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“We need two more weeks of rest to weaken the virus” – Taoiseach

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By Michelle Crean

 

In a live address to the nation this evening (Friday) Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced that most restrictions will remain until May 18 – with a few slight changes:

 

  • Exercise limit extended to 5km

 

  • Five stage reopening plan with the fifth stage starting on August 10

 

  • Over 70s can leave home from Tuesday - public health advice is 5km for a walk or drive - but avoid all contact with others

 

  • Schools and colleges to go back in September for the new term

 

  • From May 18 certain businesses can open, sports activities allowed in small groups, and gatherings of small family/friends will also be OK

 

 

It has been a difficult balancing act for the Government in terms of the economy, the social and mental health impacts, as there’s a fear that if restrictions are lifted too fast cases will soar. This evening the Dept. of health announced that there are currently a total of 20,833 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland and 1,265* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland, including 34 today.

 

“We need two more weeks of tight restrictions to weaken the virus further, so it doesn’t have the strength to come back,” he said, stating the economy “has been battered” and “society put to the ultimate test”.

 

“We have a plan to reopen the country in a slow staged phased way – five stages, three weeks apart starting on May 18, with the fifth phase on August 10.”

 

He added that 70 percent of people diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered, and that if the public hadn’t worked so hard it could have potentially been much worse.

“I yearn for the day that it stops. Thanks to you we are making a difference in the fight against COVID-19. It is working so let’s finish what we started,” Mr Varadkar said.

He finished by saying that tomorrow morning (Saturday) Cabinet will meet to discuss when businesses can restart again.

“We will do everything possible to get enterprises back up and running. Tonight there is hope. In the weeks ahead that hope will drive us forward.”

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Irish feature film set for Killarney cinema debut

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A new feature film, created by Irish writer and director Liam O Mochain, is set for release in Killarney next Friday, November 7.

Mr O Mochain said he is delighted to bring ABODE to a Killarney audience following its sold out world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh and a screening at the recent IndieCork film festival.

ABODE is a feature film with five stories connected by the theme of home and what it means to the different characters in the film.

It shows that home has an importance and a different meaning for everyone.

In ABODE, everyone wants to belong somewhere. The film was shot over a three-year period and finished in early 2025.

O Mochain says that the stories are a mix of drama and comedy, inspired by true stories, events or incidents.

It is set on the theme of home which is very relevant today.

Ryan Lincoln, Sophie Vavessuer, and Liam O Mochain are among the cast.

ABODE is O Mochain’s fourth feature film. His 2017 feature film ‘Lost & Found’ screened at festivals around the world from the Galway Film Fleadh to the Austin Film Festival

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Local pharmacies restock Lions ‘Message in a Bottle’

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Killarney pharmacies are restocked with ‘Message in a Bottle’, an initiative by Killarney Lions Club.

It is a small plastic container, available free of charge, with an information form which people can fill out with their basic medical details for use by Paramedics, Gardaí, Fire-fighters and first responders in an emergency.

Once the information form is complete, the bottle should be placed in the fridge.

Self-adhesive green cross labels should be put on the front door of the home and on the fridge so that first responders know its there.

Bottles are available at the following pharmacies: Allcare (New St.), Boots (Deerpark), CarePlus+ (Park Rd.), Kennelly’s (Reeks and New St.), Reens Life (Plunkett St.), O’Sullivan’s (New St.), Sewell’s (New St.), Sheahan’s (Main St.), Trants (Park Rd.) and Aherns Farranfore.

Jason Higgins, President of Killarney Lions Club, said that the initiative has been very well received to date as hundreds of people are already using the bottles.

He said: “We just want to make sure everyone who wants a bottle can get one, so the support from the pharmacies is fantastic and if it helps even just one person to get the help they need more quickly and effectively, it is well worth it.”

More information about the Message in a Bottle initiative can be found on the Lions Ireland website: https://lionsclubs.ie/service/message-in-a-bottle/

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