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Tragic Guido has ‘no life whatsoever’

An ItAlIAn student who was left with catastrophic and lifechanging injuries following a bottle attack in Dublin 24 years ago has “no life whatsoever” nowadays, a family friend has revealed.

Guido nasi was just 17 years old and in Ireland for an English language course when the assault took place in Fairview Park on the north side of the city in July 1999. He suffered a blood clot under the skull which caused nearfatal damage.

Guido then spent two weeks in Beaumont Hospital before he

was transferred in a coma by air ambulance back to Italy. The attack left him paralysed, along with a catastrophic brain injury. He is still unable to speak or walk as a result.

Bernadette Kelly Di Giorgi first met Guido, who now lives in a care facility in turin, and his mum Simonetta through her work at the Irish tourist Assistance Service shortly after the attack and became a longtime friend.

nut Simonetta passed away in 2020 and Bernadette said Guido, who requires round-the-clock care, and she said his mental health has been suffering.

Bernadette (78) told The Irish Mirror: “I keep in touch with his carers especially since his mam died. He’s not great at all, particularly mentally he’s not great.”

She explained that the death of his mum “didn’t help”

revealing mum Simonetta “kept on top of things a lot and kept encouraging him to do things but now for the carers he doesn’t even want to get out of bed.

“She’s not there to push him. He doesn’t respond well to the carers who want him to do things.

“He used to go to football matches and to the theatre but now he doesn’t take part in any of those things. He really has no life whatsoever.”

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Alison Meyler (13), Basil Amin (14) and Lily-May Ennis (13) at the launch of the 2024 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition which will take place from January 10 to 13. Pic: Naoise Culhane

Tragic Guido ‘has no life’

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Bernadette revealed she still calls Guido’s carers every couple of months for an update and said she was particularly close with simonetta.

she said: “His mother was in a bad way herself … Guido never really needed me because he had his carers and his mother.

“i connected with simonetta because we were both mothers and i was imagining what it would have been like to be in her position. That’s why i stayed friendly with her from the time it happened. i spoke to her the day before she died.”

A man was jailed for the attack in 2001 after he struck Guido on the head with a halffull bottle of beer.

The man, who has since been released from prison, spotted Guido wrestling with a boy that the italian student had suspected stole his wallet.

Bernadette said the assault on Guido is such a “sad story” and said despite the fact he’s now in his 40s his mind is that of a 17-year-old.

Work starts on 1,200 homes in Donabate

ConstruCtion work has started on one of the biggest housing developments in the state.

1,200 homes with a building energy rating of A are due to the delivered on a phased basis by homebuilder Glenveagh at the 32 acre site in Donabate in north County Dublin.

The first phase of 432 affordable, private, cost rental, and social homes at Balmoston is due to be completed within two years.

The development will also include community, sports and recreational facilities.

A portion of the overall site will be made available as a public space.

“As we work towards achieving the targets outlined under the Housing For All plan, developments such as this will alleviate some of

the pressure on the housing market and provide quality and sustainable homes for families, young people and the wider community,” Minister for Housing, Darragh o’Brien said at the sod-turning at Balmoston.

“This is a landmark partnership for the community of Donabate and Portrane, and through continued and ongoing collaboration between Glenveagh and Fingal County Council.

“We have now gotten to a place where we can now deliver 1,200 energy-efficient, sustainable, and high-quality homes for over 3000 people, alongside a world-class hub of recreational and sporting facilities for the people of Donabate, Portrane and the entire community,” stephen Garvey, Chief Executive of Glenveagh said.

Menwhile, house prices in Dublin fell at the fastest annual rate in nearly three years in June as higher interest rates curbed affordability.

The latest residential Property Price index from the Central statistics office indicated that prices in the capital dropped by 0.9 per cent in June, the biggest yearly drop recorded since october 2020.

82 dog fouling fines issued

A totAl of 82 dog fouling fines were handed out in 2022, according to data compiled by the national Council for the Blind in ireland’s (nCBi) Clear our Paths campaign.

Dublin City Council issued no fines over the course of the year while Dún laoghaire rathdown County Council issued just one and Fingal County Council issued nine. Figures for south Dublin County Council were “not provided”, the campaign said. overall, there were just 82 fines for dog fouling issued by local authorities across the state in 2022.

The research showed 18 county councils did not hand out dog fouling fines last year – a majority of the state’s 31 authorities. This included Carlow; Cavan; Dublin; Donegal; Galway City; Kilkenny; leitrim; longford; Mayo; Meath; Monaghan; offaly; tipperary; sligo; Waterford; Westmeath; Wexford and Wicklow, according to the nCBi data.

Kerry County Council had the highest number of fines at 27 and the council reported that there were two convictions related to those fines.

June Curtin and Claire Burke at the launch of The Big Splash for Aware which takes places on Saturday 23.

Pic: Maxwells

Armed gardaí and dog units to tackle crime

aDDItIOnal armed gardaí and specialist units are to be deployed in Dublin as part of a €10m overtime payment from the government for additional policing in the city centre. It comes after a string of serious attacks in the Irish capital, including an assault which left an american tourist in a coma last month.

The funding will allow for more than 16,500 additional policing hours each month, gardaí have said. There will also be an enhanced garda presence at strategic locations in the city, such as main thoroughfares and the liffey Boardwalk.

The money is part of a package announced in July by Justice Minister Helen Mcentee to increase gardaí visibility in the city.

The focus of Operation Citizen will be on tackling street-level drug dealing, antisocial behaviour and the seizure of alcohol.

about 20% of the funding will be put towards providing additional public order capacity on a daily basis.

as well as uniformed gardaí, specialist units such as the Garda air Support Unit, the Garda Mounted Unit, the Garda Dog Unit, Regional armed Response Units, and Road Policing Units will be deployed to enhance police visibility throughout the city. There will also be planned “days of high impact visibility” involving checkpoints, execution of warrants, intelligence-led arrests and immigration checks. assistant Commissioner angela Willis said an enhanced visible garda presence was central to the operation.

“The overall objective of our activity is to reassure the citizens, visitors and the business community that Dublin is a safe place in which to live, visit, and work,” she said.

Meanwhile, one of the country’s leading criminologists has said a policy of zero tolerance will do nothing to prevent random attacks on tourists.

Kevin Wozniak, who lectures on crime at Maynooth

Registrations open for the Big Beach Clean

University, was commenting on recent attacks against tourists on talbot Street, Bachelor’s Walk and temple Bar in Dublin.

an Garda Síochána is to commit €10 million towards extra policing in the city centre.

Mr Wozniak said the american experience on zero tolerance has found that it drives communities and police forces further apart.

He told newstalk: “In many of the communities where american policy implemented zero tolerance policies, it often led to this feeling amongst the residents of those communities that they felt surveilled and harassed by the police rather than protected by the police.

“That worsened the relationship between civilians and police.”

Garda recruitment issues must be dealt with to address the “crime epidemic” in Dublin city, a tD has said.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson Jim O’Callaghan said: “We need to get on top of this problem before it gets really bad.”

Clean Coasts, supported by Cully and Sully, is thrilled to announce the return of the Big Beach Clean initiative. The programme is asking participants to sign up to receive a free clean-up kit and join a worldwide citizen science project. With almost 150 groups already registered, this promises to be an exciting opportunity for everyone. In 2022, over 500 cleanup events took place and volunteers made an incredible

impact by removing 42 tonnes of litter from the Irish coast and inland locations. as Clean Coasts celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023, the aim is to make this year’s event the most remarkable one yet.

Scheduled to take place from September 15 to 17, the Big Beach Clean is part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), organized by the Ocean Conservancy. This annual call to action invites communities and volunteers

to come together and host a clean-up after the bathing season ends. additionally, it is an opportunity for volunteers to engage in a worldwide citizen science project. By collecting data on the amount and types of litter found on beaches and filling out Clean Coasts’ Marine litter Data Cards, volunteers contribute to raising awareness about the issue of marine litter. People wishing to join the initiative can register at www. cleancoasts.org.

40,000 descend on city for Amercian football

Some 40,000 fans of American football descended on Dublin ahead for an historic match last week.

As part of the celebrations, the US Navy ospreys performed a flyover at the Aviva Stadium, during the US college’s American football game in Dublin while Dame Street was also renamed Notre Dame Street for the weekend.

The Aviva typically hosts rugby or soccer matches but Notre Dame’s American football team will took on the Navy midshipmen for the game.

The event is expected to generate €147 million for the Irish economy and plentiful memories for the Americans visiting Ireland.

“This place is nuts,” one man told Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie.

“You guys are hopping, we were out in the Temple Bar area on Thursday night and it was rocking.”

Another visitor said she had come for the football but was also doing a lot of sightseeing too.

“We love this city,” she said.

“We’ve gone to Dublin Castle, we went to Christchurch, we

went to Trinity College, we’ve done a lot of shopping.”

College football is a multibillion dollar industry in the United States and taken extremely seriously by both players and supporters alike. With that in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that

Hearings to be held for Metro

AN BorD Pleanála has confirmed that it is to stage an oral hearing into the estimated €9.5 billion metrolink project for Dublin.

United States Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro flew into town to support his team.

He checked in with both the football team, the cheer leading squad and squeezed in a number of visits with local officials as well.

“I’m so pleased to be here for this great event between Notre Dame and the Navy Football team,” he said.

“I know we’re going to win because there’s this misnomer out there that Notre Dame, they’re the ‘Fighting Irish’.

“Let me assure you, the United States Navy is full of fighting Irish.” The rivalry on the football field might be fierce – but Secretary Del Toro said many fans watching had divided allegiances.

“midshipmen who come to the Navy, they’re great military service members first and foremost and they want to serve their country very proudly,” he said.

“By the way, they’re alumni of Notre Dame too; Notre Dame is the second source for Naval officers in the United States Navy.

“So, we’re very proud of the Americans who go to Notre Dame.”

This follows the appeals board writing to parties confirming the oral hearing though a date for the oral hearing has yet to be set.

The metroLink scheme is to comprise 16 new stations running from Swords to Charlemont.

In September of last year, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) lodged its Draft railway order (DrWo) application with An Bord Pleanála seeking the planning go-ahead for the project and the appeals board has received 318 submissions on the DrWo Documentation lodged with the DrWo state that construction work is intended to commence in 2025 with an opening year of 2035.

The oral hearing will provide a platform for third parties to outline their concerns over aspects of the project.

The office of Public Works (oPW) is expected to clash with TII over the potential impact of metroLink on St Stephen’s Green. In a submission, the oPW has expressed concern that the project “would have a direct, severe, negative, profound and permanent impact” on the heritage value of St Stephen’s Green.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic match between Notre Dame and Navy Midshipmen at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Conor McCabe Photography.

Education2023

An Cosán graduate Natasha Jordan with her three children Ava (9), Farrah (13) and Ben Forrester (10) following An Cosán’s graduation ceremony in The Russell Centre, Tallaght recently. Pic. Robbie Reynolds

Minister congratulates receiving their Leaving

Minister for Further and Higher education, research, innovation and science simon

Harris tD today congratulated students as they received their Leaving Certificate exam results.

Minister Harris said: “i want to congratulate every Leaving Cert student who has made it this far. i truly hope the news they received today is what they were hoping for.

“This cohort of students has faced many challenges over the past few years but, with the support of their teachers and parents, they have now reached this significant milestone in their life. it’s a wonderful achievement and they should take this time to enjoy what is an incredibly special moment.

“in advance of the CAO offers being issued next week, i would also like to remind students that there are so many pathways out there towards their chosen studies and dream career.

“if they do not receive offers for one of their preferred courses do not give up - please know that there other routes available.

“There are plenty of courses which can get you where you want to go, be it through PLC and Further education courses,

apprenticeships or the recently announced unified tertiary courses in which students will be able to enroll in one of 23 new degree courses outside of the CAO points race across a wide range of sectors – for the first time ever.

“For each student today there is so much to be excited about as a new chapter of their life begins.

“remember that education is a lifelong journey, one which can constantly improve your knowledge and skills and, ultimately, help you achieve your full potential.”

For information on all the different higher education, further education and apprenticeship opportunities go here. Details on the new unified tertiary courses can be found here.

Meanwhile, following a number of years during which the exams were heavily impacted by the Covid pandemic, the results were described as “consistent” with previous years following adjustments.

The 2023 exams were the first formal state examinations this year’s cohort had ever sat after their Junior Cert was cancelled due to the pandemic.

some 61,736 students received results on Friday morning, including 58,006 Leaving Cert candidates and 3,730 Leaving Cert Applied applicants. Minister for education norma Foley announced last september that similar accommodations to recent years would be made for the Leaving Cert class of 2023 due to the disruption to their schooling by the pandemic. speaking to rtÉ radio’s Morning ireland, the Minister said there was “nothing fair about Covid”, so adjustments were necessary. Described the class of 2023 as a “unique cohort”, she said she had given the commitment that their grade profile would be the same as last year’s and that had been achieved.

“What i have said is that each year the unique circumstances that pertain to each group of students will be taken into consideration.

“i’ve always been very clear and as Minister, my focus has always been on fairness for the students, that we would always take a student centred approach and we would do what was in the best interests of the student at any given time and their unique

circumstances at a given time,” Ms Foley said.

she added that the measures which may have to be taken for next year’s students will be decided “at an opportune time” following an adjudication of the results and appeals from this year’s exams.

The Minister acknowledged that some of this year’s exam papers were “perhaps more difficult” than 2022, but added: “Un the round, i did make the determination that the grade profile would be similar over two years, so the uplift was greater this year than last year to achieve that.”

Chairperson of the seC Pat Burke said a “post-marking adjustment” was made to the examination results in keeping with the Minister’s commitment.

He said this should mean that the overall set of results for 2023 “should on the aggregate be no lower than 2022”.

“since the beginning of the pandemic, the Commissioners and i have endeavoured to ensure that candidates taking the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied examinations are treated as fairly and equitably as possible.”

students on Cert results

Smart Further Education and Training pathways

The many and varied FeT courses on offer at City of Dublin eTB can give schoolleavers receiving their Leaving Cert results an opportunity to leave the points race behind and shape their own pathway towards a future career that suits them, according to SOLAS, the Further education & Training Authority.

Podcasting, Property Management, eSport and Sustainable Design are just a sample of the many smart choices that school-leavers can explore locally at City of

Dublin eTB, with many courses remaining open for application until the end of the summer.

Delivered through the 16 education and Training Boards (eTBs), Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses are available in every county in Ireland, allowing learners the opportunity to further their studies close to home. The courses can provide students with pathways to higher education and also for direct entry into in-demand careers.

Commenting on the FeT options available to those

about to receive their Leaving Certificate results, Andrew Brownlee, CeO at SOLAS, said: “For students about to receive their Leaving Certificate results on Friday, our advice is that there’s more than one way to reach your full potential after school and I encourage you to take the time to choose the path that’s right for you.”

“Further education and Training provides a wealth of pathways outside of the points system that can lead schoolleavers on to the career that they want.”

A happy day at Rathdown School as students received their re sults. Pic: Jason Clarke Photography.

Heather Cunney, Simone Towns, and Simone Gibbons at Rathdown School for their Leaving Certificate Results . Pic: Jason Clarke Photography

Students ‘at breaking point’ as accommodation dries up

AT this time of year, the scramble to find accommodation is always more pronounced — this year however, it’s at crisis point. Many student bodies and universities are already reporting the 2023 race to find a place to stay to be far worse than anything they’ve experienced before.

On-campus beds are fully booked out at some institutions, while private rented accommodation has dried up generally in Dublin. And when you factor in the Ukrainian refugees currently occupying student apartments while awaiting alternative accommodation, then you have the perfect storm of low supply and high demand.

President and Provost of Trinity College, Linda Doyle, said the crisis now represents a national emergency and warrants an urgent response from Government.

She believes some students will have to forego their college place this autumn owing to the accommodation crisis. And the UCD students’ union has launched a ‘digs drive’, asking homeowners in

Dublin to make spare rooms available to students this September if they are in a position to do so.

It has arranged for a “mass leaflet drop” in areas close to UCD and those wellconnected by public transport. Several institutions are also reporting difficulties in attracting academic staff due to the housing crisis.

Management at other Dublin institutions are running campaigns to urge homeowners to lend a bed, reminding them that landlords can earn up to €14,000 tax-free by renting a room to a student.

With this in mind, for those students engaging with an estate agent in their search for accommodation, it is imperative they check the agent is licensed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA).

All Property Service Providers (Letting Agents, Auctioneers, Estate Agents and Management Agents) operating in the Republic of Ireland must hold a PSRA licence.

Licensed Property Service

Providers are regulated by the PSRA, ensuring the consumer is protected.

The individual licence is a credit card size licence, which contains the licensee name, photo ID and a unique 6 or 12

digit PSRA licence number, always beginning with a double zero.

Reports to the PSRA regarding bogus letting agents increase at this time of year as new bogus agents appear,

targeting desperate students. These bogus agents often set up online, advertising accommodation and attempting to extract financial payments from prospective tenants.

In some instances, these bogus agents will claim to have a valid PSRA licence number.

When using a property service provider, clients should ask to see the property service provider’s licence and note the licence number. You can then check this number on the PSRA Register of Licensed Property Services Providers to ensure the licence is not only valid and in date, but that the provider’s details match those on the Register: www.psr.ie

Above all, make sure you know your rights as a tenant. It can already be difficult to deal with landlords and find affordable accommodation as a student.

Understanding your rights will make it easier to have conversations with your landlord and make sure you’re getting the most out of your accommodation.

Threshold (www.threshold. ie) can advise you on your rights and assist you with any tenancy issues. Another useful website to help you in your search is www.collegecribs.ie.

Aisling Rowlands, Afra Tormey Murphy and Aoibhin Murdoch at Rathdown School for their Leaving Certificate Results . Pic: Jason Clarke Photography

New Public Service Apprenticeship Plan

Minister for Further and Higher education, research, innovation and science simon Harris tD and Minister for Public expenditure, national Development Plan Delivery and reform Pascal Donohoe tD have launched the Public service Apprenticeship Plan 2022-2025.

The Plan outlines how to grow the number of annual apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to 750 by 2025.

The Public service Apprenticeship Plan is a key commitment of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 20212025 and creates a roadmap to the delivery of that target, while offering an alternative recruitment route to jobseekers interested in a career in the civil service.

The Plan, which will be overseen by the two Departments, commits to new programmes to help increase the number of apprentices in the civil service including:

First intake of apprentices on

the digital marketing and media programme;

• First intake of apprentices on executive Officer (eO) generalist programme;

• Develop a planning technician programme;

• Develop a NFQ level

5 Healthcare Assistant programme;

• Develop an Architectural technician programme;

• Develop a Civil Technician programme; Develop a Junior investigator pr • ogramme in Garda siochana Ombudsman Commission;

• Develop a paramedic programme in the health service. The two Departments will establish and co-chair a Public service Apprenticeship Leadership Group (PSALG) to oversee the ongoing implementation and delivery of the agreed actions.

The PSALG will establish proportionate targets for the employment of apprentices within Departments and other public service bodies.

All Government departments,

Hse, and the Local Government Management Agency will report on how they intend to meet the proportionate targets set.

The local authorities and the Hse will recruit at least

five craft apprentices per organisation annually. speaking today, Minister Harris said: “We have placed an unrelenting focus on apprenticeship since the establishment of this

Department. The number of people registering as apprentices shows this has worked.

“However, it is not enough for us to simply encourage

businesses and learners to consider an apprenticeship.

The Government must open itself up to apprenticeship opportunities.

“We have set ourselves an ambitious target of 750 apprenticeships in the Public sector by 2025. today, we have 373. This plan will create new apprenticeships and new opportunities for careers in the public service.”

Minister Donohoe added:

“i’m delighted that the Plan has received widespread support across Government, and that we have already received specific commitments from Departments eager to participate in one or more apprenticeship programmes, while a smaller number of Departments are actively leading on the development of new programmes.”

“in the Department of Public expenditure, we have overseen the successful recruitment of more than 100 ICT apprentices into the civil service earlier this year, and we know we need to do more.”

Yuxin Chen and Genevieve Freeman at Rathdown School for their Leaving Certificate

Results . Pic: Jason Clarke Photography

College Choice - A Different Pathway with BIFE

Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE) are full steam ahead preparing for the new academic year and to prove it, they are launching their new BA (Hons) Degree in Immersive Media Production. This level 8 degree programme will be run in conjunction with the IADT, the first two years in BIFE with the final two years being run in the IADT. This exciting new degree will encompass various forms of media including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and 360-degree video. No CAO points are required to do this degree course. You just simply apply to BIFE directly at www.bife.ie. BIFE will not charge any tuition fees for this degree course but do hurry as places are limited.

While in many cases students, schools and parents see the CAO as the ‘be all and end all’ for those seeking third-level education, nothing could be further from the truth according to Gabriel Allen, deputy principal at Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE). “Over recent years many new avenues, like the Immersive Media Production Degree above, have opened up to students to enable them to pursue their dream career via a different route.”

BIFE’s Open Day on Monday 28th

August from 10am to 2pm will showcase the large variety of courses they have in the College ranging from Art & Design, Media, Sport, Psychology, Body Therapies, Science, Business, Nursing, Theatre/ Dance and much more. “We have over 70 full-time courses to choose from, all progressing on to Higher Education Institutes in Ireland and abroad”, according to Deputy Principal Gabriel Allen.

He added, “Further Education offers a learner, who may not have achieved the required CAO points, the opportunity to gain advanced entry onto honours degree programmes.”

The huge range of courses available at BIFE offers learners fabulous opportunities, not only for those looking for additional skills or hoping to go directly into employment, but also as an alternative route on to a college course in a university or institute of technology in Ireland or abroad.

Over the past few years, graduates of BIFE have achieved honours degrees across a wide range of programmes, opening up a myriad of career opportunities from graphic design to performing arts to psychology.

This year BIFE will offer Higher

National Diplomas in the following:

Fine Art - Art Practice

Acting

Dance

TV & Film production

Music Production

Music Performance

Traditional Irish Music

Graphic Design

As Gabriel Allen explained, “These eight courses will allow graduating students to proceed to the final year of an honours Degree Programme in Ireland or Britain if that is their ultimate ambition.”

This year, the Institute has launched several new courses at levels 5 & 6: Soccer Coaching in collaboration with Liverpool FC Level 5

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Level 5

Dog Obedience & Training – Start

Your Own Business Level 6

Payroll & Office Administration

Level 5

Hospitality & Business Management Level 6

English Language and IT Skills for International Students Level 5

English Language and Business for International Students

Level 5

English Language and Healthcare Studies for International Students

Level 5

English Language and General Studies for International Students

Level 5

Work Experience is a vital part of the BIFE courses and now all students in the College have the opportunity to complete a 3-week or a 3-month work placement abroad in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, Finland, Malta or Czechia under the Erasmus+ Programme which is sponsored by the European Union. This is a terrific opportunity for BIFE students, not only to gain valuable work experience in a European country but also to experience a different culture and to broaden their horizons.

Allen assured that there are many opportunities for mature students to study and progress at BIFE. “All courses have valuable certification and offer progression routes to Higher Education, yet you don’t need CAO points to study at Bray Institute.”

To discover more about the courses available at BIFE, prospective students are invited to attend their ‘Open Day’ on Monday 28th August from 10am to 2pm.

Full details of the above courses are available on our website www.bife.ie. Students can apply online on the website by clicking on the “Apply Now” button. There is no application fee.

Student-Centred Ethos at Inchicore College of Further Education

Inchicore College

is proud of its well-established reputation as one of the largest and most successful PLC colleges. The college is renowned not only for its outstanding student experience but also its track record for student progression to higher education and employment. In a changing employment landscape, graduates are highly sought after and with this in mind, the college constantly reviews and develops its range of courses. Inchicore College takes pride in its student-centred ethos,

supporting students on their individual educational journey.

If Sports is where your interest lies, then

consider Sports Science which can lead to a career in physiotherapy, rehabilitation and athletic training, but

if you love the gym then Sports Coaching or Conditioning with ITEC qualifications will lead quickly to em-

ployment. The hugely popular Healthcare and Nursing Studies courses offer great employment and progression opportunities with additional university places for QQI Nursing applicants announced for 2023. If you are interested in working with different

client groups, apply for Social Studies Level 5 & 6. If you are artistic, creative, or have a love of performing, the exciting range of Arts Courses can get you started in a career you’ll love. Create your future and apply now at www. inchicorecollege.ie

Kielty is good but he can’t bring back Late Late magic

MICHAEL WOLSEY

LIKE glorious summers and tram trips to Howth, the Late Late Show was always better in the past. That’s a legacy the new host, Patrick Kielty, will have to live with.

The County Down man is a skilful and experienced broadcaster. He cut his teeth on the tough stand-up comedy circuit, moved to television with UTV, and graduated to the BBC, first in Belfast, then London.

He has presented quiz shows and chat shows, handled interviews, serious and light, and fronted documentaries which have won awards and critical praise. Kielty has international experience but his roots are firmly planted in Ireland. He is a former Gaelic footballer from a northern nationalist background, whose father was murdered by loyalists.

I have no doubt that he will do an excellent job with RTE’s Friday night entertainment slot if we give him a chance and judge him on that basis and not by comparison with some mythical programme that lives only in the land of television legend.

There are folk in Ireland who

will talk in detail about Late Late shows they only vaguely remember and some who recall shows they never did see, for the good reason that these programmes were broadcast before they were born . The show’s most famous

episodes are familiar to people who never watched them: the Bishop and the Nightie; the programme on which Pádraig Flynn destroyed his ministerial career by complaining about the burden of maintaining homes in Mayo, Dublin and Brussels;

the ordeal of Annie Murphy, Bishop Eamonn Casey’s lover, who was ruthlessly grilled about how she had lead astray this paragon of the faith. Gay Byrne hosted all these and other very memorable Late Late Shows. He was a brilliant

broadcaster, the finest Ireland has ever produced. But making memorable television was a lot easier in his day.

In its early years, the Late Late Show, which then filled a Saturday night slot, had almost no competition. The only television most people could receive was provided by a single RTE channel.

Later came RTE 2 and cable television which broadcast some British stations to those who could receive it . But Byrne still had the field pretty much to himself.

The Late Late’s finest hours were broadcast to a country where families gathered round the television to all view the same programme; a country that was much easier to entertain - and shock.

It was a country pleased to watch itself on television, because that had never happened before.

It was entertained by the novelty of seeing Irish products promoted and Irish artists perform. It was scandalised (but secretly happy to be scandalised) by the evidence that we really weren’t a nation of saints and scholars.

The Bishop and the Nightie became famous because a bishop complained about a

woman who said she slept naked on her honeymoon. I doubt if any woman today would think such a detail worth mentioning or that the mention would raise the eyebrows of even the sternest bishop. Modern party handlers would coach a modern Pee Flynn to avoid the boastful folly that destroyed his career and nowadays no broadcaster would be allowed to quiz Annie Murphy in the ruthless, misogynistic manner adopted by Byrne.

Times have changed but RTE - and the nation too, perhapsstill expects the Late Late Show to command attention in the way it did when it was produced by Ireland’s only television station for a country in which contraception and divorce were illegal, homosexuality was the love that dared not speak its name, where Edna O’Brien’s books were banned and a teacher was fired because she was living with a man who was not her husband.

Ireland has changed but the Late Late Show has stuck with the format that Byrne managed so well: lengthy, live interviews, interspersed with music and comedy; a mix of human interest, light entertainment and current affairs.

It is a format more suited to 1963 than 2023. Pat Kenny couldn’t make a go of it. Ryan Tubridy couldn’t make a go of it. And I suspect that, in 2023, neither could Gay Byrne. Patrick Kielty won’t make a go of it either. He won’t bring back the glory days but he will provide some good Friday night entertainment. If we let him.

The Fingal Mummers with Garda Shauna Naughton at the Smithfield Fleadh. Pic: Maxwells Dublin

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