This afternoon.

South William Street, Dublin 2.

Paul Murphy TD with protestors from ScamBridge and UCD Students Union, speaking to  a member of Grafton Cleaners management and the claim that the company’s use of the new  ‘Work Placement Experience Programme’ to get someone to ‘sort and dry clean clothes’ is akin to free labour.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

From top: Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman; a meeting with Tuam survivor group cancelled

Lawyer and Tuam activist Kevin Higgins writes:

Former Minister for Children Zappone and current Minister for Children  O’Gorman will need to clarify in what capacity members of his Department attended Her Ladyship’s drink party when his office had cancelled – late in the evening just 48 hours earlier – meetings with survivor groups in Tuam (having sought them at short notice to begin with) and yet some of those expected at Tuam – and supposedly quarantining following an alleged outbreak of covid in the office – turned up at Katherine’s Party….

Eamon Ryan’s chief-of-staff and Department of Children secretary general both attended Katherine Zappone’s controversial party (Independent.ie)

Earlier: Merrion In Haste, Repent At Leisure

RollingNews

This morning.

Cahore, county Wexford.

Halfahead writes:

Before the rain…

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Killala beach, county Mayo.

Janet writes:

Home of the weirdest crab salade ever come across, a decent local IPA and babies first sprint back up that beach before that cloud broke….I might move down here….

Jacqui Sharkey – The Light

There is a light that never goes out.

Donegal-based singer/songwriter Jacqui Sharkey (top) shares her first single since she signed with Peer Music.

The scenic video was shot at the Inishtrahull Light Fanad Lighthouse near Malin Head.

Jacqui writes:

“I am really excited to share this video with everyone. We are blessed to be surrounded by beauty here in Donegal, and the spectacular lighthouse on the Fanad Peninsula seemed like the perfect location for it. ‘The Light’ shone bright for us at the perfect time on a very cloudy day, so I hope that is a good sign!”

Nick says: To the lighthouse.

Jacqui Sharkey

Rachel O’Byrne from the cast of The Dead, An Opera at  the Gaiety theatre in Dublin on August 7-8

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

Vaccinated people should be allowed to go to the theatre if it means more venues would be able to open their doors to larger audiences, the general manager of Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre has said.

Ahead of the first live audience returning to the theatre this weekend for the staging of The Dead, An Opera – a musical adaptation of James Joyce’s famous short story – Laura McGuigan said the theatre would be open to it. “If it meant we could have more capacity, it would make sense,” she said.

She added that theatres would be well equipped to manage such a system if it gets the go-ahead from the Government. And she anticipated there would be broad support from the industry and theatre goers for any such moves.

Um.

Call for vaccinated patrons to be allowed go to the theatre (Irish Times)

RollingNews

From top: The Merrion Hotel garden terrace; Attorney General Paul Gallagher

 

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

Opposition and Coalition figures criticised the apparent contradiction between a Government statement last night and its stance on events such as communions and confirmations.

…After Ms Katherine Zappone’s decision (to decline her appointment as a envoy on free speech to the UN), the Government said it had received advice from the Attorney General that social, recreational, exercise, cultural, entertainment or community events of up to 200 people were permitted under regulations.

Events held in dwellings, wedding receptions, sporting events or training events are not allowed under regulations, it said.

Meanwhile…

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin’s Health spokesperson David Cullinane said no one in government could seriously suggest that they believed that people could have an organised social event outdoors for up to 200 people, and Fáilte Ireland guidelines make it clear that multiple tables cannot be booked.

The fact that Fáilte Ireland are now revising its guidelines smacks of an attempt to retrospectively to get the Tánaiste off the hook, he said.

The industry itself is now seeking clarity, he said, adding “is it any wonder that people are confused?“

Government under pressure to clarify open-air gatherings guidelines after Zappone controversy (irish Times)

Public health guidelines on outdoor events to be updated (RTÉ)

Yesterday: “I have Decided Not To Accept This Appointment”

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Eamon Ryan’s chief-of-staff and Department of Children secretary general both attended Katherine Zappone’s controversial party (Independent.ie)

Meanwhile…

Broadsheet.ie