How hairy?

This morning/afternoon.

Government Buildings, Dublin 2

Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe and Minister for housing Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy speaking  announce ‘a suite of measures to further support small, medium and larger business that are negatively impacted by Covid-19’ following a ‘special cabinet meeting’.

Such as barbers and male groomers.

HINT.

Photocall Ireland

From top: Stuart Shils, View of Ballycastle From The Bog Road; Randall Exon, The Nuns; Gwen Davidson, Skyline; Randall Exon, Gathering above the Bay

May 2.

Is Mayo Day.

Breda writes:

Happy Mayo Day.  ‘Mayo Landscape, Artists View‘ is a beautiful collection of 31 images created by artists who did residences in Ballinglen Arts Centre, Ballycastle, County Mayo over the years. It is presented with Mayo Arts Service, Mayo Arts Office, curated by artist Nuala Clarke with Úna Forde and Coordinated by Breda Mayock.

It serves as a journey of the landscape around the area…

Viewing Here

Thanks Robbie Harris

A question.

With lockdown extended, how best to pass the time?

With a competition to win a glittering €25 Golden Discs voucher is how!

To enter, simply tell me below what is your favourite duet.

Here’s mine.

The winner will be chosen by my wooden chair.

Lines close at 6am.

Nick says: Good luck.

Please include video links if possible.

Golden Discs

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at government buildings tonight

 

This evening.

At Government Buildings.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that the current Covid-19 movement restrictions will remain for another two weeks.

However, from next Tuesday, May 6, 2020, the 2km limit for exercise and non-essential travel will be increased to 5km.

Also from Tuesday, he said people who are “cocooning” will be able to go for a walk or drive within 5km, as long as they “avoid all contact” with other people.

The “plan to reopen the country” is a five-stage plan, involving three-week blocks, starting on May 18 with the fifth phase starting on August 10, he said.

He mentioned that “not long from now, some summer night, we will see our friends again” and that “in later phases” other workplaces, including pubs, cinemas and gyms, will open.

He said schools and colleges will reopen in September/October.

At the outset, Mr Varadkar said the “curve has been flattened and has now plateaued” before saying “we’ve not yet won this fight”.

At the end of his address, he said he’s received about 10,000 pieces of correspondence and “everyday” he tries to set aside time to read some of them.

He recalled letters he got from Jessica, a wheelchair user “who feels an enormous cloud of loneliness around her”; a letter from healthcare worker Anne-Marie who contracted Covid-19 at work who said her patients were like family; a letter from pensioner Phil who lives alone whose mental health is starting to suffer.

He also said he got a letter from Rachel, aged 13, who is worried about her grandparents and wondering when she’ll be able to go back to school. “Someone worried about her future but who ends her letter asking me to stay safe,” he said.

UPDATE:

Previously: “The Is The Calm Before The Storm”

“There’s No Fate But What We Make For Ourselves”

Meanwhile…

Previously: Locking Down Our Liberties

Rollingnews

Behold: an immensely rare 1955 pre-A variant Porsche 356 Speedster – one of only 1,234 such units produced between 1954 and 1955.

The original powertrain has been replaced with the more powerful air-cooled, 1,582cc, overhead-valve, flat-four from the later 356SC but otherwise, the feisty little jellymould – which spent most of its life in Southern California and still wears the state’s vintage black and yellow plates – is presented in ‘as found’ condition.

Price on request.

hiconsumption

Make the most of your 2km.

Keith Phelan writes:

Is the lockdown getting to you?

View your personal 2km Island and discover some interesting buildings from National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Ireland as well as historic sites and ship wrecks from National Monuments…on Isolation Island (at link below).

Isolation Island

Broadsheet.ie