Latest news with #Yarn
Irish Examiner
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Podcast Corner: Tale of Doonmore Hotel on Inishbofin makes for interesting Yarn
We've written about John Roche's podcast Yarn before, talking about the 2021 episode Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, a 90-minute documentary that gave listeners a look at what it's like to serve on a jury. There have only been seven episodes in the intervening years but the mantra is quality over quantity. The Highest Cyclist in the World examined Chris Hoy's 2007 attempt to break the 1km time trial world record on the fastest track on earth. Escape from Madrid tells the story of how Turkish diplomats saved the lives of 1,000 refugees during the Spanish Civil War's longest siege. Judy's Callers was a 10-minute episode released at the start of April to mark the 55th anniversary of the Samaritans' presence in Ireland. The latest episode, released on Thursday, May 1, is called Hotel on the Edge of Europe. Roche and his family have been making an annual pilgrimage to the Doonmore, or Murray's as the locals call it, named after the family who have run it for over half a century, for years. But changes are afoot. Over winter, major renovations have been made, and Roche is among the first members of the general public to experience the revamp. It's part travelogue, part history as we hear how the hotel came to be around the mid-20th century and the fear on the island at the time. Andrew Murray, the hotel manager and previously frontman of trad band De Dannan, explains how there was no electricity and no running water when the hotel first started up - 'You might as well have been on the Antarctic.' Inhabitants at the time worried that they might face the same fate as those on Inishark, who were relocated by the government. The award-winning Irish interior designer Róisín Lafferty is another frequent visitor and was tasked with the renovation of the hotel. She explains the charms of Inishbofin and the Doonmore: 'There's not that many places that feel like an actual escape. I love that there's no pretentiousness, there's no notions, it doesn't matter what you do, who you are.' With archival soundbites intermingling with the buzz of reopening, and the whoosh of waves and blustery wind, the 70-minute episode is a treat. With so many podcasts nowadays aiming for weekly insipid banter, Yarn is a slow, soothing, and rewarding listen. The Real Carrie Jade: A second bonus episode capper to last summer's six-part series from RTÉ Documentary on One about the fraudster Samantha Cookes came out last week. The makers head to a Tralee courthouse in March 2025 as Cookes is to be sentenced for welfare fraud. It's only 10 minutes long but also acts as a tee-up to a two-part documentary about Cookes, entitled Bad Nanny, that debuts on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Monday, May 12. Read More Culture That Made Me: Music maestro David Brophy picks his touchstones
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nearly 50 beds empty at RI Veterans Home, despite waitlist
BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Veterans Home, a long-term care facility for local veterans in Bristol, has 50 vacant beds as it continues to struggle with staffing issues. Kasim Yarn, the state's director of veterans affairs, said his office has been working to address the issue by hiring more staff. 'Prior to January, for the past two years, I have not been able to exhibit an ability to recruit and retain staff,' he said. 'And we know that that's because of the pandemic.' 5 years later: Rhode Islanders reflect on COVID-19's lasting impact According the R.I. Office of Veterans Services, there are about 200 people on the facility's waitlist, even though one out of every four beds is empty in its nursing area. The home also has a space for veterans who don't need full-time care and can come and go as they please. Data shows 14 of the 16 beds in that area are vacant. In January, the R.I. Office of Veterans Services hosted a job fair where it received nearly 140 applications to work in various positions. Of those applicants, 21 have been hired so far, and there are still six vacancies. Yarn said he needs more employees to open up other parts of the facility to new residents. 'This is a first in a series of steps,' he said. 'First step is to get the staff, which we've started.' Yarn said his goal is to have the facility filled with 192 veterans, but stopped short of saying when that might be accomplished. He pointed to working with the governor's office to secure additional funding. RI Veterans Home hiring more staffers so it can take in more vets Yarn's agency is projected to spend about $53 million in the current fiscal year, however, Gov. Dan McKee has proposed reducing that by about a million dollars for the upcoming budget year that begins in July. Yarn said he's looking at the resident-to-staff ratio. 'Then I would put together a budget proposal to the governor's office to submit to the General Assembly for approval for the taxpayers have,' he added. The General Assembly is currently vetting the governor's proposed budget and a revised version is expected this spring. In the meantime, Yarn said he's focused on making the Veterans Home a safe and comfortable place for our heroes. 'I'm humbled to be the advocate for our veterans,' Yard said. 'There is no better place to serve than here at our Veterans Home in Bristol.' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
