Category: News

CLARE County Council has been urged to consider new bye-laws to prevent the locking of gates at private burial grounds.

The issue was raised at the October meeting of Clare County Council. In a motion, Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) stated, “Where privately-owned lands have to be traversed to access a burial ground I propose that, in the interest of public accessibility, this council adopts a protocol that prohibits the locking of gates. If neces- sary, I propose the amendment of an existing bye-law or the drafting of a new bye-law to facilitate this.”

Cllr Crowe told the meeting that his proposed amendment would seek the outright prohibition of locking graveyard gates or the locking of gates on a case specific basis.

He said the issue could first be considered by the Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) in conjunction with the local area office.

He said that while there is good pedestrian access to most public graveyards, the problem of locked gates in private burial grounds affected most areas of the county.

In reply, Gerard Dollard, Director of Services and Ennis Town Manager, stated, “In such instances, and more often than not, such land is used for the grazing of livestock. It is understandable that an entrance gate, particularly onto a public road would be locked in order to ensure that animals do not stray onto the public road.”

He continued, “Where gates are locked, the landowner co-operates by erecting a sign specifying the location of keys and on request arranges for the distribution of keys to, for example, the local undertaker, community group, registrar, caretaker, mobility impaired individuals who are regular visitors to a burial ground etc. Usually, a burial ground can also be accessed by a stile at the entrance.

Mr Dollard said the securing of gates is seen as necessary in some burial grounds in order to discourage anti-social behaviour.

“It is clear that the motion refers to privately-owned lands and it is my understanding that the council cannot regulate the access over such lands by way of bye-law,” he added.

ENNIS Hospital has finally received a clean bill of health from the health watchdog HIQA.

Following years of reports outly ing dangers to patients health and indeed life, the County Clare hospital was hailed the cleanest and safest in the country on Thursday when the Health Information and Quality Authority.

The unannounced inspection was refined to the new hospital extension, with its two wards the Burren Ward and Fergus Ward, inspected.

“Overall, both areas assessed in Ennis Hospital were very clean with very few exceptions,” the report said of the state of the art single-room wards officially opened by Minister for Health James Reilly in April.

“The risk of the spread of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) is reduced when the physical environment and equipment can be readily cleaned and decontaminated. It is therefore important that the physical environment and equipment is planned, provided and maintained to maximise patient safety.”

The inspectors found this to be the case in the multi-million euro building it demanded in a previous damming report.

When it visited the hospital on September 4 for the most recent report it found that it was one of the cleanest in the country although there were a few minor issues relating to the standards set to control hospital infections. These included one finding of dirt on a door joint but mostly related to inadequate signage in certain parts of the wards.

Hand hygiene was criticized in the region’s maternity hospital in the last set of hospital reports, but Ennis Hospital was found to be following HIQA protocol.

“Hand hygiene is recognised internationally as the single most important preventative measure in the transmission of HCAIs in healthcare services. It is essential that a culture of hand hygiene practice is embedded in every service at all levels,” the inspector said.

“Ennis Hospital must now develop a quality improvement plan (QIP) that prioritises the improvements necessary to fully comply with the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.

“This QIP must be approved by the service provider’s identified individual who has overall executive accountability, responsibility and authority for the delivery of high quality, safe and reliable services. The QIP must be published by the hospital on its website within six weeks of the date of publication of this report.”

However, the good news at Ennis wasn’t replicated in four other hospitals including Nenagh, which is also in the University Limerick Hospital Group.

A litany of problems at the Tipperary hospital means a follow-up inspection is required within six months, while the Mater Hospital was told that “many improvements were required” within the same time frame.

There were also risks to patients from infections discovered at St Vincent’s and Tallaght hospitals in Dublin because of unclean environments in wards.

THE National Roads Authority has been asked to clarify its position on the placing of signs on motorways and dual carriageways amid claims it is causing confusion.

Independent councillor PJ Ryan told the October meeting of Clare County Council, clarification on the policy is needed.

In a motion, Cllr Ryan stated that “this council would clarify with the NRA the position re: signs on or just off dual carriageway, motorway or primary roads as there seem to be a lot of confusion on this matter”.

Tom Tiernan, Senior Engineer in the Council’s Transport Department, said for road safety reasons, all illegal signs are removed from the motorway.

He explained, “Because of the fact that the motorway and dual carriageway system accommodates very large volumes of traffic moving at high speed, the safety of those using the system is of paramount importance. Drivers using the primary route network need certain basic elements of information to facilitate them in terms of destination etc.”

He continued, “The motorway signage system is designed to provide basic minimum information while at the same time it seeks to ensure that the information given isn’t overly detailed or cluttered and that it isn’t too much for a driver travelling at 120 km/hr to absorb without distraction. Effectively, the objective is to provide optimum information of the kind needed by an average motorway driver and to minimise the potential for distraction thereby facilitating complete focus on driving safely.”

Mr Tiernan stated, “For the reasons outlined in the foregoing, no signage other than that designed and approved by the NRA is allowed on the motorway system and any signage placed within the confines of the primary route system without approval is unauthorised and illegal.

“Since the NRA took over maintenance and management of the motorway system recently, this policy has been implemented fully by virtue of the fact that it is a clear stipulation in the NRA’s contract with the contractor who has been engaged to look after the motorway and dual carriageway network.”

Mr Tiernan told the meeting that any signs, which have been removed to facilitate this requirement, can be retrieved by owners at the new motorway maintenance depot adjacent to Junction 13, Tulla Road Interchange on the M18.

THE HSE has paid tribute to the staff at Ennis Hospital following the hospital’s most successful HIQA report to date.

Dr Con Cronin, Clinical Director for Medicine at the University Hospitals, said the hospital would also be addressing any of the deficits highlighted in the overall positive report.

“I would like to thank the staff of Ennis for their commitment to the hand hygiene programme and welcome the positive report from HIQA. We are committed to improving patient safety and the environment for patients and the report identified evidence of good practice in Ennis Hospital. We are implementing our action plan to address the deficits identified and build on the areas where we have demonstrated good practice,” he said.

“The Hospital Group recognises the importance of hand hygiene and its significant role in infection control prevention and has been working to improve hand hygiene compliance.

“Ennis Hospital provides hand hygiene training to all staff, this is mandatory training and repeated frequently. Unannounced hand hygiene audits by senior clinical staff within the UL hospitals are carried out to ensure that compliance and training is prioritised. The hospital is implementing an action plan to address any deficits identified and to build on the areas where good practice has been demonstrated,” he concluded.

AN AGE-OLD tradition will be marked in the Carron this Sunday as a group of local herdsmen will drive hundreds of cattle to their winter home on the upland Burren pastures.

The cattle drive is the centre point for the second annual Burren Winterage Festival, which is expected to attract hundreds of late-season tourists and visitors to the Burren this weekend.

The festival is aiming to mark the age-old process of winterage, which saw hundreds of cattle being moved to the Burren at the end of the summer, where they would spend the winter in relative dryness because of the porous limestone rock of the Burren.

The process of winterage has actively helped to shape the Burren over the centuries as the cattle helped control the spread of hazel and other scrub plants into limestone pavement.

“The Winterage Weekend is all about celebrating the local commu- nity and their traditions which have assisted in the Burren receiving such international recognition,” said Brigid Barry of the Burrenbeo Trust, who are organisers the event.

“Visitors and locals alike have the opportunity to get involved in some really interesting and fun events and all completely unique and connected to the magnificent landscape that is the Burren.”

Along with the cattle drive the Winterage Festival will also include a number of unique Burren events including the Burren Food Fayre, a number of open-farm events and even a prize for the best shorthorn heifer in the Burren.

The Burren last month became the first place in Ireland to receive a European Diploma for protected areas. The diploma, which is awarded by the Council of Europe, was in recognition of the natural and cultural heritage of the Burren, something that the process of winterage has been key to over the years.

The full Winterage Festival Weekend programme is www.burrenwinterage.com.

MANAGEMENT at Dromoland Castle have laughed off suggestions that the Australian International Rules Team’s partying got out of control during the early hours of yesterday morning (Monday).

The team stayed in the five-star County Clare hotel on Sunday and Monday night following their defeat to Ireland on Saturday.

Australian media had reported that the professional Aussie Rules players were reprimanded by team management following a drunken night out and follow-up party in one of the rooms of the castle.

Fiona Gielty, Group Sales Manager with Dromoland Castle, laughed off any suggestions that the players had caused a serious disturbance the night before.

“It was nothing, not even worth commenting on,” she said.

Australian website and newspaper, ‘The Age’, reported that the drunken night out at a Limerick night club was followed by players retiring to one of the players room to party.

“Hotel staff asked the hard-partying players to turn down their music about 5am, before having to return 15 minutes later to again insist they desist from making noise. A vase was heard smashing, with others in the building woken up,” according to the report.

The Australian players were then hauled before team management after breakfast on Monday and “reminded of their responsibilities to an International rules series”.

The Australian Football League have also insisted the incident was not a major one.

The Australian team members had made the long bus journey from Cavan to Dromoland Castle on Sunday, following their 57-35 defeat to Ireland in the first test of the 2013 International Rules Series at Breffni Park, Cavan.

THE search is on for proposals from suitably qualified candidates to maintain and digitise the Shannon Development Collection, an extensive archive of photographic material, associated press clippings and brochures dating from the early 1950s to the present day.

This major collection recounts the evolution of the Shannon region from a large agricultural base to a leading industrial and tourism hub. The development of aviation at Shannon Airport, the birth of Shannon town and the Shannon Free Zone, as well as aerial shots showing different stages during the industrial development of the area are all chronicled.

It charts Shannon Development’s role in regional development. Among the material generated by the company are images and print material relating to tourism and industrial development throughout the region. It traces the growth of towns in counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary, South Offaly and North Kerry.

Speaking about its importance a spokesperson for the company said: “The collection contains an extremely significant historic legacy chronicling over 50 years of the Shannon region’s tourism, industrial and social evolution. In photos and words it records the early days at Shannon Airport and the birth of the world’s first Industrial Free Zone. It captures the many world leaders who visited Shannon and the many glamorous Hollywood movie stars who regularly visited the area among them, Gene Kelly, Bob Hope, Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Kelly.

‘The collection is a true testament to the hard work and determination of the people of the Shannon region, the dedication of Shannon Development staff, and the commitment and drive of those who partnered with the company down through the years. It is a legacy to their achievements and we want to ensure that these pictures and stories are nurtured and made accessible to future generations.”

Among the photographic element of the collection are over 70,000 black and white negatives, 40,000 transparencies, and 10,000 colour negatives.

There is also a print element consisting of press clippings dating from 1959 to 2006. In addition there are a number of Shannon Development brochures and a full collection of printed copies of the Shannon Development Annual Reports dating from 1959.

Legislation is being enacted to bring together the independent Shannon Airport with the extensive property holding, experience and expertise of Shannon Development under the Shannon Group plc. The ownership of the collection will remain with Shannon Group plc.

Among the terms and conditions is that the collection must be kept together – catalogued, preserved and made available as a resource for researchers, interested organisations and the general public. The successful candidate will manage, store and digitise the collection on behalf of Shannon Group plc. They will be responsible for preserving this hugely important archive and making it accessible to the public. The closing date for receipt of proposals is Friday, October 25. Full details including terms and conditions can be obtained up to Friday, October 18, by emailing croninc@shannondevelopment.ie.

HIP replacement patients from County Clare gathered in the Old Ground Hotel yesterday (Monday) to hear from a law firm that is taking a group action against the firm that manufactured their faulty hip implant.

Personal injuries law firm Peter McDonnell and Associates are already representing 30 Clare patients who received a hip manufactured by De Puy ASR, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, between 2003 and 2010.

In 2006 the company ceased to sell any more of the implants in America, but continued to import them into Ireland and Europe.

On August 24, 2010 there was a worldwide recall on the hip implants, with patients reporting side affects from the prosthetic.

The implant was constructed of metal, and those with the implants are now subjected to on-going blood tests and scans amid fears of cobalt poisoning. Those that are found to have a high level of cobalt in their blood are then advised to have the DePuy hip removed and replaced with an alternative.

Mr McDonnell said that while to date DePuy has paid for the replacement costs of removing the hip, after care for patients, scans, blood tests and other associated costs, patients must take a case to cover any costs resulting to further damage as a result of metal poisoning.

The legal firm behind the suit un- derstands there are 170 more Clare people affected by the faulty implant and have advised them that it is not too late join the civil action.

DePuy ordered a recall of the medical device in 2010.

One woman from Kilrush who attended yesterday’s meeting, and did not wish to be named, said she was very worried.

In February 2009 she received her DePuy hip replacement, but after the operation suffered great discomfort.

In October that year, the surgeon operated on her hip again in a bid to fix the problem.

“That was two in the afternoon, at one that night I was back in surgery and had to have the whole thing replaced,” she said.

As it was 2009 she once again received a metal hip replacement and is now concerned about the longterm affect.

“I have had the blood tests but I never got the results, and my doctor can’t read them. I am worried,” she said.

Mr McDonnell said that the reading of the blood tests differ greatly from America to the British reading used in Ireland and can lead to a lot of confusion even among the medical profession.

The Kilrush lady said she was now considering yet another surgery, and would be looking for more blood tests and scans.

As there are no class actions each person must file an individual claim, according to the law firm.

When it is over a per centage of the claim is paid in fee to the firm.

GARDAÍ in Clare are urging people to behave responsibly as part of their annual Halloween safety awareness campaign.

Community Guards and members of the Clare County Fire Services have given a series of information meetings at primary and secondary schools around the county. Ennis-based community garda Deirdre O’Doherty said there would be a visible Garda presence on Halloween night (Thursday, October 31) to ensure events pass off safely.

“People drinking and particularly underage drinking at a time when you have bonfires and people letting off fireworks would obviously be the biggest concern for us,” she explained.

Garda O’Doherty continued, “Most of the time there are no problems with kids but it does happen in Ennis, as it does in other towns around Ireland, that you will have people drinking. We would be urging people to let the Fire Services do their job on the night. People should also keep an eye on small kids around bonfires and we would encouraging people to keep pets inside. It’s also important people check on elderly neighbours.”

Ennis Gardaí and Ennis Fire Brigade visited all the classes in Barefield National School on Thursday October 17. The liaison garda officer for Barefield National School, Garda Nadine Keane and Garda Albert Hardiman were present along with Frank Gormley with Gearoid Blake and Stephen Hayes from The Clare Fire Brigade.

Deputy principal Paddy Conroy said the event was beneficial for students.

He said, “Students were shown photographs relating to Halloween dangers and the Garda Nadine Keane and Albert Hardiman advised that the use of firecrackers without a Garda license is an offence. The children viewed photographs and footage of injuries, which have occurred through the use of firecrackers. Old people, young people and animals can sometimes feel intimidated at Halloween so children must ensure that the festival is enjoyed in a responsible and caring fashion. Mr John Burns (Principal) thanked the Garda officers and the firemen for their time and advice and commented that they are friends who keep our communities safe.”

A BOOK of evidence is due to be served next month on a 48-year-old man charged with possession of child pornography.

The man, who cannot be named by order of the court, made his second appearance at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged that the man, on dates unknown in September 2009 in an area of Clare, did knowingly have in his possession child pornography, to wit, five images of a child under the age of 17, engaged in illicit sexual activity or witness to illicit sexual activity.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court the book of evidence was not ready and the State required a further four weeks.

Judge Patrick Durcan granted an extension of time for service of the book of evidence.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett applied for reporting restrictions previously placed on the case to continue to apply. Last month, Judge Durcan approved a defence application for the identity of the accused, his address and the location of the alleged offence not to be reported on.

On Wednesday, Judge Durcan said reporting restrictions still apply to the case.

The man was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on November 13.