Bike Park Ireland, based in Ballingarry, Roscrea in County Tipperary, is Ireland’s first official mountain bike park.

It has announced that it will be closed this weekend.

On its Facebook page, Bike Park Ireland writes:

Bike Park Ireland should be celebrating its 5th birthday this week but instead we must announce the following:

Bike Park Ireland must close this weekend 17th, 18th and 19th May.

It comes with an enormous amount of disappointment and frustration that we must close ALL of our trails until sometime next week, effective immediately.

This is due to the “National Insurance Crisis” that is effecting most if not all activity-based businesses this year. Unfortunately we are no exception.

We have been working day and night to find a solution and we will continue to do so until we have it, but as it stands and through no fault of our own we are the latest victims of the ridiculous insurance crisis.

We are sincerely sorry for any inconvenience caused and we just hope that you have patience with us and continue to support us when we reopen, which we hope will be very soon.

Please keep an eye on our webpage and FB for updates. All bookings made for this weekend will be fully refunded, and fingers crossed we are back to normal again next week.

Usually we are asking you to like and share our posts for some fun or a competition, but sadly on this occasion it is because we want all of our valued customers and friends to know so they can avoid a wasted journey.

Bike Park Ireland (Facebook)

Bike Park Ireland

‘sup?

Free Sunday?

Pets In The City.

Smithfield Square, Dublin 7, from 11.30am – 4.30pm,

Lauren Freir writes:

A free event in the centre of Dublin, the day promises to be a pawsome opportunity for animal lovers to enjoy a wide range of activities, with an animal petting farm, stalls and live entertainment.

This event is brought to you by Dublin City Council and is supported by the DSPCA and the DSPCA Dog Training, creating a great day out for families and furry-friends!

Visitors are invited to bring their own four-legged friend and take part in the DSPCA Dog Agility Workshops and Scruffs Dog Show!

Pets In The City

BOUTS – Passing Through

Homegrown power-pop doesn’t get any better than BOUTS.

The video for ‘Passing Through’ – the extremely catchy new single from their second album ‘Flow’ – was shot in Amsterdam and is giving us that Friday feeling.

If you’re a Weezer-loving geezer, you’ll want to catch the Dublin four-piece – that’s Niall, Barry, Dan and Colin – when they play the Knockan Stockan festival in Blessington in July.

Nick says: Introducing your new favourite band… BOUTS!

BOUTS

Former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan; former Garda Press Officer Supt David Taylor at the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle last year

Yesterday.

In the Four Courts.

Supreme Court judge Peter Charleton, who oversaw the Disclosures Tribunal in respect of its terms of reference (a) to (o), which included the examination the treatment of Garda whistleblower former Sgt Maurice McCabe, heard submissions from various parties in relation to costs.

He said his final decision on costs will be posted on the Disclosures Tribunal’s website.

Further to this…

Shane Phelan, in the Irish Independent, reports:

Former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan will not have to pay any legal costs in connection with his representation at the Disclosures Tribunal, despite its findings he waged a “campaign of calumny” against whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Mr Callinan was represented by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office at the tribunal and his legal bill is being paid out of the taxpayer-funded office’s resources, sources have told the Irish Independent.

However, former Garda press officer David Taylor, who assisted Mr Callinan in the campaign, could have to pay some or all of his costs.

Ex-commissioner Callinan’s tribunal legal bill set to be covered by taxpayer (Shane Phelan, Independent.ie)

Charleton considers submissions for tribunal costs (RTE)

Previously: A Free Man?

Dave Taylor’s Disclosures

‘I Destroyed You,’ He Kept Saying ‘I Destroyed You’

Taylor Retires

The Commissioner, The ‘Knacker’s Horse’ And The Two ‘Headbangers’

Rollingnews

Um.

Via RTÉ

Do you feel you’re on the road to nowhere with dating apps? Could your Mam pick the love of your life? Or does your Da know marriage material when he sees it? It’s time to find out if swiping right was all wrong.

Could the secret be to just ask your parents?

We are looking for daters for Pulling with my Parents a brand new series for RTÉ2 that wants to save young singles from the merry-go-round of bad dates. We want men and women, who are jaded with swiping, ghosting and disastrous dates, to give something new a go.

If you’re single and up for a laugh, or your child’s love life is in need of some TLC get in touch at dating@alleycats.tv

FIGHT!

Journalist and lecturer Ken Foxe, founder of investigative news site Noteworthy, sought details of the pensions paid to all former constitutional/ministerial/judicial office holders in 2017 and 2018.

But the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform refused to give Mr Foxe a detailed breakdown – saying the individuals’ right to privacy outweighed the public interest.

Instead, the department released the total amount paid and the number of people within each group who received pensions (see tables above for amounts paid in 2017 and 2018).

Mr Foxe is reporting that that this is the first time the State has refused to give a detailed breakdown of the pensions paid.

He’s also reporting that, up until 2016, details of how much former taoisigh, presidents, and ministers “were published as a matter of routine on the Department of Finance website” but this ended in 2017 due to GDPR rules.

Mr Foxe will be appealing the decision.

€28 million in pension payments to former TDs, Senators and government ministers over the past two years (Noteworthy)

Ken Foxe

Oh.

Fine Gael candidate for Galway City West Clodagh Higgins tweetz:

To the person who destroyed all my posters in #Knocknacarra I just want to let you know that my psychology practice will reopen in June.

Do get in touch….

Yikes.

Broadsheet.ie