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Latest update on easing the country’s restrictions announced

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Government this afternoon (Tuesday) announced the latest in the country's reopening plans including that the remaining aspects of the hospitality, entertainment and night-time economy sector can reopen with a full range of protective measures in place.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that "over the course of the last two weeks we have seen a worsening of the situation" and that the number of new infections, people requiring hospital admissions and people in ICU "have all increased", and that the "figures are a cause for concern".

"They are also a timely reminder of how dangerous this virus remains and the need for ongoing vigilance."

He said based on NPHET's recommendations the sectors due to reopen this Friday (October 22) "may now do so" on the basis that "customers produce their proof of vaccine and identity. 

He announced the following changes:

* a requirement for EU Digital COVID Certificate (COVID-19 pass) (vaccine or recovery certificate) for indoor hospitality and events
* social distancing to continue as a precaution
* that face masks continue to be worn which can be removed for consumption of food or drinks
* table service only in hospitality settings with a maximum of 10 adults per table, and max 15 including children
* collection of contact tracing data to remain in place
* for indoor live music, drama, live entertainment and sporting events audience/spectators should be fully seated (standing permitted at your seat)
* specific sectoral guidance will be developed for nightclubs setting out appropriate protective measures. This will involve COVID-19 passes, contact tracing data collection and wearing of face masks except when eating, drinking and dancing
* COVID-19 passes and fixed capacity limits will not apply for outdoor events. However, sectors should ensure appropriate protective measures are in place
* organisers of indoor and outdoor group activities should ensure that appropriate protective measures are in place, and where indoor groups have a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated people indoors, pods of six should apply. Fixed capacity limits will not apply to these indoor and outdoor group activities
* religious services and weddings can proceed without capacity limits but with all other protective measures remaining in place
* return to workplaces will continue on a phased and cautious basis for specific business requirements

Other recommendations include that a booster dose of Comirnaty® (Pfizer) vaccine be offered to all those aged 60 to 79 years.

That the HSE should implement a programme of COVID-19 antigen testing for people who are identified as fully vaccinated close contacts of a confirmed case and who do not have any symptoms.

The current enhanced illness benefit payment of €350 a week for COVID-19 will remain in place for employees and self-employed people who test positive with the virus.

Pre-boarding obligations placed on travellers to provide evidence of a valid PCR test result, unless exempt (such as vaccinated or recovered or children under 12) continue.

The mandatory hotel and home quarantine system is no longer considered necessary and will be wound down.

He finished by saying that "the changes to the plan we have made today gives us the space to ensure that the next steps towards normality that we take are safe and sustainable".  

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Killarney Advertiser remains Kerry’s last family-owned news publication

Following the announcement this week that Kerry’s Eye has been acquired by Webprint, the Killarney Advertiser now stands as the last remaining family-owned and in-house published news outlet in the […]

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Following the announcement this week that Kerry’s Eye has been acquired by Webprint, the Killarney Advertiser now stands as the last remaining family-owned and in-house published news outlet in the county.

The acquisition of the Tralee-based title leaves the Killarney Advertiser, and the Galway Advertiser, as the two longest-running independent publications of their kind in Ireland.
Established in 1973 – one year before Kerry’s Eye -the Killarney Advertiser was founded by the late Danny Casey in Woodlawn.
Danny’s vision was to create a publication that truly reflected the whole community, a mission that has remained the core value of the business for over five decades.
Today, the publication is led by Danny’s son, Cormac Casey. Having started his journey with the magazine as a delivery boy, Cormac has worked in every department of the business.
Under his leadership, the publication evolved from its original black-and-white format into the high-quality, full-colour weekly magazine that has become a staple of Friday nights in Killarney.
A key to the success of the Killarney Advertiser’s independence is its production process.
Every issue is written, designed, and published locally. To ensure continued local production, Cormac established KC Print at a state-of-the-art facility in Coolcashlagh.
Now one of Ireland’s largest trade printers, KC Print employs a workforce of 30 people, keeping jobs and expertise within the Killarney area.
“Our hyper-local news, led by our trusted journalists, ensures we are the community’s favourite read each week,” said Cormac Casey. “As we move into this new era for Kerry media, we remain committed to our roots. We are proud to be a local family business, and we want our readers to help us shape our content for the future.”
As the media industry sees further change, the Killarney Advertiser remains dedicated to independent, community-focused journalism. The support and goodwill of readers and advertisers ensure that, over 50 years since its first edition hit the shelves, the publication remains at the very heart of the weekend conversation in Killarney every week.

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The Cuckoo has landed in the National Park for third year in a row

One of Killarney’s most famous migratory residents has made a triumphant return as Cuach Cores arrived back in the National Park this week following an incredible 9,000-kilometre journey from Africa. […]

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One of Killarney’s most famous migratory residents has made a triumphant return as Cuach Cores arrived back in the National Park this week following an incredible 9,000-kilometre journey from Africa.

The latest satellite tracking data from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) confirmed that Cores crossed the Bay of Biscay and made landfall in western France last Saturday. By Monday, April 20, he was recorded on the outskirts of Villeneuve-en-Retz, perfectly on schedule for his annual return to his breeding grounds at Derrycunnihy Woodland.
This marks the third consecutive year that Cores has returned to the same spot in Killarney since being tagged at Incheens in May 2023. His reappearance is a significant relief for researchers, as his tag had gone “radio silent” for four months while he was deep within the Congolese forests. The signal finally sprang back to life on March 19 in Ghana, showing he had successfully crossed the Sahara.

For those hoping to catch a local performance from this elusive harbinger of summer, the National Park suggests heading to Derrycunnihy Church. Visitors can park and follow the Kerry Way signs toward the Old Kenmare Road (Incheens). Local experts say that if you pass the strea

m and follow the path, the distinctive call of Cores can often be heard echoing through the woodland.
Solving a natural mystery

The Cuckoo Tracking Project is a collaborative effort between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the BTO. It aims to solve the mystery of where Irish cuckoos spend their winter and whether they follow different migration routes than their British counterparts.
While cuckoo populations have seen a 27% decline in some regions, the Irish population has remained relatively stable. Tracking birds like Cuach Cores—who was the first cuckoo from Ireland or the UK to reach the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023—provides vital data on the challenges these birds face during their epic biannual treks across two continents.
Cores is one of three cuckoos tagged in Killarney National Park, alongside “Cuach Torc” and others. His arrival signals the official start of “the time of the cuckoo” in the Kingdom, a period traditionally associated with the final days of April and the true beginning of the Irish summer.

Photos by Valerie O’Sullivan

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