Author Archives: Bodger

‘sup?

Carlosfandango writers:

This lovely coffee shop (which when fully open is doggie friendly) is open for takeaway now. Great coffee and good social distancing being practiced. Mr Hugh (second left) and Lette (far left) are featured.

Black Sheep Dublin 14

Takeaway coffee in your area, anyone?

Dolphins.

With Irish skin.

Koi Phangan, Thailand.

Via The Thaiger:

Chaiyot Saedan, the fisherman who provided the video, told Reuters…

“I was so impressed, because I never imagined I would get to see pink dolphins,”

Thailand’s pink dolphins are a subspecies of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union For Conservation of Nature.

There are just 150 of these pink dolphins living around the Gulf of Thailand, according tothe director of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre.

“Due to less traffic with the coronavirus lockdown, dolphins now have a more comfortable habitat, and that’s why they tend to show up more.”

Rare pink dolphins spotted off Koh Phangan (The Thaiger)

Thanks Terry Rickard

Grafton Street, Dublin 2 yesterday

This morning.

Via RTÉ

A survey of over 1,300 businesses across the country has found that 85% have either scaled back or closed completely as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions.

The research, carried out earlier this week by Chambers Ireland, also found that half of firms expect an immediate loss of revenue in excess of 60%, with smaller businesses affected most.

More than half of the companies that responded to the survey said they have now either reduced their activity or shut their front of house operations with staff now working from home.

One in three have closed their doors completely, with just 15% now fully open.

85% of businesses have scaled back or closed due to Covid-19 (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

From top:  Eddie Halpin, Station Master, Connolly Station, assisted by members of An Garda Síochána yesterday in enforcing social distancing guidelines; Dr Tony Holohan, Chief medical officer at the Department of Health at a press briefing last night

This morning.

Via RTÉ

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said he is still not in a position to recommend easing restrictions due to Covid-19.

Dr Holohan said that the country is making great progress in slowing the growth rate of the disease but that with more than a 100 people in intensive care units and hundreds of others in hospital with Covid-19, he was not in a position to recommend easing restrictions.

Holohan not expecting to advise easing of restrictions (RTÉ)

Earlier: ‘It Has Very Much Relied On Its Relationship With Its Citizenry’

Rollingnews/Garda Press Office

Meanwhile…

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been urged by ministers to lay out “an exit strategy” on Friday, when Covid-19 restrictions are to be extended by at least two weeks.

Divisions within Cabinet emerged yesterday as a “slight majority” of ministers called for some relaxation of curtailments to personal freedoms for over-70s, construction workers, and those who play golf and tennis.

The ministers, described as the ‘civil liberty wing of Cabinet’, raised concerns about the impact restrictions are having on the population and increased signs of public defiance.

Taoiseach urged to deliver ‘exit strategy’ as restrictions to be extended by two weeks (irish Examiner)

Meanwhile…

Stockholm, Sweden last Saturday; Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO’s top emergencies expert

Sweden.

Where adults are treated like adults.

“I think there’s a perception out that Sweden has not put in control measures and just has allowed the disease to spread. Nothing can be further from the truth.”

[instead of lockdowns] ‘the country has put in place a very strong public policy around social distancing, around caring and protecting people in long term care facilities.

“What it has done differently is it has very much relied on its relationship with its citizenry and the ability and willingness of its citizens to implement self-distancing and self-regulate. In that sense, they have implemented public policy through that partnership with the population.”

Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organistaioon yesterday.

WHO lauds lockdown-ignoring Sweden as a ‘model’ for countries going forward (New York Post)

Previously: Philip O’Connor: Sweden’s Relaxed Strategy

Getty/AP

This afternoon.

Cork Street, Dublin.

Intreo Empoyment and Incomes Support office. It has been reported that 68,000 people have been turned down for the emergency Covid-19 pandemic unemployment benefit payments. Some have been left with no support for more than a month.

Reasons for refusal include that applicant may ‘already be on jobseeker’s allowance, they were not working immediately prior to the lockdown or had provided incorrect PPS or bank account numbers’.

 Leon Farrell/RollingNews

Tourism Ireland writes:

Has Ireland ever looked more beautiful? From the streets of Dublin to the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way, check out these amazing filming locations as Sally Rooney’s Normal People is brought to life on screen.

Discover the real-life locations of Normal People in Ireland (Tourism Ireland)

A blast from the past  (2011 we think).

When everything was brilliant.

Charlie writes:

After a hiatus from the internet. Ireland top storyteller is back…

Are they all still together, anyone?