Latest news with #Ennis-based
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'Kind-hearted' woman, 24, dies after collapsing during half marathon
Olivia Tuohy, 24, passed away after participating in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on Sunday, May 25, and leaves behind her partner, parents, brother and a host of friends Heartfelt tributes have been pouring in for an Irish woman who tragically lost her life after running the Edinburgh Half Marathon. Olivia Tuohy, a 24 year old athlete, sadly passed away on Sunday, May 25, following her participation in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. The Irish national, from County Clare, was a student at Queen Margaret University on the outskirts of the capital. A poignant death notice described Olivia as a "Olivia, a bright and beautiful spirit, passed away on the 25th May while participating in the Edinburgh Half Marathon." It continued: "Olivia's bubbly personality and kind heart will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Olivia is survived by her heartbroken parents Kieran and Liz and her brother Stephen and his partner Laura, her loving partner Michael and his parents Maria-Elena and Steven, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours and her friends both in Ireland and Edinburgh." Hailing from Ennis in County Clare, Ireland, Olivia was an integral part of the Clare Ladies Gaelic Football team. The team expressed their deep sorrow upon learning of her passing, reports Edinburgh Live. The club's statement read: "We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Olivia Tuohy. Her kindness, warmth, and vibrant spirit touched so many lives on and off the football field , and her absence will be felt profoundly. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, her partner and all who loved her during this difficult time. May she rest in peace." The Banner Ladies football club, for whom she also played, said: "We wish to express our sadness at the passing of our friend and former teammate, Olivia Tuohy, daughter of Liz and Kieran. Our thoughts and prayers are with her parents, her brother Stephen, her partner Michael, and her family at this sad time. May her gentle soul rest in peace." A minute's silence was observed at a number of games in Clare over the weekend in Ms Tuohy's memory. Mourners flocked to social media to express their sympathies, with one commenting: "Rest in peace Olivia may god comfort you and your your loved ones and Clare footballers." In a wave of solidarity, other football clubs have been showing their support for Olivia and her family. The players at CLG Éire Óg Inis, the Ennis-based Gaelic Athletic Association football club, paid tribute to Olivia with a moment of silence prior to their match on May 29. Tributes were posted on Ms Tuohy's death notice, with one person writing that she was a 'truly wonderful young lady'. It read: 'I had the privilege of going to school with her and playing camogie that I will always treasure. Olivia was a truly wonderful young lady, full of kindness, spirit, and warmth. She always had a smile on her face, and her presence could light up any room." Olivia is survived by her heartbroken parents, Kieran and Liz; her brother Stephen and his partner Laura; her loving partner Michael and his parents Maria-Elena and Steven; her aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours, and her friends both in Ireland and Edinburgh.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Over 2,000 driving test no shows so far in 2025
Road Safety Authority figures, up to the end of April 2025, show that 2,397 people who had applied for and paid €85 to sit their driving test did not show up. With approximately 81,000 people currently waiting for a driving test, the number of no shows puts more pressure on the waiting list. Susan Gray, who is the founder and chairperson of road safety group PARC, has highlighted the number of learner licence holders who are on the waiting list but often do not turn up for their appointed test. "These no shows are depriving other learners of sitting the test when they are anxious to get a date and pass their test and not have to be driving accompanied," she said. This year, the RSA has received just over €203,000 in payments for driving tests for which the applicants did not show up. The figures were presented by the RSA to Fine Gael TD Emer Currie under parliamentary questions. In 2024, 8,863 people did not show up for their driving test. The RSA received €753,355 from driving test applicants who did not turn up last year. Brendan Walsh, Chief Operations Officer with the Road Safety Authority, acknowledged that some of those who do not show up for their tests are holders of multiple learner driving permit licences. "We do have people who are running very high levels of multiple learner permits," he told RTÉ's This Week. Mr Walsh said: "We have a programme that once we get through this backlog [driving test waiting list] we're going to kick it off. "We have the legislation almost finalised with the Department of Transport, so we will be making some changes as to how learner drivers stay on the road with a learner permit. "If you hold a learner permit you should be learning to drive. "Last year, we had 8,863 people who failed to show up. "While that sounds like a big number in the context of 253,000 tests, it's around 3.5%." Ms Gray is particularly critical of people who hold a learner permit and who do not complete their test for a full licence. She said: "A learner driver never has to turn up for the test. "They can renew every year by simply sending the RSA €85, getting a booking date, not turning up and using that letter from the RSA to prove that they actually applied to book a test." Chris Curran, an Ennis-based driving instructor, said that from his experience some learner permit holders make a decision not to turn up for their test. "I believe there are a number of people still in the system that are continually not showing up," he said. Mr Curran said the RSA is "actively trying to work on getting those people to sit their test". "They don't want people driving for years on learner permits," he said. "They need to get through the system, sit their test and either pass it or start working on how they might pass it at some stage," he added. However, he noted that there are sometimes genuine reasons why a person does not show up for a driving test. Mr Curran said: "The key one is nerves on the day. Some people are just too nervous. "Other reasons may be that they have suddenly realised that the 10-day window that the RSA gives each candidate to reschedule their test has been exceeded. "That means they have two choices on the day, turn up or don't turn up. "Some people take the second option and don't turn up." Kirsten Falloon has recently applied for a driving test date and was surprised to find how long her wait will be. "When I applied for my test and realised the length of time that I've got to wait I thought that was abominable," she said. "They said it could be up to 26 weeks or longer," she added. Ms Falloon said she cannot understand why people book a driving test and then fail to turn up. "I think it says more about the system than it does about those that are waiting," she said. "I think it's very broken," she added.
Irish Times
21-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Sharp rise in assaults at schools pushing teachers to ‘breaking point'
An alarming increase in assaults and physical aggression in primary and special schools is pushing many teachers to 'breaking point', according to the country's largest teachers' union. At the opening day of the annual congress of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), delegates heard of a sharp rise in assaults and an 'unacceptable reality' where many teachers are exhausting their sick leave following incidents. Áine McGinley, a Donegal teacher, said the experience of being assaulted was 'emotionally devastating' as well as physically painful. 'No two people respond to trauma the same way and trauma does not follow a timetable. Some individuals may need time immediately, while others may need leave weeks or months later as psychological impact sets in,' she said. READ MORE Ms McGinley said teachers who are subject to assaults 'should never be out of pocket' for something that was not their fault. The INTO is seeking an extension to the duration of assault leave, financial supports to cover medical bills, and provision for an early retirement scheme for teachers who are no longer able to work due to a workplace assault. A survey by the union last year found that almost 60 per cent of teachers reported experiencing physical aggression in schools, with rates highest in special schools. Incidents commonly included scratching, punching, biting, and the throwing of objects. INTO general secretary John Boyle described the findings as 'deeply alarming' and warned the profession was approaching a breaking point. [ Staff shortages, contentious reforms and chronic underfunding set to dominate teachers' Easter conferences Opens in new window ] The congress also heard schools are being 'hung out to dry' by education authorities who are left unable to access essential supports for students with special needs. INTO president Carmel Brown said every child should have the opportunity to learn in a safe, well-resourced environment where their individual needs can be met. Instead, she said, schools were 'hindered at every turn' due to insufficient psychologists, counsellors, therapists, therapeutic supports and resources. The union says funding should be made available for the establishment of special classrooms, sensory spaces, play areas and appropriate furniture and equipment once a special class opens. Minister for Education Helen McEntee recently announced provision of in-school therapies will be expanded from the start of the next academic year, starting with special schools. Mr Boyle said that while the move represents a 'starting point', therapies must be made available to all primary and special schools. [ Too many Irish teachers are wrecked and hate their jobs Opens in new window ] The congress also heard that 'chronic underfunding' is threatening the solvency of primary schools. Many schools are relying on cake sales and donations to pay basic heating and lighting bills. Gareth Heagney, an Ennis-based teacher, said: 'Schools which were never in the red before are now in ever-growing deficits ... Running schools is becoming increasingly complex. There is an increasing need to engage specialist services – financial, health and safety, legal etc. But the money isn't there.' Delegates backed calls for primary school capitation rates to be increased to the same level as second-level schools. Separately, a poll has found that the teaching profession is becoming too costly for many, with one in three newly qualified teachers considering leaving Ireland due to rising accommodation costs and low-hours contracts. [ How can you buy a home in Ireland on a teacher's salary? Opens in new window ] The Teachers' Union of Ireland poll, released in advance of its annual conference in Wexford, was carried out among more than 1,000 second-level and further education members over recent weeks. The results show that of those employed since 2015, only 26 per cent of respondents received a contract of full hours upon initial appointment. In addition, a large majority of longer-serving teachers said they could not afford to become teachers today due to barriers such as the housing crisis and the cost of teaching qualifications.
