theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Bar on drinking of Achill Island tap water enters fifth day

A “ do not consume ” notice for water in all parts of Achill Island and some parts of the adjacent Co Mayo mainland has been extended and is due to enter its fifth day on Tuesday .
Irish Water , in consultation with the Health Service Executive , issued the advice not to consume the water , whether from public supply or group water schemes , on any part of the island or parts of the mainland due to increased levels of aluminium and turbidity – the solid particles that cause cloudy water .
Almost 2,500 residents of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should consume the water or wash food with the water , it was especially important it was not consumed by babies or infants .
“ Everyone on the island , whether supplied by the Achill Public Water Supply Scheme or any of the group water schemes and parts of the adjacent mainland , are affected by this notice , ” Irish Water said in a notice on Monday which extended the initial “ do not consume ” notice issued last Friday .
“ Irish Water would like to remind customers that the notice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be consumed or used to wash foods.
” Tankers were supplying water at 29 locations on the island , including from schools and churches .
Residents and tourists have been told to present at those locations with their own containers to receive their supplies of drinking water .
Irish Water said the water supplied by tanker should be boiled before consumption as a precautionary measure .
It added it was working with Mayo County Council to resolve the problems and also to supply bottled water to its “ vulnerable customers ” .

Dooagh, Achill Island, Co Mayo, where a “do not consume” water supplies notice is in place. File photograph: Getty
The "do not consume" notice for water on Achill Island and some parts of the Co Mayo mainland was introduced due to a swell in numbers from people on 'staycations', Irish Water has said.
The bar on using water entered its fifth day on Tuesday.
Irish Water’s head of asset Management Séan Laffey said levels of demand are 50 per cent higher than this time last year, which has led to higher aluminium levels.
“This is not a boil water notice. This does not make it safe to drink,” he told RTÉ Radio. “ This water should not be made for drinks or washing food or brushing teeth.”
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However, water on the island can be used for bathing, flushing toilets and washing utensils.
Mr Laffey said that an unexpected consequence of the Covid-19 crisis was that more people were holidaying in Ireland and visiting places like Achill. The water treatment plant at Achill has a capacity for 3,000 people and for 98 per cent of the year this works adequately, he added.
Irish Water, in consultation with the Health Service Executive, issued the advice not to consume the water, whether from public supply or group water schemes, on any part of the island or parts of the mainland due to increased levels of aluminium and turbidity – the solid particles that cause cloudy water.
Almost 2,500 residents of the island have been warned that while nobody should consume the water or wash food with the water, it was especially important it was not consumed by babies or infants.
“Everyone on the island, whether supplied by the Achill Public Water Supply Scheme or any of the group water schemes and parts of the adjacent mainland, are affected by this notice,” Irish Water said in a notice on Monday which extended the initial “do not consume” notice issued last Friday.
“Irish Water would like to remind customers that the notice remains in place and that water should not be consumed or used to wash foods.”
Tankers were supplying water at 29 locations on the island, including from schools and churches. Residents and tourists have been told to present at those locations with their own containers to receive their supplies of drinking water.
Irish Water said the water supplied by tanker should be boiled before consumption as a precautionary measure. It added it was working with Mayo County Council to resolve the problems and also to supply bottled water to its "vulnerable customers".


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Compliance with new face covering regulations high among Derry shoppers

In Derry city centre , Catherine Lynch and her daughter Emma Ayriss are taking a breather .
They are sporting plastic visors with a convenient addition - a hinge at the sides which allows them to flip them up and down as they go from inside to out .
“ I ’ ve seen more masks out and about today than I ’ ve ever seen before , ” says Ayriss .
This is her first time wearing a face covering ; her mother , who has health conditions and had been shielding , is a veteran .
“ Mammy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very first day.
” Lynch nods , explaining that she feels “ reassured ” to see everyone wearing them .
“ It ’ s just the right thing to do.
” The use of face coverings in shops and other enclosed spaces became mandatory in the North on Monday , ten days earlier than originally scheduled because of the rising number of coronavirus cases and the low numbers wearing masks on a voluntary basis .
Children under 13 and those who are unable to wear them health or disability reasons are exempt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask without a reasonable excuse could be fined £60 ( €67 ) .
The Irish Times observed on Friday that the majority of shoppers were not wearing face coverings , whereas by Monday morning only a handful of individuals in city centre shops did not have their nose and mouth covered .
Daisy Mules also noticed the difference .
She too has been wearing a face covering throughout ; Monday ’ s reusable mask had a daisy pattern - “ one of my kids sent it ” .
In Donegal , she points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask ” even before it was compulsory , whereas in a supermarket in Derry on Saturday she was one of only two people covering her face .
“ I felt uncomfortable .
I wanted out as soon as I could , ” she explains ; when she returned to the same shop on Monday , “ everyone was wearing a mask.
” Outside each shop , a new routine is emerging .
At the entrance to each business , customers pause and put on their masks before entering .
Of the many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only one woman does not cover her face .
“ I don ’ t want to , ” she says .
When The Irish Times explains that it is against the law not to wear one , she expands : “ If they fine me , they fine me.
” Her companion points out that there are no signs to tell people to wear masks .
“ This campaign should have happened in April , when people were dying in their thousands [ in the UK ] .
It ’ s 15 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear a mask .
Sure the main man himself , Boris Johnson , he never wore a mask until recently.
” Fiona Herbst noticed no such reluctance on Monday .
A jewellery designer , it is her day manning the till at Number 19 Craft and Design , an artist ’ s collective in the city centre ’ s Craft Village .
“ Last week , I ’ d put mask wearing at only about 10-20 per cent .
A lot of people have been buying masks , but they weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Today ’ s been great , everyone ’ s been wearing a mask.
” At the Richmond Shopping Centre , they are well prepared , with security staff on duty at the doors asking people to wear their masks .
Theirs is a light touch approach , explains marketing manager Jennifer Taylor ; it is not their role to enforce , but to remind .
“ We haven ’ t had anything negative , this morning , I think it ’ s just a case of understanding that people have exemptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them and just working with people.
” They are still feeling the impact of the coronavirus ; last week footfall was down 25 per cent compared to last year , though Taylor points out that it ’ s a lot better than during lockdown , when it was “ 100 per cent down ” .
“ We ’ re very conscious of making the centre safe for our customers so that they want to come shopping again , ” she explains ; their hope is that masks will further encourage shoppers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is also a new habit to learn ; that of peeling off their masks on the way out .
“ It ’ s so claustrophobic , ” says Sinead Reilly .
“ But it is compulsory , and you do feel safer wearing it .
”

From left Catherine Lynch, Emma Ayriss and Lorrie Dawick were among those wearing r face coverings in Derry city centre on Monday.
In Derry city centre, Catherine Lynch and her daughter Emma Ayriss are taking a breather.
They are sporting plastic visors with a convenient addition - a hinge at the sides which allows them to flip them up and down as they go from inside to out.
“I’ve seen more masks out and about today than I’ve ever seen before,” says Ayriss. This is her first time wearing a face covering; her mother, who has health conditions and had been shielding, is a veteran.
“Mammy’s been wearing them from the very first day.” Lynch nods, explaining that she feels “reassured” to see everyone wearing them. “It’s just the right thing to do.”
READ MORE
The use of face coverings in shops and other enclosed spaces became mandatory in the North on Monday, ten days earlier than originally scheduled because of the rising number of coronavirus cases and the low numbers wearing masks on a voluntary basis.
Children under 13 and those who are unable to wear them health or disability reasons are exempt, but those who do not wear a mask without a reasonable excuse could be fined £60 (€67).
The Irish Times observed on Friday that the majority of shoppers were not wearing face coverings, whereas by Monday morning only a handful of individuals in city centre shops did not have their nose and mouth covered.
Daisy Mules also noticed the difference. She too has been wearing a face covering throughout; Monday's reusable mask had a daisy pattern - "one of my kids sent it".
In Donegal, she points out, "virtually everyone was wearing a mask" even before it was compulsory, whereas in a supermarket in Derry on Saturday she was one of only two people covering her face.
“I felt uncomfortable. I wanted out as soon as I could,” she explains; when she returned to the same shop on Monday, “everyone was wearing a mask.”
New routine
Outside each shop, a new routine is emerging. At the entrance to each business, customers pause and put on their masks before entering. Of the many people queuing at the post office, only one woman does not cover her face.
“I don’t want to,” she says. When The Irish Times explains that it is against the law not to wear one, she expands: “If they fine me, they fine me.”
Her companion points out that there are no signs to tell people to wear masks. "This campaign should have happened in April, when people were dying in their thousands [in the UK]. It's 15, 16 weeks too late, telling people to wear a mask. Sure the main man himself, Boris Johnson, he never wore a mask until recently."
Fiona Herbst noticed no such reluctance on Monday. A jewellery designer, it is her day manning the till at Number 19 Craft and Design, an artist's collective in the city centre's Craft Village.
“Last week, I’d put mask wearing at only about 10-20 per cent. A lot of people have been buying masks, but they weren’t wearing them,” she says. “Today’s been great, everyone’s been wearing a mask.”
At the Richmond Shopping Centre, they are well prepared, with security staff on duty at the doors asking people to wear their masks. Theirs is a light touch approach, explains marketing manager Jennifer Taylor; it is not their role to enforce, but to remind.
“We haven’t had anything negative, this morning, I think it’s just a case of understanding that people have exemptions or maybe are a wee bit afraid of them and just working with people.”
They are still feeling the impact of the coronavirus; last week footfall was down 25 per cent compared to last year, though Taylor points out that it’s a lot better than during lockdown, when it was “100 per cent down”.
“We’re very conscious of making the centre safe for our customers so that they want to come shopping again,” she explains; their hope is that masks will further encourage shoppers to return.
For those returning shoppers, there is also a new habit to learn; that of peeling off their masks on the way out. "It's so claustrophobic," says Sinead Reilly. "But it is compulsory, and you do feel safer wearing it."


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Weekend crowds at Wexford beaches beyond ‘all previous numbers’

More than 7,000 people visited Curracloe Beach on Saturday , according to Wexford County Council .
The local authority said @ @ @ @ @ as Ballymoney , Courtown , Morriscastle , Rosslare Strand and Duncannon over the weekend exceeded @ @ @ @ @ .
“ During the weekend Wexford County Council issued a number of messages via radio @ @ @ @ @ to residents and visitors to refrain from visiting the main beaches where possible as the @ @ @ @ @ social distancing impossible , and in addition , we had traffic problems on the approach @ @ @ @ @ , ” a spokesman for the council said .
“ We are indebted to An @ @ @ @ @ with us and provided considerable assistance to us in managing the associated traffic throughout the @ @ @ @ @ County Council said access to Banna Beach in Co Kerry was closed on Saturday by @ @ @ @ @ crowds gathered .

Curracloe Beach was far from deserted at the weekend. File photograph: Gearóid Gibbs/PA Wire
More than 7,000 people visited Curracloe Beach on Saturday, according to Wexford County Council.
The local authority said crowds gathered at beaches such as Ballymoney, Courtown, Morriscastle, Rosslare Strand and Duncannon over the weekend exceeded "all previous numbers".
“During the weekend Wexford County Council issued a number of messages via radio, Twitter, etc appealing to residents and visitors to refrain from visiting the main beaches where possible as the crowds on the beaches made social distancing impossible, and in addition, we had traffic problems on the approach roads due to sheer volumes,” a spokesman for the council said.
"We are indebted to An Garda Síochána who co-operated closely with us and provided considerable assistance to us in managing the associated traffic throughout the weekend."
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Meanwhile, Kerry County Council said access to Banna Beach in Co Kerry was closed on Saturday by local gardaí due to large crowds gathered.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Weekly costs in public nursing homes over 60% higher than private ones

The weekly cost of accommodating a person in a publicly-run nursing home under the “ Fair Deal '' scheme is over 60 per cent higher than in a private facility , a new report by the Comptroller and Auditor General has found .
The special report published on Monday also revealed that residents in private nursing homes were more likely to incur charges for additional services than those in the public system .
The Comptroller ’ s report also recommends changes to the HSE ’ s approach in a number of cases to dealing with the contribution of residents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme .
The Comptroller ’ s report says by 2018 the “ Fair Deal ” scheme was supporting more than 23,000 people with the cost of their nursing home care .
The HSE paid out €969 million with an additional €343 million provided to nursing homes in 2018 in the form of residents ’ contributions .
There are about 550 nursing homes covered by the scheme with about 80 per cent in the private and voluntary sector .
“ In 2018 , the average charge rate for public nursing homes was €1,564 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chargeable for private or voluntary homes was €968 a week .
The difference was 62 per cent .
However , because the methods used to determine the weekly rates are different for each sector , a meaningful comparison of the charge rates is difficult.
” The Comptroller ’ s report says the HSE has maintained the higher average weekly charge rate for public homes is attributed to a range of factors such as * better pay and conditions for staff in public nursing homes , including the * higher costs associated with older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically were not purpose-built for long-term residential care * some public nursing homes located in rural or isolated areas may not be However , the report says the HSE has not undertaken formal analysis of these cost drivers .
Nursing Homes Ireland said on Monday that the report highlights ” a scheme that requires urgent reform and is inherently unfair for private and voluntary nursing homes ” .
The Comptroller ’ s report says that both public and private nursing homes provide a range of goods and services not covered by the scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transportation to appointments .
The Comptroller ’ s team carried out a review of 12 contracts with residents , six in the public system and six in the private/voluntary system .
The report says , for example , in five of the six private/voluntary sector contracts reviewed there were references to a change in fees if a resident ’ s dependency level changes .
The sample study also found additional charges in the private/voluntary sector for the provision of additional incontinence wear .
“ The HSE provides a supply of incontinence wear free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community and in residential settings ( public and private ) .
A clinical decision as to a person ’ s necessity for products , and a determination of the number of pads required per day is made , on a case-by-case basis , by a HSE continence advisor or public health nurse .
It is HSE policy not to levy charges in cases when a resident of a public nursing home requires additional incontinence wear .
In private nursing homes , the cost of required additional incontinence wear is typically passed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a person applying under the scheme is required to provide details of their income and assets to the HSE together with supporting documentary evidence .
However it says the HSE does not specify the nature of the documentary evidence required for many types of income and assets , or how recent that evidence should be .
A sample study carried out found that the majority of applicants were receiving Department of Social Protection income supports .
“ For 41 of these cases , Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection ( DEASP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on welfare payments made to individuals , marital status and previous employment status , was available in the local HSE office .
The examination found evidence that DEASP ’ s system had been checked by HSE staff in just under half of these cases .
“ A rate change in the State pension will impact the amount an individual pays towards their cost of care .
The examination found that following a rate change , each individual ’ s contribution must be manually re-calculated by the HSE .
Between 2015 and 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes .
The examination team analysed information from the HSE ’ s IT system , as at February 2018 , to determine whether pension rates had been adjusted accordingly and in a timely way .
It was found that there were over 2,200 instances where rates of pension had not been adjusted and the contribution to care had therefore not been re-calculated .
This represented about 10 per cent of the cases in payment at the time .
”

The Comptroller’s report recommends changes to the HSE’s approach in a number of cases to dealing with the contribution of residents to the cost of their care under the scheme. File photograph: iStock
The weekly cost of accommodating a person in a publicly-run nursing home under the "Fair Deal" scheme is over 60 per cent higher than in a private facility, a new report by the Comptroller and Auditor General has found.
The special report published on Monday also revealed that residents in private nursing homes were more likely to incur charges for additional services than those in the public system.
The Comptroller’s report also recommends changes to the HSE’s approach in a number of cases to dealing with the contribution of residents to the cost of their care under the scheme.
The Comptroller’s report says by 2018 the “Fair Deal” scheme was supporting more than 23,000 people with the cost of their nursing home care. The HSE paid out €969 million with an additional €343 million provided to nursing homes in 2018 in the form of residents’ contributions. There are about 550 nursing homes covered by the scheme with about 80 per cent in the private and voluntary sector.
READ MORE
“In 2018, the average charge rate for public nursing homes was €1,564 a week. The agreed average maximum price chargeable for private or voluntary homes was €968 a week. The difference was 62 per cent. However, because the methods used to determine the weekly rates are different for each sector, a meaningful comparison of the charge rates is difficult.”
The Comptroller’s report says the HSE has maintained the higher average weekly charge rate for public homes is attributed to a range of factors such as
* better pay and conditions for staff in public nursing homes, including the
implementation of national pay awards
* higher staff-to-resident ratios in public nursing homes
* a higher proportion of maximum dependency residents
* higher costs associated with older buildings used as nursing homes, which typically were not purpose-built for long-term residential care
* some public nursing homes located in rural or isolated areas may not be
commercially viable.
However, the report says the HSE has not undertaken formal analysis of these cost drivers.
Nursing Homes Ireland said on Monday that the report highlights "a scheme that requires urgent reform and is inherently unfair for private and voluntary nursing homes".
The Comptroller’s report says that both public and private nursing homes provide a range of goods and services not covered by the scheme such as access to social programmes or transportation to appointments.
The Comptroller’s team carried out a review of 12 contracts with residents, six in the public system and six in the private/voluntary system.
The report says, for example, in five of the six private/voluntary sector contracts reviewed there were references to a change in fees if a resident’s dependency level changes.
The sample study also found additional charges in the private/voluntary sector for the provision of additional incontinence wear.
“The HSE provides a supply of incontinence wear free of charge to eligible people both in the community and in residential settings (public and private). A clinical decision as to a person’s necessity for products, and a determination of the number of pads required per day is made, on a case-by-case basis, by a HSE continence advisor or public health nurse. It is HSE policy not to levy charges in cases when a resident of a public nursing home requires additional incontinence wear. In private nursing homes, the cost of required additional incontinence wear is typically passed on to the resident.”
The report says that a person applying under the scheme is required to provide
details of their income and assets to the HSE together with supporting documentary evidence. However it says the HSE does not specify the nature of the
documentary evidence required for many types of income and assets, or how recent that evidence should be.
A sample study carried out found that the majority of applicants were receiving Department of Social Protection income supports .
“For 41 of these cases, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP)system (Infosys) containing information on welfare payments made to individuals, marital status and previous employment status, was available in the local HSE office. The examination found evidence that DEASP’s system had been checked by HSE staff in just under half of these cases.
“A rate change in the State pension will impact the amount an individual pays towards their cost of care. The examination found that following a rate change, each individual’s contribution must be manually re-calculated by the HSE. Between 2015 and 2018, there have been three such pension rate changes. The examination team analysed information from the HSE’s IT system, as at February 2018, to determine whether pension rates had been adjusted accordingly and in a timely way. It was found that there were over 2,200 instances where rates of pension had not been adjusted and the contribution to care had therefore not been re-calculated. This represented about 10 per cent of the cases in payment at the time.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Scouting Ireland to hire third safeguarding manager in three years

Scouting Ireland is seeking to hire a new safeguarding manager to oversee child protection standards in the organisation , its third in as many years .
The youth organisation ’ s current safeguarding manager , a former senior garda , Gearóid Begley , is retiring .
The organisation has been grappling with the fallout from a massive historical child sex abuse scandal , with over 350 alleged survivors of past abuse identified to date , and 275 alleged perpetrators .
Mr Begley took over the key role in April 2019 from child safeguarding expert Ian Elliott , who had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2018 .
Mr Elliott had overseen major changes in the organisation ’ s child protection policies , and earlier this year completed a report into the scale of the historical child abuse .
The abuse related to two legacy organisations , the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland and the Scout Association of Ireland , which merged to form Scouting Ireland in 2004 .
Mr Elliott ’ s report concluded abuse had been “ tolerated ” at the highest levels of the former organisations , with the crimes of those who preyed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the scouting movement .
In a recent update to its membership , Scouting Ireland stated it was recruiting a new safeguarding manager to replace Mr Begley , who had held the role for little more than a year .
The correspondence to members stated the organisation expected the vacancy to be filled by the start of September .
“ In the meantime , Scouting Ireland has been successful in securing interim expert cover pending the new safeguarding manager taking up their position , ” the update stated .
The job advertisement for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an initial three-year period .
The previous government had stated it was considering a statutory inquiry into the historical abuse scandal last year , following calls from Micheál Martin ( now Taoiseach ) when he was leader of the Opposition .
A spokeswoman for the Department of Taoiseach said launching any independent inquiry “ is a very significant matter and one which will require careful consideration.
” Following Mr Elliott ’ s report into the scandal , the Government was considering “ whether a statutory or public inquiry would uncover new information , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is something which will need to be taken into account in contemplating the question of an inquiry , ” she said .
Privately senior civil servants have cautioned against any State inquiry for fear it could interfere with ongoing criminal investigations into the historic abuse .

The previous government had stated it was considering a statutory inquiry into the historical abuse scandal last year, following calls from Micheál Martin (now Taoiseach) when he was leader of the Opposition. A spokeswoman for the Department of Taoiseach said launching any independent inquiry “is a very significant matter and one which will require careful consideration.” Photograph: Bryan O Brien / The Irish Times
Scouting Ireland is seeking to hire a new safeguarding manager to oversee child protection standards in the organisation, its third in as many years.
The youth organisation's current safeguarding manager, a former senior garda, Gearóid Begley, is retiring.
The organisation has been grappling with the fallout from a massive historical child sex abuse scandal, with over 350 alleged survivors of past abuse identified to date, and 275 alleged perpetrators.
Mr Begley took over the key role in April 2019 from child safeguarding expert Ian Elliott, who had been in the position on an interim basis since 2018.
READ MORE
Mr Elliott had overseen major changes in the organisation’s child protection policies, and earlier this year completed a report into the scale of the historical child abuse.
The abuse related to two legacy organisations, the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland and the Scout Association of Ireland, which merged to form Scouting Ireland in 2004.
Mr Elliott’s report concluded abuse had been “tolerated” at the highest levels of the former organisations, with the crimes of those who preyed on children covered up to protect the reputation of the scouting movement.
In a recent update to its membership, Scouting Ireland stated it was recruiting a new safeguarding manager to replace Mr Begley, who had held the role for little more than a year. The correspondence to members stated the organisation expected the vacancy to be filled by the start of September.
“In the meantime, Scouting Ireland has been successful in securing interim expert cover pending the new safeguarding manager taking up their position,” the update stated. The job advertisement for the position stated the contract was for an initial three-year period.
The previous government had stated it was considering a statutory inquiry into the historical abuse scandal last year, following calls from Micheál Martin (now Taoiseach) when he was leader of the Opposition.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Taoiseach said launching any independent inquiry “is a very significant matter and one which will require careful consideration.”
Following Mr Elliott’s report into the scandal, the Government was considering “whether a statutory or public inquiry would uncover new information,” the spokeswoman said.
“This is something which will need to be taken into account in contemplating the question of an inquiry,” she said.
Privately senior civil servants have cautioned against any State inquiry for fear it could interfere with ongoing criminal investigations into the historic abuse.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Coronavirus: Northern Ireland reports first death in almost a month

One more person has died with coronavirus in Northern Ireland , the first such fatality recorded by its Department of Health in almost a month .
The death was reported by the department on Monday but took place in hospital on August 8th .
The total number of fatalities recorded by the department now stands at 557 .
The Minister for Health , Robin Swann , warned people against “ complacency ” and sent his “ deepest condolences ” to the family and friends of the person who died .
“ This is very distressing news and it underlines once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
The department ’ s figures include only patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 .
Separate figures released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ( Nisra ) on Friday , which cover all fatalities which include coronavirus on the death certificate , noted one death in the week ending July 31st .
Figures released by the department on Monday also showed 76 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed over the weekend .
The number of cases of the virus has been rising over the last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the virus in the last seven days , compared with 89 the previous week .
Belfast reported the highest number of cases in the last week , with 37 people testing positive for the virus .
In the Newry , Mourne and Down district 29 cases were identified , and there were 28 in Mid and East Antrim .
Meanwhile , the wearing of face coverings in shops and other enclosed spaces indoors became mandatory in Northern Ireland on Monday .
Children under 13 and those who are unable to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are exempt , but those who do not wear a mask without a reasonable excuse will be liable for a fine of £60 ( €67 ) .
In a joint statement , the Northern Executive said the wearing of face coverings was a “ vital defence in our battle against Covid-19 ” .
“ This is about looking after each other and doing everything we can to stay on top of this virus .
It will help to save lives.
” Jennifer Taylor , the marketing manager at the Richmond Shopping Centre in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday were complying with the regulations .
“ We understand people are going to come in with exemptions to the masks , and we won ’ t force anybody to give proof that they should be exempt , ” she said .
“ If they can wear the mask we would like them to wear the mask.
” Fertility services also resumed on Monday at the North ’ s Regional Fertility Centre ( RFC ) .
The eligibility for anyone currently on the waiting list will be extended by a year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service caused by Covid-19 .
Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak 158,666 people have been tested for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland , and 6,140 have tested positive for the virus .
Three people are currently receiving hospital treatment , and two are in intensive care .
There are active outbreaks in two care homes .
Northern Ireland records two sets of data on coronavirus fatalities .
The figures released daily by the department are based on patients who have previously tested positive for Covid-19 .
Nisra releases weekly figures which are based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by medical professionals , whether or not there was a positive test for the virus .
The number of coronavirus-related deaths recorded by Nisra until the week to the end of July was 855 .

Sign advising customers at Trespass store in Belfast that the wearing of face masks is mandatory. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
One more person has died with coronavirus in Northern Ireland, the first such fatality recorded by its Department of Health in almost a month.
The death was reported by the department on Monday but took place in hospital on August 8th.
The total number of fatalities recorded by the department now stands at 557.
The Minister for Health, Robin Swann, warned people against “complacency” and sent his “deepest condolences” to the family and friends of the person who died.
READ MORE
“This is very distressing news and it underlines once again the threat posed by Covid-19,” he said.
The department’s figures include only patients who have tested positive for Covid-19.
Separate figures released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) on Friday, which cover all fatalities which include coronavirus on the death certificate, noted one death in the week ending July 31st.
Figures released by the department on Monday also showed 76 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed over the weekend.
The number of cases of the virus has been rising over the last week. A total of 165 people have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, compared with 89 the previous week.
Belfast reported the highest number of cases in the last week, with 37 people testing positive for the virus. In the Newry, Mourne and Down district 29 cases were identified, and there were 28 in Mid and East Antrim.
Meanwhile, the wearing of face coverings in shops and other enclosed spaces indoors became mandatory in Northern Ireland on Monday.
Children under 13 and those who are unable to wear a mask for health or disability reasons are exempt, but those who do not wear a mask without a reasonable excuse will be liable for a fine of £60 (€67).
In a joint statement, the Northern Executive said the wearing of face coverings was a “vital defence in our battle against Covid-19”.
“This is about looking after each other and doing everything we can to stay on top of this virus. It will help to save lives.”
Jennifer Taylor, the marketing manager at the Richmond Shopping Centre in Derry, said the majority of customers on Monday were complying with the regulations.
“We understand people are going to come in with exemptions to the masks, and we won’t force anybody to give proof that they should be exempt,” she said.
“If they can wear the mask we would like them to wear the mask.”
Waiting list
Fertility services also resumed on Monday at the North’s Regional Fertility Centre (RFC). The eligibility for anyone currently on the waiting list will be extended by a year, in recognition of the disruption to the service caused by Covid-19.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak 158,666 people have been tested for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, and 6,140 have tested positive for the virus.
Three people are currently receiving hospital treatment, and two are in intensive care. There are active outbreaks in two care homes.
Northern Ireland records two sets of data on coronavirus fatalities. The figures released daily by the department are based on patients who have previously tested positive for Covid-19.
Nisra releases weekly figures which are based on information entered on death certificates completed by medical professionals, whether or not there was a positive test for the virus.
The number of coronavirus-related deaths recorded by Nisra until the week to the end of July was 855.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Teenager was ‘clinging to buoy for 30 minutes’ before rescue

A teenage boy swimming in Baldoyle estuary was rescued after getting into difficulty in the water in recent days .
The teenager had been clinging to a buoy for 30 minutes to stay afloat when he was rescued by the Howth RNLI .
The coast guard received a call at 1.35pm on Friday that two people had gotten into difficulty in the water at Cush Point in the Baldoyle estuary , north Co Dublin .
The pair were located by a lifeboat 11 minutes later and had made it back to the shore , however they informed the coast guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the water .
Following a search the lifeboat found the teenage boy holding onto a buoy to stay afloat .
A spokesman for Howth RNLI said “ he had been there for nearly 30 minutes and was exhausted ” .
He was taken aboard the lifeboat and treated back at the lifeboat station .
Fin Goggin , Howth RNLI helm , said when the crew found the boy “ clinging to the buoy , very tired but alive , we realised it could have had a very tragic outcome.
” “ Always think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know your ability for the activity you are undertaking .
Tell people where you are going and when you are expected to return .
We are so thankful that young man is home safe with his family now , ” he said .
During a separate call out on Saturday the Howth RNLI responded to a speed boat which broke down north of Lambay Island , with a family of four on board .
A lifeboat responded to the call and towed the boat safely back to the Malahide Marina .

Howth RNLI urged the public to ‘always think safety’ after helping seven people out of difficulty over the weekend. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
A teenage boy swimming in Baldoyle estuary was rescued after getting into difficulty in the water in recent days.
The teenager had been clinging to a buoy for 30 minutes to stay afloat when he was rescued by the Howth RNLI.
The coast guard received a call at 1.35pm on Friday that two people had gotten into difficulty in the water at Cush Point in the Baldoyle estuary, north Co Dublin.
The pair were located by a lifeboat 11 minutes later and had made it back to the shore, however they informed the coast guard a third boy was still missing in the water.
READ MORE
Following a search the lifeboat found the teenage boy holding onto a buoy to stay afloat. A spokesman for Howth RNLI said “he had been there for nearly 30 minutes and was exhausted”. He was taken aboard the lifeboat and treated back at the lifeboat station.
Fin Goggin, Howth RNLI helm, said when the crew found the boy "clinging to the buoy, very tired but alive, we realised it could have had a very tragic outcome."
“Always think safety when taking to the water and know your ability for the activity you are undertaking. Tell people where you are going and when you are expected to return. We are so thankful that young man is home safe with his family now,” he said.
During a separate call out on Saturday the Howth RNLI responded to a speed boat which broke down north of Lambay Island, with a family of four on board.
A lifeboat responded to the call and towed the boat safely back to the Malahide Marina.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Ireland ‘wildly unlikely’ to meet 7% carbon reduction goal, says economist

The notion that Ireland will achieve a 7 per cent reduction in Irish carbon emissions every year up to 2030 is “ wildly unlikely ” , according to the economist Colm McCarthy .
As the country pursues various policies to try to control emissions , however , “ various technologies will be developed at episodic pace ” that will assist decarbonisation of the economy , he predicted .
Commenting following publication of his report Climate Action and the Taxation of Motoring in Ireland , he added : “ A 7 per cent annual cut [ agreed in the programme for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be optimal for the economy.
” In the analysis , he also evaluates current emissions patterns ; future targets and whether they will be achieved in the period up to 2030 – and carbon tax impacts .
“ And there will not be a whole heap of EVs [ electric vehicles ] on Irish roads for a least a few years , ” he added .
The capacity to meet a one million EV target was simply not there , and there were not enough plants yet to generate batteries for EVs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were no technology constraints and the electric car market will become competitive as soon as EVs are being made “ by the million , at a €20,000 price point ” .
His report was commissioned by the Irish Car Carbon Reduction Alliance , made up by a majority of Irish motor dealers , who accept the need for zero-emission vehicles but are seeking a different approach to a government ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2030 , that allows for purchase of carbon-efficient fossil-fuelled cars up to 2040 , as agreed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , Mr McCarthy said it had a number of contradictions , notably the “ mad idea ” building of very expensive high-speed railways while at the same time decarbonising road transport over 15 years .
In analysing the 2019 Climate Action Plan ( CAP ) in the broader context in which policy on the taxation of transport must be enshrined , he said it was clear the EU Emissions Trading Scheme ( ETS ) , which covers how heavy industry and power generators account for their emissions , was “ a disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and energy lobby groups gained permits which allow emissions without penalty .
Instead , Europe should have gone the carbon tax route “ and increased it every year for the next 50 years ” .
He said economists like himself have been whingeing about this for years .
In the meantime , a litre of jet kerosene was 60 cents at Dublin Airport and untaxed , a litre of diesel was €1.30 at a nearby filling station – while marine diesel was untaxed .
Irish emissions are mainly outside the ETS , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy industry , to a greater degree than in other EU countries , McCarthy notes .
This imposes a differential adjustment obligation , since non-ETS targets must be attained entirely through national policy measures .
Ireland ’ s targets are affected greatly by the measurement system , which counts emissions from agriculture on a production basis .
“ Most other emissions , for example fuel combustion in the road vehicle fleet , are counted on a consumption basis .
This measurement issue is important since Ireland is a substantial net exporter of agricultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 Ireland ’ s emissions from the non-ETS sector , a higher portion of the total than elsewhere in the EU , are required to decline substantially to 2030 .
This is especially problematic because an expanding agriculture is responsible for so much emissions , he finds .
“ Agriculture involves a potentially perverse attribution of responsibility for emission reduction and conflicts with both efficiency and fairness.
” Any policy to restrict herd numbers in countries such as Ireland where output has risen significantly amounts to a reversal of milk quota abolition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to the less efficient producers , for example a decline in Ireland encouraging increased output in Spain .
” Consumer taxes on products would reinforce the trend towards an efficient geographical distribution of European production , an objective of EU Common Agricultural Policy reforms , he notes .
A steady increase on non-ETS emissions is projected , and would necessitate the purchase of costly carbon credits .
ETS sector emissions are also expected to rise , he adds , despite ambitious plans for renewable energy in power generation .
While Ireland will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy concludes : “ Since the 2020 excess will be reduced by the Covid downturn , the amount of allowances to be purchased by Ireland to cover past overshoots will be less than had been feared ... though neither the quantity nor the price of allowances already purchased to cover the gap is publicly available.
” Strong growth in the requirement for electricity network investment is driven largely by a 70 per cent target for the share of renewables in the generation mix and planned growth in facilitating data centres , McCarthy concludes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ already here exceeds substantially any demand arising in Ireland , so the country has chosen to become an exporter of data management and hence of electricity , the main input ” .
It is not explained in the CAP why such a large proportion of Europe ’ s demand for data management has chosen Ireland , he says .
“ In the ordinary course of events it would be expected that northern European countries would enjoy a large share of data centre provision , since temperature control is more readily facilitated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland on such an extraordinary scale ( 29 per cent of power demand is expected by Eirgrid to come from data centres within a few years ) may also have their motivation in the failure to require full costs , including infrastructure costs , from the data centre companies.
” Because of the large commitment to data centres , any curbs on the construction of wind farms and solar generation facilities could diminish the availability of low-carbon power to the non-ETS sector , and lead to non-compliance penalties for Ireland , and ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ireland is €26 per tonne carbon .
Climate campaigners have argued recent increases in the carbon charge have been too timid and there have been calls for a charge of €100 ( and more ) – since adopted in the programme for government .
If petrol and diesel faced carbon charges at the €100 per tonne level adding about 15 cent to the retail price per litre , annual revenue would increase by up to €800 million .
“ If €100 per tonne is the ‘ correct ’ price for carbon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million per annum , ” he observes .
McCarthy comes down in favour of a combination of electronic road charges and congestion charges in urban area to replace fossil fuel taxes that are set to decline .
These should not involve deployment of physical barriers as in London , ( which leads to inefficient queuing ) but avail of the fact that modern cars are “ connected ” and have GPS .
“ By accident , a whole lot of things have come together ” , which are forcing the Government to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish Times .
The 11 tolls currently in existence are the closest approximation to a use-related charge in the Irish motor taxation system but generate only 5 per cent of revenues , “ and not well designed ” .
Three are in Dublin and the remaining eight scattered randomly around the motorway network , “ reflecting the involvement of private finance in the construction of many of the links rather than the more coherent scheme in France ” .
“ The biggest money-spinner , the M50 in Dublin , is tolled at just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively the main street of the city .
There has been political resistance to any revision to the M50 tolling scheme and it was clearly designed to recover construction cost rather than to manage congestion .
The M50 was first designed as an outer bypass and has been overtaken by the urban sprawl to the west of Dublin , ” he says .
The only tolled facility which has time-of-day charging is the Dublin Port Tunnel , where private cars pay €3 , on a tidal-flow basis inbound or outbound , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trucks and buses go free on the East Link but must pay at all 10 of the other tolling points .
McCarthy ’ s analysis highlights the arbitrary “ system ” of tolling : “ There are very few tolling points .
Large parts of the country have none and all tolls can be avoided through the selection of un-tolled alternatives , depriving by-passed towns of relief from congestion by heavy trucks in several cases.
” Anomalies include : “ ... buses go free on the Dublin Port Tunnel but not on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Limerick are tolled but the Lee Tunnel in Cork is free ” .

The capacity of the data centres ‘already here exceeds substantially any demand arising in Ireland’, says Colm McCarthy
The notion that Ireland will achieve a 7 per cent reduction in Irish carbon emissions every year up to 2030 is "wildly unlikely", according to the economist Colm McCarthy.
As the country pursues various policies to try to control emissions, however, “various technologies will be developed at episodic pace” that will assist decarbonisation of the economy, he predicted.
Commenting following publication of his report Climate Action and the Taxation of Motoring in Ireland, he added: “A 7 per cent annual cut [agreed in the programme for government] is wildly unlikely and might not be optimal for the economy.”
In the analysis, he also evaluates current emissions patterns; future targets and whether they will be achieved in the period up to 2030 – and carbon tax impacts.
READ MORE
“And there will not be a whole heap of EVs [electric vehicles] on Irish roads for a least a few years,” he added. The capacity to meet a one million EV target was simply not there, and there were not enough plants yet to generate batteries for EVs.
He stressed, however, there were no technology constraints and the electric car market will become competitive as soon as EVs are being made “by the million, at a €20,000 price point”.
Economist Colm McCarthy: On the programme for government, he said it had a number of contradictions, notably the ‘mad idea’ building of very expensive high-speed railways while at the same time decarbonising road transport over 15 years. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
His report was commissioned by the Irish Car Carbon Reduction Alliance, made up by a majority of Irish motor dealers, who accept the need for zero-emission vehicles but are seeking a different approach to a government ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2030, that allows for purchase of carbon-efficient fossil-fuelled cars up to 2040, as agreed by the EU.
On the programme for government, Mr McCarthy said it had a number of contradictions, notably the “mad idea” building of very expensive high-speed railways while at the same time decarbonising road transport over 15 years.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
In analysing the 2019 Climate Action Plan (CAP) in the broader context in which policy on the taxation of transport must be enshrined, he said it was clear the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which covers how heavy industry and power generators account for their emissions, was “a disaster, especially for Ireland”.
Industry and energy lobby groups gained permits which allow emissions without penalty.
Instead, Europe should have gone the carbon tax route "and increased it every year for the next 50 years". He said economists like himself have been whingeing about this for years. In the meantime, a litre of jet kerosene was 60 cents at Dublin Airport and untaxed, a litre of diesel was €1.30 at a nearby filling station – while marine diesel was untaxed.
Agriculture issue
Irish emissions are mainly outside the ETS, which relates to emissions from power generation and heavy industry, to a greater degree than in other EU countries, McCarthy notes.
This imposes a differential adjustment obligation, since non-ETS targets must be attained entirely through national policy measures. Ireland’s targets are affected greatly by the measurement system, which counts emissions from agriculture on a production basis.
“Most other emissions, for example fuel combustion in the road vehicle fleet, are counted on a consumption basis. This measurement issue is important since Ireland is a substantial net exporter of agricultural products,” he notes.
From 2021 Ireland’s emissions from the non-ETS sector, a higher portion of the total than elsewhere in the EU, are required to decline substantially to 2030. This is especially problematic because an expanding agriculture is responsible for so much emissions, he finds. “Agriculture involves a potentially perverse attribution of responsibility for emission reduction and conflicts with both efficiency and fairness.”
Any policy to restrict herd numbers in countries such as Ireland where output has risen significantly amounts to a reversal of milk quota abolition, he suggests "leading to a re-allocation back to the less efficient producers, for example a decline in Ireland encouraging increased output in Spain. "
Consumer taxes on products would reinforce the trend towards an efficient geographical distribution of European production, an objective of EU Common Agricultural Policy reforms, he notes.
Emissions projections
A steady increase on non-ETS emissions is projected, and would necessitate the purchase of costly carbon credits. ETS sector emissions are also expected to rise, he adds, despite ambitious plans for renewable energy in power generation.
While Ireland will miss emission targets up to 2020, McCarthy concludes: “Since the 2020 excess will be reduced by the Covid downturn, the amount of allowances to be purchased by Ireland to cover past overshoots will be less than had been feared...though neither the quantity nor the price of allowances already purchased to cover the gap is publicly available.”
Data Centres
Strong growth in the requirement for electricity network investment is driven largely by a 70 per cent target for the share of renewables in the generation mix and planned growth in facilitating data centres, McCarthy concludes.
The capacity of the data centres “already here exceeds substantially any demand arising in Ireland, so the country has chosen to become an exporter of data management and hence of electricity, the main input”.
It is not explained in the CAP why such a large proportion of Europe’s demand for data management has chosen Ireland, he says. “In the ordinary course of events it would be expected that northern European countries would enjoy a large share of data centre provision, since temperature control is more readily facilitated.
"But the decisions to locate in Ireland on such an extraordinary scale (29 per cent of power demand is expected by Eirgrid to come from data centres within a few years) may also have their motivation in the failure to require full costs, including infrastructure costs, from the data centre companies."
Because of the large commitment to data centres, any curbs on the construction of wind farms and solar generation facilities could diminish the availability of low-carbon power to the non-ETS sector, and lead to non-compliance penalties for Ireland, and ultimately cost consumers.
Carbon Tax
The current carbon charge in Ireland is €26 per tonne carbon. Climate campaigners have argued recent increases in the carbon charge have been too timid and there have been calls for a charge of €100 (and more) – since adopted in the programme for government.
If petrol and diesel faced carbon charges at the €100 per tonne level adding about 15 cent to the retail price per litre, annual revenue would increase by up to €800 million. “If €100 per tonne is the ‘correct’ price for carbon, there is under-recovery of up to €800 million per annum,” he observes.
Road use charges
McCarthy comes down in favour of a combination of electronic road charges and congestion charges in urban area to replace fossil fuel taxes that are set to decline. These should not involve deployment of physical barriers as in London, (which leads to inefficient queuing) but avail of the fact that modern cars are “connected” and have GPS.
“By accident, a whole lot of things have come together”, which are forcing the Government to consider proper congestion charges, he told The Irish Times.
The 11 tolls currently in existence are the closest approximation to a use-related charge in the Irish motor taxation system but generate only 5 per cent of revenues, “and not well designed”.
Three are in Dublin and the remaining eight scattered randomly around the motorway network, “reflecting the involvement of private finance in the construction of many of the links rather than the more coherent scheme in France”.
"The biggest money-spinner, the M50 in Dublin, is tolled at just a single point even though it is effectively the main street of the city. There has been political resistance to any revision to the M50 tolling scheme and it was clearly designed to recover construction cost rather than to manage congestion. The M50 was first designed as an outer bypass and has been overtaken by the urban sprawl to the west of Dublin," he says.
The only tolled facility which has time-of-day charging is the Dublin Port Tunnel, where private cars pay €3, on a tidal-flow basis inbound or outbound, in the off-peak and €10 at weekday peaks. Trucks and buses go free on the East Link but must pay at all 10 of the other tolling points.
McCarthy’s analysis highlights the arbitrary “system” of tolling: “There are very few tolling points. Large parts of the country have none and all tolls can be avoided through the selection of un-tolled alternatives, depriving by-passed towns of relief from congestion by heavy trucks in several cases.”
Anomalies include: "...buses go free on the Dublin Port Tunnel but not on the M50. The tunnels in Dublin and Limerick are tolled but the Lee Tunnel in Cork is free".


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--‘We can be fined how much?’ Shoppers mask up in Dublin city centre

There was almost universal compliance in Dublin ’ s city centre on Monday morning with new rules which make the wearing of face coverings in shops mandatory although many of those in step with the regulations appeared to be protecting little more than their chins as they went about their business .
Bill Mooney from Tenterfields in the heart of the Liberties was one of those who had his mask on correctly as he strode up Henry Street , only occasionally leaning on his walking stick for support .
He celebrated his 90th birthday at the start of June and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new rules .
“ It is something very simple that people have to stick to now and it is great .
It keeps everyone a bit safer and is something we have to do , ” he said .
He said he had come into town to get an issue with his smartphone addressed and while the level of customer service he had received had left him fuming , he was pretty relaxed about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on his life so far .
“ I am one of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and look after my wife while she looks after me , ” he said .
“ I was born in 1930 and my parents lived through the Spanish flu but they never talked about it , they just got on with things back then and that ’ s what we have to do too.
” From Monday face coverings are mandatory in shops and other indoor public settings such as hairdressers and museums .
Those in breach of the rules can be fined up to €2,500 or face six months ’ imprisonment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ being policed by stern-faced security staff with face visors and masks and while they were managing the queues and ensuring social distancing , they were not enforcing the new rules .
“ It ’ s up to the customers , ” one staff member said .
“ If the guards catch them without the masks there is a fine and we are advising them of that but we are not refusing anyone admission because they don ’ t have a mask .
That is not our job.
” There appeared to be no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and across the three floors at midday every single shopper had a mask on although several had them draped casually around their necks rather than over their mouths and noses .
Outside the retail giant ’ s main door stood Kate and Val Day from Baldoyle who had come into the city centre for a stroll .
Both were wearing their reusable masks .
“ I have no problem with it , it has to be done and we have been wearing them for a while already , ” Kate said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and most people were wearing them but I did see a guy who had clipped his off after he had go on the bus .
I wouldn ’ t challenge him , though , it ’ s not worth it .
He was just one person.
” Her sister Val was more concerned with what people were doing with the masks once they had finished complying with the new rules .
“ I am using a reusable masks and I can wash them but the amount of disposable masks that I have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just disgusting.
” Ger Poole from Darndale was pretty chilled as he walked up the street in his black reusable mask .
“ I don ’ t mind it at all really although it does fog up my glasses , ” he said .
“ I prefer the reusable ones because I wouldn ’ t want to be buying them all the time.
” As Poole spoke , a hawker nearby shouted a monotonous mantra for the year that ’ s in it .
“ Reusable face masks only €2 .
Anyone for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ ve sold a few of them , ” Martin Fox said cagily when asked how business was .
“ I don ’ t know what it ’ s all about at all mind you .
You can go down the road Slattery ’ s and get all the pints you want and no one will ask you to wear a mask but if you want to go in to Top Shop then you have to have a mask on ?
How does that make sense ?
” Another thing he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was how his trade was being continually interrupted .
“ The guards won ’ t let me sell the masks and are seizing them off me .
On the one hand they are taking them off me and on the other then are insisting people wear them .
It ’ s mad .
I could get the virus selling the masks or I could save somebody ’ s life selling them.
” Denise Dunne and Billy Dunne from Lucan were also wearing their masks and seemed pretty pleased to be able to shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them on .
“ We ’ re getting used to them and I ’ m happy that they ’ ve introduced the new rule , ” Denise said .
“ We can see the fields of Kildare from our house so we escaped the lockdown by the skin of our teeth.
” While for many the wearing of masks was a straightforward decision for others it was considerably more complex .
“ She has special needs and won ’ t wear one , she won ’ t put it near her face no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to put it on her to keep her safe , ” Lyndsey Hatton from Dunard in Dublin 7 said gesturing towards her sister Casey standing by her side .
Lyndsey had a face covering on herself .
“ I don ’ t like wearing them either and I wouldn ’ t be wearing it today if I didn ’ t have to , ” she admitted .
In a Dealz shop a group of young women browsed .
One was wearing a mask while her two friends were maskless .
When asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new rules , they responded with shock .
“ Oh my God I didn ’ t know it was the rules , ” one said .
“ We can be fined how much ?
” asked the other as she rooted in her bag to see if there was a mask there .
“ I suppose you have to do what you have to do , ” said David Austin from Dún Laoghaire as he left the same shop .
As he spoke , the mask covered just his mouth .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but when it covers my nose my glasses fog up and this is better than nothing , isn ’ t it ?
”

There was almost universal compliance in Dublin’s city centre on Monday morning with new rules which make the wearing of face coverings in shops mandatory although many of those in step with the regulations appeared to be protecting little more than their chins as they went about their business.
Bill Mooney from Tenterfields in the heart of the Liberties was one of those who had his mask on correctly as he strode up Henry Street, only occasionally leaning on his walking stick for support.
He celebrated his 90th birthday at the start of June and was full throated in his support of the new rules. “It is something very simple that people have to stick to now and it is great. It keeps everyone a bit safer and is something we have to do,” he said.
He said he had come into town to get an issue with his smartphone addressed and while the level of customer service he had received had left him fuming, he was pretty relaxed about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on his life so far.
READ MORE
“I am one of those guys who can sit back and relax and look after my wife while she looks after me,” he said. “I was born in 1930 and my parents lived through the Spanish flu but they never talked about it, they just got on with things back then and that’s what we have to do too.”
Bill Mooney (90) from The Liberties: ‘I am one of those guys who can sit back and relax and look after my wife while she looks after me’. Photograph: Tom Honan
From Monday face coverings are mandatory in shops and other indoor public settings such as hairdressers and museums. Those in breach of the rules can be fined up to €2,500 or face six months’ imprisonment.
The entrance to Penney’s was being policed by stern-faced security staff with face visors and masks and while they were managing the queues and ensuring social distancing, they were not enforcing the new rules. “It’s up to the customers,” one staff member said.
“If the guards catch them without the masks there is a fine and we are advising them of that but we are not refusing anyone admission because they don’t have a mask. That is not our job.”
There appeared to be no issue in the shop, however, and across the three floors at midday every single shopper had a mask on although several had them draped casually around their necks rather than over their mouths and noses.
Sisters Kate and Val Day from Baldoyle, Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan
Outside the retail giant's main door stood Kate and Val Day from Baldoyle who had come into the city centre for a stroll. Both were wearing their reusable masks.
The amount of disposable masks that I have seen thrown on the ground? It is just disgusting
“I have no problem with it, it has to be done and we have been wearing them for a while already,” Kate said. “We took the bus in to town and most people were wearing them but I did see a guy who had clipped his off after he had go on the bus. I wouldn’t challenge him, though, it’s not worth it. He was just one person.”
Her sister Val was more concerned with what people were doing with the masks once they had finished complying with the new rules. “I am using a reusable masks and I can wash them but the amount of disposable masks that I have seen thrown on the ground? It is just disgusting.”
Ger Poole from Darndale was pretty chilled as he walked up the street in his black reusable mask. "I don't mind it at all really although it does fog up my glasses," he said. "I prefer the reusable ones because I wouldn't want to be buying them all the time."
As Poole spoke, a hawker nearby shouted a monotonous mantra for the year that’s in it. “Reusable face masks only €2. Anyone for the reusable face mask only €2.”
"I've sold a few of them," Martin Fox said cagily when asked how business was.
“I don’t know what it’s all about at all mind you. You can go down the road Slattery’s and get all the pints you want and no one will ask you to wear a mask but if you want to go in to Top Shop then you have to have a mask on? How does that make sense?”
Another thing he couldn’t see much sense in was how his trade was being continually interrupted.
“The guards won’t let me sell the masks and are seizing them off me. On the one hand they are taking them off me and on the other then are insisting people wear them. It’s mad. I could get the virus selling the masks or I could save somebody’s life selling them.”
Denise and Billy Dunne from Lucan, Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan
Denise Dunne and Billy Dunne from Lucan were also wearing their masks and seemed pretty pleased to be able to shop in Dublin's city centre with them on. "We're getting used to them and I'm happy that they've introduced the new rule," Denise said. "We can see the fields of Kildare from our house so we escaped the lockdown by the skin of our teeth."
While for many the wearing of masks was a straightforward decision for others it was considerably more complex. "She has special needs and won't wear one, she won't put it near her face no matter what we do. We were trying to put it on her to keep her safe," Lyndsey Hatton from Dunard in Dublin 7 said gesturing towards her sister Casey standing by her side.
Casey Hatton and her sister Lyndsey from Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan
Lyndsey had a face covering on herself. “I don’t like wearing them either and I wouldn’t be wearing it today if I didn’t have to,” she admitted.
In a Dealz shop a group of young women browsed. One was wearing a mask while her two friends were maskless. When asked about their absence and reminded of the new rules, they responded with shock. "Oh my God I didn't know it was the rules," one said. "We can be fined how much?" asked the other as she rooted in her bag to see if there was a mask there.
"I suppose you have to do what you have to do," said David Austin from Dún Laoghaire as he left the same shop.
As he spoke, the mask covered just his mouth. “I know I am not wearing it right but when it covers my nose my glasses fog up and this is better than nothing, isn’t it?”


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--O’Doherty ‘trying to evade’ service of defamation proceedings, court hears

Activist Gemma O ’ Doherty has been “ actively trying to evade ” service of defamation proceedings brought against her by Jimmy Guerin , the brother of murdered journalist Veronica Guerin , the High Court has heard .
Mr Guerin , who is an Independent councillor on Fingal County Council , claims he was defamed in comments allegedly posted by Ms O ’ Doherty about him on her Facebook and Twitter accounts in July 2019 .
In his action he seeks damages , including aggravated and punitive damages , as well as injunctions permanently prohibiting the continued publication of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Howth-based councillor further seeks an order restraining Ms O ’ Doherty from publishing similar statements about him in the future .
The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy at Monday ’ s vacation sitting of the High Court .
Following an ex-parte ( one side only ) application Mr Guerin ’ s lawyers secured various orders against Ms O ’ Doherty , including one deeming that she has been formally served with the summons outlining the action against her .
Ms O ’ Doherty had been “ actively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is clearly aware of , it is claimed .
Ronan Lupton Bl , instructed by solicitor Zoe Mollaghan of O ’ Flynn O ’ Driscoll Business Lawyers for Mr Guerin , said that there had been difficulties in relation to the serving of his client ’ s proceedings on the defendant .
These issues had resulted in Mr Guerin ’ s lawyers coming to court during the vacation in order to prevent potential problems further down the line , counsel said .
The court heard that earlier this year a Belfast-based law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the defendant , and had the authority to accept the summons on her behalf .
However , after corresponding with that firm for several months it was not retained by Ms O ’ Doherty .
A summons server had attended at Ms O ’ Doherty ’ s home in Dublin on a number of occasions in January , February and in June .
Summons server Brian Comiskey said in his sworn statement to the court that on the afternoon of June 18th last he called to the defendant ’ s home for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings on Ms O ’ Doherty .
He said when he knocked on the front door of the property , Ms O ’ Doherty opened a window .
He said he told her who he was and that he had a summons for her .
Mr Comiskey said she replied , “ Sorry no , ” and closed the window .
He had called to her home on two previous occasions but received no response when he knocked at the front door .
Efforts to serve documents on Ms O ’ Doherty by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not successful , the court also heard .
Granting the orders sought , the judge expressed her general concern that documents in the case that had been recorded as being delivered by An Post were subsequently returned to Mr Guerin ’ s lawyers and marked as being not received .
The judge also gave the plaintiff ’ s solicitors permission to serve any further documents on the defendant by ordinary post , and could also be hand delivered to Ms O ’ Doherty ’ s home .

A summons server had attended at Gemma O’Doherty’s home in Dublin on a number of occasions in January, February and in June, the court was told. File photograph: The Irish Times
Activist Gemma O’Doherty has been “actively trying to evade” service of defamation proceedings brought against her by Jimmy Guerin, the brother of murdered journalist Veronica Guerin, the High Court has heard.
Mr Guerin, who is an Independent councillor on Fingal County Council, claims he was defamed in comments allegedly posted by Ms O’Doherty about him on her Facebook and Twitter accounts in July 2019.
In his action he seeks damages, including aggravated and punitive damages, as well as injunctions permanently prohibiting the continued publication of the comments at the centre of the action.
Jimmy Guerin seeks damages, including aggravated and punitive damages, as well as injunctions permanently prohibiting the continued publication of the comments at the centre of the action. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
The Howth-based councillor further seeks an order restraining Ms O’Doherty from publishing similar statements about him in the future.
READ MORE
The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy at Monday’s vacation sitting of the High Court.
Following an ex-parte (one side only) application Mr Guerin’s lawyers secured various orders against Ms O’Doherty, including one deeming that she has been formally served with the summons outlining the action against her.
Ms O’Doherty had been “actively trying to evade service” of proceedings she is clearly aware of, it is claimed.
Ronan Lupton Bl, instructed by solicitor Zoe Mollaghan of Flynn O’Driscoll Business Lawyers for Mr Guerin, said that there had been difficulties in relation to the serving of his client’s proceedings on the defendant.
These issues had resulted in Mr Guerin’s lawyers coming to court during the vacation in order to prevent potential problems further down the line, counsel said.
The court heard that earlier this year a Belfast-based law firm had indicated it would act for the defendant, and had the authority to accept the summons on her behalf.
However, after corresponding with that firm for several months it was not retained by Ms O’Doherty.
A summons server had attended at Ms O’Doherty’s home in Dublin on a number of occasions in January, February and in June.
Summons server Brian Comiskey said in his sworn statement to the court that on the afternoon of June 18th last he called to the defendant’s home for the purpose of effecting service of the defamation proceedings on Ms O’Doherty.
He said when he knocked on the front door of the property, Ms O’Doherty opened a window. He said he told her who he was and that he had a summons for her.
Mr Comiskey said she replied, “Sorry no,” and closed the window. He had called to her home on two previous occasions but received no response when he knocked at the front door.
Efforts to serve documents on Ms O’Doherty by way of pre-paid registered post were also not successful, the court also heard.
Granting the orders sought, the judge expressed her general concern that documents in the case that had been recorded as being delivered by An Post were subsequently returned to Mr Guerin’s lawyers and marked as being not received.
The judge also gave the plaintiff’s solicitors permission to serve any further documents on the defendant by ordinary post, and could also be hand delivered to Ms O’Doherty’s home.


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--Coronavirus: Three children test positive at creche in Co Meath

Three children attending a creche in Co Meath have tested positive for Covid-19 , bringing the total number of cases at the facility to five .
The children , who are siblings , were confirmed on Sunday night to have contracted the virus .
Two members of staff at the creche in Navan tested positive last week .
Eleven children have been tested so far since the two adult cases were diagnosed .
Eight results were returned negative .
However , some preschool children in another pod at the creche are still waiting for results .
The creche ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday morning that the three siblings had tested positive .
“ I have closed another room at the facility , and the parents of children in all other rooms which remain open have been informed of developments , ” she said .
“ We have followed all guidelines and advice given to us from all the relevant bodies .
“ Eleven children have been tested so far , and three siblings have proved positive for Covid-19 .
None of them are showing any symptoms of the virus .
“ The results of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and there are about seven children to be tested in the coming days.
” Children at the facility have been split into pods of up to eight , with two staff members in each as part of Covid-19 response measures .
Two rooms were closed immediately after one member of staff tested positive last week .
Another staff member in another room who was tested as a precaution was also positive .
Neither of the staff who tested positive had been in contact with each other either in or outside of work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to a staff member who had been “ floating ” between two pods in the two rooms .
The third room was closed on Monday morning due to the latest developments .
The results were described by Ms Daly as “ extremely devastating ” after an investment of €10,000 in protective personal equipment and other Covid-19 measures at the facility .
“ We have done everything we can to try and stop this virus coming into this building , and the worrying thing is that all the children who contracted the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the parents and preschool inspectors have been extremely supportive to us .
“ We really are all in this together .
We can ’ t deal with this on our own .
Everyone has to take responsibility for themselves and we all have to be open and honest about it .
”

Three children attending a creche in Co Meath have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases at the facility to five.
The children, who are siblings, were confirmed on Sunday night to have contracted the virus.
Two members of staff at the creche in Navan tested positive last week.
Eleven children have been tested so far since the two adult cases were diagnosed. Eight results were returned negative.
READ MORE
However, some preschool children in another pod at the creche are still waiting for results.
The creche’s chief executive, Marie Daly, confirmed on Monday morning that the three siblings had tested positive.
“I have closed another room at the facility, and the parents of children in all other rooms which remain open have been informed of developments,” she said.
“We have followed all guidelines and advice given to us from all the relevant bodies.
“Eleven children have been tested so far, and three siblings have proved positive for Covid-19. None of them are showing any symptoms of the virus.
“The results of seven staff have been returned as negative, and there are about seven children to be tested in the coming days.”
Response measures
Children at the facility have been split into pods of up to eight, with two staff members in each as part of Covid-19 response measures.
Two rooms were closed immediately after one member of staff tested positive last week. Another staff member in another room who was tested as a precaution was also positive. Neither of the staff who tested positive had been in contact with each other either in or outside of work.
The second room had been closed due to a staff member who had been “floating” between two pods in the two rooms.
The third room was closed on Monday morning due to the latest developments.
The results were described by Ms Daly as “extremely devastating” after an investment of €10,000 in protective personal equipment and other Covid-19 measures at the facility.
“We have done everything we can to try and stop this virus coming into this building, and the worrying thing is that all the children who contracted the virus are asymptomatic.
“Everyone is worried but the parents and preschool inspectors have been extremely supportive to us.
“We really are all in this together. We can’t deal with this on our own. Everyone has to take responsibility for themselves and we all have to be open and honest about it.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-10--People’s behaviour as important as any medicine, says Archbishop

Responsible human behaviour is just as important as sophisticated medicine in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic , Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said .
Up to this , people felt “ that the progress of modern science and culture would quickly be able to respond to any global health crisis by rapidly producing a cure or a vaccine that would resolve the question and allow us to continue in the way we lived , ” he said .
“ Now we realise that a pandemic can emerge and spread and indeed reappear .
We also have realised that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cures and vaccines , actions from somewhere in society can not alone resolve our problems , ” he said .
Speaking in Dublin ’ s Pro Cathedral , he advised that “ in the months and years to come we will have to face and live with the challenges that the pandemic has brought and will leave us with .
People will be insecure .
Jobs will be lost at all levels in society .
Precariousness will affect so many of the things that in the past gave us a sense of security.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ church “ must find ways of witnessing to the fact that society needs care and love , ” he said .
This should be shown “ not through words and polemics but by being alongside those who feel that their personal value is shunned and may even be tempted by despair and emptiness , ” he said .
The post-pandemic church would “ be very different to what we have experienced in the past ” not least as “ in today ’ s culture more and more of our brothers and sisters find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more find it difficult to find God through our church , ” he said .
Where believers were concerned , he warned against running away “ from the harshness of reality into the false securities and a craving for a past that may never have existed .
Faith must be adult faith , ” he said .
Catholic Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary praised his priests for their handling of the pandemic .
“ The great efforts which you made to minister to your people during the lockdown and the way you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through various means has been warmly welcomed and very favourably commented on by your parishioners , ” he said .
He was speaking in Tuam ’ s Cathedral of the Assumption at the Chrism Mass there .
Usually held on Holy Thursday , when priests renew their vocation , it was postponed from last April due to the pandemic .
“ The secure predictable world of God ’ s people seems to be falling asunderm ” he said and “ that Covid-19 has triggered an enormous challenge for all , priests and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as priests to try to encourage and empower our people , ” he said .
“ Recent events have left many people fatigued and perhaps close to despair , ” he said .
“ As priests we need to plant a vision in peoples ’ minds , hope in their hearts , discipline in their deeds and strength in their souls that would never fade , ” he said .

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin: ‘Precariousness will affect so many of the things that in the past gave us a sense of security.’
Responsible human behaviour is just as important as sophisticated medicine in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said.
Up to this, people felt “that the progress of modern science and culture would quickly be able to respond to any global health crisis by rapidly producing a cure or a vaccine that would resolve the question and allow us to continue in the way we lived,” he said.
“Now we realise that a pandemic can emerge and spread and indeed reappear. We also have realised that in public health terms, medicine, cures and vaccines, actions from somewhere in society cannot alone resolve our problems,” he said.
Speaking in Dublin’s Pro Cathedral, he advised that “in the months and years to come we will have to face and live with the challenges that the pandemic has brought and will leave us with. People will be insecure. Jobs will be lost at all levels in society. Precariousness will affect so many of the things that in the past gave us a sense of security.”
READ MORE
In such a scenario, the church “must find ways of witnessing to the fact that society needs care and love,” he said. This should be shown “not through words and polemics but by being alongside those who feel that their personal value is shunned and may even be tempted by despair and emptiness,” he said.
The post-pandemic church would “be very different to what we have experienced in the past” not least as “in today’s culture more and more of our brothers and sisters find it difficult to find God and more and more find it difficult to find God through our church,” he said.
Where believers were concerned, he warned against running away “from the harshness of reality into the false securities and a craving for a past that may never have existed. Faith must be adult faith,” he said.
Catholic Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary praised his priests for their handling of the pandemic. "The great efforts which you made to minister to your people during the lockdown and the way you provided for them to make Mass available through various means has been warmly welcomed and very favourably commented on by your parishioners," he said.
He was speaking in Tuam’s Cathedral of the Assumption at the Chrism Mass there. Usually held on Holy Thursday, when priests renew their vocation, it was postponed from last April due to the pandemic.
“The secure predictable world of God’s people seems to be falling asunderm” he said and “that Covid-19 has triggered an enormous challenge for all, priests and people alike.”
“It is our vocation as priests to try to encourage and empower our people,” he said. “Recent events have left many people fatigued and perhaps close to despair,” he said. “As priests we need to plant a vision in peoples’ minds, hope in their hearts, discipline in their deeds and strength in their souls that would never fade,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-11--Meteor shower: watch out for nature’s most spectacular annual show

This week sees the peak of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year .
Look northeast after 11pm on the nights of August 11th and 12th , and chances are that after a few minutes a shooting star or two will zip across the sky .
Trace their paths backward and you will find that they appear to come from the constellation Perseus , the hero at the centre of one of the most famous sky myths .
The Perseids in mid-August are associated with comet Swift-Tuttle , which last visited the inner solar system in 1992 .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likened to dirty snowballs – though “ icy dirtballs ” is probably more apt .
Their fragile nature means copious amounts of material is lost as a comet nears the Sun and its nucleus heats up .
Dust streams out in the familiar tail and spreads around the comet ’ s orbit , being added to on each successive lap .
Occasionally the Earth fords one of those trails and we get a shower , with several dozen meteors per hour seen as we plough through the denser parts .
Most meteors you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gram in weight being vaporised due to friction as they collide at high speed with our upper atmosphere .
The streak of light marks the final moments of each particle .
Depending on your observing site , expect to see a meteor at least every couple of minutes on the nights of Perseid maximum .
Although the particles travel in parallel through space , the effect of perspective means they appear to radiate from a point in a particular constellation , giving a shower its name .
The Perseid radiant can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11pm and will climb higher as the night goes on .
A good trick is to look a little away from the source towards Pegasus or Cassiopeia as it is towards those parts of the sky the meteors generally appear to flare .
That is where to point your camera too – with a bit of luck , and a few time exposures , you will catch a falling star .
The Perseids are often nicknamed the Tears of St Lawrence after the saint who was martyred on August 10th , AD 258 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flaming spear hurled by the Celtic god Lugh , whose festival of Lughnasa falls during August .
Sweeping the sky with binoculars you will stumble across many lovely loops and chains of suns , with none more charming than the Coathanger star cluster , found in the constellation Vulpecula .
The group is an asterism , or chance arrangement of unrelated stars making up a familiar pattern .
The Plough , or Big Dipper , is the most famous asterism on a larger scale , being part of the constellation Ursa Major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Coathanger ’ s moniker is obvious , with six stars in a straight line and the hook formed by four more .
Also catalogued as Collinder 399 , or Brocchi ’ s Cluster , its members are now known to lie at different distances – though there was considerable debate about that prior to Europe ’ s astrometry satellite Hipparcos getting accurate measurements for the individual stars in the 1990s .
To find the Coathanger just draw a line from Albireo marking the beak of Cygnus , the Swan , towards the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cluster falls within your binocular field of view as you trace that line and is sure to become a firm favourite as you explore the summer sky .
Venus is rising nearly four hours before the Sun during August and dominates the morning sky .
The planet presently shows a tiny half-phase for telescope users .
Early risers will see the waning crescent Moon near Venus on the 15th .
Mars peeks over the eastern horizon just after 11.30pm at the beginning of August but you will see it from 10pm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mars is a bright orange ember easily outshining the dim stars of Pisces where it currently lies .
Slow-moving Jupiter and Saturn are both in the south-eastern sky as soon as darkness falls .
The Moon is to Jupiter ’ s lower right on the 28th and near Saturn the night after .
The moon is at last quarter on the 11th , new on the 19th , and at first quarter on the 25th .
Morning sky passes of the ISS start from the last week of August .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage this month , but at this time of year you can see a great number of other satellites going over .
Some can flare unexpectedly , while others may vary in brightness as different reflective sides are presented .
Predictions for the ISS , Starlink passes , any other satellites can be gleaned from www.heavens-above.com John Flannery ( @ theskybyeye ) is a long-time amateur astronomer with an interest in the history and lore of the sky along with astronomical phenomena observable with the unaided eye .

This week sees the peak of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year – the Perseids. Look northeast after 11pm on the nights of August 11th and 12th. File photograph: S. Guisard/ESO/PA Wire
This week sees the peak of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year.
Look northeast after 11pm on the nights of August 11th and 12th, and chances are that after a few minutes a shooting star or two will zip across the sky. Trace their paths backward and you will find that they appear to come from the constellation Perseus, the hero at the centre of one of the most famous sky myths.
The Perseids in mid-August are associated with comet Swift-Tuttle, which last visited the inner solar system in 1992.
That distinct link is because comets have been likened to dirty snowballs – though “icy dirtballs” is probably more apt. Their fragile nature means copious amounts of material is lost as a comet nears the Sun and its nucleus heats up. Dust streams out in the familiar tail and spreads around the comet’s orbit, being added to on each successive lap.
READ MORE
Occasionally the Earth fords one of those trails and we get a shower, with several dozen meteors per hour seen as we plough through the denser parts. Most meteors you see are caused by grains less than a gram in weight being vaporised due to friction as they collide at high speed with our upper atmosphere. The streak of light marks the final moments of each particle.
Depending on your observing site, expect to see a meteor at least every couple of minutes on the nights of Perseid maximum. Although the particles travel in parallel through space, the effect of perspective means they appear to radiate from a point in a particular constellation, giving a shower its name. The Perseid radiant can be found just above the northeastern skyline at 11pm and will climb higher as the night goes on.
A good trick is to look a little away from the source towards Pegasus or Cassiopeia as it is towards those parts of the sky the meteors generally appear to flare. That is where to point your camera too – with a bit of luck, and a few time exposures, you will catch a falling star.
The Perseids are often nicknamed the Tears of St Lawrence after the saint who was martyred on August 10th, AD 258. Other references tie the Perseids to the flaming spear hurled by the Celtic god Lugh, whose festival of Lughnasa falls during August.
Sweeping the sky with binoculars you will stumble across many lovely loops and chains of suns, with none more charming than the Coathanger star cluster, found in the constellation Vulpecula. The group is an asterism, or chance arrangement of unrelated stars making up a familiar pattern. The Plough, or Big Dipper, is the most famous asterism on a larger scale, being part of the constellation Ursa Major.
Through binoculars, the reason for the Coathanger’s moniker is obvious, with six stars in a straight line and the hook formed by four more. Also catalogued as Collinder 399, or Brocchi’s Cluster, its members are now known to lie at different distances – though there was considerable debate about that prior to Europe’s astrometry satellite Hipparcos getting accurate measurements for the individual stars in the 1990s.
To find the Coathanger just draw a line from Albireo marking the beak of Cygnus, the Swan, towards the vanes of diminutive Sagitta, the Arrow. The cluster falls within your binocular field of view as you trace that line and is sure to become a firm favourite as you explore the summer sky.
Venus is rising nearly four hours before the Sun during August and dominates the morning sky. The planet presently shows a tiny half-phase for telescope users. Early risers will see the waning crescent Moon near Venus on the 15th.
Mars peeks over the eastern horizon just after 11.30pm at the beginning of August but you will see it from 10pm onwards by the end of the month. Mars is a bright orange ember easily outshining the dim stars of Pisces where it currently lies.
Slow-moving Jupiter and Saturn are both in the south-eastern sky as soon as darkness falls. The Moon is to Jupiter’s lower right on the 28th and near Saturn the night after.
The moon is at last quarter on the 11th, new on the 19th, and at first quarter on the 25th.
Morning sky passes of the ISS start from the last week of August. It is not visible from Ireland at any other stage this month, but at this time of year you can see a great number of other satellites going over.
Some can flare unexpectedly, while others may vary in brightness as different reflective sides are presented. Predictions for the ISS, Starlink passes, any other satellites can be gleaned from www.heavens-above.com
John Flannery (@theskybyeye) is a long-time amateur astronomer with an interest in the history and lore of the sky along with astronomical phenomena observable with the unaided eye.