Author Archives: Bodger

Go home.

This afternoon.

Poolbeg Lighthouse, Dublin 4.

Eunicer than expected.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Yay!

This afternoon.

Earlier….

Taoiseach Micheál Martin

This morning.

Via RTE news:

The Taoiseach has told a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party that the National Public Health Emergency Team may soon draw a distinction between mandatory mask wearing and public health advice.

Micheál Martin was speaking ahead of a NPHET meeting today, where the requirement to wear masks in certain settings will be examined.

There is a clear sense politically that the laws underpinning the wearing of masks will soon lapse.

They could be replaced by health advice about the benefits of continuing to wear masks in retail settings and possibly on public transport.

the lifting of the requirement to wear masks in schools is seen as quite likely by politicians.

Meanwhile…

The Taoiseach told his party TDs, Senators and MEPs last night that the focus must now be kept on vaccination and there could be an annual vaccine.

Um.

Rules over mask wearing expected to change (RTE)

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Gulp.


This morning.

Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris warding off the media as he launched the Innovation Exchange, a €5m collaboration between Skillnet Ireland and Dublin BIC ‘which aims to connect Irish SMEs with global businesses’.

Minister Harris has also announced €2.4 million (yes, two and a half big ones) in funding for the Defence Forces to ‘develop solutions to challenges facing them’. It may allow them to purchase an old Soviet tank and a cache of helmets used in the Falklands.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Pro-mask Prof. Cliona Ni Cheallaigh has called for continued mask-wearing

This morning.

Dr Cliona Ní Cheallaigh, consultant in infectious diseases and general medicine at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, has said she would “suggest very strongly” that people continue to wear masks.

Via RTE News”

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr Ní Cheallaigh said the Government is discussing mandates, which is different to wearing a mask by choice which she said she would encourage people to do if they want to avoid getting Covid-19.

“There’s still an awful lot of Covid circulating around, so I think if you don’t want to get Covid I would suggest very strongly that you continue to wear your masks,” she said.

She said unfortunately the vaccine “is not 100% by any means“.

Dr Ní Cheallaigh said recent high case numbers are likely due to people with compromised immune systems being infected with Covid-19.

“People whose immune systems don’t work at all. They’re still getting really, really sick and dying from Covid unfortunately and because there’s so much of it circulating, they’re being exposed,” she said.

Right.

Rules over mask wearing expected to change (RTE)

Earlier: Get ‘Em Off

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

G’wan the Pat.

Last night.

Gate Theatre, Dublin 2.

The opening night of Endgame by Samuel Beckett starring Frankie Boyle (yes, that one), Seán McGinley, Gina Moxley and Robert Sheehan.

From top: Camille O Sullivan and Aidan Gillen; Sinead Gleeson; Sebastian Barry and Deirdre Deegan; Rick O’Shea; Carl Austin and Tara Flynn; Owen Roe and Ethan Roe; Jim Sheridan and Deirdre O’Kane; Helen Steele and Bairbre Power; Katie Davenport and Emma Coen and Martin and Mary McAleese.

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Meanwhile….

…via Irish Times:

…It comes as a surprise in Dayna Taymor’s fresh, absorbing revival for the Gate Theatre that when we first meet Hamm, he moans affectedly about his pain as if someone more superficial than despotic. “Can there be misery loftier than mine?” he says, with self-fascination, in Frankie Boyle’s thoughtful performance…

Endgame review: Absurd family comedy set at the end of the world (Irish Times)

A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces takes part in tactical military exercises at a training ground in the Rivne region, Ukraine yesterday

This morning.

Meanwhile…

Hmm.

Ukraine, Russia-backed rebels trade accusations of shelling across front (Reuters)

Getty

Author Marian Keyes

On The Late Late Show…

….Linda Pototzki writes:

Following her inspirational performance at the Solheim Cup in September, Leona Maguire has taken the next step in spectacular fashion, becoming the first Irish winner in LGPA history with a three-shot win in Florida at the beginning of February. She joins Ryan to talk about a whirlwind couple of weeks.

Global superstar Niall Horan will join Ryan from LA to pay tribute to Leona.

We’ll be celebrating internationally bestselling author Marian Keyes as she reflects on her incredible career over the last three decades and will be joined by a special audience of family and friends.

Plus, Eleanor McEvoy will perform ‘South Anne Street’ from her new album ‘Gimme Some Wine’.


The Late Late Show on RTÉ One tomorrow at 9:35pm.

Pic via Mariankeyes.com

This morning.

National Concert Hall, Dublin 2.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee addressing media after she hosted a consultation with NGOs on the development of the Third National Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy.

Minister McEntee said that the creation of 72 new family refuge spaces for victims of domestic abuse and ten replacement places in ten locations across the country will be “prioritised”.

Via RTE:

The areas are: Sligo (eight family places), Cavan/Monaghan (eight family places), Cork city (12 family places – six new, six replacement), North Cork (five family places), West Cork (five family places), Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown (10 family places), Westmeath (eight family places – four new, four replacements), Portlaoise (eight family places), Balbriggan (10 family places), and Longford (eight family places).

Minister in pledge over new family refuge spaces (RTE)

Sam Boal/RollingNews