theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Ongoing delays threaten to derail loosening up of restrictions

Months into this crisis , continuing delays around the testing and contract tracing processes threaten to derail the planned loosening up of restrictions from later this month .
The HSE says it takes an average of 2.4 days to get a test result , well above the 24 hours recommended by most experts .
But even this figure is at odds with the experiences of some patients reporting long delays .
Galway woman Bernadette O ’ Sullivan , for example , told The Irish Times on Monday she was still waiting for test results 42 days after giving a sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve contacted the HSE helpline a number of times ; they gave me a direct line which doesn ’ t pick up .
The practice nurse at my GP ’ s has also made several attempts to get a response .
Apparently my test number is in the system but no result.
” Cork GP Nick Flynn says that while the capacity of the system to test for the virus has increased , “ the efficiency and speed are not there ” .
And while most of his tests are turned around in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endure lengthy and often unexplained waits for their results .
Two weeks ago , a healthcare worker had to wait weeks for her test result to be delivered , and it took Flynn numerous lengthy phone calls to different labs to obtain it .
“ Even if 1 per cent of the planned 100,000 tests a week are like that , the system can ’ t work as it is planned to do .
It has to end-to-end work .
If we don ’ t get this bit right , we could well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t just individual doctors who say some of their patients are waiting long periods for results ; even the Mental Health Commission , a State body , complained on Monday about delays in testing for staff working in mental health units .
Some of the issues that have arisen have been well flagged – shortage of reagents , or swabbing kits , for example , which are heavily in demand across the world .
These , we are told , have been solved for now , but there are other factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still to be holding back improvement .
Like any system built up quickly at a time of crisis , the testing process is a patchwork quilt of different labs , pieces of equipment and staff , many of whom have been seconded from other parts of the public service .
There are numerous stages in the process , and overall performance is dependent on turnaround times in each of these stages .
In the background , non-core issues such as indemnity and intellectual property around equipment caused delays as the system was being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disparity in turnaround times in hospitals , where tests on healthcare workers can be delivered in about six hours , and the community , where it takes days for results to be delivered .
The reason for the disparity is not entirely clear .
Another factor causing delays up to now is the high level of grunt work involved in each stage , with samples having to be transported from one location to another and data having to be manually entered and re-entered because IT systems are not talking to each other effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone missing , or been misdirected – according to the HSE , this is because the wrong phone numbers were given in some instances .
Delays in testing lead to knock-on delays in contact tracing , and this means cases will be missed and the virus will continue spreading .
To understand why , consider an imaginary scenario posited by experts in which Mary is infected at day zero , becomes infectious at day three but does not show symptoms until day five .
Along the way , she meets Mick on day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
Mick , in turn , infects Jean at day eight , and so on .
In order to break the chain of transmission , Mick needs to be told to quarantine by day seven .
This requires Mary to get tested on day five , the day she develops symptoms .
This tight timeline suggests there is a 48-hour window after a case develops symptoms to test and alert contacts .
Although the HSE is now talking about a 24-hour turnaround time for tracing contacts , this has to come on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which still sounds as if it is some way off .

Delays in testing lead to knock-on delays in contact tracing, and this means cases will be missed and the virus will continue spreading. Photograph: Reuters/ Lindsey Wasson
Months into this crisis, continuing delays around the testing and contract tracing processes threaten to derail the planned loosening up of restrictions from later this month.
The HSE says it takes an average of 2.4 days to get a test result, well above the 24 hours recommended by most experts. But even this figure is at odds with the experiences of some patients reporting long delays.
Galway woman Bernadette O’Sullivan, for example, told The Irish Times on Monday she was still waiting for test results 42 days after giving a sample on March 30th.
“I’ve contacted the HSE helpline a number of times; they gave me a direct line which doesn’t pick up. The practice nurse at my GP’s has also made several attempts to get a response. Apparently my test number is in the system but no result.”
READ MORE
Cork GP Nick Flynn says that while the capacity of the system to test for the virus has increased, "the efficiency and speed are not there".
And while most of his tests are turned around in a number of days, some patients endure lengthy and often unexplained waits for their results. Two weeks ago, a healthcare worker had to wait weeks for her test result to be delivered, and it took Flynn numerous lengthy phone calls to different labs to obtain it.
“Even if 1 per cent of the planned 100,000 tests a week are like that, the system can’t work as it is planned to do. It has to end-to-end work. If we don’t get this bit right, we could well end up under lockdown again.”
It isn't just individual doctors who say some of their patients are waiting long periods for results; even the Mental Health Commission, a State body, complained on Monday about delays in testing for staff working in mental health units.
Some of the issues that have arisen have been well flagged – shortage of reagents, or swabbing kits, for example, which are heavily in demand across the world. These, we are told, have been solved for now, but there are other factors causing delays in the process that appear still to be holding back improvement.
Like any system built up quickly at a time of crisis, the testing process is a patchwork quilt of different labs, pieces of equipment and staff, many of whom have been seconded from other parts of the public service. There are numerous stages in the process, and overall performance is dependent on turnaround times in each of these stages.
In the background, non-core issues such as indemnity and intellectual property around equipment caused delays as the system was being set up.
There is a huge disparity in turnaround times in hospitals, where tests on healthcare workers can be delivered in about six hours, and the community, where it takes days for results to be delivered. The reason for the disparity is not entirely clear.
Grunt work
Another factor causing delays up to now is the high level of grunt work involved in each stage, with samples having to be transported from one location to another and data having to be manually entered and re-entered because IT systems are not talking to each other effectively. In some cases, results have gone missing, or been misdirected – according to the HSE, this is because the wrong phone numbers were given in some instances.
Delays in testing lead to knock-on delays in contact tracing, and this means cases will be missed and the virus will continue spreading.
To understand why, consider an imaginary scenario posited by experts in which Mary is infected at day zero, becomes infectious at day three but does not show symptoms until day five.
Along the way, she meets Mick on day four and unwittingly transmits the disease to him. Mick, in turn, infects Jean at day eight, and so on.
In order to break the chain of transmission, Mick needs to be told to quarantine by day seven. This requires Mary to get tested on day five, the day she develops symptoms.
This tight timeline suggests there is a 48-hour window after a case develops symptoms to test and alert contacts. Although the HSE is now talking about a 24-hour turnaround time for tracing contacts, this has to come on top of an efficient testing system, which still sounds as if it is some way off.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--‘Unacceptable’ delays in testing for staff in mental health units – Commission

The Mental Health Commission ( MHC ) has criticised “ unacceptable ” delays in Covid-19 testing of staff in mental health units .
The commission says there continues to be “ significant inconsistencies ” in the process for staff testing , including the extent of planning , testing that is under way , and delays in results , “ despite guidance requiring all staff to be tested being introduced more than two weeks ago ” .
“ We do not consider the timeframes for staff testing to be acceptable , ” according to MHC chief executive John Farrelly .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing process from the HSE over the weekend , we have still not been assured around the delivery of results .
“ Testing is just one part of the process .
Once the testing has taken place , staff should be receiving the results of tests in a swift , standardised and consistent manner .
Our evidence shows that this is not currently happening.
” By last Friday , 16 residents with Covid-19 had died in mental health services , up four since the previous week , figures show .
A total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported suspected or confirmed cases – down from 55 the previous week .
The number of suspected or confirmed cases involving residents was 81 , down from 112 , while the number of staff cases dropped from 179 to 128 .
The commission says it has been told staff in acute admission units will be blanket tested only if there is an outbreak of the virus .
“ We are deeply concerned about this decision , ” Mr Farrelly said .
“ Our risk assessment shows that every acute inpatient unit includes either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlying medical conditions .
In addition , they are high-physical contact environments , and have higher numbers of admissions.
” Highlighting the absence of the standardised approach , the commission says some services are testing residents on admission and isolating them until results are received .
Given the number of asymptomatic cases , this may need to happen across all services , it says .

According to Mental Health Commission chief executive John Farrelly, the timeframes for staff testing are not acceptable. Photograph: Francesca Volpi/Bloomberg
The Mental Health Commission (MHC) has criticised "unacceptable" delays in Covid-19 testing of staff in mental health units.
The commission says there continues to be “significant inconsistencies” in the process for staff testing, including the extent of planning, testing that is under way, and delays in results, “despite guidance requiring all staff to be tested being introduced more than two weeks ago”.
"We do not consider the timeframes for staff testing to be acceptable," according to MHC chief executive John Farrelly. "While we received some assurance on the testing process from the HSE over the weekend, we have still not been assured around the delivery of results.
“Testing is just one part of the process. Once the testing has taken place, staff should be receiving the results of tests in a swift, standardised and consistent manner. Our evidence shows that this is not currently happening.”
READ MORE
By last Friday, 16 residents with Covid-19 had died in mental health services, up four since the previous week, figures show.
A total of 45 services, out of 179, reported suspected or confirmed cases – down from 55 the previous week.
The number of suspected or confirmed cases involving residents was 81, down from 112, while the number of staff cases dropped from 179 to 128.
The commission says it has been told staff in acute admission units will be blanket tested only if there is an outbreak of the virus.
“We are deeply concerned about this decision,” Mr Farrelly said. “Our risk assessment shows that every acute inpatient unit includes either residents over 60, or those with underlying medical conditions. In addition, they are high-physical contact environments, and have higher numbers of admissions.”
Highlighting the absence of the standardised approach, the commission says some services are testing residents on admission and isolating them until results are received. Given the number of asymptomatic cases, this may need to happen across all services, it says.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Priests turn to parishioners for help as church incomes collapse

Priests in the Dublin archdiocese have been urged to contact their parishioners directly for support , as it faces a mounting financial crisis caused by the Covid-19 curbs .
In a letter , they were strongly encouraged by the priest in charge of providing the money needed to pay priests ’ wages to spell out “ the collapse ” that has occurred in the archdiocese ’ s income .
“ You might be surprised by people ’ s generosity , just as I have been , ” wrote Fr Paul Taylor , chair of the executive committee of the archdiocese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its priests ’ incomes .
“ Please appeal to them to contribute to the Easter dues ( offering ) .
Why not send them a short letter , enclosing a dues envelope and a stamped , addressed envelope ?
” “ Since the crisis arose , and public gatherings of the faithful for the Sunday Eucharist have not been possible , the revenue that pays our stipends has collapsed , ” he went on , in a letter approved by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin .
The €23,000-a-year wages for priests , and the €28,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now to be cut by a quarter .
Senior clergy had accepted a cut on March 20th , but it was decided to hold off for March and April .
Now , however , Fr Taylor said the archdiocese ’ s funds are “ greatly depleted , putting in jeopardy the possibility to maintain current stipends for the next months ” .
As “ an emergency measure ” , it had been “ reluctantly decided that from May , priests will have to receive a 25 per cent reduction in their monthly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month after Sunday Mass celebrations can resume.
” Priests experiencing financial difficulty are advised to contact relevant senior personnel at the archdiocese .
Fr Taylor asked the priests “ to attach to your parish website as soon as possible the ‘ donate ’ facility ” organised by the archdiocese .
It offered “ an easier way to support financially the priests of the parish , the parish itself and the Share collection ” , he said .
Facilitating “ cashless giving ” was “ not only safer and healthier , it allows what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be credited to them , and enhances the ‘ tax back ’ opportunity for the parish , ” he said .
In Dublin , priests are supported by the first collection at Masses .
Priests do not qualify for the Government Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment .
In Ireland , generally priests in parishes are considered self-employed for social welfare and tax purposes .

Priests in the Dublin archdiocese have been urged to contact their parishioners directly for support, as it faces a mounting financial crisis caused by the Covid-19 curbs.
In a letter, they were strongly encouraged by the priest in charge of providing the money needed to pay priests’ wages to spell out “the collapse” that has occurred in the archdiocese’s income.
"You might be surprised by people's generosity, just as I have been," wrote Fr Paul Taylor, chair of the executive committee of the archdiocese's Common Fund, which finances its priests' incomes.
“Please appeal to them to contribute to the Easter dues (offering). Why not send them a short letter, enclosing a dues envelope and a stamped, addressed envelope?”
READ MORE
“Since the crisis arose, and public gatherings of the faithful for the Sunday Eucharist have not been possible, the revenue that pays our stipends has collapsed,” he went on, in a letter approved by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
The €23,000-a-year wages for priests, and the €28,000 a year due to parish priests, is now to be cut by a quarter. Senior clergy had accepted a cut on March 20th, but it was decided to hold off for March and April.
Jeopardy
Now, however, Fr Taylor said the archdiocese’s funds are “greatly depleted, putting in jeopardy the possibility to maintain current stipends for the next months”.
As “an emergency measure”, it had been “reluctantly decided that from May, priests will have to receive a 25 per cent reduction in their monthly payment. This will be reviewed one month after Sunday Mass celebrations can resume.”
Priests experiencing financial difficulty are advised to contact relevant senior personnel at the archdiocese.
Fr Taylor asked the priests “to attach to your parish website as soon as possible the ‘donate’ facility” organised by the archdiocese. It offered “an easier way to support financially the priests of the parish, the parish itself and the Share collection”, he said.
Facilitating “cashless giving” was “not only safer and healthier, it allows what is generously given by the people to be credited to them, and enhances the ‘tax back’ opportunity for the parish,” he said.
In Dublin, priests are supported by the first collection at Masses.
Priests do not qualify for the Government Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. In Ireland, generally priests in parishes are considered self-employed for social welfare and tax purposes .


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Laid-off Irish Debenhams workers raise funds for Bangladeshi staff

Former Irish Debenhams workers , who are campaigning to be paid redundancy payments following their own lay-off last month , have raised money to help 69 Bangladeshi employees left stranded by the company ’ s cutbacks .
The High Court appointed provisional liquidators for Debenhams ’ Irish operation last month after it was told by the company that it is insolvent and could not pay its debts .
However , the Irish workers in Dublin and Cork learned later that workers in Dhaka had also lost out after a clothing contract was terminated , after they saw social media video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Irish workers set up a GoFundMe page to raise €10,000 for the Bangladeshi workers , who will not get any State benefits and have no hope for now of getting another job .
Since Saturday , the Irish workers ’ group – who include long since retired Debenhams employers – have raised €5,000 so far without publicity , saying that they could “ not stand back and allow their peers in Bangladesh to suffer ” .
“ We are very saddened to hear our colleagues have been left with nothing considering there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are proud people .
They didn ’ t ask us for help .
We offered to help them .
“ As a group of workers recently made redundant by Debenhams , it angered us that this company could be responsible for ruining the livelihoods of so many people in such a cavalier manner , ” they said .
Saying that they were heartened by the support shown to them by strangers thousands of miles away , a spokesman for the Bangladeshi workers offered thanks .
“ I ’ m overwhelmed while I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still alive .
You don ’ t know us .
None of us visited Ireland ever .
But you feel our team members ’ pain from thousands of miles away , ” said a spokesman .
When contacted about the Irish fundraising efforts , a Debenhams spokeswoman said , “ like all fashion retailers , we have had to make some very tough decisions in relation to our supply chain .
“ We are trying to deal with all those affected as fairly and openly as possible .
Suppliers who continue to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be paid to terms.
” .
Last week , ITV News reported that it had seen correspondence from Debenhams ’ administrator to Bangladeshi suppliers demanding a 90 per cent discount on garment orders already at UK ports .
A fundraising effort for the Bangladeshi workers set up in the UK by a former Debenhams product developer there , Sally Deighton , has so far raised £1,000 .
Paying tribute , Ms Deighton said the Bangladeshis had worked “ extremely hard ” for Debenhams , and staff in Ireland and UK and could “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
“ These people were more than colleagues .
They dropped us at the airport for the 2am flight , collected us at 4am .
They were always prepared , ensuring we always were able to do our jobs properly , ” she said .
Last week , Debenhams announced that five more stores in Birmingham , Croydon in London , Glasgow , Leicester and Reading will not reopen after the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted because new rents could not be agreed with landlords .

Bangladeshi workers who lost their jobs when Debenhams shut their factory in Dhaka
Former Irish Debenhams workers, who are campaigning to be paid redundancy payments following their own lay-off last month, have raised money to help 69 Bangladeshi employees left stranded by the company’s cutbacks.
The High Court appointed provisional liquidators for Debenhams’ Irish operation last month after it was told by the company that it is insolvent and could not pay its debts.
However, the Irish workers in Dublin and Cork learned later that workers in Dhaka had also lost out after a clothing contract was terminated, after they saw social media video posted by the Bangladeshis.
Responding, the Irish workers set up a GoFundMe page to raise €10,000 for the Bangladeshi workers, who will not get any State benefits and have no hope for now of getting another job.
READ MORE
Since Saturday, the Irish workers’ group – who include long since retired Debenhams employers – have raised €5,000 so far without publicity, saying that they could “not stand back and allow their peers in Bangladesh to suffer”.
“We are very saddened to hear our colleagues have been left with nothing considering there is no unemployment benefit in Bangladesh. They are proud people. They didn’t ask us for help. We offered to help them.
“As a group of workers recently made redundant by Debenhams, it angered us that this company could be responsible for ruining the livelihoods of so many people in such a cavalier manner,” they said.
Heartened
Saying that they were heartened by the support shown to them by strangers thousands of miles away, a spokesman for the Bangladeshi workers offered thanks.
“I’m overwhelmed while I see your initiatives and how humanity is still alive. You don’t know us. None of us visited Ireland ever. But you feel our team members’ pain from thousands of miles away,” said a spokesman.
When contacted about the Irish fundraising efforts, a Debenhams spokeswoman said, “like all fashion retailers, we have had to make some very tough decisions in relation to our supply chain.
“We are trying to deal with all those affected as fairly and openly as possible. Suppliers who continue to work with us during our administration period will be paid to terms.”.
Last week, ITV News reported that it had seen correspondence from Debenhams’ administrator to Bangladeshi suppliers demanding a 90 per cent discount on garment orders already at UK ports.
A fundraising effort for the Bangladeshi workers set up in the UK by a former Debenhams product developer there, Sally Deighton, has so far raised £1,000.
Paying tribute, Ms Deighton said the Bangladeshis had worked “extremely hard” for Debenhams, and staff in Ireland and UK and could “not have done our jobs without them”.
“These people were more than colleagues. They dropped us at the airport for the 2am flight, collected us at 4am. They were always prepared, ensuring we always were able to do our jobs properly,” she said.
Last week, Debenhams announced that five more stores in Birmingham, Croydon in London, Glasgow, Leicester and Reading will not reopen after the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted because new rents could not be agreed with landlords.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Extra handwashing prompts Irish Water to appeal for conservation

Adults staying home and repeatedly washing their hands during the coronavirus crisis are using an extra 24 litres of water a day , on average , prompting Irish Water to urge households to conserve water elsewhere .
While the utility says conditions are a long way from the drought of 2018 , the increase in handwashing and stay-at-home activity has led to an increase of 20 per cent in domestic usage .
This has prompted Irish Water to suggest a number of “ prudent ” conservation measures , such as handwashing dishes in preference to powerwashing where possible .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in line with data from UK water utilities which have reported increases of up to 27 litres per person a day .
Fortunately , non-domestic water usage has decreased with offices , construction sites , schools , colleges , leisure centres , hotels , bars and restaurants temporarily closed .
The reduction in commercial demand has helped to offset some of the domestic increase – so far .
However , as domestic demand represents two-thirds of water consumption , the water supply is under pressure .
In addition , when Government restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to use extra water to clean and flush their plumbing systems and storage tanks or to complete deep cleans , while water usage in homes will continue to remain higher than normal .
Irish Water ’ s spokeswoman , Siobhán Waters , said water treatment plants were already working to their maximum capacity , and while there was still enough water reaching them from the reservoirs , the utility was keeping a keen eye on the long-range weather forecast .
Ms Waters appealed to the public to prioritise handwashing over powerwashing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together we can meet the increased demands on our network when restrictions are relaxed for businesses ” .
Measures that the public can take include : Stopping the use of powerwashers at home Using a watering can rather than a hose in the garden Fixing any dripping taps where it is possible to do so .
Speaking about the need to conserve water , Irish Water ’ s managing director , Niall Gleeson , said it was “ really important ” that everyone followed the HSE guidance on handwashing .
“ However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some ways to conserve water that will not impact on hygiene .
“ In Irish Water , we are continually looking at what we call the supply/ demand balance .
This means that we need to ensure that we can supply more treated drinking water than is required for use .
We can manage this by conserving water ; losing less by repairing leaks ; and supplying smarter by ensuring that all of our plants are working optimally .
It is essential that we act now to protect our supply and safeguard our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

The increase in handwashing and stay-at-home activity has led to a rise of 20 per cent in domestic usage. Photograph: iStock
Adults staying home and repeatedly washing their hands during the coronavirus crisis are using an extra 24 litres of water a day, on average, prompting Irish Water to urge households to conserve water elsewhere.
While the utility says conditions are a long way from the drought of 2018, the increase in handwashing and stay-at-home activity has led to an increase of 20 per cent in domestic usage.
This has prompted Irish Water to suggest a number of “prudent” conservation measures, such as handwashing dishes in preference to powerwashing where possible.
New domestic metering data has revealed the increase is in line with data from UK water utilities which have reported increases of up to 27 litres per person a day.
READ MORE
Fortunately, non-domestic water usage has decreased with offices, construction sites, schools, colleges, leisure centres, hotels, bars and restaurants temporarily closed. The reduction in commercial demand has helped to offset some of the domestic increase – so far.
However, as domestic demand represents two-thirds of water consumption, the water supply is under pressure.
In addition, when Government restrictions are lifted, many commercial premises will need to use extra water to clean and flush their plumbing systems and storage tanks or to complete deep cleans, while water usage in homes will continue to remain higher than normal.
Irish Water’s spokeswoman, Siobhán Waters, said water treatment plants were already working to their maximum capacity, and while there was still enough water reaching them from the reservoirs, the utility was keeping a keen eye on the long-range weather forecast.
Conservation tips
Ms Waters appealed to the public to prioritise handwashing over powerwashing and conserve water where possible “so that together we can meet the increased demands on our network when restrictions are relaxed for businesses”.
Measures that the public can take include:
Stopping the use of powerwashers at home
Using a watering can rather than a hose in the garden
Taking showers over baths
Fixing any dripping taps where it is possible to do so.
Speaking about the need to conserve water, Irish Water’s managing director, Niall Gleeson, said it was “really important” that everyone followed the HSE guidance on handwashing. “However,” he said, “ there are some ways to conserve water that will not impact on hygiene.
“In Irish Water, we are continually looking at what we call the supply/ demand balance. This means that we need to ensure that we can supply more treated drinking water than is required for use. We can manage this by conserving water; losing less by repairing leaks; and supplying smarter by ensuring that all of our plants are working optimally. It is essential that we act now to protect our supply and safeguard our water for essential usage,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Deer cull leads to fewer road accidents and plant regeneration

A cull of 240 wild deer last winter in the Killarney National Park is leading to fewer road accidents and to a regeneration of woodland plants in the park ’ s ancient woodlands .
The bilberry , in Ireland known as the frochin-berry , a rich source of antioxidants , is flowering for the first time in decades .
Normally eaten to the root by the deer , vaccinium myrtillus , associated with dyes , cooking and medicine , is thriving on higher ground in the park this year .
Both male and female , red and sika were culled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parks and Wildlife Service ( NPWS ) confirmed .
With no natural predator , the deer , estimated to number 1,500 last year , are over-running farm , wood and roadways , and public campaigns had been under way to halt their numbers .
Culling was completed prior to the Covid-19 outbreak and 198 red deer , a unique species , as well as 41 sika were taken out by specially trained wildlife rangers attached to the NPWS .
Culls of the native red deer previously led to complaints from the public and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place earlier this year during the operation at the Demesne area near the town of Killarney .
However , a cull is set to be repeated next autumn , the Department of Culture and Heritage has said .
“ The department is conscious of the sensitivity that is attached to the management of the deer in Killarney National Park , ” owing not only to the unique genetic purity of the herd and the value that they add to the ecology of the park but also the value that they add to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department said .
But where deer species are increasing in range and numbers , depending on the annual count and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats ( especially woodland ) , culls need to be carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative ecological consequences , according to the spokeswoman .
As well as resurgence of frochins , young oak and beech are making an appearance on the forest floor .
The NPWS is also dealing with fewer complaints from farmers about deer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fewer calls about road-stricken deer .
“ Normally we have calls at night and sometimes several each week .
But in the past weeks , there has been just one , ” according to officers .
Meanwhile , a stunting disease , which the NPWS believes is linked to copper-deficiency among the red deer , is still being investigated .

A cull of 240 wild deer last winter in the Killarney National Park is leading to fewer road accidents and to a regeneration of woodland plants in the park’s ancient woodlands.
The bilberry, in Ireland known as the frochin-berry, a rich source of antioxidants, is flowering for the first time in decades. Normally eaten to the root by the deer, vaccinium myrtillus, associated with dyes, cooking and medicine, is thriving on higher ground in the park this year.
Both male and female, red and sika were culled during the 2019-20 operation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) confirmed.
With no natural predator, the deer, estimated to number 1,500 last year, are over-running farm, wood and roadways, and public campaigns had been under way to halt their numbers.
READ MORE
Culling was completed prior to the Covid-19 outbreak and 198 red deer, a unique species, as well as 41 sika were taken out by specially trained wildlife rangers attached to the NPWS.
Opposition
Culls of the native red deer previously led to complaints from the public and a protest by animal rights people took place earlier this year during the operation at the Demesne area near the town of Killarney.
However, a cull is set to be repeated next autumn, the Department of Culture and Heritage has said.
“The department is conscious of the sensitivity that is attached to the management of the deer in Killarney National Park,” owing not only to the unique genetic purity of the herd and the value that they add to the ecology of the park but also the value that they add to the local economy,” a spokeswoman for the department said.
But where deer species are increasing in range and numbers, depending on the annual count and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats (especially woodland), culls need to be carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative ecological consequences, according to the spokeswoman.
As well as resurgence of frochins, young oak and beech are making an appearance on the forest floor.
The NPWS is also dealing with fewer complaints from farmers about deer eating the early grass, and facing fewer calls about road-stricken deer.
“Normally we have calls at night and sometimes several each week. But in the past weeks, there has been just one,” according to officers.
Meanwhile, a stunting disease, which the NPWS believes is linked to copper-deficiency among the red deer, is still being investigated.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--HSE says rotation of doctors will go ahead, despite Covid-19 crisis

The scheduled rotation of thousands of non-consultant doctors between hospitals across the State will go ahead in July , the Health Service Executive has said .
This is despite concerns raised by medical staff and the Irish Medical Organisation ( IMO ) .
Rotation of interns and senior house officers ( SHOs ) happens every three months , and at six-monthly intervals for the other grades of non-consultant hospital doctors during their training .
The planned rotation for interns and SHOs in April was cancelled by the HSE on safety grounds because of the Covid-19 crisis .
Doctors , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by transferring large numbers of staff between hospitals .
Responding to questions from The Irish Times , the HSE said the changeover of non-consultant hospital doctors would go ahead as normal on July 13th .
Non-consultant hospital doctors , who have recently arrived from outside the State , will self-isolate for 14 days before starting work .
“ This is being factored in by the HSE and non-consultant hospital doctors from overseas will be arriving into Ireland , in the majority of cases , earlier than usual in order to facilitate the period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting arrangements in place for intern doctors to undertake a significant amount of the induction online ” , it said .
The IMO has proposed to the HSE that it should examine a staggered changeover of non-consultant hospital doctors given the current Covid-19 situation .
“ The IMO have been in contact with the HSE regarding the July 2020 changeover of non-consultant hospital doctors ( NCHDs ) .
Given the unprecedented backdrop against which this changeover takes place and the possibility that doctors moving hospitals may have to self-isolate for a period , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the possibility of a changeover that would be staggered.
” Medical and nursing personnel who spoke to The Irish Times expressed concerns about the forthcoming rotation .
A nurse in University Hospital Waterford said : “ The doctors ’ rotations [ are ] a growing concern ...
Lifting restrictions will already give us some increase in numbers but it has to be done and they ’ re going about it the right way , but I just dread July when they all swap around hospitals and things are all up in the air.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be “ just common sense to either postpone them rotating by a few months or swab them before they move hospitals but at the moment it ’ s going ahead as normal.
” “ Since the pandemic began we ’ ve all been upskilling and training and making plans … to make sure everyone ’ s prepared and on the same page to provide the best care .
But then they ’ ll upheave all the doctors and move them around so you have interns starting their first days as doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SHO or a registrar who ’ s new to the hospital too.
” A trainee doctor in University Hospital Galway felt that , while the chances of the virus spreading due to the mass movement of hospital doctors in July may be a “ reasonable fear ” , many doctors would lose out on further training ( some of which has already been put on hold due to elective procedures being cancelled ) , if the changeover didn ’ t go ahead .
He said it is a “ big deal … as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become consultants in July or go into the community from hospitals to be GPs… so it complicates training hugely.
” “ The benefits of the rotation is a continuation of education , training competent doctors to improve our constantly under-pressure health system , the downside is the potential transfer of disease , which can be mitigated by correct precautions.
” Testing rotating doctors before they move hospital would not work either , he said , as the “ tests … are only about 65 per cent sensitive , we ’ ve had cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only positive on 3rd .
So they ’ re not that helpful.
” “ If you could test doctors ’ antibodies then you could say who ’ s had it , but then there ’ s an argument that maybe this doesn ’ t give protection against further infection.
” The doctor said an option could be delaying the rotation until later in the year after the loosening of restrictions .
A nurse in University Hospital Galway said she was apprehensive about the changeover and worried that moving doctors during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have done ” .
She said Galway ’ s low case rate “ is not the case everywhere and moving doctors may increase these numbers .
Their exposure to Covid patients is a lot more , therefore their chance of contracting it is higher.
” “ I feel doctors should be quarantined for two weeks or perhaps swabbed before moving hospital .
Especially if they are moving from a hospital with a large volume of Covid patients.
” A registrar in Galway University Hospital who is moving to Dublin in July said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having the virus and bringing it to another area .
However , he said training must go ahead , “ in favour of delaying until September ” .
“ They will begin to lift restrictions on May 18th .
We won ’ t see the effects of that until the first week of June.
” Meanwhile a spokesperson for the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine sit it didn ’ t foresee any particular issues arising from these scheduled moves , which are often within the same hospital or geographical region .

Doctors move from hospital to hospital on a six-monthly basis as part of their training. Photograph iStock
The scheduled rotation of thousands of non-consultant doctors between hospitals across the State will go ahead in July, the Health Service Executive has said. This is despite concerns raised by medical staff and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).
Rotation of interns and senior house officers (SHOs) happens every three months, and at six-monthly intervals for the other grades of non-consultant hospital doctors during their training.
The planned rotation for interns and SHOs in April was cancelled by the HSE on safety grounds because of the Covid-19 crisis.
Doctors, however, now worry about the risks posed by transferring large numbers of staff between hospitals.
READ MORE
Responding to questions from The Irish Times, the HSE said the changeover of non-consultant hospital doctors would go ahead as normal on July 13th.
Non-consultant hospital doctors, who have recently arrived from outside the State, will self-isolate for 14 days before starting work.
"This is being factored in by the HSE and non-consultant hospital doctors from overseas will be arriving into Ireland, in the majority of cases, earlier than usual in order to facilitate the period of self-isolation.
“The HSE is putting arrangements in place for intern doctors to undertake a significant amount of the induction online”, it said.
The IMO has proposed to the HSE that it should examine a staggered changeover of non-consultant hospital doctors given the current Covid-19 situation.
“The IMO have been in contact with the HSE regarding the July 2020 changeover of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs). Given the unprecedented backdrop against which this changeover takes place and the possibility that doctors moving hospitals may have to self-isolate for a period, we have suggested that the HSE explore the possibility of a changeover that would be staggered.”
Medics’ reaction
Medical and nursing personnel who spoke to The Irish Times expressed concerns about the forthcoming rotation.
A nurse in University Hospital Waterford said: “The doctors’ rotations [are] a growing concern... Lifting restrictions will already give us some increase in numbers but it has to be done and they’re going about it the right way, but I just dread July when they all swap around hospitals and things are all up in the air.”
The nurse added that she believes it would be “just common sense to either postpone them rotating by a few months or swab them before they move hospitals but at the moment it’s going ahead as normal.”
“Since the pandemic began we’ve all been upskilling and training and making plans … to make sure everyone’s prepared and on the same page to provide the best care. But then they’ll upheave all the doctors and move them around so you have interns starting their first days as doctors … and their superior could be an SHO or a registrar who’s new to the hospital too.”
A trainee doctor in University Hospital Galway felt that, while the chances of the virus spreading due to the mass movement of hospital doctors in July may be a “reasonable fear”, many doctors would lose out on further training (some of which has already been put on hold due to elective procedures being cancelled), if the changeover didn’t go ahead.
He said it is a “big deal … as some people [are] supposed to become consultants in July or go into the community from hospitals to be GPs… so it complicates training hugely.”
“The benefits of the rotation is a continuation of education, training competent doctors to improve our constantly under-pressure health system, the downside is the potential transfer of disease, which can be mitigated by correct precautions.”
Testing rotating doctors before they move hospital would not work either, he said, as the “tests … are only about 65 per cent sensitive, we’ve had cases with full-blown Covid and two negative swabs and only positive on 3rd. So they’re not that helpful.”
“If you could test doctors’ antibodies then you could say who’s had it, but then there’s an argument that maybe this doesn’t give protection against further infection.”
The doctor said an option could be delaying the rotation until later in the year after the loosening of restrictions.
A nurse in University Hospital Galway said she was apprehensive about the changeover and worried that moving doctors during the pandemic could undo “all the great work we have done”.
She said Galway’s low case rate “is not the case everywhere and moving doctors may increase these numbers. Their exposure to Covid patients is a lot more, therefore their chance of contracting it is higher.”
“I feel doctors should be quarantined for two weeks or perhaps swabbed before moving hospital. Especially if they are moving from a hospital with a large volume of Covid patients.”
A registrar in Galway University Hospital who is moving to Dublin in July said there is a small chance of doctors having the virus and bringing it to another area.
However, he said training must go ahead, “in favour of delaying until September”.
“They will begin to lift restrictions on May 18th. We won’t see the effects of that until the first week of June.”
Meanwhile a spokesperson for the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine sit it didn’t foresee any particular issues arising from these scheduled moves, which are often within the same hospital or geographical region.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Covid-19 testing and tracing takes nine days on average - HSE

Testing people for Covid-19 and tracing all their contacts is taking an average of about nine days , according to the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) , a multiple of the time most experts say the process needs to be to stop the virus spreading .
The median time from referring a person for a test to sending the result for contact tracing is five days , according to David Walsh , HSE national director of community operations .
The average time taken to then trace all the contacts of a confirmed case is four days , Mr Walsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( NPHET ) briefing , although “ straightforward ” cases are dealt with more quickly .
Mr Walsh said this was “ an improving figure ” and would shorten with the automation of the process in relation to negative results .
Prof Mary Codd , an epidemiologist at University College Dublin ( UCD ) and head of the contact tracing centre on the campus , said it was vital test results for Covid-19 were turned around within 48 hours by the time people return to work next week .
The entire testing process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or certainly no longer than 72 , in order to cut out the spread of the virus in the population , she said .
“ Otherwise actually we are likely to be looking at these sporadic outbreaks that may not be able to be contained.
” The process of sampling , testing , communication of results to a positive case , contact tracing and quarantine of contacts needs to be done within 72 hours , immunologist Dr Tomas Ryan of Trinity College Dublin has also said .
Silicon Valley entrepreneur Tomas Pueyo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared by millions online , said : “ If you take on average three days from infection to track contacts and quarantine or isolate them , you will miss a lot of contagions.
” The Mental Health Commission said on Monday that mental health services in Cork and Kerry , and south Dublin , were awaiting test results from up to two weeks ago , while services in the northwest , southeast and south Dublin/Kildare were waiting more than a week .
On Monday , the president of the Irish College of General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Favier , said last month test turnaround times were often more than two weeks .
Mr Walsh said the HSE ’ s target for testing turnaround times was “ three days or below ” .
By the end of this week , the time it takes should be down to four days and process improvements would then be undertaken to reduce it further .
The figure could also be improved if people experiencing symptoms responded earlier by seeking a test , according to Dr Holohan .
He said an average of four days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms consistent with Covid-19 and the time a sample was taken .
“ Our message is that if you are experiencing symptoms , don ’ t wait until tomorrow to see if they go away , ” he said , adding that people also needed to self-isolate immediately if this happened .
On average , tests processed in hospitals are turned around a day faster than those done in other labs , Mr Walsh said .
The average turnaround time for lab tests was three days last week and would be two days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elapsing from referral to the start of contact tracing , Dr Holohan said he was satisfied the information provided was “ real-time experience ” on which decisions could be based .
The mean number of contacts a case has currently stands at two .
The deaths of another 15 patients were announced by NPHET at its briefing on Monday , the second-lowest figure in over six weeks .
There have now been 1,467 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
Some 139 new cases of the disease were also reported , including 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new cases bring the total number of cases to 23,135 .
NPHET is developing guidelines on the wearing of face-coverings in some settings but Dr Holohan said the proposals would not be mandatory .
Meanwhile , the Northern Executive is to announce a five-stage easing of the coronavirus lockdown in Northern Ireland on Tuesday .
It is expected to differ from the Republic ’ s roadmap in that there will be no specific dates set down for when particular easings will take place but each stage of process will be determined by @ @ @ @ @ @

Experts say trace and testing must be done within 72 hours to stop spread of virus; HSE says process takes nine days on average
Testing people for Covid-19 and tracing all their contacts is taking an average of about nine days, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE), a multiple of the time most experts say the process needs to be to stop the virus spreading.
The median time from referring a person for a test to sending the result for contact tracing is five days, according to David Walsh, HSE national director of community operations.
The average time taken to then trace all the contacts of a confirmed case is four days, Mr Walsh told a National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) briefing, although “straightforward” cases are dealt with more quickly.
Mr Walsh said this was “an improving figure” and would shorten with the automation of the process in relation to negative results.
READ MORE
Prof Mary Codd, an epidemiologist at University College Dublin (UCD) and head of the contact tracing centre on the campus, said it was vital test results for Covid-19 were turned around within 48 hours by the time people return to work next week.
The entire testing process must come to within 48 hours, or certainly no longer than 72, in order to cut out the spread of the virus in the population, she said. “Otherwise actually we are likely to be looking at these sporadic outbreaks that may not be able to be contained.”
The process of sampling, testing, communication of results to a positive case, contact tracing and quarantine of contacts needs to be done within 72 hours, immunologist Dr Tomas Ryan of Trinity College Dublin has also said.
Silicon Valley entrepreneur Tomas Pueyo, whose analyses of the crisis have been shared by millions online, said: “If you take on average three days from infection to track contacts and quarantine or isolate them, you will miss a lot of contagions.”
The Mental Health Commission said on Monday that mental health services in Cork and Kerry, and south Dublin, were awaiting test results from up to two weeks ago, while services in the northwest, southeast and south Dublin/Kildare were waiting more than a week.
On Monday, the president of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), Dr Mary Favier, said last month test turnaround times were often more than two weeks.
Mr Walsh said the HSE’s target for testing turnaround times was “three days or below”. By the end of this week, the time it takes should be down to four days and process improvements would then be undertaken to reduce it further.
The figure could also be improved if people experiencing symptoms responded earlier by seeking a test, according to Dr Holohan. He said an average of four days passed between the time a person experienced symptoms consistent with Covid-19 and the time a sample was taken.
“Our message is that if you are experiencing symptoms, don’t wait until tomorrow to see if they go away,” he said, adding that people also needed to self-isolate immediately if this happened.
On average, tests processed in hospitals are turned around a day faster than those done in other labs, Mr Walsh said. The average turnaround time for lab tests was three days last week and would be two days this week.
‘Real-time experience’
Despite the five-day period elapsing from referral to the start of contact tracing, Dr Holohan said he was satisfied the information provided was “real-time experience” on which decisions could be based.
The mean number of contacts a case has currently stands at two.
The deaths of another 15 patients were announced by NPHET at its briefing on Monday, the second-lowest figure in over six weeks. There have now been 1,467 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic.
Some 139 new cases of the disease were also reported, including 60 notifications in the past 24 hours. The new cases bring the total number of cases to 23,135.
NPHET is developing guidelines on the wearing of face-coverings in some settings but Dr Holohan said the proposals would not be mandatory.
Meanwhile, the Northern Executive is to announce a five-stage easing of the coronavirus lockdown in Northern Ireland on Tuesday. It is expected to differ from the Republic’s roadmap in that there will be no specific dates set down for when particular easings will take place but each stage of process will be determined by scientific and public health criteria.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Racist social media messages to Ian Wright investigated by Garda

Gardaí have launched an investigation into racist messages sent to former Arsenal and England footballer Ian Wright from an Irish teenager ’ s social media account .
Mr Wright , who has worked as a TV pundit since retiring from his playing career , shared some of the messages he received by posting them on his own social media accounts on Monday .
“ I know I ’ m not meant to look at them , but these messages still hit me so hard man .
This is a child , ” he said , accompanied by images of some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Instagram account .
“ This kid as [ sic ] a direct line into me & is able to send this without any worry , ” he added of the messages .
As well as being racist in nature , the messages also expressed hate for Mr Wright ’ s family members , including his siblings and parents .
“ Your [ sic ] like 65 years old , ” one message stated , “ if I get corona I will cough in your face and give you your death sentence.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 1.7 million Twitter followers , many people replied and suggested the matter should be investigated by a police inquiry .
Late on Monday Mr Wright ’ s tweet about the abuse had been retweeted over 17,000 times and had generated 16,000 comments in reply .
Garda sources said while the messages appeared to come from a social media account bearing the name of an Irish teenager , it had yet to be established who the author of the messages was and who had sent them to Mr Wright .
Gardaí are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hacked or whether his phone was taken by a third party who then sent the messages to Mr Wright from the teenager ’ s Instagram account without his knowledge or consent .
Gardaí confirmed late on Monday night , via social media , that they had opened an inquiry into messages of a racist nature shared on social media .
“ An Garda Síochána is investigating an incident where abusive/racist comments have been reposted on social media platforms .
No formal complaint has been received but an investigation has commenced into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integration strategy , ” the Garda statement said .
“ A male adult teenager has presented voluntarily at a Garda station and has been interviewed .
A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions .
An Garda Síochána are appealing to the public not to engage in social media commentary in relation to this matter .
”

Ian Wright, who has worked as a TV pundit since retiring from playing soccer, shared some of the hateful messages he received by posting them on his own social media accounts. File photograph: Nick Potts/PA Wire
Gardaí have launched an investigation into racist messages sent to former Arsenal and England footballer Ian Wright from an Irish teenager's social media account.
Mr Wright, who has worked as a TV pundit since retiring from his playing career, shared some of the messages he received by posting them on his own social media accounts on Monday.
"I know I'm not meant to look at them, but these messages still hit me so hard man. This is a child," he said, accompanied by images of some of the messages he had received on his Instagram account.
“This kid as [sic] a direct line into me & is able to send this without any worry,” he added of the messages.
READ MORE
Expressed hate
As well as being racist in nature, the messages also expressed hate for Mr Wright’s family members, including his siblings and parents.
“Your [sic] like 65 years old,” one message stated, “if I get corona I will cough in your face and give you your death sentence.”
After Mr Wright shared the content to his 1.7 million Twitter followers, many people replied and suggested the matter should be investigated by a police inquiry.
Late on Monday Mr Wright’s tweet about the abuse had been retweeted over 17,000 times and had generated 16,000 comments in reply.
Garda sources said while the messages appeared to come from a social media account bearing the name of an Irish teenager, it had yet to be established who the author of the messages was and who had sent them to Mr Wright.
Gardaí are also examining whether the teenager’s account was hacked or whether his phone was taken by a third party who then sent the messages to Mr Wright from the teenager’s Instagram account without his knowledge or consent.
Gardaí confirmed late on Monday night, via social media, that they had opened an inquiry into messages of a racist nature shared on social media.
"An Garda Síochána is investigating an incident where abusive/racist comments have been reposted on social media platforms. No formal complaint has been received but an investigation has commenced into the comments in line with our diversity and integration strategy," the Garda statement said.
"A male adult teenager has presented voluntarily at a Garda station and has been interviewed. A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. An Garda Síochána are appealing to the public not to engage in social media commentary in relation to this matter."


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Seeing children miss out on school rites of passage is heartbreaking

The nine o ’ clock news , Wednesday , March 11th : the first mention of confirmations being cancelled at short notice .
My daughter sits beside me on the sofa , tears rolling down her face .
Don ’ t worry , I say , your confirmation is this Friday , we ’ ll make it , we ’ ll get in there before things stop .
But we don ’ t .
At 1pm the following day the country closes down and we get word that her confirmation is a cancelled casualty of the crisis .
I collect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s devastated by the cancellation .
Easter Saturday , April 11th , the warmest day of the year so far .
I drop shopping to my cocooning parents , stopping en route to put bottles in the bottle bank .
The bottle bank is beside my daughter ’ s school and I get a sudden pang of loneliness for all the coming months had held for her : the confirmation ; camogie training and matches for the Cumann na mBunscol games ; the Junior Entrepreneur Programme ; slán le rang a sé ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the joy and fun her lovely class would have as they counted down their final days in primary school .
There is no mention in the news of primary schools returning and we understand why .
My teenager helps me offload the bottles – the remnants of a Zoom party the previous night – and she asks me what I miss most during lockdown .
I shrug .
I have it easy , I know .
Our household is working from home , I ’ m grateful we still have jobs .
Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and safe .
I ’ m quarantined with the people who matter most to me and in this strange new world order I have my kids to myself again – I ’ m not competing for their attention .
“ You chose to marry Dad and have four kids .
I ’ m stuck with you guys , ” my teenager states honestly and frankly .
She ’ s right , as teenagers always are .
But what do I miss most ?
I continue pushing the empty bottles into the well-fed containers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sun beats down on me , I look over my shoulder at the empty pitch across from the school and the thing I want most at this blue skied , sunlit , warm April moment is to be a sideline spectator at those Cumann na mBunscol matches that lay ahead of us in the months of April , May and June .
Rang-a-sé girls had worked tirelessly as a class to prepare for these games : meeting on Saturdays for extra practice ( and fun ) , planning their positions , discussing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was key to the team .
They couldn ’ t do it without each other .
I wanted to listen to her post-match rants about referees , to the advice her younger brother might give her about her defending or attacking tactics .
Her team would win some matches and lose some others but maybe they ’ d win just enough to bring us all to Croke Park on another sunny , cloudless day in June .
Her grandparents might come , her aunt and cousins .
The school community united in supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have dreamed all year of their chance as a class to win the Corn for their school .
That won ’ t happen now ; a statement on April 2nd confirmed that the matches were cancelled .
I notice the idle hurl in the hall .
It ’ s hard to stay motivated when there ’ s no training to turn up to , no match to practice for , no friends to hurl with .
We , she and I , realise we are lucky .
There are real problems out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a life-changing impact on people .
Our regrets will pass , and we ’ ll get over our few missed matches .
We ’ re grateful for what we have .
She ’ s happy at home and , like any pre-teen , she ’ s missing her friends .
Now and again she has a rant about “ stupid corona ” but then reverts to her happy self , helping me with minding her little sister while her dad and I work .
She pulled out a photo of her class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other day .
Thirty-one small , tiny kids , all kooky and gorgeous .
It made me smile .
The weeks pass and we remember those rang-a-sé milestones that she ’ d looked forward to as she moved through her final years in primary school .
I ’ d hoped they might get a couple of weeks in June , just some time to be the lovely class they always were again before they move into the wider world of secondary school .
That , now , won ’ t happen either .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ through sixth class is calling on virtues she has nurtured within herself : patience , hope , acceptance , respect and consideration of others .
I watch in admiration as she stoically accepts and rises to this strange and new reality , remembering the bigger picture of this virus .
I ’ m so proud of you , Isobel !

“I get a sudden pang of loneliness for all the coming months had held for her . . . most of all, for the joy and fun her lovely class would have had.” Photograph: iStock
The nine o’clock news, Wednesday, March 11th: the first mention of confirmations being cancelled at short notice. My daughter sits beside me on the sofa, tears rolling down her face.
Don’t worry, I say, your confirmation is this Friday, we’ll make it, we’ll get in there before things stop. But we don’t.
At 1pm the following day the country closes down and we get word that her confirmation is a cancelled casualty of the crisis. I collect her from school, – she’s devastated by the cancellation.
Easter Saturday, April 11th, the warmest day of the year so far. I drop shopping to my cocooning parents, stopping en route to put bottles in the bottle bank.
READ MORE
Loneliness
The bottle bank is beside my daughter's school and I get a sudden pang of loneliness for all the coming months had held for her: the confirmation; camogie training and matches for the Cumann na mBunscol games; the Junior Entrepreneur Programme; slán le rang a sé; and, most of all, for the joy and fun her lovely class would have as they counted down their final days in primary school.
There is no mention in the news of primary schools returning and we understand why.
My teenager helps me offload the bottles – the remnants of a Zoom party the previous night – and she asks me what I miss most during lockdown. I shrug. I have it easy, I know.
Our household is working from home, I’m grateful we still have jobs. Our grandparents and extended family are all well and safe. I’m quarantined with the people who matter most to me and in this strange new world order I have my kids to myself again – I’m not competing for their attention. “You chose to marry Dad and have four kids. I’m stuck with you guys,” my teenager states honestly and frankly. She’s right, as teenagers always are.
But what do I miss most?
I continue pushing the empty bottles into the well-fed containers – everyone was Zooming last night! The sun beats down on me, I look over my shoulder at the empty pitch across from the school and the thing I want most at this blue skied, sunlit, warm moment is to be a sideline spectator at those Cumann na mBunscol matches that lay ahead of us in the months of May and June.
Rang-a-sé girls had worked tirelessly as a class to prepare for these games: meeting on Saturdays for extra practice (and fun), planning their positions, discussing strategies. Each girl in the class was key to the team. They couldn’t do it without each other. I wanted to listen to her post-match rants about referees, to the advice her younger brother might give her about her defending or attacking tactics.
Her team would win some matches and lose some others but maybe they'd win just enough to bring us all to Croke Park on another sunny, cloudless day in June. Her grandparents might come, her aunt and cousins. The school community united in supporting the green, white and pink jerseys that have dreamed all year of their chance as a class to win the Corn for their school.
That won’t happen now; a few weeks ago it was confirmed that the matches were cancelled. I notice the idle hurl in the hall. It’s hard to stay motivated when there’s no training to turn up to, no match to practice for, no friends to hurl with.
We, she and I, realise we are lucky.
Happy at home
There are real problems out there for people, things that will have a life-changing impact on people. Our regrets will pass, and we’ll get over our few missed matches. We’re grateful for what we have. She’s happy at home and, like any pre-teen, she’s missing her friends. Now and again she has a rant about “stupid corona” but then reverts to her happy self, helping me with minding her little sister while her dad and I work.
She pulled out a photo of her class on their senior infants school tour the other day. Thirty-one small, tiny kids, all kooky and gorgeous. It made me smile.
The weeks pass and we remember those rang-a-sé milestones that she’d looked forward to as she moved through her final years in primary school. I’d hoped they might get a couple of weeks in June, just some time to be the lovely class they always were again before they move into the wider world of secondary school. That, now, won’t happen either.
In the meantime, her diverted journey through sixth class is calling on virtues she has nurtured within herself: patience, hope, acceptance, respect and consideration of others. I watch in admiration as she stoically accepts and rises to this strange and new reality, remembering the bigger picture of this virus. I’m so proud of you, Isobel!


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Inspiring educators: How coronavirus has given us a new appreciation of teachers

Homeschooling has given us all a new appreciation of teachers – with both parents and pupils missing the múinteoirs .
Since Covid-19 school closures , we fully realise what levels of patience , persistence and personal attention goes into the role of educator .
We have remote learning , Class Dojo and even RTÉ ’ s Home School Hub – but nothing beats the guidance and support of a good teacher .
With them gone from our lives , many of us are reflecting on our favourite teachers that influenced us in our chosen careers – and just what made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from Garryowen in Limerick .
She was the strictest teacher in St Mary ’ s NS in Blessington , Co Wicklow , and could silence a room with one word : “ Desist !
” Yet she was kind , like Oliver Goldsmith ’ s Village Schoolmaster .
Passionate about literature , she found a willing student in me .
By the end of primary , I ’ d read AS Byatt ’ s Possession , Kavanagh ’ s Tarry Flynn ; Heaney and Hughes ’ Rattle Bag .
The transformative influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Albert Einstein , once a teacher , described the “ supreme art ” of the ability to awaken creativity and knowledge in students .
Research shows high-quality teaching is the most effective way to improve educational outcomes for individuals .
One special teacher can leave a defining legacy in a student ’ s life .
Barbara Ennis , principal of Alexandra College in Dublin 6 , believes there is nothing like an inspirational teacher in forming your view of the world .
“ What is an inspiring teacher ?
Someone who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to communicate that passion on the pupil .
They matter – their development matters .
There has to be a mutual respect there , and an element of a role model , ” she says .
Nurturing ability and building self-confidence is key .
“ Nothing matches up to praise and encouragement .
It can be about telling students : it can be done .
It ’ s about stretching beyond imagination to help them see the future they could achieve .
I say to students : reach for the rainbow .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patrick McCormack , head of St Paul ’ s CBS in North Brunswick Street in Dublin ’ s inner-city , agrees that a caring school environment is the “ seedbed ” for education .
“ You want students to know you are ambitious for them : that there is a plan of action for them when they leave here .
We try to foster a spirit of investigation and inquiry in students and support them in their work.
” He says the school ’ s philosophy is the antithesis of the Mr Gradgrind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hard Times who saw children as “ empty vessels to be filled with facts ” .
“ The writer Anatole France said nine-tenths of education is encouragement , and I hold to that .
It ’ s that it comes down to , whether you are coaching a child in a classroom , or to do a forward roll in gymnastics .
“ If you are only pointing out to them what they are doing wrong , instead of showing them what they are doing right , you won ’ t build the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s about helping them learn another piece of the subject area that gives them the fuel in the furnace to push onto the next stage.
” He says sometimes it can be about affirmation : simply acknowledging a special talent .
That can give a student the “ permission ” they need to realise they are good enough to pursue a dream .
It happened to Lionel Shriver .
The award-winning American author – who lived in Belfast for 12 years – can trace her decision to become a writer back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ High School in Atlanta , Georgia .
Her teacher Mrs Watson – a strict schoolmarm of history – called her back after class one day to discuss test results .
She told Shriver her answers were very well-written and asked : “ Have you ever considered becoming a writer ?
” In an open letter to her former teacher , Shriver wrote : “ Keep at it , you said , and that was that .
I did keep at it , Mrs Watson .
I am a writer .
But your taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me ever since .
You were right about a certain gift I had , which teachers like you nourished.
” Broadcaster , scientist and educator Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin was inspired to study theoretical physics by her physics teacher David McMonagle at St Joseph ’ s Convent of Mercy in Castlebar , Co Mayo .
“ He made a big impact on me as a student , ” says Ní Shúilleabháin , now an assistant professor in the school of Mathematics and Statistics in University College Dublin , where she directs the maths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college of science .
“ In his class you could come in and talk and discuss anything : whether it was whether time travel was possible or what tachyons were .
He was interested in physics , he was passionate about it , he made it interesting and relevant .
“ He didn ’ t enforce the curriculum .
I loved astrophysics and black holes and finding someone else with the same enthusiasm was very important to me .
I could talk about the subject in a broad way , not just in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the educator who speaks to you as a person , who has your interests at heart .
They can make you more confident in your ability and nurture your interest .
Someone who knows their stuff and cares about explaining it and communicating it to others.
” Ní Shúilleabháin believes every Irish student should have equal access to such quality teaching .
“ You can only have a fair and democratic society if school works for all : and for school to work , we have to have really good teachers who care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chef Neven Maguire is so indebted to his home economics teacher , Mairead McMorrow from St Clare ’ s Comprehensive in Manorhamilton , Co Leitrim , that he dedicated his most recent cookery book – Home Economics for Life – to her .
“ I was one of the first boys in the school to do home economics and Mairead McMorrow was so supportive and brilliant .
I was so excited to cook and she knew cooking was my love and she was there all the way for me .
I still remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upside-down cake .
“ I think everyone should do home economics : it ’ s a great life skill .
She will always have a special place in my heart .
She taught me : follow your heart .
And if you love what you do it will come right in the end.
” Poet and former RTÉ newsreader Michael Murphy ’ s says his teacher Fr Henry Flanagan at Newbridge College set him on an artistic life .
“ He was an artist and sculptor himself and he harnessed all my artistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to art and music and taught me to play the organ .
He was holiness in the best possible way , but he was liberal with it.
” Writer Stefanie Preissner credits her English teacher Mary Higgins with giving her the confidence to recognise to find her unique style .
“ Despite not knowing how to use adjectives impressively , or being able to describe autumn like some of the girls in my class , Ms Higgins made me feel that what I had to say was worthy of being listened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave me my first lead role in The Mikado.
” For some , that truly special teacher may not appear until college days .
Musician and historical entertainer Paddy Cullivan found his inspiration in the portrait artist Mick O ’ Dea , when O ’ Dea taught at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin in the 1990s .
Paddy – whose degree in visual communications is utilised to impressive effect in his live history shows – says O ’ Dea taught him : “ You are learning a trade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ come out in your art .
“ Mick always encouraged your obsessions ; you had to be 100 per cent committed to your subject .
He directed you towards the kernel of what you were doing and gave practical , creative advice .
“ He also attended the college band gigs we put on – he saw nothing as a waste of time , creatively .
Mick is an egalitarian inspiration for those who want to be total artists .
I was lucky he was there to point the way for me.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always hated the George Bernard Shaw quote : ‘ Those who can ’ t do , teach ’ .
When you ’ ve got someone who can both do , and teach , you ’ ve got the template of success to inspire you , and the immediate access to their wealth of knowledge.
” Personality : Good teachers tend to be open , approachable and fair .
They tend to have a striking personality that makes them appealing to students .
Passion : They are enthusiastic about their subject and about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love of learning .
Value encouragement : They teach through patient encouragement , knowing it will lead to better outcomes and success than constant criticism .
Demonstrate confidence in students , building self-esteem through support and praise .
Have high expectations : Good teachers believe in their students and help them to see future possibilities .
They identify and nurture special talents .
Good communicators : They are skilled in the art of communicating their knowledge to others .

Homeschooling has given us all a new appreciation of teachers – with both parents and pupils missing the múinteoirs.
Since Covid-19 school closures, we fully realise what levels of patience, persistence and personal attention goes into the role of educator.
We have remote learning, Class Dojo and even RTÉ’s Home School Hub – but nothing beats the guidance and support of a good teacher.
With them gone from our lives, many of us are reflecting on our favourite teachers that influenced us in our chosen careers – and just what made them special.
READ MORE
Mine was Mary Broderick, from Garryowen in Limerick. She was the strictest teacher in St Mary’s NS in Blessington, Co Wicklow, and could silence a room with one word: “Desist!”
Yet she was kind, like Oliver Goldsmith’s Village Schoolmaster. Passionate about literature, she found a willing student in me. By the end of primary, I’d read AS Byatt’s Possession, Kavanagh’s Tarry Flynn; Heaney and Hughes’ Rattle Bag.
The transformative influence of an inspiring teacher is well acknowledged. Albert Einstein, once a teacher, described the "supreme art" of the ability to awaken creativity and knowledge in students.
Research shows high-quality teaching is the most effective way to improve educational outcomes for individuals. One special teacher can leave a defining legacy in a student’s life.
Barbara Ennis, principal of Alexandra College in Dublin 6, believes there is nothing like an inspirational teacher in forming your view of the world.
“What is an inspiring teacher? Someone who is passionate about the subject and has the ability to communicate that passion on the pupil. They matter – their development matters. There has to be a mutual respect there, and an element of a role model,” she says.
Nurturing ability and building self-confidence is key. “Nothing matches up to praise and encouragement. It can be about telling students: it can be done. It’s about stretching beyond imagination to help them see the future they could achieve. I say to students: reach for the rainbow. You might just get the sky.”
Ambitious
Patrick McCormack, head of St Paul’s CBS in North Brunswick Street in Dublin’s inner-city, agrees that a caring school environment is the “seedbed” for education.
“You want students to know you are ambitious for them: that there is a plan of action for them when they leave here. We try to foster a spirit of investigation and inquiry in students and support them in their work.”
He says the school’s philosophy is the antithesis of the Mr Gradgrind approach – the teacher in Dickens’ Hard Times who saw children as “empty vessels to be filled with facts”.
"The writer Anatole France said nine-tenths of education is encouragement, and I hold to that. It's that it comes down to, whether you are coaching a child in a classroom, or to do a forward roll in gymnastics.
“If you are only pointing out to them what they are doing wrong, instead of showing them what they are doing right, you won’t build the scaffolding towards doing it properly. It’s about helping them learn another piece of the subject area that gives them the fuel in the furnace to push onto the next stage.”
He says sometimes it can be about affirmation: simply acknowledging a special talent. That can give a student the “permission” they need to realise they are good enough to pursue a dream.
Author and journalist Lionel Shriver can trace her decision to become a writer back to one day in tenth grade in Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Photograph: David Levenson/Getty Images
It happened to Lionel Shriver. The award-winning American author – who lived in Belfast for 12 years – can trace her decision to become a writer back to one day in tenth grade in Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Her teacher Mrs Watson – a strict schoolmarm of history – called her back after class one day to discuss test results. She told Shriver her answers were very well-written and asked: “Have you ever considered becoming a writer?”
In an open letter to her former teacher, Shriver wrote: “Keep at it, you said, and that was that. I did keep at it, Mrs Watson. I am a writer. But your taking me aside like that has been precious to me ever since. You were right about a certain gift I had, which teachers like you nourished.”
Big impact
Broadcaster, scientist and educator Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin was inspired to study theoretical physics by her physics teacher David McMonagle at St Joseph’s Convent of Mercy in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
"He made a big impact on me as a student," says Ní Shúilleabháin, now an assistant professor in the school of Mathematics and Statistics in University College Dublin, where she directs the maths and education programmes in UCD's college of science.
Broadcaster, scientist and educator Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin was inspired to study theoretical physics by her physics teacher David McMonagle at St Joseph’s Convent of Mercy in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
“In his class you could come in and talk and discuss anything: whether it was whether time travel was possible or what tachyons were. He was interested in physics, he was passionate about it, he made it interesting and relevant.
“He didn’t enforce the curriculum. I loved astrophysics and black holes and finding someone else with the same enthusiasm was very important to me. I could talk about the subject in a broad way, not just in a textbook way.
“There is the educator who speaks to you as a person, who has your interests at heart. They can make you more confident in your ability and nurture your interest. Someone who knows their stuff and cares about explaining it and communicating it to others.”
Ní Shúilleabháin believes every Irish student should have equal access to such quality teaching. “You can only have a fair and democratic society if school works for all: and for school to work, we have to have really good teachers who care about their subject and their students.”
Chef Neven Maguire is so indebted to his home economics teacher, Mairead McMorrow from St Clare's Comprehensive in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, that he dedicated his most recent cookery book – Home Economics for Life – to her.
“I was one of the first boys in the school to do home economics and Mairead McMorrow was so supportive and brilliant. I was so excited to cook and she knew cooking was my love and she was there all the way for me. I still remember the first thing I made: pineapple upside-down cake.
“I think everyone should do home economics: it’s a great life skill. She will always have a special place in my heart. She taught me: follow your heart. And if you love what you do it will come right in the end.”
Poet and former RTÉ newsreader Michael Murphy's says his teacher Fr Henry Flanagan at Newbridge College set him on an artistic life. "He was an artist and sculptor himself and he harnessed all my artistic idealism. I flourished. He introduced me to art and music and taught me to play the organ. He was holiness in the best possible way, but he was liberal with it."
Lead role
Writer Stefanie Preissner credits her English teacher Mary Higgins with giving her the confidence to recognise to find her unique style. "Despite not knowing how to use adjectives impressively, or being able to describe autumn like some of the girls in my class, Ms Higgins made me feel that what I had to say was worthy of being listened to. She also taught me drama and gave me my first lead role in The Mikado."
Writer Stefanie Preissner credits her English teacher Mary Higgins with giving her the confidence to recognise to find her unique style. Photograph: Alan Betson
For some, that truly special teacher may not appear until college days. Musician and historical entertainer Paddy Cullivan found his inspiration in the portrait artist Mick O'Dea, when O'Dea taught at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin in the 1990s.
Paddy – whose degree in visual communications is utilised to impressive effect in his live history shows – says O’Dea taught him: “You are learning a trade. What is in your head has to come out in your art.
Musician and historical entertainer Paddy Cullivan found his inspiration in the portrait artist Mick O’Dea, when O’Dea taught at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin in the 1990s.
“Mick always encouraged your obsessions; you had to be 100 per cent committed to your subject. He directed you towards the kernel of what you were doing and gave practical, creative advice.
“He also attended the college band gigs we put on – he saw nothing as a waste of time, creatively. Mick is an egalitarian inspiration for those who want to be total artists. I was lucky he was there to point the way for me.”
Paddy adds: "I've always hated the George Bernard Shaw quote: 'Those who can't do, teach'. When you've got someone who can both do, and teach, you've got the template of success to inspire you, and the immediate access to their wealth of knowledge."
Grade expectations: What makes an inspirational teacher?
Personality: Good teachers tend to be open, approachable and fair. They tend to have a striking personality that makes them appealing to students.
Passion: They are enthusiastic about their subject and about the education of students. They have a love of learning.
Value encouragement: They teach through patient encouragement, knowing it will lead to better outcomes and success than constant criticism. Demonstrate confidence in students, building self-esteem through support and praise.
Have high expectations: Good teachers believe in their students and help them to see future possibilities. They identify and nurture special talents.
Good communicators: They are skilled in the art of communicating their knowledge to others.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--I want to apply for a grant but am not sure I’ll get my course. Can I still apply?

I ’ m a Leaving Cert student and hope to go to DCU in the autumn .
I want to apply for a Susi grant to help cushion the cost – but I don ’ t have my results and can ’ t be sure I ’ ll get my course – what should I do ?
Susi is the awarding authority for student grants in Ireland .
It received almost 96,000 applications in the last academic year .
Funding was awarded to 80 per cent of applicants , representing over 76,000 students .
As a new applicant , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or before July 9th .
New applications received on or before this date will receive priority assessment .
You do not need your Leaving Cert results or to have accepted a course to submit an application to Susi .
However , you will need to indicate your preferred course so that Susi can assess your application .
If , when completing your CAO form , you agreed to share your information with Susi , the CAO will confirm your course details with them .
Alternatively , you can update your course details online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wish to renew their funding should aim to submit their application on or before June 11th to secure priority assessment .
It is also worth noting that the online application system remains open well into the autumn .
After this point , Susi will accept late applications from students who satisfy certain criteria .
To be eligible for student funding , you must meet a number of eligibility criteria including nationality , place of residence , previous further/higher education , approved course and income .
Check the eligibility reckoner on Susi ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligibility before beginning your application .
To receive funding from Susi , you must be an Irish , EU , EEA , UK or Swiss national or have specific immigration or leave to remain status ; have been resident in those countries for three of the last five years and be attending an approved course in an approved institution .
The total income of all parties to your application must also fall within specified income limits .
Depending on your applicant class , a party to your application can include parents or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , applications will be assessed on the gross income from all sources for the period 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 .
However , If you or any party to your application experiences a negative change in income , you can apply to be assessed under change of circumstances whereby the income reference period for the application will be 2020 .
To make an application , you must first register for a Susi account online at www.susi.ie .

You do not need your Leaving Cert results or to have accepted a course to submit an application to Susi. However, you will need to indicate your preferred course so that Susi can assess your application. Photograph: iStock
I’m a Leaving Cert student and hope to go to DCU in the autumn. I want to apply for a Susi grant to help cushion the cost – but I don’t have my results and can’t be sure I’ll get my course – what should I do?
Susi is the awarding authority for student grants in Ireland. It received almost 96,000 applications in the last academic year. Funding was awarded to 80 per cent of applicants, representing over 76,000 students.
As a new applicant, you should aim to submit your application on or before July 9th. New applications received on or before this date will receive priority assessment.
You do not need your Leaving Cert results or to have accepted a course to submit an application to Susi. However, you will need to indicate your preferred course so that Susi can assess your application.
READ MORE
If, when completing your CAO form, you agreed to share your information with Susi, the CAO will confirm your course details with them.
Alternatively, you can update your course details online at a later date. Students who wish to renew their funding should aim to submit their application on or before June 11th to secure priority assessment. It is also worth noting that the online application system remains open well into the autumn.
After this point, Susi will accept late applications from students who satisfy certain criteria.
To be eligible for student funding, you must meet a number of eligibility criteria including nationality, place of residence, previous further/higher education, approved course and income. Check the eligibility reckoner on Susi’s website to get an indication of your eligibility before beginning your application.
To receive funding from Susi, you must be an Irish, EU, EEA, UK or Swiss national or have specific immigration or leave to remain status; have been resident in those countries for three of the last five years and be attending an approved course in an approved institution.
The total income of all parties to your application must also fall within specified income limits. Depending on your applicant class, a party to your application can include parents or a legal guardian.
For the 2020-21 academic year, applications will be assessed on the gross income from all sources for the period 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019.
However, If you or any party to your application experiences a negative change in income, you can apply to be assessed under change of circumstances whereby the income reference period for the application will be 2020.
To make an application, you must first register for a Susi account online at www.susi.ie.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--103-year-old Dublin woman survives Covid-19 and looks for her lipstick

A 103-year-old woman who tested positive for Covid-19 at a Dublin residential centre has now been given the all clear .
Josephine Silo just swatted away the virus with a nonchalance similar to how she might request her ruby-red lipstick .
She likes her lipstick , and to keep her hair black .
As to the coronavirus , she said “ it wasn ’ t too bad .
I had a cough , that is all.
” Sr Miriam of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Dublin ’ s Raheny which runs the Sacred Heart Residence where “ Josie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is living , is clearly delighted .
But “ she misses her nieces calling round to see her , ” Sr Miriam said .
That was because of the restrictions imposed on all over 70 year olds .
There was of course the added detail that she had tested positive for Covid-19 .
So she was isolated at the nursing home for two weeks , but “ got the all-clear a week ago ” .
Ms Silo , who is a southside Dubliner , has been at the Sacred Heart Residence for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Sr Miriam .
“ She never goes anywhere without her lipstick .
It is a deep red .
When we were preparing her care plan after she got the all-clear ; she said ‘ hold on till I get my lipstick ’ .
And she likes to have her hair dyed jet black , ” said Sr Miriam , clearly approving .
Yes , there can be no doubt that the 103 year old invincible Ms Silo ’ s conquest of a virus that has laid low so many worldwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow residents at the Raheny nursing home .
All hail Ms Josie .

Josephine Silo (103) pictured with Sr Stella (left) and healthcare assistant Joanna Dillon Radbury at the Sacred Heart Residence in Raheny, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
A 103-year-old woman who tested positive for Covid-19 at a Dublin residential centre has now been given the all clear.
Josephine Silo just swatted away the virus with a nonchalance similar to how she might request her ruby-red lipstick. She likes her lipstick, and to keep her hair black.
As to the coronavirus, she said “it wasn’t too bad. I had a cough, that is all.”
Sr Miriam of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Dublin's Raheny which runs the Sacred Heart Residence where "Josie" as they like to call her is living, is clearly delighted.
READ MORE
But “she misses her nieces calling round to see her,” Sr Miriam said. That was because of the restrictions imposed on all over 70 year olds.
There was of course the added detail that she had tested positive for Covid-19.
So she was isolated at the nursing home for two weeks, but “got the all-clear a week ago”.
Ms Silo, who is a southside Dubliner, has been at the Sacred Heart Residence for a year. "Her father was Italian," said Sr Miriam.
“She never goes anywhere without her lipstick. It is a deep red. When we were preparing her care plan after she got the all-clear; she said ‘hold on till I get my lipstick’. And she likes to have her hair dyed jet black,” said Sr Miriam, clearly approving.
Yes, there can be no doubt that the 103 year old invincible Ms Silo's conquest of a virus that has laid low so many worldwide, delights not just the staff and fellow residents at the Raheny nursing home. All hail Ms Josie.