Author Archives: Bodger

This afternoon.

Navan, county Meath.

Meanwhile…

Mr Martin said that he would look with interest at how Austria implements its lockdown for those who have not availed of a vaccine.

However, he said that Ireland has a vaccine rate of 93% which places the country is a very different position, compared with Austria where 65% of people are fully vaccinated.

Mr Martin reiterated that the situation was “serious”, adding that vaccination levels meant the country was in a much different position than last year.

He also said the vaccine booster campaign was already showing promising results, with a reduction in serious illness among those in their 80s.

Lockdown for unvaccinated not being looked at – Taoiseach (RTÉ)

Earlier: Goodnight Vienna

Saturday.

Dawson Street, Dublin 2.

Leader of the CCP Labour Party Alan Kelly speaking to delegates at the Mansion House where the party’s annual conference was held over the weekend.

Mr Kelly told the assembled:

“Some parties in the current government think they have a right to always govern. While others in opposition go around arrogantly acting like their ascension to high office next time is just inevitable”.

Labour leader Alan Kelly criticises ‘arrogance’ of Sinn Féin in his first major speech as party leader (Independent.ie)

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Saturday afternoon.

Outside the Labour Party conference.

Anyone?

Eamon Farrell/RollingNews

This morning.

Greystones, county Wicklow.

The Greystones Town Team including the Happy Pear pair (above centre) launch the #THINKLOCALBUYLOCAL campaign encouraging shoppers to support local businesses.

Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District Cllr Lourda Scott said:

“It has been a difficult time for small local businesses, so please consider your local businesses when deciding on your gifts this year.”

Greystones.ie

Even Catholics are welcome.

Pause.

FIGHT!

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

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

Staying in Wednesday?

Episode two of An Cuan – looking at a year in the life of Dublin Bay.

Linda Ní Ghríofa writes:

This  focuses on Dublin Bay in the Summer. Dublin Bay blossoms in the summer and its many inhabitants make the most of the good weather. While spring brought new life to the bay, summer now brings longer and warmer days to thousands of busy animals, nursing and protecting their very vulnerable young.

Nestled amongst the cranes and berths of Dublin Port, ecologists check on the special pontoons built for the local tern population. On Bull Island, the rare and beautiful Bee Orchid comes into bloom. On Bloomsday, Joyceans celebrate the special connection between Ulysses and Dublin Bay. Whilst, under the water, local divers explore the sub-aqua world of Dublin Bay.

An Cuan on Wednesday at 9.30pm on TG4.

This morning/afternoon.

Via ABC:

Austria took what its leader called the “dramatic” step Monday of implementing a nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated people who haven’t recently had COVID-19, perhaps the most drastic of a string of measures being taken by European governments to get a massive regional resurgence of the coronavirus under control.

The move, which took effect at midnight, prohibits people 12 years old and older who haven’t been vaccinated or recently recovered from leaving their homes except for basic activities such as working, grocery shopping, going for a walk — or getting vaccinated.

Gülp.

Austrian unvaccinated lockdown starts amid COVID resurgence (ABC)

Sky News

Um.

Earlier….

Dublin’s Mater Hospital

This morning.

Via RTÉ News:

Dr Colman O’Loughlin, a consultant in the Mater, speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, said too many acute hospitals beds are taken up with Covid-19 patients, adding that it is next to impossible to try and run a normal health system alongside this.

He said this has resulted in curtailed surgical activity and significant cutbacks in elective surgery.

As of 8am, there were 617 people in hospitals around the country with the virus, up 35 on the same time yesterday.

Of these, 106 people were in intensive care units with Covid-19.

Dr O’Loughlin said said there is an almost equal number of unvaccinated people and vaccinated vulnerable people in ICU.

Dublin’s Mater Hospital moves to ICU surge capacity (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Saturday.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2.

A loose collection of anti-vax and anti-covid response protestors – many under the banner of  Concerned Citizens of Ireland, gathered for a ‘Jam for Freedom’. A protestor (above) argued with members of An Garda Siochana after purchasing hurleys at Elvery’s, just off Grafton street.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Um.

Meanwhile….