Month: March 2008

PUBLIC patients in Clare are wait- ing up to a year for a critical lifesav- ing test.

It emerged this week that Clare patients referred to the University College Hospital Galway for colon- OScopy examinations are waiting up to 12 months.

Those referred to the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick for these crucial tests to determine life-threat- ening diseases such as bowl cancer are waiting up to nine months.

Urgent referals to the Limerick hos- pital are seen within “two to three” weeks, while urgent referrals to UCHG are “prioritised”.

Last October Kilkenny woman Su- sie Long died from bowl cancer.

The brave woman had highlight- ed how a seven-month wait for her colonoscopy meant that it was too late when her cancer was detected.

Shortly after her death, the govern- ment vowed that such a fatal delay would never occur again, but yet the waiting list remains.

SUN our CBM hmele tone more ce

ing the waiting lists to see if those on the waiting lists still require the test and then assessing patients for the Treatment Purchase Fund.

Colonoscopy is the endoscopic examination of the large colon and of the small bowel with a fibre op- tic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus. It can provide a visual diagnosis and grants the op- portunity for biopsy or removal of suspected lesions.

Meanwhile the Irish Country Wom- an’s Association 1s also critical of de- lays in the healthy service.

The ICA is to discuss waiting times of up to two years in Limerick for mammogrammes for woman who are concerned but have no obvious Symptoms of breast cancer at its na- tional meeting in Cork on Saturday.

The meeting will also discuss the delays in the publication of enquiries into breast cancer services in Limer- ick, Galway and Portlaoise, including the report into the misdiagnoses of Killaloe woman Rebecca O’ Malley.

After learning that, for ‘legal rea- sons’, the release of the HIQA report into her breast cancer misdiagnosis

has now been delayed for a third time in as many months, the mother of three is demanding that the ability of individuals or groups within our health services to delay or block the publication of independent reports that deal with issues relevant to pa- tient safety, should be severely cur- Aer!

“It really makes me despair that any recommendations within the re- port into my case still cannot be im- plemented,’ said Ms O’ Malley.

The report was initially to be pub- lished on December 17.

GARDAI are urging people to keep an eye on their elderly neighbours, after an 82-year-old man died at his home last week. Christopher Nugent was found dead at his house at Kil- feara, Kilkee, last Tuesday evening.

Neighbours alerted gardai, who at- tended the scene. Mr Nugent’s body was found close to a two-bar heater in the sitting room of the house.

Gardai believe he may have fallen from a chair and landed near the heater. The cause of the sudden death was possibly medical.

Mr Nugent was last seen on Mon- day evening, after he returned to his home, from Kilkee town.

The State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a post mortem examination on Mr Nugent’s body, at the Mid Western Regional Hospi- tal, Limerick. Garda forensic officers also carried out a detailed examina- tion of the scene.

While the final report on the post mortem will not be available for some time, initial reports have concluded that the cause of death was not suspi- cious. The rear door of his home was unlocked, but gardai are satisfied that no other person gained entry to the |ateyeslon

“We are not treating this as suspi- cious at the moment. Investigations are still ongoing and we are wait- ing for the State Pathologist’s final

report,’ said Superintendent Declan Brogan, who is leading the investiga- tion into the incident.

The Chief Fire Officer in Clare is also stressing the importance of fire safety in the home, in the wake of the tragic death of Mr Nugent.

“The fire service regularly pro- vides fire safety talks and presenta- tions to various groups, including the ICA and retired persons’ groups and would be pleased to assist if possible. Should groups want to avail of our assistance, they should contact the fire service on 065 6846302,” said Adrian Kelly.

INTEGRATION and community will form the key themes of an Afro- Irish festival of music planned for Ennis in March.

The main aim of the Afro-Irish gospel extravaganza, details of which were revealed last week, seeks to bring together Ennis’ African and Irish communities through music.

Taking place on Saturday, March 22, the event will feature a host of traditional African and Irish musi- GETS

Organised by the Ennis _ based Foundation Ministries, the concert at elor will feature performances from the Children of Soweto Group, the Ennis Youth Choir, Mary Ayo Tade,

James Kilbane and many other art- ists and choirs from abroad.

Event organiser and singer Chinwe Obadeyi explained Easter was cho- sen specifically as the ideal time to bring the two communities together.

She said, “It 1s important that in- tegration takes place in Ennis. We were trying to think what would be the best way of bringing Irish and Africans’ together and we though the best was through music. Music is the best way to it. I saw that when I launched my cd in Ennis”.

She continued “Easter is a good time to do it because it 1s such an im- portant time for people with a Chris- tian faith. Irish and African people share very strong religious beliefs and hopefully we can use this occa-

sion as an united force”’.

A prominent member of Ennis’s African community, Obadey1 moved to Ennis from Nigeria eight years ago.

Having completed her education in Ireland at the University of Limerick, Obadeyi released her debut album, Beyond the Sky, in Ennis two years ago.

She is a founding member of the Foundation Ministries Church and is also an active member of the African Forum in Ireland.

She said the concert will celebrate aspects of African and Irish culture.

“There will be music, dance, Afro- beats, Irish set dancing, everything. The African community has been made very welcome in Ennis and

we want to give something back to the town. This is one of showing that appreciation. In the future maybe we ll organise exhibitions, or fash- ion shows, but for we are focusing on music. It is a great way to show USD IA Vaan

Mayor of Clare Patricia McCarthy and Mayor of Ennis Tommy Bren- nan are both being invited to open the event. Obadeyi urged people in Ennis to come out and support the event.

“We have got great support from people. It’s going to be a great night and the best way people in Ennis can show their support is by com- ing along. This is the only way it can work. We need the presence of Ennis people to make the event a success”.

IT looks like another busy week for students at Barefield National school as they prepare to highlight the bene- fits of an active and healthy lifestyle.

After a month where the school continued its drive for green flag sta- tus with a series of environmentally friendly initiatives, staff and students will take part in another important promotional campaign.

Pupils from Barefield National School will this week join the list of schools nationwide who are cel- ebrating Active School Week. For the school this means increasing the amount of time spent on PE and

physical activity and highlighting the benefits of an active lifestyle.

According to teacher Peadar Mc- Mahon that means a number of ac- tivities running throughout the week including an infant programme which involves different events every day culminating in a Blitz on Friday March 7.

First class pupils are taking the whole thing very seriously by organ- ising a survey on physical activity, which will focus on their favour- ite activities and how to promote a healthier lifestyle for all the family. Of course, the events next week in Barefield National School will in- volve students from different nation-

alities and even the language teacher has been drafted in to explain the intricacies of cricket amongst many other things!

Active School Week is the high- light of the Active School Awards 2008 which is a nationwide search for the schools who best incorporate physical activity into their school CEMA

The Awards, which are now in their fourth year, are funded by the De- partment of Education and Science and entries are assessed on a region- al basis and then a short list will be invited to the National Celebration Event in May 2008 where the win- ners receive cash prizes.

The closing date for submissions is April 4 and those interested in participating should log onto www. activeschoolawards.ie

The Active Schools Awards for 2008 was launched by Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Education and Sci- ence at St Clare’s Primary School, Harold’s Cross, Dublin on Friday 18th January._

The main aim of this initiative is to raise the profile of PE and co-curric- ular physical activity in the context of the introduction of the Primary J SCUiw ue levee mr-DeCeMdsComMiebeN OME OaVelle PE syllabus and to promote lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity.

BEEKEEPING seems an unlikely urban hobby but it is one that is thriv- ing in Ennis.

The Banner Beekeepers is a vo- lountary association with over 50 members in Clare with around half of these living in Ennis.

Now the association is looking to attract new members with a series of talks and workshops, the first of which takes place at the Teagasc Centre, Ennis on March 6.

The Banner Beekeepers provides a support network for those starting out in beekeeping plenty of advice can be found from more experienced

beekeepers.

The association is also holding a five-week evening course – An Intro- duction to Beekeeping, to be held at Teagasc on Thursday nights.

A number of activities, including lectures by well-known beekeepers, are being lined up for the year ahead. In May the association intends set- ting up a new bee apiary in Inagh.

The Irish Seedsavers Association, Scariff are also setting up a bee api- ary and have been granted permis- sion for its use by the Banner Bee- keepers during the summer

Aoife McGuiness of the Banner Beekeepers explained that Ennis represents an ideal environment for

beekeepers.

She said, “Anyone can learn to keep bees whether you live in the country or town. Clare is an excellent county for bees and honey production and no area more so than Ennis. Many people think that if you live in a town or city that it would be impossible to keep bees”

“There are numerous beekeepers that keep a hive or two in their back garden. As long as you acquire a nice docile strain, they will not bother ZT ONO) onal

‘There is also plenty of nectar for the bees to collect in the gardens of a town’.

She added that bee products have

many uses some of them medici- nal, “Honey is the most commonly known product of the honeybee, which is produced from the nectar of blossoms. Apart from tasting so good, it is a natural antiseptic, and is full of enzymes.”

“The honeybees produce many other useful products. Local honey is very beneficial to those who suffer from hayfever because of the local pollen content. Propolis is another by-product. It contains antiseptic properties and 1s said to have benefi- cial effects on sore throats”.

For more info enkene bannerbees@gmail.com or contact 087 6743030.

A MASSIVE community effort is underway in Ennis as preparations continue for St Patrick’s Day.

The showpiece of the day, the St Patrick’s Day Parade will commence at 11 am from the courthouse.

The parade in Ennis in recent years has attracted large crowds of onlook- ers and has grown in popularity as a community event. Stilt walkers will also be at the parade to entertain the onlookers with their own form of pe- destrianisation.

The theme of this year “event is cel-

ebration, providing participant with plenty of scope for imagination.

The traditional blessing of the shamrock will take place before 12.15 mass at the Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral.

The party continues after the pa- rade is ended, when in conjunction with celebrations taking place for Seachtain na Gaeilge, a massive street céili is planned for O’Connell Square.

Town Clerk Eddie Power explained the street entertainment will be a major feature of the day, before and after the parade itself.

He said, “I am delighted to an- nounce that Ennis Gospel Choir will perform in O’Connell Square before the parade from 10.20am to llam. The choir recently performed in Glor to much acclaim and have given per- formances in Cork, Killarney and Limerick. The choir will perform a variety of well known songs and will appeal to a wide audience”.

“We are also arranging a Street Session in Lifford before the parade commences. Traditional musicians from Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann will entertain the waiting crowds in advance of the parade. A stage will

be in place as was done prior to last year’s parade which raised the pro- file of the musicians while improving sound and vision for the onlookers present,” he said.

Power continued, “Ceoltoiri na Mainistreach, a new céili band from Ennis, were formed by a group of very talented musicians from the En- nis area.

‘They first came together for the Clare Fleadh and went from there to Munster and on to the All Ireland competition in Letterkenny. This promises to be enjoyable for all the family.”

told the story of a couple who ran into difficulty and their child was subsequently taken

from them.

The drama occurred at a mo- tel, where Philly Phillips (Hickey) W010 .

, came in the wake of calls for the farmers’ market to be reinstalled.

The market moved to SkyCourt, having been operational at Drum- geely for two years previously. Whilst in Drumgeely, it had fallen victim to the weather on several oc- casions and then moved to the new plaza at SkyCourt almost two years ago. However, it has since faded out.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (In- dependent) said she is hopeful that the market can get back up and run- ning in Drumgeely “as a priority”.

“I’m just wondering can we resur-

rect it. It was good for Shannon. I’m hoping we can get it going again.

“TI just don’t want it to die. It worked well in Drumgeely. It is a good idea if we get it going again. People want it back,” she said.

In a statement, management for SkyCourt said, “The farmers mar- ket at SkyCourt was initiated on the town square in May 2006. Widely advertised and promoted, it proved popular and successful for the first two months. However, it became ap-

parent that the number of producers available was no longer sufficient to provide a diverse range of foods for Shannon customers.

“The number of farmers markets throughout the country has grown without a corresponding increase in the numbers of producers. SkyCourt remains very supportive of the farm- ers market concept and is willing to have discussions with any parties in- terested in relaunching the Shannon market,” said the statement.

A PRIMARY school in Shannon has reduced its litter by a massive 80 per cent, as part of an environmentally- friendly initiative which has been undertaken over the past year.

St Aidan’s school is preparing for its very first application for a green flag and these plans are currently reaching their final stages.

Under the initiative, which is run by An Taisce, schools can apply for green flags every two years. The scheme is a reflection of a school’s efforts towards keeping the environ- ment clean.

A new composter has been pur- chased for St Aidan’s, while packag-

ing has also been reduced over the past year.

“We have cut down on packaging on lunches and the children take all their rubbish home in their lunch boxes,” said co-ordinator Brenda OE Te co

The school has put an end to the use of paper towels and the students bring in face cloths instead.

“We have cut down the litter that goes to the landfill by 80 per cent and we have also cut down on recy- cling by 80 per cent in the past year,” added Ms Clarke.

“We used to have 16 to 18 refuse sacks and two huge bins and now we have just two sacks,” she added.

As part of the school’s initiative,

an environmentally-friendly day was organised last Friday, February 29.

According to Ms Clarke, the school adopted the theme ‘Extra Day, Extra Green’, for Friday, which was the ex- tra day for the leap year.

“All the children were encouraged to bring in their lunches in reusable containers and the only snacks were fruit,” she said.

“We are trying to make the chil- dren aware of the amount of lit- ter that is caused by packaging and more aware of the use of paper in the school,’ she added.

An added incentive is a fun compe- tition run by the teachers every week. The children with the least amount of packaging get prizes at the end of

the week!

So why is the school now applying for the green flag, for the first time?

“We had looked at it for the past few years, because we were recycling pa- per and cardboard. It had been in the backs of our minds for a while, but needed the support of everybody in the school,’ she said.

The full backing has been given by the 14 teachers and 280 students and hopes are high that the flag can now rom-lesbeA (ore b

has learnt that the most up-to-date results of tests on the Ennis water sample show traces of the parasite cryptosporid- Lebeee Town Engineer Tom Tiernan has told the paper that the results re- ceived by the local authority as late as yesterday are no cause for public oleae “It was a very, very low level and well below the level necessary to re- vise the notice issued about it,’ he STH (em The local authority in conjunction with the HSE issued a reminder to

the 30,000 water consumers in the Ennis area on Friday to continue to observe a partial boil notice, after three children were reported to be suffering from the disease Crypt- osporidiosis.

Cryptosporidiosis 1S a parasitic disease affecting the intestines of mammals that is caused by Crypt- osporidium.

According to a Clare County Council spokesperson, “the partial boil notice was put in place because the supply is considered to be at risk and is designed to protect children under five, persons whose immune system might be compromised and visitors to Ennis.”

The partial notice has been ongo- ing since May 2005 when five chil- dren fell ill with Cryptosporidiosis.

Mr Tiernan said that there was no proof at the time to link the water supply to the children.

When asked why the boil notice re- mains if the water 1s clear Mr Tiern- an said the supply is “more vulner- able’ because there is a temporary water treatment plant in place until the new plant is completed in 12 months time.

‘There is nothing in the water. It is precautionary,’ he said.

The town engineer assured the public that the reminder was a precautionary response to the con-

firmed cases of cryptosporidium, and there is little or no evidence to suggest that the illnesses are as a re- sult of the water.

According to the engineer the wa- ter 1s tested up to four times a week for the cryptosporidium parasite. It cannot be tested on an ongoing basis every day as it takes several days for the results to be determined.

Mr Tiernan admitted that the re- sults of last Thursday’s sample, which was received by the council yesterday, showed traces of the par- asite however.

He said that the sample showed minute levels of the parasite and “was way below concern levels”.