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Two Southside beaches retain their Blue Flag status

The Southsie has retained its two Blue Flags for 2023. The strands at Killiney and Seapoint were among 94 Irish beaches and marinas have been awarded Blue Flag status for 2023, including with Rush, Donabate and Portmarnock on the Southside. The recipients were announced by environmental organisation An Taisce.

A total of 159 awards –including 65 beaches awarded the Green Coast Award – were presented by Minister for housing Darragh O’Brien on

Donabate beach. “During its 36 years, the Blue Flag has become an internationally recognised symbol of high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety,” Minister O’Brien said.

“Today’s high number of awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the local authorities, An Taisce, local coastal communities and other volunteers around the country.”

Some 81 of the 85 beaches and all 10 marinas awarded last year

have retained Blue Flag status.

Three extra beaches in Mayo are included this year, Bertra, Clare Island and Old head, which it was awarded for the first time since 2012.

The Blue Flag is administered in Ireland by An Taisce on behalf of the Foundation for environmental education.

The aim of the Green Coast Award, now in its 20th year, is to recognise beaches of high environmental quality.

Three more Green Coast Awards for Carrowniskey Beach, Co Mayo, Bettystown,

Co Meath and Rosslare harbour Beach in Co Wexford, were awarded this year compared to 2022.

Meanwhile, Swimmers at Front Strand Beach in Balbriggan have been advised against bathing after the beach was hit with another all-season restriction for the summer. The water quality at Front Strand Beach is one of three in the country to have “poor” bathing water quality, where swimmers are advised not to swim for the entire season.

Continued on next page

Anna Clifford at the Ranelagh Arts Festival as she performed live. Pic: Maxwells

Southside retains its Blue Flags

Continued from previous page Inspections by the EPA, published last week, revealed the beach was polluted with sewage discharge, faeces from dogs, birds and other animals and contaminated surface streams flowing through the town.

Front Strand Beach was also rated “poor” by the EPA in 2021. An All-Season Restriction has been placed on the beach advising of a potential risk of illness. However, it is not a ban on swimming or a closure of the beach. The assessment was based on the last four years of bathing water quality data.

While the advisory is in place, the council said lifeguards will remain on the beach and a red flag will not be raised unless there is a need to advise bathers of a specific water safety issue. officials from Fingal County Council met with swimmers to outline the steps it has taken to tackle the recurring issue.

Sewage discharged onto Sandymount

A SToRM overflow outlet discharging sewage onto Sandymount Beach in south Dublin is not up to “required standards”, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Uisce Éireann was investigating reports of raw sewage overflowing onto the beach recently after a spell of heavy rain.

Local residents said “huge volumes” of sewage, including sanitary products and condoms, were deposited onto the beach.

Irish Water notified the EPA of a storm overflow at Sandymount Beach following heavy rain on May 11, and a drainage crew carried out a full clean-up on May 12.

However, the EPA said the storm overflow outlet from Ailesbury Pumping Station, which discharges onto Sandymount Strand, does not

Róisín Duffy, Orlaith Gavan and Dr Angie Brown at the launch of the Irish Heart Foundation’s ‘Before Damage is Done’ campaign.

Pic: Maxwells

meet the required standards.

“It is the responsibility of Uisce Éireann to carry out all works necessary to resolve this issue and bring the overflow outlet up to the required standards,” it said.

“The EPA has advised Uisce Éireann to carry out the work needed to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”

In its latest update to the EPA, Uisce Éireann indicated that “significant work” will be required and it is assessing the available options. These include

redirecting the overflow to a larger sewer, increasing the amount of stormwater storage available and relocating the discharge outfall.

“The EPA requires Uisce Éireann to identify the best option and provide a detailed plan and timeframe to resolve this issue,” the EPA said. A spokesperson for Irish Water said the stormwater overflow at Ailesbury pumping station was built in the 1900s and “predates current building practice and current standards”.

Penneys reveals Dundrum date

Penneys will officially open the doors of its muchanticipated newly relocated store in Dundrum Town Centre on June 22 at 10am. The retailer has invested €14.8 million in this new and much improved store, reinforcing its continued commitment to the Irish market. Penneys is expanding and relocating to the second and third floor of the former House of Fraser site, which will feature 60,000 sq. ft of prime retail space and represents a 64% increase in size from the current Dundrum Penneys store.

“The stormwater overflow at Ailesbury pumping station is a critical flood defence mechanism for the locality.

“The sewer system in this area was built in the 1900s and, as was typical at the time, it carries both wastewater from homes and businesses and water that is drained off roads and pavements, roofs and patio areas of local housing.

“This predates current building practice and current standards now required to meet the bathing water criteria.

Once open, Penneys will become one of Dundrum Town Centre’s largest fashion stores and the third largest Penneys store in Ireland, following its flagship store in Mary Street and its store in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Dublin.

Customers to the new Penneys Dundrum store can look forward to discovering the latest summer fashion trends and great value everyday essentials.

€2.6m

funding for 19 projects

THE Government has announced €50m in funding for over 880 projects as part of the first ever Community Recognition Fund.

South Dublin County Council have received €2,654,305 for 19 projects across the County, which were supported and submitted by the Community Department of the Council. These projects range from €15,000 for minor repair improvements at Rathcoole Football club to €350,000 for the Provision of new all-weather sports pitch at Knockmitten Park.

Speaking on the announcement, Mayor of South Dublin County Council Cllr. Emma Murphy said; “I am delighted to see the announcement of much deserved community funding for 19 really welcome projects. This funding is a recognition of the warm welcome the people of South Dublin gave to those who have come from the direst of circumstances and this funding will allow these communities to be enhanced for the benefit of all. I must also send thanks to the Community staff at SDCC, who worked tirelessly to get this funding.”

CUS crowned at Money Smarts quiz champions

CatholiC University School

from Dublin have been crowned champions at this year’s Bank of ireland Money Smarts Quiz Grand Final held in trinity College Dublin.

Sixteen secondary school teams from across ireland, who all emerged victorious from qualifiers held recently in the RDS, gathered at the Final in Dublin, with students tom lanigan, lucas Maguire, Paul tracey, Cillian o’Crónín from Catholic University School, Dublin securing the top prize of €25,000 for their school. Dublin students from Coláiste Phadraig, lucan, Sanford Park School and Belvedere College also competed in the finals.

The Bank of ireland Money Smarts Quiz Challenge is now in its fourth year, with nearly 2,000 students competing this year to reach the Grand Final. Money Smarts is Bank of ireland’s free financial literacy programme for 2nd level students, with a financial literacy quiz featuring as the centrepiece of the programme designed to help students learn about managing their finances and to develop good Financial Wellbeing habits.

Bank of ireland’s ambition, which has seen almost 420,000 students participate in a range of successful programmes for both

irish primary and secondary schools since 2017, is to bring financial literacy directly into the classroom.

Money Smarts is critical to this. Bank of ireland is aiming to grow this number to over 500,000 students in the coming years,

equipping students with key life skills, and helping improve financial confidence and people’s ability to make better financial decisions later in life.

Speaking at the Money Smarts Grand Final, Rory Carty, head Youth Banking at Bank of ireland

said: “For all 16 teams here today even qualifying for the Money Smarts Grand Final is an impressive achievement, and i want to especially congratulate Catholic University School from Dublin who have been crowned champions.

New Nike store puts best foot forward

Nike Unite, the latest retail concept from iconic sports brand Nike, has opened its doors at Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin’s largest retail and leisure destination.

The first store of its kind in ireland, Nike Unite puts the community first, aiming to help local people connect with sport.

The unit features an in-store community wall, celebrating Dublin athletes and sporting achievement, as well as local landmarks and partnerships.

Good financial habits, like any positive habits, begin at an early age, and to help improve youth financial literacy we are delighted that this programme continues to go from strength to strength. it’s not always easy to get teenagers engaged about money management and financial literacy, but Bank of ireland believes that schools are ideally placed to provide a head start in developing good financial habits for life, which is why we have developed a comprehensive range of supports for teachers and parents.

Congratulations Dublin schools Coláiste Phadraig, lucan, Sanford Park School and Belvedere College, and we wish them all the best of luck for the future.”

The new store is the latest expression of the global Nike Unite store concept, a local home court for members and the most valuable destination for sport.

The Nike Unite Blanchardstown Centre store will offer an innovative shopping experience for customers through their interactive Service Desk.

The service desk offers wide range of online to offline services such as click & collect, digital orders returns and selfservice checkout and more.

The store is designed to be a reflection of the heart and spirit of Blanchardstown Centre with design elements that honour local landmarks and local athletes. Nike Unite Blanchardstown encourages everyone to get moving.

Students from Sanford Park School in Ranelagh who took part in the quiz

Householders give thumbs up to solar

HouseHolders are “generally positive” towards new wind and solar farms, a new national survey from the sustainable energy Authority of Ireland (seAI) has shown.

According to an seAI survey,overall there are “high levels of support for renewable energy generation from wind and solar farms”.

seAI surveyed over 1,700 households.

More than 1,100 respondents are close to 50 new commercial wind and solar PV projects across all rural Ireland.

The survey forms part of a long-term study by seAI to evaluate the effects of public policies on people’s attitudes to the energy transition and renewables in Ireland.

seAI explained that the objective of the survey was to “understand the impacts of these infrastructure projects on people who live in their nearby areas, to inform an equitable and socially sustainable energy transition”.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Minister for the environment, Climate and Communications, eamon ryan said:

“It tells us that Irish people understand that the future of energy is green energy. It’s clean, it’s secure and it’s more cost effective than the expensive ongoing import of fossil fuels.

“This will build on the public

support for renewables and harness the major investment in communities benefits, inclusive community engagement and amenities for recreational access that are changing the public’s relationship with renewable

energy infrastructure.”

The results show that 73% of respondents who live less than 1km away from a renewable energy supply scheme (ress) wind project hold positive or very positive attitudes towards

Young call for more parks

wind energy. A further 59% of respondents feel Ireland has too few wind farms and 78% feel Ireland has too few solar PV farms.

A total of 87% of respondents feel they know at least a little about wind energy. only 22-28% of respondents in the group feel they know a lot about wind. similarly, 80% of respondents feel they know at least a little about solar energy, while 1824% of people who took part in the survey feel they know a lot about solar. on average, “careful site location and early engagement with local residents” was what respondents deemed most important during the engagement and the planning process.

“Continued engagement with communities is mission critical to delivering the energy transition, and seAI are here to support every individual, community, and business in Ireland,” William Walsh, chief executive officer (Ceo) of seAI said. seAI has said it intends to plan further studies on the socio-economic impacts of the government’s ress policy.

More youth centres, parks and cycle lanes were among the most popular ideas collected during a survey of young people living in dublin city.

The survey was conducted with students in five schools as part of a forum hosted by the lord Mayor of dublin Caroline Conroy at the Mansion House. The young people were asked to share their ideas and input on what they enjoy about their city, what they would like to change and what they would like to see to ensure inclusion of their age group for the future.

“It’s so important that young people have a voice and that we listen to them,” said the lord Mayor.

“Youth is one of the themes of my term in office and I’m hoping we can now establish a focus group of these young people to work with the City Council in the future on some of these ideas.”

After more youth centres, parks and cycle lanes, the next most popular ideas were more football facilities, sports centres and skate parks.

They were followed by more mixed schools, cinemas, swimming areas and picnic tables.

JACKIES RETURN TO SLENDER!

In a brand new venue, and warmly welcome new members through the door. Like so many of us, Jackie faced challenges during the pandemic and unfortunately had to take a break from the role. She is now in the perfect position to return to the caring, inspiring, and supporting role she loves, helping members to overcome challenges that come with being overweight, to take control and become more confident.

Jackie says “when I first joined Slimming World as a member, I never dreamed that I would end up helping other people to lose weight, and I was gutted that I had to take a step back for a while, but now I’m

delighted to be back. It’s a privilege for me to be able to pass on the experience, the insight and understanding that helped me, so that I can give my members the support they need to get to their fabulous dream target weight”.

Just like the members she’s currently supporting, Jackie is a Slimming World member, on her own successful journey and heading towards her own dream weight. She says “I’m still amazed at the sheer amount of food I can enjoy while successfully losing weight, without counting a single calorie!

With Slimming World’s ‘Food Optimising’ plan, I never feel like I’m on a diet. The eating plan

encourages you to eat lots of tasty, filling foods like pasta, rice, potatoes and lean meat and fish.

I’m never hungry and no foods are banned so there’s no feeling cheated as I get to enjoy our

family favourites such as spaghetti bolognese, curries, even burger and chips.

“Support is really the most important thing. It all starts with feeling that you’re not alone. I couldn’t be successful without the weekly help, encouragement and understanding of my own Consultant, Susan and our group, especially on those weeks that are more difficult or if I feel I didn’t have a great week. There’s never any judgment or shame, just bags of support and encouragement and inspiration for the week ahead. And, on those great weeks, the camaraderie, sense of community and friendships I’m finding in

group are there to cheer me on and celebrate in my success. There’s SO much more to Slimming World – I just want to tell everyone about it!”

Jackie’s Slimming World groups are held at Le Cheile DCYC, Collins Ave East, Dublin 5 every Wednesday at 5.30pm and 7pm. She is also the consultant for Marino/ Drumcondra and the groups are held every Thursday at 7.30am, 9.30am and 5.30pm in the Ierne Social & Sports Club on Grace Park Road/Richmond Road. For more information or to join Jackie’s group either pop along where you’ll be guaranteed a warm welcome or call her on 086 8177068.

Children from Creative Kids & Co Pre-School, Walkinstown, Dublin on a recent visit to Mount Venus Nursery. Pic: Maxwells

I’m not too old for online – but

I’m old enough to know better

MICHAEL

WOLSEY

THE GAA has scored owngoals with its forays into the world of online technology. It has been berated for refusing to accept cash at the turnstiles, forcing fans to book match tickets online and store them on a phone. But the row about this so-called Digital Lockout was nothing compared to the storm over restricting TV coverage of some games to the GAA’s own subscription channel.

In both cases the association has been accused, among many transgressions, of discriminating against the elderly. Tánaiste Micheál Martin specifically referred to “senior citizens” when he spoke against streaming important games on the GAAGo service. Dragons’ Den judge, Gavin Duffy, suggested the GAA might organise classes to give “people of a certain age” the skills needed to locate a viewing app or make an online booking.

I’m not certain when “a certain age” begins but Mr Duffy is 63 so he can’t be too far off it. I’m twelve years older, so I certainly qualify.

I don’t think Mr Duffy needs the sort of help he is proposing and neither do I. I am perfectly capable of finding an app, making an online payment, or

reserving a ticket via my phone or laptop.

Some people have difficulty with these things just as I have extreme difficulty with putting up a shelf or mending a broken pipe. Lack of skill or lack of practice may be the problembut it’s not age.

I am younger than Michael D Higgins who is coping

perfectly well with the problems of the Presidency. I am younger than Joe Biden, who sometimes looks a bit shaky on his feet but has the mental capacity required for the world’s most taxing job. I am younger than Donald Trump who hopes to re-take that job.

I have doubts about his mental capacity but they are

the same doubts I would have had when he was in his sixties, fifties or forties.

You don’t become an eejit at “a certain age” nor lose the ability to grapple with the everyday tasks of a digital era. I’m sure the Tánaiste and all the concerned commentators are well meaning, but I find their view of “senior citizens”

more condescending than considerate.

As it happens, I do object to the Digital Lockout, but not because of some insurmountable difficulty in making an online booking for match tickets, which in any case, can still be bought from shops and GAA outlets. My issue is with the push towards a

cashless society in which people are increasingly reliant on their phones.

Being cashless leaves us dependent for everyday transactions on banks which have not shown themselves at all responsive to the wishes of customers: closing branches, removing ATMs, imposing charges for the use of debit cards. They do what suits them and I don’t want to hand them control over every little purchase I make.

I don’t want to completely rely on a phone either, because we forget to charge phones, they sometimes break down and they don’t work in areas with poor broadband.

Ticketmaster has taken to issuing some tickets which they send to your phone and which have to stay there because they cannot be printed at home. Your phone is your ticket, they say.

Even if the phone is fully charged and reception is perfect, I cannot see how this is an improvement on printing the ticket on a single sheet of paper that can be checked at the point of entry.

That is simpler than searching for your phone, then searching on the phone for the appropriate email or app. It may be less trouble for Ticketmaster and it allows them to collect more data. But it is more trouble for me.

It’s not that I can’t do these things, just that I don’t want to.

I’m not too old to find an app or make an online booking. But I’m old enough to remember when service providers said the customer was always right. Old enough to remember when he who paid the piper

with Claire Monique & Michelle Carpenter

Colm Hayes and Lucy Kennedy from Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio with Sisters Katherina and Clara Flynn, founders of Tupperware Ireland, at their recent on air Tupperware Party. Pic: Paul Sherwood

Airport plans to charge less for quieter planes

Airport operator daa has announced plans for new sustainability measures to incentivise airlines to operate lower Co₂ emission planes at Dublin Airport.

Under the new proposed incentive scheme, a low emissions discount will apply to Dublin Airport’s charges and daa will charge airlines who fly high emission aircraft more.

The daa plans to introduce the new discounts to incentivise the operation of newer, quieter and cleaner aircraft at Dublin Airport. Consultation with airlines on the next phase of daa’s environmental charging strategy will start soon.

Daa said that airlines will get a new 25% discount off all runway charges if they operate the most environmentally friendly aircraft at all times of the day.

The expected multi million euro discounts will further incentivise sustainable airport operations at Dublin Airport and are expected to go live

within the next six months, it added.

Daa introduced the first phase of its environmental charging strategy last year and already applies higher charges for noisier aircraft which operate at night.

phases 1 and 2 of the noise reduction scheme focus on penalising aircraft noise at night via surcharges.

it said that airlines at Dublin Airport are set to achieve discounts on published charges of more than €30m this year.

Airlines with aircraft based at Dublin Airport, including ryanair and Aer Lingus, are set to reap the largest share of these incentives, it added.

The company reduced its carbon emissions by 24% at Dublin Airport and 38% at Cork Airport last year compared to 2018 levels.

This was achieved by implementing “a robust energy management process”, continued LED upgrade works,

a fleet replacement programme, and participation in the SEAi and opW reduce Your Use Campaign.

Daa has also exceeded its recycling target by achieving a 46% recycling rate at Dublin Airport.

Kenny Jacobs, daa of CEo, the company wants to embed environmental sustainability into everything it does.

“We are acutely aware of the scale of the task of achieving the Government’s target of a 51% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions at our airports by 2030, on our way to our ultimate goal of achieving netzero emissions by 2050,” Mr Jacobs said.

“We are fully committed to delivering on these targets while in parallel, working alongside aviation stakeholders and our airline partners to support the sector’s transition to a more sustainable model for the future and addressing our Scope 3 emissions,” he added.

Clean Coasts are offering free clean-up kits to locals

WorLD ocean Day is celebrated annually on 8th of June and, with less than one month to go, Irish environmental charity Clean Coasts are asking volunteers in County Dublin to sign up to request a free clean-up kit and take action on the day.

In June 2023, Clean Coasts will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Since 2003, Clean Coasts has been working with communities to help protect and care for Ireland’s waterways, coastline, seas, ocean and marine life.

For the past 20 years, Clean Coasts has been working to create tangible and immediate improvements to Ireland’s coastal environment, involving thousands of volunteers removing large quantities of marine litter from our coastline each year. For this reason, the programme are looking forward to marking this milestone by doing something to protect the Irish coast and celebrating the amazing groups and volunteers around Ireland for the work they do all year round.

For 2023, the focus of World ocean Day will be on the 30x30

campaign meaning that for us to create a healthy ocean with abundant wildlife and to stabilize our climate, it’s crucial that 30% of our planet’s lands, waters, and ocean are protected by the year 2030. Marine litter has become a global problem for humans and marine life alike. For the past 20 years, Clean

Coasts has been working with communities to tackle this issue. Making sure litter is collected and disposed of properly at the source is vital for a cleaner ocean and a greener world for all of us to enjoy. Communities in County Dublin have demonstrated their desire to be part of the solution by taking part in several beach cleaning calls to action.

Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager, speaking of the event said, ‘Happy 20th Birthday to the Clean Coasts community! Let’s celebrate by working together to protect our coastlines and waterways. The Clean Coasts network has over 2000 groups working across Ireland to clean up Ireland coastline, beaches and waterways. Join us in our clean-up efforts and let’s continue to make a positive impact and celebrate the incredible natural environment Irish has to offer.’

The charity is asking everybody around Ireland to join their birthday celebrations and make a difference for our marine environment and wildlife. To request a kit, visit www.cleancoasts.org.

Leinster and Ireland Rugby Player, and LauraLynn ambassador Garry Ringrose launches Children’s Hospice Week 2023 at LauraLynn, alongside 11-year-old Natalia (11). Pic: Paul Sherwood

Cat owners urged to neuter their pets Plaque unveiled for firemen killed in 1891

Ireland’s Pet experts Petmania are urging cat owners to be responsible this kitten season and neuter their cats to help ease pressure on cat rescue centres nationwide.

May is typically the start of what is known as ‘kitten season’, which runs until september, when many families across the country will be greeted with unexpected, and often unwanted litters of kittens that require rehoming and result in increased strain on local rescue centres.

research conducted recently by Petmania revealed that 67% of Irish homeowners have a pet in their family.

a total of 46% of those pet owners have a cat in their home, making them the second most popular pet in Ireland after dogs.

during the month of May, Petmania is celebrating all things cat and encouraging customers and other pet owners in Ireland to seek the best health care and advice when it comes to their feline friends.

From instore offers on cat food and litter, to scheduled visits from local cat rescue centres, Petmania’s local communities will have the chance to meet and rescue their newest family members throughout the month.

The lord Mayor of dublin Caroline Conroy has unveiled a dublin City Council Commemorative Plaque at the spot where two firefighters died while fighting a large fire in Westmoreland street on May 20, 1891.

The fire broke out at the premises of Graham’s chemists and lafayette’s photographers, now part of CCT College.

Graham’s chemist occupied the first two floors, with lafayette’s photographers on the next two, and living accommodation on the fifth floor.

at approximately 2 a.m. a fire was discovered on the third floor. There were four occupants on the fifth floor, two of whom managed to escape to the street and raise the alarm but two women were trapped on the fifth floor.

during the fire service response Inspector Christopher doherty, who had 25 years’ service in dublin Fire Brigade and was the holder of three chevrons for bravery for saving life on previous occasions, and Fireman Peter Bourke, three months’ service in dublin Fire Brigade, paid the ultimate price in their role as firefighters and lost their lives here while saving the life of a civilian.

speaking at the unveiling the

Retailer HMV to return to Dublin

Music retailer HMV is to make a return to ireland, seven years after it closed its last remaining shop here.

The company is to open a new outlet on Dublin’s Henry street by the middle of July this year and has indicated more will follow.

It will be the firm’s first flagship store outside the UK since it was taken over by a new owner four years ago.

The chain will be taking the 6,000 square foot unit at 18 Henry street.

HMV shut its final premises in ireland in 2016 and went online only, before it also shut down the website here two years later.

lord Mayor said, “In unveiling this plaque today we remember the sacrifices made by two brave firemen in the service of their city and its citizens. In doing so we are also acknowledging the great service that their successors in today’s

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dublin Fire Brigade give to our City day in and day out.”

The lord Mayor thanked CCT College and its president neil Gallagher for agreeing to have the plaque erected on the building. also speaking at the unveiling

Offices could be converted to home

MInIsTer for housing darragh O’Brien has said there may be an opportunity to convert vacant office developments into homes.

The minister confirmed that he was was engaging with Minister for enterprise simon Coveney on this issue whom he described as very supportive.

“It’s just to look at the opportunities that may present themselves,” Mr O’Brien said.

he added that people are now working differently in cities with many choosing to work remotely.

This means there may be many office developments which could be “repurposed”, the Minister said.

It is understood that planning laws could be relaxed to allow these office buildings to be changed into homes quickly.

The Irish Times reported that Mr O’Brien wrote to Mr Coveney last week to express the view that empty offices “could become vibrant apartment blocks in the heart of our cities”.

In recent days Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he believes up to 40,000 new homes will have to be delivered every year to address the housing crisis.

Chief Fire Officer dennis Keeley said, “The dublin Fire Brigade of today is a wellrespected, progressive, forward looking fire, ambulance and rescue service which trains and prepares for the needs of today’s city and plans for the future.”

in 2019, sunrise Records, the Ontario-based business owned by music retail mogul Doug Putman, bought the remaining UK business and assets of HMV out of administration, saving 100 stores and nearly 1,500 jobs. sunrise had previously bought around 70 HMV stores in canada in 2017 from then owner Hilco.

New urban circus event launched

duBlIn City Council has announced a new familyfriendly event, ‘urban Circus’, taking place in the city’s Meeting house square, Temple Bar on sunday, 28th May.

The free, unticketed event will feature five recurring shows between 12pm and 6pm with performances from the Fanzini Brothers and Fidget Feet aerial dance Theatre.

speaking about the new event the lord Mayor of dublin, Caroline Conroy, said, “I am delighted to launch dublin City Council’s ‘urban Circus’ which promises a fun day out for families. We had a lot of positive feedback from the Outdoor Cinema Club event series last year so it is great to bring another free, family-

friendly event to Meeting house square for people to enjoy.”

The Fanzini Brothers have been entertaining national and international audiences in street and circus performances since 1997. Fidget Feet aerial dance Theatre sprung to life in 1998 delighting audiences with indoor, outdoor, crane and vertical dance performances. There will be face painting for children and families can enjoy refreshments from onsite food and drinks vendors.

The entry to urban Circus on the 28th May is on a first come, first served basis, gates open at 11.30am and all are welcome. Please visit https://bit. ly/Meetinghousesq for more information.

Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy with, from left Assistant Chief Fire Officer Greg O'Dwyer, 3rd Officer John Keogh, 3rd Officer Brendan McNicholas, Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley and 3rd Officer Paul O'Reilly. Pic : Fennell Photography

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