There was a significant increase in the number of calls handled by Ireland’s 999/112 emergency call centres last year with almost two thirds not being patched through to frontline services because they were ‘filtered’ by operators.

A transatlantic jet diverted to Shannon Airport this afternoon after the crew declared a medical emergency.

Four people, including an elderly man, have been hospitalised following a road traffic collision on the outskirts of Ennis this evening.

A kayaker spent almost two hours trapped in a raging river in a 35ft deep gorge in Co Clare this afternoon while five others managed to escape to safety.

Two transatlantic passenger jets have made unscheduled landings at Shannon Airport today after their crews declared medical emergencies.

The tail-end of Storm Ciara continued to cause damage and wreak havoc on the roads yesterday as much of the country remained under wind, snow and ice alerts.

Gardaí in Clare are warning motorists to ‘drive to the conditions’ and ‘heed weather warnings’ following an incident on the M18 motorway this morning.

An elderly man has been treated in hospital following a fire at his farmhouse in East Clare this morning.

One person is being treated in hospital as a precaution following an incident at chemical manufacturing company in Shannon, Co Clare this morning.