Author Archives: Bodger

Harry says: “I took the top photo shortly after the seats were installed some years ago and passing by yesterday, I photographed the Autumnal one with the gentlemen seated (above).”

Havel’s Place.

St Patrick’s Park, , Dublin 8.

Harry Warren writes:

Many people visit St Patrick’s park adjacent to Christchurch cathedral in Dublin and sit at two beautifully designed seats enjoying a coffee and a conversation but are completely unaware of the origin of the seats.

The seat and table are Havel’s Place, a memorial bench to Vaclav Havel, a playwright and former Czech President and above all a champion for human rights that were ceremonially unveiled in Dublin on December 10, 2013. A unique work by the famed designer Borek Sipek.

The bench, comprising a round table with a Linden Tree (The Czech National Tree) growing though its centre and coupled with two movable chairs decorated with typical Havel hearts (today the hearts are now sadly missing) enables visitors to freely discuss matters of interest, which is the main mission of the whole work, “Without free discussion there is no Democracy”.

In addition to the bench there is a small commemorative plaque, usually hidden by pebbles, mounted on the ground. In light of the ongoing Brexit discussions perhaps it’s time that Boris Johnson and Michel Barnier sat down here and had a coffee together.

Pics by Harry Warren

Last night.

Llewellyn Court, Ballinteer, Dublin.

Residents hold a candle-lit vigil at a green close to the house where the bodies of Seema Banu, 37, from India, her daughter Affira, 11, and son Fazan, age 6, were discovered yesterday morning.

Shocked locals hold vigil for mother and children found dead in Ballinteer (Irish Times)

Yesterday: In Ballinteer

How Community Heals

RollingNews

This afternoon.

The US Senate.

In a contentious hearing, the CEOs of Google, Facebook, and Twitter, from top: Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey were questioned by Senators over their content moderation policies.

Via CNN:

[Republican Senator] Ted Cruz angrily went after Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, pressing him on the platform’s decision to restrict content posted by the New York Post. He concluded by shouting at Dorsey: “Mr. Dorsey, who the hell elected you and put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report and what the American people are allowed to hear, and why do you persist in behaving as a Democratic super PAC silencing views to the contrary of your political beliefs?”

And take off the damn nose ring.

It’s not Coachella, you shadow-banning spanner.

CEOs of Google, Twitter and Facebook grilled in Senate hearing (CNN)

This afternoon.

Mountview Road, Dublin 15.

Bit of a squeeze, but progress spose.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth Roderic O’Gorman

This afternoon.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth Roderic O’Gorman has indicated that the report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation will not be released until late November or early December.

The Minister had previously said the commission was be ready to report this Friday, October 30 and in fact gave this deadline as a reason to rush through legislation to seal the Commission’s files.

Via Irish Examiner:

It is understood that Mr O’Gorman has asked attorney general Paul Gallagher to examine ways in which the archive can be opened up to survivors of institutional abuse.

That process may also take a number of weeks, it is understood.

Mr O’Gorman has said that his advice from the attorney general was that access to the records had been explicitly restricted by the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.

However, the Irish Examiner last week revealed that this is entirely contrary to the observations provided to his Department by the Data Protection Commission.

Mother and Baby Homes report will not be available until November or December (Irish Examiner)

Yesterday: Seal Tricks

RollingNews

This morning.

The bodies of a woman and two children have been discovered in a house in the Llewellyn estate in Ballinteer, Dublin.

Gardaí forced their way into the house and found a woman, believed to be a mother, and two children, a boy and a girl aged between six and 11.

Via Irish Times:

“Gardaí are currently at the scene of an incident at a residential property in south Dublin where the bodies of two children and an adult have been discovered. There is no further information available at this time,” Garda Headquarters said in a statement.

Mother and two children found dead at south Dublin house (irish Times)

Bodies of woman and two children found in Dublin house (RTÉ)

Earlier: How Community Heals

RollingNews

Update:

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Aldi, Terenure, Dublin 6.

Karen Morgan writes:

Ho, ho, ho! Exciting news! Santa dropped into Aldito announce that, while we may not be able to visit him in person this year, during the month of November, Aldi is giving 100 lucky families the opportunity to win a virtual chat with the man himself in the run up to Christmas via SantaOnline.ie.

To enter, email your best Christmas cracker joke to santa@aldi.ie!

You may share them with us as well.

Or not.

Suit yourselves.

Living in Dublin?

Cracked screen?

Charging issues?

Read on.

Ian writes:

Irish brand Fónfix, Ireland’s only manufacturer authorized mobile phone repair centre has launched a same day, door to door collection, repair and return service for phones and iPads tablets, available today.

Fónfix will see the collection and repair of any phone or iPad tablet, no matter where you are located in Dublin city through the teams dedicated collection, repair and return service.

From charging issues, broken screens, software problems and not to mention accidental drops down the toilet, the latest and innovative Dublin city collection service from Fónfix can repair all makes and models of smart phones and iPads tablets.

Thanks to an industry trained team of 50 technicians with over 20 years’ experience

Book a repair here

Level 5 heroics to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Level 5 Heroics’.

SPLUTTER!

This morning.

Merrion Street, Dublin 2.

A beverage-carrying member of the public, possibly a UK visitor, photobombs Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath, on his way into government buildings for a cabinet meeting.

Not sure where the geezer is off to.

We didn’t want to ask.

RollingNews