theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Delivering the goods: Irish retailers that will come to you

During the coronavirus pandemic , deliveries from local retailers are back and bigger than ever .
The few big supermarkets that were involved in the delivery of groceries have buckled under the weight of new orders and people are being asked to wait weeks before an available delivery slot becomes available .
Into the breach have stepped all manner of retailers and groups who are making the lives of vulnerable people safer and the lives of those who find regular trips to shops during the coronavirus pandemic increasingly stressful .
There are restaurants that would never have imagined delivering food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than happy to do so , while hardware shops are dropping paint off at people homes , and off-licences and wine sellers and other shops are helping people to avoid queues by ordering online .
We asked on social media last week for details of reimagined delivery companies .
Within hours we had hundreds of responses .
Here are just some of them : Hapi Food Co has started a co-op to supply people in the area with fresh , locally sourced produce .
One reader said it was “ amazing ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
hapifoodco.ie Dublin Meat Company delivers to areas in north Dublin from its Blanchardstown shop while its Stillorgan shop caters for people on the southside and its Swords shop delivers to the surrounding area .
dublinmeatcompany.com The Fruit People started out delivering fruit to offices but has dramatically increased its home service as the Covid-19 crisis has unfolded .
It doesn ’ t just do fruit and vegetables – it also sells a range of milk , bread , eggs , breakfast cereals and treats .
thefruitpeople.ie Dublin Food Drop aims to deliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin ” .
Among the options are weekly recipe boxes in which you will get enough ingredients to feed two people for four or five days .
There are three versions : the meat version is €95 , the reduced meat version is €90 and a vegetarian version costs €85 .
facebook.com/dublinfooddrop Kish Fish : The queues that have been forming outside the Dublin 7 fish shop in recent days are testament to the quality of the food on offer .
While the Kish people have been rigorously maintaining social distancing in store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery service promising next-day delivery on all orders places before midday .
The range of fish on offer is expansive and the prices are reasonable .
The food is delivered in cooler boxes .
kishfish.ie All of the Rolling Donut outlets have been closed but that does not mean you have to do without an occasional treat if you live within its delivery radius .
You can get an assortment of 12 ring doughnuts for €28 or 12 sourdough doughnuts for €32 .
therollingdonut.ie The supermarket Fresh has entered the delivery space and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area of Dublin city within 48 hours of orders being placed for a charge of €7.95 .
freshthegoodfoodmarket.ie Deliveroo has recently branched out and is now collecting shopping for people .
It has signed deals with several supermarkets including Spar , Fallon & Byrne , Londis and Mace to allow customers shop on its app for household goods and get them delivered by a Deliveroo rider under a system called “ essentials ” .
The people of Carlow and Laois are lucky to have the Village Dairy on their doorstep .
Alongside its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dairy products , the company has started delivering other products including eggs , juice and bread from other local businesses .
villagedairy.ie The bicycle people at Rothar have set up a free nationwide delivery service for any order over €60 .
rothar.ie Bujo Burger is promising to deliver everything you need to make eight of its famous burgers in your house complete with the necessary recipe to “ ensure you recreate our masterpiece ” , for €40 .
For that your get the burgers , buns , mustard , magic sauce , cheese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has started using its production kitchen to produce high-quality chilled meals .
They are a team of “ real local chefs in Bray who lost businesses because of Covid-19 .
So we ’ ve come together to deliver you traditional healthy meals .
You can pick-up in Bray or they will deliver to your door – anywhere between north Wicklow , Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown .
Hell , we ’ ll deliver anywhere if it makes cents , ” they say .
newmarketkitchen.com StuffUNeed is an excellent example of what can be achieved in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work together .
The shopping service was launched just a few weeks ago to get essential items and household goods to people across Dublin .
The start-up has hired hospitality staff who lost their jobs as the crisis developed .
On the site you will find food and groceries from avocados to Zinfandel .
stuffuneed.ie It doesn ’ t have to be stuff you need ; sometimes it can be stuff you want .
L Mulligan Grocer on Manor Street in Dublin 7 was set to launch a cocktail and cheeseboard delivery service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time of writing but it is certainly worth keeping an eye out .
lmulligangrocer1.weebly.com Nicky ’ s Plaice is a fish shop beloved of the denizens of Howth and not just because of its punny name .
It has started doing home deliveries across north Dublin .
nickysplaice.com We were tipped off to the John Stone Beef Shop by chef Gary O ’ Hanlon .
“ Normally this gear goes to the best restaurants in Ireland and around the world , ” he tells us .
And now it can go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Munster area .
johnstonebeefshop.com Times have been hard for independent bookshops but they are still standing , albeit it in a virtual sense .
The Gutter Bookshop is offering a limited delivery service from its Cow ’ s Lane shop in Dublin and has had the novel ( ha ! )
idea of encouraging people to buy more book vouchers to be used when shops open again .
It sounds like a good way to support local businesses .
The Butler ’ s Pantry has nine shops around Dublin and has moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It will send seven-day meal packs , family favourites pack and more to wherever you are in the country .
It has a seven-day meal pack for one person for €99 or a family deal for €199 .
thebutlerspantry.ie Lilliput Stores in Stoneybatter , Dublin , has started a home delivery service in recent days and is promising to deliver a range of 150 of its products to people in the Dublin 7 area .
lilliputstores.com The Punnet Health Store which has shops in Glasthule and on Dublin ’ s Mount St @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for fruit , vegetables bread , milk and eggs .
In fact all of the products available in-store can now be bought online .
punnet.ie If you find yourself at home and at a loose end , you may decide to paint something .
But you may not have any paint .
Now Pat McDonnell Paints has you covered .
It has started accepting phone orders and is doing free delivery , too .
mcdonnellpaints.ie Avoca has stepped up to the plate and is offering a delivery and collection service , and customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range .
The collection service is for everyone , while the delivery option is operating within a 10km radius of the its shops in Rathcoole , Kilmacanoge , Dunboyne , Ballsbridge , Monkstown and Malahide .
avoca.com Kenny ’ s Bookshop in Galway is offering free delivery across Ireland and there are hundreds of thousand of titles – 300,000 in fact – to choose from .
kennys.ie Despite its name the Seed Potato Company does not sell just potatoes .
In fact it sells a large range of fruit and vegetables at prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is offering delivery across Dublin .
seedpotatocompany.com The gastropub folk at 57 The Headline has teamed up with local suppliers and breweries to bring home delivery to local areas of its carefully selected beer , gin and wine range .
Delivery is available nationwide for only €5 per order .
The range looks excellent .
57theheadline.com Blessington Bookstop is offering virtual book buying through WhatsApp video with daily local delivery and free postage in Ireland .
blessingtonbookstore.ie The gorgeous-looking Mud Bakery has started a home delivery service and we are told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not hard to see why .
mudbakery.ie Not only does Fitzgerald ’ s Butchers in Fermoy , Co Cork , rear its own cattle and sell its own meat , it has also started delivering it in the local area .
And one customer got in touch with us to say the service was “ excellent ” .
fitzgeraldsbutchers.ie Halfway Up the Stairs is a children ’ s bookshop in Greystones , Co Wicklow , and last week staff started working behind closed doors offering a delivery service within 2km @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Looking for a company that is delivering food in your area ?
Well , there ’ s an app for that .
And it has a snappy name too .
It can be found at eatforireland.ie .
“ We ’ ve had to go from farmers to ecommerce experts overnight , ” the people at Co Mayo sheep dairy business Velvet Cloud tell us .
“ We lost 50 per cent of business when restaurants closed , went online with nationwide delivery just under three weeks ago [ and are ] surprised and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curve but worth it.
” We ’ ve not tried the products but we have heard from several readers they are excellent .
velvetcloud.ie We have heard wonderful things about Flying Elephant in recent weeks .
They sell desks that can be built and dismantled in minutes , a perfect product for the times we live in .
One reader needed a new desk and ordered from the flying elephant site on a Friday morning .
They custom made it my measurements and it was delivered within 48 hours .
flyingelephant.ie The Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service , which has been receiving rave reviews by those who have used it .
All sorts of fruit and vegetables delivered straight to your home with a commendably fast turnaround time .
It has also dramatically expanded its organic range in recent days .
facebook.com/thegreengrocerstoneybatter Shameless plug alert .
It has never been as important to get your news from a reliable source as it is right now .
The Irish Times has an excellent – if we say so ourselves – digital offering but if you like the feel of print @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home delivery service .
You can find more details and sign up at newsdelivery.ie .
Like all the businesses we have featured here and all those we have yet to feature , we thank you for your support .
Peter O ’ Connor is managing director of Quigley ’ s cafe , bakery and deli chain in the midlands , which has had to reinvent itself during the coronavirus pandemic .
Quigley ’ s is a family-owned company run by Peter and his sister Niamh .
There are 18 shops throughout Leinster and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nenagh , Co Tipperary .
Since he and his sister took over the company , they have had their fair share of challenges , not least a fire in Douglas Village shopping centre last year , which forced one of their shops to close .
He says the company rose to that challenge “ in a somewhat linear fashion and opened a new store in Tallaght to compensate for our loss of revenue in Douglas ” .
Responding to Covid-19 has not been so straightforward .
He says the response had three stages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations in the middle of March as a result of a big drop in sales .
“ We had to contain the bleed and direct action was taken.
” At the start of April his sister took the second step , when she “ made an impulsive decision to open our original store in Nenagh for take-home bakery product only ” and she called the staff needed to help them start up .
“ We had a skeleton team formed the next morning and production began .
It boomed [ and ] was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he says .
“ It was a fantastic feeling to see our staff come back at such short notice and work incredibly hard to do what was needed to reopen in less than 24 hours.
” Then came the third stage .
“ We did some more digging and looked at what others were doing in other sectors and decided to set up a delivery service for Limerick city for a range of Easter cakes , cupcakes , treat boxes and ‘ I miss you ’ cakes.
” On Monday , April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developer added a secondary domain to our Quigleys.ie for the purpose of a home delivery service in Limerick .
“ We developed our product range and had the website live in 24 hours.
” Then they had cold feet and “ decided we were going to drop the idea and not bother with it ” .
He woke up the following morning “ and made the executive decision it was going live at 9am .
I advertised the post on social media at 9.30and had my orders capacity full by 4pm .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the company still has to decide on the next steps but he expressed the hope that Quigley ’ s experience so far may provide “ motivation to those who are at a standstill at the moment .
We don ’ t plan to make a fortune out of the small opportunity that presents itself to us , but it has taught us so much so far about our people and our customers .
We believe maintaining momentum now will do us well in creating customer loyalty , adapting our current custom to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base .
”

During the coronavirus pandemic, deliveries from local retailers are back and bigger than ever. The few big supermarkets that were involved in the delivery of groceries have buckled under the weight of new orders and people are being asked to wait weeks before an available delivery slot becomes available.
Into the breach have stepped all manner of retailers and groups who are making the lives of vulnerable people safer and the lives of those who find regular trips to shops during the coronavirus pandemic increasingly stressful.
There are restaurants that would never have imagined delivering food to the front doors of Ireland now more than happy to do so, while hardware shops are dropping paint off at people homes, and off-licences and wine sellers and other shops are helping people to avoid queues by ordering online.
We asked on social media last week for details of reimagined delivery companies. Within hours we had hundreds of responses. Here are just some of them:
READ MORE
Hapi Food Co has started a co-op to supply people in the area with fresh, locally sourced produce. One reader said it was "amazing". It also sells basic cleaning supplies. hapifoodco.ie
Dublin Meat Company delivers to areas in north Dublin from its Blanchardstown shop while its Stillorgan shop caters for people on the southside and its Swords shop delivers to the surrounding area. dublinmeatcompany.com
The Fruit People started out delivering fruit to offices but has dramatically increased its home service as the Covid-19 crisis has unfolded. It doesn't just do fruit and vegetables – it also sells a range of milk, bread, eggs, breakfast cereals and treats. thefruitpeople.ie
Dublin Food Drop aims to deliver "bespoke honest and wholesome meals across Dublin". Among the options are weekly recipe boxes in which you will get enough ingredients to feed two people for four or five days. There are three versions: the meat version is €95, the reduced meat version is €90 and a vegetarian version costs €85. facebook.com/dublinfooddrop
Kish Fish: The queues that have been forming outside the Dublin 7 fish shop in recent days are testament to the quality of the food on offer. While the Kish people have been rigorously maintaining social distancing in store, it has also launched an online delivery service promising next-day delivery on all orders places before midday. The range of fish on offer is expansive and the prices are reasonable. The food is delivered in cooler boxes. kishfish.ie
All of the Rolling Donut outlets have been closed but that does not mean you have to do without an occasional treat if you live within its delivery radius. You can get an assortment of 12 ring doughnuts for €28 or 12 sourdough doughnuts for €32. therollingdonut.ie
The supermarket Fresh has entered the delivery space and is promising home delivery spanning a huge area of Dublin city within 48 hours of orders being placed for a charge of €7.95. freshthegoodfoodmarket.ie
Deliveroo has recently branched out and is now collecting shopping for people. It has signed deals with several supermarkets including Spar, Fallon & Byrne, Londis and Mace to allow customers shop on its app for household goods and get them delivered by a Deliveroo rider under a system called "essentials".
Pizza delivery. Photograph: iStock
The people of Carlow and Laois are lucky to have the Village Dairy on their doorstep. Alongside its delivery of fresh organic milk and other dairy products, the company has started delivering other products including eggs, juice and bread from other local businesses. villagedairy.ie
The bicycle people at Rothar have set up a free nationwide delivery service for any order over €60. rothar.ie
Bujo Burger is promising to deliver everything you need to make eight of its famous burgers in your house complete with the necessary recipe to "ensure you recreate our masterpiece", for €40. For that your get the burgers, buns, mustard, magic sauce, cheese and gherkins. bujo.ie
New Market Kitchen has started using its production kitchen to produce high-quality chilled meals. They are a team of "real local chefs in Bray who lost businesses because of Covid-19. So we've come together to deliver you traditional healthy meals. You can pick-up in Bray or they will deliver to your door – anywhere between north Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Hell, we'll deliver anywhere if it makes cents," they say. newmarketkitchen.com
StuffUNeed is an excellent example of what can be achieved in a very short space of time when people work together. The shopping service was launched just a few weeks ago to get essential items and household goods to people across Dublin. The start-up has hired hospitality staff who lost their jobs as the crisis developed. On the site you will find food and groceries from avocados to Zinfandel. stuffuneed.ie
It doesn't have to be stuff you need; sometimes it can be stuff you want. L Mulligan Grocer on Manor Street in Dublin 7 was set to launch a cocktail and cheeseboard delivery service last week. We had no details at the time of writing but it is certainly worth keeping an eye out. lmulligangrocer1.weebly.com
Contactless payment. Photograph: iStock
Nicky's Plaice is a fish shop beloved of the denizens of Howth and not just because of its punny name. It has started doing home deliveries across north Dublin. nickysplaice.com
We were tipped off to the John Stone Beef Shop by chef Gary O'Hanlon. "Normally this gear goes to the best restaurants in Ireland and around the world," he tells us. And now it can go to you, if you live in the Munster area. johnstonebeefshop.com
Times have been hard for independent bookshops but they are still standing, albeit it in a virtual sense. The Gutter Bookshop is offering a limited delivery service from its Cow's Lane shop in Dublin and has had the novel (ha!) idea of encouraging people to buy more book vouchers to be used when shops open again. It sounds like a good way to support local businesses.
The Butler's Pantry has nine shops around Dublin and has moved into the nationwide delivery service, too. It will send seven-day meal packs, family favourites pack and more to wherever you are in the country. It has a seven-day meal pack for one person for €99 or a family deal for €199. thebutlerspantry.ie
Lilliput Stores in Stoneybatter, Dublin, has started a home delivery service in recent days and is promising to deliver a range of 150 of its products to people in the Dublin 7 area. lilliputstores.com
The Punnet Health Store which has shops in Glasthule and on Dublin's Mount St have a new greater Dublin delivery service for fruit, vegetables bread, milk and eggs. In fact all of the products available in-store can now be bought online. punnet.ie
If you find yourself at home and at a loose end, you may decide to paint something. But you may not have any paint. Now Pat McDonnell Paints has you covered. It has started accepting phone orders and is doing free delivery, too. mcdonnellpaints.ie
Avoca has stepped up to the plate and is offering a delivery and collection service, and customers can shop everything from its entire food range. The collection service is for everyone, while the delivery option is operating within a 10km radius of the its shops in Rathcoole, Kilmacanoge, Dunboyne, Ballsbridge, Monkstown and Malahide. avoca.com
Kenny's Bookshop in Galway is offering free delivery across Ireland and there are hundreds of thousand of titles – 300,000 in fact – to choose from. kennys.ie
Despite its name the Seed Potato Company does not sell just potatoes. In fact it sells a large range of fruit and vegetables at prices that look very good to Pricewatch. It is offering delivery across Dublin. seedpotatocompany.com
The gastropub folk at 57 The Headline has teamed up with local suppliers and breweries to bring home delivery to local areas of its carefully selected beer, gin and wine range. Delivery is available nationwide for only €5 per order. The range looks excellent. 57theheadline.com
Blessington Bookstop is offering virtual book buying through WhatsApp video with daily local delivery and free postage in Ireland. blessingtonbookstore.ie
The gorgeous-looking Mud Bakery has started a home delivery service and we are told the cakes are flying off the shelves. It's not hard to see why. mudbakery.ie
Photograph: iStock
Not only does Fitzgerald's Butchers in Fermoy, Co Cork, rear its own cattle and sell its own meat, it has also started delivering it in the local area. And one customer got in touch with us to say the service was "excellent". fitzgeraldsbutchers.ie
Halfway Up the Stairs is a children's bookshop in Greystones, Co Wicklow, and last week staff started working behind closed doors offering a delivery service within 2km and postal service beyond that. halfwayupthestairs.ie
Looking for a company that is delivering food in your area? Well, there's an app for that. And it has a snappy name too. It can be found at eatforireland.ie.
"We've had to go from farmers to ecommerce experts overnight," the people at Co Mayo sheep dairy business Velvet Cloud tell us. "We lost 50 per cent of business when restaurants closed, went online with nationwide delivery just under three weeks ago [and are] surprised and delighted with the results. Huge learning curve but worth it." We've not tried the products but we have heard from several readers they are excellent. velvetcloud.ie
We have heard wonderful things about Flying Elephant in recent weeks. They sell desks that can be built and dismantled in minutes, a perfect product for the times we live in. One reader needed a new desk and ordered from the flying elephant site on a Friday morning. They custom made it my measurements and it was delivered within 48 hours. flyingelephant.ie
The Green Grocer in Stoneybatter has started a delivery service, which has been receiving rave reviews by those who have used it. All sorts of fruit and vegetables delivered straight to your home with a commendably fast turnaround time. It has also dramatically expanded its organic range in recent days. facebook.com/thegreengrocerstoneybatter
Shameless plug alert. It has never been as important to get your news from a reliable source as it is right now. The Irish Times has an excellent – if we say so ourselves – digital offering but if you like the feel of print, we have also dramatically increased our home delivery service. You can find more details and sign up at newsdelivery.ie. Like all the businesses we have featured here and all those we have yet to feature, we thank you for your support.
Three Steps: A bakery business moves online
Peter O’Connor is managing director of Quigley’s cafe, bakery and deli chain in the midlands, which has had to reinvent itself during the coronavirus pandemic. Quigley’s is a family-owned company run by Peter and his sister Niamh.
There are 18 shops throughout Leinster and Munster and a bakery and kitchens in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
Since he and his sister took over the company, they have had their fair share of challenges, not least a fire in Douglas Village shopping centre last year, which forced one of their shops to close.
He says the company rose to that challenge “in a somewhat linear fashion and opened a new store in Tallaght to compensate for our loss of revenue in Douglas”.
Responding to Covid-19 has not been so straightforward.
He says the response had three stages. First the company shut down all operations in the middle of March as a result of a big drop in sales. “We had to contain the bleed and direct action was taken.”
At the start of April his sister took the second step, when she “made an impulsive decision to open our original store in Nenagh for take-home bakery product only” and she called the staff needed to help them start up.
“We had a skeleton team formed the next morning and production began. It boomed [and] was a significant help to gain momentum,” he says. “It was a fantastic feeling to see our staff come back at such short notice and work incredibly hard to do what was needed to reopen in less than 24 hours.”
Then came the third stage. “We did some more digging and looked at what others were doing in other sectors and decided to set up a delivery service for Limerick city for a range of Easter cakes, cupcakes, treat boxes and ‘I miss you’ cakes.”
On Monday, April 6th, the company’s web developer added a secondary domain to our Quigleys.ie for the purpose of a home delivery service in Limerick. “We developed our product range and had the website live in 24 hours.” Then they had cold feet and “decided we were going to drop the idea and not bother with it”.
He woke up the following morning “and made the executive decision it was going live at 9am. I advertised the post on social media at 9.30and had my orders capacity full by 4pm. I delivered all the goods myself.”
He said the company still has to decide on the next steps but he expressed the hope that Quigley’s experience so far may provide “motivation to those who are at a standstill at the moment. We don’t plan to make a fortune out of the small opportunity that presents itself to us, but it has taught us so much so far about our people and our customers. We believe maintaining momentum now will do us well in creating customer loyalty, adapting our current custom to online and attracting a new online customer base.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Man charged in connection with fatal house fire in Rathgar in 2018

A man has been charged in connection with an investigation into a fatal house fire in Dublin 6 in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ in his 30s , was charged on Sunday following directions from the Director of Public @ @ @ @ @ which occurred at Oaklands Terrace in Rathgar on August 21st , 2018 , resulted in @ @ @ @ @ man .
The man in his 30s is due before the Criminal Courts of Justice @ @ @ @

A man has been charged in connection with an investigation into a fatal house fire in Dublin 6 in 2018. File photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
A man has been charged in connection with an investigation into a fatal house fire in Dublin 6 in 2018.
The man, aged in his 30s, was charged on Sunday following directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The fire, which occurred at Oaklands Terrace in Rathgar on August 21st, 2018, resulted in the death of a 44-year-old man.
The man in his 30s is due before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday morning.


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Almost 20 residents evacuated from Donegal care home

Almost 20 residents were evacuated from a care home in Co Donegal last weekend after a number of staff fell ill and concerns were raised about a possible outbreak of Covid-19 .
Volunteers from the Irish Red Cross assisted the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) and the Civil Defence in the evacuation at the Rock Community Hospital in Ballyshannon on April 11th after staffing pressures were created due to a number of carers there being off sick .
Concerns were also raised about the potential risk of an outbreak of Covid-19 at the facility .
All 19 residents were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital , Stranorlar as a result .
In a statement to The Irish Times , the HSE said : “ The Rock Community Hospital is an old building and this action was taken due to Covid-19 in the best interests of patient safety and in accordance with public health and infection control guidance .
“ All families/guardians were contacted and explained the rationale behind why their loved ones were being moved .
We wish to apologise to all patients and their families for any inconvenience caused .
“ We will continue to review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any actions that we take are in the overall interest of maintaining the health and safety of our patients.
” The HSE also said that it wanted to “ sincerely thank ” the Irish Red Cross for its assistance with the transfer of residents .
Valerie McGrath , assistant area director of units at the Donegal branch of the Irish Red Cross , said she received a request for assistance from the HSE and that volunteers responded and began the task of transporting the residents .
As there was the potential risk that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all volunteers were supplied with personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
She said it took just minutes for volunteers to assemble when they were called upon to help with an emergency evacuation at the facility .
“ I got a phone call that morning that we were needed at the care home , ” she said .
“ We have a group chat for training so straight away I put a message into the group saying : ‘ Right folks , I need three crews straight away , let me know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at three minutes past 11 and in minutes I had three crews filled , so that ’ s six volunteers in total , and we were all together on the ground within 25 minutes .
Everyone was really eager to help out .
“ We were provided with full PPE so there were precautions put in place and then we could just concentrate on getting them to somewhere safer .
Every one of us was like , ‘ Well this is what we ’ re here for ’ .
Nobody there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ – this is just what we signed up for .
“ There was one man who had misplaced his hearing aids and with everything going on nobody had time to tell to him what was happening , so I found a piece of paper and wrote down and explained to him that they were being moved .
We were able to reassure the residents who might have been worried otherwise.
” Three Irish Red Cross ambulances , as well as ambulances from the HSE and Civil Defence were in involved in the @ @

Three Irish Red Cross ambulances, as well as ambulances from the HSE and Civil Defence, evacuated the residents
Almost 20 residents were evacuated from a care home in Co Donegal last weekend after a number of staff fell ill and concerns were raised about a possible outbreak of Covid-19.
Volunteers from the Irish Red Cross assisted the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Civil Defence in the evacuation at the Rock Community Hospital in Ballyshannon on April 11th after staffing pressures were created due to a number of carers there being off sick.
Concerns were also raised about the potential risk of an outbreak of Covid-19 at the facility. All 19 residents were transferred to St Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar as a result.
In a statement to The Irish Times, the HSE said: “The Rock Community Hospital is an old building and this action was taken due to Covid-19 in the best interests of patient safety and in accordance with public health and infection control guidance.
READ MORE
“All families/guardians were contacted and explained the rationale behind why their loved ones were being moved. We wish to apologise to all patients and their families for any inconvenience caused.
“We will continue to review and assess the situation and ensure that any actions that we take are in the overall interest of maintaining the health and safety of our patients.”
The HSE also said that it wanted to “sincerely thank” the Irish Red Cross for its assistance with the transfer of residents.
Volunteer response
Valerie McGrath, assistant area director of units at the Donegal branch of the Irish Red Cross, said she received a request for assistance from the HSE and that volunteers responded and began the task of transporting the residents.
As there was the potential risk that the residents had been exposed to Covid-19, all volunteers were supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE).
She said it took just minutes for volunteers to assemble when they were called upon to help with an emergency evacuation at the facility.
“I got a phone call that morning that we were needed at the care home,” she said. “We have a group chat for training so straight away I put a message into the group saying: ‘Right folks, I need three crews straight away, let me know who’s free.’
“That was at three minutes past 11 and in minutes I had three crews filled, so that’s six volunteers in total, and we were all together on the ground within 25 minutes. Everyone was really eager to help out.
“We were provided with full PPE so there were precautions put in place and then we could just concentrate on getting them to somewhere safer. Every one of us was like, ‘Well this is what we’re here for’. Nobody there is thinking ‘oh we’re heroes’ – this is just what we signed up for.
“There was one man who had misplaced his hearing aids and with everything going on nobody had time to tell to him what was happening, so I found a piece of paper and wrote down and explained to him that they were being moved. We were able to reassure the residents who might have been worried otherwise.”
Three Irish Red Cross ambulances, as well as ambulances from the HSE and Civil Defence were in involved in the transfer.


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Most pubs will ‘close for good’ if lockdown lasts to 2021, vintners say

The possibility that pubs may not reopen until a vaccine for Covid-19 has been found has been described as a “ nightmare scenario ” by the body that represents Dublin publicans .
The Licensed Vintners Association ( LVA ) said many pubs will be put out of business permanently if such a lengthy closure occurs .
It was commenting after Heineken Ireland put its staff on a four day week for two months due to the fall off in demand for its beer products since the lockdown began .
Heineken Ireland declined to comment on the work changes but The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 400 or so employees were informed by letter earlier this month of the planned work reduction .
It is understood that staff were informed that all employees would be moving to a four day week at the start of May and the new working arrangement would remain in place for May and June .
The vast majority of the company ’ s employees work at or out of the company ’ s Lady ’ s Well Brewery on Leitrim Street in Cork while a smaller number work in its Dublin office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the road .
Heineken Ireland make not only Heineken but also Murphy ’ s and Beamish stouts , Orchard Thieves cider and Coors Light and Foster lagers at the Cork brewery .
Minister for Health Simon Harris said at the weekend he could not see how people could return to “ packed pubs ” as long as the virus was still in the community and in the absence of a vaccine .
These comments “ petrified ” the sector , LVA chief executive Donall O ’ Keeffe said , adding such a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
“ If that happens then most pubs in this country will be out of business for good.
” He said the LVA and its members would support whatever measures were deemed necessary in the interests of public health , as they had done from the beginning of the crisis .
“ But if closing pubs until 2021 is going to be necessary then it is essential that a pub-specific support scheme is introduced .
Otherwise there won ’ t be a pub industry in this country by the time a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong Government support for the 50,000 staff laid off as a result of the crisis , he said .
“ This will have to be extended for the duration of the pub closure period .
However unless it is supplemented with a specific support scheme to keep the pubs themselves afloat , the staff will have no jobs to return to.
” While Mr Harris was doing an exceptional job at a time of national crisis , his comments “ have really petrified the entire pub sector across the country and many are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survive this pandemic , but also whether they will still have a business when this crisis eventually passes , ” Mr O ’ Keeffe added .
Mr Harris posted a video update on Twitter on Saturday evening outlining latest thinking in his department .
Replying to a question on whether Electric Picnic would go ahead this year , he said it was unlikely we will have such mass gatherings any time soon .
“ We are going to have to very shortly make a decision on these mass gatherings .
I think its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass gatherings come back any time soon .
I think we are going to have to keep up our social distancing even if we can lessen some of the restrictions in place as well ” .

Heineken Ireland has put its staff on a four day week for two months due to the fall off in demand for its beer products since the lockdown began. File image: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
The possibility that pubs may not reopen until a vaccine for Covid-19 has been found has been described as a “nightmare scenario” by the body that represents Dublin publicans.
The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) said many pubs will be put out of business permanently if such a lengthy closure occurs.
It was commenting after Heineken Ireland put its staff on a four day week for two months due to the fall off in demand for its beer products since the lockdown began.
Heineken Ireland declined to comment on the work changes but The Irish Times has established that the company’s 400 or so employees were informed by letter earlier this month of the planned work reduction.
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It is understood that staff were informed that all employees would be moving to a four day week at the start of May and the new working arrangement would remain in place for May and June.
The vast majority of the company’s employees work at or out of the company’s Lady’s Well Brewery on Leitrim Street in Cork while a smaller number work in its Dublin office with others involved in sales operating on the road.
Heineken Ireland make not only Heineken but also Murphy’s and Beamish stouts, Orchard Thieves cider and Coors Light and Foster lagers at the Cork brewery.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said at the weekend he could not see how people could return to "packed pubs" as long as the virus was still in the community and in the absence of a vaccine.
These comments “petrified” the sector, LVA chief executive Donall O’Keeffe said, adding such a long closure was “the absolute nightmare scenario”.
“If that happens then most pubs in this country will be out of business for good.”
He said the LVA and its members would support whatever measures were deemed necessary in the interests of public health, as they had done from the beginning of the crisis.
“But if closing pubs until 2021 is going to be necessary then it is essential that a pub-specific support scheme is introduced. Otherwise there won’t be a pub industry in this country by the time a vaccine is found.”
The LVA welcomed the strong Government support for the 50,000 staff laid off as a result of the crisis, he said.
“This will have to be extended for the duration of the pub closure period. However unless it is supplemented with a specific support scheme to keep the pubs themselves afloat, the staff will have no jobs to return to.”
While Mr Harris was doing an exceptional job at a time of national crisis, his comments “have really petrified the entire pub sector across the country and many are now concerned not only about how to survive this pandemic, but also whether they will still have a business when this crisis eventually passes,” Mr O’Keeffe added.
Mr Harris posted a video update on Twitter on Saturday evening outlining latest thinking in his department.
Replying to a question on whether Electric Picnic would go ahead this year, he said it was unlikely we will have such mass gatherings any time soon. “We are going to have to very shortly make a decision on these mass gatherings . I think its unlikely that we are going to see mass gatherings come back any time soon. I think we are going to have to keep up our social distancing even if we can lessen some of the restrictions in place as well”.


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Some 7,000 health staff need childcare support, says HSE chief

About 7,000 health service staff have indicated they need some form of childcare support to continue working during the current coronavirus crisis , the head of the HSE has indicated .
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said on Sunday that a long-planned childcare scheme for essential workers was still under discussion among Government officials and public health specialists .
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) said subsequently that it was now advising members who could not attend work due to a lack of childcare “ to notify their employer and seek full pay and possible temporary reassignment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheaghdha said : “ It is clearly discriminatory for a worker to lose out on income simply because the State refuses to provide childcare.
” The trade union Siptu said as well as staff taking annual leave and calling in sick to mind children , it has now heard that grandparents were becoming involved in looking after the children of some healthcare staff despite recommendations on “ cocooning ” as no alternatives were available .
Mr Reid maintained about 7,000 staff in the health service had said , in a survey the HSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or so , that they either had childcare problems at present or perceived such difficulties would arise in the future .
He suggested that if the Covid -19 crisis continued over a longer period , that arrangements for childcare which staff had put in place could become unsustainable .
He said while the number was relatively small out of a total health workforce of nearly 140,000 , the HSE wanted to do what it could to see the issues addressed .
Mr Reid said the childcare issue was still being discussed through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and senior officials in relevant Government departments .
In parliamentary correspondence to TDs , Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said intensive work has been ongoing in order to deliver a “ safe and pragmatic solution that meets the needs of essential workers , is child centred , and protects any childcare practitioners who might volunteer ” .
“ No details have been finalised or agreements reached until such time as an NPHET recommendation and Government decision is made .
Should such a decision be made , the Department of Children and Youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from NPHET on a preferred model to minimise any public health concerns .
“ Should Government and NPHET decide that reactivation of childcare services is required , DCYA will respond to the evidence of need and demand supplied by those sectors defined as essential for this purpose , and DCYA will be guided by NPHET on the model of care to minimise any public health concerns.
” Ms Ní Sheaghdha said childcare was one of its members ’ biggest concerns at present .
“ More than nine in 10 nurses and midwives are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When schools and creches are closed , many simply can ’ t attend work .
This problem is going to get worse , not better .
Government inaction is needlessly depleting the front lines of much-needed staff .
“ The cheapest and most effective solution to this would be for Government to provide or fund childcare options for front-line health workers .
There simply isn ’ t any other option if they want to properly staff our health service .
We are blue in the face , calling for this for over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be at work , but the State simply is making it impossible for many to do so.
” The INMO believes that its advice is in line with guidance that issued from the Department of Public Expenditure which said that where a staff member could not work outside the home and could not perform their duties remotely , that he or she were still to be considered as actively on duty and available for work .
Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell said he believed the figure of 7,000 health staff concerned about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said Siptu welcomed the recognition of the issue by HSE management .
However , he said it was now five weeks into the current crisis and the union had yet to receive any proposal on how childcare for essential workers was to be addressed by the Government .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said earlier this month that the Government was ready to push the button on providing childcare to essential healthcare workers .
However , he said it needed public health clearance in order for the initiative to go ahead .

About 7,000 health service staff have indicated they need some form of childcare support. Photograph: Frank Miller
About 7,000 health service staff have indicated they need some form of childcare support to continue working during the current coronavirus crisis, the head of the HSE has indicated.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said on Sunday that a long-planned childcare scheme for essential workers was still under discussion among Government officials and public health specialists.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said subsequently that it was now advising members who could not attend work due to a lack of childcare "to notify their employer and seek full pay and possible temporary reassignment".
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “It is clearly discriminatory for a worker to lose out on income simply because the State refuses to provide childcare.”
READ MORE
The trade union Siptu said as well as staff taking annual leave and calling in sick to mind children, it has now heard that grandparents were becoming involved in looking after the children of some healthcare staff despite recommendations on "cocooning" as no alternatives were available.
Difficulties
Mr Reid maintained about 7,000 staff in the health service had said, in a survey the HSE had carried out in the last week or so, that they either had childcare problems at present or perceived such difficulties would arise in the future.
He suggested that if the Covid -19 crisis continued over a longer period, that arrangements for childcare which staff had put in place could become unsustainable.
He said while the number was relatively small out of a total health workforce of nearly 140,000, the HSE wanted to do what it could to see the issues addressed.
Mr Reid said the childcare issue was still being discussed through the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET)and senior officials in relevant Government departments.
In parliamentary correspondence to TDs, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said intensive work has been ongoing in order to deliver a "safe and pragmatic solution that meets the needs of essential workers, is child centred, and protects any childcare practitioners who might volunteer".
“No details have been finalised or agreements reached until such time as an NPHET recommendation and Government decision is made. Should such a decision be made, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) also awaits guidance from NPHET on a preferred model to minimise any public health concerns.
“Should Government and NPHET decide that reactivation of childcare services is required, DCYA will respond to the evidence of need and demand supplied by those sectors defined as essential for this purpose, and DCYA will be guided by NPHET on the model of care to minimise any public health concerns.”
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said childcare was one of its members’ biggest concerns at present.
“More than nine in 10 nurses and midwives are women, many with young families. When schools and creches are closed, many simply can’t attend work. This problem is going to get worse, not better. Government inaction is needlessly depleting the front lines of much-needed staff.
“The cheapest and most effective solution to this would be for Government to provide or fund childcare options for front-line health workers. There simply isn’t any other option if they want to properly staff our health service. We are blue in the face, calling for this for over a month now. Nurses and midwives should be at work, but the State simply is making it impossible for many to do so.”
Guidance
The INMO believes that its advice is in line with guidance that issued from the Department of Public Expenditure which said that where a staff member could not work outside the home and could not perform their duties remotely , that he or she were still to be considered as actively on duty and available for work.
Siptu health division organiser Paul Bell said he believed the figure of 7,000 health staff concerned about childcare was "a conservative estimate". He said Siptu welcomed the recognition of the issue by HSE management. However, he said it was now five weeks into the current crisis and the union had yet to receive any proposal on how childcare for essential workers was to be addressed by the Government.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said earlier this month that the Government was ready to push the button on providing childcare to essential healthcare workers.
However, he said it needed public health clearance in order for the initiative to go ahead.


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Coronavirus outbreaks identified in 53 care homes in Northern Ireland

Outbreaks of coronavirus have been identified in 53 care homes in Northern Ireland , according to figures published on Sunday by the North ’ s Department of Health .
The figure comes as trade union Unison called for an immediate programme of testing for all care home residents and staff in the North amid the coronavirus pandemic .
One person has died in hospital from and 159 more have tested positive for coronavirus in the North in the last 24 hours , according to statistics released by the Public Health Agency ( PHA ) on Sunday .
A total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Covid-19 have now died in hospital in Northern Ireland .
As of Sunday , 36 people who either tested positive for or were suspected to have coronavirus were in intensive care in the North ’ s hospitals .
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Northern Ireland now stands at 2,645 , with a total of 16,490 tests carried out .
Almost 800 tests have been carried out in the last 24 hours .
There had been concerns that deaths in care homes from the virus were being underreported because daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in hospitals .
They do not include deaths in community settings , such as care homes and hospices .
Figures released on Friday by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ( Nisra ) showed that the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the North was at least one-third higher than previously recorded by the PHA .
According to Nisra , at least 39 suspected coronavirus-related deaths were not recorded in the PHA death toll figures up until the week ending April 10th .
Nisra ’ s data counts all deaths where coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and includes deaths in care homes and hospices .
There are 483 care homes in Northern Ireland , caring for a maximum of about 16,000 residents .
The North ’ s Minister for Health , Robin Swann , said last week that all care home residents and staff who displayed symptoms were now being tested .
Unison ’ s regional secretary , Patricia McKeown , said the North must match the commitment by the Republic to test all care home residents and staff within 10 days .
“ We are calling on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ] Minister for Health , in particular , to activate the joint memorandum agreed between both governments [ in Ireland on tackling Covid-19 ] and to commence a parallel programme of testing .
“ We do not underestimate the challenges this presents , but a co-ordinated programme across the island has a greater chance of success against a virus that is sweeping through it , ” she said .
“ Patients and staff are risking their lives .
Some are losing them .
Delay is not an option , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SDLP has called for a “ bespoke , island-wide strategy ” of testing and tracing in order to save lives .
“ Complacency will cost lives and can not be replicated here , ” Colum Eastwood said .
Mr Eastwood was responding to a report by The Sunday Times that the British government missed opportunities earlier this year to lessen the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and that prime minister Boris Johnson had failed to attend five meetings of the key Cobra committee .
This report , Mr Eastwood said , left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across these islands ” .
He said his party would make the case in the North ’ s Executive “ for a bespoke strategy for testing and tracing on this island that avoids the mistakes other administrations have made .
“ Our primary focus remains preventing transmission of this virus and saving lives.
” Earlier this month a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between North and South which recognised a “ compelling case for strong co-operation , including information sharing and , where appropriate , a common approach to action in both jurisdictions @ @

Outbreaks of coronavirus have been identified in 53 care homes in Northern Ireland, according to figures published on Sunday by the North's Department of Health.
The figure comes as trade union Unison called for an immediate programme of testing for all care home residents and staff in the North amid the coronavirus pandemic.
One person has died in hospital from and 159 more have tested positive for coronavirus in the North in the last 24 hours, according to statistics released by the Public Health Agency (PHA) on Sunday.
A total of 194 people with the novel coronavirus known as Covid-19 have now died in hospital in Northern Ireland.
READ MORE
As of Sunday, 36 people who either tested positive for or were suspected to have coronavirus were in intensive care in the North’s hospitals.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Northern Ireland now stands at 2,645, with a total of 16,490 tests carried out. Almost 800 tests have been carried out in the last 24 hours.
Concerns over figures
There had been concerns that deaths in care homes from the virus were being underreported because daily figures released by the PHA only include deaths in hospitals. They do not include deaths in community settings, such as care homes and hospices.
Figures released on Friday by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) showed that the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the North was at least one-third higher than previously recorded by the PHA.
According to Nisra, at least 39 suspected coronavirus-related deaths were not recorded in the PHA death toll figures up until the week ending April 10th.
Nisra’s data counts all deaths where coronavirus is mentioned on a death certificate, and includes deaths in care homes and hospices.
There are 483 care homes in Northern Ireland, caring for a maximum of about 16,000 residents.
The North's Minister for Health, Robin Swann, said last week that all care home residents and staff who displayed symptoms were now being tested.
Unison’s regional secretary, Patricia McKeown, said the North must match the commitment by the Republic to test all care home residents and staff within 10 days.
“We are calling on the Northern Ireland Executive and the [North’s] Minister for Health, in particular, to activate the joint memorandum agreed between both governments [in Ireland on tackling Covid-19] and to commence a parallel programme of testing.
“We do not underestimate the challenges this presents, but a co-ordinated programme across the island has a greater chance of success against a virus that is sweeping through it,” she said.
“Patients and staff are risking their lives. Some are losing them. Delay is not an option,” she added.
‘Island-wide strategy’
Meanwhile, the leader of the SDLP has called for a “bespoke, island-wide strategy” of testing and tracing in order to save lives.
"Complacency will cost lives and cannot be replicated here," Colum Eastwood said.
Mr Eastwood was responding to a report by The Sunday Times that the British government missed opportunities earlier this year to lessen the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and that prime minister Boris Johnson had failed to attend five meetings of the key Cobra committee.
This report, Mr Eastwood said, left “very serious questions about crisis co-ordination across these islands”.
He said his party would make the case in the North’s Executive “for a bespoke strategy for testing and tracing on this island that avoids the mistakes other administrations have made.
“Our primary focus remains preventing transmission of this virus and saving lives.”
Earlier this month a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between North and South which recognised a “compelling case for strong co-operation, including information sharing and, where appropriate, a common approach to action in both jurisdictions”.


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Former ‘Irish Times’ production chief Jim Cooke dies aged 88

The death occurred at the weekend of the former director of production of The Irish Times , Jim Cooke .
Mr Cooke , who was 88 , played a key role in the modernisation of the printing operation of The Irish Times , with the move from hard type to new technology and full colour printing .
“ Jim was a very well-known and respected figure in the newspaper production business , both here and in the United Kingdom , ” said Liam Kavanagh , managing director of The Irish Times .
“ He was a newspaper production man , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lived in Killiney , Co Dublin , played a key role in guiding the newspaper though the period when new technology was leading to huge change both here and in the UK , said former managing editor Joe Breen .
“ He was a very genial man , but there was a hard edge to him , and he got things done.
” Former deputy editor of The Irish Times , Pat O ’ Hara , said Mr Cooke , or “ Cookie ” as he was known to his colleagues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charm .
“ He gave selflessly of his time and energy to the cause of The Irish Times and during his long career with the newspaper he was a key figure in many of the most momentous changes in its history .
“ Though he loved the camaraderie and traditions of his fellow printers in the old caseroom , Jim always was keen to embrace the future.
” In 1986 Mr Cooke was tasked by the board with responsibility for the selection and installation of a new web offset printing press which , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ printing on the Fleet Street site .
“ They were exciting times which I recall now with humour and affection , ” Mr O ’ Hara said .
“ Cookie was a remarkable man who made a considerable contribution to the history of the newspaper.
” Mr Cooke is survived by his wife , Georgina , daughters Nicola and Michele , and grandchildren .

Former director of production of The Irish Times, Jim Cooke, who died at the weekend aged 88. Photograph: Paddy Whelan/The Irish Times
The death occurred at the weekend of the former director of production of The Irish Times, Jim Cooke.
Mr Cooke, who was 88, played a key role in the modernisation of the printing operation of The Irish Times, with the move from hard type to new technology and full colour printing.
"Jim was a very well-known and respected figure in the newspaper production business, both here and in the United Kingdom," said Liam Kavanagh, managing director of The Irish Times. "He was a newspaper production man, through and through."
Mr Cooke, who lived in Killiney, Co Dublin, played a key role in guiding the newspaper though the period when new technology was leading to huge change both here and in the UK, said former managing editor Joe Breen.
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“He was a very genial man, but there was a hard edge to him, and he got things done.”
Former deputy editor of The Irish Times, Pat O'Hara, said Mr Cooke, or "Cookie" as he was known to his colleagues, was a man of great character and charm.
"He gave selflessly of his time and energy to the cause of The Irish Times and during his long career with the newspaper he was a key figure in many of the most momentous changes in its history.
“Though he loved the camaraderie and traditions of his fellow printers in the old caseroom, Jim always was keen to embrace the future.”
In 1986 Mr Cooke was tasked by the board with responsibility for the selection and installation of a new web offset printing press which, for the first time, enabled colour printing on the Fleet Street site.
“They were exciting times which I recall now with humour and affection,” Mr O’Hara said. “Cookie was a remarkable man who made a considerable contribution to the history of the newspaper.”
Mr Cooke is survived by his wife, Georgina, daughters Nicola and Michele, and grandchildren.


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Coronavirus: Retired archbishop says over-70s ‘deceived and misled’ on cocooning

A retired Church of Ireland archbishop has described himself and his wife as “ extremely annoyed that we older people have been deceived and misled in the midst of ” the current Covid-19 crisis .
His comments follow clarification by the Department of Health in recent days that cocooning by the over-70s was “ advisory ” and not mandatory amid the pandemic .
A department spokeswoman added that the over-70s were , however , subject to the same laws about non-essential travel as everybody else during the Covid-19 crisis .
There are no provisions in the Health ( Preservation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Interest ) Act , 2020 , introduced as part of the State ’ s effort to tackle the pandemic , to sanction those the HSE believes ought to be cocooning to protect themselves from the virus but are not .
The Act allows gardaí to fine or imprison those who do not obey orders for people not to make unnecessary journeys outside a 2km zone surrounding their home amid the pandemic .
Cocooning instructions for the over-70s were issued by the HSE on March 28th .
They also apply to people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or those who have a serious respiratory condition such as cystic fibrosis , asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) .
Retired Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin John Neill ( 74 ) said he and his wife Betty were “ extremely annoyed ” at the HSE ’ s later clarification that cocooning measures were not in fact mandatory , saying that there appeared “ to have been a deliberate attempt to mislead in public advertising and even by the Taoiseach , the Minister for Health and the chief medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ sad to see this type of high-handed behaviour at a time when we should be able to have confidence in those in charge of tackling such an important issue .
“ Many of us have suffered badly mentally and physically in being put under house arrest and unable to go for a walk , ” he said .
It had been made “ very clear ” that the right to exercise within 2km of the home “ did not extend to those aged over 70 ” , he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedoms allowed to the population at large applied equally to older people and that the exclusion of older people from such freedoms was merely advisory .
It is only advisory that older people have to stay home at ALL times , ” he said in a Facebook post .
The archbishop and his wife live in Kilkenny .
They also featured in a separate Facebook post , by An Garda Síochána Kilkenny/Carlow , from April 4th .
The Garda page wrote : “ Our pedal cyclists meanwhile were on town and park patrol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Betty who are Cocooning but itching to get out of the house .
We ’ ll get through this.
” The post includes photographs of the couple standing at their front door .
In a comment on that post the retired archbishop said : “ We were not actually breaking out !
Strictly in Cocoon .
”

A retired Church of Ireland archbishop has described himself and his wife as "extremely annoyed that we older people have been deceived and misled in the midst of" the current Covid-19 crisis.
His comments follow clarification by the Department of Health in recent days that cocooning by the over-70s was "advisory" and not mandatory amid the pandemic. A department spokeswoman added that the over-70s were, however, subject to the same laws about non-essential travel as everybody else during the Covid-19 crisis.
There are no provisions in the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act, 2020, introduced as part of the State’s effort to tackle the pandemic, to sanction those the HSE believes ought to be cocooning to protect themselves from the virus but are not.
The Act allows gardaí to fine or imprison those who do not obey orders for people not to make unnecessary journeys outside a 2km zone surrounding their home amid the pandemic.
READ MORE
Cocooning instructions for the over-70s were issued by the HSE on March 28th. They also apply to people who are organ transplant recipients, cancer patients, or those who have a serious respiratory condition such as cystic fibrosis, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
‘Extremely annoyed’
Retired Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin John Neill (74) said he and his wife Betty were "extremely annoyed" at the HSE's later clarification that cocooning measures were not in fact mandatory,saying that there appeared "to have been a deliberate attempt to mislead in public advertising and even by the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and the chief medical officer" on the issue.
It was “sad to see this type of high-handed behaviour at a time when we should be able to have confidence in those in charge of tackling such an important issue.
“Many of us have suffered badly mentally and physically in being put under house arrest and unable to go for a walk,” he said.
It had been made “very clear” that the right to exercise within 2km of the home “did not extend to those aged over 70”, he said.
"It was NOT pointed out that the freedoms allowed to the population at large applied equally to older people and that the exclusion of older people from such freedoms was merely advisory. It is only advisory that older people have to stay home at ALL times," he said in a Facebook post.
The archbishop and his wife live in Kilkenny. They also featured in a separate Facebook post, by An Garda Síochána Kilkenny/Carlow, from April 4th. The Garda page wrote: "Our pedal cyclists meanwhile were on town and park patrol and got to check in on John and Betty who are Cocooning but itching to get out of the house. We'll get through this." The post includes photographs of the couple standing at their front door.
In a comment on that post the retired archbishop said: “We were not actually breaking out! Strictly in Cocoon.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Locals told of Covid-19 outbreak in temporary asylum-seeker accommodation

Business owners in Cahersiveen , Co Kerry , have been informed of an outbreak of Covid-19 among asylum seekers accommodated in a hotel in the town .
The Department of Justice , which oversees the accommodation of asylum seekers , said it could not confirm or deny that residents have tested positive .
However , chairperson of Cahersiveen Community and Business Alliance Jack Fitzpatrick said that at a meeting in a car park on Saturday night , the hotel ’ s manager confirmed four confirmed cases to members of the local business community .
They were told all four infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility in Cork set up to deal with cases of Covid-19 in the direct-provision system .
About 100 asylum seekers were moved into the Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen last month on a temporary basis as part Government efforts to free up space in accommodation in Dublin to stem the spread of coronavirus .
The Government had announced the opening of several new facilities in the face of sustained criticism that not enough was being done to protect asylum seekers from the virus in the overcrowded direct provision system .
However while some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they wanted to make the residents feel welcome , others expressed anger over a lack of consultation with the community .
Mr Fitzpatrick told The Irish Times there was now great worry that the virus will spread in the community .
He said shop owners and pharmacies have offered to deliver goods to the hotel so the residents can self-isolate but that some residents were still coming into the town to shop .
“ We are not barring anybody from our shops .
But we are pleading with them to please remain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of you.
” A department spokesman said it was following HSE advice on dealing with the virus .
“ The established procedure across all of our centres where a person is suspected of having the virus or is confirmed as having the virus , is that they are moved to one of our dedicated offsite self-isolation facilities .
”

The four infected people at the Skellig Star Hotel in Co Kerry have been moved to a self-isolation facility in Cork. Image: Google maps
Business owners in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, have been informed of an outbreak of Covid-19 among asylum seekers accommodated in a hotel in the town.
The Department of Justice, which oversees the accommodation of asylum seekers, said it could not confirm or deny that residents have tested positive. However, chairperson of Cahersiveen Community and Business Alliance Jack Fitzpatrick said that at a meeting in a car park on Saturday night, the hotel’s manager confirmed four confirmed cases to members of the local business community. They were told all four infected people had been moved to a self-isolation facility in Cork set up to deal with cases of Covid-19 in the direct-provision system.
About 100 asylum seekers were moved into the Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen last month on a temporary basis as part Government efforts to free up space in accommodation in Dublin to stem the spread of coronavirus.
The Government had announced the opening of several new facilities in the face of sustained criticism that not enough was being done to protect asylum seekers from the virus in the overcrowded direct provision system.
READ MORE
Lack of consultation
However while some locals, including Mr Fitzpatrick, said they wanted to make the residents feel welcome, others expressed anger over a lack of consultation with the community.
Mr Fitzpatrick told The Irish Times there was now great worry that the virus will spread in the community. He said shop owners and pharmacies have offered to deliver goods to the hotel so the residents can self-isolate but that some residents were still coming into the town to shop.
“We are not barring anybody from our shops. But we are pleading with them to please remain in the hotel and we will take care of you.”
A department spokesman said it was following HSE advice on dealing with the virus. “The established procedure across all of our centres where a person is suspected of having the virus or is confirmed as having the virus, is that they are moved to one of our dedicated offsite self-isolation facilities.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Two men accused of posing as gardaí in home of woman (83) refused bail

Two men have been remanded in custody after they were charged with a series of burglaries including one where two intruders broke into the home of an 83-year-old woman in the middle of the night and stole over €2,700 in cash .
Anthony Horgan ( 44 ) and Christopher Jones ( 27 ) were brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court following a Garda investigation into a series of burglaries in the Tower Street area of Cork ’ s southside on Friday morning .
Mr Jones of no fixed abode and Mr Horgan , also of no fixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burglaries of houses on High Street , Frankfield Villas , O ’ Connor Ville and Tyrone Place in Cork , all on the night of April 16th/17th .
They were also charged with a burglary of a house on Great William O ’ Brien Street on the city ’ s northside on April 9th and with handling stolen property at the Spar Shop on Leitrim Street , also on the city ’ s northside , on April 17th .
Mr Horgan was further charged with two other offences , namely possession of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork city centre on April 17th and threatening to cause criminal damage to a window at Togher Garda Station on April 18th .
Garda Mark Leonard and Garda Keith Cahill gave evidence of arrest , charge and caution in relation to both accused and told the court that neither man made any reply when each of the charges were put to them after caution .
Det Garda Padraig Harrington said gardaí were objecting to bail for both men as they feared that they would commit further offences and would not stand trial if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said gardaí were grounding their objections to bail on the seriousness of the charges against them and the nature and strength of the evidence against both accused who were arrested on Pope ’ s Quay on April 17th He said the state would allege that both men broke into a five occupied houses by popping their front door locks in the Tower Street/High Street area of the city ’ s southside in the early hours of April 17th .
He said the state would allege that in one case they woke up an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and told her that they were gardaí and that they were checking out reports of burglaries in the area .
He said the state would allege that the accused asked the woman where she kept her money to check if it was okay and when the woman told them where she kept the cash , they stole €2,700 and £80 .
The state would allege that gardaí got CCTV footage showing two men which matched descriptions of the culprits given by witnesses and when arrested , the accused were wearing clothing matching that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horgan made partial admissions in relation to handling a stolen credit card at Leitrim Street and Mr Jones admitted his involvement in the burglaries , including pointing himself out on CCTV footage .
He said Mr Jones was a self-admitted heroin and crack cocaine addict and that the state would allege that he had spent around €1,200 of his share of the cash stolen from the pensioner by the time he was arrested less than 12 hours later .
He said the state was also concerned the two would not stand trial as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a squat in the Blackpool area and in Mr Jones ’ s case , he had been homeless for a considerable time with little family support .
Mr Horgan took the stand and told his solicitor , Diarmuid Kelleher that he would turn up for his trial if granted bail and that he would be willing to sign on at his local garda station and abide by a curfew .
Mr Jones ’ s solicitor , Eddie Burke said that he was disappointed to see his client in court as he had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 pandemic had led to the loss of all support services upon which he was dependent .
Judge John King said he was concerned Mr Jones could commit further serious offences if granted bail and he was concerned Mr Horgan was a flight risk and might not stand trial if he was granted bail so he was refusing both men bail .
Insp Sean McCarthy said gardaí were seeking a remand in custody until April 22nd for DPP ’ s directions and Judge King remanded both men to appear again in court on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted both men free legal aid .

The series of burglaries took place in the Tower Street area of Cork’s southside on Friday morning. Image: Google Maps
Two men have been remanded in custody after they were charged with a series of burglaries including one where two intruders broke into the home of an 83-year-old woman in the middle of the night and stole over €2,700 in cash.
Anthony Horgan (44) and Christopher Jones (27) were brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court following a Garda investigation into a series of burglaries in the Tower Street area of Cork's southside on Friday morning.
Mr Jones of no fixed abode and Mr Horgan, also of no fixed abode, were both charged with five burglaries of houses on High Street, Frankfield Villas, O'Connor Ville and Tyrone Place in Cork, all on the night of April 16th/17th.
They were also charged with a burglary of a house on Great William O'Brien Street on the city's northside on April 9th and with handling stolen property at the Spar Shop on Leitrim Street, also on the city's northside, on April 17th.
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Mr Horgan was further charged with two other offences, namely possession of a knife at Pope's Quay in Cork city centre on April 17th and threatening to cause criminal damage to a window at Togher Garda Station on April 18th.
Garda Mark Leonard and Garda Keith Cahill gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to both accused and told the court that neither man made any reply when each of the charges were put to them after caution.
Det Garda Padraig Harrington said gardaí were objecting to bail for both men as they feared that they would commit further offences and would not stand trial if granted bail on the charges.
He said gardaí were grounding their objections to bail on the seriousness of the charges against them and the nature and strength of the evidence against both accused who were arrested on Pope’s Quay on April 17th
He said the state would allege that both men broke into a five occupied houses by popping their front door locks in the Tower Street/High Street area of the city’s southside in the early hours of April 17th.
‘Sleeping woman’
He said the state would allege that in one case they woke up an 83-year-old woman sleeping in her downstairs bedroom and told her that they were gardaí and that they were checking out reports of burglaries in the area.
He said the state would allege that the accused asked the woman where she kept her money to check if it was okay and when the woman told them where she kept the cash, they stole €2,700 and £80.
The state would allege that gardaí got CCTV footage showing two men which matched descriptions of the culprits given by witnesses and when arrested, the accused were wearing clothing matching that described by witnesses.
He said Mr Horgan made partial admissions in relation to handling a stolen credit card at Leitrim Street and Mr Jones admitted his involvement in the burglaries, including pointing himself out on CCTV footage.
He said Mr Jones was a self-admitted heroin and crack cocaine addict and that the state would allege that he had spent around €1,200 of his share of the cash stolen from the pensioner by the time he was arrested less than 12 hours later.
He said the state was also concerned the two would not stand trial as they were both homeless, living in a squat in the Blackpool area and in Mr Jones's case, he had been homeless for a considerable time with little family support.
Mr Horgan took the stand and told his solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher that he would turn up for his trial if granted bail and that he would be willing to sign on at his local garda station and abide by a curfew.
‘Loss of services’
Mr Jones's solicitor, Eddie Burke said that he was disappointed to see his client in court as he had been doing relatively well of late but the Covid-19 pandemic had led to the loss of all support services upon which he was dependent.
Judge John King said he was concerned Mr Jones could commit further serious offences if granted bail and he was concerned Mr Horgan was a flight risk and might not stand trial if he was granted bail so he was refusing both men bail.
Insp Sean McCarthy said gardaí were seeking a remand in custody until April 22nd for DPP’s directions and Judge King remanded both men to appear again in court on that day by video link and he granted both men free legal aid.


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Man accused of robbing shop with knife to appear in court

A man is due to appear in court on Monday charged with the robbery of a shop in Walkinstown , @ @ @ @ @ in his late 40s , was arrested following the robbery on Saturday at Walkinstown Avenue @ @ @ @ @ approximately 4.55pm , a man entered the shop and threatened staff with a knife .
@ @ @ @ @ taken from the cash register and the man fled the scene on a pedal cycle @ @ @ @ @ a short distance away and detained at Crumlin Garda Station under Section 4 of the @ @ @ @ @ The cash taken was recovered .
He has since been charged in connection with the @ @ @ @ @ the Criminal Courts of Justice , Dublin on Monday morning .

The robbery took place on Saturday afternoon at Walkinstown Avenue, Dublin. Image: Google Maps
A man is due to appear in court on Monday charged with the robbery of a shop in Walkinstown, Dublin.
The man, in his late 40s, was arrested following the robbery on Saturday at Walkinstown Avenue.
Gardaí said that at approximately 4.55pm, a man entered the shop and threatened staff with a knife. A quantity of cash was taken from the cash register and the man fled the scene on a pedal cycle.
The man was arrested a short distance away and detained at Crumlin Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. The cash taken was recovered.
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He has since been charged in connection with the incident and will appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin on Monday morning.


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Cocooning: ‘I want to be fit enough to see my 83rd birthday at the end of May’

Kathleen Atkinson ( 82 ) is a very busy lady , despite the fact she is cocooning by herself at her home in Cabra , Dublin 7 .
To fill her time , she plays puzzles , does arts and crafts , rides her stationary bike and attends virtual exercise classes twice daily .
“ I ’ ve done sit down exercises in John Paul Park for the last five years , ” Ms Atkinson said .
“ I really missed that .
So now I have Paul on the internet and we do the exercises with him .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , Wednesday and Friday at 11am , Age and Opportunity , an organisation for older people , holds a virtual exercise class through a Facebook Live video before uploading the demonstrations to YouTube .
Ms Atkinson said she loves the classes , and she doesn ’ t know what she would do if the service wasn ’ t there .
“ I love Paul ’ s exercises .
He has a great variety and you don ’ t get bored .
All of us in the old group are doing it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added .
“ I want to be fit enough to be able to see my 83rd birthday at the end of May.
” Ms Atkinson isn ’ t the only one partaking in the online classes .
Marian Mooney ( 66 ) in Co Westmeath is too .
She admits “ it ’ s slightly strange ” that she ’ s doing them by herself but she thinks it ’ s important to keep healthy and active , “ especially as you get older ” .
“ The virtual group is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranges of movements and even play games .
I just constantly find myself laughing ; it ’ s really fun , ” she said .
Paul Gallier , active programme assistant manager at Age and Opportunity , said 4,000 people watch the videos live and many more are watching them back on YouTube at a later date .
“ The fear was that if people are housebound then they wouldn ’ t be as physically active .
So the main part of the sessions is fun , but you also get the added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ They ’ re not going to run a marathon but the aim is functional fitness so they can get on with daily living and allow them to maintain independence.
” The classes include sitting down exercises , standing up movements and then games on Fridays .
“ We ’ ve tried to access as many people as possible and a lot of people aren ’ t online .
So we also developed information sheets and a DVD with six sessions so people who don ’ t use the internet can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Age and Opportunity isn ’ t the only organisation enabling older people to keep involved in activities during these challenging times .
The Men ’ s Sheds , an organisation to support men who have retired , has established a number of creative groups on WhatsApp to allow its members continue the activities they usually take part in when the sheds are running normally .
For Barry Sheridan , chief executive of Men ’ s Sheds , the biggest concern was to ensure older people could stay connected .
“ Obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so we are doing it virtually through Zoom and social media .
Using technology can be a challenge for some of them , but the men have adapted really quickly .
Some of them have been fantastic and really innovative , ” Mr Sheridan said .
“ When the sheds closed , one of our other concerns was members who might struggle with technology so we encouraged the sheds to set up a buddy system .
This means that people who wouldn ’ t have access to the online groups will get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who live alone or who are particularly at risk of being isolated.
” The Waterford Estuary shed has set up an online art group .
“ They got loads of art supplies and then the coronavirus happened suddenly so they decided to set up a thing called dabbling in art , ” said Andrew Power , a volunteer with men ’ s sheds in Waterford .
“ One of the members goes on YouTube and gets an art tutorial and shares it with the other members .
They all do it and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group and talk about it.
” Norman Farragher , who is involved with the Naas Men ’ s Shed , explained his group has set up a musical WhatsApp group because music is “ very important to them ” .
“ Each night , they ’ ll sit at home , sing into their phone and then post it into the WhatsApp group .
We thought this would be a good way to stay connected for banter and stories , ” Mr Farragher said .
“ We wouldn ’ t have a connection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaging with it , and each of them are contributing in their own ways .
Whether it ’ s singing a song , or sending pictures of their flowers or sharing jokes .
They ’ re all just wonderful guys .
”

Kathleen Atkinson (82) is a very busy lady, despite the fact she is cocooning by herself at her home in Cabra, Dublin 7
Kathleen Atkinson (82) is a very busy lady, despite the fact she is cocooning by herself at her home in Cabra, Dublin 7.
To fill her time, she plays puzzles, does arts and crafts, rides her stationary bike and attends virtual exercise classes twice daily.
"I've done sit down exercises in John Paul Park for the last five years," Ms Atkinson said. "I really missed that. So now I have Paul on the internet and we do the exercises with him. But I do miss getting out."
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am, Age and Opportunity, an organisation for older people, holds a virtual exercise class through a Facebook Live video before uploading the demonstrations to YouTube.
READ MORE
Ms Atkinson said she loves the classes, and she doesn’t know what she would do if the service wasn’t there.
“I love Paul’s exercises. He has a great variety and you don’t get bored. All of us in the old group are doing it. I do it twice daily,” she added. “I want to be fit enough to be able to see my 83rd birthday at the end of May.”
‘Slightly strange’
Ms Atkinson isn't the only one partaking in the online classes. Marian Mooney (66) in Co Westmeath is too. She admits "it's slightly strange" that she's doing them by herself but she thinks it's important to keep healthy and active, "especially as you get older".
“The virtual group is a great idea. We get to do ranges of movements and even play games. I just constantly find myself laughing; it’s really fun,” she said.
Marian Mooney (66) in Co Westmeath partakes in an online fitness class. She admits ‘it’s slightly strange’ that she’s doing them by herself but she thinks it’s important to keep healthy and active, ‘especially as you get older’.
Paul Gallier, active programme assistant manager at Age and Opportunity, said 4,000 people watch the videos live and many more are watching them back on YouTube at a later date.
“The fear was that if people are housebound then they wouldn’t be as physically active. So the main part of the sessions is fun, but you also get the added benefit of the exercise,” he said.
“They’re not going to run a marathon but the aim is functional fitness so they can get on with daily living and allow them to maintain independence.”
The classes include sitting down exercises, standing up movements and then games on Fridays.
“We’ve tried to access as many people as possible and a lot of people aren’t online. So we also developed information sheets and a DVD with six sessions so people who don’t use the internet can still take part,” Mr Gallier added.
Age and Opportunity isn’t the only organisation enabling older people to keep involved in activities during these challenging times.
The Men's Sheds, an organisation to support men who have retired, has established a number of creative groups on WhatsApp to allow its members continue the activities they usually take part in when the sheds are running normally.
For Barry Sheridan, chief executive of Men’s Sheds, the biggest concern was to ensure older people could stay connected.
"Obviously we can't do that physically, so we are doing it virtually through Zoom and social media. Using technology can be a challenge for some of them, but the men have adapted really quickly. Some of them have been fantastic and really innovative," Mr Sheridan said.
“When the sheds closed, one of our other concerns was members who might struggle with technology so we encouraged the sheds to set up a buddy system. This means that people who wouldn’t have access to the online groups will get a call each day, especially men who live alone or who are particularly at risk of being isolated.”
Online art group
The Waterford Estuary shed has set up an online art group. "They got loads of art supplies and then the coronavirus happened suddenly so they decided to set up a thing called dabbling in art," said Andrew Power, a volunteer with men's sheds in Waterford.
“One of the members goes on YouTube and gets an art tutorial and shares it with the other members. They all do it and then upload the individual paintings into their WhatsApp group and talk about it.”
Norman Farragher, who is involved with the Naas Men's Shed, explained his group has set up a musical WhatsApp group because music is "very important to them".
“Each night, they’ll sit at home, sing into their phone and then post it into the WhatsApp group. We thought this would be a good way to stay connected for banter and stories,” Mr Farragher said.
“We wouldn’t have a connection without technology. They’re all engaging with it, and each of them are contributing in their own ways. Whether it’s singing a song, or sending pictures of their flowers or sharing jokes. They’re all just wonderful guys.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-19--Nearly 200 signs of otter activity recorded across Dublin’s rivers

Nearly 200 signs of otter activity have been observed around Dublin ’ s rivers and streams over the past two years , new research commissioned by Dublin City Council has found .
The Dublin Otter survey , carried out over two years between 2018 and 2019 , found 196 signs of otters across 84km of watercourses including the rivers Mayne , Santry , Naniken , Tolka , Liffey , Camac , Poddle , Dodder , Owendoher , Little Dargle and Slang .
The research was also carried out around the Whitechurch , Wyckham and Elm Park streams .
While otters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at night and can be difficult to find , their presence can be spotted through a range of signs including spraints ( droppings ) , latrines ( regular spraint sites ) , slides ( worn areas where otters enter the water ) , couches ( resting areas ) and holts ( burrows ) .
Otters are a protected species under the EU habitats directive and Ireland is required to monitor and conserve otter populations .
The Dodder and Tolka rivers were found to be the most heavily marked with otter signs while in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in St Anne ’ s Park , no otter marks were recorded .
The study found the rivers of Dublin remain “ highly important passageways for wildlife and also important breeding areas for otter ” proving that otters can “ continue to survive in densely populated areas such as Dublin ” .
The rivers examined during the study are “ some of the last remaining secluded habitats in cities that are becoming increasingly fragmented ” .
The authors of the report , Bill Brazier and Ross Macklin , also noted that while its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from human activity , evidence from their research “ isn ’ t quite that clear cut ” .
“ We did find that the less-disturbed areas of the city ’ s rivers and streams featured more otter activity in general .
Having said that , provided there is some substantial buffer , such as mature tree lines or inaccessible areas bounded by high walls , between the river channel and human disturbance , otters can be found in surprisingly urbanised areas.
” New methods were used in the two-year research project including surveying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculate levels of human disturbance to the otter habitats .
City council senior executive parks and landscape officer Maryann Harris said the results of the study highlighted the need to conserve undisturbed sections of rivers for otters to breed while also reinforcing the council ’ s goal of the “ re-naturalisation of river corridors ” .
“ Otters are sensitive to encroachment by development and this study will better inform the management and conservation requirements for otter in the city , ” she said .

Otters are a protected species under the EU habitats directive and Ireland is required to monitor and conserve otter populations. Photograph: Getty Images
Nearly 200 signs of otter activity have been observed around Dublin's rivers and streams over the past two years, new research commissioned by Dublin City Council has found.
The Dublin Otter survey, carried out over two years between 2018 and 2019, found 196 signs of otters across 84km of watercourses including the rivers Mayne, Santry, Naniken, Tolka, Liffey, Camac, Poddle, Dodder, Owendoher, Little Dargle and Slang.
The research was also carried out around the Whitechurch, Wyckham and Elm Park streams.
While otters are shy animals that mainly come out at night and can be difficult to find, their presence can be spotted through a range of signs including spraints (droppings), latrines (regular spraint sites), slides (worn areas where otters enter the water), couches (resting areas) and holts (burrows).
READ MORE
Otters are a protected species under the EU habitats directive and Ireland is required to monitor and conserve otter populations.
The Dodder and Tolka rivers were found to be the most heavily marked with otter signs while in other areas, such as the Naniken in St Anne’s Park, no otter marks were recorded.
The study found the rivers of Dublin remain “highly important passageways for wildlife and also important breeding areas for otter” proving that otters can “continue to survive in densely populated areas such as Dublin”.
The rivers examined during the study are “some of the last remaining secluded habitats in cities that are becoming increasingly fragmented”.
The authors of the report, Bill Brazier and Ross Macklin, also noted that while its commonly believed otters prefer to stay away from human activity, evidence from their research “isn’t quite that clear cut”.
‘Substantial buffer’
“We did find that the less-disturbed areas of the city’s rivers and streams featured more otter activity in general. Having said that, provided there is some substantial buffer, such as mature tree lines or inaccessible areas bounded by high walls, between the river channel and human disturbance, otters can be found in surprisingly urbanised areas.”
New methods were used in the two-year research project including surveying the introduction of a new index to calculate levels of human disturbance to the otter habitats.
City council senior executive parks and landscape officer Maryann Harris said the results of the study highlighted the need to conserve undisturbed sections of rivers for otters to breed while also reinforcing the council’s goal of the “re-naturalisation of river corridors”.
“Otters are sensitive to encroachment by development and this study will better inform the management and conservation requirements for otter in the city,” she said.