This afternoon.

Dáil Eireann, Leinster House, Dublin 2.

Following yesterday’s shenanigans…

…Independent TD and newly-elected Leas Ceann Comhairle [Deputy Chairperson of Dáil Éireann] Catherine Connolly  on her first day as the first woman in her role.

G’wan the Catherine.

Yesterday: ‘Potentially 15 Government TDs Voted Against Their Agreed Candidate’

RollingNews /Oireachtas TV

Good times.

Rory O’Connor

Kevin O’Higgins

Broadsheet on the Telly.

You were possibly sleeping.

Here’s a chance (above) to see it at your leisure.

Host Neil Curran writes:

‘This week on an extended Broadsheet on the Telly. Derek ponders the intelligence of his fellow panellst as Vanessa demonstrates US Presidential-level intelligence and I that of an intern.

The coalition of the (un)willing is examined. Are the Greens asleep on the job? Have FF paddled their canoe in to the rapids? Also discussed are face masks – enforcement, mask shaming and the science behind it.’

FIGHT!

Previously: Broadsheet on the Telly

For your consideration.

10 Tunes 10 Instruments, 1 Musician.

A tune-stuffed short film featuring multi-talented musician Peter O’Toole (top).

Peter writes:

‘I have played with Hothouse Flowers since 1985…Although all our shows were cancelled from 12 March I got busy at home..We had trips to Serbia..Glastonbury..London Belfast Larne Newry and even a holiday on Lake Como cancelled…

During Lockdown I was very creative with my time and now I am presenting my short movie and my new CD called Leaving White Cedar.

I applied for and was awarded the Covid Grant from The Arts Council Of Ireland which helped put this project together.

The single “Far Off Beautiful World” is now available.

“The movie captures me performing 10 new tunes that I wrote on 10 different instruments all played by myself and filmed at home here in Tipperary.

“The CD is the recordings of the tunes from the movie plus 4 extra songs.

“It is different..it’s unique and it’s a feel-good story from a difficult time.

It’s recorded on 1 studio microphone and filmed on my Android phone so it is very earthy and home-made but has a fantastic genuine warm feeling.

Best wishes and stay safe and healthy.’

Nick, says: A petal for his mettle.

Peter O’Toole

This afternoon.

Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 2

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at a briefing on plans to reopen schools next month.

He said a comprehensive plan will be brought to Cabinet on Monday detailing a package of measures, including…

….around the well-being of children who have been absent from classrooms for several months.

There will also be special measures for students with additional needs and plans for children and teachers with compromised immunity.

Mr Martin said: “The objective is that schools will be fully open, and to keep everyone safe.”

Now kiss his ring.

RollingNews/ Julian Behel

Schools to fully reopen next month – Taoiseach (RTÉ)

This afternoon.

Hush now.

Meanwhile…

Via The Arts Council:

The Arts Council has welcomed Minister Catherine Martin’s announcement of measures to stimulate employment and activity in the arts and culture sector, saying it would invest in a range of schemes to support artists and arts organisations across the country.

As part of the €31 million package…said it would invest the additional resources in enhanced bursaries, commissions, projects and other supports for individual artists and practitioners, and in the arts organisations through which much of the work is made.

Minister Martin’s measures also include ;

Funding through the Creative Ireland programme to fund artists in local communities through local authorities; a music support scheme that will support all genres;.

€5 million to support the audio visual sector in de-risking the costs of productions to be rolled out in conjunction with Screen Ireland;

€5 million to help de-risk the costs of creating new theatrical works and other performances; €6 million in capital for arts infrastructure funding to accelerate construction in cultural institutions;

€2 million for the BAI’s Sound and Vision Fund; €3 million for a dedicated TV Drama fund to be run by Screen Ireland…

PLUS:

Funding to collaborate with national broadcast media to pay artists to produce material for national broadcast…

Anyone?

Previously: The One Per Cent

Digital animations interpreting the trills, squads and coos of birds recorded during a visit to the Amazonian jungle by Austalian artist Andy Thomas, who tells Colossal:

I am fascinated with the idea of generating digital art that references the beauty and complexity of nature. I hope this piece will encourage people to research the many amazing varieties of birds that call the Amazon home, and remind us of how fragile and important this place is to us all.

Previously by Andy Thomas: Eye Candy: Synthetic Nature

colossal

Testing 1, 2, 3.

*taps mic*

Free Saturday?

Songs from an Empty Room.

A live music broadcast presented by Epic: The Irish Emigrant Museum with artists across Ireland honouring the unsung backstage crew.

Buzz O’Neill Maxwell writes:

EPIC are delighted to announce Songs from An Empty Room,

This is a celebration of our event crew, staff and companies and is an opportunity for the public to support two great live events industry initiatives:

Minding Creative Minds and the Association of Irish Stage Technicians Hardship Fund for the benefit of any crew that work in the live events industry,

All donations will be split equally between both organisations and will help to sustain our live events community at this incredibly challenging time when we cannot work.

Songs From An Empty Room

Chicago based artist Seamus Wray – sporting an appropriately locked-down facial expression – channels the Droste effect, painting portraits of himself painting portraits of himself painting portraits of himself, and so on.

colossal

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