Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin.
Aifric Murray writes:
Winter…with signs of hope
Author Archives: Bodger
Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE
🎙️ “We all have to reconsider our Christmas plans”
Dr Colm Henry @CcoHse #TodayCB— Today with Claire Byrne (@TodaywithClaire) December 21, 2020
This morning.
RTÉ Radio One’s Claire Byrne Live.
Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer with the HSE said the options for mixing with family over Christmas are “narrowing” with an increase in Covid-19 infection rates across all age groups.
He wans everybody to reconsider their festive plans. “It’s about reducing close contacts so the virus cannot jump from person to person.”
Asked about the new coronavirus variant in the UK, he said mutations were not uncommon with new viruses. “This strain has taken off in the south east of England in the past four weeks, it appears to be much more transmissible and is better at evading the body’s immune response – but we do not know for sure yet.”
Options ‘narrowing’ for family Christmas gatherings, warns HSE (RTÉ)
Mr Burly
at
Declan Savage
This morning.
BRLY, Ireland’s fashion and lifestyle brand for burly males, have announced the winner of their competition to become the face of the Irish brand for Spring/Summer 2021.
Via BRLY:
Monaghan man Declan Savage, a 30-year-old jive loving and strongman enthusiast, overcame tough competition from the nine other finalists. Declan who also runs his own business is delighted to be the face of the new Irish fashion brand for burly guys.
Declan commented,
“Firstly I’m just in shock that I have won the competition outright. I entered mainly for a bit of craic and to come out as the winner is surreal, as there were nine other brilliant finalists. I can’t wait to get started with BRLY and launch their product in the Irish market for summer 2021.”
Previously: You’re Playing Senior Burly Now
Homecoming.
Premiering this morning.
An Irish woman in London is caught in a reverie as she contemplates the fact that she will not be able to return home for Christmas. Meanwhile, back in Ireland, the world is left empty without her presence….
Craig writes:
A specially commissioned piece for To Be Irish, District Magazine has produced ‘Homecoming’ a short film about Irish people abroad who are unable to return home for Christmas.
District have enlisted the help of James Vincent McMorrow and Gemma Dunleavy to contribute a score and narration, respectively. London-based, Irish playwright Karen Cogan (The Young Offenders) provides the original screenplay…
‘Johnny’.
A poem by George Cummins.
George writes:
A dark poem and perhaps not what people want to necessarily hear right now, but this is definitely a time that awareness is sorely needed. With the freezing weather, the massive number of homeless currently on the streets of Ireland, and Covid changing how we interact with each other, it’s integral that people are aware of the dangers this is creating for the homeless population.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin at a virtual Plenary Session of the North South Ministerial Council at Government Buildings, Dublin this morning
Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirms Government ‘minded’ to adopt Nphet advice and close pubs, restaurants before New Year’s Eve https://t.co/uvWrIGAN3h pic.twitter.com/5HyD6yQyDG
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) December 18, 2020
Minded so he is.
Meanwhile…
Number of covid outbreaks in restaurants in last two weeks = 0. #NPHET @LeoVaradkar @1Hildegarde @eamonocuiv @AnneRabbitte @MichealMartinTD pic.twitter.com/n9PoXi4Vkr
— Jp McMahon (@mistereatgalway) December 18, 2020
Hmm.
Earlier: The Virus Will Steal Your Pint
C’mon Man
at
Joe Biden
This afternoon
Via Axios:
Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller ordered a Pentagon-wide halt to cooperation with the transition of President-elect Biden, shocking officials across the Defense Department, senior administration officials tell Axios.
A top Biden official was unaware of the directive. Administration officials left open the possibility cooperation would resume after a holiday pause. The officials were unsure what prompted Miller’s action, or whether President Trump approved.
Miller’s move, which stunned officials throughout the Pentagon, was the biggest eruption yet of animus and mistrust toward the Biden team from the top level of the Trump administration.
A Pentagon official said that the reason was that the staff involved in the transition is “overwhelmed.”
Scoop: Pentagon halts Biden transition briefings (Axios)
Meanwhile…
Michael Flynn proposes Trump seize voting machines, 'basically rerun' presidential election https://t.co/Mky3m7160i
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 18, 2020
“Many women would get on the ferry to Holyhead, present themselves to adoption agencies in Britain and would find themselves being repatriated, sent back to Ireland, in some instances before they gave birth, in some instances after.”
Paul Michael Garrett, Social work and Irish people in Britain
Last night.
Dr Lorraine Grimes, (top left) of NUIG, joined Mother and Baby Home adoptee and activist Eunan Duffy (bottom right) and Breeda Murphy (bottom left), spokeswoman for the Tuam Mother and Baby Home Alliance, to discuss Irish mothers who went to England.
The third in a series of shows looking at aspects of the Mother and Baby Home regime ahead of publication of the report of the Commission of Investigation commencing the week of January 11.
Previously: Secrets Of Bessboro
Stop That
at
Christmas Day at the Forty Foot, Sandycove, County Dublin in 2018
Shrivel your baubles elsewhere.
This afternoon.
People are being asked to forego the annual Christmas Day swim at the 40 Foot in Sandycove due to concerns over large groups of people gathering for the annual tradition.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, gardaí, and the Health Service Executive issued the appeal for people to refrain from visiting bathing areas, especially the 40 Foot in Sandycove and at Seapoint this year over the potential risk of spreading Covid-19 at these public gatherings…
Better safe than salty.
Appeal for people to forego Christmas swims at 40 Foot (RTÉ)
Earlier: The Virus Will Steal Your Pint
Joanne Hayes (right) and her sister Kathleen leaving the Kerry Babies Tribunal at Dublin Castle in 1985
This afternoon.
The Four Courts, Dublin
Solicitors for Joanne Hayes – Patrick Mann and Bernadette Cronin- make a statement following the issue of an apology and compensation from the State to Ms Hayes for her treatment during the Kerry Babies case.
It was part of a case brought by Ms Hayes, her sister Kathleen and brothers Michael and Edmund following their arrest by the Gardai in May 1984.
Via Irish Times:
Ms Hayes will receive €1.5 million, while her three siblings will each get €300,000.
Ms Hayes’ daughter, Ms McGuckin, who was a toddler at the time of the scandal, is to get a reported €100,000.
…As part of the settlement the family also secured declarations from the court that all findings or wrongdoing made against them by the Tribunal into the case were, that took place in late 1984- early 1985 were unfounded and incorrect.
The court also made a declaration that their questioning, arrest, charge and prosecution on dates between April and October 1984 were unfounded and in breach of their constitutional rights.
Kerry babies: Suffering and stress of ordeal finally behind us – Joanne Hayes (Irish Times)
Previously: Kerry Babies on Broadsheet