Weekly news from around the 32 counties of Ireland

(Source: The Leitrim Observer)

 

LIMERICK

The full extent of JP McManus' philanthropic activity have been revealed for the first time this week, with documents obtained showing that he has directed more than €17 million to charity in the last three years. And this is aside from the €31 million raised through the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am in 2005. Accounts seen by the Limerick Leader show that the JP McManus Charitable Foundation Limited, which has been in existence since 2000, donated a total of €10,728,275 to charities last year. In the past three years - excluding 2009 - a total of €17.3m has been donated to charities in Limerick and across the globe through this foundation, with over 3m going directly to worthy causes in his home county.

(Source: The Limerick Leader)

 

LONGFORD

Details of a €70 million investment in two shopping developments in Longford town have emerged. The planned twin-track development would see the regeneration of the Longford Shopping Centre as well as the construction of a brand new retail store at the edge of Longford town. The planning notices for the multi-million euro development appear in this week's Longford Leader and the planning applications are about to be submitted to the local authorities.

(Source: The Longford Leader)

 

LOUTH

Four people have died at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda since the outbreak of the deadly superbug Clostridium Difficile, it has been confirmed. A further 13 cases have been confirmed and 20 symptomatic cases identified since the initial outbreak last week. Following consultation with the Louth County Coroner, the HSE has now agreed that all deaths that take place in the hospital during the outbreak of C Diff will be notified to the coroner as a matter of routine. However, whether or not Clostridium Difficile was a factor in the deaths will only be determined by an inquest. Stringent restrictions remain in place at the hospital and any patients who have contracted the highly contagious bug are being treated in single rooms or in co-hort rooms, the spokesperson said.

(Source: The Drogheda Independent)

 

MAYO

Joan Varley, the Castlebar lady who gave birth to the first surviving set of Siamese twins in the British Isles, has died after illness. The late Ms Varley, from An Sruthán, Turlough Road, Castlebar was aged 43 and had suffered from a brain tumor for the past eight months. She died last Thursday at the Galway Hospice. Ms Varley was mother of twin daughters, Niamh and Aoife, aged 12, and a son Cian (9). The birth of Niamh and Aoife was a huge medical breakthrough. Born in St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester on April 6, 1997, the girls were transferred to Great Ormonde Street Hospital in London for surgery eleven weeks after their birth.

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Nster.com