Monthly Archives: July 2012


In May – about a week before the country fessed up to that €23 billion hole in its accounts – Spain’s Banco Sabadell celebrated its 130th anniversary with a surprise performance of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy, featuring an orchestral flashmob of the Vallès Symphony Orchestra, the choirs of Lieder and Friends of l’Opera and the Choral Belles Arts, conducted by Josef Vila Casañas.

Stirring stuff.

One can only hope the current EU deal plays out as well.

awesomer/whatthecool

As German chancellor Angela Merkel gave the go-ahead to discuss direct aid for Spain’s banks, Irish negotiators were told from the outset of the talks that any pledge to Madrid would not necessarily create a precedent for Dublin. This led Taoiseach Enda Kenny to insist on a direct reference to Ireland, saying he could accept nothing less.

As the talks continued into the early hours of Friday morning, Mr Kenny is reputed to have instructed officials to “keep taking the tablets” as they pushed repeatedly for a direct reference to Ireland.

 

ECB Backed Ireland In Getting Pledge For Bank Bailout Review (Arthur Beesley and Harry McGee, Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)

Part of the Dublin City Of Science 2012: installed on the side of the HRB head office on Baggot Street about an hour ago. One of:

…a ‘curious’ collection of scientific images to capture people’s imagination and showcase the magic of science that is rarely seen outside of research groups. Images range from the microscopic (burst blood vessels, MRSA, dental plaque) to the enormous (CERN Large Hadron Collider) and can be seen on Dublin city buildings at Baggot Street Bridge (above) Pearse Street and Liberty Hall.

(Pic: Oisin)