Author Archives: Bodger

Um.

This morning.

Via Independent.ie:

‘The Irish stops – varying from hours to days – have been uncovered during a review by the Irish Independent of hundreds of flights clocked up as the purported billionaire’s notorious ‘Lolita Express’ private jet criss-crossed the globe before his shocking fall from grace.

…One aviation consultant who toured the now decaying Epstein private jet last year said it was decorated like something from the 1970s disco era.

Who was he visiting, anyone?

Mystery of the ‘Lolita Express’: Jeffrey Epstein and private jet made multiple stops in Ireland over 12 years (Independent.ie)

Graph via The Sunday World

Dr Cillian de Gascun, Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory

This afternoon.

Tests reportedly show a case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in Ireland.

Via RTÉ:

The tests were conducted at the National Virus Reference Laboratory.

Dr Cillian de Gascun told a technical briefing of the National Public Health Emergency Team that 14 samples were analysed over the weekend.

Eight of the samples underwent whole genome sequencing and one of those eight was confirmed as having the Omicron variant on Tuesday.

Dr De Gascun said it is a travel associated case to one of designated countries, which have confirmed cases of Omicron.

Case of Omicron variant confirmed in Ireland (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

This morning/afternoon.

RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

The first day of Gifted, the Contemporary Craft and Design Fair, which boasts ‘Ireland’s largest collection of sustainable Christmas gifts’ until December 5.

Gifted

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Irish-made stocking fillers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Irish-Made Stocking Fillers’

Meanwhile…

Among the stalls…

…saddler Lucy Cushley (above) worked with a team making leather goods for the horses and set of the newly-released Matt Damon movie The Last Duel.

Lucy sez:

“I was brought in as a member of the Society of Master Saddlers after a shout went out for saddlers, so I was part of a team which worked in a warehouse on materials which appeared in the film.

“While I adore saddling, most of my income is from leather goods. I’ve been asked to make diverse items from weight lifting belts to wedding album covers to handbags.”

Gifted

Pic: Robbie Reynolds

Above from left: Santa Claus; Cllr. Lettie McCarthy, An Cathaoirleach Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; and Therese Langan, Director of Community and Cultural Development Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in Marlay Park last night

Last night.

Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council announced their plans for the festive season. To wit:

‘All activity this year is outdoors inviting people to wrap up warm, get out in the crisp clean air, soak up the festive spirit and go ‘walking in a winter wonderland’. The county is illuminated by thousands of lights with exciting new 3D light installations, new fairylike forest walks, special Santa Post Boxes and several buildings are bathed with a magical glow.’

DLR

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

This morning.

Via The Irish Times:

Mandatory Covid-19 vaccination of healthcare workers is being considered by public health officials as a response to high infection levels.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) earlier this month, which agreed to examine “relevant ethical, legal and practical issues before any action is considered”.

The Department of Health is to prepare an evidence paper on the topic to be discussed at a future meeting, according to minutes of Nphet’s meeting on November 11th.

Up to now, the practice has been to remove an unvaccinated healthcare worker from frontline duties…

Mandatory Covid-19 vaccination of healthcare workers considered by Nphet (Irish Times)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Oh.

Yesterday.

Blackrock, county Dublin.

ESB writes:

‘Passed this place in Blackrock yesterday. I saw it in the Missing Children documentary and never realised it was in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown. Not many people are aware of the history of Neptune House and how it ended up, Irish style, including those that can now afford to live there.’

Meanwhile, via Youwho:

‘Between 1947 and 1975, 572 children are reported as being “exported” to America from Temple Hill House. Babies were sent to St Patrick’s Infant Hospital, Temple Hill before being adopted. Mothers did not live at Temple Hill and from the death register it would appear that these woman were in the main domestic servants, their children registered in large numbers before they reached 6 months as dying from gastroenteritis or similar. In the late 1980’s the house was purported to have been used by Sinn Féin and the Irish government for secret meetings in the lead up to the peace talks.​’

Temple Hill House (Youwho)

Yesterday.

Mad Money on CNBC.

Host Jim Cramer expressed frustration with the unvaxxed, saying:

“It’s time to admit we have to go to war against Covid. Require vaccinations universally. And have the military run it.

“If you don’t want to get vaccinated, you better be ready to prove your conscientious objector status in court, and even then you need to help in the war effort by staying home until we finally beat this thing.”

Jim Cramer’s investment playbook for the Covid omicron variant (CNBC)

Minister for Education Norma Foley

This morning.

Via RTÉ News

Children in third class and up will be required to wear face masks at school from this morning, and can be refused entry if they do not.

However, the Department of Education has said schools can be flexible in application of the rule in the first couple of days.

Ms Foley said she recognised it may be “difficult” for some, but added: “Schools know their children and are best placed to identify those children whose complex needs are such that the wearing of face coverings may not be possible for them and to discuss this with parents as required.”

Foley: Schools will adopt ‘practical approach’ to mask wearing (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Meanwhile…

Um.