Author Archives: Bodger

Free next Wednesday?

‘Go mBeirimid Beo’ (That we may live to see) presented by Oisín Mistéil (top).

Are you ready for the end?

Deirdre Ni Chostain writes:

Can we really prepare for an apocalypse? Or are we better off dead?

On a national journey that will bring him from a disused nuclear bunker in Galway to the only Survivalist store in the country in County Cork, Oisín Mistéil is determined to ask the awkward questions about how prepared we are for Armageddon.

Oisín will meet with preppers and nuclear physicists, with environmentalists and monastic historians. His aim? To discover how previous generations dealt with these existential threats and to ask how prepared we are for those of the future.

Troid!

Go mBeirimid Beo on Wednesday, September 8 at 9:30pm.

This morning/afternoon.

There are approximately 5,000 homes in Donegal, Mayo, Clare, and Sligo affected by mica – a toxic mineral used in building blocks – with some houses having to be demolished.

The Department of Housing say it will only cover 90% of costs to homeowners.

However Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue told the Irish Examiner:

  “I remain committed to seeing the homeowners affected by mica achieve a 100% redress scheme that is fit for purpose and will support families to rebuild their homes and their dreams.

“Families affected are in this situation through no fault of their own.”

Previously: Cabinet row brews over mica homes compensation scheme (Irish Examiner, August 22)

This afternoon.

Meanwhile…

It’s satire!

Or is it?

Clearly.

That’s what they want you to think.

Stop it.

From top: Republic of Ireland senior squad; Ciarán Murphy, of Second Captains

This morning.

‘Today with Philip Boucher Hayes’ on RTÉ Radio One.

Further to  manager Stephen Kenny confirming some Republic of Ireland players have opted against the Covid vaccine…

…. Ciarán Murphy (top), co-host of the Second Captains football podcast, said:

“It’s interesting from the point of view of a dressing room and the dressing room dynamics. I’ll leave the immunology to the eminent professor [Cliona O’Farrelly, professor of comparative immunology and biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin was a fellow guest] and I might talk about the dressing room dynamics and we’ll stick to what we’re slightly better at here…”

“This idea that young men, in this situation, in the NFL or Premier League, young sportspeople, lead a very closeted life. And the richer and more successful they are, the more closeted they are.

“The more suspicion perhaps of mainstream media, to use that terrible phrase, there is amongst these people. And they might get talking about conspiracy theories or, you know, wild anti-vax theories that they would have seen on the internet.

“And this, it spreads in the dressing room in a way that is kind of maybe harder for us to understand, you know, for those of us who work in a regular work environment.”

“…Sportspeople live in a kind of weird…it’s a weird situation that they find themselves in often. And the stick, in this situation might actually be more effective than the carrot.”

Gulp.

Yesterday: Missed Shots

Above from left: Niall Rynee, Chairman of the Aviva Stadium Board; Martina Queally, Chief Officer, HSE Community Healthcare East; and Siobhan McArdle, Assistant National Director of COVID Operations with staff members at the Aviva

This afternoon.

Aviva Stadium, Dublin 4.

The stadium’s COVID-19 Vaccination Centre celebrates administering over 294,600 vaccine doses to the general public since the centre opened on March 3.

This is the equivalent to filling the 51,700-seated Aviva more than five times over.

Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

From top: Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

This morning.

Government Buildings, Dublin2.

Ministers arrive for a cabinet meeting to discuss the lifting of covid restrictions..

Meanwhile…

RollingNews

This morning.

Via Reuters:

A contaminant found in a batch of Moderna Inc’s (MRNA.O) COVID-19 vaccines delivered to Japan is believed to be a metallic particle, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported, citing sources at the health ministry.

Japan yesterday suspended the use of 1.63 million doses shipped to 863 vaccination centres nationwide, more than a week after the domestic distributor, Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502.T), received reports of contaminants in some vials.

NHK, in a report published late on Thursday, cited ministry sources as saying the particle reacted to magnets and was therefore suspected to be a metal. Moderna has described it as “particulate matter” that did not pose a safety or efficacy issue.

That’s alright then.

Yesterday: Moderna Life Is Rubbish

Previously: Stuck On You


Above from left: grown up Coombe babies Patrick Quinlan; Eoin Conlan; Caoimhe Whelan and their Mothers Caroline O’Leary; Kathleen Burke and Helen Conlan

Yesterday.

Portmarnock, north county Dublin.

Mums Caroline O’Leary, Kathleen Burke and Helen Conlan met at the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital in August 1991, their babies born within 12 hours of one another.

They formed a strong friendship and before leaving the Hospital, agreed to meet the following year when the babies were one year old.

The families have met every year since on Portmarnock Beach and this week they met to mark the children’s 30th birthdays.

In fairness.

Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland