Southside News 07-10-20

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UP to a 1,000 bar jobs face the axe after pubs boss Louis Fitzgerald said the future of the hospitality sector looks bleak, and revealed a “considerable” number of staff will be laid off at his venues from next week.

The Tipperary businessman owns some of the capital’s biggest landmark bars including Kehoe’s, The Stag’s Head and The Quays. Pre-Covid, the group employed nearly 1,000 people.

“The pub sector is in turmoil,” he said.

“There will be a considerable amount of lay-offs from next week. Six months ago, we thought things would start to return to normal soon, but the reality is we’re further away than ever.”

He said the threat of lockdowns makes it impossible

As one of Ireland’s foremost Funeral Directors, Stafford’s continues to evolve as a strong professional funeral service; Workman’s — has asked the State to reveal its restriction sophisticated, professional and plans for beyond October 10.

Lawyers for Press Up Group modern. have written to the Government

Pubs to call time on 1000 bar jobs to manage food and drink stock and the impact can be seen all over the city as places become virtually derelict.

“It doesn’t look like there’s a good future ahead. Temple Bar is in a bad state, I was shocked when I walked through,” he said.

“The number of homeless

Searsons on Baggot Street and the Bank Bar on College Green in Dublin, said it has to let go up to 300 people, as it has been left with no other option.

The Licensed Vintners’ Association has

people there is also very worrying and sad to see. Something needs to be done.”

The news comes as the Chawke Pub Group, which runs seven gastro bars in Dublin and two in Limerick, including

PATRICK

TD , O L L E T S CO SOUTH CENTRAL DUBLIN

WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC. CONTACT US NOW WITH ANY QUERIES YOU MAY HAVE.  Patrick.Costello@Oireachtas.ie  www.PatrickCostello.ie  @Costellop  @patrickcostellogreenparty

to state that they have shown ‘no empirical, objective and verifiable evidence’ to support Call Us www.staffordfunerals.com the continued closures of pubs and restaurants around Ireland.

The group currently employs 1,800 people across five hotels, 12 bars, 27 restaurants and two cinemas and their venues include The Stella Theatre, Peruke & Periwig, The estimated 90pc of jobs in the Workman’s Club, The Lucky pub sector in the capital are Duck, Angelina’s and Dollard already gone and one Dublin & Co. hospitality group has warned Meanwhile, with hotel it will take legal action if the occupancy in Dublin at its Government extends current lowest level in history, people restrictions in the capital. have been encouraged to The Press Up group — which is behind venues like The Continued on next page Stella, Elephant & Castle and

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Pubs to call time on 1000 bar jobs

Continued from front page support local businesses by considering booking dinner, bed and breakfast in a hotel close to home .

Hotels in Dublin are offering discounts of almost 50 per cent in the coming weeks with a night for two in some five-star hotel rooms and breakfast in the morning now going for less than €200.

More than 3,000 hotel bedrooms in Dublin — or 14% of the total stock — remain closed or in alternative use, such as for the provision of HSE accommodation as a result of the crisis.

At the same time, Covid-19 restrictions have resulted in a dramatic reduction in business, which have led to hotels offering significant discounts.

The average rate for 5-star hotels is now just €250, with some availability under €200.

By contrast, in September and October of last year, prices averaged over €400.

The average daily rate for the city’s four-star hotels was put at €130.

Last September and October, prices averaged €200.

07.10.20

Lifts to be fixed at 12 DART stations Over €3m worth of muchneeded upgrades to lifts at 12 Dublin DART and train stations are to take place over the coming weeks.

But the revamp, which could take up to two months, will further disadvantage passengers with reduced mobility who have to contend with ongoing issues with broken lifts.

Last summer, Bernard Mulvany, from Marino, set up the Access for All campaign in response to continued lift breakdowns at stations.

His nine-year-old daughter Sophia, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, has had to take drastic action in the past to access trains.

“I’ve often carried Sophia in her chair up flights of stairs but it’s getting harder now because she’s older,” Bernard said.

“She’s well used to the issues we’ve faced but she’s had enough of it now,” he added.

Another wheelchair user said she was forced to quit her job because of the problems.

Protesting outside Clontarf station with Access for All

campaigners last summer, Saoirse Smith said: “When the lifts weren’t working, I was losing out on money in my job and I had to leave my job because I wasn’t earning enough. It wasn’t worth it in the end.”

Some of the city’s busiest DART stations had their lifts

break down over 40 times in just over a year.

The lifts at Grand Canal Dock were out of order 45 times between January 2019 and February 2020; Blackrock station and Pearse Street station had 43 reports of broken lifts in the same period; while there were 41 outages in Tara Street

and 39 at Connolly. Irish Rail said people vandalising lifts is a big problem and while there “may be some disruptions now, this work will provide extra reliable station access for everyone in the future”.

It said 52 stations nationwide were set for upgrades in the next three years. w

DJ was paid €1K for Oliver Bond rave A DJ from Cabra was paid €1,000 to play at the outdoor rave at the Oliver Bond flat complex, which sparked outrage after a video of the party attended by over 100 people went viral.

It is understood gardaí have now given “warnings” to several local people who were identified from the videos and also intend to speak to the DJ. Sources say “at least half ” of the revellers were from the Oliver Bond flat complex itself, as well as Crumlin and other parts of Dublin.

A number of young people identified in the video have been spoken to about attending, given the lack of social distancing.

The rave was to mark the birthday of a local resident from the south inner city flats complex, sources say. And a female from Oliver Bond allowed the DJ to hook up his decks through her electricity line in her apartment.

Local councillor Mannix Flynn said what happened was “the terrorising of a whole flats complex”.

Sports funds gets backing of top Foxrock fan Hugh Hugh Donohoe, from Foxrock, with Donncha O’Callaghan

FORMER Irish rugby international and Texaco Support for Sport ambassador Donncha O’Callaghan had the enthusiastic backing of delighted 9-year-old sports fan, Hugh Donohoe, from Foxrock, at the introduction of Texaco Support for Sport recently.

The Texaco Support for Sport recognises the important contribution sports clubs make within society and has set aside €130,000 for distribution on a 26 countyby-county basis.

Successful clubs are eligible

to receive an equal amount of €5,000. The fund is open to officially registered clubs throughout Ireland and the pot will be shared amongst those clubs which put forward the most convincing and deserving plan for its use.

Leading the adjudication process is Donncha O’Callaghan, who was chosen for his unique insight and perspective, coupled with knowledge and experience gained at both club and international level.

Donncha said: “Now more than ever, our clubs and

volunteers need our support.

“I am really looking forward to reviewing the online applications, which provides clubs with the opportunity to showcase their importance to their local communities, and then seeing the recipients enjoy the benefit of this great initiative,” he added.

The competition is open until the end of December and winners will be announced next year.

Applications are invited from sports clubs only.

To apply go to: www. texacosupportforsport.com

07.10.20

‘Sheer vandalism’

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An Post to hire new staff for Outrage as historic O’Rahilly house is demolished Christmas Despite protests over its demolition, the iconic home of Easter Rising leader Michael Joseph O’Rahilly, in Ballsbridge, was finally levelled to make way for a 12-storey luxury apartment block, in what has been described as an act of “sheer wanton corporate vandalism”.

The house was built in 1907 and ‘The O’Rahilly’, the only 1916 leader to die in battle, was the first occupant of the property. His widow lived there until her death in the 1960s.

Earlier last month, Derryroe Ltd, a development company owned by the McSharry and Kennedy families which also owns the Herbert Park Hotel, was granted permission by An Bord Pleanála to build a €66m apartment block, which will contain 105 apartments.

This was despite objections by local residents, Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews, Dublin City councillor Micheál Mac Donncha, the 1916 Relatives Alliance, and O’Rahilly’s grandson.

Patrick Cooney, one of the

The site of the O’Rahilly house (inset) after its demolition

founders of the Save Moore Street campaign, said it was disrespectful to demolish it.

“It is an eradication of a very important part of our history and we shouldn’t be doing that because we owe a debt, not only to that generation but to future generations, who will want to know about more their history

that the present generation does,” he said. “So, it is not within our remit to flatten these very important physical reminders of an extraordinary part of our recent history.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Daniel Céitinn who represents the South East Inner City said: “This is a shameful act of

corporate vandalism against our history and heritage.

“When he [O’Rahilly] passed away his final words were addressed to his wife at that address and she continues to use that address going forward in her own right.

“So, it is a very historical site which spans his experience but

beyond that as well.”

Dublin City Council said it is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the demolition of the former home of the 1916 leader. Once it “has ascertained the facts, it will take any appropriate action.”

Mr Andrews commented: “It’s really disappointing. It’s a green light for developers to come in and knock our heritage and historical sites.

“Particularly in the light of the fact the council had started the process to list it as a preserved building — so there’s question marks over the legality of it and that’s something we’ll be looking into.”

However, there has been a mixed reaction from locals.

One person who did not want to be named said: “Who is to say now the GPO won’t be turned into a Tesco, or Newgrange will be bulldozed and turned into a theme park.”

But a woman living in the area added that if the O’Rahilly family wanted it “they would have bought it. It’s gone, it’s actually an eyesore”.

AN Post has announced it is hiring temporary Christmas staff to deal with demand over the silly season.

Postal operatives are being sought to join its Dublin team and the roles are temporary.

The rate of pay is €14.50 per hour.

Applicants will be working at the Dublin Mails Centre and Dublin Parcels Hub over the festive period.

An Post said it was looking for hardworking candidates with relevant work experience, or experience in another customer-focused environment.

You should be hardworking and committed, with good organisational skills and be flexible, efficient and effective in undertaking all work practices.

Candidates must be 18 years of age on or before the 9th October 2020 and Garda vetting must be completed.

Deadline for applications is October 9 and you can apply via the An Post website: https://www.anpost.com/ Working-with-An-Post/ Careers/Christmas-CasualsPostal-Operatives,-DMCDPH

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07.10.20

Toxic M50 air ‘is killing us’ THE air we breathe is prematurely killing over 1,300 in Ireland each year, with the problem in Dublin related to traffic levels, a report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found.

Its annual air quality report for 2019 found that while Ireland’s air quality was good, there are localised issues that raise red flags, particularly in the capital.

It said the premature deaths can be attributed to air pollution and also highlighted increasing traffic-related nitrogen dioxide pollution and high levels of fine particulate matter in the air we breathe.

Dr Ciara McMahon, Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, said the problem in Dublin “lies in traffic levels” while in other areas “the burning of solid fuel” is to blame.

The EPA report has found that 33 monitoring stations across Ireland recorded air pollutants at levels above World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

Levels are particularly high during the winter months, when use of solid fuels such as coal, turf and wet wood impacts negatively on air quality.

The other main pollutants in the air are nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), both from the burning of petrol and diesel.

Following its latest findings, the EPA said it is calling for the “feasibility of not just banning smoky coal in urban areas but also all smoky fuels” which emit particles above a certain level.

It said the ban on smoky coal in Dublin in 1990 was very

effective and saved over 10,000 lives. The concentrations of NO2 were highest around the M50 motorway in Dublin and the entrance/exit of the Dublin Port tunnel.

The report also found the monitoring station at St Johns Road West, near Heuston Station, exceeded the EU Air Quality Limit for NO2.

The EPA says this a result of heavy traffic due to morning and evening peaks of NO2 levels in the air.

The site has been reported to the European Commission and an Air Quality Action Plan for Dublin is to be prepared.

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07.10.20

Gruesome discovery of Viking child at excavation The largely intact skeleton of a child unearthed at a dig near Dublin Castle

Ongoing excavations on Ship Street, next to Dublin Castle, have unearthed a mysterious and tragic discovery — the preserved skeleton of a child.

The find was made at an archaeological dig near the castle, where in ancient times the River Poddle flowed into the ‘Dubh Linn’ (black pool) near the River Liffey.

The largely intact skeleton

was discovered just at the point before the river entered the pool and is thought to date from the 9th or 10th century.

After it was excavated it was found to be that of a child aged between 10 and 12 years of age — most likely a boy — and is thought to have been wrapped in a shroud before being thrown into the river.

The body was found with an iron buckle or fastener,

leaving experts to conclude the child met a violent death.

Alan Hayden from the UCD School of Archaeology, who was leading the dig, said the fact it was not given a proper burial and was dumped in this manner would suggest foul play.

Further tests will be carried out to determine the date of death, gender and the ethnic origin of the child.

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07.10.20

Bird-scaring device puts fear in locals IT might not be Halloween yet, but things are already getting scary in the centre of Dublin.

Dublin City Coucil is investigating a bird-scaring device at the Central Bank building in Dublin’s docklands, which emits amplified and eery recordings of bird calls round the clock.

Locals say the device has been operating on a 24-hour basis and is particularly disruptive at night, when the noise, which mimics the sounds of birds in distress, is not drowned out by daytime traffic.

However, the bank said the device was needed to protect equipment on its roof and to protect birds.

Derek Allen, who lives in an apartment opposite the bank, said the noise from the machine had been keeping him awake and sounded like “an Alfred Hitchcock movie”.

“At first I thought they were real birds. I thought they might be the Canadian geese you get flying through every year.

Then I noticed more unusual calls, something like the noise a pelican would make, and very loud screeching like birds in distress. It was like an Alfred Hitchcock movie,” he said.

“One night I was awake at 3am listening to it, and I realised I was hearing the same sounds over and over, and it struck me it must be a machine.

At first I thought I was going mad, but I’ve spoken to people living in the houses behind the bank and they’ve heard it too.”

“I wouldn’t mind the noise so much in the day time, if it was attracting birds to the neighbourhood, but it’s deterring them. I’ve noticed a huge decline in small birds in the area.”

Mr Allen said he had

contacted the bank in relation to the noise, but had not received a response.

Councillor Mannix Flynn said residents were becoming increasingly stressed because of the noise.

“Every resident is going bananas about it,” he said. “This sound is akin to the opening sequence of Jurassic Park — it’s basically squawking birds, birds of prey, very loud, throughout the entire night.”

Mr Flynn said he has lodged complaints with the council’s planning enforcement section.

The council said the use of the device was under investigation by its Air Quality Monitoring and Noise Control Unit.

The bank said the device was installed to protect mechanical and electrical equipment and “also serves to protect birds from related hazards, such as fan blades.”

Foxs to spend a night under the stars to help homeless

THE FOX family, from Kilternan are preparing to bed in for a night in their back garden to support the Shine a Light Night Sleep-Out, held by Focus Ireland.

This year’s Shine a Light Night will take place on Friday 16th October, and people are encouraged to sleep out in their gardens to raise vital funds to help alleviate homelessness. For 2020, the

fundraising target is €1.3m, which will go to help those experiencing homelessness across Ireland.

Since the event began in 2012, Shine A Light Night has raised over €5.3m for the homeless in Ireland.

This year is more important than ever, due to the increase in demand for Focus Ireland’s services in the months since the Covid-19 outbreak. With

Rents fall as pandemic hits growth THERE is some good news for renters in Dublin city, with the Covid-19 pandemic having a significant impact on rents.

The latest Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) rent index shows figures for the second quarter of this year in Dublin registered 0.0% growth on an annualised basis — the lowest annualised growth rate seen in Dublin since 2011.

However, rents have increased by 3.3% in the commuter belt area. The standardised average rent in Dublin now stands at €1,709 and €928 outside of Dublin. The county with the lowest average rent was Leitrim at €599 per month.

Compared with the previous quarter, rents outside Dublin increased by 0.3%, while they decreased by 1.5% in Dublin.

Padraig McGoldrick, interim director of the RTB, said: “It is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the rental sector — annual growth has moderated and rent levels have slowed compared to Q1 2020.”

Conor O’Toole, Senior Research Officer at the Economic and Social Research Institute said the downward trend could continue: “The economic shock associated with the pandemic has been the sharpest and most rapid in living memory.

“These economic adjustments are beginning to feed through into the rental sector with rental inflation moderating across the country. The drop in inflationary pressures has been strongest in the Dublin area which is the country’s largest rental market. It is likely that continued downward pressure will be exerted on rents in the short term as the economy continues to struggle.”

However, Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said rents remain “stubbornly high”.

“We need to see a ban on rent increases and in Budget 2021, we need to see real capital investment,” he said.

8,728 people without a home in Ireland, Focus Ireland’s services have had to adapt quickly to a 49% increase in demand. This is expected to worsen over the winter.

There are lots of different sleep-out options available – whether you are a business leader, an employee, or a family member.

For more: shinealight. focusireland.ie/

Tom comes back to his Rialto roots TOM Vaughan-Lawlor has become one of our most in-demand actors ever since he had the nation gripped as crime boss Nidge Delaney in Love/Hate.

But the actor recently acknowledged that working on the streets of Dublin for his latest film, Rialto, was a tough job. The story follows Colm, a 46-year-old Dubliner with a comfortable life working in the city’s docks, two healthy teenage children, and a loving, wife in Claire (Monica Dolan).

After the death of his father, Colm has a breakdown and unable to confide in Claire, finds himself drawn to Jay (Tom Glynn-Carney), a 19-year-old who becomes his only solace.

Directed by Peter Mackie– Burns, from writer Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul, Garage), Rialto has been critically acclaimed following international screenings, with Variety describing the central performances as “extraordinary”.

Rialto opens in cinemas in Dublin, Saturday October 10.

07

07.10.20

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08

07.10.20

I won’t pay for your marathon MICHAEL WOLSEY My neighbour, a fit and feisty man, has been running a marathon in his back garden.

He now intends to crown this feat with some incredible number of pressup - a hundred or a million, something huge anyway.

And he is planning an equal number of forward thrusts.

At least I think that ’s what he said. I didn’ t like to inquire too closely. So long as only consenting adults are involved.

He is raising funds for a local football club and I have agreed to contribute.

His wife, who is filming it all on her phone, tells me I can watch his efforts online. Watch?

Dear god, is it not enough that I have to subsidise these efforts without being expected to watch them as well.

The football club in question does a great job and I am very happy to contribute to its coffers. But I would be

happier to contribute directly, rather than by the roundabout route of paying my neighbour for something he loves to do anyway.

This sort of sponsorship blackmail seems to have increased since Covid forced us all to limit our social engagements.

We’ve nothing better to do with our time, I guess. So the boys at one end of the road are hurling against a wall to raise funds for animal welfare and the girls at the other end are planning a record number of keepy-ups to help a hospital.

All good causes that I am happy to support. And all healthy, harmless activities that these young folk are welcome to indulge in. But what’s the connection? Why do they feel that competing in some pointless pursuit will better persuade me to part with my money?

The trade-off is not required for simpler forms of giving.

The Savoy Cinema and Gresham Hotel, O’Connell Street, in 1962 – the year in which ‘The Quare Fellow’, adapted from the play by Brendan Behan, was released. 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

If I hand some cash to a homeless person in the street, I don’t request that he first gets up and runs around the block a few times.

If I donate some food to a St Vincent de Paul appeal I don’t expect the recipients to prove their worthiness by pushing a bed from Dublin to Cork.

So why is sponsorship seen as a necessary part of so many charity efforts?

The Covid crisis has, at least, put a stop to madder ventures

like the bed-push and also to people who want others to pay for their holiday in return for them making a donation to charity. If they want to walk the Camino, that’s grand. If they want to climb the Andes, all fine and dandy. And if I want to contribute to Trócaire or Oxfam, that ’s my business.

Why should these worthy but quite unrelated ventures be linked by sponsorship?

There used to be a more straightforward way of

charity fundraising. Whatever happened to flag days?

They once were commonplace. And they worked very simply. The collector carried a box marked with the name of the charity.

He, or more usually she, waved it in your direction.

If you didn’t care for the cause, you walked on.

Otherwise you dropped a few coins in the box and were rewarded with a sticky badge (the flag) which you could

smugly point at when the next collector loomed into view.

Have these clear-cut collections gone out of fashion?

It’s quite some time since I’ve seen one.

A flag-day transaction was swift and, while individual contributions might not have been large, the total raised could be substantial.

The flag sellers did a fine job and nobody ever asked them to run a marathon or show us their forward thrusts.

09

07.10.20

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07.10.20

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Chance to win dream home with BMW and €5K cash ADVERTORIAL Imagine having a mortgagefree hideaway in the Sunny Southeast of Ireland, a dream car that you can cruise around in and €5,000 to spend while you’re at it?

One Waterford couple have decided to bypass the traditional route of selling a house, dispensing with agents and endless viewing appointments and instead decided to . . . put their house up for raffle!

The couple were inspired to take a punt on offering their three-bed pad in Waterford city as a prize, having seen many homes sold like this both here and in the UK. Tickets are being sold through Raffall.com an independent, verified and registered online raffle company that enables users to host their own unique raffles and prize competitions online, whilst at all times ensuring entrants and participants are completely secure and protected.

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visit the dedicated Facebook page: facebook.com/ PrizeHomeWaterford. You just need to answer a simple question to purchase your entry ticket, and be in with a chance to win this incredible prize. Each ticket costs €5 and there are no restrictions on how many you can buy.

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There are a limited number of tickets for sale in this lottery and the lucky winner will be announced on 20th December.

For full details of terms and conditions of entering, go to: https://raffall.com/faq

12 Education

07.10.20

Schools go green with solar power Schools in Dublin have received a boost with news that they will soon be able to power classrooms using energy generated from their own roofs.

Microsoft and SSE Airtricity have joined forces to roll-out rooftop solar in 20 Dublin schools, allowing those earmarked for the upgrades to reduce both their costs and carbon footprint.

Over 15 years, it is expected that the solar panels will produce enough clean energy to offset approximately 2.1 million kilograms of harmful C02 emissions.

Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland, said: “At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more.

Collectively we can take a step in the right direction and harness the power of innovative

technology to help generate renewable energy and go some way towards offsetting carbon emissions.

“Through the installation of solar panels and the new datadriven insights from Microsoft’s Azure cloud, we look forward to enabling sustainable practices inside and outside the school gate. Working together, we hope to open up the energy saving and carbon reduction potential of rooftop solar across Ireland and perhaps one day across the world.”

A key objective of the project is to educate students about the role they can play in combating climate change. Digital screens have been set up in all 20 schools to enable the students to track energy use in real time and see the impact of the energy efficiency upgrades in their school.

The schools to benefit from

the project in Dublin include: Adamstown Castle Educate Together; Adamstown Community College; Coláiste Chilliain, Clondalkin; Coláiste Cois Life; Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua, Sandyford; Griffeen Valley ETNS, Lucan; Kishoge Community College, Lucan; Lucan East Educate Together National School; Monkstown Educate Together; Oatlands College, Mount Merrion; Our Lady of the Wayside NS, Kilternan; Our Lady’s Boys National School, Ballinteer; Rosemount School, Sandyford; Scoil Caoimhin Naofa, Mount Merrion; Scoil San Treasa, Mount Merrion; St John the Evangelist NS, Adamstown; St Mary’s National School, Sandyford; St Olaf ’s National School, Dundrum; St Patricks Boys NS, Blackrock and St Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin.

Special Needs Assistants to gain from free training Education Minister Norma Foley and Director Tomás Ó Ruairc at the launch of the Festival of Education in Learning and Teaching Excellence (FÉILTE).

Pic: Chris Bellew/ Fennell

Special Needs Assistants will soon be able to avail of a new national training programme, delivered by UCD and funded by the Department of Education, at no cost to the assistant.

The new online programme will begin in January 2021 and will consist of five modules delivered over a 10-month period. In total, there are

3,500 places on offer over the next four years.

Launching the new programme, Minister for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madigan said: “Nearly 17,000 SNAs work in our schools dealing with the care needs of the most vulnerable students so they can participate in school life as much as possible and

achieve the best possible education outcomes.”

The programme is open to all SNAs working in primary, post-primary and special schools. It will begin in January 2021 with the enrolment of 500 SNAs in the first year.

Application forms and information is available on the UCD website.

07.10.20

Education 13

14 Education

07.10.20

Permanent jobs down by 40%

Lessons about Dracula

Impact of Covid pandemic taking toll on jobs market THE number of permanent jobs fell by a staggering 40% in Dublin between January and July 2020, compared with the same period last year, as the impact of the pandemic on the jobs market begins to emerge.

The jobs report, by Matrix Recruitment, looked at client and candidate data and demonstrates that the overall jobs market has fallen by 33% since the pandemic hit, when directly compared with 2019 data.

At the same time, the company is seeing a gradual but definite increase in temporary and contract positions and believes this is a trend set to continue into the months — and potentially years — ahead.

Kieran McKeown, CEO of Matrix Recruitment, said: “Many companies may have short-term requirements that are necessary to help steer the business in a new direction it might be taking, or to simply get their business back up and running after the impact

of the pandemic. “While it is very concerning that there is a huge drop in permanent roles, we do see a gradual but steady increase in temporary and contract positions, and those roles can offer a candidate a lot of benefits and appeal that permanent posts wouldn’t.”

The subject of remote working is one that has been much debated over the last six months as more people have been forced to work at home.

This has led to calls for employers to create a better work-life balance for employees and is sure to become a legacy issue once the pandemic passes, with those taking up temporary or contract posts more likely to be offered this perk.

“A lot of people want a different way of working now,” continues Kieran. “They are looking at things a little differently. I firmly believe more flexibility will be an expectation of employees now, not just a ‘wish-for’ benefit. Temporary and contract roles can offer

more flexibility and balance, an opportunity to learn new skills and can be very lucrative.”

Add to this the often generous rates of daily pay, and one might wonder why it is only now that this upward trend of temporary work is appearing.

The truth is, it is not a new trend for certain industries, with contract roles historically prominent in the IT, pharma, finance and engineering sectors.

But according to Matrix, this trend is spreading to other industries with an increase in these types of roles in the public sector, banking, food, healthcare and manufacturing.

“We can see these roles being created in almost every industry that we specialise in at Matrix at the moment.

Businesses have many shortterm needs now, and indeed many requirements they never anticipated having at the outset of 2020. That is why they are now offering these roles, it is less commitment for both.”

WITH Halloween fast approaching, Dublin is readying to summon the spirit of its top horror attraction — Dracula.

The Bram Stoker Festival returns with four days of living stories and four nights of deadly adventures from October 27th to 30th.

Highlights include Al Porter’s Camp Dracula comedy show; the Macnas parade Memory Song through the Northside of the city; and Gravediggers & Resurrectionists at one of Ireland’s most historic and storied cemeteries, Glasnevin. You can also take part in a spellbinding walking tour of Glasnevin Cemetery, taking in the famous graves and the stories of the living, the dead and the undead.

For full information and tickets for more events than you can sink your teeth into, visit: www.bramstokerfestival. com

Looking for a tutor?

School Is Easy is here to help you Advertorial As we battle to cope with the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 regulations, homebased learning has taken on a new importance.

Many parents who want their children to enjoy the benefits of one-to-one tuition are, nevertheless, nervous about having a stranger in their home or sending young students to a tuition centre.

School is Easy (SIE) can solve that problem.

We can offer one-to-one or group grinds for Primary, Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate school students at a time that works for you and your family.

We offer the following subjects, from Primary to Secondary to Specialist Third Level courses: Irish/Gaelige, English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, German, Spanish, History,

Geography, Business Studies, Economics, Design and Technology, Music, and Physical Education .

Going to university and dreading the college exams?

No problem, we have skilled and experienced tutors to help every student.

We provide safe, online tutorials that are recorded so that your child can future reference any topic covered.

When you work with SIE, you will get nothing but the best.

All of our tutors have formal education, classroom experience and a passion for teaching.

For senior subjects we use college and university instructors with a Masters degree.

The choice is yours when it comes to the style of tutoring and our range of subjects is broad. It’s a one-stop shop which spares you the need to go searching for specialists in

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every field.

We teach subjects from primary school all the way up to university level and we can offer both one-on-one and group tutoring sessions, to give your child a variety of learning environments.

Our learning programmes are tailor-made for each student. We don’t assume that everyone learns in the same way or at the same pace.

We don’t use generic tutoring lessons. We customise each programme based on the student’s needs, goals and capacity and we take care to match students with the right tutors.

We are easy to work with.

We screen tutors for you. We identify learning deficiencies and we get results .

Our certified tutors will provide an initial assessment, if you need it, to ascertain your child’s requirements.

Call us today on 01 556 3553 to book a consulation.

We will be delighted to match you with a tutor.

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GNIVIL SEBORDRAW SNEHCTIK

i.oidutsn14 ehctiknilbud@ofni:liame 25 GRANGE ROAD, RATHFARNHAM,eDUBLIN ei.oidutsnehctiknilbud :etisbew T: 01 493 9381 koobecaF dna margatsnI no su wolloF M; 085 803 0905

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KITCHENS WARDROBES LIVING

email:info@dublinkitchenstudio.ie website: dublinkitchenstudio.ie Follow us on Instagram and Facebook

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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

Irish Independent 29/10/1943

Irish Press 17/10/1980

Freemans Jrn 06/10/1842

Freemans Journal, 06/10/1843

Sun Ind , 11/10/1931

Irish Press 17/10/1933

Freemans Journal 08/10/1842

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southSIDE NEWS 05.10.20