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The Journal
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Journal
Should Ireland extend its smoking ban to parks and beaches?
FRANCE HAS EXTENDED its smoking ban to include public spaces such as parks, beaches and bus shelters. The new law aims to denormalise tobacco use and protect children from passive smoking, according to the French health ministry. The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has voiced support for a similar ban to be introduced in Ireland. On RTÉ's Morning Ireland, a spokesperson for IHF referred to the 'hugely successful impact' of the indoor smoking ban. So, let us know what you think: Should Ireland extend its smoking ban to parks and beaches? Poll Results: Yes (136) No (85) Unsure (12) Yes No Unsure Vote
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Visitor numbers were down 10pc in May, according to the CSO
It said visitors spent €477m on their trips, not including fares, down over 21pc on the same month last year. However, the figures have again been disputed by the tourism industry, which is not experiencing a double-digit decrease in numbers or revenue. Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, said data provided by hotels, airports, visitor attractions and coach companies suggests the market is stable. 'The US market is performing very well, but there is a weakness with Great Britain and Europe,' he said. 'Air access from the US into Ireland has never been stronger, and they are filling those planes. Inflation in America is out of control, so Ireland looks like value for money. For the remainder of the summer the US business on the books looks pretty strong.' Other European countries are also experiencing a post-pandemic rebound of US tourism. More than 7.7 million Americans travelled to Europe in the first five months of the year, up 6pc on the same period last year, according to the US National Travel and Tourism Office. This has taken the industry by surprise, as last summer there was a tourism bounce from the Olympics being staged in Paris and a Taylor Swift tour which took in France, Sweden, Portugal, Germany and Spain. There is a continuing disconnect between the tourism statistics being provided by the CSO, mostly down year-on-year, and what the industry says it is experiencing. The methodologies are different, with the CSO doing a survey on departing passengers, and the industry counting 'bums on seats and heads on pillows', as Mr O'Mara Walsh puts it. He believe the misalignment began in the first half of last year, when the CSO recorded a surge in tourism numbers. 'They were reporting really buoyant numbers, and the industry wasn't feeling that on the ground,' he said. 'Now we are contrasting to 2024, which is giving us this comparison problem.' ADVERTISEMENT The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) said, while there is still a disparity, the CSO data is now more in line with what businesses have been reporting on the ground, taking account of the contribution by domestic tourism. IHF president Michael Magner said: 'Our figures indicate that hotel room occupancy levels are holding steady so far this year compared with 2024. However, this is only part of the picture. It conceals significant challenges around business margins due to already exceptionally high business costs, which continue to rise while revenues remain flat.' The average length of stay for foreign visitors in May was 7.3 nights, slightly up on last year, but down from 7.8 nights in 2023, the CSO data says. 'Visitors stayed a total of 4.1 million nights in the country, a drop of 8pc when compared with May 2024, and down 9pc compared with May 2023,' the CSO said.
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Health
- Extra.ie
Dublin mum still lives with devastating results of stroke after giving birth
A mother has relived the shock of a life-changing stroke just days after she brought her newborn son home from hospital. Lisa Kenny, 42, was separated from her family for seven months after the crippling health emergency derailed the joy of welcoming baby Alfie in October 2019. She now lives with aphasia, an acquired language disorder that often occurs following brain injury, such as stroke. Pic: Emma Kenny/PA Wire She spoke about her experience as part of Aphasia Awareness Month. Aphasia affects the understanding of spoken or written language, including reading and writing or the production of spoken language. Ms Kenny, from Balbriggan, north Co. Dublin, said: 'With my stroke and aphasia, it was hard to suddenly be separated from my children because I couldn't talk and I was on a lot of medication. When I was in hospital, it was so hard because I couldn't see my children: Emily, now 13, and Alfie.' Her first symptom of stroke, four days after returning home with Alfie, was a headache, and she later lost feeling in her right arm and leg before her face began to droop. Ms Kenny's fiancé, Paul, phoned for an ambulance, and a brain scan revealed she had experienced a haemorrhagic stroke, where there is a bleed in the brain as opposed to a blockage in a blood vessel. She underwent brain surgery and had another operation two months later to replace her skull bone. Due to complications including pneumonia and seizure, it would be seven months before Lisa could return home from the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, where she worked with occupational, physical, speech and language therapists. 'Now, I'm okay with speaking and talking, it's 50/50. I have got back to normal texting, which is huge for my communication,' she said. Pic: Emma Kenny/PA Wire However, she could not return to work as a result of her aphasia, a disorder that affects how you communicate through speech, as well as the way you write. Lisa uses Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) supports to aid her recovery, including the Young Stroke Survivors Network, the Life After Stroke private Facebook group, the Aphasia-Friendly Café and the Rhythm of Recovery Choir. 'I continue to push and challenge myself and just try to stay positive. I keep going, keep strong and healthy, for Emily and Alfie. I choose to laugh, love and be happy because life keeps going on and I will always have them with me. My speech, language, and physiotherapy are the key, too,' she said. She is working with the national charity to improve her comprehension, reading and maths. Helen Gaynor, head of community support services with the charity, said the IHF 'offers a variety of support services for people living with the life-changing effects of a stroke, including the challenges of aphasia'. She added: 'Our Stroke Connect Service and peer support groups are available to anyone who has experienced a stroke, and those living with aphasia. Our Step By Step Through Stroke booklet, a helpful guide for stroke survivors, families and carers, helps people prepare for potential changes due to stroke, such as communication difficulties.' For more information, visit
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Government called on to extend smoking ban to public places
The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has said it supports calls for Ireland to extend the smoking ban to a number of public areas. It follows France's decision to ban smoking on beaches and in parks, public gardens, bus shelters, as well as near libraries, swimming pools and schools but café terraces are exempt. Anyone caught breaching the ban will face a fine of €135. It is hoped that the ban will protect children from passive smoke. Ireland became the first country in the world to ban smoking in indoor public places, including bars and restaurants, in March 2004 when Taoiseach Micheál Martin was the minister for health. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the IHF's senior policy manager Mark Murphy said there is significant public support for further restrictions on smoking in Ireland. "We would support this, and I can imagine most health organisations would support a measure like this. "We know that smoking still kills 4,500 people each year in Ireland, and we know the hugely successful impact that the indoor workplace smoking ban had in Ireland," Mr Murphy said. He added: "There's a huge amount of public support for extending these types of smoke free spaces. "The HSE have done surveys on this kind of question, and 64% of people in Ireland supported is extending the ban on tobacco in public places." Mr Murphy said that extending the ban would be beneficial for young children and future generations, but enforcement may be an issue. "If we bring in these bans on smoking in public places, it really does denormalise the effect of smoking for the next generation, and that's what we need to think about," he said. "Enforcement is an issue, but I think when you have a lot of public support and public buy-in and really, when you do frame it around the health of children, I think that's a really key part of it. "The right of children to breathe clean air trumps any other right. But enforcement is an issue," he added. Last year, the previous government agreed to ban the sale of tobacco products for those aged under 21. And Mr Murphy said he believes the current Government would strongly support extending the ban. Mr Martin and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill spoke at the World Convention on Tobacco Control in Dublin last week. "He (Mícheál Martin) has been very vocal on tobacco and e-cigarettes, and we have the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll was very vocal. So, we do have a supportive Government in place," he said. "We think this is something that France could lead on, but Ireland could follow."
Observer
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman into quarter final of Youth Beach Handball
MUSCAT, JUNE 21 The Oman U-17 beach handball team imprinted their name in the history as they secured historic slot in the quarters of the 2025 IHF Men's Youth Beach Handball World Championship in Hammamet, Tunisia. This accomplishment occurred in the team's first ever appearance at the world finals as they now proudly joined the top eight teams in the world Oman's young boys sealed their place in the quarterfinals after an impressive run in the main round including a stunning victory over reigning champions Croatia by 2-1. Despite the defeats against European heavyweights including Germany and Hungary on Friday, Oman's performance was enough to secure fourth place in Group A and to meet against Brazil who ended as group leader in group B in a tight quarterfinal clash. The current edition of the IHF Youth Beach Handball World Championship is the tournament's largest to date as 32 teams are vying across the men's and women's categories. Oman's journey to the top eight in their debut showcased the proper planning by the Oman Handball Association (OHA) and the coaching staff for providing the required environment to the players to deliver a competitive spirit in the global stage. In the main round, Oman's thrilling 2-1 victory over Croatia, one of the title favorites, secured their advancement to the quarterfinals. Despite back-to-back defeats against Germany and Hungary on Friday as both matches ended by 2-0, the Omani players displayed a fighting show and tactical discipline earned the admiration of fans and officials alike. Oman met Brazil late on Saturday in the quarterfinals in a tough encounter. Brazil are among the nominated teams to clinch the title. The Brazilian players delivered a solid display as they finished first in Group B after a dominant performance throughout the tournament. From group A, Germany ended as topper and then followed by Spain while Hungary and Oman in third and fourth places respectively while Tunisia, Thailand and Argentina joined the group leaders Brazil from Group B. The quarterfinal winners will proceed to the semifinals bringing them one step closer to global glory. A MOMENT OF PRIDE The head of Oman's delegation and Oman Handball Association (OHA) board member, Mohammed al Zahoori, expressed deep pride in the team's progress in the global event. 'We are proud and honored to see Oman's flag raised among the world's best. Reaching the quarterfinals is a major milestone for Omani beach handball and a direct result of the hard work by the players, coaching staff and the backing of the Oman Handball Association.' ' This achievement reflects not only the team's dedication but also the Association's long-term vision and strategic investment in youth development,' he ended The young players voiced proudly on their excitement and determination to carry the momentum forward. Oman's Yazan al Buraiki hopes were that this achievement should encourage for more support and continuity for youth beach handball in Oman. ' We have seen the difference between us and some of the top nations and many of whom have ongoing leagues and programs. Hence, we look for the same development in order to be more stronger in the next participations,' he concluded Mohammed al Hosni said it is a huge honor to be here. ' Advancing to the quarterfinals in our first world championship is a dream come true. We are proud to represent Oman at this level.' His teammate, Imad al Ghailani said that we will give everything during our clash against Brazil. ' This experience is invaluable and we are learning from every match.'
