theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Tom Barry showed great military expertise, says historian

IRA guerrilla leader , Tom Barry showed great military expertise in planning the Kilmichael ambush in West Cork 100 years ago today , both in selecting the ambush site and in the manner in which he deployed his men , according to a military historian .
Historian and former soldier , Gerry White said Barry utilised good intelligence on where exactly a party of British Auxiliaries from C Company , based in Macroom , would go on patrol and selected a site in Kilmichael between Macroom and Dunmanway which offered his men “ good killing ground ” .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed them to ensure overlapping fields of fire , the area selected would be well covered with rifle fire but he also deployed them very close to the road as he was acutely aware he didn ’ t have the military training that the Auxiliaries had , ” said Mr White “ Barry ’ s men didn ’ t have the opportunity to go to a rifle range and practice like the Auxiliaries had – his men had very little military training so where possible , he deployed them very close to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , later was ‘ There are no bad shots at ten or 15 yards ’ .
” Mr White made his comments in a new documentary made by local historians Colum and Shane Cronin for Coppeen Archeological , Historical and Cultural Society entitled Kilmichael – A Story of a Century which makes extensive use of drone footage , historic maps and archival interviews .
In the engagement which took place at around 4pm on November 28th 1920 , the Flying Column of the west Cork No 3 Brigade of the IRA ambushed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them while suffering three casualties , Lt Jim O ’ Sullivan ( 23 ) , Michael McCarthy ( 23 ) and Patrick Deasy ( 16 ) .
Narrator , Colum Cronin said : “ As a local historian , I have always had a keen interest in the story of the Kilmichael Ambush – 100 years later it is more important than ever that we commemorate this event , an event that would send shock waves across the Irish Sea to the British Establishment.
” The documentary uses drone footage to survey the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following day by an engineer with the Auxiliaries , Lt E Fleming where he mapped where the bodies of the 16 dead Auxiliaries were found as well as where he believed the Flying Column members were positioned .
The documentary also uses archival interviews made by the late Fr John Chisholm with Kilmichael veterans , Jack O ’ Sullivan and Ned Young about their recollections of the ambush while it also addresses controversies arising from Tom Barry ’ s account of the ambush in Guerrilla Days in Ireland .
Historian , Prof Eunan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addresses the issue of the Auxiliaries “ false surrender ” first questioned by Canadian historian , Peter Hart in his book “ The IRA and Its Enemies : Violence and Community in Cork 1916-1923 ’ first published in 1998 .
Historian , Dr Eve Morrison discusses a dispute in 1974 between Barry and fellow veteran , Liam Deasy whose brother , Patrick was killed in the ambush when Deasy published his book ‘ Towards Ireland Free ’ prompting a number of IRA veterans to disassociate themselves from Barry ’ s version .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don Wood who tells the story of Auxiliary , Lt Frederick Henry Forde MC who survived the ambush and local historian Joe Creedon who tells of how Lt Cecil Guthrie who escaped the ambush only to be killed later by the local IRA .
It also examines the reprisals carried out by the Auxiliaries in Kilmichael in the following days including the burning of a number of homes and the shooting dead by the Auxiliaries at Cronin ’ s Bar in Coolderrihy of farm labourer , Dinny O ’ Sullivan , who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork County Council has also produced a documentary to mark the centenary of the Kilmichael Ambush where local historian , Con O ’ Callaghan tells the story of the ambush and local men , Conor O ’ Driscoll and Mick O ’ Brien recall their fathers ’ participation in the engagement .
Mayor of the County of Cork , Cllr Mary Linehan Foley welcomed the new Kilmichael ambush documentary from Cork County Council as well as others also produced for Cork County Council on Cork ’ s martyred Lord Mayors , Tomas Mac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealth of cultural heritage in Cork County that we have today is thanks to generations of historians , archaeologists and ordinary people whose dedicated work throughout the years has enriched our understanding of our history , ” said Mayor Linehan Foley .
“ While these commemorations acknowledge the contributions of great individuals like MacCurtáin , MacSwiney and Tom Barry , it ’ s important we remember the significant community and voluntary work that has gone into enabling us , one hundred years later , to continue to learn about our history.
” Kilmichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be viewed at the following linkhere : e

Tom Barry utilised good intelligence on where exactly a party of British Auxiliaries from C Company, based in Macroom, would go on patrol and selected a site in Kilmichael which offered his men ‘good killing ground’
IRA guerrilla leader, Tom Barry showed great military expertise in planning the Kilmichael ambush in West Cork 100 years ago today, both in selecting the ambush site and in the manner in which he deployed his men, according to a military historian.
Historian and former soldier, Gerry White said Barry utilized good intelligence on where exactly a party of British Auxiliaries from C Company, based in Macroom, would go on patrol and selected a site in Kilmichael between Macroom and Dunmanway which offered his men "good killing ground".
“He deployed his men very well – he deployed them to ensure overlapping fields of fire, the area selected would be well covered with rifle fire but he also deployed them very close to the road as he was acutely aware he didn’t have the military training that the Auxiliaries had,” said Mr White
“Barry’s men didn’t have the opportunity to go to a rifle range and practice like the Auxiliaries had – his men had very little military training so where possible, he deployed them very close to the road – his philosophy as he said, later was ‘There are no bad shots at ten or 15 yards’.”
READ MORE
Mr White made his comments in a new documentary made by local historians Colum and Shane Cronin for Coppeen Archeological, Historical and Cultural Society entitled Kilmichael – A Story of a Century which makes extensive use of drone footage, historic maps and archival interviews.
Surveys and interviews
In the engagement which took place at around 4pm on November 28th 1920, the Flying Column of the west Cork No 3 Brigade of the IRA ambushed a party of Auxiliaries, killing 16 of them while suffering three casualties, Lt Jim O'Sullivan (23), Michael McCarthy (23) and Patrick Deasy (16).
Narrator, Colum Cronin said: "As a local historian, I have always had a keen interest in the story of the Kilmichael Ambush – 100 years later it is more important than ever that we commemorate this event, an event that would send shock waves across the Irish Sea to the British Establishment."
The documentary uses drone footage to survey the ambush site and a map made the following day by an engineer with the Auxiliaries, Lt E Fleming where he mapped where the bodies of the 16 dead Auxiliaries were found as well as where he believed the Flying Column members were positioned.
The documentary also uses archival interviews made by the late Fr John Chisholm with Kilmichael veterans, Jack O'Sullivan and Ned Young about their recollections of the ambush while it also addresses controversies arising from Tom Barry's account of the ambush in Guerrilla Days in Ireland.
Historian, Prof Eunan O'Halpin of Trinity College Dublin addresses the issue of the Auxiliaries "false surrender" first questioned by Canadian historian, Peter Hart in his book "The IRA and Its Enemies: Violence and Community in Cork 1916-1923' first published in 1998.
Historian, Dr Eve Morrison discusses a dispute in 1974 between Barry and fellow veteran, Liam Deasy whose brother, Patrick was killed in the ambush when Deasy published his book 'Towards Ireland Free' prompting a number of IRA veterans to disassociate themselves from Barry's version.
The documentary also features contributions from author, Don Wood who tells the story of Auxiliary, Lt Frederick Henry Forde MC who survived the ambush and local historian Joe Creedon who tells of how Lt Cecil Guthrie who escaped the ambush only to be killed later by the local IRA.
It also examines the reprisals carried out by the Auxiliaries in Kilmichael in the following days including the burning of a number of homes and the shooting dead by the Auxiliaries at Cronin’s Bar in Coolderrihy of farm labourer, Dinny O’Sullivan, who had no involvement in the ambush.
County council documentary
Meanwhile Cork County Council has also produced a documentary to mark the centenary of the Kilmichael Ambush where local historian, Con O'Callaghan tells the story of the ambush and local men, Conor O'Driscoll and Mick O'Brien recall their fathers' participation in the engagement.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley welcomed the new Kilmichael ambush documentary from Cork County Council as well as others also produced for Cork County Council on Cork's martyred Lord Mayors, Tomas Mac Curtain and Terence MacSwiney.
“The wealth of cultural heritage in Cork County that we have today is thanks to generations of historians, archaeologists and ordinary people whose dedicated work throughout the years has enriched our understanding of our history,” said Mayor Linehan Foley.
“While these commemorations acknowledge the contributions of great individuals like MacCurtáin, MacSwiney and Tom Barry, it’s important we remember the significant community and voluntary work that has gone into enabling us, one hundred years later, to continue to learn about our history.”
Kilmichael - A Story of a Century can be viewed at the following linkhere:e


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Firearms and €100,000 worth of drugs seized by gardaí in Dublin

Firearms and drugs were seized by gardaí during the search of a property in north Dublin on Saturday .
Cocaine @ @ @ @ @ street value of €100,000 along with the two firearms were found during the search of @ @ @ @ @ Poppintree area of Ballymun .
A man in his 40s was arrested and is being @ @ @ @ @ the Offences Against the State Act 1939 .
Gardaí were investigating the sale and supply @ @ @ @ @ and investigations remain ongoing .

A man in his 40s has been arrested. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Firearms and drugs were seized by gardaí during the search of a property in north Dublin on Saturday.
Cocaine and cannabis with a combined street value of €100,000 along with the two firearms were found during the search of a residential property in the Poppintree area of Ballymun.
A man in his 40s was arrested and is being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.
Gardaí were investigating the sale and supply of drugs in the area and investigations remain ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Late Late Toy Show duet with musical hero ‘absolutely mad’ says delighted teen

During his nerveless performance on the Late Late Toy Show , singer Michael Maloney assumed the voice of Dermot Kennedy he could hear in the background was from a backing track .
Mikie , as he is known , was having too much fun to turn around and see that in fact his musical hero was singing Kennedy ’ s song Giants alongside him .
It was but one highlight of a Late Late Toy Show not short of highlights .
“ My mind just blanked , but I said I ’ d better keep going anyway .
The show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want to stop , ” Mikie told The Irish Times on Saturday .
“ It ’ s absolutely mad .
I ’ ll never forget this .
It ’ s really mindblowing.
” Afterwards Kennedy presented Mikie with a Fender left-handed signed guitar , a thoughtful present as both are left-handed .
Kennedy revealed to Mikie that he auditioned for the Late Late Toy Show , but was turned down .
“ He told me that I was already a step ahead of him when he was his age.
” The 14-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School in Gortnor Abbey in Crossmolina , Co Mayo is already an overnight sensation .
His Instagram followers went from 300 to 27,000 after his appearance on the Late Late Toy Show and he was stopped twice for selfies on the way back from Dublin to Mayo .
His proud mother Sandra McLoughlin said her son sings from the moment he gets up in the morning until he goes to bed at night .
Along with singing , he plays the guitar , piano , violin , drums and ukulele .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is David Lynn , Conor Hickie teaches him guitar and piano teacher while Peter Neary teaches violin .
“ We were just blown away , ” she said of her son ’ s appearance with Dermot Kennedy on the Late Late Toy Show .
“ We were trying to prepare our kids for anything that could happen , but trust me , we couldn ’ t have prepared for that one .
“ It has just given everybody such a lift .
It ’ s just the most exciting thing that has ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t take after me .
His dad was very , very chilled and calm and Mikie would take after him.
” Mikie ’ s father Emmett Maloney died three years ago from cancer at the age of 59 .
He ran the successful Maloney ’ s Treffpunkt rock bar in Ballina which was a haven for music lovers in the west and a top destination for touring bands for many years .
“ He would have been very proud .
He would have had a big smile on his face , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Emmett is sharing with us .
We know that he organised this gig for him .
We speak to Emmett every day , ” Sandra added .

Michael Maloney assumed the voice of Dermot Kennedy he could hear in the background was from a backing track only for his musical hero to appear from backstage to duet live with him. Video: RTE
During his nerveless performance on the Late Late Toy Show, singer Michael Maloney assumed the voice of Dermot Kennedy he could hear in the background was from a backing track.
Mikie, as he is known, was having too much fun to turn around and see that in fact his musical hero was singing Kennedy’s song Giants alongside him.
It was but one highlight of a Late Late Toy Show not short of highlights.
“My mind just blanked, but I said I’d better keep going anyway. The show must go on. I didn’t want to stop,” Mikie told The Irish Times on Saturday.
READ MORE
“It’s absolutely mad. I’ll never forget this. It’s really mindblowing.”
Afterwards Kennedy presented Mikie with a Fender left-handed signed guitar, a thoughtful present as both are left-handed.
Kennedy revealed to Mikie that he auditioned for the Late Late Toy Show, but was turned down.
“He told me that I was already a step ahead of him when he was his age.”
The 14-year-old student of the Jesus and Mary Secondary School in Gortnor Abbey in Crossmolina, Co Mayo is already an overnight sensation.
His Instagram followers went from 300 to 27,000 after his appearance on the Late Late Toy Show and he was stopped twice for selfies on the way back from Dublin to Mayo.
His proud mother Sandra McLoughlin said her son sings from the moment he gets up in the morning until he goes to bed at night.
Along with singing, he plays the guitar, piano, violin, drums and ukulele. He has three music teachers.
His singing teacher is David Lynn, Conor Hickie teaches him guitar and piano teacher while Peter Neary teaches violin.
“We were just blown away,” she said of her son’s appearance with Dermot Kennedy on the Late Late Toy Show.
“We were trying to prepare our kids for anything that could happen, but trust me, we couldn’t have prepared for that one.
“It has just given everybody such a lift. It’s just the most exciting thing that has ever happened in our lives. He didn’t take after me. His dad was very, very chilled and calm and Mikie would take after him.”
Mikie's father Emmett Maloney died three years ago from cancer at the age of 59. He ran the successful Maloney's Treffpunkt rock bar in Ballina which was a haven for music lovers in the west and a top destination for touring bands for many years.
“He would have been very proud. He would have had a big smile on his face,” said Mikie.
“We do know that Emmett is sharing with us. We know that he organised this gig for him. We speak to Emmett every day,” Sandra added.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Nine more coronavirus deaths reported in Northern Ireland

Nine more people have died after contracting coronavirus in Northern Ireland , the Department of Health has said .
An additional 315 cases of the virus have also been confirmed cases in the past 24 hours .
It brings the number of deaths from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland to 983 , while case numbers now total 51,824 .
One of the nine latest deaths notified fell outside the 24-hour period , according to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland .
There are currently 410 Covid-19 patients in hospital in Northern Ireland , with 33 in intensive care units .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the health service .
The new figures came after the chief medical officer insisted another period of intensified coronavirus restrictions in the new year is not inevitable .
Dr Michael McBride said while a “ payback ” in infection rates is expected in January following the relaxation of rules over Christmas , the extent of the rise in cases depends on public behaviour .
He said the Northern Ireland Executive will issue guidance next week on how households can minimise infection risks when more mixing is permitted between December 23rd and 27th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-week circuit-break lockdown in a bid to drive down transmission rates ahead of Christmas .
Asked if another clampdown in January is inevitable , Dr McBride said : “ It depends on all of us .
There will be a payback for the relaxations over Christmas .
But I think it ’ s the right thing to do .
It ’ s important for our mental health and for our well-being , but we will see increased transmission .
“ When we come together , the virus is there and the virus will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be careful , what we need to do is get the virus down as low before we go into the Christmas period as possible and be really careful over Christmas.
” Dr McBride acknowledged the difficulties the retail and hospitality sectors are facing as they lose out on two weeks of trade at the busiest time of the year .
“ I ’ m sorry that we are in this situation , ” he said .
“ I know there ’ ll be many views about the needs for , or not for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is making a difference , it is making an impact .
I just want to thank everyone , now the Executive has made its decision , for all of their efforts.
” The chief medical officer said there is evidence the recent period of tightened restrictions is starting to bring down hospital admission numbers .
“ Let ’ s make this two weeks work , ” he added .
“ This is a really important opportunity for us to get the virus levels down as low as possible before Christmas .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re doing is working , your commitment , we ’ re seeing reduction in the number of cases , we ’ re seeing a beginning of a fall in numbers of patients in the hospital .
“ That ’ s the best way to protect each other , our families and protect our health service and , more importantly , save lives .
So let ’ s just get this done.
” On the roll-out of a vaccine , he sought to downplay expectations that it will remove the need for restrictions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult months ahead of us , ” he said .
“ The vaccine will not see us through this winter but I am confident by late spring it will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting and hopefully talk of wider and further restrictions will increasingly become a thing of the past.
” - PA

Nine more people have died after contracting coronavirus in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health has said.
An additional 315 cases of the virus have also been confirmed cases in the past 24 hours.
It brings the number of deaths from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland to 983, while case numbers now total 51,824.
One of the nine latest deaths notified fell outside the 24-hour period, according to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.
READ MORE
There are currently 410 Covid-19 patients in hospital in Northern Ireland, with 33 in intensive care units. There are currently 16 ICU beds available in the health service.
The new figures came after the chief medical officer insisted another period of intensified coronavirus restrictions in the new year is not inevitable.
Dr Michael McBride said while a “payback” in infection rates is expected in January following the relaxation of rules over Christmas, the extent of the rise in cases depends on public behaviour.
He said the Northern Ireland Executive will issue guidance next week on how households can minimise infection risks when more mixing is permitted between December 23rd and 27th.
Northern Ireland has just entered another two-week circuit-break lockdown in a bid to drive down transmission rates ahead of Christmas.
Asked if another clampdown in January is inevitable, Dr McBride said: “It depends on all of us. There will be a payback for the relaxations over Christmas. But I think it’s the right thing to do. It’s important for our mental health and for our well-being, but we will see increased transmission.
“When we come together, the virus is there and the virus will spread. So we really need to be careful, what we need to do is get the virus down as low before we go into the Christmas period as possible and be really careful over Christmas.”
Dr McBride acknowledged the difficulties the retail and hospitality sectors are facing as they lose out on two weeks of trade at the busiest time of the year.
“I’m sorry that we are in this situation,” he said.
“I know there’ll be many views about the needs for, or not for, this restriction.
“But it is making a difference, it is making an impact. I just want to thank everyone, now the Executive has made its decision, for all of their efforts.”
The chief medical officer said there is evidence the recent period of tightened restrictions is starting to bring down hospital admission numbers.
“Let’s make this two weeks work,” he added.
“This is a really important opportunity for us to get the virus levels down as low as possible before Christmas.
“It’s working, what we’re doing is working, your commitment, we’re seeing reduction in the number of cases, we’re seeing a beginning of a fall in numbers of patients in the hospital.
“That’s the best way to protect each other, our families and protect our health service and, more importantly, save lives. So let’s just get this done.”
On the roll-out of a vaccine, he sought to downplay expectations that it will remove the need for restrictions in the short-term.
“We have some difficult months ahead of us,” he said.
“The vaccine will not see us through this winter but I am confident by late spring it will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting and hopefully talk of wider and further restrictions will increasingly become a thing of the past.” - PA


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Penneys reopens and plans for 39 consecutive hours next week

Dedicated followers of fast fashion , fans of cheap Christmas jumpers and a particular cohort of insomniacs will be delighted to learn that Penneys plans to keep its stores in Dundrum and Blanchardstown open for a continuous stretch of 39 hours next week once non-essential retail is allowed to resume trading as normal .
The flagship shops in the Dundrum Town Centre and the Blanchardstown Centre will open at 7am on Tuesday December 1st and trade right through to 10pm the following day .
It has also announced that there will be extended opening hours across all 36 of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet an expected surge in demand in the run up to Christmas period .
Unlike many other retailers of a similar size Penneys has not be able to sell stock online since the start of the most recent lockdown and – if the reopening in the summer is any measure – there are likely to be sizeable queues outside the stores when they re-open .
Penneys stores in city centres and in major shopping centres will trade until 10pm on weekdays , in the run-up to Christmas while stores on main streets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centres will trade until 9pm on weekdays .
Penneys has not ruled out opening stores overnight at some points in the weeks ahead .
The retailer stressed that it would have “ extensive safety measures in place ” including strict social distancing protocols , limits on the number of customers allowed in store , hand sanitisation stations on entry , Perspex screens or cubicles at tills , the use of face masks in-store and increased in-store cleaning .
“ We are delighted to re-open our stores in Ireland on December 1st with longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to safely do their festive shopping , ” the Penneys chief executive said .
Other large retailers are likely to open for on a continuous basis in the weeks ahead to reduce pressure on customers and staff .
The umbrella group Retail Excellence said last night that non-essential retail outlets which will reopen next week must be allowed to stay open and it has committed to working closely with the authorities to deliver longer trading hours in an effective and safe manner .

Penneys has also announced that there will be extended opening hours across all 36 of its outlets in the State. Photograph: iStock
Dedicated followers of fast fashion, fans of cheap Christmas jumpers and a particular cohort of insomniacs will be delighted to learn that Penneys plans to keep its stores in Dundrum and Blanchardstown open for a continuous stretch of 39 hours next week once non-essential retail is allowed to resume trading as normal.
The flagship shops in the Dundrum Town Centre and the Blanchardstown Centre will open at 7am on Tuesday December 1st and trade right through to 10pm the following day.
It has also announced that there will be extended opening hours across all 36 of its outlets in the State in order to meet an expected surge in demand in the run up to Christmas period.
Unlike many other retailers of a similar size Penneys has not be able to sell stock online since the start of the most recent lockdown and – if the reopening in the summer is any measure – there are likely to be sizeable queues outside the stores when they re-open.
READ MORE
Penneys stores in city centres and in major shopping centres will trade until 10pm on weekdays, in the run-up to Christmas while stores on main streets in towns across Ireland and in town shopping centres will trade until 9pm on weekdays.
Penneys has not ruled out opening stores overnight at some points in the weeks ahead.
The retailer stressed that it would have “extensive safety measures in place” including strict social distancing protocols, limits on the number of customers allowed in store, hand sanitisation stations on entry, Perspex screens or cubicles at tills, the use of face masks in-store and increased in-store cleaning.
“We are delighted to re-open our stores in Ireland on December 1st with longer shopping hours to give our customers more time to safely do their festive shopping,” the Penneys chief executive said.
Other large retailers are likely to open for on a continuous basis in the weeks ahead to reduce pressure on customers and staff.
The umbrella group Retail Excellence said last night that non-essential retail outlets which will reopen next week must be allowed to stay open and it has committed to working closely with the authorities to deliver longer trading hours in an effective and safe manner.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Coronavirus: 243 more cases, seven further deaths reported in the State

A further 243 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the State .
Seven additional deaths were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) on Saturday .
As of 2pm on Saturday , 254 Covid-19 patients were in hospital with 31 of those in intensive care units .
The number of confirmed cases in hospital as reported by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) is 243 with 13 admissions to hospital over the last 24 hours and 19 discharges .
The numbers in hospital have continued to drop from a high in the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The numbers in ICU have remained steady .
The positivity rate for the last seven days is at 2.7 per cent .
Donegal continues to have the highest rate of Covid-19 in the country at 215.5 per 100,000 having recorded 26 new cases on Saturday , but there is good news for Louth the county with the second highest rate .
It recorded less than five cases on Saturday .
There are now 71,942 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the State and 2,050 deaths .
A study by consultancy firm EY into Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finals for outbreaks of the virus in four counties .
It says that in Cork there was a number of GAA games in early October which coincided with a rate increase .
EY traced an outbreak in Galway to the GAA senior county championship semi-finals and finals in late September and early October which led to a spike in numbers in the Connemara South local electoral area ( LEA ) 10 days later .
Moycullen won their first ever county title this year .
EY states that a higher incidence rate of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the victory of Crosserlough in the county final – the club ’ s first victory in 48 years .
EY also identifies an increase in the Ratoath local electoral area of Meath with Ratoath ’ s victory in the Meath senior football county final .
On Saturday , epidemologist Dr Gabriel Scally responded to the lifting of Government restrictions on households meeting up to state that visiting relatives at Christmas time is a “ dangerous thing to do ” .
Dr Scally called on the public to forego meeting up with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the horizon ” and he said he would not be meeting his own extended family .
He warned that , as a result of Christmas meet-ups , “ I fear that in January and in February we may be burying some of those friends and relations .
That ’ s the cruel truth of this virus .
It is desperately dangerous and we mustn ’ t let it surge back again.
” On Friday , the Government announced plans to move the country from the Level 5 restrictions it was placed under six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Level 3 under the Government ’ s plan for living with the virus .
Some changes will come into effect from December 1st allowing non-essential retail , places of worship and cultural institutions to reopen .
Restaurants and gastro pubs will be allowed to reopen from December 4th .
Under a planned third phase of the staggered reopening beginning on December 18th , restrictions on household visits and travel between counties are to be eased for a period of three weeks , to allow family and friends to celebrate the holiday together .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with up to two other households .
People will be allowed to travel outside their county from December 18th for three weeks until January 6th .
Dr Scally said the virus is still dangerous and cases are still “ at far too high a level ” and therefore he stated the Government had gone too far in opening up the country in the run up to Christmas .
“ There is a temptation when you have done well to take your foot off the brake , but the virus is still so infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away again .
“ Why would anyone really want to risk going to social gatherings or large family gatherings at this time ?
“ This is not the time to do it .
This is the time to showing your love for your friends and family by keeping them safe.
” Dr Scally also expressed doubts about whether places of worship should be operating at this time in the run up to Christmas .
“ It ’ s not very long to go before things can loosen up post-vaccination , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland at present is “ extraordinarily bad ” as a result of not having an effective contact tracing and testing service in place .
He told the Saturday with Katie Hannon programme on RTÉ Radio 1 that he feared a “ spillover ” and that the only way forward is an all-island approach to Covid-19 .
He stated it would be difficult to have mandatory mask wearing in outdoor settings , but that they should be advisory .
“ It should be part of the social norm .
This advice is coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asia where mask wearing has become the norm , ” he said .
“ It is a symbol of respect for other people that you shouldn ’ t give the virus to other people if you have it.
” Speaking on the same programme , the Vintners Federation of Ireland ( VFI ) chief executive Padraig Cribben challenged Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to produce the evidence suggesting that so-called “ wet pubs ” were too dangerous to open .
“ What we are relying on is circumstantial not empirical evidence .
It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have the evidence to tell 3,500 business that you can ’ t open , ” he said .
There are 3,500 pubs with 25,000 staff who will not get their jobs back , he stressed and also hundreds of thousands of customers who will not have a social outlet this Christmas .
He said the message from the Government was that it did not trust people .
“ We are going to have a large number of communities that will be bereft of any place to socialise over the Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @

As of 2pm on Saturday, 254 Covid-19 patients were in hospital with 31 of those in intensive care units. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
A further 243 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the State. Seven additional deaths were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Saturday.
As of 2pm on Saturday, 254 Covid-19 patients were in hospital with 31 of those in intensive care units.
The number of confirmed cases in hospital as reported by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is 243 with 13 admissions to hospital over the last 24 hours and 19 discharges.
Hospital Report
The numbers in hospital have continued to drop from a high in the second wave of 354 on October 27th. The numbers in ICU have remained steady.
READ MORE
The positivity rate for the last seven days is at 2.7 per cent.
Donegal continues to have the highest rate of Covid-19 in the country at 215.5 per 100,000 having recorded 26 new cases on Saturday, but there is good news for Louth the county with the second highest rate. It recorded less than five cases on Saturday.
There are now 71,942 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the State and 2,050 deaths.
Outbreaks study
A study by consultancy firm EY into Covid-19 for the Government has blamed GAA county finals for outbreaks of the virus in four counties.
It says that in Cork there was a number of GAA games in early October which coincided with a rate increase.
EY traced an outbreak in Galway to the GAA senior county championship semi-finals and finals in late September and early October which led to a spike in numbers in the Connemara South local electoral area (LEA) 10 days later.
Moycullen won their first ever county title this year.
EY states that a higher incidence rate of Covid-19 in the Ballyjamesduff local electoral area coincided with the victory of Crosserlough in the county final – the club's first victory in 48 years.
EY also identifies an increase in the Ratoath local electoral area of Meath with Ratoath's victory in the Meath senior football county final.
Dr Gabriel Scally: ‘It’s not very long to go before things can loosen up post-vaccination.’ Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Family visits
On Saturday, epidemologist Dr Gabriel Scally responded to the lifting of Government restrictions on households meeting up to state that visiting relatives at Christmas time is a "dangerous thing to do".
Dr Scally called on the public to forego meeting up with their families “while the vaccine is on the horizon” and he said he would not be meeting his own extended family.
He warned that, as a result of Christmas meet-ups, “I fear that in January and in February we may be burying some of those friends and relations. That’s the cruel truth of this virus. It is desperately dangerous and we mustn’t let it surge back again.”
On Friday, the Government announced plans to move the country from the Level 5 restrictions it was placed under six weeks ago to a modified version of Level 3 under the Government’s plan for living with the virus. Some changes will come into effect from December 1st allowing non-essential retail, places of worship and cultural institutions to reopen. Restaurants and gastro pubs will be allowed to reopen from December 4th.
Under a planned third phase of the staggered reopening beginning on December 18th, restrictions on household visits and travel between counties are to be eased for a period of three weeks, to allow family and friends to celebrate the holiday together.
This phase will allow households to mix with up to two other households. People will be allowed to travel outside their county from December 18th for three weeks until January 6th.
‘Not the time’
Dr Scally said the virus is still dangerous and cases are still “at far too high a level” and therefore he stated the Government had gone too far in opening up the country in the run up to Christmas.
“There is a temptation when you have done well to take your foot off the brake, but the virus is still so infectious and dangerous that it could just accelerate away again.
“Why would anyone really want to risk going to social gatherings or large family gatherings at this time?
“This is not the time to do it. This is the time to showing your love for your friends and family by keeping them safe.”
Dr Scally also expressed doubts about whether places of worship should be operating at this time in the run up to Christmas.
“It’s not very long to go before things can loosen up post-vaccination,” he said.
Dr Scally said the situation in Northern Ireland at present is "extraordinarily bad" as a result of not having an effective contact tracing and testing service in place.
He told the Saturday with Katie Hannon programme on RTÉ Radio 1 that he feared a "spillover" and that the only way forward is an all-island approach to Covid-19.
He stated it would be difficult to have mandatory mask wearing in outdoor settings, but that they should be advisory.
"It should be part of the social norm. This advice is coming from the experience of other countries like Asia where mask wearing has become the norm," he said.
“It is a symbol of respect for other people that you shouldn’t give the virus to other people if you have it.”
Evidence
Speaking on the same programme, the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) chief executive Padraig Cribben challenged Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to produce the evidence suggesting that so-called "wet pubs" were too dangerous to open.
“What we are relying on is circumstantial not empirical evidence. It is not good enough in a situation where we don’t have the evidence to tell 3,500 business that you can’t open,” he said.
There are 3,500 pubs with 25,000 staff who will not get their jobs back, he stressed and also hundreds of thousands of customers who will not have a social outlet this Christmas.
He said the message from the Government was that it did not trust people.
“We are going to have a large number of communities that will be bereft of any place to socialise over the Christmas period,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Man seriously injured in Co Wexford motorbike crash

Gardaí at New Ross are appealing for witnesses after a man was seriously injured in a motorbike crash in Co @ @ @ @ @ the scene on the R733 near New Ross shortly before midnight on Friday .
The @ @ @ @ @ when his vehicle left the road and struck a ditch .
He was treated at @ @ @ @ @ ambulance to University Hospital Waterford where his condition is understood to be serious .
The @ @ @ @ @ local diversions put in place .
Garda forensic collision investigators were due to examine the @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardaí asked anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who has camera footage @ @ @ @ @ to contact New Ross Garda Station 051-426030 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 @ @

The man was treated at the scene and removed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford.
Gardaí at New Ross are appealing for witnesses after a man was seriously injured in a motorbike crash in Co Wexford.
Emergency services attended the scene on the R733 near New Ross shortly before midnight on Friday.
The motorbike driver sustained serious injuries when his vehicle left the road and struck a ditch.
He was treated at the scene and removed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford where his condition is understood to be serious.
READ MORE
The road was currently closed and local diversions put in place. Garda forensic collision investigators were due to examine the crash site on Saturday morning.
Gardaí asked anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who has camera footage (including dash cam) to contact New Ross Garda Station 051-426030 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Former editor appointed as new Government press secretary

A former journalist who spent almost 20 year working with tabloid newspapers in Ireland and the UK has been appointed as the Government ’ s new press secretary .
Paul Clarkson will take up his new role on Monday , replacing Lisa-Dee Collery who is switching her focus to Brexit and to working with the Taoiseach ’ s new Shared Island Unit .
Belfast-born Mr Clarkson told The Irish Times his new role “ is clearly going to be a big challenge and that is part of the appeal.
” He said when he returned to Ireland last August , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London , he did so with a view “ to trying to help the country in any way I can .
“ I have been in journalism for 20 years and I suppose I am taking a well-trodden path .
I wanted to do something different when I came back and , like most journalists , I am addicted to politics so when this opportunity came up I was both excited and honoured and grabbed it with both hands.
” He acknowledged that working as press secretary in the current climate would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing so many enormous challenges including Covid-19 and Brexit and we all know how hard 2020 has been for everyone ” he said He expressed the hope that 2021 would be brighter .
Mr Clarkson worked as a news editor with the Irish Mirror before joining the newsdesk at the Irish Sun in December 2005 .
He was appointed deputy editor of that newspaper in 2009 and then became its editor in 2013 .
In 2016 , the father-of-three became a managing editor in the Sun ’ s London office where he worked @ @ @ @ @ @

Paul Clarkson said his new role ‘is clearly going to be a big challenge and that is part of the appeal’. Photograph: via LinkedIn
A former journalist who spent almost 20 year working with tabloid newspapers in Ireland and the UK has been appointed as the Government's new press secretary.
Paul Clarkson will take up his new role on Monday, replacing Lisa-Dee Collery who is switching her focus to Brexit and to working with the Taoiseach's new Shared Island Unit.
Belfast-born Mr Clarkson told The Irish Times his new role "is clearly going to be a big challenge and that is part of the appeal."
He said when he returned to Ireland last August, after more than four years working in London, he did so with a view “to trying to help the country in any way I can.
READ MORE
“I have been in journalism for 20 years and I suppose I am taking a well-trodden path. I wanted to do something different when I came back and, like most journalists, I am addicted to politics so when this opportunity came up I was both excited and honoured and grabbed it with both hands.”
He acknowledged that working as press secretary in the current climate would be not be easy.
“Ireland is facing so many enormous challenges including Covid-19 and Brexit and we all know how hard 2020 has been for everyone” he said
He expressed the hope that 2021 would be brighter.
Mr Clarkson worked as a news editor with the Irish Mirror before joining the newsdesk at the Irish Sun in December 2005.
He was appointed deputy editor of that newspaper in 2009 and then became its editor in 2013.
In 2016, the father-of-three became a managing editor in the Sun’s London office where he worked until August of this year.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Holidaymakers should avoid booking sites and go direct, survey says

Holidaymakers are usually better off avoiding booking sites when arranging a holiday and booking direct with a travel provider instead , according to Which ?
’ s latest travel booking sites survey which was published on Saturday morning .
The consumer champion surveyed nearly 5,000 members about their experiences with various travel booking sites , broken down into flight booking sites , accommodation booking sites , and travel comparison sites .
The results highlighted a raft of problems with using booking sites – usually presented as a hassle-free way to compare prices and get the best deal when booking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
Respondents rated sites on a variety of criteria , including the functionality of the site , prices , and transparency of fees .
Flight booking sites fared particularly badly , with some companies proving impossible to contact regarding cancellations and refunds during lockdowns and some charging admin fees to process refunds that would have been free if sought directly from the airline .
Netflights received the highest customer score in this category , though still an underwhelming 65 per cent .
It was the only flight booking site to score @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one in 10 customers reported a problem with the website .
The site only scored three stars for customer service however .
When refunds were requested , Netflights said they would “ normally ” take 45 days to process – considerably longer than the seven-day window within which refunds should legally be processed by airlines for cancelled flights – and that the pandemic was making wait times even longer .
At the other end of the table for flight booking sites was Opodo , which Which ?
recently recommended passengers avoid booking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme .
It scored a dismal 41 per cent , coming last in the survey for the second year running and scoring only two stars for customer service .
Comparison sites didn ’ t do much better .
The clear frontrunner in this market was Skyscanner , with a customer score of 67 per cent .
It was the only comparison site to receive a five-star rating in any of the categories , with customers giving it five stars for the site ’ s functionality .
Meanwhile , Travelocity ranked at the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ score of 43 per cent , and only managing to achieve two stars in every category .
Accommodation booking sites were rated slightly more favourably .
This was the only category where some booking sites managed to receive a customer score of more than 70 per cent , with most accommodation booking sites managing to score four stars in at least one category .
Airbnb , with a customer score of 75 per cent , was the only booking site to impress customers and the consumer champion enough to receive Which ?
Recommended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cancellations Airbnb dealt with during the Covid-19 crisis it was still given five stars for customer service , and customers also gave it five stars for its prices , its free cancellation filter and transparent and upfront refund policies .
Lastminute .
com propped up the bottom of the table in this category scoring just 55 per cent and only mustering three stars across every category .
It also received a paltry 46 per cent when it was assessed as a flight-booking site .
“ Booking sites have been seen as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on travel or accommodation when booking a holiday , but our survey highlights serious problems , from dodgy refund policies and unwelcome admin fees , to non-existent customer service , ” Which Travel ’ s editor Rory Boland said .
“ This year has shown us that nothing can be guaranteed when it comes to booking a holiday , so it ’ s more important than ever to ensure the company you ’ re booking with can be trusted with your money.
” “ With a couple of notable exceptions , booking sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front , so the best way to ensure your money is in safe hands is to book a package , hotel or flight directly , and only with a reputable provider.
” Responding to the survey and Opodo spokeswoman said the number of responses to the Which ?
survey from its customers was very limited .
She said the small sample size of 93 of its customers was “ not reflective of the 17 million customers that we have worldwide .
We have refunded over one million tickets and 100 per cent of @ @ @ @

Holidaymakers are usually better off avoiding booking sites when arranging a holiday and booking direct with a travel provider instead, according to Which?’s latest travel booking sites survey which was published on Saturday morning.
The consumer champion surveyed nearly 5,000 members about their experiences with various travel booking sites, broken down into flight booking sites, accommodation booking sites, and travel comparison sites.
The results highlighted a raft of problems with using booking sites – usually presented as a hassle-free way to compare prices and get the best deal when booking a holiday – which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Respondents rated sites on a variety of criteria, including the functionality of the site, prices, and transparency of fees.
READ MORE
Flight booking sites fared particularly badly, with some companies proving impossible to contact regarding cancellations and refunds during lockdowns and some charging admin fees to process refunds that would have been free if sought directly from the airline.
Underwheling
Netflights received the highest customer score in this category, though still an underwhelming 65 per cent. It was the only flight booking site to score four stars for prices, and fewer than one in 10 customers reported a problem with the website.
The site only scored three stars for customer service however. When refunds were requested, Netflights said they would “normally” take 45 days to process – considerably longer than the seven-day window within which refunds should legally be processed by airlines for cancelled flights – and that the pandemic was making wait times even longer.
At the other end of the table for flight booking sites was Opodo, which Which? recently recommended passengers avoid booking with, after it left the Atol scheme. It scored a dismal 41 per cent, coming last in the survey for the second year running and scoring only two stars for customer service.
Comparison sites didn’t do much better. The clear frontrunner in this market was Skyscanner, with a customer score of 67 per cent. It was the only comparison site to receive a five-star rating in any of the categories, with customers giving it five stars for the site’s functionality. Meanwhile, Travelocity ranked at the bottom of the table, with a customer score of 43 per cent, and only managing to achieve two stars in every category.
Accommodation booking sites were rated slightly more favourably. This was the only category where some booking sites managed to receive a customer score of more than 70 per cent, with most accommodation booking sites managing to score four stars in at least one category.
Airbnb, with a customer score of 75 per cent, was the only booking site to impress customers and the consumer champion enough to receive Which? Recommended Provider status.
Five stars
Despite the huge number of cancellations Airbnb dealt with during the Covid-19 crisis it was still given five stars for customer service, and customers also gave it five stars for its prices, its free cancellation filter and transparent and upfront refund policies.
Lastminute. com propped up the bottom of the table in this category scoring just 55 per cent and only mustering three stars across every category. It also received a paltry 46 per cent when it was assessed as a flight-booking site.
"Booking sites have been seen as a hassle-free way to find the best deal on travel or accommodation when booking a holiday, but our survey highlights serious problems, from dodgy refund policies and unwelcome admin fees, to non-existent customer service," Which Travel's editor Rory Boland said.
“This year has shown us that nothing can be guaranteed when it comes to booking a holiday, so it’s more important than ever to ensure the company you’re booking with can be trusted with your money.”
“With a couple of notable exceptions, booking sites have let their customers down on this front, so the best way to ensure your money is in safe hands is to book a package, hotel or flight directly, and only with a reputable provider.”
Responding to the survey and Opodo spokeswoman said the number of responses to the Which? survey from its customers was very limited. She said the small sample size of 93 of its customers was “not reflective of the 17 million customers that we have worldwide. We have refunded over one million tickets and 100 per cent of package holidays.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Life satisfaction lower during lockdown than economic crash, CSO study finds

The level of low life satisfaction at the height of Covid-19 lockdown measures in April was almost double that recorded during the depths of the financial crisis , figures presented by the Central Statistics Office ( CSO ) to Government show .
The presentation , which was made during a key Cabinet subcommittee on Thursday evening , was published late on Friday .
It shows that 15.3 per cent of people reported “ low overall life satisfaction ” in 2013 , which compared to 29.6 per cent in April of this year , when the strictest lockdown measures were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of people who reported feeling depressed or downhearted all or most of the time was also higher , although proportionally the increase was not as significant .
In 2013 , this figure was 4.8 per cent , while in April of this year , it was 5.5 per cent .
In 2018 , when the recovery from the financial crisis was well underway , 8.7 per cent of people reported low overall life satisfaction and 2.8 per cent reported feeling depressed or downhearted most or all of the time .
The CSO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which reflect the employment hit in terms of negative job growth , a significant growth in unemployment , and a decline in hours worked per week .
The dramatic rise of working from home is also detailed , with 28 per cent of people in the third quarter of the year reporting home as their main place of work , compared to five per cent in the four weeks prior to the arrival of Covid-19 .
The presentation by the CSO , which also trends in the geographic , demographic and statistical progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presentations from the Department of Finance and consultancy firm EY .
The Department of Finance presentation analysed the growth of the disease across two waves , and the impact on hospitals , as well as the level of testing in the population , and associated positivity rate .
It found that Ireland has interdicted more stringent lockdown measures , and analysed the impact of these decisions on GDP .
Ireland was found to have had a significant impact on GDP of more than 15 per cent , exceeded only by the UK and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other countries , such as France , Portugal , Croatia and Hungary recorded similar hits to GDP , but had less severe lockdowns .
It also suggests new technical frameworks for considering balancing trade-offs between health and the economy .
The EY presentation analysed State data to examine the relationships between the impact of restrictions , compliance rates and the spread of the disease .
Initial findings from the EY data suggests the second wave of the disease was driven by household and social gatherings .
It also suggest that the 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease , a key measure of growth of Covid-19 , began to increase ten days after wet pubs opened in counties where that occurred , and that the areas around University College Cork and NUI Galway saw higher increases than the rest of their counties when those institutions opened .
Northern counties , especially Border areas , also appear to be impacted by their proximity to the Border , it found , while the reopening of construction and non-essential retail don ’ t appear to have driven a “ material increase ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the summer , although the research notes the disease rate was low at the time .
The EY data also seeks to establish the impact of specific policy interventions , by comparing the date a given restriction was implemented with the change in the 14 day incidence rate ten days later .
The results show significant increases in most counties driven by the opening of wet bars , and that significant suppression of the disease following the home visits ban on October 16th , then the reintroduction of Level 5 measures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the authors warning that they are not precise statistical outputs .
They also warn that “ care ( is ) required ” when interpreting the data , as often restrictions were introduced in quick succession , and that the analysis does not consider potential behavioural changes beyond the restrictions .
The analysis of specific restrictions extends to the period following the opening of wet pubs , which EY say coincided with the resumption of universities and “ specific sporting events ” .
It finds that the 14-day disease incidence rate per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in every county , but more slowly in Dublin .
It found , however , that the incidence rate did not increase at first following the three phases of re-opening during late May and early July .

An analysis of data by the CSO shows that life satisfaction was lower during the most restrictive period of the lockdown in April this year, than during the economic crash. Photograph: Collins
The level of low life satisfaction at the height of Covid-19 lockdown measures in April was almost double that recorded during the depths of the financial crisis, figures presented by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to Government show.
The presentation, which was made during a key Cabinet subcommittee on Thursday evening, was published late on Friday.
It shows that 15.3 per cent of people reported “low overall life satisfaction” in 2013, which compared to 29.6 per cent in April of this year, when the strictest lockdown measures were in place.
The data shows that the number of people who reported feeling depressed or downhearted all or most of the time was also higher, although proportionally the increase was not as significant.
READ MORE
In 2013, this figure was 4.8 per cent, while in April of this year, it was 5.5 per cent.
In 2018, when the recovery from the financial crisis was well underway, 8.7 per cent of people reported low overall life satisfaction and 2.8 per cent reported feeling depressed or downhearted most or all of the time.
The CSO presentation also shows labour market trends, which reflect the employment hit in terms of negative job growth, a significant growth in unemployment, and a decline in hours worked per week.
The dramatic rise of working from home is also detailed, with 28 per cent of people in the third quarter of the year reporting home as their main place of work, compared to five per cent in the four weeks prior to the arrival of Covid-19.
The presentation by the CSO, which also trends in the geographic, demographic and statistical progress of the disease, was published alongside presentations from the Department of Finance and consultancy firm EY.
The Department of Finance presentation analysed the growth of the disease across two waves, and the impact on hospitals, as well as the level of testing in the population, and associated positivity rate.
It found that Ireland has interdicted more stringent lockdown measures, and analysed the impact of these decisions on GDP.
Ireland was found to have had a significant impact on GDP of more than 15 per cent, exceeded only by the UK and Spain, which had less severe lockdowns.
Other countries, such as France, Portugal, Croatia and Hungary recorded similar hits to GDP, but had less severe lockdowns.
It also suggests new technical frameworks for considering balancing trade-offs between health and the economy.
The EY presentation analysed State data to examine the relationships between the impact of restrictions, compliance rates and the spread of the disease. Initial findings from the EY data suggests the second wave of the disease was driven by household and social gatherings.
It also suggest that the 14 day incidence per 100,000 of population of the disease, a key measure of growth of Covid-19, began to increase ten days after wet pubs opened in counties where that occurred, and that the areas around University College Cork and NUI Galway saw higher increases than the rest of their counties when those institutions opened.
Northern counties, especially Border areas, also appear to be impacted by their proximity to the Border, it found, while the reopening of construction and non-essential retail don’t appear to have driven a “material increase” in the disease when it took place during the summer, although the research notes the disease rate was low at the time.
The EY data also seeks to establish the impact of specific policy interventions, by comparing the date a given restriction was implemented with the change in the 14 day incidence rate ten days later.
The results show significant increases in most counties driven by the opening of wet bars, and that significant suppression of the disease following the home visits ban on October 16th, then the reintroduction of Level 5 measures.
The data is heavily caveated, however, with the authors warning that they are not precise statistical outputs. They also warn that “care (is) required” when interpreting the data, as often restrictions were introduced in quick succession, and that the analysis does not consider potential behavioural changes beyond the restrictions.
The analysis of specific restrictions extends to the period following the opening of wet pubs, which EY say coincided with the resumption of universities and “specific sporting events”.
It finds that the 14-day disease incidence rate per 100,000 started to increase ten days later in every county, but more slowly in Dublin.
It found, however, that the incidence rate did not increase at first following the three phases of re-opening during late May and early July.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--One man dies, five injured after partial building collapse in Tralee

A well-known local builder in his sixties has died , and up to five other men were injured , after the partial collapse of a building on Ashe Street , Tralee this morning .
The internal collapse happened shortly after 8am in the building which was in poor condition and being renovated .
It is believed part of the building collapsed internally due to a chimney fall .
The man who died in a collapse was this evening named locally as Tom Ross , a married man and the father of an adult family .
Mr Ross ( 68 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby Fenit .
He was a well-known builder .
A number of fire service units attended the scene along with ambulances and gardaí .
Up to five workers have been taken to University Hospital Kerry for treatment for injuries that are described as not life-threatening .
The Health and Safety Authority has confirmed they are investigating the incident .
The large three storey building is on one of Tralee ’ s most historic streets which also contains the court house and St John ’ s Church of Ireland .
Last year nearby Castle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200-year-old building there under renovation became unstable .
The mayor of Tralee , Labour party councillor Terry O ’ Brien , said the man who died was very well-known and respected and news of his death had come as a shock to residents of the town .
He said the tragedy was particularly sad in the run up to Christmas .
“ We are very , very sad here in Tralee this morning .
We are very shocked at what has happened in the middle of our town .
”

Emergency services at the scene in Tralee where a man died and several others were injured after a building partially collapsed. Photograph: Domnick Walsh
A well-known local builder in his sixties has died, and up to five other men were injured, after the partial collapse of a building on Ashe Street, Tralee this morning.
The internal collapse happened shortly after 8am in the building which was in poor condition and being renovated. It is believed part of the building collapsed internally due to a chimney fall.
The man who died in a collapse was this evening named locally as Tom Ross, a married man and the father of an adult family.
Mr Ross (68) was originally from Tralee and lived in nearby Fenit. He was a well-known builder.
READ MORE
A number of fire service units attended the scene along with ambulances and gardaí.
Up to five workers have been taken to University Hospital Kerry for treatment for injuries that are described as not life-threatening.
Emergency services at the scene in Tralee where a man died and several others were injured after a building partially collapsed. Photograph: Domnick Walsh
The Health and Safety Authority has confirmed they are investigating the incident.
The large three storey building is on one of Tralee’s most historic streets which also contains the court house and St John’s Church of Ireland.
Last year nearby Castle Street was closed for weeks after a 200-year-old building there under renovation became unstable.
The mayor of Tralee, Labour party councillor Terry O’Brien, said the man who died was very well-known and respected and news of his death had come as a shock to residents of the town.
He said the tragedy was particularly sad in the run up to Christmas.
“We are very, very sad here in Tralee this morning. We are very shocked at what has happened in the middle of our town.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Astronaut Chris Hadfield offers to ‘talk space’ with Adam from the Toy Show

Astronaut Chris Hadfield has reached out to young Adam King with an offer to discuss space .
Adam ( 6 ) appeared on the Late Late Toy Show on Friday night and told host Ryan Tubridy that he dreamed of one day commanding a space mission with Nasa .
The boy from Cork said he would like to be an astronaut but feared that wasn ’ t possible because he had “ brittle bones ” .
When Tubridy asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up , Adam said , “ Capcom in Nasa , captain of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be like , ‘ Ground control to Major Tom ?
” asked Tubridy .
Tubridy then asked him if he would liked to have been an astronaut at some stage .
“ Well I can ’ t be an astronaut because I have brittle bones , ” said Adam , who appeared on set in his wheelchair .
“ So instead you can be the guy with the microphone underneath , on the ground ?
” said Tubridy .
Tubridy then informed Adam that he had a rocket in the studio and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a mission .
Adam took a microphone and counted down from 12 while Tubridy shook vigorously inside a large cardboard rocket before rolling around on the floor .
The operation clearly impressed former International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield who posted a video clip from the Toy Show on Twitter and invited the boy to discuss space with him .
“ Adam – I ’ ve been lucky enough to CAPCOM many spaceflights .
We should talk space together .
Take care , be good , ” the Canadian astronaut said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get Adam to mission control , with a post from the Embassy of Ireland USA ’ s twitter account reading : “ Per aspera ad Astra [ through hardships to the stars ] , Adam .
Keep looking to the stars young man .
In the meantime , we ’ ll reach out to our friends @ NASA & see if they can ’ t help bring your dreams a little closer.
” Irish aeronautical engineer Dr Norah Patten also addressed Adam on Twitter , saying she would love to meet him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of space .
“ You ’ re a star , ” she said .

Adam King (6), from Cork, said he wanted to command a space mission with Nasa. Photograph: Irish Embassy USA Twitter account
America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has said it “can’t wait” for Adam King to “one day join our team of dreamers”.
Adam (6) appeared on the Late Late Toy Show on Friday night and told host Ryan Tubridy that he dreamed of one day commanding a space mission with Nasa.
The boy from Cork said he would like to be an astronaut but feared that wasn’t possible because he had “brittle bones”.
In a tweet, Nasa said “Adam’s kind heart and adventurous spirit inspires us. There’s space for everybody at NASA, and we can’t wait for him to one day join our team of dreamers. We’ll be here when he’s ready.”
READ MORE
Adam’s appearance on the Late Late Toy Show also impressed Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who posted a video clip from the Toy Show on Twitter.
“Adam – I’ve been lucky enough to CAPCOM many spaceflights. We should talk space together. Take care, be good,” the former International Space Station commander said.
When Tubridy asked Adam what he wanted to be when he grows up, he said, “Capcom in Nasa, captain of ground control.”
“You want to be like, ‘Ground control to Major Tom?” asked Tubridy.
“Yep,” said Adam.
Tubridy then asked him if he would liked to have been an astronaut at some stage.
“We’ll I can’t be an astronaut because I have brittle bones,” said Adam, who appeared on set in his wheelchair.
“So instead you can be the guy with the microphone underneath, on the ground?” said Tubridy.
“Yep.”
Tubridy then informed Adam that he had a rocket in the studio and he invited the young boy to command him on a mission.
Adam then took a microphone and counted down from 12 while Tubridy shook vigorously inside a large cardboard rocket before rolling around on the floor.
The Irish diplomatic corps also appeared keen to get Adam to mission command, with a post from the Embassy of Ireland USA’s twitter account reading:
“Per aspera ad Astra [through hardships to the stars], Adam. Keep looking to the stars young man. In the meantime, we’ll reach out to our friends @NASA & see if they can’t help bring your dreams a little closer.”
Irish aeronautical engineer Dr Norah Patten also addressed Adam on Twitter, saying she would love to meet him some time and hear about his love of space. “You’re a star,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Man arrested over murder of Seema Banu and her two children

Gardaí investigating the murders of Seema Banu ( 37 ) , her son Faizan Syed ( 6 ) and daughter Asfira Riza ( 11 ) have arrested a suspect in the case .
The arrested man is in his 30s and has lived in Dublin for many years .
He has been a person of interest to gardaí since the murder investigation was commenced last month .
The man was arrested on Saturday morning and was taken for questioning to Dundrum Garda station , where the investigation team is based .
He was still being held on Saturday evening under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He can be questioned for up to 24-hours without charge , though a suspect ’ s period in detention can be longer if there are breaks between Garda interviews while he is in custody .
A statement issued by Garda Headquarters said the man was arrested by gardaí “ investigating the murder of a female adult and two children ” whose remains were found at a house on Llywellen Court , Ballinteer , south Dublin on October 28th .
Saturday ’ s statement was the first time gardaí had referred to Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Previous statements said a murder investigation was underway and was trying to determine all of the circumstances of the deaths of the mother and her two children .
While the postmortems on the children ’ s remains confirmed somebody had murdered them using ligatures , it was not clear if Ms Banu had been murdered .
A ligature was also found with her remains .
Gardaí strongly suspected from the outset of the investigation that Ms Banu and been murdered and her children ’ s lives taken by the same killer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arrest of the suspect formally confirms all three deaths were being treated by gardaí as murders .
Last week Garda sources said the inconclusive results of Ms Banu ’ s postmortem would not derail their efforts to bring a murder charge relating to her death .
The same officers said physical and circumstantial evidence was being gathered and if it suggested Ms Banu had been murdered along with her children , a murder charge could be pursued in all three cases .
Ms Banu , who was from India , lived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two children but in the last week of October neighbours became concerned for their welfare .
The family had not been seen for several days and the blinds in their home were drawn .
Neighbours tried to contact Ms Banu but were unsuccessful and so decided to ring gardai and report their concerns .
When gardaí arrived and forced their way into the house they found Ms Banu ’ s remains in an upstairs bedroom and the bodies of Faizan Syed ( 6 ) and Asfira Riza ( 11 ) in another bedroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for several days in the property and had caused extensive damage .
Garda sources said the murder investigation was focused on gathering small pieces of evidence to bring together , even if all of the evidence was circumstantial .
Detectives working on the murder investigation were , according to one source , working on a “ deep dive ” into Ms Banu ’ s life and state of mind in the last weeks and months of her life .
Her friends and family in India were set to be interviewed .
Any threats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being reviewed .
Gardaí were also focused on establishing who visited the house around the time Ms Banu and her children died there , with CCTV and phone records being reviewed .
A similar focus has been placed on any persons of interest , especially their movements around the time of the deaths and the contacts they had with other people in the days and weeks leading up to the deaths .

Gardaí investigating the murders of Seema Banu (37), her son Faizan Syed (6) and daughter Asfira Riza (11) have arrested a suspect in the case.
The arrested man is in his 30s and has lived in Dublin for many years. He has been a person of interest to gardaí since the murder investigation was commenced last month.
The man was arrested on Saturday morning and was taken for questioning to Dundrum Garda station, where the investigation team is based.
He was still being held on Saturday evening under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
READ MORE
He can be questioned for up to 24-hours without charge, though a suspect’s period in detention can be longer if there are breaks between Garda interviews while he is in custody.
A statement issued by Garda Headquarters said the man was arrested by gardaí "investigating the murder of a female adult and two children" whose remains were found at a house on Llywellen Court, Ballinteer, south Dublin on October 28th.
Saturday’s statement was the first time gardaí had referred to Ms Banu’s death as a murder. Previous statements said a murder investigation was underway and was trying to determine all of the circumstances of the deaths of the mother and her two children.
While the postmortems on the children’s remains confirmed somebody had murdered them using ligatures, it was not clear if Ms Banu had been murdered. A ligature was also found with her remains.
Gardaí strongly suspected from the outset of the investigation that Ms Banu and been murdered and her children’s lives taken by the same killer.
The statement issued on Saturday morning and the arrest of the suspect formally confirms all three deaths were being treated by gardaí as murders.
Last week Garda sources said the inconclusive results of Ms Banu’s postmortem would not derail their efforts to bring a murder charge relating to her death.
The same officers said physical and circumstantial evidence was being gathered and if it suggested Ms Banu had been murdered along with her children, a murder charge could be pursued in all three cases.
Ms Banu, who was from India, lived in a house on Llywellen Court with her two children but in the last week of October neighbours became concerned for their welfare.
The family had not been seen for several days and the blinds in their home were drawn.
Neighbours tried to contact Ms Banu but were unsuccessful and so decided to ring gardai and report their concerns.
When gardaí arrived and forced their way into the house they found Ms Banu’s remains in an upstairs bedroom and the bodies of Faizan Syed (6) and Asfira Riza (11) in another bedroom.
A tap had been left running for several days in the property and had caused extensive damage.
Garda sources said the murder investigation was focused on gathering small pieces of evidence to bring together, even if all of the evidence was circumstantial.
Detectives working on the murder investigation were, according to one source, working on a “deep dive” into Ms Banu’s life and state of mind in the last weeks and months of her life.
Her friends and family in India were set to be interviewed. Any threats she felt she was under were also being reviewed. Gardaí were also focused on establishing who visited the house around the time Ms Banu and her children died there, with CCTV and phone records being reviewed.
A similar focus has been placed on any persons of interest, especially their movements around the time of the deaths and the contacts they had with other people in the days and weeks leading up to the deaths.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Man in his 60s dies in Co Roscommon house fire

A man in his 60s has died in a house fire in Co Roscommon .
It is understood the man @ @ @ @ @ the property in the village of Ballyleague , on the Longford border , when the @ @ @ @ @ Emergency services attended the scene but the man was later pronounced dead .
Gardaí said @ @ @ @ @ .

Emergency services attended the fire in the village of Ballyleague, Co Roscommon
A man in his 60s has died in a house fire in Co Roscommon.
It is understood the man was on his own in the property in the village of Ballyleague, on the Longford border, when the fire started last night.
Emergency services attended the scene but the man was later pronounced dead.
Gardaí said foul play is not suspected.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Problem of maintenance persists 25 years after divorce introduced

The institution of marriage was changed fundamentally by the introduction of divorce 25 years ago but the law ’ s attitude towards spousal maintenance has not kept pace , according to a leading family law expert .
The margin in favour of the removal of the constitutional prohibition on divorce was less than 10,000 votes in the November 24th , 1995 poll , which came at the end of a bitterly divisive national debate .
“ Hello divorce , bye bye daddy ” , was the famous phrase used by some who campaigned against the change .
But in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to materialise and wives have tended to seek divorce more often than men .
Last year there were 4,073 applications to the courts for divorce , a 5 per cent increase on the previous year .
There were 3,545 divorce orders made , almost all in the Circuit Court ; eleven were made by the High Court , where higher value divorces are heard .
Only eight applications were refused .
Of the 4,050 divorce applications to the Circuit Court in 2019 , more than 55 per cent were made by wives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which 59 per cent were religious marriages ) in 2019 .
And of the 59,796 children born that year , 38 per cent were born outside marriage .
“ What we have seen in the period [ since the referendum ] is further changes in the societal and personal landscape of Irish families that resulted in a more secular Irish society , ” says solicitor and family law expert , Geoffrey Shannon .
One of the matters he believes now requires a fundamental review , is the issue of maintenance , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to 20 years before the referendum .
“ In the context of divorce , what you have is the marriage ceases , but your obligations continue indefinitely , ” he says .
“ No single concept alone can govern the system of maintenance , yet we have a system where the focus is on lifelong spousal maintenance.
” A couple might only be married for four or five years , and have no children , yet the Irish system presumes the possibility of one spouse having a lifelong financial obligation towards the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying is that the payment of maintenance between former spouses should facilitate a smooth transition from dependence to economic independence , ensuring that the dependent spouse is provided for until he or she is self-sufficient.
” Maintenance should be calculated in a way that reflects the duration of the marriage , and the commitments that are required .
Shannon also believes it would be a good idea to introduce a statutory recognition of prenuptial agreements , about which Irish law is silent .
This is a matter of particular concern in rural Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an important asset .
He believes that the law should allow for the development of prenuptial agreements that are “ valid and enforceable to the extent that they support and foster the interests of children and spouses ” .
The judiciary would still be allowed a wide discretion in making orders as to the reordering of assets in the context of divorce .
Prenuptial agreements should not be determinative , says Shannon .
Prenuptial agreements allow couples “ when they are on very good terms to agree on how the assets might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage breaking down ” .
Shannon believes that if there were “ clear and applicable guidelines ” for the courts when it comes to making the orders that follow upon the granting of a divorce , then more people would be inclined towards mediation , as against litigation , because it would be more evident what the outcome of any litigation was likely to be .
Another area where he believes improvement could be made is in relation to giving a greater voice to children .
Research shows that “ the children who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are those who feel that their views were taken into account when the parents got divorced ” .
Divorce can cause children “ an emotional shock that is akin to bereavement .
We need to be alive to that fact , and to minimise any trauma that is caused to children ” .
Concerning many divorce cases people talk about who got the house , who got the property and who got the children .
“ We have a habit of talking about the children as chattels , ” says Shannon .
Roisín @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , studied law and became a mediator in the wake of her own separation proceedings in 2008 , which she says cost her €55,000 in legal fees .
She believes the length of time it takes , and the legal costs involved , are factors in explaining Ireland ’ s relatively low rate of divorce .
“ The system that we have has this enormous cost ” and often the fees have to be paid out of the proceeds of selling family property , she says .
“ We have a really poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apart.
” Inge Clissmann , a senior counsel who has long experience of working in family law cases , believes that there are cultural reasons for Ireland ’ s relatively low divorce rate .
“ I think there is a greater willingness to make an effort .
And there may be that old adage from the Christian faith : for better or for worse.
” Over the years she has noticed a move in the courts towards taking a more “ pragmatic ” approach to divorce applications , as well as a change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their children .
“ There are still people who have religious objections to divorce , but they are few and far between these days , ” she says .
Clissman believes “ people are more alert now to the importance of shielding their children from the possible damage that can be done ” when divorcing .
However , in some instances “ a spouse can feel that she has nothing else to hit back with , that her only leverage , or bargaining chip , is the children ” .

One mediator noted that ‘the system we have has this enormous cost’. File photograph: Getty
The institution of marriage was changed fundamentally by the introduction of divorce 25 years ago but the law’s attitude towards spousal maintenance has not kept pace, according to a leading family law expert.
The margin in favour of the removal of the constitutional prohibition on divorce was less than 10,000 votes in the November 24th, 1995 poll, which came at the end of a bitterly divisive national debate.
“Hello divorce, bye bye daddy”, was the famous phrase used by some who campaigned against the change.
But in the years afterwards the feared flood of divorces failed to materialise and wives have tended to seek divorce more often than men.
READ MORE
Last year there were 4,073 applications to the courts for divorce, a 5 per cent increase on the previous year.
There were 3,545 divorce orders made, almost all in the Circuit Court; eleven were made by the High Court, where higher value divorces are heard. Only eight applications were refused.
Of the 4,050 divorce applications to the Circuit Court in 2019, more than 55 per cent were made by wives.
There were 20,313 marriages (of which 59 per cent were religious marriages) in 2019. And of the 59,796 children born that year, 38 per cent were born outside marriage.
"What we have seen in the period [since the referendum] is further changes in the societal and personal landscape of Irish families that resulted in a more secular Irish society," says solicitor and family law expert, Geoffrey Shannon.
What about obligations?
One of the matters he believes now requires a fundamental review, is the issue of maintenance, which is still operating according to laws that date back to 20 years before the referendum.
“In the context of divorce, what you have is the marriage ceases, but your obligations continue indefinitely,” he says. “No single concept alone can govern the system of maintenance, yet we have a system where the focus is on lifelong spousal maintenance.”
A couple might only be married for four or five years, and have no children, yet the Irish system presumes the possibility of one spouse having a lifelong financial obligation towards the other.
“Really what I am saying is that the payment of maintenance between former spouses should facilitate a smooth transition from dependence to economic independence, ensuring that the dependent spouse is provided for until he or she is self-sufficient.”
Maintenance should be calculated in a way that reflects the duration of the marriage, and the commitments that are required.
Shannon also believes it would be a good idea to introduce a statutory recognition of prenuptial agreements, about which Irish law is silent. This is a matter of particular concern in rural Ireland, where the family farm is such an important asset.
He believes that the law should allow for the development of prenuptial agreements that are “valid and enforceable to the extent that they support and foster the interests of children and spouses”.
The judiciary would still be allowed a wide discretion in making orders as to the reordering of assets in the context of divorce. Prenuptial agreements should not be determinative, says Shannon.
Prenuptial agreements allow couples “when they are on very good terms to agree on how the assets might be re ordered in the event of the marriage breaking down”.
Shannon believes that if there were “clear and applicable guidelines” for the courts when it comes to making the orders that follow upon the granting of a divorce, then more people would be inclined towards mediation, as against litigation, because it would be more evident what the outcome of any litigation was likely to be.
Another area where he believes improvement could be made is in relation to giving a greater voice to children.
Research shows that “the children who make a relatively good adjustment to divorce are those who feel that their views were taken into account when the parents got divorced”.
Divorce can cause children “an emotional shock that is akin to bereavement. We need to be alive to that fact, and to minimise any trauma that is caused to children”.
Irish culture and divorce
Concerning many divorce cases people talk about who got the house, who got the property and who got the children.
“We have a habit of talking about the children as chattels,” says Shannon.
Roisín O’Shea, of Arc Mediation, studied law and became a mediator in the wake of her own separation proceedings in 2008, which she says cost her €55,000 in legal fees.
She believes the length of time it takes, and the legal costs involved, are factors in explaining Ireland’s relatively low rate of divorce.
“The system that we have has this enormous cost” and often the fees have to be paid out of the proceeds of selling family property, she says. “We have a really poor approach to the problem of people coming apart.”
Inge Clissmann, a senior counsel who has long experience of working in family law cases, believes that there are cultural reasons for Ireland's relatively low divorce rate.
“I think there is a greater willingness to make an effort. And there may be that old adage from the Christian faith: for better or for worse.” Over the years she has noticed a move in the courts towards taking a more “pragmatic” approach to divorce applications, as well as a change towards men wanting to be more involved with their children.
“There are still people who have religious objections to divorce, but they are few and far between these days,” she says. Clissman believes “people are more alert now to the importance of shielding their children from the possible damage that can be done” when divorcing.
However, in some instances “a spouse can feel that she has nothing else to hit back with, that her only leverage, or bargaining chip, is the children”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--What creature produces these mermaids’ purses? Readers’ nature queries

While walking on Curracloe beach in Wexford I came across a large number of mermaids ’ purses .
What animals are these from ?
– Cora McCormack , Clane , Co Kildare They are the egg cases of various members of the different rays and skates .
I came across this insect in a field by the Liffey .
It was nearly 2 inches long , and its tail pointed up as though to sting when poked .
– Finn O ’ Dwyer , Strawberry Beds , Dublin 20 It ’ s a rove beetle called the devil ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dearg a daol .
We found this moth on the window sill ; could you identify it for me please ?
– Isobel Fleming , Crossmaglen , Co Down The scalloped oak moth varies in colour from cream to brick .
My son Michael spotted this beautiful creature at Seapoint , and when we looked around we saw loads of them .
Is it a beadlet anemone ?
We saw some above the waterline with their tentacles retracted .
– Ian Brunswick , Sandymount , Dublin 4 It is the beadlet anemone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brown , red , orange or green , and has about 200 retractable tentacles .
I saw this cormorant drying its wings on the Grand Canal near Clondalkin .
I was delighted to see it so close .
– Patricia Clarke , Cherry Orchard , Dublin 10 As I finished a walk on the side of Slievenamon , a red squirrel came bounding through the bracken pursued by a pine marten .
The squirrel scrambled up a tree to the smallest limb , the pine marten climbed in the ivy on the tree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , the squirrel making a “ chut-chut ” sound while the pursuer had a deep “ murr ” .
– Joe Burke , Fethard , Co Tipperary The smaller branch would not support the pine marten .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Include a postal address .

While walking on Curracloe beach in Wexford I came across a large number of mermaids' purses. What animals are these from? – Cora McCormack, Clane, Co Kildare
They are the egg cases of various members of the different rays and skates.
The rove beetle known as the devil’s coach horse
I came across this insect in a field by the Liffey. It was nearly 2 inches long, and its tail pointed up as though to sting when poked. – Finn O'Dwyer, Strawberry Beds, Dublin 20
It’s a rove beetle called the devil’s coach horse, also known as the dearg a daol.
READ MORE
The scalloped oak moth varies in colour
We found this moth on the window sill; could you identify it for me please? – Isobel Fleming, Crossmaglen, Co Down
The scalloped oak moth varies in colour from cream to brick.
Beadlet anemone in its strawberry form
My son Michael spotted this beautiful creature at Seapoint, and when we looked around we saw loads of them. Is it a beadlet anemone? We saw some above the waterline with their tentacles retracted. – Ian Brunswick, Sandymount, Dublin 4
It is the beadlet anemone in its strawberry form. It can be brown, red, orange or green, and has about 200 retractable tentacles.
A cormorant drying its wings on the Grand Canal
I saw this cormorant drying its wings on the Grand Canal near Clondalkin. I was delighted to see it so close. – Patricia Clarke, Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10
As I finished a walk on the side of Slievenamon, a red squirrel came bounding through the bracken pursued by a pine marten. The squirrel scrambled up a tree to the smallest limb, the pine marten climbed in the ivy on the tree trunk. A stand-off ensued about 60ft up, the squirrel making a "chut-chut" sound while the pursuer had a deep "murr". – Joe Burke, Fethard, Co Tipperary
The smaller branch would not support the pine marten.
[ viney@anu.ie ]