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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
See photos of Kerry event attended by businessman Denis O'Brien and host of well-known speakers
The prestigious Lecture took place last Thursday and Friday at the historic cable station on the island. It focused on 'Ireland's Place in the World of 2040'. The event is held each year to commemorate the world's first transatlantic cable, which was laid between Valentia Island and Heart's Content in Newfoundland, Canada. The laying of the cable resulted in the first ever message to be transmitted across the ocean in 1858, from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom to President James Buchanan of the United States of America. This year's edition of the Lecture saw a number of keynote speakers provide a range of perspectives on history, the arts, media, politics, society, technology and business. The speakers included historian Professor Jane Ohlmeyer of Trinity College Dublin, journalist Mick Clifford, Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae, as well as Denis O'Brien. Each of the speakers' presentations were followed by a panel discussion with four of Ireland's 'future leaders', all aged in their 30s - the same age as Cyrus Field when he led the transatlantic cable project in the late 1800s. More than 30 of the future leaders, with expertise in business, politics, academia, media, government, arts and sport, participated in panels. The Irish Ambassador to Canada, John Concannon, also visited the Lecture alongside James Moloney, MP at the House of Commons in Canada. The Canadian Embassy in Dublin was represented at the event by the head of political and public affairs, Mr David Kyffin. A number of Dáil deputies from all over the country and prominent business executives were also in attendance at the event. Kerry Mayor Mike Foley welcomed the guests to Valentia at a gala dinner at the Royal Hotel and Ambassador Concanon delivered a special after-dinner address.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Science
- RTÉ News
Coastal erosion threatening Ireland's ancient forts
Climate change is threatening the remains of hundreds of ancient forts dotted around Ireland's coasts, which are vulnerable to coastal erosion. The Copper Coast in Co Waterford is particularly rich in archaeology. Old mine workings are visible in many places and there are also at least 20 promontory forts, which were built on headlands or promontories. Surrounded by sea cliffs on three sides, the forts were protected by defensive ditches and banks on the landward side. Many were inhabited in medieval times, but it is believed some may date back to the Iron Age and contain evidence of trading links to Britain and further afield. Along the coast is Illaunobrick promontory fort, one of many examples of an archaeological site which has been made inaccessible by coastal erosion. Home to the O'Bric family for centuries, older maps show it used to be connected to the mainland, however coastal erosion has now made it too dangerous to access. Maritime Archaeologist on the Discovery Programme Dr Edward Pollard has recorded and explored many of the forts. Old maps studied by Dr Pollard and his colleagues show that coastal erosion has been changing the outline of the Copper Coast for centuries, something they have also witnessed since they started their own survey work. On a headland above the beach at Annestown, a ditch and bank which protected the Woodstown promontory fort for centuries, shows signs of collapse. Dr Pollard said that from the examination of 19th century maps, there has been at least 25 metres of erosion since about 1840 along the bank. "When the people built it, they used a weakness in the rock to actually build their ditch and build their bank but that is also the weakest part where the erosion is going to happen as well. So we can see that it's gradually being turned into an islet as it is eroded away." Professor Mary Bourke, Professor of Geomorphology at the Department of Geography in Trinity College Dublin, said sea level rise is occurring now and is going "to happen around every single part of the coastline of Ireland". She said everyone understands the concept that sea level rise brings a rise in water levels, but said "that's the water you see. It's also going to change the water that you don't see". She explained that there is "like a wedge of salt water that exists under my feet ... and that's going to expand and move further inland ... (that) will affect the processes that are operating, because it'll wet and weather a lot of the rocks from underneath upwards." Climate change is also expected to bring more extreme weather events, with floods and storms becoming more frequent and intense. "The height of the waves and the energy of the waves may be stronger and they may occur more frequently and together with sea level rise, it means that the area inland that will be affected by these coastal storms will actually increase," Prof Bourke added. She said that while storms and sea level rise undermine coasts, heavy rain is the threat from above. "Rain has a lot of energy, with it. So, it will wet our soft coasts and cause more landslides. And we can see that from the research that we've already done." Catherine Casey, Head of Climate Change at the Heritage Council, said Ireland's built archaeology is "being pummelled by more rain, more storms. Our wildlife, our mature trees, for example, are being threatened by droughts, by wildfires. "But also what we don't always think of is our cultural heritage, if a piece of ground is lost, or God forbid if a community has to move, their stories could be lost, the place names, the folklore, the genealogy in the graveyards." She said it is important to highlight not just what is vulnerable, but also projects which give an example of what can be done "to focus our minds really on where action is needed, to help to focus resources, to identify the highest priorities and to target government, national and local action".
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Implant can offer relief to people with spinal cord injuries
People living with spinal cord injuries could see increased ability to move and a reduction in daily pain levels thanks to an implant developed by scientists in Dublin. The news is welcome for 59-year-old Ciaran McCarthy, who experiences pain more than two decades after suffering a spinal cord injury while playing rugby on a sodden playing surface. 'On the January 27th, 2002, I became a paraplegic as a consequence of playing rugby. I'm an avid rugby fan to this day. I don't blame rugby at all. I do blame a waterlogged pitch.' McCarthy got stuck in the mud, he said, and as a ruck collapsed on top of him he heard two fractures occurring in his back. READ MORE 'There was this dissipation of sensation from the midsection down and out my body. That was when I knew I was in trouble.' 'The diagnosis was initially devastating,' said McCarthy, aged 35 at the time of the injury. 'Doctors believed the cord was entirely severed, requiring metal insertion to stabilise the vertebrae.' Ciaran McCarthy. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Adult spinal cord nerve cells in humans don't regenerate after injury, but scientists working in collaboration at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and Trinity College Dublin have found that applying an electrical charge can encourage nerve regrowth. The RCSI tissue engineering group and the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Material and Bioengineering Research (Amber) reported their findings on Tuesday in Advanced Science. 'Our group is developing electrically conducive biomaterials that could channel electrical stimulation across the injury, helping the body to repair the damaged tissue,' said Prof Fergal O'Brien, professor of bioengineering and regenerative medicine at the RCSI. 'Every single spinal cord injury is completely unique,' said Prof O'Brien, the lead scientist on the implant project. 'Our fundamental goal isn't about enabling walking, but dramatically improving daily quality of life for patients.' The researchers developed a new material to precisely engineer implants, to tailor them to individual patient needs. The origins of the project stem from a scientific conference where Dr Ian Woods, a research fellow at RCSI, noticed similarities between tiny nano-material structures and human protein fibres. This sparked a collaboration between researchers at the RCSI and Amber – a respected centre for advanced materials research. 'We can now create implants that precisely channel electrical signals with an unprecedented level of resolution,' said Dr Woods. The scientists came up with a way to control the pattern, density and orientation of conductive materials inside the implant, to determine how, where and when electricity is delivered to cells. The implant materials are also biodegradable, acting like a scaffold that supports tissue regeneration before gradually dissolving. Spinal cord injury is a life-altering condition that can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation and chronic pain. There are more than 2,300 people living with spinal cord injury in Ireland and no treatment exists to effectively repair the damage. Worldwide, the impact of spinal cord injuries is huge, said McCarthy, with 200,000 new cases each year in the USA alone. The poor prognosis McCarthy received after his injury shifted when he regained some movement. The injury was then classified as incomplete and provided a glimmer of hope. After extensive period of rehabilitation, he returned home to an adapted house, and an adapted car which he drove to work. Like many patients with spinal cord injuries, McCarthy lives with sharp, persistent pain. He got involved in research through the IRFU Charitable Trust – which supports 36 players in Ireland living with spinal cord injury and helped integrate them into the scientific research process. McCarthy became a 'patient public involvement researcher' offering his views as a patient to the scientists. One view he conveyed was that some patients were more concerned about getting benefits to their daily quality of life than with walking again. Approaching 60, McCarthy said he is 'convinced' scientists will completely solve the spinal cord injury problem in his lifetime. 'I expect to be alive when the clinical breakthrough occurs,' he said.
Euractiv
15-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Irish AI start-up targets chemotherapy bottlenecks with remote assessment platform
Dublin - Irish health-tech start-up eAltra is poised to transform chemotherapy care delivery with an AI-powered remote assessment platform that promises to cut costs, reduce patient wait times, and ease pressure on overstretched oncology departments. The company, a spin-out from Trinity College Dublin's ADAPT Centre and backed by Enterprise Ireland as a High Potential Start-Up (HPSU), has demonstrated the efficacy of its conversational AI tool in a six-month pilot study conducted in partnership with Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and Tallaght University Hospital (TUH). The platform enables patients to complete chemotherapy toxicity assessments remotely in under six minutes, a process that traditionally requires in-person consultations. According to the study, the tool not only improves patient experience but also delivers measurable gains in clinical efficiency and cost savings. The study found that, 'For patients, eAltra's pre-appointment remote assessment, completed in under six minutes, reduces unnecessary travel and optimises appointment scheduling – timed chemo production ensures treatment is ready when a patient arrives, eliminating wait times by up to two hours.' Patients reported high satisfaction with the tool's usability and clarity. Clinical teams also stand to benefit. The study reported a minimum productivity gain of 3.5 hours per treatment day, equating to 20 minutes saved per patient. Importantly, the AI chatbot achieved a 98 per cent agreement rate with nurse-led assessments, the current gold standard. Scalable cost-savings From a financial perspective, the implications are significant. In a hospital treating 200 patients annually, the tool could generate savings of €27,300 per nurse, rising to €55,000 with two clinical nurse specialists. Additional savings are anticipated from reduced paper usage. The platform is designed for seamless integration with existing health IT infrastructure. It complies with HL7 standards and is interoperable with national systems including the National Cancer Information System, Cerner/Oracle Health, and EPIC. Sustainability is another key advantage. By enabling remote care, eAltra reduces patient travel and associated emissions. With healthcare accounting for five per cent of global travel, the shift to digital engagement offers a meaningful reduction in carbon footprint. Denis Roche, founder and CEO of eAltra explained that, 'eAltra is a spin out company of Trinity College Dublin and was awarded High Potential Startup status by Enterprise Ireland.' Roche explained how, 'Health Innovation Hub Ireland has been supporting our development throughout these milestones. The clinical access, study design support and pilot management they have provided has contributed to our product development and market positioning. We are hugely ambitious for eAltra both at home and abroad and the HIHI pilot result provide significant evidence of efficacy, useability, impact and patient satisfaction.' AI reshaping healthcare Eimear Galvin, HIHI Dublin Manager, highlighted how AI is reshaping healthcare She said: 'These study results show that eAltra improves patient care, provides cost savings and increases productivity by streamlining processes and minimising delays in systemic anti-cancer therapy, in this case chemotherapy.' Galvin added that by enabling remote assessments just 24 hours pre-appointment, unnecessary travel and associated costs are eliminated, ensuring timely rescheduling when required. She explained that, 'Timed chemotherapy production aligns drug preparation with patient arrival, reducing wait times by up to two hours and optimising pharmacy workflows.' The announcement comes as HIHI launches a national competition, ' to identify and pilot AI-driven healthcare innovations. The call is open to companies, researchers, and clinicians until 28 August, with selected projects to be trialled in clinical settings across Ireland. More information is available at Digital care policy advances eAltra's innovation aligns closely with Ireland's national AI strategy. As the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment stated in its 2024 strategy refresh: 'AI presents opportunities completely unlike those we have experienced before with previous technological advancements, in terms of their potentially transformative impact for our collective good.' Ireland's 'Digital for Care' framework also underpins eAltra's approach. The framework sets out a roadmap to digitally transform health services in Ireland and improve access for patients, and at the European level, the European Commission has noted that, 'AI is emerging not just as a tool but as a transformative force reshaping healthcare delivery.' The Commission has said that 'AI-driven personalised treatment plans can complement traditional approaches by offering more targeted and effective care, improving patient outcomes while also helping to reduce the financial burden on healthcare systems.' By Brian Maguire
Irish Independent
14-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
The Dublin area with a growing population of 11,335 … but little or no access to a GP
The third edition of the Health Assets and Needs Assessment (HANA) Project, from Trinity College Dublin, was presented at a recent meeting of South Dublin County Council. The findings highlight how healthcare has changed in Tallaght over the last 30 years, and in areas perceived to suffer more from 'deprivation', the symptoms associated with ageing are worse. Nowhere is this more evident than in Fettercairn, where a growing population of 11,335 (according to census 2022) complain that they have little or no access to a local GP. Elizabeth Ruane (76) moved to Fettercairn from Ballymun 44 years ago, and is a member of the senior women's club organised by the Tallaght Community Health Project. 'We've always had to travel for a GP. We used to have one years and years ago but now we have to go to Killinarden,' she said. 'I'd have to get the bus down to the end of the road, which takes about 25 to 30 minutes and walk for 20 minutes from there. 'We were promised a GP when Fettercairn got its first Community Centre – the people of this community raised money to build it. We were told there would be a GP upstairs, but it just never happened. 'When you're younger, you think it's okay and you can just get the bus. But when you're older, even something that seems simple can make your life so difficult.' Ms Ruane currently visits a GP service a few miles away from her home in Fettercairn. 'I've a new doctor now who's very helpful. I had a spot on my leg that was worrying me. He thought it might have been cancerous and fixed it; then referred me to Tallaght hospital for further care. That was in April, I've never heard back. ADVERTISEMENT 'I'm afraid to get sick, because I know I won't be able to see the doctor. I've figured out that when you get to a certain age, they're not interested. They let you stay at the end of the list because they don't care about us,' she added. Professor Catherine Darker, who authored the Trinity College study, has observed that chronic illnesses, including heart issues, diabetes and neurological diseases, are high among the people of Tallaght. 'We already have data to show that the way different diseases burden ageing groups, differs depending on the community you live in. The most rapidly growing age group in Tallaght is over-65,' Ms Darker said. 'Health is not equally distributed here, so you could have more affluent parts of the city where an age group is doing well globally, but the same groups in social and economically deprived areas will age differently. 'For people who are poor, the poverty automatically means that you have worse health,' she added. A spokesperson for the HSE said it has 39 GPs in the wider Dublin 24 area working from 20 different practices, including within the Fettercairn area. 'The HSE can confirm it does not limit the number of GPs who wish to take on a General Medical Services contract with the HSE in a specific location. 'GPs are self-employed and have the ability to set up a practice in any area they choose, depending on various factors.' Brookfield Health Centre in Jobstown is the clinic located closest to Fettercairn, but multiple calls to check on appointment availability last week went unanswered. Kay Hoban (74), another member of the women's group, says what's harder than the lack of access, is the time it takes to make it through a waiting list. 'It takes at least two weeks to hear back from the GP if you call them. They never answer – people over 60 have to walk to the GP's office to even make an appointment,' she said. 'I always wonder what would happen if you're really sick. At our age that's a real worry. 'If you go to the emergency [department], you're left waiting over 36 hours, and they wouldn't have my history anyway. If you don't have private insurance, you have no chance of finding help.' Independent councillor for Tallaght-Central, Mick Duff, wonders why a part of Dublin with a growing population is struggling to attract a GP. 'It's reprehensible in 2025 that we don't have a GP physically present in Fettercairn,' he said. 'I know there are services in the surrounding area like the Mary Mercer Health Centre and there are doctors and GPs in nearby Springfield. 'The people of Fettercairn deserve a GP in their own area and I don't know what it's going to take to attract a GP. It's quite an established estate, it has an older generation and now a very vibrant young generation. 'There's a great healthcare committee in the community centre, an addiction centre with a GP attending, but there isn't one for general medical issues. 'I hope the county council can support and encourage some young GPs to come in and open their services in the area. 'Fettercairn is not a million miles from Tallaght Hospital, but people should not be reliant on outpatient or emergency care. 'There are older people and people with disabilities who cannot get out of the area as easily as others,' he added. Mary Kelly (77), who has lived in Fettercairn for 45 years, remembers being a young mother in the area struggling for medical care. 'Not much has changed. Having no GPs nearby is a big problem. It was definitely worse when my children were younger,' she said. 'We've been fighting for a GP in Fettercairn for years, but nothing's changed. I have to go to Brookfield to get to mine. It's just 10 minutes for me by car, but not everyone has that luxury.' The HANA report has also found that older people in Tallaght struggle with loneliness. The Tallaght Community Health Project has worked with older people to support them through it. Project coordinator, Samantha Griffin, works closely with locals to encourage arts and crafts, field trips and theatre shows to help build a sense of community. 'For some of the people that engage in the women's club or our other initiatives, this might be the only time in the week that they even see other people,' she said. 'Covid made people feel more isolated than ever before. But initiatives like this can make a world of difference.' Mary Malone (75), who has lived in Fettercairn her entire life, has found the club to be the best way to stay in touch with friends. 'I knew a lot of these women before I joined, some of us are neighbours,' she said. 'I love doing the arts and crafts, you can talk and work away at the same time. It's a way of taking care of our health on our own.' Kay Hoban said having a sense of community has helped her take care of herself. 'I've been coming here for the last two years. I was recommended by a doctor to do exercises because of my arthritis. I heard about the Monday evening group and joined. I've now found a family,' she said. 'I've been a widow for 51 years. The club has helped older people in the area a lot. We're not seeing people during the week. 'If you don't come up here, I go days without seeing anyone. So for me, spending time with these women is a great outlet.'
