The Southside News 12072023

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Locals furious as eco attacks on SUVs spiral

Residents of a south dublin are furious after after they were targeted by “eco warriors” who snapped and bent the windscreen wipers on their cars.

in a Facebook post, the Knocklyon network shared a series of photos of the damaged vehicles and a warning that eco warriors “have hit Beverly downs, bending/snapping windscreen wipers of some sUV’s/large engine cars”.

in the comments, one woman said her husband’s “(work) van also targeted, they weren’t broken thankfully. shameful behaviour.”

Another added that their car was targeted but the wiper wasn’t broken.

“if they are eco warriors and not vandals, and want

to actually do something, why don’t they target the actual people in charge and contributing to the real cause of climate change not cowardly attacking individuals in Knocklyon just trying to get by.

“Why not organise a march or a debate or anything, anything more proactive then this.”

One person stormed: “Breaking the back wiper is not an eco Warrior, that’s vandalism.”

Another warned: “i’ll be doing my rounds to get that footage..absolute disgrace who’s raising these kids”.

Last month, something similar happened in the nearby south dublin suburb of Churchtown last month when tyres were slashed on vehicles.

Fine Gael td neale

Richmond tweeted that he had “calls from constituents who last night had their tyres slashed in Churchtown by a supposed climate action group”, alongside a picture of a flat tyre.

“it’s now with the local Gardaí,” he added. “This thuggery is unacceptable, i’m hopeful. A leaflet shared by Minister of state neale Richmond alleged a group calling itself “ tyre extinguisher” said it had deflated the tyres of their sUVs.

Minister Richmond posted a message on both twitter and instagram saying that he had been contacted by constituents in Churchtown, south dublin, who said that their tyres had been “slashed overnight”.

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Emily O’Reilly, Rathfarnham, Dublin, Scouting Ireland, after receiving her Gaisce Gold Award from President Michael D Higgins. Pic Maxwells. See page 9

Golden G irl e mily

Go ahead for 578 new homes

DUBLIn City Council has received confirmation of full planning permission for a development of 578 new homes at Emmet Road (formerly St Michael’s Estate), Inchicore, Dublin 8.

The scheme will deliver a mixture of social and affordable homes, with 76% allocated to affordable homes for rent and 24% to social housing. The affordable rental homes will be provided through cost rental, which is aimed at moderate income households providing

secure and quality housing that remains sustainably affordable over time.

The new homes will offer a mix of accommodation suitable for single people, couples and families consisting of 110 studios, 172 onebeds (including 17 duplex apartments), 250 two-beds and 46 three-beds.

As well as a supermarket and library, both the new and existing community will have access to a café, crèche and community hub. Residents will

also have access to car and bike parking spaces, landscaped open green space and play facilities for children.

The development will provide sustainable homes with biodiversity in mind beneficial not only for the environment but for residents and the surrounding community. A network of green roofs across the buildings will support even greater biodiversity. Solar panels will provide renewable energy and a number of spaces in the car park will have electric

vehicle charging points to support the move to more sustainable transport choices and improve local air quality. There will be approximately 1,285 spaces for bicycles with a network of cycle and pedestrian routes through the development increasing connectivity of surrounding areas.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithí deRóiste said, “Creating a welcoming and sustainable neighbourhood, both for residents living within the new homes and the wider Inchicore

community, is central to Dublin City Council’s vision for Emmet Road. I cannot wait to see this development completed.”

Dublin City Council Housing SPC Chair, Cllr. Alison Gilliland stated, “I welcome the progression of this development. The provision of public housing at Emmet Road is a key piece of the overall Dublin City Council housing delivery pipeline. This is a major step forward in this development.”

Local Area Committee

Chair, Cllr. Sophie nicoullaud commented, “A considerable amount of public consultation was undertaken as part of the design process and I would like to thank the local community, in particular the Inchicore Regeneration Consultative Forum (IRCF) for their continued support throughout the journey to reach this significant milestone. This project should proceed without delay in collaboration with the local community and Councillors.”

New South Dublin mayor and deputy mayor elected

At the Annual Meeting of South Dublin County Council held on Friday 30 June 2023 in County Hall, tallaght, Councillor Alan Edge (Independent) representing the Firhouse - Bohernabreena Electoral Area was elected Mayor of South Dublin County.

Councillor Edge was proposed for Mayor by Councillor Mick Duff (Independent) and was seconded by Councillor Lyn Hagin-Meade (Green Party). Following a roll call vote, Councillor Edge was deemed elected to the Office of Mayor.

Cllr Edge joined South Dublin County Council in 2019 as a first-time election candidate, prior to this he was a barrister in London specialising in criminal law as well as a registered celebrant. He is a strong advocate for the LGBtQ+ community and supports the Ban Conversion practices and Hate Speech legislation. He is also a strong supporter of the environment

and biodiversity and was the Chair of the Arts, Culture, Gaeilge, Heritage and Libraries Strategic Policy Committee.

Councillor Yvonne Collins (Fianna Fáil) representing the Rathfarnham - templeogue was elected Deputy Mayor. Councillor Collins was proposed as Deputy Mayor by her party colleague Councillor Charlie O’Connor and seconded by Councillor Pamela Kearns (Labour).

Councillor Collins also joined the council in 2019. She is a practising solicitor and has run an office in Rathfarnham for the past twenty years. Cllr Collins is a strong advocate for inclusivity and accessible infrastructure. She also campaigns for a sustainable public transport system, particularly a Metro for Dublin Southwest. Cllr Collins has close ties to her community through several community organisations and is a member of the Land Use, transportation and Planning Strategic Policy Committee.

Home carer chosen for national finals

A South Dublin-based home carer has been honoured for his fantastic work in the community during a special day of celebrations at leading home care provider Comfort Keepers. today, clients, community partners, staff, and carers at Comfort Keepers’ office in Rathfarnham celebrated Comfort Keepers’ National Day of Joy, titled Live the Joy, to help everyone find joy in everyday moments.

It was also a 25-year commemoration of Comfort Keepers’ brand, recognition for members of its care team who have been with the company for 10 years, a day to visit clients who have turned 100 years this year, or clients and carers who were celebrating a birthday, as well as the day the company announced its finalists for Comfort Keepers Carer of the Year 2023.

During the Day of Joy celebrations, Adekunle Adenuga from Firhouse was announced as a finalist for the Comfort Keepers Carer of the Year 2023 award for his dedication and passion for his work and for making a positive impact on his clients’ daily lives.

Following the selection based on set criteria, Adekunle was

chosen as one of 11 finalists in the running for the prestigious accolade of Comfort Keepers Carer of the Year 2023.

Collette Gleeson, Managing Director of Comfort Keepers Ireland, said:

“our teams all across the

country are made up of amazing individuals providing outstanding support and uplifting, in-home care to the most vulnerable in our society and their families. Adekunle goes above and beyond for his clients and is a great representative for

Comfort Keepers and our quality care.”

“our day of joy is a great opportunity for us to connect in person to all those who have been instrumental in our success in South Dublin and to celebrate 25 years of elevating

Locals furious over SUVs

Continued on page 3

he described the alleged act as “unacceptable levels of thuggery”.

the human spirit while providing rewarding careers to our carers. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity for us to honour the hard work and dedication of members of our incredible care team who have been spreading joy in their communities every day and announce our Carer of the Year finalists.

“With the work we do with our carers, our valued clients, and their families, we understand the value of experiencing moments of joy every day to boost our overall health, mood and wellbeing. We wanted to use this day to encourage our wider Comfort Keepers’ community to rejoice in the moments we live for - whatever it takes to make us laugh, smile and create memories that will form and last a lifetime.”

Additionally, fellow carers/ home support workers, Martina Whyte from Foxrock, Carol Kowalczyk from Ballsbridge, Michelle Finnegan from tallaght, Marc Graham from Portobello, Mags Kenny and Christine Mahon, both from Ballyfermot and Anne Doherty, supervisor at our Nutgrove office received recognition awards for their 10 years of service with the company.

“Whatever anyone thinks about the climate emergency, slashing tyres, attacking private property, encroaching on someone’s personal home is simply unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Richmond also posted a picture of the leaflet that had been allegedly left on drivers’ windscreens.

It was signed off by an entity calling itself “tyre Extinguishers”. It read: “We have deflated one or more of your tyres. You’ll be angry, but don’t take it personally.

It’s not you, it’s your car.

“We did this because driving around urban areas in your massive vehicle has huge consequences for others.

“Car companies try to convince us we need massive cars. But SuVs and 4x4s are a disaster for our climate.

“SuVs are the second-largest cause of the global rise in carbon dioxide emissions over the past decade - more than the entire aviation industry.”

The leaflet went on to detail the level of damage that emissions from large cars can do to the environment. It also said that SuV drivers were more likely to “take risks on the road”.

The group previously confirmed to the Irish Mirror that it had “released the air from 23 SuVs.

City hotel dig unearths 1,000-year-old remains

Ab Out 100 skeletal remains from the Middle Ages have been unearthed during excavations for a northern ireland firm’s new hotel in Dublin.

burial sites dating back more than 1,000 years were found at Capel Street where an abbey, St Mary’s, once stood.

At least two of the remains are believed to date back to the early 11th Century.

The excavations have been commissioned by beannchor, which is building its new bullitt Dublin hotel on the site.

The abbey used by the Savigniac and Cistercian orders opened in the 12th Century.

Carbon dating of one of the discovered graves predates that by 100 years, indicating the presence of a Christian settlement on the site prior to St Mary’s being built.

The archaeological investigations at the site, which formerly housed boland’s bakery, also unearthed the foundations of buildings dating back to the 1600s.

The finds were discovered close to a former Presbyterian meeting house dating from 1667. Parts of a domestic house known as the ‘Dutch billies’ have also been found.

it was constructed in about 1700 by settlers who came to Dublin after William of Orange ascended to the thrones of England, Scotland and ireland in 1689.

incorporated into design

While the skeletal remains will be painstakingly excavated, cleaned and sent for further analysis, before ultimately being given to the national

Monuments Services, the other structures found during the examination of the site are set to be incorporated into the design of the new hotel complex.

beannchor Group, which runs high-profile hotels and bars in northern ireland, has undertaken similar restoration of historic buildings in the past, including belfast’s Merchant

member of

building with surviving ovens from the boland’s bakery dating from 1890 will be renovated and repurposed.

Edmond O’Donovan, director of excavations for Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy (CDHC, said St Mary’s Abbey was ireland’s largest and most wealthy medieval abbey in its day.

“it was demolished after 1540 when the monastery was disbanded by Henry Viii and was later the site of a 17th Century Presbyterian meeting house. One of the things that was intriguing and exciting about the excavation is that we found an early burial or at least a number of burials that we suspect to be quite early.

President gives 25 awards to Dubs

PRESiDEnt Michael D Higgins recently presented 25 young people from Dublin with the Gaisce Gold Award in a ceremony at Áras an uachtaráin.

The ceremony will award 98 young people for their outstanding commitment to personal development and contribution to society. This year’s participants took on a range of activities and projects, from Meals on Wheels, to playing the bagpipes, learning a new language, participating in Parkruns and refining their leadership skills.

Hotel, which was a former bank.

it said the Dublin project is by far its biggest and most complex project to date. The 17th Century Presbyterian meeting house will be central to the development of a new bar and restaurant concept. The ‘Dutch billies’ house will also be preserved while a

Council honours Abbey architect

Dublin City Council has unveiled a plaque remembering Joseph Holloway (1861–1944), Architect and Theatre Critic, who designed the first Abbey Theatre born in Camden Street, where his father had a bakery, Holloway was educated at St Vincent’s in Castleknock.

Following the death of his father, in 1874, the family moved to 21 northumberland Road, where Holloway lived until his death in 1944.

After studying at the Dublin School of Art, in 1890 he joined O’Callaghan architects, in Kildare Street, Dublin.

Holloway’s most famous work was the remodelling of the Mechanics’ institute and Theatre on lower Abbey Street as the first Abbey Theatre, in December 1904.

He gave up architecture after the First World War, and, having a private income, he was able to devote himself to the theatre.

A great supporter of the theatre, he attended almost all rehearsals and first nights.

“We have one that’s carbon dated to the 11th Century and we have a second burial that was found with a diagnostic stick pin from the 11th Century. And that suggests that there was an earlier Christian and potentially monastic foundation here which predates the Savigniac and Cistercian Abbey.”

bill Wolsey, managing director of beannchor, said it was impossible to have foreseen what the project would entail at its outset in 2017.

Gaisce – The President’s Award, is a self-development programme for young people aged 14 -25 which has been proven to enhance confidence, resilience, and well-being through participation in personal, physical, community, and adventure challenges. This year’s Gold Awardees have committed two or more years to completing various challenges, resulting in a total of 37,000 hours spent achieving personal goals and volunteering within their communities.

Gaisce’s vision is an ireland where every young person, no matter their circumstances, has access to participate in the President’s Challenge.

Revenues at Dublin Bus reach €310m

REVEnuES at Dublin bus last year increased by 14pc to €310.2m as the number of customers journeys rose to 121.4 million.

However, higher costs at Dublin bus resulted in the transport firm recording a modest pre-tax loss of €611,000 compared with a pre-tax profit of €5.7m in 2021.

The company is the largest transport provider in ireland with a fleet of over 1,000 buses which follow 121 routes and the number of passenger journeys increased by 73pc rising from 70 million to 121.4 million as the business recovered from Covid-19.

The business recorded the pre-tax loss as the cost of fuel and lubricants increased from €23.97m to €27.3m as part of the material and services bill rising from €69.85m to €78.82m. Staff costs increased by 15pc from €200.77m to €231.57m. The loss also took account of a €118,000 cost concerning ‘restructuring and other employee related matters’.

On the challenges facing the company, chairman Gary Owens conceded that the highly competitive labour market “resulted in some services failing to operate due

to driver shortages”. He said: “The company has taken several additional steps to boost driver numbers and our employees are working hard to minimise the effect of driver recruitment challenges.”

Mr Owens stated that “the company had a very strong performance in 2022, while meeting the needs of our customers and delivering cost efficiencies and value for money”.

The bulk of Dublin bus’s income was made up of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) payment of €303.26m. in his report, chief executive billy Hann, who joined the business last December, has stated: “We are currently carrying an average of 457,000 customers per day, MondayFriday, meaning customer demand is approaching preCovid years.” Gross consultancy costs in 2022 totalled €1.5m that included a €38,000 spend on legal, €25,000 on industrial relations, €192,000 on public relations and marketing along with €1.14m on organisational strategy. numbers employed increased from 3,642 to 3,771. The staff costs included salary costs of €116.12m.

A

the archaeology team examines skeletal remains discovered during preparatory works for a new hotel in central Dublin

Mad, bad and sad ... but I still say Vive La France

MICHAEL WOLSEY

I LOVE France. I love the culture and the pride that preserves it. I love the language, although my capability has never got much above schoolboy level. I love the food and the care that is lavished on it by chefs, from the small café owner to the five-star celebrity. It is a country of startling contrasts where rugged coasts and stony foreshores give way to glorious sweeping beaches; surging mountain streams feed wide. sluggish lakes with flamingos feeding in their waters and deer grazing on the banks. It is a land of little villages where time stands still and of modern, sophisticated cities, linked by great roads and Europe’s best railway system. But the biggest contrast is provided by the people. They are sometimes said (by the English in particular) to be unfriendly . I have never found it so. French people are friendly but they expect certain rules to be observed. They have a natural reserve and an insistence on good manners that deserves respect.

A French shopkeeper will greet you with ‘bonjour’ before

commencing business. A waiter will bid you ‘au revoir’ as you leave. They will both address you as madame or monsieur and expect you to extend the same courtesy.

So how can people who take

such pride in formal good manners behave so badly when roused to protest?

When French fishermen are angry, they blockade ports, close down shipping lanes and hurl rotting fish onto the streets.

When French farmers protest, they barricade main roads, make bonfires from tractor tyres and dump animal carcasses on the town hall steps. When French air traffic controllers strike, as they seem

to do every summer, they close down flights all over Europe, disrupting business with which they have no quarrel and destroying the holidays of families, most of whom were not going to France and have no interest in the dispute.

And when French protestors take to the streets ... well, we’ve all seen what happens. They set those streets on fire. They wreck shops. they fight with the security forces.

We’ve seen it in protests over the shooting by police of a young motorist. We saw it in protests against raising the pension age. We saw it a few years ago in the Gilets Jaunes protests, and nobody seemed certain what they were about, not even the Yellow Vest wearers themselves.

Different reasons for discontent, but the same ridiculous over-reaction every time. I don’t know of any other democracy in Europe where people respond in this way. Yes, they go on strike everywhere; they march, they chant, they cause some disruption. But France is the only country where protestors set about the demolition of their own towns and cities.

This is not some new phenomenon. I was a teenager myself when, back in the late 1960s, the teenagers of France took to the streets, demanding education reform. Their protest started in a Paris suburb and led to riots and widespread destruction throughout the country. Commentators said it was the worst rioting since the Popular Front era of the 1930s. Historians traced the roots back further, to the nineteenth century Communards, to the student uprising that Victor Hugo made central to Les Misérables, and to the French Revolution itself. So maybe there is some unique trait in the French character that turns discontent into violent protest. I spoke ot the contradiction between the actions of many French people and their innate courtesy and good manners. Another contradiction is how the economy continues to survive, and even thrive, despite upheavals that would prove ruinous elsewhere. And how French people will put aside their differences to welcome a visitor.

Several times in recent years friends have suggested I should cancel a trip to France or a holiday there in case I get caught up in the latest outbreak of trouble.

I have ignored that advice and I will ignore it again this year when I visit an old pal who lives near Avignon.

In France they say, ‘après la pluie, le beau temps’ : after the rain, good weather. And so it always seems in this lovely, contradictory country where, as they also say, ‘impossible n’est pas français’.

Tianna, Zainab, Aqsa and Amirah at Dublin City Council’s and St Patrick’s Athletic Multicultural Family Fun Day in Richmond Park

Former Dublin Lord Mayor Ben Briscoe dies

TánaisTe Micheál Martin has expressed “great sadness” at the death of former Fianna Fáil TD Ben Briscoe.

He said Mr Briscoe served as a Fianna Fáil TD for 37 years from 1965 to 2002 and “is remembered fondly by all who served with him”.

Mr Martin said that Mr Briscoe was “popular across all parties because of his good humour and decency”.

He said that Mr Briscoe’s

“proudest achievement” was the year he spent as Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1988-89.

The Tánaiste added: “Ben was the son of Bob Briscoe who was an important figure in ireland’s revolutionary struggle, a founder of Fianna Fáil, a member of Dáil Éireann for 34 years and one of the most famous ever holders of the office of Lord Mayor of Dublin.”

He was first elected to

Summer sizzler BBQ fest kicks off

GeT ready to indulge in a sizzling celebration of sun, sand, and mouth-watering food this summer as the Beach BBQ Festival makes its return to Bray’s spectacular seafront on July 22 and 23.

This family-friendly scorcher is set to be the ultimate summer party, offering an incredible selection of activities including a funfair, demos, games, DJ sets, mouth-watering BBQ & food trucks.

The festival promises an unforgettable taste experience combined with a vibrant outdoor party atmosphere.

From 11 am daily, a top-notch line-up of vendors will fire up their grills, serving up a delectable array of BBQ meats including burgers, sausages, kebabs, wings, veggie and vegan

dishes with sauces and sides that will tantalise your taste buds.

across the weekend thrillseekers of all ages will be entertained by an exciting funfair, DJs will spin top summer anthems, while over on the Demo stage food enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness the culinary expertise of special guests who will showcase their top secrets, tips & techniques, no-holds-barred recipes and then you can sample their delicious meats.

For those looking to unleash their competitive spirit, the Beach BBQ Festival offers a range of thrilling summer games where participants have the chance to win exclusive festival merchandise.

Dáil Éireann for Fianna Fáil in the Dublin south-West constituency at the 1965 general election, succeeding his father Robert Briscoe who had been a TD for more than 30 years, and was also a former lord mayor. Mr Briscoe was part of Dublin’s Jewish community, and along with his father, Mervyn Taylor and alan shatter was among the best-known irish politicians with a Jewish background. He was elected at

the 1969 general election for Dublin south-Central, where he was re-elected in 1973, and again in the Dublin Rathmines West constituency at 1977 general election.

a subsequent boundary revision in advance of the 1981 general election abolished Dublin Rathmines West and divided the area between the neighbouring constituencies. Briscoe retired at the 2002 general election.

Homeless figures up by more than 20%

HoMeLessness figures have reached a record high with 12,411 people accessing emergency accommodation last month.

The figures, released by the Department of Housing, is a 1.4% increase on the previous month during which the eviction ban was lifted.

The figures show that Dublin has the highest number of people registered as homeless at 9,160, including 2,802 children.

and nationally there are 3,699 children living in B&Bs, hotels, and temporary accommodation.

The figures don’t include asylum seekers, refugees, women in refuge centres and the so-called hidden homeless.

Minister for Housing

Darragh o’Brien said he was disappointed by the increase in homelessness this month, but “unfortunately not surprised”.

“We are increasing supply [of housing] across the country, that is having an impact. We’re exiting more people into permanent homes,” he said.

Mr o’Brien said the increase is “significantly less” than has been seen in recent months, and while that is

to be welcomed “that is no consolation for those who find themselves in emergency accommodation”.

Mr o’Brien acknowledged that some people entering emergency accommodation are coming from the private rental sector but said the decision to end the moratorium on evictions was “a difficult one but absolutely the correct one”.

in a statement, Peter McVerry Trust Ceo Francis Doherty said, to turn the corner, a close look is required at the type of social housing that is being delivered.

“[our] concern is that while

housing output grows, the type of homes being delivered doesn’t adequately reflect the needs of people impacted by homelessness or even the main need of people on the wider social housing waiting lists,” he said.

“almost 50% of the people in homelessness last month needed a one bed home, no other house type comes anywhere near that figure.

“This week if you looked at the total number of onebedroom homes to buy on the market on daft.ie or myhome. ie of any type or price there are just around 600 nationally.”

Bríd Smith to step down at next election

a Dart station in north Dublin is covered in urine, faeces, beer cans and cigarette butts line the stairwell as commuters travel to their destinations.

People Before Profit tD Bríd Smith has announced that she will not contest the next general election, after having served two terms in the Dáil.

Ms Smith said she will step down as a tD following the conclusion of the 33rd Dáil, but will remain an activist and socialist in the Ballyfermot area, as well as with the party nationally.

Ms Smith was first elected in 2016, and re-elected in 2020, following unsuccessful attempts in 1997, 2002 and 2007.

The Dublin South Central tD said it has been “a privilege” to serve the people of her constituency, and that she will continue to be vocal and active until the next election comes around.

Cllr Hazel de Nortúin will now run for the party in Dublin South Central.

Ms Smith said the next

election would be an opportunity for the party to “promote a new generation of activists”.

“We need younger voices to represent the people of Dublin South Central. as a young mother from Cherry Orchard Cllr Hazel de Nortúin will be a very strong candidate and I am delighted that she has been selected by PBP members in the constituency to contest the next general election.” according to the most recent Business Post/red C poll, support for PBP has stagnated at 3 per cent of the ove rall electorate. asked if she thought that seats held by those on the left of the political spectrum were vulnerable in the next election, Smith said that Sinn Féin’s rise in popularity has changed the political landscape, but has not made rival left-wing parties “obselete”.

“I think the surge for Sinn Fein has made the left vulnerable, but it doesn’t mean that we’re obsolete.

“and I do think there’s a space

Tickets sell fast for Dun Laoghaire gigs

in South Central in particular, which is a very left wing constituency, for a socialist tD,” she said, before describing De Nortúin as “a young socialist fighter”.

“I’m not hanging up the boots by any manner of means,” she continued.

“I’ll be out there fighting with [De Nortúin] and making sure that she wins the seats next time around.”

a former trade unionist, Smith campaigned over a variety of social issues with PBP, including abortion, water charges and housing. She said her biggest achievement was the the people she met during her time in politics.

“I have to say my best bits were the people I met along the way. I met wonderful people, both in the constituency and beyond.

“People who daily face really difficult struggles, whether its due to health, or poverty or homelessness or the environment indeed, but who face them with great courage and who fight back.”

TICKETS for the new music festival wwhich ill take place in Dun Laoghaire harbour this summer are selling fast.

‘Live on the Harbour’ will run at the south county Dublin seaside town from July 27-29, and will see Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah, Jax Jones, Bingo Loco and more ply their wares. The festival will kick off

on July 27 with ‘The Ibiza Orchestra Experience’, which will see a 26-piece orchestra performing classic Ibiza club hits, with DJ sets from Mark McCabe, Todd Terry and Fergie.

July 28th sees a hip-hop and rap flavour to the bill, with a headline set by Dizzee Rascal, supported by JME, Nealo, Jafaris, Sello, Sweetlemonade

and Yesunia. July 29 sees Bingo Loco take over the bill for their ‘Summerjam!’ programmewhich includes sets by Jax Jones, Tinie Tempah, Smash Hits, the Dustin the Turkey Boiler Room and more. Dizzee Rascal critically acclaimed artist, having won a BRIT Award, a BET Award, Mercury Prize, NME Award, Urban Music Award, to name a few.

Council joins forces with ‘Think Before You Flush’

In a landmark collaboration, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council has come together with other local authorities from coastal regions across Ireland to pledge their commitment to the “Think Before You Flush” campaign on all Blue Flag Beaches. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of flushing instead of binning sanitary products on our natural environment including beaches and promote responsible waste management practices among beachgoers.

The “Think Before You Flush” campaign, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, emphasises the importance of appropriate flushing behaviour and disposal of items including wipes and other sanitary products in the bin, even if they are labelled as flushable. Only the 3 Ps, pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet. When items such as wipes and sanitary products are flushed down the toilet, they can cause serious

blockages in sewage systems, leading to sewage overflows and ultimately polluting coastal waters and beaches.

Recognising the urgent need to protect Ireland’s remarkable coastal ecosystems, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council has united with other coastal local authorities around Ireland in their commitment to spread awareness about the campaign and promote responsible waste disposal practices.

Under this collaborative effort, participating councils will display Think Before You Flush signage on Blue Flag Beaches, offering clear instructions on appropriate flushing behaviour, highlighting the main items people incorrectly flush down their toilets (the ‘Dirty Dozen’) and encouraging visitors to use designated sanitary waste bins. By partnering with Clean Coasts and Uisce Éireann’s Think Before You Flush campaign, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council aims to foster a culture of

environmental responsibility, where individuals can take proactive steps to protect our coastal habitats. The success of this campaign hinges on the participation and support of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown’s coastal stakeholders, including the public, beachgoers, residents, and tourists alike.

Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager at Clean Coasts, expressed her enthusiasm for Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council’s collaborative efforts and support of the campaign.

“We are thrilled to see Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council and communities from coastal regions across Ireland joining forces to champion the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign on our cherished Blue Flag Beaches. This joint commitment not only underscores Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council’s dedication to promoting environmental practices but also highlights shared responsibility for our coastal communities.”

Young artists picked for leading exhibition

Samuel Hilliard, a talented artist from Tallaght, and Clement Yang, a 20-year-old artist from Taiwan living in Ballsbridge, are two out of 10 artists selected as part of the Connecting artists 2023 programme, which culminated in an exhibition of their art at the renowned Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) in Dublin, which took place July 16-18. Connecting artists is a

10-week online programme designed by miriam Spollen, the founder of Connections arts Centre, a social enterprise dedicated to connecting the disability community through the arts.

miriam, who is also living in Dublin (Terenure) created this online programme for visual artists nationwide with intellectual disabilities who wish to develop their creative practice.

Despite living with autism, Tallaght man Samuel is an incredibly independent individual who works as an assistant pizza chef in an Italian kitchen, showcasing his creativity through culinary arts. alongside his passion for cooking and baking, Samuel excels at sketching and painting freehand, encompassing various subjects such as still life, portraits and landscapes.

Samuel Hilliard’s Moo Moo

Coláiste Íde: You’re here, we care, so let’s connect

Though Coláiste Íde was always an inclusive College of Further Education, even we were unprepared for the impact Covid had on our learners. Their lives were affected beyond recognition. our current multidisciplinary team model needed to radically respond to keep our learners engaged, so we developed a new initiative You’re here, We Care, So Let’s Connect

During Covid many of our learners disconnected, became isolated and lonely, losing their sense of direction and what possibilities the world might offer them. In setting up this team we drew on best practice from second and third level and healthcare models to establish a multidisciplinary team where staffs’ expertise and interests could be used to work with learners so that they are always connected to the college team. We are a team who meet weekly ensuring that our service to our learners is connected, consistent, and

caring. All team members’ offices have a visual pink door so learners know where they can connect with any member of the team this means that learners are encouraged to connect with the team when they need it without judgement in a safe environment. often learners don’t know where to go but by having this in the college it is a recognisable safe place where they can go to get help and support.

Since we started our new initiative we have noticed an increase in learner retention and engagement with the service especially with our vulnerable or challenged learners.

We keep our students in the now, empower them to believe in themselves and make informed choices for a meaningful future.

In addition to a student support centre where students

are supported in their academic work, we added a multi-sensory room to this suite where learners can relax and regulate their nervous system. The room is constantly used in a ‘drop-in’ capacity and is another point of reference in the college where learners who are overwhelmed can connect with team members or simply ‘chill out’. We are the only College of Further Education in the City of Dublin ETB who have this

facility. We recognised that with the increase in mental health issues of our learners that we needed to have an onsite professional counselling service as part of this new initiative, which is not normally found in colleges of Further Education. We offer our learners one-toone professional counselling by a fully accredited counsellor and psychotherapist where the focus is to support our learners to increase their mental health and wellbeing, thus enable them to stay engaged in their learning journey.

As a college we recognised that though the team members were psychologically aware of the learner’s needs who presented to them, many of our staff felt unable to support learners who had mental health issues, though they were willing to learn.

The significance in our initiative is firstly at our weekly meetings the Principal, who is psychologically qualified, was prepared to upskill the members of the team in

mental health issues such as schizophrenia, depression etc. This knowledge was then delivered to other staff at staff meetings and in small inservice groups. This peer-topeer support empowered all staff members enabling them to approach learners to discuss mental health issues. The success of this is that it is in-house training and is changing the culture around mental health issues in the college.

The impact of providing these new support initiatives for our learners is that they are fully aware that this college will do everything in its power to ensure that they reach their full potential. our new learner support initiatives and revised personnel structures ensures that we support our learners and they know it. They recognise that their care and wellbeing is our highest priority. It’s a culture which embodies You’re here, We Care, So Let’s Connect.

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

Freemans Jrn , 13/07/1867

Evening Her 07/07/1938