Category Archives: Misc

Belvedere College, Dublin 1 during the rona

Anyone?

Meanwhile….

Fight!

Earlier: No Meaningful Effect

Meanwhile….

That’ll learn the porter.

This afternoon.

Dublin Port.

Truckers Hugh Flynn  (above left) and Kevin Finneran (right) awaiting departure from South Terminal Road, Dublin Port. ‘Aid From Ireland’ has organised the largest aid convoy to ever leave Ireland, destined for Ukraine. 25 trucks are leaving this afternoon with 500 tonnes of aid.

Huge aid convoy set to leave Ireland for Ukraine (RTE)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Oh.

This afternoon.

Dail Eireann.

Alan Duncan, Labour TD and potential party leadership candidate, flexes his Russiaphobia shares his concern about Russians working at the embassy when we have ‘no strong trade or cultural links’ with Russia.

Fight!

*plays 1812 Overture at low volume*

YIKES.

This afternoon.

Parading from Dublin Castle to College Green, Dublin 2.

A march by female members and delegates from police services in over 60 countries, including women bobbies from Scotland Yard (above), who are attending a three day conference in Dublin Castle. The International Association of Women in Policing Conferences is hosted by An Garda Síochána as part of its centenary commemorations and to coincide with International Women’s Day today.

Or it could all be an extravagant hen party.

Impossible to tell.

Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

Clare Sands – Awe na Mná (Praise The Women)

Ladies assemble.

Fancy a song to to mark International Women’s Day?

Read on.

The press blurb says:

“It was a sight to behold – young, old, brave, bold. 100 women on four beaches in the four corners of Ireland, celebrating sisterhood in all its colours. Men fled as women marched, danced, sang, howled and embraced the Dublin, Connemara, Belfast and Cork sands and tides.

“Led by fearless fiddler, bilingual singer & multi-instrumentalist Clare Sands, ‘Awe na Mná’ is the powerful, energetic, and fierce celebration of women through the ages.

“Paying homage to the likes of Gráinne Mhaol, Countess Markievicz, Queen Maeve, Maggie Barry and modern day Irish women the Debenhams Workers, it is a battle cry, a fervent call, a rebel yell, and a passionate proclamation to sing and dance in awe of mná.”

Clare writes:

“The gatherings of women all over the country were joyful, empowering and fierce – and I could think of no better time to release Awe na Mná than International Women’s Day.

“I wrote the song on Inisheer and while I was there, I was struck by how resilient, fearless, and strong the women were. This song reflects on the past, embraces the present & strives towards a brighter future for women in Ireland and all over the world.”

Nick says: Come dance with them in Ireland.

Clare Sands

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

This morning/afternoon.

As of yesterday, there were 808 people in hospital ‘with Covid-19,’ the highest figure since January 26.

Via RTÉ News:

As of this morning, there were 51 patients with the virus in intensive care units, up from 47 yesterday.

This is creating a “very heavy burden” on hospitals as entire wards have to be used exclusively for treating Covid patients, he said.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Minister Donnelly said he said he is not concerned about the trends in terms of the population.

He said: “The ongoing advice I have from public health is that while the numbers are high, the total amount of severe illness in the country is still low.”

Anyone?

Covid-19 cases creating ‘heavy burden’ on hospitals – minister (RTE)

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan

This morning.

Eamon Ryan has he is not convinced that waiving fares is a “silver bullet” environmental solution due to the level of funding public transport required.

Via The Times:

In response to a parliamentary question from Bríd Smith, the People-Before-Profit TD, who said that Covid-19 provided insight into the funding required in the absence of fare revenue.

An additional €370 million was needed to continue public transport operations in 2020 as Covid caused a collapse in revenue.

…He said schemes that introduced free public transport can also have “unintended consequences” including a significant reduction in walking and cycling.

Smith, a member of the Oireachtas committee on climate action, said free public transport was a “huge advantage” and “improves quality of life significantly”. She told The Times: “This idea that it is not beneficial because it will reduce active travel, I think it is just because the minister wants to put his funding towards cycle path and greenway

Free public travel not big enough carrot for commuters, says Eamon Ryan (The Times)

RollingNews

The Russian Embassy, Dublin 6 yesterday

This morning.

Oh dear.

Earlier: “I’ve Done My Bit Lads”

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Hmm.

Meanwhile…

Ah now.

This morning.

Earlier…

Yesterday.

The national accommodation pledge portal to register potential accommodation for Ukrainian refugees is open.

Ireland announced it is set to take in more than 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing conflict. It has joined the EU scheme that allows people to settle without a visa for three years.

Pledges (Red Cross)

Meanwhile…

Leaders in Dublin were widely lauded for the move, but a UK Government chief tried to justify their stricter measures by suggesting the Irish government could be endangering Britain.

A Whitehall source told the Telegraph: “Ireland has basically opened the door to everyone in Ukraine, which creates a problem due to the Common Travel Area.

“We’ve seen before with migrants from Albania that they have come through Dublin, into Belfast and across to the mainland to Liverpool. That’s created a drug cartel route.”

They added: “It’s the Home Office that will get the blame if in three or five years’ time [if] there are problems with those who come. That’s why the security checks have to be done carefully now.”

Anyone?

Ukraine crisis: UK Government ‘berates’ Ireland over refugee scheme (The National)

Meanwhile…