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‘Words fail us all’

Tributes paid to tragic Ella following US accident

TribuTes have flowed for a “much cherished” northside student who died tragically in a kayaking accident in Washington DC.

Trinity College student, ella Mills died following the incident on the Potomac river near Washington DC recently while on a trip with the Columbia university Whitewater Kayaking Club. ella previously attended sutton Park school.

According to the Montgomery County Fire Department, a piece of ella’s clothing got caught on a rock and she “became trapped underwater for about 15 to 20 minutes”.

First responders said several people tried to pull ella out of the water but the current was too strong, American News Channel News 4 has reported.

Ms Mills had just begun studying at Columbia university as part of a dual bA programme, following her arrival in the us earlier this month.

ronan Walsh, the head of sutton Park school, in Dublin, where ella completed her Leaving Cert in 2020, paid tribute to the young woman who was in her early 20s.

“it is with great sadness that i write to let you know that our former pupil ella Mills died tragically in a kayaking accident on sunday in Washington DC,” Mr Walsh posted to the school’s website.

“ella was a muchcherished past student of sutton Park school.”

He added: “ella’s Mum Jo-Ann Feely will be known to many of you as chair of our board of management. Our hearts are broken for Jo-Ann, ralph and ella’s two siblings isabel and Leo who are

in second year. This is a truly tragic time.

“Words fail us all. Our sympathies and thoughts are with ella’s family and her large group of friends. May she rest in peace.” The university held a vigil on Monday evening on its campus and it will be providing counselling services to support students following ella’s tragic death.

The university described her as a “literary scholar who loved learning new things.” Columbia university President Minouche shafik said “words cannot express” how heartbroken she feels for her family and friends.

Continued on next page

Artist Audrey Hamilton at the unveiling of her unique artwork entitled FEMME de signed specially for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pic: Marc O’Sullivan

Tributes paid to Ella

Continued from previous page

The Dean of the school of general studies at Columbia, where Ms Mills had just began her studies, said: “Ella had a love for learning, was intellectually curious, and passionate about literature.” shocked and saddened members of the kayaking community in Washington DC turned up at the river to pay their respects to Ella and lay floral tributes.

Meanwhile, in a statement a Trinity College Dublin spokesperson said the college community is grieving.

“The Trinity College Dublin community is grieving the tragic loss of Ella Mills, an English studies student who passed away on 17 september 2023.

“Ella was studying at Columbia University as part of a dual B.a. programme with Trinity,” they said.

“Her family, friends and classmates are in our minds at this difficult time. ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.”

Festival enhances town as arts venue

BalBriggan’s growing profile as a centre for the arts was boosted this month.

The ‘How it’s Made’ Festival, facilitated by the local scéal arts collective, in partnership with the locally-based irish institute of Music and song, ran over three weekends, september 9-10 and 16-17 in the build-up to the weekend of Culture night on Friday, september 22.

The local arts collective hosted a series of events designed to explore how art is extracted from nature. artist were paired with engineers and scientists for a group exhibition entitled ‘Meitheal’.

Over 30 events, including workshops and performances, were held over the weekends of september 9-10, 16-17 and 22-

23 at eight venues: The Vault, known locally as the Old Bank at george’s square and The Boathouse, under the viaduct at Quay street, are active throughout.

Other venues include The Window at 4 Dublin street, formerly Vision radio; The Our Balbriggan Hub at george’s square, The Warehouse on Vauxhall street, Molly’s Coffee gallery & The Central on Bridge street and the irish institute of Music and song on Church street.

Featured artists included the locally-based Thomas Brezing, leia Mocan, Murielle Celis, antonio D’souza and many others.

Exhibits, performances and film screenings will be held across the town featuring nationally recognised artists including noelle gallagher and documentary filmmaker John O’rourke.

Events were curated and coordinated by italian art historian and visual arts curator Valeria Ceregini and the scéal arts Collective. Events are thanks to funding from the arts Council, Creative ireland and Fingal County Council.

On Culture night, , the irish

institute of Music and song hosted a musical walking tour and The Warehouse was the venue for art exhibitions, workshops and the scéal sessions, a spoken word and music event to complement activities at a total of eight venues on the evening. according to the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr adrian Henchy, events such as these highlight how Balbriggan secured designation as a ‘Creative Place’, qualifying it for arts Council funding.

“The ‘How it’s Made’ festival is a wonderful example of how Balbriggan is burgeoning with creativity,” he said.

John Quinlivan, Director of Economic, Enterprise, Tourism and Cultural Development at Fingal County Council, said the town was emerging as a centre for the arts, and the authority was proud to play its part.

“it is fantastic to see so many events showcasing local talent, bringing nationally acclaimed artists to Balbriggan and also people together through the arts,” he said.

“The long-term aim is that 10 years from now people from all creative disciplines will want to spend time in Balbriggan.”

Half say speed limits need to change

alMOsT half of drivers (46%) believe that the speed limits on irish roads are ‘all over the place’ and need to be overhauled as a review of speed limits has been announced by government.

However, 17% of drivers say that they only need updating on our regional roads, with 8% disagreeing as they believe that it is the speed limits on the national roads that require updating. some 29% of drivers think that the speed limits are pretty much just right for the most part. These are the key findings from new research conducted by ireach insights of 1,000 people nationwide on behalf of aviva insurance ireland DaC (aviva).

The aviva survey found that:

• Those in the older aged cohorts think that the speed limits on irish roads need to be overhauled with 54% of those aged 45-54 and 46% of those aged over 55 compared to 36% of those aged between 25-34.

• More men (32%) than woman at 28% and those aged 18-24 (56%) think that the speed limits are just right.

• Some 29% aged 25-34 are of the view that they need updating but only on regional roads.

The work of Murielle Celis formed part of the ‘How it’s Made’ Festival. Pic: Fintan Clarke

Council drive to tackle illegal waste activity

Dublin City Council in its role as lead authority for the Eastern Midlands WERlA (Waste Enforcement Regional l ead Authority), has coordinated a multi-agency checkpoint operation to tackle illegal waste activities and to ensure compliance with waste regulations in terms of movement of waste.

The operation was coordinated on behalf of An Garda Siochána’s Dublin Metropolitan Region’s Multi-Agency Forum.

This intelligence led vehicle check point was conducted in Fingal, in an area known for significant waste activity. The check points were located on a main artery within close proximity to the M1 to capture waste movements within the area and to other counties outside of Fingal.

Representative agencies for this joint operation included An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, Fingal County Council’s Waste Enforcement Section, Dublin City Council’s Waste Enforcement Section and the national Trans Frontier Shipment Office (nTFSO).

The Dublin Metropolitan Region is one out of four of the Garda national bureau of Criminal investigation’s multi-agency regional networks, which, enable a multi-faceted enforcement approach by bringing together key stakeholders.

Hero inspired by friend’s journey

A momentAry struggle on a bicycle set the wheels in motion for a special friendship between a Hospice hero and her late friend. originally from rush and now living in Balbriggan, Dympna Pyne is asking members of the public to host a coffee morning for Bewley’s Big Coffee morning Social for Hospice on September 21, or if they can’t host, donate.

The nationwide event, supported by Bewley’s since 1992, has raised over €43.2million – and there is a €2million fundraising target this year.

“my friend Pauline and I moved into Balscadden around the same time and there was no school transport, so I would bring the kids to playschool on my bike,” said Dympna.

“I used to put my youngest boy in the baby seat and the one going to playschool in the saddle of the bike.

“Pauline spotted me struggling up the country road one morning. She stopped and said that she would take my son to playschool.

“That’s where our friendship of about 28 years started and it developed rapidly from there.”

Pauline passed away eight years ago last April and spent ten days in St Francis Hospice, which Dympna described as an invaluable time for friends and family to say goodbye.

“When she was in hospital and we knew she wouldn’t recover, her husband was asked whether they would like to move her to a hospice,” said Dympna.

“Their son was in Australia and they were hoping he would be able to make it back to see her.

Pauline’s husband didn’t know what was the right thing to do.

“my daughter, who is a nurse, advised him to ask Pauline in one of her more lucid moments, and she decided to go to St Francis Hospice.

“She kind of came back a little bit when she was there. They were able to wheel her out to the garden, she loved the outdoors, and it gave her son the time to be with her and to say goodbye.

“I couldn’t get over the care and attention for the family, for Pauline, for her friends. It was an eye opener for me because I’d had no experience of a hospice before.”

Dympna introduced Pauline

to a monthly book club with her friends, who were instrumental in the first year of the coffee morning.

“A friend of mine said that the community hall was available in Balscadden and, from there on in, we had our annual coffee morning.

“We hosted one the year Pauline died, so this year will be our ninth,” said Dympna. together for Hospice, The national Hospice movement, represents 26 Hospice and specialist palliative home care providers supporting patients and their families.

Funds raised locally stay local and go back into each Hospice service to innovate, build new facilities, develop new services, and deliver quality improvements and extra benefits for their patients and their family members.

register to host a coffee morning on September 21 - or on a date that suits you – at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996.

If you can not host or attend one, you can make a donation at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate

Domhnall Gleeson at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospicewith Dympna Pyne. Pic: Conor McCabe

Almost 1,400 take part in the Big Beach Clean

A totAl of 89 groups and 1,391 volunteers joined Clean Coasts for the Big Beach Clean to make a positive impact on the Irish coast and waterways in County Dublin.

Supported by Cully and Sully, the Big Beach Clean is part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) organised by the ocean Conservancy, and it entails an annual call-to-action for individuals, families, and communities to join forces to carry out a clean-up at the end of the bathing season and join a worldwide citizen science project.

In 2022, more than 500 clean-up events were organised, with participants removing an astounding 42 tonnes of litter from Irish coastal areas and inland locations. With Clean Coasts celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the 2023 Big Beach Clean aims to surpass all expectations and make an even bigger impact.

The results of the annual survey of coasts and inland waterways by business group Irish Business Against litter (IBAl) have recently been released. These results show that, for the first time since IBAl started its coastal surveys

in 2017, no area was classified as a litter blackspot in 2023.

The tolka River at Annesley Bridge in Dublin, a blackspot in all previous IBAl surveys, improved to littered, here was a positive turnaround at Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, previously ‘heavily littered’,

which was judged ‘moderately littered’.

However, despite a summer marked by lower visitor numbers due to unsettled conditions, the study of 33 locations nationwide unveils that the majority of beaches still fall short of attaining a

clean status. As the bathing season comes to an end, Clean Coasts volunteers once more demonstrated their willingness to get involved and tackle the marine litter problem by registering for this call-to-action. Volunteers around Ireland who wish to

Council opens new park

DUBlIN City Council has unveiled the second phase of work to reinvent the linear park at St James Park following extensive regeneration works by the Parks, Biodiversity and landscape Services team.

get involved but didn’t register, can still do so, by joining an existing public clean-up.

Several clean-up events have been planned in Dublin as a result of the overwhelming registration response, including ones at Bray Beach, Shelly Banks, Bull Island, Seapoint, Donabate, Grand Canal, Sandymount and Rush. A list of public clean-ups happening in County Dublin as part of the Big Beach Clean can be found on the Clean Coasts website. (See editor’s notes)

Joining forces with the An taisce National Spring Clean programme, the Big Beach Clean encourages residents from all corners of Ireland to participate. Urban litter has been identified as a significant contributor to marine litter, underscoring the importance of even non-coastal communities in preventing litter from entering waterways and oceans.

The area between fatima luas stop and Basin lane has been transformed into a large play and exercise area as part of the ongoing delivery of a masterplan for the linear park, which runs from the Grand Canal at Dolphin Road, Inchicore to the southside of the new Children’s Hospital at Rialto and the St. James’s Hospital Campus.

The park follows the alignment of the Grand Canal Main line, which served the Guinness brewery connecting the Grand Canal Harbour and the City Basin.

Speaking at the park opening the lord Mayor said, “What was previously an uninviting, dark thoroughfare has been reimagined into this wonderful linear park. St James linear Park now provides safe spaces and facilities for exercise for all age groups; space to walk and cycle safely and space for communities to gather, communicate and garden.

Elaine Doyle, Colum O’ Sullivan, Ella Dowling, Peter Dowling, Renata and Margaret McFaul at the launch of 2023 Big Beach Clean. Pic: Cathal Noonan

Almost 6,500 in emergency housing

ACCoRDIng to the latest figures, 6,424 Dublin adults accessed emergency accommodation, including 1,313 families and 2,841 children, in June 2023.

Taking place on Friday, 13 october, Shine A Light is proudly supported by Bord gáis Energy and calls on people across the country to host a sleep out in their homes, communities or workplaces to help end family homelessness. This year the goal is to raise €1.2m to support the essential work of Focus Ireland.

Demand for Focus Ireland’s services is at an all-time high. There are currently 1,839 families including children in emergency accommodation throughout Ireland as of July 2023, an increase of 29% in the last year. The work that Focus Ireland is doing to support families experiencing homeless or as risk of homelessness is vital, but they can’t do it alone and the support of people across the country is essential to create real change.

Bord gáis Energy’s support of Shine A Light forms part of an ongoing partnership with Focus Ireland which began in 2015. To date it has supported over 7,000 families and directly prevented 458 vulnerable families from becoming homeless in Ireland. Last year the partnership was extended until 2025 and Bord gáis Energy has pledged a further €2 million to help tackle family homelessness, bringing its total commitment in funds to €4.4 million. on the night Brendan will sleep out at his home and will document the experience on his social channels. other well-known personalities taking part in Shine A Light include broadcaster and writer Louise McSharry, ex-Tipperary hurler

Brendan Maher, influencer

Katie gleeson and lifestyle influencer Caroline Mooney.

Signing up to Shine A Light is quick and easy to do. Simply visit shinealight.focusireland. ie to register and select whether you’re sleeping out as an individual or as part of a group.

Council unveils a plaque to a fireman

host your own sleep out event and rally your supporters by encouraging them to join your sleep out or donate to your fundraising page. Be a part of Shine A Light and sleep out against homelessness.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Brendan Courtney urged people across the country to join him on Friday, 13 october to help end family homelessness.

“The latest figures show that homelessness profoundly impacts our society. There are thousands of families across Ireland, including children who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes and we need to come together and help combat this issue. By hosting your own sleepout at home, at your workplace, local sports club or community hall, we can raise vital funds for Focus Ireland and prevent more families from becoming homeless. The goal this year is to raise €1.2m and I am urging everyone to sign up and donate to this important cause.”

John ‘Jack’ Darmon, a fireman who died while working in Tara Street Station in 1938, has been memorialised by a Dublin City Council commemorative plaque.

on 23 August 1938, Fireman Jack Darmon was electrocuted while working on a Fire Brigade vehicle at the Fire Station on Tara Street.

A veteran of the War of Independence (K ’Company, 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade), Jack Darmon was working as a firefighter/mechanic on a

brigade vehicle in the garage pit in Tara Street station, when he was electrocuted and died. he left a wife and four children. his death occurred at a time of massive reorganisation in the Dublin Fire Brigade, and he has never been properly marked by a memorial in the station.

Speaking at the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, Chief Fire officer Dennis Keeley said: “Dublin Fire Brigade are delighted to have the opportunity to mark and remember Firefighter Darmon

and welcome members of his family who have travelled here today for this occasion.”

Representing the Lord Mayor at the unveiling was Councillor Tom Brabazon, who said, ‘In unveiling this plaque today we remember the sacrifices made by a man who lost his life in the service of the people of Dublin.

To John Darmon’s grandson, Colin, who has travelled from Canada to be with us today, and to the Darmon family, I want to say that Dublin City Council is proud to unveil this plaque.”

Colin Darmon, grandson of Jack Darmon, at the unveilling of a commemorative plaque to the fireman. Pic: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

Plans for hotel bed tax at an ‘impasse’

Plans for a hotel bed tax on visitors to Dublin have reached an “impasse”, according to a senior official with Dublin City Council.

Elected members of the council came out in favour of the proposal earlier this year after a report showed that over €12 million could be raised annually through the introduction of a 1 per cent tax on tourist accommodation charges in the capital.

However, the council’s head of finance, Kathy Quinn, has admitted that the introduction of a hotel bed tax in Dublin cannot be progressed without new legislation being passed by the Government.

“We need for the Government to give powers to local authorities to set a charge,” said Ms Quinn. she told a recent meeting of the council’s Economic Development and Enterprise Committee that similar taxes are being planned in scotland and Wales with their national governments bringing in legislation to allow local councils to impose a charge.

“We’re not at that point,” said Ms Quinn. “We’re at an impasse

really in terms of where we go with this.”

she said hotel bed taxes or similar charges were already well established in a number of jurisdictions.

Ms Quinn said one example was amsterdam where research had demonstrated that there

was no price sensitivity to the introduction of a tax on visitor accommodation.

“They found increases in the tax were not going to stop tourists coming,” she added.

In reply to a question from labour councillor, alison Gilliland, Ms Quinn said

reports about the proposal for a hotel bed tax had been sent to both the Department of Finance and the Department of Housing, local Government and Heritage. However, she said both seemed to indicate it was an issue for the other department.

Council’s climate plan draft

Ms Quinn acknowledged that there had been a lot of reaction to the proposal with some views that a hotel bed tax would not be “a helpful initiative. I think if it’s seen to be not just a Dublin thing, it might be seen to be more acceptable,” she remarked.

In a report prepared for a meeting of the council’s Finance Committee on Thursday [tomorrow], Ms Quinn said the council does not have the legal capacity to introduce a hotel bed tax “as it stands.”

From recent discussions with amsterdam City Council, Ms Quin said the tourist tax introduced in the Dutch city in 2012 has been successful “with little opposition.”

“It is accepted that residents and businesses of amsterdam pay for the maintenance and upkeep of many facilities enjoyed by tourists such as road and cycle networks, parks, cultural institutions, events, water and drainage.”

Ms Quinn said it was an accepted argument in the netherlands that it is “wholly reasonable” to ask tourists to contribute towards the costs associated with aspects of the place they are visiting.

DublIn City Council has published its draft climate action plan, as required pursuant to section 16 of the Climate action and low Carbon Development (amendment) act 2021. The draft climate action plan, Climate neutral Dublin 2030, sets out the actions that will be taken by the City Council to prepare our city and people living here for the known impacts of climate change – flooding, sea level rise, extreme weather events, drought. Climate neutral Dublin 2030 will set out how the City Council will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and contribute the global effort to limit warming to below 1.5oC. The City Council is now inviting the public to have their say on the plan.

Cllr Claire byrne, Chair of the Climate action, Environment & Energy sPC strategic Policy Committee says, “Realising a Dublin City where we are resilient, resource-full, creative, and social requires all of us. We need to work together to prepare for and protect Dublin City, our home, from the inevitable impacts of climate change now and into the future.

“This plan is essential to meeting our national Climate Objectives.”

Conor Ryan from Lucan Kayak Club and Ann Brien from Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership at the launch of the 2023 Dublin City Liffey Odyssey Event. Pic: Conor McCabe Photography

Amazon given permission for data centres

AMAzON Web Services

(AWS) has secured planning permission for contentious plans to construct three new data centres in north Dublin. This follows Fingal County Council giving the go-ahead to AWS firm, Universal Developers LLC for the three new data centre buildings with a combined power load of 73MW for the AWS data centre campus on a 65 acre landholding at Cruiserath road, Dublin 15.

In addition to the three granted planning permission, one AWS data centre is already operational at the campus while construction work continues on two others.

The council has granted planning permission despite opposition from Friends of the earth, Not Here Not Anywhere, Gluaiseacht and others.

On behalf of Gluaiseacht, eoin O Leidhin called on the council to reject the project claiming that “this project will lead to increased emissions in Ireland”.

Head of Policy at Friends

of the earth (FOTe), Jerry Mac evilly told the council that it should refuse planning permission as FOTe “remains concerned that the proposed development represents a serious risk of carbon lock-in”. However, in granting a sevenyear planning permission, the council concluded that the construction of the three data centres would be consistent with european and Government policy concerning the development of digital infrastructure. The council concluded that the project would not, in itself or taken cumulatively with other developments have a detrimental direct or indirect impact on the environment. The planning authority has included a condition that prior to the operation of the data centres, that AWS have in place a Corporate Purchase Power Agreement (CPPA), which demonstrates that the energy consumed by the data centres is matched by new AWS renewable energy generation.

The council has stated that the

Graham Knuttel portrait to appear at art auction

new renewable energy projects shall be located in Ireland and the amount of electricity generated by the renewable energy projects shall be equal to or greater than the electricity requirements of the data centres in operation at any given time.

In its 69-page planner’s report recommending that planning permission be granted, the Council concluded that the proposals by the AWS firm “demonstrate a clear pathway to decarbonise and provide a net zero data services, in terms of the targets set for the proposed development”.

Planning consultant for the AWS firm John Spain told the council that “the proposed development does not entail a new request for power because it has an existing connection agreement” and will be supplied power by an existing transmission system.

Mr Spain stated that the existing connection agreement provides for eight incremental increases in power supply to the site, commencing in 2022 and completing in 2029.

A rAre self-portrait of the late Graham Knuttel, who died in May, will spark interest among art afficionados when it comes to auction later this month.

The work, which is signed and has a high estimate of €3,250, is set to join eight Knuttel pieces at the Gormleys Autumn online art auction, which takes place from 7.30pm on Tuesday September 26.

The piece will feature among over 200 works, including a single owner collection of Markey robinson pieces as well as works by William

Conor, James Le Jeune, George Gillespie, Cecil Maguire, Mark O’Neill, elizabeth Magill, Colin Davidson, George Callaghan, Ciarán Lennon, Tom Carr, Maurice C. Wilks and Julian Friers.

“Dubliner Knuttel was an intuitive figurative painter, with little patience for the intellectual processes and conclusions that were so much a part of abstract and conceptual art,” said Gerard Gormley of Gormleys.

“For Knuttel, to paint what one saw or felt or imagined

around one’s self should be a simple affair, painted from the gut.

“He liked to paint the human predicament as he saw it, and his figures appear in an urban landscape of which he was a part.”

The Gormleys Autumn online art auction will take place from 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 26, with online and telephone bidding available. For more information, and to participate, please visit gormleysartauctions.com.

Recognising the signs of Alzheimer’s

More than 64,000 people in Ireland are currently living with dementia, with the numbers predicted to rise to 150,000 by 2050. recognising the signs of Alzheimer’s and seeking a diagnosis is important for long term health and wellbeing. early detection and understanding of dementia symptoms are vital for timely intervention. Below are Home Instead’s ten signs of Dementia to look out for:

10 Signs of Dementia:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life

2. Challenges in planning, solving problems or keeping track of things

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks.

4. Confusion with time or place.

5. Challenges understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing.

7. Misplacing things and

losing the ability to retrace steps.

8. Decreased or poor judgement

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.

10. Changes in mood, behaviour and personality.

When early signs are noticed, it’s best to see a doctor who can determine the symptoms, diagnose the disease causing the symptoms, and provide appropriate treatment.

Keep in mind that as a person ages, they may experience slight changes in their cognitive abilities.

However, they are typically not severe enough to impact daily life. For example, a person may sometimes forget names or appointments but can remember them later. They may misplace things from time to time but can later retrace their steps to find them. These types of lapses in memory may not be a concern

until the person can no longer recall or retrace their steps. September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and as dedicated advocates for dementia awareness, Home Instead aims to provide guidance on recognising and reducing the risks of Dementia. By promoting awareness, providing practical guidance, and fostering a supportive community, Home Instead’s goal is to encourage individuals to take proactive measures towards risk reduction by addressing risk factors. By understanding these factors and working towards risk reduction, we hope to enhance the quality of life for those living with dementia and those at risk of developing it. For more information about Home Instead’s Dementia Awareness Month Campaign and to access invaluable dementia care resources, please visit https://www.homeinstead. ie/dementia-month.

TCD and UCD named in top 100 in Europe

Three Irish universities are listed in the top 100 in europe, in new rankings published recently.

Trinity College Dublin leads the way for Ireland with a placing of 31st in the inaugural QS World University rankings: europe 2024.

Ireland’s oldest university is followed by University College Dublin at 71st, and the University of Galway, at 98th.

The QS table lists 690 institutions across 42 countries, with ratings based on global recognition, research prowess, teaching resources, internationalisation and employment outcomes.

Also listed for Ireland are University College Cork (109); Dublin City University and University of Limerick (both 152); Technological University Dublin (286); Maynooth University (311).

The rankings show that Irish universities are held in high regard by both international employers and academics, which was particularly pronounced in the employer

reputation measure.

Trinity is Ireland’s mostrespected university among academics, with a placing of 30th.

Ireland boasts the highest average score per institution in europe, a strength reflected under the employment outcomes heading, in which it achieves its best scores in any individual indicator.

According to QS, in Ireland Trinity College Dublin offers the strongest career prospects, and is placed at 13th in this table, closely followed by University College Dublin, at 15th.

however, Ireland struggles in indicators related research, including output, quality and collaboration.

No Irish university is among europe’s top 100 QS’ measure of research impact, while only Trinity is in the top 100 for cross-border collaboration and research production.

Ireland enjoys one of the most international academic bodies in europe with six of its universities are among the top

100 for International Faculty ratio, giving it europe’s secondhighest concentration of top 100 universities.

Only Switzerland has a higher ratio of top 100 institutions in this indicator. Trinity holds takes Ireland’s highest rank placing, at 25th.

Under the sustainability indicator, University College Cork and the University of Galway are placed 21st and 36th respectively and 63pc of Irish universities Ireland are in the top 100. This is secondhighest ratio in europe, behind only Sweden.

According to QS, Ireland also enjoys high-quality inbound student exchange programmes. Both the University of Galway and the University of Limerick are tied in 46th for inbound exchange students. Dublin City University is also among the top 100.

Ireland’s outbound exchange programmes are slightly less positive, with the University College Cork and the University of Galway placed at 58th and 76th.

Should you kiss to say ‘hello’ and hug when it’s time to go?

MICHAEL WOLSEY

A KISS is just a kiss, sings Sam, the piano man, who plays for Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca’s gin joint.

Ha! Tell that to Luis Rubiales.

Weeks after the World Cup, Spain’s former soccer supremo is still claiming he was the victim of a woke, feminist conspiracy: that he was forced to quit as head of the football federation just for celebrating his country’s triumph by kissing team captain, Jenni Hermoso.

As celebrations go, it was pretty enthusiastic. He planted a big smacker right on her lips, immediately after wrapping her in a bear hug. As a parting gesture, he gave her a slap on the bum.

So maybe a kiss is just a kiss. But combined with a hug, and a grapple and a spank, it was an epic own goal.

It has been said that Rubiales would not have done the same thing to the captain of the men’s team. And, indeed, Alvaro Morata would not have taken it well.

Nowadays, though, it is possible that a man could find himself the centre of controversy as the receiver, not the giver, of a kiss.

In the past decade or so there

has been an epidemic of kissing and hugging which has turned the once-simple business of saying hello and goodbye into a minefield.

In Ireland, it could always be slightly awkward, when the exchange was man to woman.

But until relatively recently it never arose man to man.

Irishmen did not greet one another with a kiss, Indeed we scarcely greeted each other other at all.

Professional soccer players were permitted to kiss a

team-mate who had scored a wonderful goal but this was such a rare event in Ireland that the etiquette hardly needed consideration. Otherwise, a handshake was as intimate as we got. With a man you knew well, there was

no need for any physical gesture at all. ‘Howya’ and ‘Seeya’ served perfectly. In moments of high emotion the latter might be extended to ‘Seeya soon’. Changed utterly. Increasingly I am meeting men who, when I extend my arm for a handshake,

grab it and pull me into some sort of rugby-chum embrace, as dangerous as it is embarrassing. Thankfully, no male has tried to kiss my cheek. But I have seen it done to others and it is not a pretty sight.

I remember when the options for greeting a woman were either a handshake, or a very light kiss on the cheek.

Nowadays I have several choices to consider. Do I (a) shake her hand; (b) kiss her on one cheek; (c) kiss her on both cheeks; (d) snog her vigorously, wink, and hope I get lucky. Option (a) may be seen as too formal, (b) as too forward and (c) as too French. Option (d) - let’s call it the Rubiales tactic - may land me on the #MeToo page.

To complicate matters further, the issue now also arises when we are saying goodbye.

I recently watched couples parting in a bar. Two of them had been sitting on high stools, two standing. A man moved to plant a peck on the cheek of a seated woman just as she dismounted her stool to meet him halfway. They collided and he ended up kissing her directly on the lips.

I’m pretty sure this was not his intention for he jumped back in apparent horror and fell into the arms of her male partner who locked him in a hug that would have done credit to a sumo wrestler.

The distraught man struggled free and looked in desperation for his own partner. But she had beaten a retreat and now blew a kiss from the safety of the door. Her kiss was just a kiss and she seemed very happy to leave it at that.

Shane Costello, Donal Loughlan, Elannah Molloy and Ellen Hudson pictured at the launch of Welcome to Wrexham Season 2 in the Tolka Bar, Shelbourne FC. Pic: Andres Poveda

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