Northside News 21-10-20

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LOCAL NEWSPAPER

After nearly 40 years, Stardust families to get inquests they wanted as €8m funding announced

It’s about time THE Government has allocated €8m in funding for new inquests for the victims of the 1981 Stardust fire tragedy.

The decision to hold fresh inquests followed a request from the families of the victims in April 2019, and was backed in September of last year by the then Attorney General Séamus Woulfe, who said it was in the public interest, and in the interests of justice.

The original inquiry in 1982

found that the cause of the fire was probable arson, a finding which angered the relatives of those who had died as they said it had damaged the reputations of their loved ones.

That finding was subsequently overturned by another inquiry in 2009. At a preliminary hearing last week, the Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said: “I hope we can go forward in a positive manner and not look back at what has gone before.”

She also read out the names of each of those who died in the fire and said findings will be made in relation to each individual who died.

She said the inquests are expected to be lengthy but will be new and not bound by any previous finding.

Families had gathered outside Dublin Coroner’s Court to mark the start of the process and remember those they lost almost 40 years ago — 48

people died and more than 200 were injured when the blaze broke out in the Stardust nightclub in Artane on St Valentine’s night in 1981.

Antoinette Keegan was there on that fateful night; she managed to escape but her two sisters, Mary and Martina, died.

Her mother, Christine, who died just three months ago, had battled for decades for a new Continued on next page

Well done lads!

Aaron Syms and Joshua Barry of Home Farm U14M hanging up their boots in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, which takes place throughout the month of October. Full story page 6

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Continued from front page

Dirty Old Town: we are worst for litter

inquiry. Antoinette said she believed that for the first time the victims will be portrayed as human beings, rather than numbers or statistics.

Also at the Coroner’s Court was Gertrude Barrett, whose son Michael died in the blaze.

Ms Barrett said she did not like the word ‘closure’ but did hope that this process would bring justice after what she described as a “life sentence of loss”.

Darragh Mackin, the solicitor representing the majority of families of the deceased, told the court that they had reached a “momentous step” and these fresh inquests would draw a “line in the sand” on previous inquiries. He added that “this inquest will be the pathway to justice”.

Mr Mackin also said it will be argued that there was a “State-sponsored effort to cover up” what happened almost 40 years ago.

The next pre-inquests hearing is set to take place in six weeks’ time. The full inquests are set to get under way in Dublin Castle in the new year.

‘Seriously littered’ North Inner City Dublin sits at the foot of the league table, in the first nationwide litter survey since the Covid-19 crisis of 40 towns and cities nationwide.

But in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) league table, Ballymun, although in 32nd place, was cited as among the few areas to improve on 2019, its Main Street praised as “very well presented, with a virtual absence of litter throughout”.

Just two areas of the capital — Dublin Airport Environs and Ranelagh — made the second highest category, ‘Clean to European Norms’; but Tallaght, in 37th place, was labelled as ‘littered’.

The IBAL annual rankings placed the Marble City, Kilkenny, top of the table.

The table is accompanied by a more detailed breakdown of each of the areas surveyed, which are broken into districts and graded from A to D — with some unflattering remarks for the worst offenders in Dublin.

“The ‘No Dumping’ signage

Stardust families get fresh inquest

Tina Ahern, Sydney Mthi, Sanda McDermott and Lilly Doyle ast the launch of Global Diversity Awareness Month, which saw Dublin Bus acknowledge its diverse workforce.

Pic: Maxweels

is clearly being ignored” at Henrietta Place, which is graded as D, while a site on Middle Abbey Street, also ranked as grade D, “was in a very poor state and did not get like this overnight”.

Reflecting on this year’s rankings, Conor Horgan

of IBAL said the Covid-19 pandemic “has seen more dumping, more outdoor socialising, especially drinking, and PPE litter, but less cleaning by local authorities and less activity by volunteers like Tidy Towns.”

Simon Brock, of Dublin City

Council’s Waste Management Division, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland the results of the survey were “disappointing”.

However, he noted that DCC’s litter services were reduced by about 50% at the height of the pandemic as resources were temporarily directed elsewhere.

Call to transform Fingal’s footpaths Fingal County Council (FCC) is seeking ‘Parklet Partners’ to transform the streetscape into a welcoming and attractive community space by providing pavement extensions — parklets — outside businesses in Fingal.

Parklets convert on-street parking spaces into public open space to accommodate dining and additional seating.

FCC completed a pilot in Swords recently, which proved a great success with locals.

Emer O’Gorman, Director of Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development at Fingal County Council, said: “We are seeking groups of businesses closely located, such as restaurants or cafes on the same street, who have parking outside of their premises to apply for this initiative. We are looking to use the public space available to us in Fingal to provide support to businesses to remain open and to provide residents visitors a relaxing place to dine.”

Applications are open until October 30: econdev@fingal.ie

Cabra’s Lauren beats the 10k odds A young woman who has endured over 80 operations in her short lifetime has completed the VHI virtual Women’s Mini Marathon in just over two hours — using her baby brother’s pushchair as her walking aid.

Lauren Devoy Carroll (23), from Cabra, Dublin, who was born with a chromosome disorder leading to vision, hearing and physical

impairments, underwent a kidney transplant when she was just 12, following nearly three years of dialysis treatment.

Lauren was described by her mother, Gillian, as being “forever upbeat, bright and exuding positivity”.

“Lauren has had so many operations since she was a baby that I have lost count, but I estimate the figure is

now as much as 86,” she said.

Gillian, who has two younger children, Hazel (3) and Pascal (10 months) said: “Despite all her setbacks and missing a lot of school, she managed to get honours in most subjects both her Junior Cert and Leaving Certificate.”

After she completed the challenge, Lauren said: “My mother had suggested that I do the marathon over 10

days, trying just a kilometre a day but, when I got started pushing Pascal along in his buggy, I just wanted to keep going and only stopped for a water break. My kidney donor was on my mind when I was doing it. I feel so happy that I did it all in one go.”

Visit www.ika.ie/get-a-donorcard or download the ‘digital organ donor card’ APP.

Lauren Devoy Carroll, with her mother Gillian and baby Pascal

21.10.20

‘Pat was real deal’

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Fergus, the city’s ‘Beating Olympian and athletics legend Pat Hooper dies at 68 Heart’ Raheny Shamrock AC have announced the sad passing of club treasurer, ‘leader, mentor and friend’ Pat Hooper, who has died aged 68.

Pat, who represented Ireland at the 1980 Moscow Olympics in the marathon, was a stalwart in the club for many years, which led to him launching the Raheny 5 mile, the Lord Mayor Series and the Battle of Clontarf 10 mile races.

PAt ran a personal best of 2:17:46 to win the national title in 1979 and the following year competed in the Moscow Games. He finished in 42nd position in Moscow, four places behind younger brother Dick, a three-time winner of the Dublin marathon.

Pat was also an active coach, passing on his wealth of knowledge to many an athlete, both young and old.

Pat will truly be missed by all within Raheny Shamrocks AC. The club would like to offer its condolences to the Hooper family, especially to his daughter, Bronagh, son David and brother Dick.

Fellow club member, Sean McGoldrick, paid a fitting

Martyna Pawlak (17) at the Tyrrelstown LGBTI Foróige groupfor National Coming Out Day. Pic: Maxwells

tribute to Pat, praising him as “The living embodiment of the famous line from John F Kennedy’s inaugural address as US President: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

Sean writes: “Pat Hooper has now joined the great pantheon

of runners in the sky. We in Raheny Shamrock’s have lost our leader, our coach, and our forever friend.

The Jugger as he was affectionately known by his peers was the living soul of the club. His sudden passing has left us stunned and deeply saddened.

“Pat loved athletics but

loved Raheny Shamrock AC even more. He often described himself as a selfmade Olympian. He was the wrong size to be a marathon runner but through sheer grit, determination, and unbelievable dedication he made it to the Moscow Olympics in 1980.

“His training runs were legendary. He ran every morning from his home in

Raheny to the old PMPA offices in Wolfe Tone Street and then made the return trip after his day’s work. This was back in the 1970s when it wasn’t fashionable to be seen running. One wet evening, a well-meaning motorist stopped and offered him a lift. He was disgusted.

“While out on a long run over the Hill of Howth a group of us once tried guessing how many miles Pat logged during one of his heavy training weeks. We never got close to the correct answer — a mere 240 miles!”

Pat was Chairman of the Dublin Athletics Board and was elected chair of Leinster Athletics at their last AGM. He was a founder member of the Business Houses Athletic Association, which went on to organise the Dublin City Marathon.

Sean ends his tribute by saying: “The word legend is often bandied about, but Pat Hooper was the real deal. We will never see the like of him again.”

President Michael D Higgins has described community activist Fergus McCabe, who has died after a long illness aged 71, as the “beating heart” of inner city Dublin.

The late campaigner and social worker was at the forefront of the battle against drug abuse that devastated the capital’s working class communities over several decades.

“It is not only in innercity Dublin, in which he was part of the beating heart of community campaigning, that news of the death of Fergus McCabe will have been heard with great sorrow,” said the President.

“It will be in communities all over Ireland, with whom he shared his knowledge and his deep commitment to addressing issues, in particular on drug dependency. From Marino, Fergus is survived by his wife, Helena, and three children Ella, Kathy and Eoin.

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The new ‘shop with the drop’

We’ve had the ‘Tart with the Cart’ (Molly Malone) and the, ‘Hoor in the Sewer’ (Anna Livia), so it will only be a matter of time before Dubliners come up with a monicker for the new Lidl store on Aungier Street, says archaeologist Paul Duffy.

Shoppers at the store can get a fascinating glimpse into the city’s medieval past, as the remains of an 11th century house and a ‘pit trap’ are visible beneath a section of the floor.

The sunken-floored structure was discovered during excavations of the site, which is close to Dublin Castle.

“It is a unique structure for Dublin,” said Paul Duffy from IAC Archaeology.

“I am sure it functioned as many things. As a house or as an extra space for the family.

It is a domestic structure so you would have to imagine that there would have been a suburb here of Hiberno-Norse Dubliners who were effectively the ancestors of the Vikings.

“I’m waiting for the Dubliners to come up with a name for this thing. It’s going to have its own Dublin nickname like

The view of the medieval sunken floor at Lidl, on Aungier Street

the ‘Stiletto in the Ghetto’ for The Spire. But it’s going to be part of city life and the story of Dublin.”

A similar glass panel, near the store’s checkouts, showcases an 18th century ‘pit trap’ associated with the stage workings of the former Aungier Street Theatre.

Linzi Simpson, consultant archaeologist on the project, said: “It was the device that was used when you wanted an actor to come up and down and appear as if by magic on the stage.

“So we were delighted that

such a meaningful part of the theatre was found, recognised and is now presented to the public.”

Vincent Cronnolly from Lidl Ireland, said: “Lidl has over 10,000 stores throughout the world. But this is something very unique and it really makes archaeology accessible to the public.”

The foundations of the medieval parish church of Saint Peter, which served Dublin parishioners from c.1050 to c.1650, are also preserved beneath working areas of the new building.

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Skerries to honour local star Philip

Local Skerries musician Philip Dunne is to receive the greatest of honours, with news that a new auditorium in the locality is to be named after him.

Philip was a talented musician with a promising career ahead of him when he sadly lost his life in December 2019, when he was only in his twenties.

The new auditorium will be named ‘Empire’ after an EP released shortly before Philip’s death. Fittingly, the eponymous song, in Philip’s own words, was “a communal song about love and support”.

The 125-seat auditorium, designed by local firm Sonica, will boast Ireland’s biggest LED screen and will host live and virtual events.

It will be officially opened by the Dunne family at the end of October.

A friend of the Dunnes, Sonica owner and local

Philip Dunne, live on air at FM104

Skerries man Donnacha Neary, approached the family to request permission to name the new auditorium ‘Empire’ to honour Philip’s love of music.

Philip studied in the Cork School of Music and developed his craft as a regular on the Cork circuit.

He was a performer on

Britain’s Got Talent, and promoted his latest EP live on Dublin’s FM104 after it was launched in The Grand Social.

Damien Dunne, Philip’s father said: “We appreciate being approached to name the auditorium after Philip’s EP, Empire. Our message to anyone struggling, comes from another of Philip’s songs ‘Bring Me Home’, the sentiment being, if the sun doesn’t find you, just keep dancing in the rain.”

Donnacha Neary, MD of Sonica said: “We are proud to preserve Philip’s memory with the naming of our new auditorium after his last EP, Empire. Philip was an extremely talented musician and touched the hearts of many in his local community of Skerries. We will always remember him.”

For more of Philip Dunne’s music and video footage, visit: facebook.com/pg/ philipdunnemusic/

Home Farm swaps boots for bikes in cancer appeal

Members of Home Farm FC aim to complete 10,000 kilometres by the end of October to raise funds for breast cancer awareness

The members of Home Farm Footbal Club are — temporarily — hanging up their boots and donning the lycra in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, which takes place throughout the month of October.

Managers, trainers and players of all ages, from boys and girls to mums and dads, are getting in the saddle to cycle 10,000 kilometres on

static bicycles, clocking up 600 kilometres each Saturday over the five Saturdays of October, starting at 6.00am.

The distance was increased from 3,000 kilometres, thanks to the sterling efforts of those who have already taken part and surpassed the targets.

Throughout October, the National Breast Cancer Research Institute is asking everyone to consider holding

Call for young Northsiders to halt Covid AN open letter signed by the leaders of the four local authorities, the HSE and An Garda Síochána has been written to Dubliners urging them to take actions now to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.

The letter, aimed at young people, is a plea to change our behaviour of face the consequences of a worsening crisis. In the letter, it says: “We already know that this disease shows no respect for your age, gender, for who you are, or where you live. We have got to view it as a dangerous enemy and work together to stop it sweeping through our communities and affecting the lives of our loved-ones, neighbours, colleagues and friends.”

The letter was formally signed at the Mansion House and will be conveyed to Dubliners via the websites and social media channels of the four local authorities. A simultaneous radio and online ad campaign will also be run, aimed at

changing the behaviour of 1534 year olds in Dublin.

Meanwhile, Guardian News & Media has launched a marketing campaign in Dublin and Berlin to promote its international news magazine, Guardian Weekly.

Readers will be targeted through a “find clarity” tagline in a campaign that includes out-of-home advertising on billboards, posters, digital formats and bus sides.

The ads feature surrealist artwork by illustrator Rafael Alejandro depicting the coronavirus, Donald Trump and the environment.

A 3D build of the artwork will also appear in Dublin to create the illusion of a Guardian Weekly cover popping out of the poster. As part of the accompanying digital and social media campaign, Twitter users aged between 25 and 49 in Ireland are being served ads from the British publisher.

The Guardian Weekly magazine has recorded a 15% growth in its subscription base.

a virtual or socially distanced fundraising event with friends, family or workmates.

Home Farm’s challenge is taking place instead of the club’s Annual Bucket Collection on Grafton Street, and members are looking for support for this worthy cause through online donations.

To donate, please visit: www. justgiving.com/campaign/ HomeFarmFC

Fostering services has 758 in its care There were 758 children in foster care and 505 foster carers in the north Dublin area at the end of June 2020, with Covid-19 having a huge impact on fostering services, according to Tusla.

The news was highlighted as the Child and Family Agency launched Tusla National Fostering Week 2020, a public awareness campaign aimed at recruiting new foster carers across Ireland.

Linda Creamer, Tusla Service Director for Dublin North East said: “Tusla foster carers are invisible heroes in towns and villages across Ireland.

They make daily sacrifices to enable the children in their care to grow, flourish, and reach the best of their potential.

The campaign, with a theme of ‘Raising Amazing’, celebrates how Tusla foster carers have positively transformed the lives of vulnerable children.

To find out more, freephone 1800 226 771 or email tusla. fostering@tusla.ie, or visit: www.tusla.ie/raisingamazing/

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It’s up to us all to fight Covid-19 MICHAEL WOLSEY Selfish students whooping it up in Galway, Cork and Belfast did not cause the leap in the Covid infection rate. But they contributed to it.

Thoughtless politicians and an arrogant judge attending a golf society dinner did not give the virus a new lease of life. But they helped it on its way.

GAA fans celebrating club triumphs were not responsible for pushing the country onto Level Three. But they did their bit.

What all these people have in common is that they either knowingly broke the Covid rules or were remarkably ignorant about the intention behind those rules.

Most of us have probably broken the rules at some point.

We popped out to the shop and forgot to bring a mask, we failed to keep a social distance, we invited the legal gathering in our garden back into the house,

where it became an illegal gathering.

These are careless slip-ups and we need to do better. But they were accidents whereas the three groups listed above either didn’t know the rules, didn’t care about the rules or thought the rules didn’t really apply to them.

Since we entered the new partial lockdown I have heard many calls for regulations to be made law and for the Garda to be given greater powers to enforce those laws. There would be no need for either step if we all took responsibility for our actions.

I am talking of personal responsibility and also collective responsibility.

A friend recently attended a wedding at which the rules were being broken as flagrantly as they were at that infamous golfing dinner. There was dancing and singing, people were ordering drinks from the bar and plates of food were

St. Stephen’s Green and the Shelbourne Hotel in the 1960s.

A hobby of many children at the time was checking the rejected coin drawer in Telephone boxes for discarded change. This photo and many more of Dublin in decades gone by were recently donated to the Old Dublin Society by the family of the late Liam Breen.

Details of the society can be found at olddublinsociety. ie. If you would like a free digital copy of the photograph just send an Email to olddublinsociety@gmail.com

placed on tables for guests to help themselves.

My friend tutted about it, but she did not leave, nor did she complain to the hotel management either at the event or afterwards. She shirked her personal responsibility and the hotel shirked its collective responsibility, since it must have known full well that the rules were being broken.

Gardaí can’t be everywhere but there are many other people whom we employ to keep law

and order in a general sort of way, and they don’t seem to be doing their jobs.

When the edict was first issued that masks had to be worn in shopping centres, I saw a security guard approach a gaggle of teenagers in a mall and ask them to put on theirs.

When some of them said they didn’t have masks, he politely told them to leave.

That was two months ago and I have never seen this action repeated even once, although

almost every day I see huddles of kids, and a few adults, without masks in shopping centres.

When I asked a security man to intervene he told me it wasn’t his job. Maybe so. But if one of the teenagers had lit a cigarette he would have been over to them in an instant. So, in similar circumstances, would any barman, bus driver or taxi owner. But I have heard all these people say that it is not their job to enforce the rules

on masks. They are shirking their collective responsibility as surely as the maskless teens are shirking their personal responsibility, refusing to make the small individual contribution that will help keep our whole society safe.

I’m no great example. Yes, I raised the mask issue with a security official in a shopping centre.

But just the once, and I didn’t press the issue when he declined to take action.

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21.10.20

Cosy up the home with warm winter colours AS the winter months approach and temperatures begin to drop, all of us are preparing to cosy up the home and bed down for what the Danes called ‘Hygge’.

And without really knowing what that word meant, each one of us understood the sentiment — warmth, conviviality, cosiness and spiritual wellbeing all induced by the feeling of being safe and snug in one’s home. There is no better season than winter to sit back and ponder a spruce up to the interior of your house — you’ll be spending a lot of time in it after all.

The experts at Colourtrend have prescribed rich, warm, earthy and comforting tones to stave off the winter blues.

Burrowing, a new shade introduced to the brand’s Contemporary Collection, is the perfect tonic this winter.

Grounded in a muted brown with a deep organic green base, Burrowing embodies everything that creates a core autumnal colour.

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reminiscent of peat soil, leans towards the greyer end of the organic hues.

Nature’s presence in the home is a repeating trend as we often look to Mother Nature and the landscape that surrounds us for inspiration. They have a significant effect on our trend tones and signal the change of season, encouraging us to refresh. Burrowing is designed to bring the feeling of wellness into your interior home scheme. Reconnecting with nature and creating schemes built of natural tones make it very difficult to ‘get it wrong’, the perfect muse for even the most inexperienced decorator.

Look to tones you are naturally drawn to and you will love the space you create.

Last month, 28 new shades were unveiled as part of the 2020 Contemporary Collection.

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Taking inspiration from elements of modern Ireland,

Rich, earthy and cosy shades are warming our souls this season, like ‘Burrowing’ Colourtrend’s chosen as colour of the month.

the four themes consist of The Irish Landscape, Architectural Ireland, Cultural Ireland and Nostalgic Ireland.

Whether it’s to inspire, calm or excite, each colour has a purpose and a story.

Colourtrend appreciates that Ireland’s stunning andscape knows all there is to know about colour. So to be inspired — look outside.

Colourtrend is now available for click & collect or free contactless delivery. Visit www.colourtrend.ie Prices range from €75-€82.50 per 5 litres.

Number of homeless families falls to 856 THERE were 856 families in emergency accommodation in Dublin at the end of August, a small reduction on the July figures of 862, Dublin City Council said. This is the lowest number since April 2016.

At the end of August there were 302 families in hotels, down 32 from July. This is the lowest number since April 2015. Figures from the Department of Housing show that there were 8,702 people in emergency accommodation nationwide in August, a slight decrease on the 8,728 people homeless in July.

Commenting on the figures, Dublin City Council Deputy Chief Executive Brendan Kenny said: “While the reduction in numbers is always very welcome, we fully accept that there are still far too many families in emergency accommodation, including hotels. We are very conscious of the challenge that still exists on homelessness in the Dublin area.”

The the total number of single adults in emergency accommodation continues to rise, the Council noted. In August, the figure was 2,962.

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Bringing the ‘cúpla focal’ into our lives STARS of the Irish-speaking world, including Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Bláthnaid Treacy and Séamus Ó Scanláin were on hand to get the message of this year’s Bliain na Gaeilge festival across: ‘Ag tabhairt na Gaeilge linn’ – ‘Bringing Irish with us’.

Some 245 Education and Training Board post-primary Schools — 31 of which are located across the county of Dublin and Dún Laoghaire, and 11 of which are located across the city of Dublin — will be taking part in the ETB’s Bliain na Gaeilge 2020/21.

Speaking about the initiative, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Sport, Jack Chambers, said: “It is wonderful that over 100,000 students will be celebrating our language and

our Irish culture during the schoolyear 2020/21. Irish is very important for us as a community and as a nation.”

In a video address to ETB students the Minister added: “The future of the language is depending on young people like you, participating in initiatives like this and promoting Irish within your own communities.”

Creativity and inclusion will be at the centre of the programme, which will encompass songwriting to rapping, filmmaking to radio production, storytelling to sports commentary, for the entire school-community to engage with.

The ETB emphasise that Bliain na Gaeilge is not just for students who are fluent in Irish, but is a celebration of Irish language and culture for all students.

Those who have little or even no Irish will be encouraged to get involved and collaborate with each other.

The programme will run for the duration of the school year with a new competition/ initiative featured every month.

Speaking at the launch, ETBI General Secretary Paddy Lavelle commented: “It is important that our students recognise that their journey with Irish does not stop in school. In fact, it is just the beginning. Our relationship with Irish and our Irish culture is a life-long journey as inspired by our ETBI Bliain na Gaeilge ambassadors.

You may only have a cúpla focal, but you may also be an extraordinary radio programme producer or artist so get involved!” For more, go to: www.etbi.ie/

Coolock director pipped

by Swede for film award

Director Lorraine Harton, from Coláiste Dhúlaigh, in Coolock, with workers from the Peru Children’s Charity

A FILM director from Coláiste Dhúlaigh, in Coolock, was pipped for top spot by a Swedish filmmaker, after being nominated for Best Documentary award at the Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival.

Lorraine Harton’s acclaimed film, ‘Gringo Mike’, charts the charity work of Donegal man Michael Murphy (aka ‘Gringo Mike’) with the Peru

Children’s Charity, which assists children with special needs through a family support centre set up and largely funded by Michael.

The director and media tutor filmed the documentary while travelling in South America.

“The documentary took about a year to make,” says Lorraine. “We used our own money for filming, editing and translating. Everyone who

worked on the film refused to take a fee and donated it to the Peru Children’s Charity.

Retired civil engineer Michael started the charity in 2004 through a connection with a nun, Sister Noemi, who was working in Lima.

‘12000 Km’, by Swedish filmmaker Erik Nylander, won the award. To find out more, visit: peruchildrenscharity. org and www.disfmf.ie

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Taste of success as foodies from the Capital rise to top

With the annual pilgrimage to Dingle stalled, this year’s Blas na hÉireann winners tuned in from every corner of the country for a virtual celebration of the very best in Irish food — but it was the 42 producers from Dublin who rose to the top.

The team at Blas na hÉireann have been working tirelessly since March to ensure Blas 2020 went ahead, maintaining their commitment to celebrating the very best in Irish food and drink.

Chairperson Artie Clifford feels that now, more than ever, it is essential to give that all important boost to the talented producers around the island.

Now in its 13th year, the Blas na hÉireann awards recognise the very best Irish food and drink products and the people behind them. The biggest blind tasting of produce in the country is now recognised as an industry gold standard.

Speaking after the announcements, Artie said: “The founding mission of Blas –

Airport ‘running at 1995 levels’

The team from Taylors of Lusk, who were among the 42 food businesses from Dublin who won an award at Blas na hÉireann 2020

establishing quality benchmarks for Irish produce on a level playing field — was strictly adhered to and measurably applied again this year despite the challenges we have all faced.

While we missed our annual gathering in Dingle, we will join together to cheer on our colleagues and friends that were successful in this year’s awards and hope that it won’t be long before we can gather in Dingle once again.”

The bronze, silver and gold winners from Dublin, across a

range of categories, are: Aryzta Bakeries, Aveo Foods Ltd, Ballymaguire Foods, Bewleys, Cornude Artisan Popcorn, Cremore, Donnybrook Fair, Dunn’s of Dublin, Freshcut Foods, Funky Monkey, Fusco Foods, Gem Pack Foods Ltd, Genovese Foods Limited, Glanbia, Harvest Moon Foods Limited, Higgins Butchers, Ina’s Kitchen, Keogh’s Farm, Le Patissier, M&M Products Ltd, Mannings Bakery Ltd, McCormick Distilling International Ltd, Mud Bakery,

Nicky’s Plaice, Olly’s Farm, Pearse Lyons Distillery, Pizza da Piero, Rua Food, SAMA’S Foods Limited, Sushi King, Taylor’s of Lusk, Tendermeats Ltd, The Bretzel Bakery, The Cupcake Bloke, The Delicious Food Co, The Porterhouse Brewing Company, Traditional Cheese Company, TrusTEA, Valeo Foods, Veggie Earth, WonderFoods and Wrights of Howth. Supreme Champion, Best in Leinster and Best in County was awarded to The Bretzel Bakery.

Dublin and Cork airports have been engines of the Irish economy, but now they’re running on empty, the Joint Committee on Transport & Communications Networks has been told.

DAA Chief Executive Dalton Philips told the Oireachteas Committee that Dublin Airport will have fewer than 9 million passengers this year.

This means the airport is operating at 1995 levels.

Just over 392,000 passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in September, an 87% decline on last year.

Mr Philips said: “I am thinking of the 145,000 people across the country who depend on Cork and Dublin airports for their livelihoods and the 750 people that are leaving our company because we don’t have work for them due to the loss of air traffic.”

He said the DAA have developed proposals to facilitate mobilising predeparture testing at Dublin and Cork airports with capability to deliver up to 15,000 tests per day.

New Dubs jersey gets fans hot under the collar THE DUBS unveiled their new jersey as they returned to inter-county GAA action.

The O’Neills’ design will be worn by the county teams in all four codes, from underage up to senior and masters level. However, the jersey, which was launched on social media, was met with mixed reviews by fans, despite being touted as “true to the traditional sky-blue Dublin colour”.

One twitter user wrote: “Not convinced about this new Dublin jersey — it’s a bit too much of a training top.”

Another wrote: “A little bit disappointing to be honest, seems a bit plain, especially in comparison to last year’s.”

One fan was more creative with his criticism: “The white scrape look reminds me of the marks that would be left on your top after scaling a wall.”

The official blurb continues: “Some new innovations have been implemented. Features

include an innovative new silicone horizontal threestripe design, as well as both player and fan-favourite details.

“This includes the return of an open neck collar with pinstripe detail and a choice of fits to suit all fans.”

And it seemed the collar was the real bugbear, with fans saying, “I hate the collar but the rest is nice”, and “Would get rid of the collars”.

But for fans pining for the jerseys of the past, they can always turn to O’Neill’s new range of retro-jerseys from the 1980s and 1990s.

Among the collection is the Dublin jersey from the infamous 1983 All-Ireland final against Galway. www. oneills.com/gift-ideas/ popular/retro-jerseys.

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Dublin In The Rare Old Times 23

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

Freemans Journal 13/10/1853

Freemans Jrn 13/10/1853

Irish Press 13/10/1967

Freemans Journal 13/10/1853

Irish Ind, 20/10/1949

Irish Press 02/10/1987

Irish Press 16/10/1931

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NORTHSIDE NEWS 21.10.20