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Airport noise like living in ‘warzone’ page

A FAMILY who live close to Dublin Airport say they have been suffering constantly since the Northway runway opened last year, and have compared it to a ‘warzone’..

It has got to the point where one of their children has asked to move away altogether.

Dr Niamh Maher, who lives in St Margaret’s with her husband and two young children, told RTE News that she has suffered from stress and stomach pain because of the disturbance.

“I’ve to hide my stress at work.

As a result, I’ve had issues with my stomach which is stress induced. My sleep is all over the place. I’m very on edge because I’m constantly thinking about it,” Ms Maher said.

“There’s no clear resolution to this, it was forced on us. There’s no control of this situation. There’s a massive anxiety associated with it, along with working full time and two young kids.

“It’s heartbreaking, my daughter has seen the stress and anxiety this has caused. She’s

saying things like ‘we can move somewhere else, I can move schools, it’ll be okay’. That’s awful,” she said.

“It’s like a warzone,” she added. “The planes are flying over the garden. My daughter cries because of it. The noise stops me from thinking, I can’t have a conversation because the planes drown you out.

“My kids can’t play in the garden. It’s not a noise you get used to.

“This wasn’t meant to happen; we’re not meant to be under

low-flying planes. The noise of them, the house vibrates. You can feel them go through your body. The noise is deafening. I get angry talking about it,” she added.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) recently amended the flight paths following complaints, but locals say the problems are persisting and they are now considering legal action. In a statement the DAA said balancing the needs of a

Continued on next page

Julie Crowe, dressed in 19th Century costume reflecting the cover art of Coroner’s Daughter By Andrew Hughes the which has been chosen as the One Dublin One Book 2023 title. Pic: Chris Bellew

Airport noise like a ‘warzone’

Continued from front page growing airport and the requirements of its nearest residents as an “ongoing challenge”.

it said some areas that were unexpectedly overflown will continue to be, but at higher altitudes. others will be exposed to aviation noise but it said it will be less than before.

Meanwhile, Fingal County Council has given the green light to plans by Daa to construct a new €200m tunnel at the airport.

The planning authority has granted planning permission for the project despite opposition from both Ryanair and a north Dublin residents’ group. Construction is estimated to take about three years in total, which Ryanair said would “considerable disruption to airport activities during the construction phase”.

Commuters haunted by ‘phantom’ buses

tHeRe are “countless phantom buses, late buses and nonarrivals,” across Fingal, the Dáil has been told.

sinn Féin tD Louise o’Reilly said there has been an issue with the “level of service” with all bus providers in the area, including Dublin Bus, go ahead and Bus Éireann.

Deputy o’Reilly said: “The government is funding a bus service that isn’t working in a constituency that is heavily reliant on public transport.”

“We have had a litany of buses cancelled at the last minute, disappearing off the real-time information, arriving late and that’s only some of the problems.”

she said bus services in the area need to “dramatically improve”, particularly the 101, 102, 33a and the H2 bus routes.

“The essential service is being undermined when the buses don’t show up or they arrive late,” she said. “The people of Fingal have a right to get to work, they have a right to get to school on time and to go about their daily business safely in the knowledge their bus isn’t going to be cancelled or disappear.”

Deputy o’Reilly said she had been contacted by a woman who frequently uses the 101 route, and waited one hour for her bus to show up.

“That is a very regular occurrence for this lady, it’s

not acceptable,” said Deputy o’Reilly. she added the 33a bus route, provided by go ahead, is “one of the worst i have seen”.

“There are countless phantom buses, late buses and nonarrivals. it has happened to myself on many occasions.

“The 102, from Dublin airport to sutton, is used by a lot of school students. Parents and students have told me it is often late or sometimes does not show up,” she said, adding that it results in children being

PayPal closure to hit 35 staff

PAYPAL has announced it is to close its Dundalk office on 31 March and make 62 staff redundant in both Dundalk and Dublin. This includes 35 layoffs at its site in Ballycoolin.

Maeve Dorman, Senior Vice President at PayPal, said ways of working had completely transformed over the last three years.

“Employees, including myself, have really embraced the flexibility of our new working models and the increased opportunity to work from home,” Ms Dorman said.

late for school and waiting in bad weather.

in response, Minister of state Malcolm noonan said driver recruitment in the transport industry continues to pose a “challenge”, while additional bus routes are under way in the area.

Mr noonan said the Bus Connects network redesign will bring “significantly enhanced services to parts of Fingal, including Blanchardstown, swords and the east corridor”.

“As a result, employee footfall at our offices at Dublin and Dundalk has remained consistently low. Nonetheless, we have maintained our strong community connections and supports in these regions –and will continue to do so,” she added.

In January, PayPal announced 2,000 job cuts globally which is around 7% of its total workforce.

National Spring Clean ‘23 needs you

RegistRations are now open for the national spring Clean 2023 and an taisce is calling on communities in County Dublin to tackle the problem of litter in local areas and to see the benefits of a litter-free environment. environment Minister eamon Ryan said:

“an taisce’s national spring Clean continues to showcase the dedication of volunteers all over the country.

“The commitment of volunteers in continuing to organise local clean-ups each year is a testament to the spirit in irish communities and i would urge as many people as possible to get involved in the campaign.”

in 2022, over 460 groups registered for the initiative in County Dublin. some 35% of all waste collected was recycled, thanks to recyclable waste bags provided to groups and volunteers.

With the support of people all around ireland, the national spring is hoping to have an even bigger campaign this year. to register to be part of ireland’s largest anti-litter campaign, people can visit www.nationalspringclean.org.

The Coombe Hospital welcomed back two-month-old Nicolas Urban, the first baby born in the hospital in 2023, and his siblings, Liam (10), Emilia (15) and Liliana (5), to receive the Master’s Medal, which celebrates the first baby born at the hospital each year. Pic: Jason Clarke

Top Brass! Balbriggan’s finest to mark 140 years

ST Patrick’s Day is going to be a very special one this year for Balbriggan’s 35-strong brass and reed band, which bears the name of Ireland’s patron saint.

For St Patrick’s Brass and Reed Balbriggan Town Band, it marks the start of celebrations of its 140th anniversary.

Founded in 1883, the band has taken part in every St Patrick’s Day Parade in the town since then.

It will be an emotional day for long-serving members, including band master Larry Dunne, oboe and clarinet player Damien Byrne and saxophonist Gary Tolan. Larry has been integral to the band since reviving its fortunes in the mid-1970s, while chairperson Damien, a native of Artane, where he was a member of the famous boys’ band, found a ready-made community when he moved to Balbriggan in 2003.

For Gary, a third-generation member since the age of 10, the band has been a staple of his life, as it was for his grandfather and father, Bill and Richard Tolan.

The band and its music has proved an enduring symbol of the town at public and private events across north County

Dublin and beyond. But, in the late 1960s, numbers had dwindled and its instruments were put in the care of the town commissioners until Larry revived the band. Now, its make-up is

representative of Balbriggan’s youth and cultural diversity, with a burgeoning beginners’ group and members and past members from across the globe. “When my wife Amelia, who plays trumpet, and I moved to

Balbriggan we knew nobody until we joined the band after seeing it at the St Patrick’s Day Parade,” said Damien. “Now, our daughters, Emily (12, clarinet) and Norah (9, trumpet), are in the beginner

Petition to save music store

group, so we are basically replacing ourselves for down the line.”

According to Gary, the only language that should matter to any band is music. “We have had members from African countries, Italy, the Philippines, Spain and Ukraine. We are multi-cultural and integrational,” said Gary. “If you are playing music, there is only one language. It is also wonderful to welcome new people to our town, as well as to the band.”

Joining as a beginner will get you an instrument, sheet music and reeds all covered by €10 a-year membership and a €5 weekly subscription. Anyone interested can email Damien Byrne at stpatricksbrassandreedband@ gmail.com

Meanwhile, the local Irish Country Women’s Association will hold a fundraising quiz for the band on Thursday, March 23, at the Senior Citizens’ Centre on High Street at 8.00pm.

There is also an open night for potential new members at Sarsfield House, Mill Street on Tuesday, March 28, at 8.00pm. See: facebook.com/ stpatricksbrassandreedband1/

A petition has been launched to save the iconic Dublin music shop, McCullough Pigott, after it announced its closure. McCullough Pigott has been part of Dublin’s music scene since 1823 and was the go-to store for musicians, dealing with brass and woodwind instruments as well as pianos. Denis McCullough was a trained luthier and piano tuner from Belfast. After a fire in his Dublin music store in the 1960s, the two companies merged and became McCullough Pigott. But the historic store on South William Street is now set to close in a few weeks.

The shop posted on Facebook:

“Dear Customers, it is with deep regret that we inform you, on Monday, February 20, Musicroom/Hal Leonard Europe announced their plans to restructure their Musicroom consumer business in the UK and Ireland.

“This involves the closure of seven Musicroom retail stores, including Musicroom at McCullough Pigott Dublin. Please bear with us and we will post further updates when available.

The petition can be viewed on change.org and has a target of 5,000 signatories.

St Patrick’s Brass and Reed Balbriggan Town Band. Pic: Fintan Clarke

Diners get plateful of awards

THERE were celebrations at many of our finest eateries recently, as seven Dublin restaurants took home top prizes in eight separate categories at the ninth annual Just Eat Awards.

Summer Inn, Swords, was announced as the GOLD winner in the Best Chinese category. Established in 2014, Summer Inn has been an integral part of North Dublin

culture for many years now and is known for its constant innovation and creativity. It went viral on TikTok for its famous ‘Chicken Wrappo’, which uses ‘3 in 1’ ingredients in a deep-fried-wrap.

Thindi, in Northern Cross, was bestowed with the GOLD award in the Best Indian category. Highly commended for its delicious Indian cuisine, the menu is beautifully curated

Thornton Hall site to house refugees

THE Government is to sign off on a funding boost worth millions for refugee accommodation projects, and it is understood a significant portion of the Thornton Hall site in North County Dublin could be made available if deemed suitable.

The 156-acre site in north Dublin is owned by the Department of Justice.

Since 2005, the State has spent millions of euro on the site, where a proposed new ‘super prison’ was to be built, but never went ahead.

The move to make further funding available for refugee accommodation comes after Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman in January wrote

to all ministers to renew his call for urgent help in finding vacant buildings to house refugees.

The Citywest Transit Hub, which has been used for emergency accommodation, closed to new arrivals in January.

It will remain open for all other matters, including processing of accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.

Last month, Minister of State for Integration Joe O’Brien said the State was facing a “pinch-point” over the lack of accommodation and that all Government departments need to work together to provide support.

by a team of experienced Indian chefs.

The Best Burger category saw Hot Chix, on George’s Dock, scoop the top prize for its delicious Buttermilk Chicken burger.

Firehouse Pizza, in Ballymun, was on fire, winning GOLD in both the Best of Leinster award, and the Best Pizza award; while New kids on the block, Bo Bainne, at The Square, Tallaght,

was awarded Gold in the Best Newcomer category, for its variety of delicious treats, from mouth-watering brownie and cookie trays to milkshakes and waffles.

Winning GOLD in the Best Thai category was Dublin favourite, Saba to Go; while wrapping up the top Dublin winners was YumGrub, who received the GOLD award in the Best Veggie category.

Do you fancy tying the knot at Howth Castle?

IF you are planning your wedding day in the near future and looking for a venue full of romance and splendour, then you are in luck, as Howth Castle has been given the green light for a major €10m redevelopment as a wedding and tourist destination.

The proposals include a petting farm (watch your dress!), picnic areas, a 150-seat marquee for wedding events, greenhouse, plant nursery and pedestrianisation of the grounds.

The developers also plan

to transform the location into a retail, food and tourist destination to include a ginmaking school, cookery school and retail stores.

The plans also involve changing the use of the ground floor of the main castle building to tea rooms and a wedding reception area and conversion of rooms at basement level to kitchens and storage areas.

The stables will be refurbished and converted for hospitality use with a covered pavilion for a restaurant with a new kitchen, as well as a café and new . A

new public entrance will be created through the existing clock tower.

On the immediate castle grounds, some farm buildings will be demolished and a new entrance will be created at the 19th century gates to the castle grounds. Developers also plan to create a new access road to a proposed car and coach parking area.

However, Howth Castle is a protected structure within an archeological conservation area and Fingal County Council granted permission

with 35 conditions attached. The council said no more than 151 car parking spaces will be allowed, and the overflow car park should be omitted. It also requested additional electric vehicle charging points and bicycle parking. A Retail Impact Assessment should also be submitted to consider the impact the proposed development would have on existing retail businesses operating on the Howth Peninsula such as Sutton, Howth Village and the Howth Harbour Area.

Xia Ping He and Xunxiang Chen from Summer Inn Swords, gold winners in the ‘Best Chinese’ category

Hotels charging €1500 for parade weekend

SOME hotels and hostels in Dublin are charging over €1,500 for a weekend stay for the St Patrick’s Day festivities.

Most accommodation in the capital is booked up for March 17 and beyond, and the prices for available rooms on offer have been ramped up — but it’s the hostels that are really milking it.

At the time of writing, we searched for availability for two adults in one room over two nights from Friday, March 17, to Sunday, March 19, and while Abigail’s Hostel, in Temple Bar, was charging €646 for a bunk bed in a sixbed dormitory, Leevin Hostel, in Mountjoy Square, was charging €1,825 for a bunk in an eight-bed dormitory! You’d need to fork out just over €4,000 to stay at the The Conrad, in St Stephen’s Green, while the Zanzibar Locke was expecting you to part with €2,659 for a onebed suite. Commenting on the exorbitant prices, The Irish Hotels Federation said: “unprecedented demand” has left the capital “sold out”. But consumer champ Dermot Jewell said it was an “absolute disgrace”. He said: “The level of profiteering, it beggars belief.”

Ceol, craic and don’t forget the food and drink

THERE is a jam-packed programme of events to enjoy over the St Patrick’s weekend, including the very best in music, dance, circus, spectacles, food and drink.

Céií Mór

On Friday 17th, after the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, head to the Céilí Mór, a large-scale outdoor, participative event that will celebrate traditional Irish dance, language, and music. Learn the steps, enjoy the live music from the main stage, and soak up the atmosphere.

Me Auld Flower Festival

This new Irish food and drink festival is taking place in the historic fruit & veg market building in the heart of Dublin.

Me Auld Flower Festival will bring the best of Ireland’s contemporary food and drink scene together in the old marketplace building.

Pillow Queens at Festival Quarter

The Festival Quarter in the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks will see the iconic site transformed into a unique urban Festival with live

music acts across 4 stages, live DJs, the best in Irish food and drinks, art installations, pop-up performances, and much more.

Headliners on the night of Saturday 18th March are Dublin based 4-piece indie rock band Pillow Queens.

The Big Day After

On Saturday 18th March, the day after the night before, our packed programme of free family events returns, with something for absolutely everybody.

For families, there is a host of activities including street theatre, interactive games, circus and science shows, talks, and loads more fun in between. Sit back and enjoy film screenings at the Disney Cinema Yurt, enjoy the thrills of the circus with Tumble Circus, Curious State, Professor Plunger, Guido Fanzini, Mark the Science Guy, or get gaming with Actual Reality Arcade!

The Festival’s song and storytelling series, Abair continues across the day in the Palatine Room.

There is loads of live music and DJ sets happening all throughout the day to help knock those cobwebs off, including performances across 4 stages from Mo Cultivation & Friends Alice, Celaviedmai, Code of Behaviour, plus the GOAL Global Citizen Stage featuring performances from international community groups, Adam Mohamed, Curiosity Music Group, Blaq Apollo + Mimmi & many more.

If you are looking for some excellent outdoor adventure at this St. Patrick’s Festival, then consider The Big Little Treasure Hunt, an adventure through time and space… without leaving St Stephen’s Green.

Sign in at The Little Museum of Dublin to get a map of the square with clues throughout. Your challenge is to complete the treasure hunt by finding the answers at the places indicated on the map. You can race around the Green or make the journey at a leisurely Victorian pace.

www.stpatricksfestival.com

Kenzie Kearney Grace and Frankie Kearney Grace at the announcement that Carrolls Irish Gifts will be the official merchandise retailer of this year’s St.Patrick’s Day Festival. Pic: Julien Behal

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And the gold medal for hypocrisy goes to ...

MICHAEL WOLSEY

IF there was a gold medal for hypocrisy it would be a close contest between Rishi Sunak and the Democratic Unionist Party.

The DUP insists that Northern Ireland should operate under the same laws and regulations as Britain but its policies down the years have been aimed at ensuring that is not the case.

If the party had its way, Northern Ireland would have very different laws on abortion, same-sex marriage and LGBT rights.

Its founder, Ian Paisley, wanted to “save Ulster from sodomy”. He launched the campaign in 1977 because the UK government, which had decriminalised homosexualtiy a decade earlier, wanted to extend that rule to Northern Ireland .

Paisley said Westminster had legislated for “perversion and immorality” and claimed Britain was not committed to the same moral values as Northern Ireland.

It’s a blast from the dim and distant past. But in 2004 the

DUP was making the same argument when it forced the postponement of a vote in Westminster to allow samesex civil partnerships. All the DUP’s MPs threatened to vote against the measure which did eventually get passed and was introduced in Northern Ireland against the wishes of the party.

The DUP was singing the same hymn in 2019 when it opposed moves to extend the civil partnership law and allow for same-sex marriage. Being out of step with Britain did not worry its new leader, Arlene Foster.

And the party was not worried about loss of Britishness when,

in 2021, it tried to prevent Britain’s relatively liberal abortion law being extended to Northern Ireland. When that failed, the DUP continued to fight the measure, striving, through legal challenges and general obstruction, to ensure that Northern Ireland would be different from Britain.

And Northern Ireland is different in many ways.

It is the only part of the United Kingdom where a large number of citizens (about 700,000) hold an Irish passport.

It is the only part of the UK that restricts the imports of live animals and animal products from England, Scotland and Wales. And that’s not some devilish rule imposed by Brussels, but a long-standing Stormont regulation to protect farming, a much more important industry in Northern Ireland than in Britain.

Northern Ireland shares Britain’s currency but uses its own notes, issued by local banks. Its most popular sport, Gaelic football, is hardly played in Britain. It has a public holiday on July 12 to mark a battle fought more than 300 years ago that few people in Britain know anything about.

None of Britain’s political parties has serious representation in Northern Ireland; the main opposition party doesn’t even have a presence there.

The DUP does not believe any of these vagaries threatens the

North’s constitutional position within the UK, yet it sees a major affront in some Customs regulations, introduced as a result of Brexit.

The party is now trying to decide whether it will approve the deal struck between the EU and the UK which allows the North to enjoy the benefits of the Single Market while sharing the isolation chosen by Britain when it voted for Brexit.

The deal gives Northern Ireland “an unbelievable special position:’’ according to that other arch hypocrite, Rishi Sunak.

Britain’s latest prime minister told people in Northern Ireland they now had “a unique position in the entire world in having privileged access not just to the UK market but also to the EU Single Market.”

In other words, they can have the same terms everyone in the UK enjoyed before Brexit. And where did Mr Sunak stand on Brexit, the move that denied Britain this privileged access? He supported it and voted for it.

The deal he is now lauding is quite similar to one negotiated by Theresa May when she was Britain’s prime minister.

Except that Ms May’s agreement would have left the entire UK in the Customs Union and, so, would have ensured there was no trade border between Britain and Northern Ireland.

That deal was voted down in parliament by, among others, Rishi Sunak and all the Democratic Unionist MPs. They deserve each other. Sadly, the rest of us have to live with the consequences of their hypocrisy.

South City Market Buildings, South Great Georges Street, Dublin. A D&D postcard. It was postally used in August 1905. Now known as George’s Street Arcade, the South City Markets opened in 1881, burned down in 1892, and re-opened in 1894. The postcard comes from the collections of the Old Dublin Society. If you would like a free digital copy just send an email to olddublinsociety@gmail.com

Council revamp cuts energy bills for 10,000 homes

A total of 9,186 social homes have been upgraded in a bid to reduce energy consumption, Dublin City Council has said. This has resulted in an estimated 677,184 MWh of energy savings, worth an estimated €73.6m saved in energy bills for tenants.

The retrofitting programme, which began in 2013, is being rolled out in two phases and is designed to reduce unnecessary energy consumption, greenhouse gasses and meet demands for non-renewable resources in the council’s housing stock.

Once complete, a stock of almost 12,000 Dublin City Council homes will be retrofitted with a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2. Phase one of the programme was completed in 2018 with more than 8,000 social homes upgraded and retrofitted.

This phase targeted insulating the cavity walls of Dublin City Council homes dating back to the 1970s, providing tenants with improved living conditions and significant savings in heating costs.

It also involved insulating attics, pipes and tanks, roof and wall ventilation, draught proofing and installing cylinder lagging jackets.

Phase two of the programme has been ongoing since 2018 and has seen 1,129 social houses upgraded to date, with a further 2,488 houses to be upgraded under this phase of the programme.

This phase of the programme targets Dublin City Council houses of solid wall construction dating back to the 1930s.

The external walls of the older houses will be insulated, as well as installing heat pumps where possible, which facilitates migrating the energy use away from fossil fuels and gas boilers.

Phase two also includes replacing doors and windows, roof and wall ventilation, draught proofing and installing hot water cylinders.

The upgrades have improved the Building Energy Rating (BER) rating from an F to a C2 rating to date. Phase two upgrades aim to achieve a minimum BER rating of a B2.

The upgrades are part of the local authority’s plan to achieve a 40pc reduction in green houses gas emissions by 2030.

Coilín O’Reilly, assistant chief executive in the housing department, said: “The significant energy efficiency improvements being undertaken across the council’s housing stock will contribute towards reducing CO2 emissions, improving the quality of housing for tenants and importantly, enabling them to minimise their heating bills.” Meanwhile, Dublin authorities have received a combined 148 notifications of intention to convert vacant commercial buildings into what could be a total of 382 homes. The figures were published by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien. Covering the period since 2018, they relate to regulations which provide those planning on converting commercial properties into homes with an exemption from requiring planning permission. The scheme’s aim is to increase housing supply and renewing towns and communities.

‘I’ll return to Ukraine when we win the war’

PEOPLE are no longer fleeing to bomb shelters in Ukraine because air raid sirens have just become a part of life, a Dublinbased war refugee has said.

Oleksandra Hromova (23), was rescued and flown here by Salvation Army officers last March, shortly after the Russian invasion.

She thought this country would provide a safe haven for a few weeks but recently joined fellow Ukrainians at an event in Dublin to mark the grim, first anniversary of the conflict.

“At this stage, they are so used to the situation, many people are not going to the bomb shelters anymore,” said Alex.

“There is no fear but they are still angry and upset. War is part of their lives now,” she added.

Salvation Army Ireland officers brought her and her mum Yuliia to safety following a 30-hour journey from their home city of Dnipro to the Polish border.

Their intervention came three years after Alex completed a volunteer programme with the Christian church and charity, during which she worked at its homeless family hubs in Dublin.

Since last March, mother and

daughter have lived in church accommodation, while Alex also works full-time at its café on King’s Inns Street. Her grandmother, two uncles and several friends remain in Dnipro.

“Physically, they are all fine,

they have not been hurt, thank God, but in mid-January, there was a massive attack on my city and they (Russia) bombed a house 15 minutes from where I live,” Alex said. Although safe from the horrors, her family and friends

are constantly on her mind. An app providing real-time information on the activation of emergency sirens in Ukraine, often keeps her awake at night. Conflicting emotions also surface when she shares aspects of her life with her friends back

Parades ‘could be snowed under’

home. “Last week, I bought a beautiful dress and said” ‘I have to send a picture to my friends’. Then I thought” ‘Oh no, it’s not a good time for that’. I felt guilty.

“My friends have told me: ‘Don’t worry, you shouldn’t feel like this, you are allowed to be happy’. So I have this conflict with myself quite often.”

As the war in her homeland rages on, it pauses any plans Alex has to return — but she is determined to travel home “when we win”.

She was involved in the recent Ukrainian Action in Ireland event, Fighting for Europe – One Year of Russian war against Ukraine, which took place at the GPO.

“It was simply to show people we are still here and doing everything we can to support the Ukrainian community in Ireland and back home,” said Alex.

“We are also hoping to fundraise for people who need it right now. For me, it’s great to have the spiritual community of The Salvation Army around, I can feel and see their support every day. “They are there, no matter what. They have given me everything I have right now.”

YOU would have to think back to 2018 and that ‘Beast from the East’ which put St Patrick’s Day celebrations on ice with wintry blasts and falls of snow. But this year could bring a similar weather event, which means a lot of Irish dancing will be needed to keep warm at the parades. Irish punters at least are betting on snow fall on St Patrick’s Day this year, as BoyleSports has slashed the odds in half.

While Met Eireann has poured cold water on anything as extreme as ‘Beast from the East Part 2’ invading Ireland, it hasn’t put punters off predicting a flurry on March 17th. It’s now 5/1 from 10/1 for a white St Patrick’s Day after the latest weather forecasts indicated a chance of snowy conditions in mid-March.

The chances of snow falling in Dublin on Easter Sunday, on April 9th, are a 20/1 shot, from 33/1 earlier.

Sarah Kinsella, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “Met Eireann have said there is a good chance of snow falling this month, but we’ll be the ones feeling the heat because a growing number of punters are bracing themselves for a payday on March 17th.”

Oleksandra Hromova was rescued from Ukraine by the Salvation Army last year and brought to Dublin with her mother

LauraLynnHeroesBaLL

Fiona McElligott and John Maguire

Fionnuala Doherty and Cathal Campbell at the 2023 LauraLynn Heroes Ball in The Round Room at The Mansion House. Pix: Andres Poveda

Kerry McLaverty

Alan Shortt and Colette Shortt

Lisa Woods and Niall Woods

your stars

home instead guide to ageing well www.homeinstead.ie/Guidebook2023

HOME Instead has launched its annual ‘Essential Guide to Ageing Well’. The Guidebook has been developed through years of experience in the home care industry. The Essential Guide to Ageing Well 2023 is a comprehensive resource for ageing in Ireland and covers a range of important topics to help people prepare and plan for the future now whether as older people, carers or family members. Featuring contributions from Mary Butler TD, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People; Professor Ian Robertson, Founding Director of the Global Brain Health Institute and author of How Confidence Works. The guidebook is available free-of-charge.

AriesFollow your heart. Wait for better conditions to advance a personal project. Notice a way around a barrier. Make repairs and upgrades.

TAurusRest and wait for developments before making your move. Consider potential barriers and plan alternative routes.

GeminiDon’t get frustrated by a team challenge. An obstacle blocks progress. Proceed with caution. Avoid extra expense or hassle.

C A n C erReaffirm commitments and connections. Weigh the pros and cons of a strategic decision. Build bridges for rising influence.

LeoConsider potential problems with the itinerary. Monitor traffic and conditions. Adjust your route as you go. Adapt to breaking news.

Vir G oDon’t let an unexpected expense throw you off your stride. Keep your momentum. Recharge patiently.

Libr AYou and your partner can navigate an obstacle. Check internal gauges. Work through changes together. Abandon a worn-out perspective.

sCorpio-

Your health and physical energy benefit from deep rest, regular routines and good food. Mitigate the effects of a disruption.

sAG i TTA riusA romantic challenge takes a new twist. Stay graceful under pressure. Maintain a mystery. Stifle rebellious tendencies. Keep your cool despite rising heat.

C A pri CornHome could get chaotic. Make repairs or improvements to handle a blockage. Planning pays off.

AquA riusDon’t make assumptions. Do the homework and reassess the situation. Take time to clarify misunderstandings or crossed wires.

p is C esStay in communication to navigate a financial challenge. Profitable efforts benefit from clarification. Stick to simple measures. Don’t overextend. Stay in action.

drink tea for mnd www.imnda.ie for more information

LILY Chen (pictured) is the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association’s (IMNDA) ambasador for the fundraising campaign this year, called Drink Tea for MND. The charity is looking for support by asking Dubliners to organise tea events in their local community this month to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND). You can also make a tea donation by texting MND to 50300 and donate €2. Lily was diagnosed with MND three years ago. Lily shares her story about life with MND to gain increased support for those living with this degenerative and debilitating condition. Registration for Tea Day above.

e ndless s ummer vacation

Miley Cyrus

SINCE turning rock chick, Miley has abandoned all the swinging balls and the like and seems to be all the better for it. The Hannah Montana star unveiled her new era when she teased a short video of her strutting through a garden in her underwear, with the caption: “New Year, New Miley, New Single.” Oh. Still, the latest single, Flowers, broke several records, including the most streamed song on Spotify, on its release.

bear Cinemas Nationwide

WHEN a shipment of cocaine is dumped over a national park in Georgia (filmed in Wicklow!). A wild black bear discovers said shipment and begins to ingest it, becoming hyper-aggressive and attacking hapless hikers. Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich) are sent by their boss Syd (Ray Liotta) to recover the cocaine before a local detective (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) finds it first. Meanwhile, a nurse (Keri Russell) enters the national park in search of her daughter, who’s gone missing with her friend. Well, it is original.

What’s Hot this week

we have a ghost Netflix

SEEKING a fresh start in Chicago, the Presley family moves into a dusty gaff they soon realise comes with a catch: a ghost in the attic named Ernest (David Harbour). Despite Ernest’s attempts at scaring teenage son Kevin (Jahi Winston), the detached, music-obsessed teen soon finds a kindred spirit in this trapped soul from the ‘70s and commits to helping him. Meanwhile, Kevin’s father Frank (Anthony Mackie) looks to cash in on Ernest by turning him into a social media sensation. Then Frank’s video of Ernest goes viral and captures the world’s attention. As a family yarn, this will do just fine on a Saturday night.

outed: george michael

Available to stream on demand on All4

Outed tells of the scandal surrounding George Michael’s arrest in Los Angeles in 1998 for “engaging in a lewd act” in a public toilet. It was a sting operation involving a policeman called Marcelo Rodríguez who pretended to be gay to ensnare Michael. The incident led to the star coming out as gay and the documentary celebrates how George was a trailblazer for the gay community. Gripping telling of a story that just doesn’t seem right, and is a tragic warning for those who cherish the limelight.

tackle your feelings podcast www.tackleyourfeelings.com

Rugby Players Ireland in partnership with the Zurich foundation are launching their new ‘Tackle Your Feelings Podcast’ alongside two of their Podcast guests; Irish international rugby players, James Lowe and Laura Feely (pictured). Comprising seven episodes, the ‘Tackle Your Feelings Podcast’ encourages listeners to rethink their approach to positive mental well-being by hearing from some of Ireland’s best-known rugby players who will share their methods on maintaining positive mental health. Listeners can hear a range of insights, including tips for managing stress, coping with setbacks and injury, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

short story competition

www. irishbookawards.ie/sponsors/specsavers/ SPECSAVERS is delighted to announce nine-year-olds

Oisín Jones and Jake Coulter as well as 10-year-old Elsa Ryan (pictured) as runner ups in the national Specsavers Irish Book short story competition. The short story competition celebrates Specsavers’ sponsorship of the Junior and Senior Irish Children’s Book of the Year categories at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards 2022. This year’s short story theme was ‘Looking into the crystal ball, the fortune teller was excited about the future…’ and Elsa’s story titled ‘The Mist’ really impressed the judges.

Goats lead way for rare breeds Ex-Fingal council CEO to lead drug assembly €10m fishing pier for Howth

A NEW report focusing on the conservation and promotion of Irish heritage breeds has been launched by Fingal County Council, with Newbridge House & Farm tipped to lead the way to promote rare breeds.

Native breeds play a vital role in providing essential land management, as is evident by the regeneration of Howth Head where Old Irish goats have been introduced.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony said: “This report clearly shows that Newbridge Farm is well positioned to promote rare breeds and how they can be incorporated in the visitor experience at the farm.

“As we have seen with the likes of Old Irish Goats on Howth Head, Irish heritage breeds can truly help protect the countryside we love, so in sustaining their future we hope that people might see the opportunities these unique breeds offer.”

Newbridge House & Farm, in Donabate, is open for tours, where visitors can see pygmy goats, pot-bellied pigs, black swans and Bengal owls. See: www.newbridgehouseandfarm. com

A former CEO of Fingal County Council has been appointed as the independent chairperson of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use.

Paul Reid — who was Fingal County Council chief from 2014-2019 and CEO of the HSE through the Covid-19 pandemic — said he was “delighted” to have been appointed to the position.

“The problems associated with drugs use in Ireland affect us all, directly or indirectly,” he said.

“Previous Assemblies have shown that members of the general public have an important contribution to make to tackling complex societal problems, and I expect that the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use will be no different,” Mr Reid added.

The announcement was made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

“Paul has vast leadership experience and a successful track record as CEO of the Health Services Executive and Fingal County Council. I am confident he will be an excellent choice as Chairperson of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use,” Mr Varadkar said.

The Assembly was established last month, following resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad, with the

Terms of Reference calling on the body to examine and make recommendations on the legislative, policy and operational changes the State could make to reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families,

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communities and across wider society.

Mr Reid will be joined by 99 members of the general public for the Assembly selected at random.

Up to 20,000 households will soon be receiving letters from

New pipe to boost our water supply

THE connection of a major new pipeline, which will secure the water supply for over 350,000 customers across North County Dublin, has been completed.

Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Fingal County Council, is now progressing to the final phase of the construction process for the new pipeline between Ballycoolin Reservoir and Swords.

It follows the recent water outage across North County Dublin.

William McKnight, from Uisce Éireann, said: “This is a hugely important project for the people of North County Dublin and for the wider Greater Dublin Area in terms of delivering a sufficient and sustainable water supply to all,” he said.

The project is being carried out by GMC Utilities Group Ltd on behalf of Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Fingal County Council.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. The pipeline has been in construction for 18 months, and, as a result, will increase capacity, improve reliability and resilience.

AGRICULTURE Minister

Charlie McConalogue has launched the new €10m ‘Fishing Pier’ at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre.

Officially opening the new pier, Mr McConalogue said:

“I’m delighted to officially open the new ‘Fishing Pier’. It is an integral part of my Department’s overall strategy to provide dedicated, standalone fit for purpose facilities for the fishing industry in Howth.

Work began in October 2020 and was completed in April 2022 at a cost of €10m. The additional berthing space relieves vessel congestion and enables greater segregation between the activities of fishing vessels and the marine tourism and leisure activities, which are mainly concentrated on the West Pier.

Mr Varadkar, inviting someone chosen from the household to apply to join the Citizens’ Assembly.

The first meeting is scheduled for 14 April and it is expected to complete its report by the end of the year.

In 2021, almost 90% of all fish landed into Ireland was into the six State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres. At Howth, these landings were valued at €12.9m.

Darndale park now ready to enjoy playtime

THERE has been a warm local welcome for the new playground at Darndale Park, which has been delivered in consultation with members of the community.

The playground provides a range of facilities which will encourage and support active play for children.

Features are designed to promote imaginative and constructive play, while there is also equipment to encourage group play and socialisation, in addition to inclusive and accessible play pieces.

Dublin City Council’s Parks Service and Play Development Officer held consultations with local children and a local crèche before going to tender.

Safety, accessibility and a range of equipment especially for the youngest visitors, but with some more challenging items for adventurous children, were highlighted as the main requirements.

Once a contractor had been appointed, design options were brought to the Darndale

Together Community Representative Forum for feedback.

The Darndale Together Community Representative Forum discusses improvements in the safety, health, happiness and wellbeing of each member of the Darndale community.

Dr Jack Nolan, chair of the Darndale Implementation Oversight group, the community-focused initiative of Dublin City Council for the area, of which the Community Representative Forum is part, welcomed the opening of the important facility.

And he praised local residents for their support as well as thanking the Council’s Parks Service and Play Development Officer for their work managing the project through to construction. “This is a significant development for children in Darndale,” said Dr Nolan. “I am certain the new playground will be popular, and I wish local children many happy hours of play there in the years to come.”

John Lynch Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation and Minister Charlie McConalogue at the launch of the new Fishing Pier at Howth Harbour (see story on right). Photo: Fennell Photography

We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by

Freemans Jrn 29/03/1865

Freemans Journal 18/3/1859

Freemans Jrn 15/03/1867