Kate Fitzgerald will be honoured by Democrats Abroad Ireland at its Presidential inauguration ball in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin this evening.

California-born Kate headed the organisation during Obama’s first victory in 2008.

Kate’s parents, Tom and Sally, will collect the award.

Dennis Desmond, chair of Democrats Abroad Ireland, writes:

While we celebrate the re-election of President Barack Obama, we will also celebrate the life of one of our own here in Ireland. Kate brought our relatively small group to unforeseen heights and her media expertise landed us on the front pages of Ireland’s biggest newspapers and on all the major radio and TV outlets.  We lost Kate tragically in 2011 at the age of 25.

 

The inquest into Kate’s death has been scheduled for February 27.

Kate Fitzgerald on Broadsheet

But…

Fiona McCabe writes:

 I would really appreciate your help. My husband’s bike was stolen on Christmas week and now we’ve just returned from holidays to find my beloved bike was stolen sometime last week from Aberdeen Street, Dublin 7. I know the chances of getting it back are slim but I do love it so I have to try. It’s pretty distinctive with its Brooks’ saddle and taped handlebars and it’s got silver detail; pedals, mudguards and bottle holder. It has white tires and my picture doesn’t show my two black saddle bags that were also attached when stolen. If your readers could keep their eyes peeled that would be great.

Saturday’s pro-life vigil.

Taking up an entire side of  Merrion Square, Dublin, on Saturday..

So, how many?

Anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000, claim organisers.

Rubbish, you say?

Time to call in Crowdsizeapp…

From Workers Solidarity Movement:

This is a simple process of pulling up a map of the area, drawing a box around the area occupied – very easy in this case as it was entirely enclosed by crowd control barriers and then entering a density estimate for the crowd. We were actually very generous and went for the maximum available density despite the fact it was obvious the crowd was not packed in that tightly. As can be seen [above] this suggests a maximum crowd size of 14,370. There is no physical way to fit 25,000 people into the available space without them being on each other shoulders – and the Vigil for Life crowd were really not up to such rock concert conditions. 30,000 or 50,000 are simply ludicrous estimates that would have required stacking people three high.

 

Poor Turnout Despite Massive Spending (WSM.ie)


Tom Lowe writes:

A few of my mates put this short together a few months ago, probably not what you need to lighten up what is apparently the most depressing day of the year but really well put together. Completely amateur-produced except the actor, Manus Halligan, who’s currently performing in The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle in Smock Alley.

Stop doing that.

Also: respect, fist bump, etc.

Saturday’s Winning Streak on RTE 1.

Full ‘high-brow’ prank here (21 mins)

Previously: Largely Indifferent late Late Audience Guy

So When Are You Going To Unleash Magnum On Us?

Scary Late Late Audience Guy

Awesome Saturday Night Audience Guy

 

Thanks Joe O’Callaghan

Google has spent $1 billion (€750m) buying a 2.4 acre plot in central London where, the company told Reuters, it plans to build a new million square-foot UK HQ by 2016. Construction starts later this year and the facility is due for completion in 2016.

“This is a big investment by Google,” said Matt Britin, Google’s VP for Northern and Central Europe. “We’re committing further to the UK — where computing and the web were invented. It’s good news for Google, for London, and for the UK.”

And a nice tax move for the enormously cash rich company whose massive property investment means the money doesn’t have to be sent back to the parent company in the US where tax would be due.

likecool/dvice

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