumers have to navigate tricky waters when now shopping internationally.

“Customs duty might apply to some items [valued at more than €150] where the product’s country of origin is NOT the UK. The rate of duty will vary ac-

cording to the category of product.

Many products will have a zero rate of duty. Some products such as trainers from China for example will have a rate as high as 16.9% rate.” Money Guide Ireland goes on to give real examples checked on Amazon UK on Jan 1st and Jan 2nd 2021.

“Example 1 – A pair of trainers made in China ,selling on Amazon UK for £271.66 including UK VAT. If these were ordered for delivery to Ireland – the basic price would be £226.38 (ex VAT). Duty was 16.9% and with Irish VAT on top at 21% – bringing the final price to £320.21 .

“Example 2 (On Amazon).

A Bosch food mixer priced at £279.99 GBP sold by Amazon. For

delivery to Ireland – the basic price was £233.32 (ex VAT) . Duty of 2.2% and Irish VAT on top of 21% bringing the final price to £288.52.”

“Amazon is well used to international selling – and on items sold or fulfilled by them – any duty and VAT will be shown as import charges before you pay at checkout. This means that when buying on Amazon UK using Prime – you should not have extra to pay on delivery to Ireland.

“The same might not be true for third party sellers on Amazon or for other UK retailers.”

The new charges come following recent reports which suggests that more consumers are searching out local and Irish websites when shopping online.

22

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THURSDAY, JAN 07 2021

PLUG-I N HYB R I D ENG I NE A ND REAL C ONSU MP T I ON : TH E PRO O F BY CAPT UR O F C O 2

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ONTRARY to some preconceived ideas, plug-in hybrid vehicles have an ideal engine to drastically reduce average fuel consumption. Like Captur E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid, a versatile model par excellence: it operates electrically every day, thanks to its high-capacity battery, while its innovative E-TECH technology limits its consumption on long journeys. In the end, its “real” average consumption can be much lower than an equivalent model with a gasoline or even diesel engine.

Is a plug-in hybrid vehicle (or PHEV) an ICE vehicle that takes advantage of its batteries to drive when it can in electric mode or an electric vehicle that takes advantage of its ICE engine to show versatility and adapt to all types of use?

By developing its plug-in hybrid technology E-TECH Plug-in, Renault has clearly taken the second philosophy into account.

With tricks that, in addition, erase some of the flaws inherent to this type of motorization. The goal is twofold: to optimize the electric driving experience and allow users to achieve real fuel savings thanks to a limited consumption. Demonstration with

Captur E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid, the plugin hybrid version of the second-generation Captur.

Thanks to its 9.8 kWh high-capacity battery, Captur E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid has an electric range of 50 km on the road and 65 km in the city, according to the WLTP* standard. In other words, it’s an electric vehicle for everyday use! It can cover most of the everyday journeys, such as home-towork connections and short trips during the week, without requiring a drop of fuel.

To do this, do not forget to recharge the batteries as soon as possible in order to always have this electric autonomy so precious on a daily basis. This easy gesture – complete recharging only takes between 3 and 5 hours and can be done from a domestic socket at home or at the workplace, such as on a public terminal – makes it possible to go from one day to the next without using the thermal engine.

E-TECH technology is ideal for longer journeys that exceed the battery’s range of use, such as weekend trips. It allows the Captur E-TECH Hybrid Plug-in to continue to operate as a “simple” hybrid model and limits the fuel consumption of the combustion

engine in several ways. Firstly, an automatic battery margin is automatically maintained to ensure that the engine always starts and restarts - very consuming driving phases in electric mode. Electric motors also relieve the combustion engine during acceleration phases. They also help it to operate close to its optimum efficiency and therefore not to create more energy than is needed to move the vehicle forward. The overall efficiency of the E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid engine is optimized thanks to the multi-mode gearbox with jaws and the science of energy recovery and regeneration from F1.

Thanks to all these assets, Captur E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid has a normalized average fuel consumption of 1.4 liters/100 km (WLTP standard). In its case, it is the result of a homologation cycle that mixes about 70% pure electric driving, which is fairly representative of urban and peri-urban cycles, and about 30% driving in “normal” hybrid mode, which is fairly representative of driving on the road. A cycle that tends to approach the ideal use of a plug-in hybrid vehicle: 100% electric during the week

and electric/hybrid at weekends.

Of course, this normalized consumption cannot be consistent with the actual use that everyone makes. The average consumption of a Captur E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid “in real life” will depend on its usage rate in 100% electric but also on “external” factors such as the topography of the routes made, and the driving rhythm adopted.

In any case, and respecting the basic rule of recharging as soon as possible to maximize the number and duration of trips made with 100% electric power, the plug-in hybrid version E-VTECH Plug-in Hybrid from Captur will have a much lower average fuel consumption than its thermal versions (standard from 5.9 liters/100 km).

Fully charged, unplugged and ready for you.

Renault is offering:

€1,000 Green Grant + 2.11% APR + 3 Months Deferred Payments

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Model Shown: Captur S-Edition E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid 160 – RRP €29,695 (includes €5,000 SEAI grant for private buyers, price valid in January 2021). Finance example Captur S-Edition E-TECH PHEV 160. RRP €29,695. Deposit €11,230. Term 48 monthly payments of €399. APR 2.11%. Total cost of credit €762 inc fee of €75. Offer is made under a hire purchase agreement. Payment deferral available on request. First payment will be taken 90 days after activation of finance agreement. Subject to lending criteria. Terms and conditions apply. See Renault.ie [Warning: You will not own these goods until the final payment is made]. Renault Bank is a trading name of RCI Banque Branch Ireland and is authorised and regulated by the French banking authority and supervised by the Central Bank for conduct of business purposes.

HOGAN MOTORS ENNIS Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare Tel 065 6821704 www.hoganmotorsennis.ie

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Sport Clare Echo THE

07-01-21

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Date set for Donovan’s first fight of 2021 PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

C Paddy Donovan (right) is hopeful 2021 will be his ‘standout year’.

LARE boxer Paddy ‘Real Deal’ Donovan will be in the ring for his first bout of 2021 in just over two weeks.

Donovan will compete in a MTK Fight Night on Friday January 22nd at Production Park Studios in Wakefield.

With five wins from five professional outings, the Ennis man will be determined to maintain his unbeaten streak. His last fight in November was a step up in competition but one he was more than able for to earn a superb win over Jumanne Camero.

“This is a great way for me to start

2021. I want to thank my team for giving me this new opportunity to continue my journey to the top of the boxing game. It’s my time to put on a show and I just can’t wait,” Paddy stated.

Speaking after being named The Clare Echo’s Sportsperson of the Year, the thirteen time national champion paid tribute to everyone involved in his successful 2020. “I promise 2021, with hard work and determination will be my standout year. I have goals that I want to accomplish and won’t stop until I’ve achieved them all”.

Others on the line-up include Lee McGregor challenging Karim Guerfi for his EBU bantamweight title, and Sean McComb and Gavin Gwynne meeting for the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title.

Kilkee’s Browne has first Clare winner of 2021

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RENDAN Browne’s Glasheen Adios had the distinction of becoming the first Clare winner of 2021 at the Galway track.

It was in race two where all six runners were away on terms for this S8 graded sprint contest with Ringroe Rascal first to break rank on the wide outside but as they settled down on the run towards the opening bend the Brendan Browne of Kilkee owned Glasheen Adios quickly went through the gears to take command of the contest. Rounding the opening bend Glasheen Adios led Flyers Wildfire by three lengths and although the latter closed with every stride Glasheen Adios prevailed by a length at the line in 19.71.

The Browne family were back in the winners enclosure after race four, this time it was the turn of the Michael Browne owned Burnpark Lola who was very smartly into her stride when racing towards the opening bend. The daughter of Confident Rankin and Burnpark Diva led Burgoyne, the leaders advantage was four lengths and although Burgoyne Barello tried hard Burnpark Lola had two lengths to spare rounding the opening bend with Rosshill Ranger in third place. Racing past halfway Lola was still three lengths to the good at the line in 29.51.

All six runners were lined across the track in race nine approaching the opening bend in the A6 graded contest and with plenty of crowding Sports Legend just about led but turning down the back straight Totos Sprite and Flyers Job emerged at the head of affairs. Approaching the penultimate bend the Colm Fitzgerald and Cathal Meaney of Kilrush

owned Flyers Job(Secreto-Convey Eve) Flyers Job took command of the contest and gradually drawing clear Flyers Job had six lengths to spare over Totos Sprite at the line in 29.80.

The best performance of the night though came from the John Collins and Albert Long owned Brickhill Lulu who took the A4 graded eleventh contest by three and three quarter lengths from Rosshill Duke in 29.20. The winner was smartly into stride on the wide outside to lead from Roy Rovers, Rosshill Duke and Fish Fingers at the opening bend. Racing towards halfway Brickhill Lulu led by over three lengths as Rosshill Duke moved a clear second but the winner was home and hosed turning for home as she scored in great style.

The final meeting of 2020 at Galway Greyhound Stadium had the final of the Tom Qualter Unraced 525 Yards Stake sponsored by Seamus Leahy as the feature event and it provided a great result for the Guilfoyle Kennels and the Good News-Tullovin Kim litter with Odhrans Princess and Princess Fiadh dominating the finish.

In the opening A7 graded contest Sues Newhall and Balroebuck Game were both smartly into stride but as they approached the opening bend the Johnny Burke of Tubber owned Sues Newhall opened up a two length advantage over her rival. Racing down the back Sues Newhall extended her advantage to over four lengths as she set sail for home and the daughter of Newhall Missile & Sues Music stayed on powerfully to defeat Balroebuck Game by three and a half lengths in 29.41.

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Clare football must focus on conditioning to catch Kerry - Coughlan PĂ RAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A

BIGGER emphasis on strength and conditioning is needed for Clare football teams to bridge the gap with Kerry, the manager of the minor footballers has said.

On December 22nd, Kerry secured an eighth Munster MFC title in succession with a ten point win over Clare. It was the third Munster final meeting between the sides in the past four years, the margin previously being 24 points (2017) and 20 points (2018) in favour of the Kingdom.

Clare boss, Dermot Coughlan felt the gulf between the counties is most apparent with regard to strength and conditioning. “I wouldn’t be worried about our football, I think we can correct that. I think we need to be on a strength and conditioning programme from about thirteen years of age, I’d love to see the programme the Kerry lads were on since they were thirteen.

I would say they were on a proper strength and conditioning programme from thirteen to seventeen,� he told The Clare Echo.

Responsibility for its implementation lies with those in charge of the county development sides, Coughlan believed. “It’s up to every management to put that in place from U13. We’re talking about the same thing of funding and resources and it all comes back to the same issue. We’ll be okay when we get to senior because when these guys get in with the likes of Rob Mulcahy they will be on programmes, I think we will be okay because a lot of lads from that minor team will play senior but at the minute there is a gap with regard conditioning between both counties�.

En route to the decider, Clare clocked up tallies of 1-24 and 4-20 respectively in what were 20 and 19 point victories. The concession of goals at the beginning and end of the opening half, tired bodies and the conditioning were cited by the Kilmurry Ibrickane man when reflecting on the Munster Final loss.

No excuses were voiced by Coughlan as he paid tribute to Munster Council for running the competition. “I’m delighted we got this opportunity and hats off to Munster Council for making it happen, they had a short window of three weeks to run off the championship, it might have been a lot of games in a short period of time but given the year we had you’d take it with open arms�.

Off the matchday panel of 26, twelve different clubs had representatives which was a positive according to the 1992 Munster SFC winner. “The effort given from the clubs from everywhere I couldn’t fault it, we had 32 lads turning up to training and the lads enjoyed it. I think we went to the max with this team and met the better team on the night and there is no question that Kerry were the better team, how we can get up there is the thing.

It would have been a great boost for us to win with the work going in with Clare teams but I just felt their physical dominance was the difference�.

Dermot Coughlan

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Coverage of underage GAA by Clare media ‘disappointing’ - Mac MathĂşna RETIRED President of Clare GAA, Padraig Mac MathĂşna has voiced his frustration with the lack of underage GAA coverage within the county’s local media.

In his final address as President, Mac MathĂşna expressed his disappointment with the insufficient amount of coverage given to underage GAA by all media outlets in Co Clare. “I am disappointed our underage games got very little coverage this year, I don’t know why this was the case,â€? he stated.

Munster Council in 2013 honoured the Ennis resident with a Distinguished Service to the GAA Award.

Speaking at the County Convention, the former Clare County Council employee shared his appreciation with the County Board for giving him the “honour� of the Presidency for a three year tenure.

He revealed that the highlight of his term occurred in 2020 when he received an invitation from Clare GAA Secretary, Pat Fitzgerald to attend all club championship games in Cusack Park. “I made full use of the offer and saw 29 games in August and September of this year. I was very impressed by the efficient and professional manner with the way it was ran�.

Mac MathĂşna felt it was “a worrying aspectâ€? to see the amount of amalgamations within the county. “I am afraid that if this trend continues, some parishes are likely to lose their identityâ€?.

Outgoing Chairman of Clare GAA, Joe Cooney described Mac MathĂşna as “one of the all-time greatsâ€?.

The O’Callaghans Mills man added, “Anytime I go to Cusack Park you are there, the commitment to the shop has been brilliant and I thank you for your contribution�.

Abbey St, Ennis

Dylan O’Brien is bowled over Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

‘Question of ageism made unwelcome intrusion’ to commentary before Convention - Gallagher

T

REASURER of Clare GAA, Michael Gallagher has criticised recent commentary before the County Convention which he felt was discriminatory.

During his address to Convention, Gallagher shared his view that ageism had become prevalent in discussions in the lead-up to the meeting.

While the Doonbeg clubman did not give specific examples, he hinted that this was in relation to the contest for Chairman which saw long-serving Clare GAA official PJ McGuane of Cooraclare lose out to Cratloe’s Jack Chaplin.

Calls had also been made for fresh voices to be added to the County Executive in key positions.

Gallagher stated, “The question of ageism made an unwelcome intrusion� when reflecting on the build-up to the Convention.

He went on to praise outgoing Clare GAA President, Padraig Mac MathĂşna and his continued contribution to the GAA in the county.

The Treasurer said thousands of euros have been brought in by Mac MathĂşna and his volunteers in the shop at Cusack Park. “I am hoping no one would suggest Padraic who celebrated a significant birthday during

lockdown would bring down the shutters on the shop,� Gallagher said in reference to his previous comment.

Later in the meeting, Irish and Cultural Officer, Flann O’Reilly described a motion from St Breckans seeking players aged 35 or over playing with their club’s first team be automatically regraded as “ageism in reverse�.

Michael Gallagher

Photograph: John Mangan

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‘Managers coaching players to foul in U12 Ladies Football’ - call for sin bin rejected PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

U

12 ladies footballers in Clare are ‘coached to foul,’ a club referee has outlined in a call for the sin-bin to be introduced at the age-group.

A motion from Burren Gaels to see the sin-bin commence at U12 level instead of U14 was defeated at the recent Emergency General Meeting of the Clare Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA).

Addressing the meeting, Burren Gaels Vice Chairman Pat Byrne O’Connell shared the view that the competitiveness at U12 level has exceeded that of U14 over the past three seasons. He has refereed the sport for sixteen years in Kildare and Clare and observed that “the lack of sportsmanship coming from managers is shocking. I feel sorry for the twelve year old girls playing the game because what is coming from the sideline is disgraceful”.

Byrne O’Connell felt the introduction of a sin-bin would stop the antics of managers. “The other option is to stop the trophies. Learning the game is also about learning the rules. Managers are coaching players to foul”.

Newly elected Chairperson of the Clare LGFA, Seán Lenihan questioned if it would be better to take action against the coach or parent that is shouting from the sideline as opposed to the player.

Recounting a game in 2019, Byrne stated that one girl was dominating proceedings, “I heard a manager say to a girl on the other team to take her out. As the girl was taking a free kick, she came across and kicked her. I told the referee to send her off but the referee said there was no cards at U12.

There is a yellow card but no sin bin and red cards but the referees don’t give them.

If girls get away with it at U12 it will creep in”.

Chairperson of St Josephs Doora/Barefield, Enda O’Flaherty opposed the motion. He praised the attitude of girls playing the sport but flagged that their “whole world falls apart” when they receive a yellow card at young ages, “they are not able to process it, they are small little kids. The person on the sideline should be punished, let’s not punish the kids”.

Ex Chairperson and Secretary of the Clare LGFA, Bernie Regan agreed with the views of O’Flaherty. “It does devastate a girl when she is put to the line, she is doing what she is told and when she is sent to the line she can’t understand it. When you’re coaching it the child believes it. They know they are going out to play a game, the coaches have to be punished for this”.

Regan called for the silent sideline to be introduced in the county. “It would give the child the freedom to play without interference from coach or parents, it also allows the referee to put coaches outside the line or gate. I’ve often been at games and you wonder how coaches can go that far to be coaches and verbally abuse children, I’m not saying foul language sometimes it comes in but it is a constant barrage of shouting, no wonder children drop out early from Ladies Football. It is supposed to be fun and if it is non-competitive that is how it is supposed to be,” the Wolfe Tones delegate added.

Emma Hastings of East Clare Gaels maintained “the ownership is on coaches to lead by example and not let it happen”.

Clubs also expressed the view that referees have their hands tied through an inability to issue cards at lower age-groups.

In response, Byrne O’Connell recalled an U12 final he took charge of Kildare where-

by he gave a red card to one player. “I ref by rules not by ages. When you’ve a referee constantly refereeing for the home team which does happen, he does let things go because that is where his bread is buttered every week,” he commented.

“We need to remember these are U12 girls, we want to attract them into the game. If my lady got a talking to on the pitch she would feel it and be hurt.

We need to approach it carefully,” Newmarket-on-Fergus Chairperson Michael Darcy remarked.

C o n d u c t which is deemed as “unsportsman behaviour” should be included in a referee’s report and redirected to CODA, Clare LGFA secretary Monica Callinan stated.

Lenihan referenced the fact that players are young girls when voicing his concern with the motion.

“My own lady was U16 when she got a red and I wasn’t right for a week after. I don’t think U12 girls are cynical by nature. At U12 we’re not supposed to be having competitive games,” the Chairperson felt.

He said the matter would be passed onto the Development Committee while Burren Gaels committed to bring the motion back before the floor if an improvement was not visible.

‘A great end to my best season’ Newmarket-on-Fergus jockey wins Flat Ride of the Year

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

A NEWMARKET-on-Fergus jockey was awarded with a top honour at the 2020 Lesters Awards.

Dylan Hogan was selected as the winner in Flat Ride of the Year at the Lesters for his impressive front-running ride on Wanaasah at Wolverhampton back in January of last year.

Reflecting on the accolade, Dylan said it was “a great end to my best season” which included riding 23 winners.

“It was great to get the ride in the first place. It was pretty straight-forward really,” he recalled of the January win.

Hogan paid tribute to trainer Dave Loughnane for giving him the opportunity just under twelve months ago. “The instructions were if I think I’m going too quick I’m not and to go quicker. Dave said to make good lengths wherever I could and I thought if I could nick them on the first bend I would get into a good rhythm after that and we just kept going further and further clear, all she does is gallop and the moment I asked her for more she just kept going for me and I was lucky enough, she made me look good to be honest”.

Dylan Hogan

Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

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Growing concern over delay in senior football manager appointment SEAMUS HAYES

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ONCERN is growing within Clare GAA and particularly amongst football followers in the county at the fact that a Clare senior football management for 2021 has not yet been put in place.

It is understood that outgoing boss Colm Collins has met with members of the executive but so far nothing has been finalised with regards to his position for 2021.

Collins led Clare to retaining Division 2 in the Allianz National Football League status back in October but a week later there was disappointment when the team lost out to Tipperary by a goal in the Munster championship quarter final played in Thurles. Tipperary went on to win the Munster title beating Cork in the final in

Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

In the days after Clare’s championship campaign ended for 2020, players came out strongly in favour of the Kilmihil native continuing as manager.

The fact that the start of the 2021 inter county season is scheduled for the end of February when the league is due to commence has heightened concern over the situation. In a shortened league Clare are grouped with Kildare, Laois and Cork Inter-county squads were due to be allowed to commence training this week but, following further restrictions introduced due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, the training start up date has been deferred to February at the earliest. There is an expectation that a further delay in the date for training to resume is likely which would surely lead to a delay in the date for the competition to start.

While such a scenario would buy Clare some time to get the matter resolved, it’s unlikely

to ease the concerns that exist amongst players and supporters.

The Clare Echo understands that while members of the panel, particularly younger members of the squad, have been following a fitness programme provided by the team’s strength and conditioning coach, Rob Mulcahy, worry remains over the fact that a manager has not been appointed.

Cratloe clubman Colm Collins has been at the helm for the past seven years during which time Clare moved from Division 4 to Division 2 in the NFL where they have remained for the past four years despite predictions each year that they would be relegated.

In that time the team has delivered some memorable championship performances which saw them get to the 2016 All-Ireland quarter final.

Clare under 20 boss Michael Neylon was recently ratified to take charge of that squad for 2021 while he has also agreed to return as manager of his club

senior side, St Josephs Miltown.

Having led Clare to the provincial final just before Christmas, Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s Dermot Coughlan is expected to continue as county minor

manager for 2021. In the event of Collins vacating the senior role, both Neylon and Coughlan would be on a short list to replace him.

Despite the concerns there is

a belief that whatever difficulties exist will be resolved particularly with the recent appointment of Collins’ fellow Cratloe clubman Jack Chaplin as Clare GAA chairman.

Colm Collins

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Clancy & Lynch take charge of Morey to depart Clare hurling panel Kilmaley hurlers for 2021 PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

T

WO of Clare’s All-Ireland winners from 1997 are teaming up to take charge of the Kilmaley senior hurlers.

Conor Clancy who alternated between centre and full forward on the Ger Loughnane managed Clare sides that were crowned All-Ireland SHC champions in 1995 and 1997 has been appointed manager of the Kilmaley senior hurlers.

Clancy led the side back to the senior ranks following their relegation in 2016 at the hands of Newmarket-on-Fergus. He was manager of the Kilmaley side that defeated Tubber in the 2017 intermediate final. John Carmody took on the role in 2018 and led the club to Clare Cup glory in 2019.

This year, Conor was in charge of the Kilmaley Junior hurlers who lost out in the county decider to O’Callaghans Mills following extra time on a scoreline of 4-17 0-23. He has been Chairman of both the hurling and camogie club in Kilmaley.

Former Clare midfielder, Colin Lynch has been announced as coach of the side. An All Star winner on two occasions, he lined out at midfield alongside Ollie Baker on the Banner side that defeated Tipperary in the 1997 All-Ireland final.

Lynch spent the past two seasons involved with Tipperary club, Roscrea. Prior to this, he had a two year spell in charge of the Newmarket-on-Fergus senior hurlers which included reaching the 2015 Clare SHC quarter-final and a relegation scare in 2016.

When Kilmaley last won the Clare SHC in 2004, Colin was captain of the side.

Both Clancy and Lynch will be joined by strength and conditioning coach Trevor Slattery who was previously involved with Cratloe. The management have already had their first communication with the panel of players.

Their appointment comes following the departure of Kieran O’Neill as manager. The former Clare footballer was joined on his management team by Niall Romer who is currently the kit man for Brian Lohan’s county side and unsuccessfully contested for the post of Vice Chairman of Clare GAA. Donie Buckley had been involved with the side last year following his exit from the Kerry senior football management. The Ennis based coach has already been snapped by Monaghan boss Seamus McEnaney to become their head coach for 2021.

Buckley spent six years with the Mayo footballers up until 2018, before returning to Kerry to join Peter Keane’s management team. The Castleisland man was also joint manager of Clare’s senior footballers back in 2006 alongside Michael Brennan.

Conor Clancy

Photograph: John Mangan

Seadna Morey in action for Clare Photograph: Martin Connolly

CLARE’S senior hurlers are set to be without regular defender Seadna Morey for the 2021 inter-county season.

As previously reported by The Clare Echo, Kilmaley’s Bradley Higgins and Aaron Fitzgerald of Éire Óg were recruited to the senior panel by manager Brian Lohan in recent weeks.

However Lohan has been dealt a blow with reports that Sixmilebridge’s Seadna Morey will not be part of the county squad this season. A three-time U21 All-Ireland and Munster winner, Seadna played in every single minute of the 2020 championship campaign for Clare as they exited at the All-Ireland quarter-final at the hands of Waterford. Earlier in the year, he collected his fifth Clare SHC medal when Sixmilebridge defeated O’Callaghans Mills in the county final.

Morey is said to be taking some time out for Clare’s 2021 inter-county campaign, The Irish Examiner was first to report. The twenty seven year old was first called up to the senior panel for Davy Fitzgerald’s first year in charge back in 2012. He was introduced from the bench a year later when Clare were crowned All-Ireland champions.

Both Aaron Cunningham and Cathal McInerney previously confirmed their departures from the squad.

Clonlara’s John Conlon is expected to be back to full fitness in time for Clare’s upcoming season while his clubmates Colm and Ian Galvin are said to be returning to the panel.

28

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PLANNING NOTICES Clare County Council Further information/ Revised plans Planning Reference No: P20/158 Location: Roslevan, Ennis, Co. Clare Take notice that J.J. Fahy has lodged significant Further Information in respect of Planning Application P20/158. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable costs of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the Further Information or Revised Plans may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the Planning Authority or in the case of a Planning Application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the Planning Authority.

Clare County Council 24 MEADOW VIEW, CREGGAUN NA HILLA, CLARECASTLE, CO CLARE. Take notice that Gisle Rego intends to apply to the planning authority for (a) permission to construct a pergola at the rear of existing dwelling house and (b) permission to change the front door of this dwelling house, along with ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL Glendree, Feakle, Co.Clare Take notice that David Hodgson and Enric Muniente Fillat intend to apply for planning permission for development at Glendree, Feakle, Co.Clare. The development will consist of a new dwelling house, shed, site entrance, wastewater treatment system and associated site works.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Authority for permission to change the use of the existing premises from commercial to community/ education along with ancillary site works at the above address for a period of 5 years. This building is a protected structure (RPS No.368).

That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Clare County Council, Church Street, The Square, Ennistymon, Co. Clare.

Take notice that Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board intend to apply to the Planning

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THIS WEEKS PUZZLES JAN 07

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The Clare Echo Crossword ACROSS 1 Greet enthusiastically (4)

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QUIZ 31

THURSDAY, JAN 7 2021

The Clare Echo Quiz

Monument in Ennis facin Clare would you most 1 O’Connell es in which direction?

6 Where likely find a legless lizard?

East West North

The Burren Loophead Meelick

was Lee’s Road sports 2 When facility established?

Joseph’s Miltown Malbay’s 7 Sthome ground is known as what?

3 What was it renamed in 2017?

arts centre was built at a 8 Glór cost of €8.5m in what year?

1995 2015 2005

John O’Sullivan Park John O’Connell Park John O’Bama Park

Morrissey Park Millenium Stadium Hennessy Memorial Park

1999 2001 2004

Shannon Airport is famous for 4 many things, but which of the Island was home to a following is NOT true of the airport.

9 Scattery monastery founded by who?

St Senan Brian Boru St Flannan

The Armada Hotel was previThe Fair Green is also known as 10 ously known as what, when it 5 Tim Smythe Park, but where was opened for business in 1809? the athlete / politician Tim Smythe from?

Ennis O’Callaghan’s Mills Kilnaboy

Spanish Point Hotel Spinach Point Hotel The Atlantic Hotel

l QUESTION 9: Scattery Island was home to a monastery founded by who?

ANSWERS 5. O’Callaghan’s Mills

Only place in Ireland equipped to land a space shuttle First airport to fly a giraffe World’s first duty free

10. The Atlantic Hotel

4. First airport to fly a giraffe

9. St Senan

3. John O’Sullivan Park

8. 2001 7. Hennessy Memorial Park

2. 2015

6. The Burren Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences.

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

1.West

Spot the Difference

Last weeks Answers . Paddle missing . Timber missing underneath kayak . Black stopper missing on kayak

. Straps missing on woman (left) . Sign missing on kayak . Badge on arm of man (front) missing . Pole missing (left)

Jack and the Beanstalk 2