Author Archives: Bodger

Launching Dining Week 2022 were above from left: James Lenehan, CEO at WIN|WIN Digibreaks ,Caroline O’Keefe, Dublin Manager at Failte Ireland, Jennifer Walsh, Head Chef, Pink ,Linda Pitkanen, Head of Marketing at Digibreaks and Garrett Clifford, Country Manager at WorldPay

This morning/afternoon.

Pink, South William Street Dublin 2.

Are you a diner?

Enjoy a bargain?

Read on.

Sinéad writes:

Hundreds of restaurants nationwide are signed up and ready to fill their tables for ‘Dining Week’, taking place from 19th to 28th April. Customers that book via the Dining Week website will enjoy a 25% discount on their food bill, with their €1 booking fee being donated to St Vincent de Paul.

Dining Week is supported by the Restaurants Association of Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, and sponsored by WorldPay from FIS, with over 200 restaurants expected to take part

It’s a celebration of a return to normality after years of lockdowns. Available for bookings from 2 to 8 people, Dining Week is the perfect excuse to gather with friends or family at your favourite restaurant, or discover a new one!

Book a table during Dining Week here

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Last night.

France 2.

In a televised interview, the French President Emmanuel Macron stated that he did not want to use the term “genocide” for the killing of Ukrainians by the Russian military.

Macron noted :

“I would be cautious with such words because these two peoples (Russians and Ukrainians) are brothers.”

Earlier….

Last night.

Iowa, USA

President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russia’s invasion in Ukraine as a “genocide” at an event in Iowa, and he repeated the term before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, DC.

Joe Biden accuses Vladimir Putin of committing genocide in Ukraine (The Guardian)

This morning.

Via RTÉ News:

The Cabinet will hear this morning that more than 22,000 people from Ukraine have arrived here since 25 February.

So far, 14,155 people have sought accommodation from State services.

Efforts are being stepped up to process the offers of accommodation pledged by the public.

So far, only about half of those who offered accommodation are answering these calls.

Defence Forces personnel are contacting more than 1,200 property owners every day as they work through the 24,000 or so pledges of accommodation.

Meanwhile…

It is now likely that camp beds in community halls will be used in the next few days to accommodate people.

Community hall camp beds likely to be used for Ukrainians fleeing war (RTE)

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

The Minister for the Environment and Climate Action Eamon Ryan arrives for cabinet following his disclosure yesterday that  turf-selling will be banned from September 1.

Mr Ryan said that families would still be allowed to cut peat from traditional plots for domestic use but selling the peat will be prohibited.

he told the dail:

“This approach will facilitate those with turbary rights to continue to cut and burn sod peat for their own domestic purposes, while also reducing the use of sod peat in urban areas,”

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Yesterday: Turf-Exclusionary

This afternoon.

Unidentified location, Dublin.

The Arnotts Choir with member Clare McCabe (in blue) together with her daughter, former X Factor contestant, Melanie McCabe (in yellow), who have recorded a cover version of Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the World’ as a charity single to help raise funds for the UNICEF Ukraine Emergency Appeal. Release date unspecified.

People think they’re sisters.

We did in anyhow.

Leon Farrel /Photocall Ireland

Auctioneer and Fine gael activist Aidan Moffitt

This afternoon.

Via Independent.ie:

Locals in Sligo have spoken of their horror at the brutal killing of a highly respected local businessman and Fine Gael activist.

Aidan Moffitt, a Peace Commissioner, aged in his late 30s, was found dead in the Cartron Heights area of Sligo town yesterday at 8.30 pm.

It is understood Mr Moffitt, an auctioneer, was originally from Lisacul, near Ballaghadereen in Co Roscommon, suffered a violent death.

His body remains at the scene as gardaí awaits the arrival of the State Pathologist.

Mr Moffitt was a personal friend of Fine Gael TD for Sligo Leitrim, Frank Feighan who described news of the death as “a huge shock.”

Sligo community in shock at brutal killing of local businessman and Fine Gael activist: ‘A caring young man’ (Independent.ie)

This afternoon.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking at the launch of a new report from the National Economic and Social Council – Shared Island: Shared Opportunity – at the Hibernia Conference Centre.

Shared not united.

Pause.

Fight.

Keynote address by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on the launch of the National Economic and Social Council comprehensive report on Shared Island: Shared Opportunity (Gov.ie)

RollingNews