theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Coronavirus search: How is Covid-19 spreading in your locality?

The 14-day incidence rate of coronavirus varies widely across the State .
While some areas such as Laytown-Bettystown in Co Meath have had very few cases in others the virus has spread rapidly .
Weekend Read : The town that kept Covid-19 out .
The 14-day rate per 100,000 population is a useful measure of how the virus is spreading and data has been made available by authorities showing that rate in each 166 local electoral areas .
The latest data examines the 14 days between September 22nd and October 5th .
Lifford/Stranorlar in Co Donegal remains the national “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14-day incidence of 602.6 cases per 100,000 people , according to the figures .
This is more than five times the national average of 116.4 , figures published on the Government ’ s data hub show .
Granard in Co Longford has the second-highest incidence nationally , at 384.1 , while Monaghan local electoral area ranks third , at 317.3 .
Kimmage/Rathmines has the highest incidence in Dublin , at 306.1 , and the fourth-highest figure nationally .
Other areas outside Dublin with high levels of the virus – an incidence above 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kilrush in Co Clare , Boyle in Co Roscommon , Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan , Galway City Central , Ennis , Cork City South-Central and Bray East in Co Wicklow .
In the capital , Ballyfermot/Drimnagh , Ongar , Dublin North Inner City and Swords also have incidences over 200 .
Piltown in Co Kilkenny , Kanturk , Co Cork , Manorhamilton Co Leitrim and Castlebar , Co Mayo join Laytown-Bettystown on the list of areas that have fewer than five cases per 100,000 population over the 14 days .
Search the table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area is copying with Covid-19 .
If you are reading this on The Irish Times app and can ’ t see the searchable table , go here .

The 14-day incidence rate of coronavirus varies widely across the State. While some areas such as Laytown-Bettystown in Co Meath have had very few cases in others the virus has spread rapidly.
Weekend Read: The town that kept Covid-19 out.
The 14-day rate per 100,000 population is a useful measure of how the virus is spreading and data has been made available by authorities showing that rate in each 166 local electoral areas.
The latest data examines the 14 days between September 22nd and October 5th.
READ MORE
Lifford/Stranorlar in Co Donegal remains the national "hotspot" for Covid-19, with a 14-day incidence of 602.6 cases per 100,000 people, according to the figures.
This is more than five times the national average of 116.4, figures published on the Government's data hub show.
Granard in Co Longford has the second-highest incidence nationally, at 384.1, while Monaghan local electoral area ranks third, at 317.3. Kimmage/Rathmines has the highest incidence in Dublin, at 306.1, and the fourth-highest figure nationally.
Other areas outside Dublin with high levels of the virus – an incidence above 200 – include Buncrana in Co Donegal, Kilrush in Co Clare, Boyle in Co Roscommon, Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan, Galway City Central, Ennis, Cork City South-Central and Bray East in Co Wicklow.
In the capital, Ballyfermot/Drimnagh, Ongar, Dublin North Inner City and Swords also have incidences over 200.
Piltown in Co Kilkenny, Kanturk, Co Cork, Manorhamilton Co Leitrim and Castlebar, Co Mayo join Laytown-Bettystown on the list of areas that have fewer than five cases per 100,000 population over the 14 days.
Search the table with this story to see how your area is copying with Covid-19. If you are reading this on The Irish Times app and can't see the searchable table, go here.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Michelle O’Neill tests negative for coronavirus as North’s cases surge

Northern Ireland ’ s deputy first minister Michelle O ’ Neill has tested negative for coronavirus .
She will continue to self-isolate and work remotely after a family member was diagnosed , a spokeswoman said .
Some 1,080 cases were notified by the North ’ s Department of Health on Friday and significant limits on household contacts remain in place across Northern Ireland .
Northern Ireland ’ s Minister for Health warned on Friday that further restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus could soon be necessary .
Robin Swann said the situation was “ grave and getting more so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , basis ” and he was advised that “ further restrictions for Northern Ireland are likely to be required in the very near future , in the event of positive cases continuing their current upward trajectory ” .
These , he said , would be “ necessary to reduce hospitalisations and loss of life and to protect our health and social care system from being overwhelmed ” .
In the last seven days , 5,272 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in the North , with the total number of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strabane , Co Tyrone , where restrictions similar to the Republic ’ s Level 3 were introduced on Monday in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus , the rate of infection over the last seven days has risen to 834 per 100,000 of population .
The North ’ s hospitals are now treating 132 patients with the virus , with 16 in intensive care .
No new virus-related fatalities were announced , leaving the total number of deaths recorded by the department at 587 .
Meanwhile , Northern Ireland is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €220 million ) from the UK treasury to help support businesses through coronavirus .
The North will also benefit from the expansion of the UK ’ s job support scheme , which will pay two-thirds of the wages of employees at firms which are forced to close because of coronavirus restrictions .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney , as well as the North ’ s Ministers , had previously told the UK government additional financial backing was needed if Northern Ireland – which has limited fiscal powers – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This financial injection could pave the way for the restrictions in force in Derry and Strabane to be extended to other areas which are also experiencing significant numbers of cases , such as Belfast , Newry Mourne and Down and Mid-Ulster .
The chief medical officers from North and South spoke on Friday amid increasing concerns about the impact of the Border on infection rates .
Mr Coveney told RTÉ he hoped politicians from the Republic and Northern Ireland would come together to address this in the days ahead .
- Additional reporting @

Another 902 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern
Ireland but no new deaths were reported on Saturday.
A total of 134 patients are in hospital with 19 in intensive care and 11 of those ventilated, the North’s department of health said.
Hospital Report
Earlier, it emerged that Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill had tested negative for coronavirus.
READ MORE
She will continue to self-isolate and work remotely after a family member was diagnosed, a spokeswoman said.
Some 1,080 cases were notified by the North's Department of Health on Friday and significant limits on household contacts remain in place across Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland’s minister for health warned on Friday that further restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus could soon be necessary.
Robin Swann said the situation was "grave and getting more so on a daily, if not hourly, basis" and he was advised that "further restrictions for Northern Ireland are likely to be required in the very near future, in the event of positive cases continuing their current upward trajectory".
These, he said, would be “necessary to reduce hospitalisations and loss of life and to protect our health and social care system from being overwhelmed”.
In the last seven days, 5,272 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in the North. In Derry and Strabane, Co Tyrone, where restrictions similar to the Republic's Level 3 were introduced on Monday in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, the rate of infection over the last seven days has risen to 834 per 100,000 of population.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland is to receive an additional £200 million (€220 million) from the UK treasury to help support businesses through coronavirus. The North will also benefit from the expansion of the UK’s job support scheme, which will pay two-thirds of the wages of employees at firms which are forced to close because of coronavirus restrictions.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, as well as the North's Ministers, had previously told the UK government additional financial backing was needed if Northern Ireland – which has limited fiscal powers – was to introduce further coronavirus measures.
This financial injection could pave the way for the restrictions in force in Derry and Strabane to be extended to other areas which are also experiencing significant numbers of cases, such as Belfast, Newry Mourne and Down and Mid-Ulster.
The chief medical officers from North and South spoke on Friday amid increasing concerns about the impact of the Border on infection rates.
Mr Coveney told RTÉ he hoped politicians from the Republic and Northern Ireland would come together to address this in the days ahead. - Additional reporting PA


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Man suspected collecting old-age pensions of dead parents for 30 years released

A man suspected of committing a €500,000 fraud by continuing to draw old-age pension payments for both his parents after they died has been released without charge .
Gardaí are to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after releasing in the 57-year-old .
The suspect from Cork ’ s northside was arrested at the GPO on Oliver Plunkett Street Cork city centre just after 9am on Friday and brought to the Bridewell Garda Station for questioning about the fraud .
The man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , which allows gardaí to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he was released without charge on Friday night .
Gardaí will now prepare a file on the matter for the DPP .
Officials from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection became suspicious when the man was asked to produce proof his father was alive in order to qualify for the Centenarian ’ s Bounty from President Michael D Higgins .
The Centenarian ’ s Bounty involves the centenarian receiving a payment of €2,540 and congratulatory letter signed by President Higgins on their 100th birthday once they have satisfied the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim .
Gardaí believe that the man continued collecting his father ’ s pension each week at the GPO after the pensioner died in 1987 , and he similarly continued collecting his mother ’ s pension after she died some years later .
Officers believe that the man collected about €520,000 in total in the pension fraud , which stretching back some 33 years , is believed to one of the longest of its kind uncovered in the history of the State .
The man ’ s arrest follows a joint investigation by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs and Social Protection ( DEASP ) who notified gardaí of their suspicions about the man ’ s fraudulent claims .
Gardaí and officials from the DEASP carried out a follow-up search of the man ’ s family home on Cork ’ s northside on Friday and seized some €9,800 in cash which they believe is the proceeds of his suspected fraud .
Det Insp Danny Coholan of Anglesea Street Garda Station said : “ Gardaí and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection have a long standing relationship , which aims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State .
”

Bridewell Garda station in Cork: The suspect was arrested at the GPO on Oliver Plunkett Street Cork city centre just after 9am on Friday and released later that night.
A man suspected of committing a €500,000 fraud by continuing to draw old-age pension payments for both his parents after they died has been released without charge.
Gardaí are to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after releasing in the 57-year-old.
The suspect from Cork's northside was arrested at the GPO on Oliver Plunkett Street Cork city centre just after 9am on Friday and brought to the Bridewell Garda Station for questioning about the fraud.
The man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí to detain suspects for up to 24 hours, but he was released without charge on Friday night. Gardaí will now prepare a file on the matter for the DPP.
READ MORE
Officials from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection became suspicious when the man was asked to produce proof his father was alive in order to qualify for the Centenarian's Bounty from President Michael D Higgins.
The Centenarian’s Bounty involves the centenarian receiving a payment of €2,540 and congratulatory letter signed by President Higgins on their 100th birthday once they have satisfied the department as to the veracity of their claim.
Gardaí believe that the man continued collecting his father’s pension each week at the GPO after the pensioner died in 1987, and he similarly continued collecting his mother’s pension after she died some years later.
Officers believe that the man collected about €520,000 in total in the pension fraud, which stretching back some 33 years, is believed to one of the longest of its kind uncovered in the history of the State.
The man’s arrest follows a joint investigation by the Garda and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) who notified gardaí of their suspicions about the man’s fraudulent claims.
Gardaí and officials from the DEASP carried out a follow-up search of the man’s family home on Cork’s northside on Friday and seized some €9,800 in cash which they believe is the proceeds of his suspected fraud.
Det Insp Danny Coholan of Anglesea Street Garda Station said: "Gardaí and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection have a long standing relationship, which aims to target those who attempt to defraud the State."


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Double decker bus takes wrong turn and gets wedged under bridge in Cork

Bus Éireann has begun an investigation after one of its double decker buses became wedged under a bridge in Cork city when the driver took a wrong turn on a suburban route .
No one was injured when the double decker on the 220 Ovens-to-Carrigaline route took a wrong turn after leaving the Fingerpost in Douglas and went down Church Road by mistake at around 11.15pm .
The driver continued along Church Road but the bus became wedged under the 3.4 metre high bridge which carries the Carrigaline Road overhead back into the centre of Douglas village .
Nobody was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bus were evacuated safely from the vehicle and were able to continue on their journey when Bus Éireann provided a substitute bus to take them to Carrigaline .
Gardaí closed off Church Road and put diversions in place as Bus Éireann staff and Cork City Council assessed the situation before a decision was made to try towing the bus back out from under the bridge .
A Bus Éireann tow truck was able to pull the bus back out from under the bridge and the bus was brought back to the Bus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full inspection .
It ’ s understood that the bus suffered just minimal damage to its roof in the incident which was posted on Twitter by Cork Safety Alerts .
Engineers from Cork City Council also carried out an inspection of the bridge and after they were satisfied that it had suffered no structural damage in the incident , both Church Road and the Carrigaline Road re-opened to traffic .

The bus became wedged under the 3.4 metre high bridge. This picture was posted on Twitter by Cork Safety Alerts.
Bus Éireann has begun an investigation after one of its double decker buses became wedged under a bridge in Cork city when the driver took a wrong turn on a suburban route.
No one was injured when the double decker on the 220 Ovens-to-Carrigaline route took a wrong turn after leaving the Fingerpost in Douglas and went down Church Road by mistake at around 11.15pm.
The driver continued along Church Road but the bus became wedged under the 3.4 metre high bridge which carries the Carrigaline Road overhead back into the centre of Douglas village.
The bus which got stuck in Douglas, was safely removed in the early hours of this morning. pic.twitter.com/by3qJ9rThd — Cork Safety Alerts (@CorkSafetyAlert) October 10, 2020
Nobody was injured in the incident and passengers from the bus were evacuated safely from the vehicle and were able to continue on their journey when Bus Éireann provided a substitute bus to take them to Carrigaline.
READ MORE
Gardaí closed off Church Road and put diversions in place as Bus Éireann staff and Cork City Council assessed the situation before a decision was made to try towing the bus back out from under the bridge.
A Bus Éireann tow truck was able to pull the bus back out from under the bridge and the bus was brought back to the Bus Eireann depot in Capwell where it underwent a full inspection.
It’s understood that the bus suffered just minimal damage to its roof in the incident which was posted on Twitter by Cork Safety Alerts.
Engineers from Cork City Council also carried out an inspection of the bridge and after they were satisfied that it had suffered no structural damage in the incident, both Church Road and the Carrigaline Road re-opened to traffic.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Coronavirus: New fines for not wearing face masks and non-essential journeys by end of the month

The Government is expected to introduce a system of graduated fines before the end of the month for breaches of Covid-19 guidelines , including failure to wear face marks when required and undertaking non-essential journeys .
The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Covid-19 endorsed the recommendation made by National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) for an on-the-spot fine system for breaches of rules .
No figures were given but the fines are expected to be similar to those in the UK , which are €70 ( £60 ) for a first offence and higher for subsequent offences .
Minister for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Helen McEntee will work with departmental officials to produce a memo for Cabinet either next week or the following .
It is expected the new system could be in operation by the end of the month .
Separately , the Cabinet agreed to endorse the European ‘ traffic light ’ system for international travel during the pandemic , expected to be formally agreed at a summit meeting in Brussels next week .
International passengers will be able to bypass quarantine requirements if they take a polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) tests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departing and entering EU States .
If agreed by Cabinet next Tuesday , passengers arriving from ‘ Green ’ countries ( those with less than 25 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 population ) will not need to quarantine nor take tests .
However , for those entering and leaving orange or red countries , they will be required to take a PCR test three days before leaving the country .
However , the onus will be on passengers to organise and pay for the tests , which can cost as much as €200 each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about extending the upcoming mid-term break for schools , with Government sources on Friday night strongly talking down the possibility .
While acknowledging the matter was mentioned at Cabinet last Monday , and had also been discussed by Nphet , the sources said there had been no substantive discussion on the issue and the intention , as of now , was to continue with a one-week break at mid-term .
Meanwhile , Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the situation with Covid-19 was continuing to worsen , as Friday saw a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further 617 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) .
This brings to 40,703 the total number of cases since the pandemic started .
Nphet also reported a further five deaths , bringing the total number of deaths to 1,821 .
Less than one in five of the new cases ( 123 out of 617 ) were in Dublin , the smallest proportion in recent months .
There were also 107 cases in Cork , 42 in Meath , 36 in Kerry , 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located across 21 counties .
One-third of cases were associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case , and 72 cases involved community transmission , meaning the origin is not clear .
Some 73 per cent of cases were under 45 years of age .
The 671 cases reported on Friday is , by a slight margin , the highest daily number since late April .
Dr Holohan said the profile of the disease continued to deteriorate .
“ We are continuing to see a high number of daily cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission of the virus now.
” There have been an additional 32 hospitalisations and eight ICU admissions in the past 24 hours , he pointed out .

The Government is expected to introduce a system of graduated fines before the end of the month for breaches of Covid-19 guidelines, including failure to wear face marks when required and undertaking non-essential journeys.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Covid-19 endorsed the recommendation made by National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) for an on-the-spot fine system for breaches of rules.
No figures were given but the fines are expected to be similar to those in the UK, which are €70 (£60) for a first offence and higher for subsequent offences.
Hospital Report
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will work with departmental officials to produce a memo for Cabinet either next week or the following. It is expected the new system could be in operation by the end of the month.
READ MORE
Separately, the Cabinet agreed to endorse the European ‘traffic light’ system for international travel during the pandemic, expected to be formally agreed at a summit meeting in Brussels next week.
International passengers will be able to bypass quarantine requirements if they take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and possibly an antigen test, when departing and entering EU States.
If agreed by Cabinet next Tuesday, passengers arriving from ‘Green’ countries (those with less than 25 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 population) will not need to quarantine nor take tests. However, for those entering and leaving orange or red countries, they will be required to take a PCR test three days before leaving the country.
However, the onus will be on passengers to organise and pay for the tests, which can cost as much as €200 each.
There was no discussion at all about extending the upcoming mid-term break for schools, with Government sources on Friday night strongly talking down the possibility.
While acknowledging the matter was mentioned at Cabinet last Monday, and had also been discussed by Nphet, the sources said there had been no substantive discussion on the issue and the intention, as of now, was to continue with a one-week break at mid-term.
Meanwhile, Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the situation with Covid-19 was continuing to worsen, as Friday saw a new five-month high for new cases.
A further 617 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet). This brings to 40,703 the total number of cases since the pandemic started.
Nphet also reported a further five deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,821.
Less than one in five of the new cases (123 out of 617) were in Dublin, the smallest proportion in recent months. There were also 107 cases in Cork, 42 in Meath, 36 in Kerry, 35 in Galway with the remaining 274 cases located across 21 counties.
One-third of cases were associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case, and 72 cases involved community transmission, meaning the origin is not clear.
Some 73 per cent of cases were under 45 years of age.
The 671 cases reported on Friday is, by a slight margin, the highest daily number since late April.
Dr Holohan said the profile of the disease continued to deteriorate. “We are continuing to see a high number of daily cases. It is vital that we interrupt the transmission of the virus now.”
There have been an additional 32 hospitalisations and eight ICU admissions in the past 24 hours, he pointed out.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--How can a blackbird be white? It’s actually not that uncommon

There are one or two causes for it , but the late-summer disappearance of our garden birds dismayed me more than usual .
Apples on topmost branches were left waiting for their usual blackbird excavation , and the elder tree was drooping with untouched fruit .
Our first flycatchers had long vanished and the swallows left far too early , finding midges scarce in the sky .
At September ’ s end I watched a blue tit moving busily between the bells of fuchsia , plumbing each for nectar .
Was it missing its quota of spiders and flies or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any month of the year ?
“ Where have all the birds gone ?
” is a familiar seasonal query to Eye on Nature .
It comes often from readers unfamiliar with the nesting birds ’ need to moult well-worn feathers once the hard work of breeding and feeding is done .
Wing-feathers are best changed in hiding and in keeping mum for weeks .
And many of their young no longer hang about hopefully , but fly off to hedgerows new .
Then there are days of stillness and silence , except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What I missed most were the sight and sound of blackbirds , their special screech of alarm at my passage down the garden path .
Once their young stop bothering them , adult blackbirds change all their feathers , starting as early as July .
Their offspring change their fledgling feathers too , their donning of long trousers beginning with the body and wings and ending with the head .
This lasts about five weeks and the slow changes on the head can leave the young birds looking ragged and bare in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last days of September that I noticed blackbirds at all – a couple furtively on the move through the fuchsia bush outside my study window .
And next day there was a fine glossy male on the path , clearly restored from his lockdown .
What of the bright , white blackbird in my painting , conjured from a sighting more than 30 years ago ?
Tipped off by a friendly folklorist and racing on my bike , I duly located the changeling along a boreen near the sea .
It was hiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a sombre winter hawthorn , where its pallor played unexpected tricks with size and shape .
As one might be thrown , say , at the sight of a scarlet seagull , the bird ’ s blazing whiteness , its silky gleam in the low winter sun , seemed to demand some exotic explanation .
But the fan of its tail and its “ chink ” of alarm was pure blackbird .
I was , of course , many thousands from the first to marvel at a snowy blackbird , Pliny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And in the weighty Birds of Ireland of 1900 , Richard Ussher wrote of having seen “ a pure white specimen ” in his forestry plantations and noted that “ white and pied examples of this bird are particularly frequent.
” Pied blackbirds , patched with white , are indeed quite regularly reported to Eye on Nature .
And in the UK , in 2011 , the British Trust for Ornithology launched an “ abnormal plumage ” survey , inviting responses from the watchers of garden birds .
After nearly 3,000 records , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species , a remarkable total even allowing for Britain ’ s greater range of garden birds .
Blackbirds topped the list , at more than 40 per cent .
House sparrows came next , followed by jackdaw and carrion crow .
All these dark birds were marked with strange white feathers , but other species included a chaffinch with a green crown , a siskin with slate-grey wings and a primrose-yellow blue tit .
What white-patched dark birds have in common is a local lack of cells producing melanin , the pigment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them as “ leucistic ” , a heritable condition .
More than three-quarters of the garden sightings were of leucistic birds , including an all-white dunnock .
Particularly common in blackbirds is a kind of acquired leucism the British trust calls “ progressive greying ” , in which the bird ’ s white feathers increase with every moult .
So my blackbird in the hawthorn could have survived a few winters of Mayo ’ s whistling gales .
Albinism , a genetic mutation , turns the whole bird white ( there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ albino ” ) unless it has some carotene , the pigment of reds and yellows , in its normal plumage .
An albino adult goldfinch , the British trust suggests , would still have its red face and gold wing bars .
And my leucistic white cock blackbird , with an adequate carotene quota , had kept his yellow bill .
Albinism leaves the eyes pink , their blood visible through colourless tissue ( a white blackbird with dark eyes is leucistic ) .
Most albino birds die soon after fledging .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through poor eyesight , they don ’ t see the sparrowhawk first .

There are one or two causes for it, but the late-summer disappearance of our garden birds dismayed me more than usual.
Apples on topmost branches were left waiting for their usual blackbird excavation, and the elder tree was drooping with untouched fruit. Our first flycatchers had long vanished and the swallows left far too early, finding midges scarce in the sky. At September’s end I watched a blue tit moving busily between the bells of fuchsia, plumbing each for nectar. Was it missing its quota of spiders and flies or just indulging its notorious sweet tooth in any month of the year?
“Where have all the birds gone?” is a familiar seasonal query to Eye on Nature. It comes often from readers unfamiliar with the nesting birds’ need to moult well-worn feathers once the hard work of breeding and feeding is done.
Wing-feathers are best changed in hiding and in keeping mum for weeks. And many of their young no longer hang about hopefully, but fly off to hedgerows new. Then there are days of stillness and silence, except for the whisper of the sea.
READ MORE
What I missed most were the sight and sound of blackbirds, their special screech of alarm at my passage down the garden path.
Once their young stop bothering them, adult blackbirds change all their feathers, starting as early as July. Their offspring change their fledgling feathers too, their donning of long trousers beginning with the body and wings and ending with the head. This lasts about five weeks and the slow changes on the head can leave the young birds looking ragged and bare in late summer.
It was only in the last days of September that I noticed blackbirds at all – a couple furtively on the move through the fuchsia bush outside my study window. And next day there was a fine glossy male on the path, clearly restored from his lockdown.
White blackbird
What of the bright, white blackbird in my painting, conjured from a sighting more than 30 years ago? Tipped off by a friendly folklorist and racing on my bike, I duly located the changeling along a boreen near the sea.
It was hiding, if that’s the word, in a sombre winter hawthorn, where its pallor played unexpected tricks with size and shape. As one might be thrown, say, at the sight of a scarlet seagull, the bird’s blazing whiteness, its silky gleam in the low winter sun, seemed to demand some exotic explanation. But the fan of its tail and its “chink” of alarm was pure blackbird.
I was, of course, many thousands from the first to marvel at a snowy blackbird, Pliny told of them shown in Rome. And in the weighty Birds of Ireland of 1900, Richard Ussher wrote of having seen “a pure white specimen” in his forestry plantations and noted that “white and pied examples of this bird are particularly frequent.”
Pied blackbirds, patched with white, are indeed quite regularly reported to Eye on Nature. And in the UK, in 2011, the British Trust for Ornithology launched an "abnormal plumage" survey, inviting responses from the watchers of garden birds.
After nearly 3,000 records, this witness to weirdness embraced 58 different species, a remarkable total even allowing for Britain’s greater range of garden birds. Blackbirds topped the list, at more than 40 per cent. House sparrows came next, followed by jackdaw and carrion crow.
All these dark birds were marked with strange white feathers, but other species included a chaffinch with a green crown, a siskin with slate-grey wings and a primrose-yellow blue tit.
Progressive greying
What white-patched dark birds have in common is a local lack of cells producing melanin, the pigment of black and brown feathers. This marks them as “leucistic”, a heritable condition. More than three-quarters of the garden sightings were of leucistic birds, including an all-white dunnock.
Particularly common in blackbirds is a kind of acquired leucism the British trust calls “progressive greying”, in which the bird’s white feathers increase with every moult. So my blackbird in the hawthorn could have survived a few winters of Mayo’s whistling gales.
Albinism, a genetic mutation, turns the whole bird white (there’s no such thing as a “partial albino”) unless it has some carotene, the pigment of reds and yellows, in its normal plumage. An albino adult goldfinch, the British trust suggests, would still have its red face and gold wing bars. And my leucistic white cock blackbird, with an adequate carotene quota, had kept his yellow bill.
Albinism leaves the eyes pink, their blood visible through colourless tissue (a white blackbird with dark eyes is leucistic).
Most albino birds die soon after fledging. Not only are they conspicuous, but, through poor eyesight, they don’t see the sparrowhawk first.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Eye on Nature: Your notes and queries

Eye on Nature: Your notes and queries

I found this fish in about 4m of water in Tra an Doilín in An Cheathru Rua .
It was about 2-4cm in diameter , oval in shape and had a large false eye in the middle of its body .
I have been told that it ’ s a juvenile John Dory .
Spyro Ó Cuiv , Conamara , Co na Gaillimhe The juvenile John Dory loses all its brilliant colours as it grows to a possible 40cms .
There were about 20 of these common butterflies on asters on September 5th .
They were still around since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Flynn , Dungarvan , Co Waterford It was the second brood of small tortoiseshells , which will go into hibernation soon .
I found this creature in the garden ; can you tell me what it is ?
Melissa Newman , Strokestown , Co Roscommon Could you identify this strange-looking insect my daughter found inside her house ?
It seems to be a moth but the colouring is surely unusual .
Mary D ’ arcy , Ballsbridge , Dublin 4 It ’ s the angle shades moth .
The brown area on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but can be either .
This crane is a resident of the river Dodder near Dodder Park Road .
Here he took a fancy to a nice car in Terenure .
My wife took the photo while out running .
Diarmuid O ’ Brien , Rathgar , Dublin 6 Some Irish people call that bird a crane .
The crane does belong to the same family , but it ’ s a heron .
My son spotted this cleverly disguised caterpillar on a birch tree in the garden .
Miriam Tuohy , Kilmacanogue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peppered moth can be very variable in colour .
It can be brown , brownish green or green like the moth , which can be light speckled or very dark .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Include a postal address .

I found this fish in about 4m of water in Tra an Doilín in An Cheathru Rua. It was about 2-4cm in diameter, oval in shape and had a large false eye in the middle of its body. I have been told that it's a juvenile John Dory.
Spyro Ó Cuiv, Conamara, Co na Gaillimhe
The juvenile John Dory loses all its brilliant colours as it grows to a possible 40cms.
tortoiseshell butterflies
There were about 20 of these common butterflies on asters on September 5th. They were still around since then but not so many.
Kay O'Flynn, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
It was the second brood of small tortoiseshells, which will go into hibernation soon.
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centipede
I found this creature in the garden; can you tell me what it is?
Melissa Newman, Strokestown, Co Roscommon
It’s a centipede.
Could you identify this strange-looking insect my daughter found inside her house? It seems to be a moth but the colouring is surely unusual.
Mary D'arcy, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
It’s the angle shades moth. The brown area on your moth is more usually green, but can be either.
This crane is a resident of the river Dodder near Dodder Park Road. Here he took a fancy to a nice car in Terenure. My wife took the photo while out running.
Diarmuid O'Brien, Rathgar, Dublin 6
Some Irish people call that bird a crane. The crane does belong to the same family, but it’s a heron.
caterpillar of the peppered moth
My son spotted this cleverly disguised caterpillar on a birch tree in the garden.
Miriam Tuohy, Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow
The caterpillar of the peppered moth can be very variable in colour. It can be brown, brownish green or green like the moth, which can be light speckled or very dark.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Plan to turn Moore Street cafe into bookmakers refused

Plans to convert the last remaining cafe on Dublin ’ s Moore Street into a betting office have been refused by Dublin City Council .
Bookmakers Ladbrokes wanted to turn Ann ’ s Bakery and Restaurant into a new branch .
However , the council said this risked a proliferation of betting shops in the area and “ lower order ” retail on Moore Street .
While there are two other bookmakers currently operating on the street , Paddy Power and Boyle Sports , Ann ’ s was the last cafe operating on the street .
Tom Holbrook , chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said market stall holders were “ strongly opposed to having a business of this nature in Moore Street ” .
He said the street was “ overrun with anti-social activity , eg street drinking , contraband , undesirables , loitering etc ” .
These problems deterred shoppers from “ an already suffering street ” .
“ Moore Street is famous worldwide for its food and character .
We feel this proposed business would take away from that.
” Stephen Troy , a Moore Street butcher and a member of the Dublin 1 Business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a detrimental effect on plans to develop a 1916 commemorative centre on the street .
“ There are plans to implement a national monument within the Moore Street terrace to commemorate the heroes and events of 1916 which will become a huge tourist attraction , and it would look absolutely hideous to have another gambling outlet adjacent to such a building.
” Independent city councillor Nial Ring said proposing another bookmakers for the street had been a “ bad bet ” , and “ flies in the face of the genuine ambition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local representatives alike to protect and enhance the street ” .
Local Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald said the bookmakers would have been inconsistent with the vision for the street to develop a “ better experience for visitors to the street , including heritage , small retail , a variety of street stalls and food ” .
Green Party councillor Donna Cooney , who chairs the Lord Mayor of Dublin ’ s forum on Moore Street , said a betting office opposite the 1916 national monument would not be suitable .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acting on behalf of Ladbrokes said another bookmakers on Moore Street would not constitute an intensification or proliferation of betting shops in the area .
“ Betting offices represent an appropriate city centre service which serves to attract people into the area and add to the mix of uses which we submit will aid the vitality and vibrancy of the area.
” However , the council said the proposal would set an “ undesirable precedent for similar such use and together with the existing lower order retail uses on this street would result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the retail core ” .

Plans to convert the last remaining cafe on Dublin's Moore Street into a betting office have been refused by Dublin City Council.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes wanted to turn Ann's Bakery and Restaurant into a new branch. However, the council said this risked a proliferation of betting shops in the area and "lower order" retail on Moore Street.
While there are two other bookmakers currently operating on the street, Paddy Power and Boyle Sports, Ann’s was the last cafe operating on the street.
Local businesses, Moore Street market traders, and politicians objected to Ladbrokes’ plans.
READ MORE
Tom Holbrook, chairman of the Moore Street Traders Committee, said market stall holders were "strongly opposed to having a business of this nature in Moore Street".
He said the street was “overrun with anti-social activity, eg street drinking, contraband, undesirables, loitering etc”. These problems deterred shoppers from “an already suffering street”.
“Moore Street is famous worldwide for its food and character. We feel this proposed business would take away from that.”
Stephen Troy, a Moore Street butcher and a member of the Dublin 1 Business Alliance, said another bookmakers would have had a detrimental effect on plans to develop a 1916 commemorative centre on the street.
“There are plans to implement a national monument within the Moore Street terrace to commemorate the heroes and events of 1916 which will become a huge tourist attraction, and it would look absolutely hideous to have another gambling outlet adjacent to such a building.”
Independent city councillor Nial Ring said proposing another bookmakers for the street had been a "bad bet", and "flies in the face of the genuine ambition of traders, businesses, historians and local representatives alike to protect and enhance the street".
Local Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald said the bookmakers would have been inconsistent with the vision for the street to develop a “better experience for visitors to the street, including heritage, small retail, a variety of street stalls and food”.
National monument
Green Party councillor Donna Cooney, who chairs the Lord Mayor of Dublin's forum on Moore Street, said a betting office opposite the 1916 national monument would not be suitable.
In a planning application to the council consultants acting on behalf of Ladbrokes said another bookmakers on Moore Street would not constitute an intensification or proliferation of betting shops in the area.
“Betting offices represent an appropriate city centre service which serves to attract people into the area and add to the mix of uses which we submit will aid the vitality and vibrancy of the area.”
However, the council said the proposal would set an “undesirable precedent for similar such use and together with the existing lower order retail uses on this street would result in a proliferation of such uses in the retail core”.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Gardaí arrest man over alleged €500,000 pension fraud spanning 33 years

Gardaí in Cork arrested a 57-year-old man for questioning about a €500,000 old-age pension fraud after he continued collecting payments every week for both his deceased parents for about 30 years on Friday .
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection officials became suspicious when the man was asked to produce proof his father was alive in order to qualify for the Centenarian ’ s Bounty .
The Centenarian ’ s Bounty involves a 100-year-old receiving a payment of €2,540 and congratulatory letter signed by President Michael D Higgins on their birthday once the department is satisfied about the veracity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man from Cork ’ s northside just after 9am on Friday when he went to collect the pension payments for both his dead father and mother at the general post office on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork city centre .
The man was arrested and brought for questioning to the Bridewell Garda station , where he was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to 24 hours .
Gardaí believe the man continued collecting his father ’ s pension every week at the GPO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he similarly continued collecting his mother ’ s pension after she died some years later .
Gardaí believe the man collected approximately €520,000 in total in the pension fraud which , stretching back some 33 years , is believed to be one of the longest of its kind uncovered in the history of the State .
The man ’ s arrest followed a joint investigation by An Garda Síochána and the department , which notified gardaí of suspicions about the man ’ s claims .
The man was released without charge late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and the investigations were ongoing .
Gardaí and department officials carried out a follow-up search of the man ’ s family home on the northside of Cork on Friday and seized some €9,800 in cash , which they believe are the proceeds of his suspected fraud .
Det Insp Danny Coholan of Anglesea Street Garda station said : “ Gardaí and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection have a long standing relationship which aims to target those who attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , a Dublin man was jailed for 18 months after he admitted stealing almost €160,000 in benefits .
Brian Bobey from Walkinstown Parade in Dublin began claiming his mother ’ s pension after her death in May 1997 and was only caught in October 2013 when the then Department of Social Welfare began an investigation .
Mr Bobey , then aged 64 , offered to repay the money at a rate of €50 a week but Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jailed him for 18 months after hearing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debt at such a rate .

Bridewell Garda station in Cork: The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection officials became suspicious when a man was asked to produce proof his father was alive in order to qualify for the Centenarian’s Bounty. Photograph: Alan Betson
Gardaí in Cork arrested a 57-year-old man for questioning about a €500,000 old-age pension fraud after he continued collecting payments every week for both his deceased parents for about 30 years on Friday.
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection officials became suspicious when the man was asked to produce proof his father was alive in order to qualify for the Centenarian’s Bounty.
The Centenarian’s Bounty involves a 100-year-old receiving a payment of €2,540 and congratulatory letter signed by President Michael D Higgins on their birthday once the department is satisfied about the veracity of the claim.
Detectives arrested the man from Cork's northside just after 9am on Friday when he went to collect the pension payments for both his dead father and mother at the general post office on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork city centre.
READ MORE
33 years
The man was arrested and brought for questioning to the Bridewell Garda station, where he was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to 24 hours.
Gardaí believe the man continued collecting his father’s pension every week at the GPO after the pensioner died in 1987 and that he similarly continued collecting his mother’s pension after she died some years later.
Gardaí believe the man collected approximately €520,000 in total in the pension fraud which, stretching back some 33 years, is believed to be one of the longest of its kind uncovered in the history of the State.
The man's arrest followed a joint investigation by An Garda Síochána and the department, which notified gardaí of suspicions about the man's claims. The man was released without charge late on Friday night. A Garda spokeswoman said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and the investigations were ongoing.
Cork’s northside
Gardaí and department officials carried out a follow-up search of the man’s family home on the northside of Cork on Friday and seized some €9,800 in cash, which they believe are the proceeds of his suspected fraud.
Det Insp Danny Coholan of Anglesea Street Garda station said: “Gardaí and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection have a long standing relationship which aims to target those who attempt to defraud the State.”
Three years ago, a Dublin man was jailed for 18 months after he admitted stealing almost €160,000 in benefits.
Brian Bobey from Walkinstown Parade in Dublin began claiming his mother’s pension after her death in May 1997 and was only caught in October 2013 when the then Department of Social Welfare began an investigation.
Mr Bobey, then aged 64, offered to repay the money at a rate of €50 a week but Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jailed him for 18 months after hearing it would take him 63 years to repay the debt at such a rate.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Man accused of explosion at CAB property seized from gang boss

A 28-year-old man has been charged with a serious arson attack which gutted a house seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau ( CAB ) from gang boss Liam Byrne .
Joseph Richards , of Belclare Drive , Ballymun , Dublin , was arrested at his home on Friday and detained at Ballyfermot Garda Station under Section four of the Criminal Justice Act , 1984 .
He was charged with arson of a house – the property of CAB – at Grangeview Road , Clondalkin , Dublin 22 .
It was extensively damaged by fire just after midnight on August 12th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court on Saturday and was refused bail .
Det Gda Chris O ’ Sullivan said Mr Richards made no reply when he was charged .
Objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the case , Det Gda O ’ Sullivan said it was alleged a Volvo 4X4 and a Vauxhall Vectra arrived at the house which was vacant and secured with steel plates and steel doors .
It was alleged the Volvo was reversed through the front of the house and left “ lodged in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerant was used causing an explosion in the vehicle and the house , ” he said .
It took fire fighters 45 minutes to cut through the steel plates and doors to extinguish the fire , the court heard .
It was estimated damage , in excess of €100,000 , was caused to the CAB owned property .
The entire front face of the house will have to be demolished and rebuilt , the court heard .
Houses next door also suffered serious damage , the judge was told .
Det Gda O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seized the house under the Proceeds of Crime Act , 1996 , from Liam Byrne , formerly of Raleigh Square , Crumlin , Dublin .
The court heard Liam Byrne was , “ believed to be a member of organised crime at the highest level in the State ” .
It was alleged the accused bought the two vehicles used on August 6th and they were registered under false names and addresses .
It was also alleged he took part in the arson .
Cross-examined by defence solicitor Michelle Finan , Detective Garda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of evidence has been gathered , and he accepted CCTV footage was not clear .
Dressed in a grey tracksuit and wearing a facemask , Mr Roberts did not address the court and has not yet indicated how he will plead .
Pleading for bail , his solicitor told the court her client would abide by stringent conditions .
Judge Hughes said the accused had the presumption of innocence and the presumption of bail and it could be up to two years until his trial .
However , he held the requisite standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prosecution .
Legal aid was granted to Mr Richards who is unemployed and on social welfare .
Judge Hughes remanded him in custody to appear via video-link on Tuesday at Cloverhill District Court .

Joseph Richards, of Belclare Drive, Ballymun, Dublin, was arrested at his home on Friday and detained at Ballyfermot Garda Station under Section four of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Photograph: Collins Courts
A 28-year-old man has been charged with a serious arson attack which gutted a house seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) from gang boss Liam Byrne.
Joseph Richards, of Belclare Drive, Ballymun, Dublin, was arrested at his home on Friday and detained at Ballyfermot Garda Station under Section four of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
He was charged with arson of a house – the property of CAB – at Grangeview Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. It was extensively damaged by fire just after midnight on August 12th last.
Mr Richards was brought before Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court on Saturday and was refused bail.
READ MORE
Det Gda Chris O’Sullivan said Mr Richards made no reply when he was charged.
Objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the case, Det Gda O'Sullivan said it was alleged a Volvo 4X4 and a Vauxhall Vectra arrived at the house which was vacant and secured with steel plates and steel doors.
It was alleged the Volvo was reversed through the front of the house and left “lodged in the living room window”.
“An accelerant was used causing an explosion in the vehicle and the house,” he said.
It took fire fighters 45 minutes to cut through the steel plates and doors to extinguish the fire, the court heard.
It was estimated damage, in excess of €100,000, was caused to the CAB owned property. The entire front face of the house will have to be demolished and rebuilt, the court heard.
Houses next door also suffered serious damage, the judge was told.
CCTV footage
Det Gda O'Sullivan told the court CAB had seized the house under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, from Liam Byrne, formerly of Raleigh Square, Crumlin, Dublin.
The court heard Liam Byrne was, “believed to be a member of organised crime at the highest level in the State”.
It was alleged the accused bought the two vehicles used on August 6th and they were registered under false names and addresses. It was also alleged he took part in the arson.
Cross-examined by defence solicitor Michelle Finan, Detective Garda O'Sullivan said a substantial body of evidence has been gathered, and he accepted CCTV footage was not clear.
The offence can carry a life sentence.
Dressed in a grey tracksuit and wearing a facemask, Mr Roberts did not address the court and has not yet indicated how he will plead.
Pleading for bail, his solicitor told the court her client would abide by stringent conditions.
Judge Hughes said the accused had the presumption of innocence and the presumption of bail and it could be up to two years until his trial.
However, he held the requisite standard to deny bail had been met by the prosecution.
Legal aid was granted to Mr Richards who is unemployed and on social welfare.
Judge Hughes remanded him in custody to appear via video-link on Tuesday at Cloverhill District Court.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Hundreds clash in violent exchanges at Dublin protests

Hundreds of protestors clashed over lockdown measures in Dublin city centre on Saturday with gardaí at times struggling to contain violent exchanges between both sides .
A protest by anti-mask and anti-lockdown groups , including the right-wing National Party , was organised to take place outside Leinster House at 1pm on Saturday .
However , scuffles quickly broke out when the demonstration was met with a group of counter-protestors .
Gardaí confirmed an investigation focused on the organisers of both protests is now underway , while two men , one in his 30s and second in his 40s , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full Garda operation was in place from early morning involving up to 100 Garda personnel from the Dublin South Central and North Central divisions , as well as the National Public Order Unit and the Garda dog and mounted units .
The group of at least 100 counter-protestors , which appeared highly coordinated but made up of disparate groups , met opposite the Shelbourne Hotel on St Stephens ’ s Green at 12.45pm .
The group , all of whom were masked and mostly dressed in black , marched down Dawson St and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towards Leinster House chanting “ Nazi scum , off our streets ” .
The group was flanked by uniformed gardaí on bicycles , while several Garda vans from the force ’ s public order unit remained on standby in the vicinity .
Plain clothes members of the Garda also mingled among the crowds .
The anti-lockdown protestors at Leinster House began to chant “ Antifa ” at the counter-protestors as they moved closer , and , as soon both sides were within yards of another , both surged forward and violent clashes immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides threw punches and kicks , while nuts , bolts , fireworks , and other projectiles were launched .
Nearby gardaí on bicycles quickly dismounted , threw them to one side , drew their batons and rushed in to break up the violence .
Other members of the force jumped over cordons and began to form a line between the two groups .
As gardaí began to get the situation back under control , steel barriers were quickly erected to keep both sides apart .
However , several counter-protestors broke away and tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away up Kildare St before more gardaí moved in and blocked their passage .
The gardaí at times struggled to contain the situation as protesters from both sides tried to circumvent the barriers and reach the other side by moving around to different streets .
At one such point , when it appeared as though more chaos may be about to unfold , a Garda member screamed at colleagues lined up in front of him to “ hold the line ” .
Moments later , he shouted again : “ No matter what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break the line please.
” At another point , a woman among the counter-protestors approached the Garda line , prompting a Garda to draw her baton and shout “ get back ” before the woman withdrew .
Later , a man fell to the ground after being punched in the face by a protestor on Molesworth St who seemed to believe he was a member of the anti-lockdown group who had circumvented gardaí .
At several points , members of the group of counter-protestors , with their entire faces covered , approached members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credentials and identification .
Some threatened reporters and attempted to stop the taking of photographs and the shooting of videos .
Members of the gardaí intervened on at least two occasions to stop these interventions turning violent .
“ You can ’ t go back up there , ” said one Garda .
“ They have you marked .
I wouldn ’ t be able to pull you out .
Well not that I won ’ t be able to pull you out , but you know what I mean.
” As Justin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party , spoke through a megaphone at Leinster House , the counter-protestors formed a line along Molesworth St and refused to allow members of the public or the media to pass as the gardaí looked on .
When The Irish Times attempted to move back up the street , a man approached and demanded identification .
When this was refused after the man himself refused to identify himself , the man said : “ I ’ m going to have ask you to move on.
” The man confirmed he was not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time later , more than two hours after the start of the clashes , the group began to march back down Molesworth St and once again attempted to circumvent Garda cordons at each end of Kildare St. Gardaí again moved in quickly to erect fresh barriers at either end .
As the group ran down Kildare St , one member of the group shouted to the others to “ keep it tight ” as they approached the Garda cordon .
However , once it became clear that all access to Leinster House was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GPO before finally dispersing .
As the group was making its way across the city , members of the public eating lunch outside cafes or sitting on the tops of the buses , looked on open-mouthed .

Hundreds of protesters clashed over lockdown measures in Dublin city centre on Saturday with gardaí at times struggling to contain violent exchanges between both sides.
A protest by anti-mask and anti-lockdown groups, including the right-wing National Party, was organised to take place outside Leinster House at 1pm on Saturday. However, scuffles quickly broke out when the demonstration was met with a group of counter-protesters.
Gardaí confirmed an investigation focused on the organisers of both protests is now under way, while two men, one in his 30s and second in his 40s, were arrested for public order offences.
Gardaí at the protest outside Leinster House. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
An Irish tricolour is thrown through the air while members of An Garda Síochána intervene as anti-lockdown protesters clashed with counter demonstrators during an anti-lockdown protest outside Leinster House on Saturday. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
An anti-lockdown protest was met with with a counter protest in Dublin city and Gardai struggled to keep the two protests at distance.
Counter-demonstrators (left) clash with activists protesting against the Government’s imposed restrictions put in place to help stem the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases outside Leinster House on Saturday. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty
A full Garda operation was in place from early morning involving up to 100 Garda personnel from the Dublin South Central and North Central divisions, as well as the National Public Order Unit and the Garda dog and mounted units.
READ MORE
The group of at least 100 counter-protesters, which appeared highly coordinated but made up of disparate groups, met opposite the Shelbourne Hotel on St Stephens's Green at 12.45pm.
The group, all of whom were masked and mostly dressed in black, marched down Dawson St and turned right onto Molesworth St before moving towards Leinster House chanting "Nazi scum, off our streets".
The group was flanked by uniformed gardaí on bicycles, while several Garda vans from the force’s public order unit remained on standby in the vicinity. Plain clothes members of the Garda also mingled among the crowds.
Barriers
The anti-lockdown protesters at Leinster House began to chant “Antifa” at the counter-protesters as they moved closer, and, as soon both sides were within yards of another, both surged forward and violent clashes immediately ensued.
Counter-demonstrators (left) clash with activists protesting against Covid-19 restrictions in Dublin on Saturday. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty
Dozens of people on both sides threw punches and kicks, while nuts, bolts, fireworks, and other projectiles were launched. Nearby gardaí on bicycles quickly dismounted, threw them to one side, drew their batons and rushed in to break up the violence.
Other members of the force jumped over cordons and began to form a line between the two groups. As gardaí began to get the situation back under control, steel barriers were quickly erected to keep both sides apart.
However, several counter-protesters broke away and tried to reach the other group by bearing away up Kildare St before more gardaí moved in and blocked their passage.
The gardaí at times struggled to contain the situation as protesters from both sides tried to circumvent the barriers and reach the other side by moving around to different streets.
At one such point, when it appeared as though more chaos may be about to unfold, a Garda member screamed at colleagues lined up in front of him to “hold the line”. Moments later, he shouted again: “No matter what happens out there, don’t break the line please.”
At another point, a woman among the counter-protesters approached the Garda line, prompting a Garda to draw her baton and shout “get back” before the woman withdrew.
Later, a man fell to the ground after being punched in the face by a protester on Molesworth St who seemed to believe he was a member of the anti-lockdown group who had circumvented gardaí.
‘Move on’
At several points, members of the group of counter-protesters, with their entire faces covered, approached members of the media and demanded to see credentials and identification.
Some threatened reporters and attempted to stop the taking of photographs and the shooting of videos. Members of the gardaí intervened on at least two occasions to stop these interventions turning violent.
“You can’t go back up there,” said one Garda. “They have you marked. I wouldn’t be able to pull you out. Well not that I won’t be able to pull you out, but you know what I mean.”
As Justin Barrett, the leader of the National Party, spoke through a megaphone at Leinster House, the counter-protesters formed a line along Molesworth St and refused to allow members of the public or the media to pass as the gardaí looked on.
When The Irish Times attempted to move back up the street, a man approached and demanded identification. When this was refused after the man himself refused to identify himself, the man said: “I’m going to have ask you to move on.”
The man confirmed he was not an undercover member of the Garda.
Some time later, more than two hours after the start of the clashes, the group began to march back down Molesworth St and once again attempted to circumvent Garda cordons at each end of Kildare St. Gardaí again moved in quickly to erect fresh barriers at either end.
As the group ran down Kildare St, one member of the group shouted to the others to “keep it tight” as they approached the Garda cordon. However, once it became clear that all access to Leinster House was blocked, the group marched on the GPO before finally dispersing.
As the group was making its way across the city, members of the public eating lunch outside cafes or sitting on the tops of the buses, looked on open-mouthed.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Activist Fergus McCabe, ‘beating heart’ of inner city Dublin, dies aged 71

Veteran community activist Fergus McCabe , who died during the week , aged 71 , was part of the “ beating heart ” of inner city Dublin , President Michael D Higgins has said .
Leading tributes to the late campaigner and social worker , who was at the forefront of the battle against drug abuse that devastated the capital ’ s working class communities over decades , Mr Higgins said he would be mourned throughout the country .
“ It is not only in inner-city Dublin , in which he was part of the beating heart of community campaigning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fergus McCabe will have been heard with great sorrow , ” said the President .
“ It will be in communities all over Ireland with whom he shared his knowledge and his deep commitment to addressing issues , in particular on drug dependency .
“ Those of us who knew him will remember his energy and passion for justice , in making the case for inclusion and equality.
” Mr McCabe , from Marino in Dublin ’ s northside , was a driving force in the Inner City Organisations Network and the CityWide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was heavily involved with included Young People At Risk , the National Substance Misuse Strategy Committee and the National Oversight Group on the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy .
Mr Higgins said the activist “ chose hope over cynicism ” as he “ advanced the goals of countless ” social justice and equality projects through his “ vision and energy ” .
“ The great gift of Fergus McCabe was his genius in moving commitments on paper into the practical lives of members of communities , ” he added .
Mr McCabe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud of the legacy he has left , through his tireless campaigning for social justice and his exemplary actions of solidarity , sustained by his unshakeable belief in the good of mankind and the potential of young people , irrespective of their backgrounds , ” said Mr Higgins .
“ There are so many who will miss him deeply.
” Dublin Bay North TD and former minister for the national drugs strategy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin described Mr McCabe as a “ passionate , committed campaigner for all that was good and decent ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for people that others thought were beyond hope.
” Sinn Féin leader and Dublin Central TD Mary Lou McDonald described Mr McCabe as “ a working class hero ” and “ thoroughly decent man ” who was “ loved by all ” .
Mr McCabe , who died suddenly on Thursday after a long illness , is survived by his wife Helena , and three children Ella , Kathy and Eoin .
His family have asked anyone wishing to attend his funeral on Monday to stand along the cortège route between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glasnevin Crematorium , via Summerhill Parade , due to public health restrictions .

Veteran community activist Fergus McCabe, who died during the week, aged 71, was part of the "beating heart" of inner city Dublin, President Michael D Higgins has said.
Leading tributes to the late campaigner and social worker, who was at the forefront of the battle against drug abuse that devastated the capital’s working class communities over decades, Mr Higgins said he would be mourned throughout the country.
“It is not only in inner-city Dublin, in which he was part of the beating heart of community campaigning, that news of the death of Fergus McCabe will have been heard with great sorrow,” said the President.
"It will be in communities all over Ireland with whom he shared his knowledge and his deep commitment to addressing issues, in particular on drug dependency.
READ MORE
“Those of us who knew him will remember his energy and passion for justice, in making the case for inclusion and equality.”
Driving force
Mr McCabe, from Marino in Dublin's northside, was a driving force in the Inner City Organisations Network and the CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign.
Other initiatives he was heavily involved with included Young People At Risk, the National Substance Misuse Strategy Committee and the National Oversight Group on the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy.
Mr Higgins said the activist “chose hope over cynicism” as he “advanced the goals of countless” social justice and equality projects through his “vision and energy”.
“The great gift of Fergus McCabe was his genius in moving commitments on paper into the practical lives of members of communities,” he added.
Mr McCabe’s family could be “extremely proud of the legacy he has left, through his tireless campaigning for social justice and his exemplary actions of solidarity, sustained by his unshakeable belief in the good of mankind and the potential of young people, irrespective of their backgrounds,” said Mr Higgins.
“There are so many who will miss him deeply.”
‘Working class hero’
Dublin Bay North TD and former minister for the national drugs strategy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin described Mr McCabe as a “passionate, committed campaigner for all that was good and decent” who “dedicated his life for causes and for people that others thought were beyond hope.”
Sinn Féin leader and Dublin Central TD Mary Lou McDonald described Mr McCabe as "a working class hero" and "thoroughly decent man" who was "loved by all".
Mr McCabe, who died suddenly on Thursday after a long illness, is survived by his wife Helena, and three children Ella, Kathy and Eoin.
His family have asked anyone wishing to attend his funeral on Monday to stand along the cortège route between the Kirwan Funeral Home, Fairview Strand and Glasnevin Crematorium, via Summerhill Parade, due to public health restrictions.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Reid urges doctors to not undermine public confidence in health service

The head of the HSE has urged doctors to build confidence and not to undermine the trust of the public in the health service .
HSE director general Paul Reid told the annual conference of the Irish Hospital Consultants ’ Association ( IHCA ) he believed the health service gained significant additional trust and confidence of the public and the Government over the last year in how it dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic .
He said the health service had secured an additional €2 billion in funding and was seeking to sustain and increase this further this into next year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health service was now entering a more challenge phase in relation to dealing with Covid and other forms of care .
He accepted that “ people were tired and frustrated ” .
However he said the voice of consultants was a very powerful one and if everyone could get on a shared page for the future of the health service would benefit all .
“ There is an obligation on all of us to build the public ’ s trusts and confidence in health service and not fragment or damage that trust.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ frankly disappointed ” at criticism of the HSE ’ s €600 million winter plan made by the IHCA .
He suggested that by early next year there could be 1,400 more beds available than were in place at the start of 2020 .
He said there was a net increase of over 150 consultants over the past year and a net increase of 5,000 staff in the health service overall .
He urged the IHCA “ to work with us , to continue to galvanise the public and build confidence ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a resolution to be reached soon regarding pay equality issues raised by hospital consultants .
However he said : “ It can ’ t be just about pay .
It [ also ] has to be about reform and change in work practices.
” He said there was a need to look at differences between the two systems of health care in Ireland – the public and the private .
He said there was a role for both .
However he said one – the public system – had quite massive waiting lists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said there was a need to see “ what issues emerge and how we can do things differently ” .
Mr Reid suggested that any future arrangement with private hospitals would be very different to that put in place last Spring when the Government effectively took over their facilities .
He said any future agreement would be of “ a more transactional basis ” .
The deputy chief executive of the Beacon Hospital Brian Fitzgerald told the conference his board at this point was “ not inclined ” to sign a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However he said if there was a major crisis , hospitals such as Beacon would step up and do what it could .
He said after the agreement with the Government ended in June his hospital had got back to full capacity and September had been the busiest ever .
He said surgery was running across six days per week and diagnostics were operating on a seven-day basis .
He said he believed there was a lack of understanding about private capacity and private consultant practice in Government and in the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not believe that Government ’ s proposed public patient-only contract for hospital consultants “ would be the panacea that we think it might be for certain specialities and procedural-based specialties ” .
Mr Reid said that there were things the health service had got right and wrong in how it had dealt with Covid-19 .
He said more elements of the Sláintecare reforms were introduced in six months than would normally have been in several years .
He maintained the testing and tracing system introduced was one of the best in Europe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland had “ punched well about our weight ” in terms of securing personal protective equipment .
However he said there were issues around nursing homes and who was responsible for what .
He said the disease had also “ caught us on the hop in terms of asymptomatic presentation in nursing homes and particularly the transmission levels .

HSE director general Paul Reid said the country and the health service was now entering a more challenge phase in relation to dealing with Covid and other forms of care. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
The head of the HSE has urged doctors to build confidence and not to undermine the trust of the public in the health service.
HSE director general Paul Reid told the annual conference of the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA) he believed the health service gained significant additional trust and confidence of the public and the Government over the last year in how it dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the health service had secured an additional €2 billion in funding and was seeking to sustain and increase this further this into next year.
Mr Reid said the country and the health service was now entering a more challenge phase in relation to dealing with Covid and other forms of care. He accepted that “people were tired and frustrated”.
READ MORE
However he said the voice of consultants was a very powerful one and if everyone could get on a shared page for the future of the health service would benefit all.
“There is an obligation on all of us to build the public’s trusts and confidence in health service and not fragment or damage that trust.”
‘Work with us’
Mr Reid said he was “frankly disappointed” at criticism of the HSE’s €600 million winter plan made by the IHCA.
He suggested that by early next year there could be 1,400 more beds available than were in place at the start of 2020. He said there was a net increase of over 150 consultants over the past year and a net increase of 5,000 staff in the health service overall.
He urged the IHCA “to work with us, to continue to galvanise the public and build confidence”.
The HSE chief said there was potential for a resolution to be reached soon regarding pay equality issues raised by hospital consultants.
However he said: “It can’t be just about pay. It [also] has to be about reform and change in work practices.”
He said there was a need to look at differences between the two systems of health care in Ireland – the public and the private.
He said there was a role for both. However he said one – the public system – had quite massive waiting lists while the he private system did not.
He said there was a need to see “what issues emerge and how we can do things differently”.
Mr Reid suggested that any future arrangement with private hospitals would be very different to that put in place last Spring when the Government effectively took over their facilities.
He said any future agreement would be of “a more transactional basis”.
The deputy chief executive of the Beacon Hospital Brian Fitzgerald told the conference his board at this point was "not inclined" to sign a new agreement with the Government and HSE.
However he said if there was a major crisis, hospitals such as Beacon would step up and do what it could.
Lack of understanding
He said after the agreement with the Government ended in June his hospital had got back to full capacity and September had been the busiest ever. He said surgery was running across six days per week and diagnostics were operating on a seven-day basis.
He said he believed there was a lack of understanding about private capacity and private consultant practice in Government and in the Department of Health.
He said he did not believe that Government’s proposed public patient-only contract for hospital consultants “would be the panacea that we think it might be for certain specialities and procedural-based specialties”.
Mr Reid said that there were things the health service had got right and wrong in how it had dealt with Covid-19.
He said more elements of the Sláintecare reforms were introduced in six months than would normally have been in several years. He maintained the testing and tracing system introduced was one of the best in Europe in terms of volume and turn-around time while Ireland had "punched well about our weight" in terms of securing personal protective equipment.
However he said there were issues around nursing homes and who was responsible for what. He said the disease had also “caught us on the hop in terms of asymptomatic presentation in nursing homes and particularly the transmission levels.


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Nearly 90% of women have not responded to cervical screening invitations

Nearly 90 per cent of women have not responded to invitation to undergo cervical cancer screening in recent months , the annual conference of the Irish Hospital Consultants ’ Association has been told .
Dr Noirin Russell , clinical director of CervicalCheck said it had sent out more than 110,000 invitations but only 12,000 women had attended .
“ We see this across all areas of healthcare .
People are afraid to interact with healthcare and to come into healthcare settings because of fear of Covid-19.
” “ And that is deeply worrying and concerning ” , she told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that CervicalCheck had been back up and running since early July as part of a managed re-start .
She said there had been a culture in CervicalCheck that women had received their first invitation letter and waited for the first and second reminder .
I would like to urge women to attend on their first invitation .
She said a social media campaign was launched last week to encourage women to attend .
However she said there was “ a lot of fear out there ” .
“ This is not just applicable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing it across healthcare .
People are afraid to come into healthcare settings .
We are not alone in that .
”

Dr Noirin Russell, clinical director of CervicalCheck said it had sent out more than 110,000 invitations but only 12,000 women had attended. Photograph: iStock
Nearly 90 per cent of women have not responded to invitation to undergo cervical cancer screening in recent months, the annual conference of the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association has been told.
Dr Noirin Russell, clinical director of CervicalCheck said it had sent out more than 110,000 invitations but only 12,000 women had attended.
“We see this across all areas of healthcare. People are afraid to interact with healthcare and to come into healthcare settings because of fear of Covid-19.”
“And that is deeply worrying and concerning”, she told the conference on Saturday.
READ MORE
Dr Russell said that CervicalCheck had been back up and running since early July as part of a managed re-start.
She said there had been a culture in CervicalCheck that women had received their first invitation letter and waited for the first and second reminder. I would like to urge women to attend on their first invitation.
She said a social media campaign was launched last week to encourage women to attend.
However she said there was “ a lot of fear out there”.
“This is not just applicable in cervical cancer screening. We are seeing it across healthcare. People are afraid to come into healthcare settings. We are not alone in that.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Coronavirus: 1,012 new cases and three further deaths as hospital numbers near 200

A further three people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died , the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) said on Saturday with a further 1,012 new cases of the disease reported .
It is the highest number of cases in a single day since the height of the pandemic on April 15th , when 1,068 were recorded .
Today 's figures bring to 1,824 the number of people who have died of the disease in the Republic of Ireland with a total of 41,714 cases confirmed in the State since the start of the pandemic .
Of today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 496 are women , 71 per cent are under 45 years of age while the median age of those diagnosed is 30 years old .
A total of 241 of the cases are in Dublin , 112 in Cork , 80 in Cavan , 72 in Meath , 66 in Galway , and the remaining 441 cases are spread across 21 other counties .
Nphet said that as of 2pm on Saturday there were 199 Covid-19 patients hospitalised , of which 31 are in ICU .
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the numbers we are seeing and how quickly they are deteriorating .
“ All of today ’ s 1,012 cases were notified to the HPSC over a period of 24 hours up to midnight .
“ The 14-day incidence rate has increased from 108 per 100,000 last Sunday to 150 per 100,000 today , which represents a 39 per cent increase .
“ All of the important indicators of the disease are deteriorating .
For example , there has been a consistent increase in test positivity over the past week .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 9th was 6.2 per cent , which has more than doubled in less than a fortnight .
“ Case numbers are growing across all age groups and throughout the country.
” Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said ; “ In the past 24 hours , there have been 35 new admissions of laboratory confirmed cases to hospital and 4 new admissions to ICU .
There are now 199 people in hospital and 31 in ICU .
Every age group , location and household needs to act now , limit your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracks.
” Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have risen almost fourfold in Irish hospitals over the past month , figures released earlier show .
Over the same period , there has been an even greater increase in the number of patients admitted to intensive care units ( ICU ) with coronavirus .
Official figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre released on Saturday showed 194 confirmed cases in hospitals , up from 51 at the same time in September .
Some 31 of the hospitalised cases were being treated in ICU - up from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the North , another 902 people have tested positive for Covid-19 but no new deaths were reported on Saturday .
The figures come as a family doctor in Cork warned rates of infection are escalating “ really , really quickly ” and are going to get worse over the coming weeks .
General practitioner Dr Ronan Boland said “ the picture has changed pretty dramatically in the space of three or four weeks.
” “ We ’ ve gone from a situation when the schools reopened in early September , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the vast majority of those tests were negative.. ( to ) now , what we are actually seeing , a much higher positivity rate , ” he said .
Dr Boland said Covid hubs set up by the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) towards the end of the first wave of the pandemic , which were “ almost not needed ” at that stage , are now operating at full capacity .
The majority of patients turning up at the hubs are testing positive for the disease and “ most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while some are being admitted by ambulance directly from the hub to hospital , he told RTÉ Radio One .
Dr Boland said GPs looking to refer patients to hubs can not get an appointment “ because it was over capacity on the day.
” “ It happened really , really quickly , ” he said .
Most GPs in Cork city have had several patients testing positive , he said , adding that the city ’ s hospitals “ are pretty much at full capacity ” .
Some 50 people were waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there are only two vacant ICU beds , he said .
“ What we are seeing in terms of actual cases reflects infections that happened seven to 14 days ago , so even if level three ( of the Government restrictions to stem the spread of the virus ) worked today , what you can say with certainty is that things are going to get worse over the next two or three weeks before they get better , ” Dr Boland added .
The “ fervent hope ” is that the level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of increase of infection and illness as it “ has grown very , very rapidly and the capacity simply isn ’ t there to deal with a big increase in very sick patients over the next few weeks .
”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has asked the public to change their behaviours so “we can make Level 3 work, protect lives and livelihoods” and stop Covid-19 spreading.
Mr Martin said in a statement on Sunday the move to Level 3 involved tightening coronavirus restrictions on people and society, which particularly affected the hospitality sector.
“Covid-19 is challenging countries across Europe and throughout the world,” he said.
Hospital Report
I am very worried about the numbers we are seeing and how quickly they are deteriorating.
All of today’s 1,012 cases were notified to @hpscireland over a period of 24 hours up to midnight.
All of the important indicators of the disease are deteriorating...
(1/3) https://t.co/b9bij8DRE4 — Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) October 10, 2020
“The coming weeks will be challenging but working with Nphet, we will respond firmly and appropriately. We have the capacity and resources to come through this and we will.
READ MORE
“An unprecedented level of resources have been allocated to the health services, both in the Winter Plan and throughout the entirety of 2021.”
Mr Martin said these resources would enable the health service to cope with Covid-19, and ensure better health service for the future.
Earlier, public health officials have issued stark warnings about the spread of Covid-19 after a further three people died and record number of new cases were recorded.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) said on Saturday a further 1,012 new cases of the disease were reported. It is the highest number of cases in a single day since the height of the pandemic on April 15th, when 1,068 were recorded. It is only the third time daily case numbers have risen above 1,000.
On Sunday HSE chief Paul Reid said the disease was “worsening at pace”. In a Tweet he added: “We all need to get real & play our part to protect patients & our healthcare workers.Increased hospital cases leads to more people in ICU & cancelling heart, cancer & other care.Let’s turn this around quickly by doing the right thing today.”
Saturday's figures bring to 1,824 the number of people who have died of the disease in the Republic of Ireland with a total of 41,714 cases confirmed in the State since the start of the pandemic.
Of Saturday's cases, 511 are men and 496 are women, 71 per cent are under 45 years of age while the median age of those diagnosed is 30 years old. A total of 241 of the cases are in Dublin, 112 in Cork, 80 in Cavan, 72 in Meath, 66 in Galway, and the remaining 441 cases are spread across 21 other counties.
As of 8am on Sunday there were 201 Covid-19 patients hospitalised, of which 30 are in ICU. At 8pm on Saturday night there were 198 confirmed cases in Irish hospitals, 103 suspected cases. According to the HSE's daily operations update, of the confirmed cases the highest number (22) was in Cavan, followed by Beaumont (21), Tallaght (18) and Cork University Hospital (15).
There were 39 adult and three paediatric intensive care beds available in Ireland last night.
Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have risen almost fourfold in Irish hospitals over the past month, the figures show. Over the same period, there has been an even greater increase in the number of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) with coronavirus.
The high and rising number of cases and hospitalisations will prompt a further examination of the Government’s strategy to contain the spread of coronavirus having rejected advice from Nphet last weekend to move the State to the most severe Level 5. Instead it moved the country to Level 3 on the five-level alert system.
CMO Dr Tony Holohan pictured at a media briefing on Wednesday. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, said on Saturday night: "I am very worried about the numbers we are seeing and how quickly they are deteriorating.
“All of today’s 1,012 cases were notified to the HPSC over a period of 24 hours up to midnight.
“The 14-day incidence rate has increased from 108 per 100,000 last Sunday to 150 per 100,000 today, which represents a 39 per cent increase.
“All of the important indicators of the disease are deteriorating. For example, there has been a consistent increase in test positivity over the past week. The test positivity rate up to midnight Friday October 9th was 6.2 per cent, which has more than doubled in less than a fortnight.
“Case numbers are growing across all age groups and throughout the country.”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said on Saturday: “In the past 24 hours, there have been 35 new admissions of laboratory confirmed cases to hospital and 4 new admissions to ICU. There are now 199 people in hospital and 31 in ICU. Every age group, location and household needs to act now, limit your contacts and stop the disease in its tracks.”
Northern Ireland
In the North, another 902 people tested positive for Covid-19 but no new deaths were reported on Saturday.
The figures come as a family doctor in Cork warned rates of infection are escalating “really, really quickly” and are going to get worse over the coming weeks.
General practitioner Dr Ronan Boland said "the picture has changed pretty dramatically in the space of three or four weeks."
“We’ve gone from a situation when the schools reopened in early September, when there was a huge demand for testing and the vast majority of those tests were negative.. (to) now, what we are actually seeing, a much higher positivity rate,” he said.
Dr Boland said Covid hubs set up by the Health Service Executive (HSE) towards the end of the first wave of the pandemic, which were "almost not needed" at that stage, are now operating at full capacity.
A Covid patient is transferred along a corridor in St Vincents University Hospital, Dublin in April. Photograph: Alan Betson
The majority of patients turning up at the hubs are testing positive for the disease and "most of them (are) quite sick" while some are being admitted by ambulance directly from the hub to hospital, he told RTÉ Radio One.
Dr Boland said GPs looking to refer patients to hubs can not get an appointment “because it was over capacity on the day.”
“It happened really, really quickly,” he said.
Most GPs in Cork city have had several patients testing positive, he said, adding that the city’s hospitals “are pretty much at full capacity”.
Some 50 people were waiting for hospital beds in the city yesterday and there are only two vacant ICU beds, he said.
“What we are seeing in terms of actual cases reflects infections that happened seven to 14 days ago, so even if level three (of the Government restrictions to stem the spread of the virus) worked today, what you can say with certainty is that things are going to get worse over the next two or three weeks before they get better,” Dr Boland added.
The “fervent hope” is that the level three restrictions will work in reducing the rate of increase of infection and illness as it “has grown very, very rapidly and the capacity simply isn’t there to deal with a big increase in very sick patients over the next few weeks.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-10--Coronavirus spread in North continues with 902 new cases reported

Another 902 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland but no new deaths were reported on Saturday .
A total of 134 patients are in hospital with 19 in intensive care and 11 of those ventilated , the North ’ s department of health said .
Earlier , it emerged that Northern Ireland ’ s deputy first minister Michelle O ’ Neill had tested negative for coronavirus .
She will continue to self-isolate and work remotely after a family member was diagnosed , a spokeswoman said .
Some 1,080 cases were notified by the North ’ s Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on household contacts remain in place across Northern Ireland .
Northern Ireland ’ s minister for health warned on Friday that further restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus could soon be necessary .
Robin Swann said the situation was “ grave and getting more so on a daily , if not hourly , basis ” and he was advised that “ further restrictions for Northern Ireland are likely to be required in the very near future , in the event of positive cases continuing their current upward trajectory ” .
These , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce hospitalisations and loss of life and to protect our health and social care system from being overwhelmed ” .
In the last seven days , 5,272 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in the North .
In Derry and Strabane , Co Tyrone , where restrictions similar to the Republic ’ s Level 3 were introduced on Monday in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus , the rate of infection over the last seven days has risen to 834 per 100,000 of population .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £200 million ( €220 million ) from the UK treasury to help support businesses through coronavirus .
The North will also benefit from the expansion of the UK ’ s job support scheme , which will pay two-thirds of the wages of employees at firms which are forced to close because of coronavirus restrictions .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney , as well as the North ’ s Ministers , had previously told the UK government additional financial backing was needed if Northern Ireland – which has limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus measures .
This financial injection could pave the way for the restrictions in force in Derry and Strabane to be extended to other areas which are also experiencing significant numbers of cases , such as Belfast , Newry Mourne and Down and Mid-Ulster .
The chief medical officers from North and South spoke on Friday amid increasing concerns about the impact of the Border on infection rates .
Mr Coveney told RTÉ he hoped politicians from the Republic and Northern Ireland would come together to address this in the days ahead .
@ @ @ @