theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Naked woman removed from Treasury Building in Dublin

One of Dublin ’ s best known sculptures - the naked woman climbing up the Treasury Building - has been removed , though it may re-appear elsewhere .
according to its owners .
The Aspiration sculpture - which was famously switched from a male to a female after property developer Johnny Ronan said “ there was no way he wanted a naked man climbing up the wall to his window ” - was taken down from the building on Grand Canal Street on Friday .
“ She ’ s safe and well , and hopefully you ’ ll see her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location before too long , ” a spokesman for Ronan Group Real Estate ( RGRE ) told The Irish Times .
Google completed the purchase of the Treasury Building from RGRE in February this year , and a condition of the sale was that the sculpture would be removed .
“ Her removal today was carried out in accordance with that , ” the spokesman said .
The building , which formerly housed the National Asset Management Agency ( Nama ) , is expected to be used by Google ’ s expanded workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tech giant already owns offices buildings in the area , including its European headquarters on Barrow Street , and the nearby Montevetro building , both of which were developed by Treasury Holdings , the company formerly led by Mr Ronan and Richard Barrett .
The Treasury Building is on the site of the former Boland ’ s Bakery , a building that featured during the 1916 Rising , and the climbing figure , Aspiration , was meant to be a metaphor for Ireland .
An original maquette model of the sculpture , comprising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the original male figure and the subsequent female version , went up for auction in Dublin in November 2012 , but stalled at €9,500 and failed to sell .
Artist Rowan Gillespie revealed at the time that the gender of the piece was changed after Mr Ronan objected to the original plan .
He said the property developer was delighted with the change of gender , given that his then personal office window overlooked the sculpture .
The sale of the Treasury Building is understood to have secured its owners a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ronan , Paddy McKillen , and Percy Nominees .
The original Boland ’ s Bakery building was acquired in 1984 for IR£400,000 ( €508,000 ) , and redeveloped .

The Aspirtion statue at its former home on the side of Treasury Building. File Photograph: David Sleator
One of Dublin’s best known sculptures - the naked woman climbing up the Treasury Building - has been removed, though it may re-appear elsewhere. according to its owners.
The Aspiration sculpture - which was famously switched from a male to a female after property developer Johnny Ronan said "there was no way he wanted a naked man climbing up the wall to his window" - was taken down from the building on Grand Canal Street on Friday.
“She’s safe and well, and hopefully you’ll see her pop up in a new city centre location before too long,” a spokesman for Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE) told The Irish Times.
The statue being removed from the Treasury Building in Dublin’s Grand Canal Street Lower. Photograph: Alan Betson
The statue being removed from the Treasury Building in Dublin’s Grand Canal Street Lower. Photograph: Alan Betson
Google completed the purchase of the Treasury Building from RGRE in February this year, and a condition of the sale was that the sculpture would be removed.
READ MORE
The statue being removed from the Treasury Building in Dublin’s Grand Canal Street Lower. Photograph: Alan Betson
“Her removal today was carried out in accordance with that,” the spokesman said.
The building, which formerly housed the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), is expected to be used by Google’s expanded workforce once the pandemic is over.
Metaphor
The tech giant already owns offices buildings in the area, including its European headquarters on Barrow Street, and the nearby Montevetro building, both of which were developed by Treasury Holdings, the company formerly led by Mr Ronan and Richard Barrett.
The Treasury Building is on the site of the former Boland’s Bakery, a building that featured during the 1916 Rising, and the climbing figure, Aspiration, was meant to be a metaphor for Ireland.
The statue being removed from the Treasury Building in Dublin’s Grand Canal Street Lower. Photograph: Alan Betson
An original maquette model of the sculpture, comprising a polished granite slab with bronze models of the original male figure and the subsequent female version, went up for auction in Dublin in November 2012, but stalled at €9,500 and failed to sell.
Artist Rowan Gillespie revealed at the time that the gender of the piece was changed after Mr Ronan objected to the original plan.
He said the property developer was delighted with the change of gender, given that his then personal office window overlooked the sculpture.
The sale of the Treasury Building is understood to have secured its owners a significant return.
It was sold by Mr Ronan, Paddy McKillen, and Percy Nominees. The original Boland’s Bakery building was acquired in 1984 for IR£400,000 (€508,000), and redeveloped.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Gaiety Theatre projectors to be auctioned off next week

If you ever fancied owning your own permanent link to the 20th-century Dublin of the rare auld times , two old projectors from the capital ’ s Gaiety Theatre are set to be auctioned off next week .
The pair of large metal and brass projectors are thought to be more than 100 years old , and were found by chance up in the rafters of the city centre theatre during refurbishment work a number of years ago .
A bit big for a Christmas stocking filler , the 1.6m-long projectors require at least two people to lift them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by auctioneer Niall Mullen , at a sale in Eureka House , Kells , Co Meath , on December 8th and 9th .
“ They are from the Edwardian period and were either suspended or put up on a tripod at the back of the theatre , projecting on to the screen , ” Mr Mullen said .
“ They are an absolute wonder but exceptionally heavy and require two very strong people to lift them , ” he said .
The guide price for the pair of projectors is between €800 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ nostalgia point of view ” the items could fetch more than that , depending on the bidding .
“ We would be expecting interest from people into theatre or drama and if you wanted a prop , they would be glorious .
They are pieces of Dublin history and that is why they are important , ” he said .
The projectors were being put up for auction by events promotion company MCD , the current owners of the Gaiety Theatre .
They are thought to have been first bought in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the South King Street theatre was undergoing extensive renovations .
It is not known when they were decommissioned from use , and had been kept in storage for a number of years .
It is likely they were only saved from ending up on a scrap-heap by a stroke of luck , Mr Mullen said .
Typically when older equipment is taken out of use during a refurbishment it would be given to scrap yards , so Mr Mullen said it was “ nice that they were salvaged ” .
The pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items from Dublin ’ s social scene up for sale in a 1,400-lot auction , run in partnership with Victor Mee Auctions .

The pair of projectors from the Gaiety Theatre will be among hundreds of items from Dublin’s social scene up for sale in a 1,400-lot auction. File photograph: Cyril Byrne
If you ever fancied owning your own permanent link to the 20th-century Dublin of the rare auld times, two old projectors from the capital's Gaiety Theatre are set to be auctioned off next week.
The pair of large metal and brass projectors are thought to be more than 100 years old, and were found by chance up in the rafters of the city centre theatre during refurbishment work a number of years ago.
A bit big for a Christmas stocking filler, the 1.6m-long projectors require at least two people to lift them.
The items are to be sold off by auctioneer Niall Mullen, at a sale in Eureka House, Kells, Co Meath, on December 8th and 9th.
READ MORE
“They are from the Edwardian period and were either suspended or put up on a tripod at the back of the theatre, projecting on to the screen,” Mr Mullen said.
“They are an absolute wonder but exceptionally heavy and require two very strong people to lift them,” he said.
The guide price for the pair of projectors is between €800 and €1,200, however Mr Mullen said from a “nostalgia point of view” the items could fetch more than that, depending on the bidding.
Decommissioned
“We would be expecting interest from people into theatre or drama and if you wanted a prop, they would be glorious. They are pieces of Dublin history and that is why they are important,” he said.
The projectors were being put up for auction by events promotion company MCD, the current owners of the Gaiety Theatre.
They are thought to have been first bought in the early 1900s, at a time when the South King Street theatre was undergoing extensive renovations.
It is not known when they were decommissioned from use, and had been kept in storage for a number of years. It is likely they were only saved from ending up on a scrap-heap by a stroke of luck, Mr Mullen said.
Typically when older equipment is taken out of use during a refurbishment it would be given to scrap yards, so Mr Mullen said it was “nice that they were salvaged”.
The pair of projectors will be among hundreds of items from Dublin's social scene up for sale in a 1,400-lot auction, run in partnership with Victor Mee Auctions.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Garda launches coastal operation in Sligo and Leitrim to tackle crime

Coastal and lakeside communities in Sligo and Leitrim have been asked by the Garda Síochána to help them tackle crime along waterways , following a successful drugs seizure Operation Dualgas will not exclusively target drug smuggling , but it follows successful searches of islands around Lough Gill on the border of both counties recently that uncovered nearly €250,000 worth of drugs .
Saying that gardaí are reviewing where criminal threats exist , Chief Supt Aidan Glacken said the new drive would target everything from drugs to the theft of boat engines .
Operation Dualgas is part of the broader Coastal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities in gathering intelligence about suspicious activity .
Extra patrols will be put in place to identify routes used by criminals .
Drugs will be one target , although historically , the bulk of large seizures off the Irish coastline have been concentrated in the south .
In west Cork last year , Chief Supt Con Cadogan said farming groups , communities and fishermen could all ensure the coastline was not used for drug importation .
Operations Dualgas – meaning “ duty ” – will involve the Naval Service , Revenue and Customs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Inland Fisheries Ireland and local authorities .
It is also looking inward to rivers and lakes to counter boat and engine theft , and property damage .
Human trafficking has also been identified as a concern .
By working with State agencies , local communities , who suffer when amenities are abused , can help “ to collectively detect and prevent criminality ” on land and water , Chief Supt Glacken said .
Andrew Ryan , Revenue ’ s maritime operations manager said it works closely with gardaí to “ deter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tobacco and other prohibitions and restrictions ” .
A boarding party from the navy ship LÉ Niamh discovered 1,025 kgs of cocaine worth €290 million on board the Makayabella off the Cork coast .
Destined for the UK , it went down as one of the biggest seizures in the history of the State and followed a Joint Task Force operation with the Naval Service , Customs and the Garda .
The operation to track the vessel as it crossed the Atlantic from the Caribbean also involved the National Crime Agency and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as French and Venezuelan authorities .
Three Britons were later jailed for their part in the plot and a fourth man was convicted of money laundering connected to the same investigation .
An Irish sailing enthusiast later bought the Makayabella at auction for €70,000 .
The yacht Dances with Waves was boarded 150 nautical miles southwest of Mizen Head off the Co Cork coastline in extreme weather conditions .
The planned operation involved the seizure of over €400 million worth of cocaine in 74 bales weighing more than 1.5 tonnes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the smugglers had a log book entry claiming they had discovered the drugs at sea but ultimately all three were convicted and sentenced to 10 years each in 2009 .
They had bought the yacht in Trinidad and Tobago for €120,000 before sailing to Venezuala in South America to collect the drugs .
Their destination was Caernarfon Bay in Wales .
Lieut Comm Martin Brett of the Irish Naval Service who received a commendation for his role in the seizure , later said the overwhelming quantity of 80 per cent pure cocaine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would have been cut and sold on the street .
Englishman Martin Wanden ( 58 ) was found floating in the ocean next to 65 bales of cocaine worth €440 million at Dunlough Bay on the Mizen Peninsula in west Cork .
The drugs weighing 1.5 tonnes had been moved from the Lucky Day catamaran to a rib at a rendezvous about 50km off the coast .
The cocaine was later found to be 75 per cent pure .
Things went askew because one of the rib ’ s engines had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing it to flounder and sink in rough seas .
Wanden was discovered by a lifeboat crew .
Customs and navy officers aboard the LÉ Ciara boarded the Posidonia , a converted trawler , uncovering an €18 million haul of cannabis resin .
They brought the ship ashore at Schull in Cork .
The illicit cargo had been collected off Morocco and was due to be offloaded to a boat near the Irish coast where it would be brought ashore .
Skipper Richard Preece was jailed for nine years and two other crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matthew Simkins were both jailed for seven years .
Six years later the ship was due to be completely overhauled as part of a Limerick project aimed at teaching new skills to teenagers from the city .
After a long transatlantic voyage , the 15m Gemeos arrived in Kinsale Harbour in Cork only to find itself at the unwanted end of a customs and garda inspection .
It was not in vain – officers uncovered 325kg of cocaine worth €61 million .
After a three-week trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enniskerry , Co Wicklow , was jailed for 20 years .
His companion , Englishman Michael Tune received 14 years in jail for his part .
The 75 per cent pure cocaine had been brought over from Panama in Central America , hidden under bunks , diesel tanks and behind a bulwark .
Much like the Gemeos two years later , the fate of the Sea Mist was sealed once she put into harbour , this time in Cork .
When she was searched , customs officers found 599kg of cocaine worth €125 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its rendezvous with a yacht 100 miles west of Brest .
Local suspicions were aroused when she moored at East Ferry and customs , gardaí and the naval service were alerted .
Although all five crew went on trial , only its skipper Gordon Richards was convicted .
He was jailed for 17 years .

Members of the Irish Navy standing behind 1,025 kgs of cocaine worth €290 million discovered on board the Makayabella off the Cork coast in September, 2014. File Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Coastal and lakeside communities in Sligo and Leitrim have been asked by the Garda Síochána to help them tackle crime along waterways, following a successful drugs seizure
Operation Dualgas will not exclusively target drug smuggling, but it follows successful searches of islands around Lough Gill on the border of both counties recently that uncovered nearly €250,000 worth of drugs.
Saying that gardaí are reviewing where criminal threats exist, Chief Supt Aidan Glacken said the new drive would target everything from drugs to the theft of boat engines.
Operation Dualgas is part of the broader Coastal Watch strategy, aiming to work with communities in gathering intelligence about suspicious activity.
READ MORE
Extra patrols will be put in place to identify routes used by criminals. Drugs will be one target, although historically, the bulk of large seizures off the Irish coastline have been concentrated in the south.
Human trafficking
In west Cork last year, Chief Supt Con Cadogan said farming groups, communities and fishermen could all ensure the coastline was not used for drug importation.
Operations Dualgas – meaning "duty" – will involve the Naval Service, Revenue and Customs, the Coast Guard, Waterways Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland and local authorities.
It is also looking inward to rivers and lakes to counter boat and engine theft, and property damage. Human trafficking has also been identified as a concern.
By working with State agencies, local communities, who suffer when amenities are abused, can help “to collectively detect and prevent criminality” on land and water, Chief Supt Glacken said.
Andrew Ryan, Revenue's maritime operations manager said it works closely with gardaí to "deter and detect the smuggling of drugs, cigarettes and tobacco and other prohibitions and restrictions".
Ireland’s Biggest Marine Drugs Seizures
The Makayabella – September, 2014
A boarding party from the navy ship LÉ Niamh discovered 1,025 kgs of cocaine worth €290 million on board the Makayabella off the Cork coast.
Destined for the UK, it went down as one of the biggest seizures in the history of the State and followed a Joint Task Force operation with the Naval Service, Customs and the Garda.
The operation to track the vessel as it crossed the Atlantic from the Caribbean also involved the National Crime Agency and National Maritime Information Centre in the UK as well as French and Venezuelan authorities.
Three Britons were later jailed for their part in the plot and a fourth man was convicted of money laundering connected to the same investigation.
An Irish sailing enthusiast later bought the Makayabella at auction for €70,000.
Dances with Waves - November, 2008
The yacht Dances with Waves was boarded 150 nautical miles southwest of Mizen Head off the Co Cork coastline in extreme weather conditions. The planned operation involved the seizure of over €400 million worth of cocaine in 74 bales weighing more than 1.5 tonnes.
In preparation for any such bad luck, the smugglers had a log book entry claiming they had discovered the drugs at sea but ultimately all three were convicted and sentenced to 10 years each in 2009.
They had bought the yacht in Trinidad and Tobago for €120,000 before sailing to Venezuala in South America to collect the drugs. Their destination was Caernarfon Bay in Wales.
Lieut Comm Martin Brett of the Irish Naval Service who received a commendation for his role in the seizure, later said the overwhelming quantity of 80 per cent pure cocaine represented 155 million lines by the time it would have been cut and sold on the street.
Lucky Day – July, 2007
Englishman Martin Wanden (58) was found floating in the ocean next to 65 bales of cocaine worth €440 million at Dunlough Bay on the Mizen Peninsula in west Cork.
The drugs weighing 1.5 tonnes had been moved from the Lucky Day catamaran to a rib at a rendezvous about 50km off the coast. The cocaine was later found to be 75 per cent pure.
Things went askew because one of the rib’s engines had been filled with the wrong type of fuel causing it to flounder and sink in rough seas. Wanden was discovered by a lifeboat crew.
The Posidonia – November, 1999
Customs and navy officers aboard the LÉ Ciara boarded the Posidonia, a converted trawler, uncovering an €18 million haul of cannabis resin. They brought the ship ashore at Schull in Cork.
The illicit cargo had been collected off Morocco and was due to be offloaded to a boat near the Irish coast where it would be brought ashore.
Skipper Richard Preece was jailed for nine years and two other crew, fellow Englishmen, Barry Court and Matthew Simkins were both jailed for seven years.
Six years later the ship was due to be completely overhauled as part of a Limerick project aimed at teaching new skills to teenagers from the city.
The Gemeos – September, 1998
After a long transatlantic voyage, the 15m Gemeos arrived in Kinsale Harbour in Cork only to find itself at the unwanted end of a customs and garda inspection.
It was not in vain – officers uncovered 325kg of cocaine worth €61 million.
After a three-week trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, its captain, John O’Toole from Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, was jailed for 20 years. His companion, Englishman Michael Tune received 14 years in jail for his part.
The 75 per cent pure cocaine had been brought over from Panama in Central America, hidden under bunks, diesel tanks and behind a bulwark.
The Sea Mist – September, 1996
Much like the Gemeos two years later, the fate of the Sea Mist was sealed once she put into harbour, this time in Cork.
When she was searched, customs officers found 599kg of cocaine worth €125 million.
The converted trawler had missed its rendezvous with a yacht 100 miles west of Brest.
Local suspicions were aroused when she moored at East Ferry and customs, gardaí and the naval service were alerted.
Although all five crew went on trial, only its skipper Gordon Richards was convicted. He was jailed for 17 years.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Early batch of child flu vaccine to expire within weeks after poor uptake

Hundreds of thousands of nasal flu vaccines which are available free of charge for children in GP clinics will go out of date in mid-January because of a poor uptake .
Some 600,000 doses were bought by the HSE this year and 180,000 are known to have to have been used , although it is likely that the real number used is higher because of a time-lag in record-keeping .
The nasal spray – not an injection – is being offered for free by the HSE this year for the first time , although it has been safely in use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of years .
The HSE said it was “ important for parents to come forward now to get their children vaccinated ” , though there is no evidence – unusually – that influenza viruses are currently circulating .
Doctors say giving the vaccine to children will protect older adults as influenza circulates among children more than adults .
They said injected supplies of flu vaccines were scarce .
In the last decade nearly 5,000 children have been admitted to hospital with the flu , 183 of these needed intensive care and 41 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be a serious illness for young children , ” said Dr Nuala O ’ Connor .
On Friday general practitioner Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail said the uptake amongst children “ remains incredibly low ” , adding “ if they ’ re not used they get dumped .
It ’ s tragic that this is happening .
”

The nasal flu vaccine is being offered for free by the HSE this year for the first time, although it has been safely in use in Canada and the UK for a number of years. Photograph: Getty Images
Hundreds of thousands of nasal flu vaccines which are available free of charge for children in GP clinics will go out of date in mid-January because of a poor uptake.
Some 600,000 doses were bought by the HSE this year and 180,000 are known to have to have been used, although it is likely that the real number used is higher because of a time-lag in record-keeping.
The nasal spray – not an injection – is being offered for free by the HSE this year for the first time, although it has been safely in use in the UK and Canada for a number of years.
The HSE said it was “important for parents to come forward now to get their children vaccinated”, though there is no evidence – unusually – that influenza viruses are currently circulating.
READ MORE
Doctors say giving the vaccine to children will protect older adults as influenza circulates among children more than adults.
They said injected supplies of flu vaccines were scarce.
In the last decade nearly 5,000 children have been admitted to hospital with the flu, 183 of these needed intensive care and 41 died.
“People forget that flu can be a serious illness for young children,” said Dr Nuala O’Connor.
On Friday general practitioner Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail said the uptake amongst children “remains incredibly low”, adding“if they’re not used they get dumped. It’s tragic that this is happening.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Keep up momentum to support older people in their homes, urges Alone

The pandemic brought out “ the best ” in services to support older people in their homes and this momentum can not be lost , chief executive of the Alone charity has warned .
Seán Moynihan , speaking on Friday at the start of the organisation ’ s winter initiative , said many older people dependent on the State pension were living “ just above the poverty line…in poor quality housing and in poor health ” .
They needed support all year round but particularly when cold weather made them more vulnerable .
The winter initiative , run in conjunction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brigade and the gardaí , urges people to bear their older neighbours ’ needs in mind and to check on them .
“ One in 10 older people suffer fuel poverty and might struggle to keep their house warm .
At this time older people have to prioritise their spending , and may be going without [ other essentials ] , ” said Mr Moynihan .
The Covid-19 crisis had seen a harnessing of community infrastructure in a way not seen before , to support older people who were forced to stay at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think maybe , from this pandemic where so much had to be shifted into the community , we can keep going with that .
We have seen the best of the local authorities , the best of the gardaí and An Post supporting older people in the community , and family and carers .
We have to keep that investment and that momentum .
“ We don ’ t want to go back to business as normal , whether that is in housing or health care in the community , we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to home-care is critical .
This year some home care had to be stood down but there is a commitment in Sláintecare to the right to homecare in 2021 and we really need to see that if we are serious about supporting older people in the community.
” Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu joined Mr Moynihan in appealing to “ all Dubliners and indeed people across the country to be mindful of older people in our communities who may live alone or be at risk of struggling with loneliness , health difficulties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 72 ) , who lives in an Iveagh Trust flat in the south inner-city said she was “ very lucky ” as she lived in a strong community where her rent was “ extremely affordable ” and where there was a residents ’ group that “ looks out ” for vulnerable neighbours .
A retired receptionist from St Michael ’ s College in Ailesbury Road , she said more awareness was needed of the circumstances in which many older people lived .
“ The pandemic has opened up a lot of areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked at , ” she said .
ALONE helpline : 0818 222 024 if you are older and are concerned about your own wellbeing , or are concerned about the wellbeing of an older person .

Eileen Murphy, resident of The Iveagh Trust and Michael McCarthy resident of Willie Bermingham Place at the launch of Dublin City Council and Alone’s Cold Weather Campaign, urging members of the public to check in on older people in the community during the winter months. Photograph: / The Irish Times
The pandemic brought out “the best” in services to support older people in their homes and this momentum cannot be lost, chief executive of the Alone charity has warned.
Seán Moynihan, speaking on Friday at the start of the organisation’s winter initiative, said many older people dependent on the State pension were living “just above the poverty line…in poor quality housing and in poor health”. They needed support all year round but particularly when cold weather made them more vulnerable.
The winter initiative, run in conjunction with Dublin City Council, Dublin Fire Brigade and the gardaí, urges people to bear their older neighbours' needs in mind and to check on them.
“One in 10 older people suffer fuel poverty and might struggle to keep their house warm. At this time older people have to prioritise their spending, and may be going without [other essentials],” said Mr Moynihan.
READ MORE
The Covid-19 crisis had seen a harnessing of community infrastructure in a way not seen before, to support older people who were forced to stay at home for many weeks.
"I think maybe, from this pandemic where so much had to be shifted into the community, we can keep going with that. We have seen the best of the local authorities, the best of the gardaí and An Post supporting older people in the community, and family and carers. We have to keep that investment and that momentum.
“We don’t want to go back to business as normal, whether that is in housing or health care in the community, we don’t want to go back. The right to home-care is critical. This year some home care had to be stood down but there is a commitment in Sláintecare to the right to homecare in 2021 and we really need to see that if we are serious about supporting older people in the community.”
Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu joined Mr Moynihan in appealing to "all Dubliners and indeed people across the country to be mindful of older people in our communities who may live alone or be at risk of struggling with loneliness, health difficulties or food poverty".
Eileen Murphy (72), who lives in an Iveagh Trust flat in the south inner-city said she was "very lucky" as she lived in a strong community where her rent was "extremely affordable" and where there was a residents' group that "looks out" for vulnerable neighbours.
A retired receptionist from St Michael’s College in Ailesbury Road, she said more awareness was needed of the circumstances in which many older people lived. “The pandemic has opened up a lot of areas and issues that will need to be looked at,” she said.
ALONE helpline: 0818 222 024 if you are older and are concerned about your own wellbeing, or are concerned about the wellbeing of an older person.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Postmortems due on two men found dead at hostel in Waterford city

Postmortem examinations are due to take place on the bodies of two men found at a men ’ s hostel in Waterford city on Thursday evening .
One man was discovered dead after emergency services were called to McGwire House on Bath Street at about 4.45pm .
A second man was then discovered deceased in a bed at the hostel .
Garda sources said they are not treating the deaths as suspicious .
The results of the postmortems , which are due to take place on Sunday , will determine the course of their investigations .
Inquests will follow in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been named locally as Paul Crotty and Mark Lyons from Dungarvan .
Both are aged in their 40s and are understood to have been using the hostel for some time .
Mr Crotty had been living in Dungarvan previously and is the father of two children .
A spokesman for McGwire House , which is run by St Vincent de Paul and caters for up to 30 men , said it was a “ very tragic and sad situation ” and offered their sympathy to the men ’ s families .
Regional administrator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Neill , said the deaths have stunned staff and residents at McGwire House .
“ It ’ s very sad .
The men eat together there , they watch telly together , they play games of pool together .
It ’ s a close-knit place .
They ’ re shocked by it and so are our staff.
” Outreach group Inner City Helping the Homeless said the two deaths were further evidence that the Government has “ failed to get a grip ” on homeless deaths and needs to release national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ There have been a lot of homeless deaths this year , and some make the news and some don ’ t .
The hostel isn ’ t necessarily the solution long term , and the long-term situation is for long-term housing .
Staff at the hostel try to reintegrate the homeless men back into stable units and housing.
” A joint initiative by the local authority and homeless services has resulted in 25 tenancies through a programme where they are “ rapidly rehoused ” , which moves homeless people immediately from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accommodation while providing them with a high level of support .
It aims to have 30 tenancies in place by next June .

Garda sources said they are not treating the deaths as suspicious. Photograph: Eric Luke
Postmortem examinations are due to take place on the bodies of two men found at a men’s hostel in Waterford city on Thursday evening.
One man was discovered dead after emergency services were called to McGwire House on Bath Street at about 4.45pm. A second man was then discovered deceased in a bed at the hostel.
Garda sources said they are not treating the deaths as suspicious. The results of the postmortems, which are due to take place on Sunday, will determine the course of their investigations. Inquests will follow in the new year.
The men have been named locally as Paul Crotty and Mark Lyons from Dungarvan. Both are aged in their 40s and are understood to have been using the hostel for some time. Mr Crotty had been living in Dungarvan previously and is the father of two children.
READ MORE
A spokesman for McGwire House, which is run by St Vincent de Paul and caters for up to 30 men, said it was a “very tragic and sad situation” and offered their sympathy to the men’s families.
Shocked
Regional administrator for St Vincent de Paul, David O’Neill, said the deaths have stunned staff and residents at McGwire House. “It’s very sad. The men eat together there, they watch telly together, they play games of pool together. It’s a close-knit place. They’re shocked by it and so are our staff.”
Outreach group Inner City Helping the Homeless said the two deaths were further evidence that the Government has “failed to get a grip” on homeless deaths and needs to release national figures.
Mr O’Neill added: “There have been a lot of homeless deaths this year, and some make the news and some don’t. The hostel isn’t necessarily the solution long term, and the long-term situation is for long-term housing. Staff at the hostel try to reintegrate the homeless men back into stable units and housing.”
A joint initiative by the local authority and homeless services has resulted in 25 tenancies through a programme where they are “rapidly rehoused”, which moves homeless people immediately from the streets or shelters into their own accommodation while providing them with a high level of support. It aims to have 30 tenancies in place by next June.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Prisoners allowed one visit over Christmas period due to Covid-19

Prisoners in Irish jails will be permitted one visit each over the Christmas and New Year period , which will be the first time in almost four months they have seen family or loved ones in person .
However , while special visiting arrangements would be put in place , each visit can include a maximum of one child .
It means prisoners who have several children will only be able to take a visit from one of them , accompanied by an adult .
The Irish Prison Service has very tightly controlled every prison campus since the Covid-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of precautions , pre-dating the first confirmed case of the virus in the Republic on February 29th .
Those measures included the early release of prisoners , in a bid to create additional capacity in jails to separate prisoners who were suspected of having Covid-19 and to quarantine and observe newly committed prisoners .
All in-person visits in jails across the State were also suspended from March .
In-person visits were replaced with video-conference calls .
Prison visits were first suspended at the end of March and resumed at the end of July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of October .
The Irish Prison Service confirmed on Friday special arrangements were being made for the coming weeks , and between December 16th and January 6th all prisoners would be allowed one visit .
Each visit will last 15 minutes and could involve a maximum of two visitors – two adults or one adult and one child .
Family members and prisoners will all be required to wear face masks while prisoners and their visitors will also be separated by clear screens in a bid to prevent any transmission of infection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be permitted and no packages or cash will be accepted in prison reception areas for prisoners , which is a departure from normal arrangements .
“ All packages and cards are required to be received by the prison no later than December 19th for quarantining and security screening purposes , ” the Irish Prison Service said in advice for the family and friends of prisoners .
“ We would like to reassure families and friends that we are doing everything within our power to ensure family contact is maintained , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoners would get one additional phone call per day between December 16th and January 6th .

Visits to prisons had been suspended due to the pandemic. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Prisoners in Irish jails will be permitted one visit each over the Christmas and New Year period, which will be the first time in almost four months they have seen family or loved ones in person.
However, while special visiting arrangements would be put in place, each visit can include a maximum of one child. It means prisoners who have several children will only be able to take a visit from one of them, accompanied by an adult.
The Irish Prison Service has very tightly controlled every prison campus since the Covid-19 pandemic began and put in place a series of precautions, pre-dating the first confirmed case of the virus in the Republic on February 29th.
Hospital Report
Those measures included the early release of prisoners, in a bid to create additional capacity in jails to separate prisoners who were suspected of having Covid-19 and to quarantine and observe newly committed prisoners.
READ MORE
All in-person visits in jails across the State were also suspended from March. In-person visits were replaced with video-conference calls.
Prison visits were first suspended at the end of March and resumed at the end of July before being suspended again at the beginning of October.
The Irish Prison Service confirmed on Friday special arrangements were being made for the coming weeks, and between December 16th and January 6th all prisoners would be allowed one visit.
Each visit will last 15 minutes and could involve a maximum of two visitors – two adults or one adult and one child. Family members and prisoners will all be required to wear face masks while prisoners and their visitors will also be separated by clear screens in a bid to prevent any transmission of infection.
No physical contact between prisoners and visitors will be permitted and no packages or cash will be accepted in prison reception areas for prisoners, which is a departure from normal arrangements.
“All packages and cards are required to be received by the prison no later than December 19th for quarantining and security screening purposes,” the Irish Prison Service said in advice for the family and friends of prisoners.
“We would like to reassure families and friends that we are doing everything within our power to ensure family contact is maintained,” the prison service added.
It also stated prisoners would get one additional phone call per day between December 16th and January 6th.


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--Medical products regulator urges people to be vigilant for fake Covid-19 vaccines

The regulator for medical products has urged people to be vigilant for fake Covid-19 vaccines as the Government finalises its distribution plans .
It comes as Europol warns member states that organised criminals are highly likely to manufacture and see fraudulent vaccines to take advantage of the expected massive demand .
The agency also warned of the risk of criminals hijacking vaccine shipments for onward sale .
The Health Products Registration Authority ( HPRA ) told the Irish Times it will be monitoring the supply chain for fake Covid-19 vaccines , alongside the Garda , Revenue and Interpol .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply , advertising or manufacture of unauthorised Covid-19 related vaccines , medicines or medical devices ” to get in touch , adding that any information will be treated in the strictest confidence .
Advertisements are already appearing online for fake vaccines , often under the names of the pharmaceutical companies , such as Pfizer and Moderna , which are in the final stages of producing the genuine product .
“ Once a legitimate vaccine enters the market , counterfeited versions of the specific vaccine brand are expected to circulate rapidly , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started distributing vaccines with Ireland expected to begin the process in early January .
In its warning , Europol said organised criminals are already exploiting the Covid-19 for profit , including selling fake flu vaccines which are in particularly high demand this year due to the pandemic .
In October , the World Health Organisation uncovered the distribution of a fake flu vaccine in Mexico .
It purported to be from a genuine pharmaceutical company but featured the incorrect batch numbers and expiry dates .
“ The same scenario is also likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Fraudulent products claiming to treat or prevent Covid-19 are already on sale online and offline , it said .
“ Some dark web markets feature advertisements for fake Covid-19 vaccines .
The number of offers is limited at this stage but will likely increase once a legitimate vaccine becomes available.
” Fake vaccines represent a significant threat to public health , the agency said .
At best they could be ineffective , giving people and communities a false sense of security .
At worse they could be toxic due to the unsanitary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Europol also warned fake vaccines could find their way into legal distribution channels , as frequently occurs with other counterfeit pharmaceuticals .
Vials used to store the vaccine should be completely destroyed after use to prevent criminals later filling them with fake products , it said .
The “ exceedingly high demand ” for vaccines may also lead to criminals hijacking shipments and stealing products .
Transport associations are already upgrading their distribution security , it said .
Europol pointed out that stolen vaccines may pose additional health risks as the products @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The regulator for medical products has urged people to be vigilant for fake Covid-19 vaccines as the Government finalises its distribution plans. Photograph: BioNTech SE 2020/PA Wire
The regulator for medical products has urged people to be vigilant for fake Covid-19 vaccines as the Government finalises its distribution plans.
It comes as Europol warns member states that organised criminals are highly likely to manufacture and see fraudulent vaccines to take advantage of the expected massive demand.
The agency also warned of the risk of criminals hijacking vaccine shipments for onward sale.
The Health Products Registration Authority (HPRA) told the Irish Times it will be monitoring the supply chain for fake Covid-19 vaccines, alongside the Garda, Revenue and Interpol.
READ MORE
It urged anyone with information on the “supply, advertising or manufacture of unauthorised Covid-19 related vaccines, medicines or medical devices” to get in touch, adding that any information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Advertisements are already appearing online for fake vaccines, often under the names of the pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and Moderna, which are in the final stages of producing the genuine product.
“Once a legitimate vaccine enters the market, counterfeited versions of the specific vaccine brand are expected to circulate rapidly,” the Europol said.
The UK has already started distributing vaccines with Ireland expected to begin the process in early January.
Exploiting
In its warning, Europol said organised criminals are already exploiting the Covid-19 for profit, including selling fake flu vaccines which are in particularly high demand this year due to the pandemic.
In October, the World Health Organisation uncovered the distribution of a fake flu vaccine in Mexico. It purported to be from a genuine pharmaceutical company but featured the incorrect batch numbers and expiry dates.
“The same scenario is also likely to happen when Covid-19 vaccines do become available.”
Fraudulent products claiming to treat or prevent Covid-19 are already on sale online and offline, it said.
“Some dark web markets feature advertisements for fake Covid-19 vaccines. The number of offers is limited at this stage but will likely increase once a legitimate vaccine becomes available.”
Significant threat
Fake vaccines represent a significant threat to public health, the agency said. At best they could be ineffective, giving people and communities a false sense of security. At worse they could be toxic due to the unsanitary conditions of the underground labs producing them.
Europol also warned fake vaccines could find their way into legal distribution channels, as frequently occurs with other counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
Vials used to store the vaccine should be completely destroyed after use to prevent criminals later filling them with fake products, it said.
The “exceedingly high demand” for vaccines may also lead to criminals hijacking shipments and stealing products. Transport associations are already upgrading their distribution security, it said.
Europol pointed out that stolen vaccines may pose additional health risks as the products will have left the cold chain.


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--First Communion pay day for Irish children falls during Covid-19 – survey

Irish children who made their First Communion in the time of Coronavirus have seen their earnings fall as the pandemic hit their holy payday hard according to the annual Ulster Bank Communion Survey published today ( SATURDAY ) .
While the average amount of money received by children making their Communion fell from €617 last year to €588 in 2020 , more than one in four received less than €200 compared with just 9 per cent who fell into that bracket in 2019 .
Meanwhile 6 per cent of parents who took part in the research said their child had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 per cent last year .
The source of the money children received this year has also changed .
According to the survey , 52 per cent of parents said other family members were most likely to have given money to their child for their Communion , down from 68 per cent in 2019 .
A third of parents , meanwhile said they had stepped in to fill the income gap and had given their child the most money this year , up from just 9 per cent last year .
In somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of money spent on the day has dropped sharply , from €929 in 2019 to a six-year low of €716 .
The survey revealed the impact Covid-19 and subsequent public health restrictions have had on planning and celebration for the big day with 85 per cent of Communions rescheduled due to the pandemic to either to later in the year or to next year .
Some 80 per cent of those who took part in the survey said their child received most of their Communion money in cash while a similarly high number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their child received for their Communion would end up in a savings account in the child ’ s own name Of those children who had spent a chunk of the money already , the most likely purchases were toys , computer games , clothes and sweets with books languishing in fifth place .
On a more positive note , half of the children who made money out of their Communion had already shared some of it with their siblings or donated at least a portion of it to charity , up from 42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 per cent , just under one-fifth said their children had shared some of their Communion money with their siblings , with a similar proportion donating some of it to charity .

Irish children who made their First Communion in the time of Coronavirus have seen their earnings fall as the pandemic hit their holy payday hard
Irish children who made their First Communion in the time of Coronavirus have seen their earnings fall as the pandemic hit their holy payday hard according to the annual Ulster Bank Communion Survey published today (SATURDAY).
While the average amount of money received by children making their Communion fell from €617 last year to €588 in 2020, more than one in four received less than €200 compared with just 9 per cent who fell into that bracket in 2019.
Meanwhile 6 per cent of parents who took part in the research said their child had received more than €1,000, down from 13 per cent last year.
The source of the money children received this year has also changed. According to the survey, 52 per cent of parents said other family members were most likely to have given money to their child for their Communion, down from 68 per cent in 2019.
READ MORE
A third of parents, meanwhile said they had stepped in to fill the income gap and had given their child the most money this year, up from just 9 per cent last year.
Money spent
In somewhat better news for parents, the amount of money spent on the day has dropped sharply, from €929 in 2019 to a six-year low of €716.
The survey revealed the impact Covid-19 and subsequent public health restrictions have had on planning and celebration for the big day with 85 per cent of Communions rescheduled due to the pandemic to either to later in the year or to next year.
Some 80 per cent of those who took part in the survey said their child received most of their Communion money in cash while a similarly high number of respondents said some of the money their child received for their Communion would end up in a savings account in the child’s own name
Of those children who had spent a chunk of the money already, the most likely purchases were toys, computer games, clothes and sweets with books languishing in fifth place.
On a more positive note, half of the children who made money out of their Communion had already shared some of it with their siblings or donated at least a portion of it to charity, up from 42 per cent last year.
Of that 50 per cent, just under one-fifth said their children had shared some of their Communion money with their siblings, with a similar proportion donating some of it to charity.


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--People ‘flight shamed’ over air travel during pandemic - Aer Lingus chief

Air travel has not been the “ ogre ” responsible for spreading coronavirus it has been portrayed as by policymakers , the chief executive of Aer Lingus has said .
Donal Moriarty , Aer Lingus interim chief executive , said there had been an unfair “ degree of toxicity and flight shaming ” around international travel .
The airline boss maintained that the rates of infection linked to flights and overseas travel was low .
“ The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control came out earlier this week and showed that international travel was the cause of less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
While not outright criticising the Government , or the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) , Mr Moriarty said policymakers had relied on “ anecdote ” when it came to the risk of Covid-19 from flights .
“ There was certainly a very negative narrative towards travel and it really wasn ’ t merited by the facts , ” he told Brenan O ’ Connor on RTÉ Radio One .
“ Travel hasn ’ t been the ogre it ’ s portrayed as … There was a degree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to move on from that , ” he said .
“ In the summer when rates of transmission and infection in Ireland were very low , travel was portrayed as this very significant risk , that wasn ’ t true factually based upon the data at that point , and it remains untrue , ” Mr Moriarty said .
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) said of 73,045 confirmed Covid-19 cases analysed up to 1 December , 663 were imported from abroad .
Public health officials , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have consistently appealed for people to avoid travel abroad this year , due to Covid-19 risks .
Mr Moriarty said the narrative from policymakers “ has caused people to feel unsafe ” about flying .
The impact of the pandemic had been “ catastrophic ” for the aviation industry , and Aer Lingus had faced a “ very challenging ” year , he said .
“ We were probably one of the industries that was first to feel the effects of Covid-19 and we ’ ll probably be one of the last industries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told the Brendan O ’ Connor show .
Commenting on reports that an estimated 50,000 people would be travelling home from abroad this Christmas , Mr Moriarty said that would be a “ fraction ” of the traffic over the holiday period from previous years .
Aer Lingus was still continuing to process requests for refunds from customers who had booked flights but had been unable to travel due to the pandemic , he said .
“ We ’ ve had in excess of 2 million individual requests for vouchers and refunds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this point we ’ ve processed over 90 per cent of them , in excess of 1.8 million , each of those have to be manually processed , ” he said .
The airline chief executive said additional resources had been put in place to clear the remaining backlog of refund requests “ as quickly as possible .
”

Policymakers had relied on ‘anecdote’ when it came to the risk of Covid-19 from flights, Donal Moriarty said. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
Air travel has not been the "ogre" responsible for spreading coronavirus it has been portrayed as by policymakers, the chief executive of Aer Lingus has said.
Donal Moriarty, Aer Lingus interim chief executive, said there had been an unfair "degree of toxicity and flight shaming" around international travel.
The airline boss maintained that the rates of infection linked to flights and overseas travel was low. “The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control came out earlier this week and showed that international travel was the cause of less than one per cent of infections,” he said.
While not outright criticising the Government, or the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), Mr Moriarty said policymakers had relied on "anecdote" when it came to the risk of Covid-19 from flights.
READ MORE
“There was certainly a very negative narrative towards travel and it really wasn’t merited by the facts,” he told Brenan O’Connor on RTÉ Radio One .
“Travel hasn’t been the ogre it’s portrayed as … There was a degree of toxicity and flight shaming and really we have to move on from that,” he said.
“In the summer when rates of transmission and infection in Ireland were very low, travel was portrayed as this very significant risk, that wasn’t true factually based upon the data at that point, and it remains untrue,” Mr Moriarty said.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said of 73,045 confirmed Covid-19 cases analysed up to 1 December, 663 were imported from abroad.
Public health officials, such as chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, have consistently appealed for people to avoid travel abroad this year, due to Covid-19 risks. Mr Moriarty said the narrative from policymakers "has caused people to feel unsafe" about flying.
The impact of the pandemic had been “catastrophic” for the aviation industry, and Aer Lingus had faced a “very challenging” year, he said.
“We were probably one of the industries that was first to feel the effects of Covid-19 and we’ll probably be one of the last industries to fully emerge from it,” he told the Brendan O’Connor show.
Commenting on reports that an estimated 50,000 people would be travelling home from abroad this Christmas, Mr Moriarty said that would be a “fraction” of the traffic over the holiday period from previous years.
Aer Lingus was still continuing to process requests for refunds from customers who had booked flights but had been unable to travel due to the pandemic, he said.
“We’ve had in excess of 2 million individual requests for vouchers and refunds, a combination of the two, at this point we’ve processed over 90 per cent of them, in excess of 1.8 million, each of those have to be manually processed,” he said.
The airline chief executive said additional resources had been put in place to clear the remaining backlog of refund requests “as quickly as possible.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--Greens welcome Cork City Council pledge to examine idea of eco graveyard for city

The Green Party in Cork has asked officials of Cork City Council to meet with residents seeking an “ eco-graveyard ” in the city after the council passed a motion calling for such a facility in the city .
Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran explained an “ eco graveyard ” allows a person to be buried without chemicals and unnecessary markings and where the cemetery supports biodiversity through the planting of trees and wildflowers .
Cllr Moran said he had raised the issue amid growing interest from people having such an option and Cork City Council said it will set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eco-burial , if demand for such burials develops .
“ I ’ m taken aback by the interest and support for the idea , even from people who wouldn ’ t be natural environmentalists .
There ’ s a genuine interest that in death people would exist at peace with the world and nature , ” he said .
“ The support from Cork City Council , if there is demand , is very encouraging .
I ’ ve asked now for a meeting between interested residents and the relevant officials to explore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already exists in Wexford , but it is a privately-run cemetery .
If Cork was to develop its own , it would be the first local authority in Ireland to support the option.
” One person who wants to be buried in this way is Green Party member , Mark Cronin who said eco-graveyards aim to be a natural and peaceful place where loved ones are commemorated without hindrance to nature .
“ Eco-graveyards and eco-burial is becoming more of a feature in Britain and the USA .
It reflects a growing awareness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done to the environment and biodiversity by human activity .
“ Traditional cemeteries contribute to loss of biodiversity and pollute the soils through chemical additives .
They become an animal-free area .
Even in death , humans can prevent the natural cycle of nature.
” Meanwhile Cllr Moran also welcomed confirmation by Cork City Council that it plans to appoint a Trees officer early in the New Year which will build the capacity of the council to protect and build a green city .
“ The vision for the Trees Officer is very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground ’ , someone who is engaging with local communities and who can spread knowledge and best practice across the city , ” he said .
“ Cork has been very envious of the Dublin Trees Strategy .
Dublin already has a Trees Officer and they ’ re able to drive forward a trees policy .
That ’ s not just about protecting trees but also making sure the right tree is in the right place .
“ That can avoid a lot of problems residents make about trees before they ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing things right is about keeping the benefit of having trees and biodiversity at the heart of the city.
” Meanwhile Cllr Moran ’ s Green Party colleague on Cork City Council , Cllr Dan Boyle has welcomed confirmation from Cork City Council that it plans to plant some 500 trees around the city before the end of the year .
Cllr Boyle had requested information on the number of trees felled by Cork City Council from the period of January 1st to September 30th this year , versus the number of trees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period .
Cork City Council ’ s Director of Services David Joyce said 203 trees have been removed largely because of disease or storm damage while a further 189 trees were either removed or heavily pruned after damage by Storm Ellen in August .
“ It is important to note that the decision to remove any tree is only carried out following an inspection and recommendation from a qualified arborist , ” said Mr Joyce in a written reply to Cllr Boyle , reported in The Echo .
“ A total of 345 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 metres high ) were planted between January and March 2020 and It is anticipated that a further 500 trees will be planted before year end , ” he said .
“ In addition , Cork Chamber has generously offered to sponsor the planting of 200 trees in parks and open space areas each year for the next five years and work to identify suitable locations for these trees is now underway.
” Cllr Boyle welcomed the news , stating that it was “ a largely positive response ” from Cork City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will no longer be tree neutral as we had been in 2019 , ” he said .

The Green Party in Cork has asked officials of Cork City Council to meet with residents seeking an "eco-graveyard" in the city after the council passed a motion calling for such a facility in the city.
Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran explained an "eco graveyard" allows a person to be buried without chemicals and unnecessary markings and where the cemetery supports biodiversity through the planting of trees and wildflowers.
Cllr Moran said he had raised the issue amid growing interest from people having such an option and Cork City Council said it will set aside an area within existing cemeteries for eco-burial, if demand for such burials develops.
“I’m taken aback by the interest and support for the idea, even from people who wouldn’t be natural environmentalists. There’s a genuine interest that in death people would exist at peace with the world and nature,” he said.
READ MORE
“The support from Cork City Council, if there is demand, is very encouraging. I’ve asked now for a meeting between interested residents and the relevant officials to explore the idea further.
"An eco-graveyard already exists in Wexford, but it is a privately-run cemetery. If Cork was to develop its own, it would be the first local authority in Ireland to support the option."
One person who wants to be buried in this way is Green Party member, Mark Cronin who said eco-graveyards aim to be a natural and peaceful place where loved ones are commemorated without hindrance to nature.
“Eco-graveyards and eco-burial is becoming more of a feature in Britain and the USA. It reflects a growing awareness among people of the lasting damage being done to the environment and biodiversity by human activity.
“Traditional cemeteries contribute to loss of biodiversity and pollute the soils through chemical additives. They become an animal-free area. Even in death, humans can prevent the natural cycle of nature.”
Confirmation
Meanwhile Cllr Moran also welcomed confirmation by Cork City Council that it plans to appoint a Trees officer early in the New Year which will build the capacity of the council to protect and build a green city.
“The vision for the Trees Officer is very much someone who is ‘wellies on the ground’, someone who is engaging with local communities and who can spread knowledge and best practice across the city,” he said.
“Cork has been very envious of the Dublin Trees Strategy. Dublin already has a Trees Officer and they’re able to drive forward a trees policy. That’s not just about protecting trees but also making sure the right tree is in the right place.
“That can avoid a lot of problems residents make about trees before they ever happen. The overall of benefit of doing things right is about keeping the benefit of having trees and biodiversity at the heart of the city.”
Meanwhile Cllr Moran's Green Party colleague on Cork City Council, Cllr Dan Boyle has welcomed confirmation from Cork City Council that it plans to plant some 500 trees around the city before the end of the year.
Cllr Boyle had requested information on the number of trees felled by Cork City Council from the period of January 1st to September 30th this year, versus the number of trees planted by the council over the same period.
Cork City Council's Director of Services David Joyce said 203 trees have been removed largely because of disease or storm damage while a further 189 trees were either removed or heavily pruned after damage by Storm Ellen in August.
“It is important to note that the decision to remove any tree is only carried out following an inspection and recommendation from a qualified arborist,” said Mr Joyce in a written reply to Cllr Boyle, reported in The Echo.
Planted
“A total of 345 semi-mature trees (20 years old & 7 metres high) were planted between January and March 2020 and It is anticipated that a further 500 trees will be planted before year end,” he said.
“In addition, Cork Chamber has generously offered to sponsor the planting of 200 trees in parks and open space areas each year for the next five years and work to identify suitable locations for these trees is now underway.”
Cllr Boyle welcomed the news, stating that it was “a largely positive response” from Cork City Council. “It shows that the city will no longer be tree neutral as we had been in 2019,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--Family of Irish man held in China: ‘Nobody is helping us – we are just begging for help’

The wife of an Irish businessman who has effectively been trapped in China for the past two years , says she is begging for help to get him out , adding that her children were “ riddled with anxiety ” .
Richard O ’ Halloran ( 45 ) , a father of four from Foxrock in Dublin , was prevented from leaving China in February 2019 after the company he worked for fell afoul of the Chinese authorities , though no allegation has ever been levelled against him .
Now his wife , Tara O ’ Halloran , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 13 ) , Amber ( 11 ) , Isabella ( 9 ) and Scarlett ( 7 ) – are facing into their second Christmas without him .
“ Lockdown was very rough – the children were going through an awful lot .
They are amazing kids but it has been very difficult for them , ” says Ms O ’ Halloran .
“ They find it hard to understand , they are very fearful and riddled with anxiety and clinging to me .
They can ’ t understand how Richard was taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is concerned about the impact on Mr O ’ Halloran ’ s mental health and is worried that he appears to have “ given up hope of ever getting home ” .
“ He can see there ’ s nothing happening , though we are trying to get him home and we have explained all of the things we are doing.
” The Irish Government ’ s consular staff were helping him and meeting with him in Shanghai , where he has been staying in an apartment .
The efforts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Last week , Mrs O ’ Halloran said her mood jumped when she learned Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney was to speak to his Chinese counterpart , believing that the call would be about resolving her husband ’ s situation .
However , she says no further information had emerged during the call .
“ Richard ’ s name came up during the conversation but the Minister didn ’ t press him for any details and it appears he got no information about the situation .
I was pinning all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was led to understand this would be a huge break in the case .
However , Mr Coveney ’ s office later told The Irish Times the call was a significant one and had involved several important issues .
“ The case of Mr O ’ Halloran featured prominently in this discussion , which is the latest in a series of engagements with the Chinese authorities , both by the Minister personally and by officials over the past several months , ” the spokesman said .
“ This is an extremely complicated consular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personally engaged and the consular teams in Dublin , Beijing and Shanghai have Mr O ’ Halloran ’ s welfare above any other consideration .
They are doing everything they can to resolve the case and bring him home to his family.
” Mr O ’ Halloran was stopped from leaving China over an investigation into Chinese businessman Min Jiedong , the owner of the Irishman ’ s employers , the Dublin-based China International Aviation Leasing Service .
The authorities accused Mr Min of illegally collecting money from Chinese investors in a crowd-funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft , currently leased to an airline in Europe .
He has gone on trial and been jailed .
However , Mr O ’ Halloran joined the company a year after the events under investigation took place .
He travelled to China in February 2019 to meet investors and assess the problems facing the firm .
After a week of meetings in Shanghai , he was detained at passport control at the airport as he tried to board his flight back to Dublin .
He was later issued with an exit ban .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late Fine Gael taoiseach Garret FitzGerald , testified as a witness four times in the prosecution of Mr Min .
However , he has not been permitted to leave China , despite both the prosecutor and Mr Min telling the court he should be .
Initially he lived in a hotel room but since then he has transferred to an apartment in a bid to reduce the cost of his forced stay in China .
At home in Ireland , his wife has endured the Covid-19 pandemic , including lockdown and periods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without her husband .
The Chinese authorities claim that Mr O ’ Halloran promised to transfer the aircraft and leasing revenues connected to the plane back to the Irish company ’ s Chinese parent , but that he has not done so .
However , Ms O ’ Halloran says her husband does not have the power to do what the Chinese authorities have asked , as while he managed the leasing of the aircraft , the aircraft is not his property to give to the Chinese .
Ms O ’ Halloran said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he did , as a condition of being allowed to return home and has also complied with other conditions he was asked to satisfy .
Nothing , however , has helped to improve his situation , or bring his return to Ireland closer .
He handed in his letter of resignation from his position as the company ’ s chief operating officer , as demanded , and supplied company bank details “ but they wouldn ’ t accept it ” , his wife says .
“ But they had changed their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We literally don ’ t know what they want at this point .
We have no guarantee they were going to let him go home .
“ We don ’ t have any point of contact in China and Richard has never been given anything in writing .
This is why I am reaching out to the Government here – if they don ’ t negotiate we are never going to get him home.
” Ms O ’ Halloran also says her husband ’ s physical wellbeing has deteriorated along with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his apartment building and was found by a maid .
“ He was taken to hospital and had another seizure and his heart stopped , so he was clinically dead for a period , ” she says .
“ I don ’ t understand what good he is to them over there .
We are terrified .
Nobody is helping us and we are at the point where we are just begging for help.
” Other people in Ireland ’ s aviation industry , including those who spend time in China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shocked at what had happened to him and that Mr O ’ Halloran had become “ a commercial hostage ” .
Her husband ’ s family are deeply concerned about him , too : “ They are heartbroken and they are a wonderful family .
It ’ s torture for us to see him deteriorate .
One of my own children doesn ’ t sleep , she is so concerned .
The family is very frustrated , too , that they have no Chinese official to liaise with and that it is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Mr O ’ Halloran could do , to give the Chinese what they want so that they will reverse the exit ban .
“ The kids are absolutely heartbroken to be still without their dad and distraught at the idea another Christmas apart from him.
” She and her husband had decided last year , and into this year , not to speak publicly about his detention , she says .
Then they felt the best thing to do was to allow the Government time to speak with the Chinese authorities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the situation has dragged on for so long they believe they must speak out .
“ It beggars belief he could be just be left there , ” Ms O ’ Halloran says .
“ We can ’ t go any further with this but the Irish Government could and they need to demand that he be released .
[ The Chinese ] are just using him as leverage and we are so worried .
”

The wife of an Irish businessman who has effectively been trapped in China for the past two years, says she is begging for help to get him out, adding that her children were "riddled with anxiety".
Richard O'Halloran (45), a father of four from Foxrock in Dublin, was prevented from leaving China in February 2019 after the company he worked for fell afoul of the Chinese authorities, though no allegation has ever been levelled against him.
Now his wife, Tara O’Halloran, and the couple’s four children – Ben (13), Amber (11), Isabella (9) and Scarlett (7) – are facing into their second Christmas without him.
“Lockdown was very rough – the children were going through an awful lot. They are amazing kids but it has been very difficult for them,” says Ms O’Halloran.
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“They find it hard to understand, they are very fearful and riddled with anxiety and clinging to me. They can’t understand how Richard was taken from their lives, just removed.”
She is concerned about the impact on Mr O’Halloran’s mental health and is worried that he appears to have “given up hope of ever getting home”.
“He can see there’s nothing happening, though we are trying to get him home and we have explained all of the things we are doing.”
The Irish Government's consular staff were helping him and meeting with him in Shanghai, where he has been staying in an apartment. The efforts of the Irish officials have been appreciated, she says.
Last week, Mrs O'Halloran said her mood jumped when she learned Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney was to speak to his Chinese counterpart, believing that the call would be about resolving her husband's situation.
However, she says no further information had emerged during the call.
“Richard’s name came up during the conversation but the Minister didn’t press him for any details and it appears he got no information about the situation. I was pinning all my hopes on that call as I was led to understand this would be a huge break in the case.
Significant
However, Mr Coveney’s office later told The Irish Times the call was a significant one and had involved several important issues.
“The case of Mr O’Halloran featured prominently in this discussion, which is the latest in a series of engagements with the Chinese authorities, both by the Minister personally and by officials over the past several months,” the spokesman said.
"This is an extremely complicated consular case. The Minister remains actively and personally engaged and the consular teams in Dublin, Beijing and Shanghai have Mr O'Halloran's welfare above any other consideration. They are doing everything they can to resolve the case and bring him home to his family."
Mr O'Halloran was stopped from leaving China over an investigation into Chinese businessman Min Jiedong, the owner of the Irishman's employers, the Dublin-based China International Aviation Leasing Service.
The authorities accused Mr Min of illegally collecting money from Chinese investors in a crowd-funding scheme and using it to buy an aircraft, currently leased to an airline in Europe. He has gone on trial and been jailed.
However, Mr O’Halloran joined the company a year after the events under investigation took place. He travelled to China in February 2019 to meet investors and assess the problems facing the firm. After a week of meetings in Shanghai, he was detained at passport control at the airport as he tried to board his flight back to Dublin. He was later issued with an exit ban.
Testified
The Irish businessman, a relative of the late Fine Gael taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, testified as a witness four times in the prosecution of Mr Min. However, he has not been permitted to leave China, despite both the prosecutor and Mr Min telling the court he should be.
Initially he lived in a hotel room but since then he has transferred to an apartment in a bid to reduce the cost of his forced stay in China.
At home in Ireland, his wife has endured the Covid-19 pandemic, including lockdown and periods of home schooling her four children, without her husband.
The Chinese authorities claim that Mr O’Halloran promised to transfer the aircraft and leasing revenues connected to the plane back to the Irish company’s Chinese parent, but that he has not done so.
However, Ms O’Halloran says her husband does not have the power to do what the Chinese authorities have asked, as while he managed the leasing of the aircraft, the aircraft is not his property to give to the Chinese.
Ms O’Halloran said her husband was also told to resign, which he did, as a condition of being allowed to return home and has also complied with other conditions he was asked to satisfy. Nothing, however, has helped to improve his situation, or bring his return to Ireland closer.
Letter of resignation
He handed in his letter of resignation from his position as the company’s chief operating officer, as demanded, and supplied company bank details “but they wouldn’t accept it”, his wife says.
“But they had changed their mind about what they want from him. We literally don’t know what they want at this point. We have no guarantee they were going to let him go home.
“We don’t have any point of contact in China and Richard has never been given anything in writing. This is why I am reaching out to the Government here – if they don’t negotiate we are never going to get him home.”
Ms O’Halloran also says her husband’s physical wellbeing has deteriorated along with his mental health
– he suffered a seizure in his apartment building and was found by a maid.
“He was taken to hospital and had another seizure and his heart stopped, so he was clinically dead for a period,” she says. “I don’t understand what good he is to them over there. We are terrified. Nobody is helping us and we are at the point where we are just begging for help.”
Other people in Ireland’s aviation industry, including those who spend time in China, have helped, telling her they were shocked at what had happened to him and that Mr O’Halloran had become “a commercial hostage”.
Her husband’s family are deeply concerned about him, too: “They are heartbroken and they are a wonderful family. It’s torture for us to see him deteriorate. One of my own children doesn’t sleep, she is so concerned.
Frustrated
The family is very frustrated, too, that they have no Chinese official to liaise with and that it is not clear what they could do, or what Mr O’Halloran could do, to give the Chinese what they want so that they will reverse the exit ban.
“The kids are absolutely heartbroken to be still without their dad and distraught at the idea another Christmas apart from him.”
She and her husband had decided last year, and into this year, not to speak publicly about his detention, she says. Then they felt the best thing to do was to allow the Government time to speak with the Chinese authorities to negotiate his return. Now, however, the situation has dragged on for so long they believe they must speak out.
"It beggars belief he could be just be left there," Ms O'Halloran says . "We can't go any further with this but the Irish Government could and they need to demand that he be released. [The Chinese] are just using him as leverage and we are so worried."


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--EU drive to clean up polluted waters has special importance for Ireland

It seems a bit late in the day , if not the whole Anthropocene , for humans to think of giving half the Earth back to nature .
In America that project is led by the admirable EO Wilson , Yale University ’ s David Attenborough .
His “ Half-Earth ” team is mapping the planet ’ s hot-spots of biodiversity to link them together in a grand conservation plan .
On this side of the Atlantic , the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 , key pillar of the European Green Deal is far more modest but still highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zones and connecting them with ecological corridors , it will transform at least 30 per cent of Europe ’ s lands into a network of actively managed and protected areas .
Those with peak biodiversity will have the toughest controls .
Catching up on decades of missed deadlines and slack national effort , not least in Ireland , an EU “ nature restoration plan ” will be backed by binding legal targets for repairing degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems , such as peatland .
At least 10 per cent of farmland will be devoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as hedgerows , stone walls and flowery headlands , and at least 25 per cent will switch to organic farming .
All this , plus planting three billion trees , restoring 25,000km of rivers and cutting the use of pesticides by 50 per cent , is linked to the EU Farm to Fork Strategy .
This will help shape the Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP ) and guide farm payments under eco-schemes .
National targets for legally binding “ restoration ” will be proposed next year .
Ireland ’ s conservation areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , well short of the 18 per cent European average .
At the head of the list are Slovenia and Bulgaria , already conserving more than 30 per cent .
Management and restoration of the new Natura network will require an annual investment of €6 billion , promising up to 500,000 new jobs to help in the rebound from Covid-19 .
Already , says the European Commission , more than a million farming jobs are linked to conservation .
Bord na Móna ’ s restoration of the midland bogs , just announced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 350 jobs – a timely example , if rather special to Ireland .
Teagasc scientists agree that the EU biodiversity plan will demand “ transformative change ” in farming .
In its current research journal , John Finn and Daire Ó hUallacháin see it as “ bringing nature back to agricultural land ” .
Some measures echo Teagasc ’ s own efforts to wean farmers away from routine spraying with pesticides .
More than a million kilos , nearly all herbicides and fungicides , are still applied to arable crops and half as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ireland .
Last year Teagasc joined a major European research alliance to find and test organic alternatives .
The new drive to clean up polluted rivers , lakes and drinking water has special importance for Ireland .
Along with a 20 per cent reduction in fertiliser use , the new EU Farm to Fork plan aims to cut fertiliser run-off and waste by half .
Basic farm payments will also make farmers responsible for protecting wetlands and ponds on their land .
Some 7,000 intensive Irish farmers take part in “ derogation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Directive , which limits the amount of cattle slurry they can spread on their land .
Under Ireland ’ s “ Food Wise ” plans , numbers of dairy farmers will increase , along with their slurry-spread hectares .
Some atonement may come from the recommended growth of more flowering plants for pollinators .
A new report on the state of the Irish environment by the Environment Protection Agency discusses degradation of soils , given the new floods and droughts of climate change .
It points up the damage to carbon storage and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the fungi , bacteria and insects that live in the soil and amazingly account for about a quarter of all living species .
Apart from pollinators , lively , brightly coloured and obviously of human value , insects and other invertebrates rate little conservation investment .
This matches the interest in charismatic mammals that make good wildlife films , but the mismatch of money for creatures with backbones compared with those without them is drawing growing reproach from many ecologists .
Ireland ’ s star conservation invertebrate is the freshwater pearl mussel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moorland rivers of the west .
Now rare in Europe , it is a badge of water quality that merits much attention , not least on 13 pages of the new EPA report .
For farmers along its riverbanks , it also earns payments for protecting the natural value of their land .

It seems a bit late in the day, if not the whole Anthropocene, for humans to think of giving half the Earth back to nature. In America that project is led by the admirable EO Wilson, Yale University’s David Attenborough. His “Half-Earth” team is mapping the planet’s hot-spots of biodiversity to link them together in a grand conservation plan.
On this side of the Atlantic, the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, key pillar of the European Green Deal is far more modest but still highly ambitious. Building on existing Natura conservation zones and connecting them with ecological corridors, it will transform at least 30 per cent of Europe’s lands into a network of actively managed and protected areas. Those with peak biodiversity will have the toughest controls.
Catching up on decades of missed deadlines and slack national effort, not least in Ireland, an EU “nature restoration plan” will be backed by binding legal targets for repairing degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems, such as peatland. At least 10 per cent of farmland will be devoted to “high diversity landscape features” such as hedgerows, stone walls and flowery headlands, and at least 25 per cent will switch to organic farming.
Along with a 20 per cent reduction in fertiliser use, the new EU Farm to Fork plan aims to cut fertiliser run-off and waste by half
All this, plus planting three billion trees, restoring 25,000km of rivers and cutting the use of pesticides by 50 per cent, is linked to the EU Farm to Fork Strategy. This will help shape the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and guide farm payments under eco-schemes. National targets for legally binding “restoration” will be proposed next year.
READ MORE
Ireland’s conservation areas total 14 per cent of the land, well short of the 18 per cent European average. At the head of the list are Slovenia and Bulgaria, already conserving more than 30 per cent.
Management and restoration of the new Natura network will require an annual investment of €6 billion, promising up to 500,000 new jobs to help in the rebound from Covid-19. Already, says the European Commission, more than a million farming jobs are linked to conservation. Bord na Móna's restoration of the midland bogs, just announced, will cost €108 million and create some 350 jobs – a timely example, if rather special to Ireland.
Teagasc scientists agree that the EU biodiversity plan will demand "transformative change" in farming. In its current research journal, John Finn and Daire Ó hUallacháin see it as "bringing nature back to agricultural land".
Some measures echo Teagasc’s own efforts to wean farmers away from routine spraying with pesticides. More than a million kilos, nearly all herbicides and fungicides, are still applied to arable crops and half as much again to grassland and fodder crops in Ireland. Last year Teagasc joined a major European research alliance to find and test organic alternatives.
The new drive to clean up polluted rivers, lakes and drinking water has special importance for Ireland. Along with a 20 per cent reduction in fertiliser use, the new EU Farm to Fork plan aims to cut fertiliser run-off and waste by half. Basic farm payments will also make farmers responsible for protecting wetlands and ponds on their land.
Some 7,000 intensive Irish farmers take part in “derogation” from the EU’s Nitrogen Directive, which limits the amount of cattle slurry they can spread on their land. Under Ireland’s “Food Wise” plans, numbers of dairy farmers will increase, along with their slurry-spread hectares.
Some atonement may come from the recommended growth of more flowering plants for pollinators.
A new report on the state of the Irish environment by the Environment Protection Agency discusses degradation of soils, given the new floods and droughts of climate change. It points up the damage to carbon storage and recycling of nutrients – work carried out by the fungi, bacteria and insects that live in the soil and amazingly account for about a quarter of all living species.
Apart from pollinators, lively, brightly coloured and obviously of human value, insects and other invertebrates rate little conservation investment. This matches the interest in charismatic mammals that make good wildlife films, but the mismatch of money for creatures with backbones compared with those without them is drawing growing reproach from many ecologists.
Ireland’s star conservation invertebrate is the freshwater pearl mussel, just about surviving in some clear moorland rivers of the west. Now rare in Europe, it is a badge of water quality that merits much attention, not least on 13 pages of the new EPA report. For farmers along its riverbanks, it also earns payments for protecting the natural value of their land.


theirishtimes--2020-12-05--Are leucistic birds ostracised from the flock? Readers’ nature queries

We have lots of sparrows coming to our bird table , and recently my husband spotted one with a white head .
Will this bird be ostracised or be able to breed like the others ?
– Ann Mangan , Dungarvan , Co Waterford Sometimes a leucistic bird is driven away , but yours seems to be part of the flock .
It will be able to mate , and the genetic mutation may be passed on to progeny .
I saw this most beautiful little leucistic chaffinch in my garden that was fascinating to watch .
How common are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Co Mayo Leucistic chaffinch are not common but are indeed beautiful .
Leucism is a genetic mutation that prevents melanin ( which gives colour ) from being deposited normally on feathers , but it is present in other parts of the body .
This beautiful winter visitor , a great egret , is wintering in Baltimore .
It seems happy with a flotilla of ducks and a watchful heron .
– Richard Marten , Baltimore , Co Cork The great white egret is regular visitor to the south coast in late spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwinters here .
This fungus appears sometimes in the garden .
In the soil it has thin , white roots that stick to wood .
What is it and is it poisonous ?
– Richard Knatchbull , Bray , Co Wicklow It ’ s red cage fungus , related to the stinkhorn family .
I would not recommend eating it .
We found these growing on the verge opposite our house .
They are proper , picture-book toadstools .
– Ed Armitage , Douglas , Co Cork Fly agaric , Amanita muscaria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is associated usually with birch , spruce and oak trees .
Sometimes on bright mornings , butterflies come alive and fly around my house .
Should I leave them in the house or put them out ?
Will they survive outside in the winter ?
– Sheelagh Coyle , Mountmellick , Co Laois Don ’ t put them out unless you put them in a shelter such as a shed .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ @ @ @ @ @ @

We have lots of sparrows coming to our bird table, and recently my husband spotted one with a white head. Will this bird be ostracised or be able to breed like the others? – Ann Mangan, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Sometimes a leucistic bird is driven away, but yours seems to be part of the flock. It will be able to mate, and the genetic mutation may be passed on to progeny.
Leucistic chaffinch
I saw this most beautiful little leucistic chaffinch in my garden that was fascinating to watch. How common are they? – Lelia McHale, Knockmore, Co Mayo
Leucistic chaffinch are not common but are indeed beautiful. Leucism is a genetic mutation that prevents melanin (which gives colour) from being deposited normally on feathers, but it is present in other parts of the body.
Great white egret
This beautiful winter visitor, a great egret, is wintering in Baltimore. It seems happy with a flotilla of ducks and a watchful heron. – Richard Marten, Baltimore, Co Cork
The great white egret is regular visitor to the south coast in late spring and summer, but occasionally it now overwinters here.
Red cage fungus
This fungus appears sometimes in the garden. In the soil it has thin, white roots that stick to wood. What is it and is it poisonous? – Richard Knatchbull, Bray, Co Wicklow
It's red cage fungus, related to the stinkhorn family. I would not recommend eating it.
READ MORE
Fly agaric, Amanita muscaria
We found these growing on the verge opposite our house. They are proper, picture-book toadstools. – Ed Armitage, Douglas, Co Cork
Fly agaric, Amanita muscaria, is a well-known poisonous mushroom. It is associated usually with birch, spruce and oak trees.
Sometimes on bright mornings, butterflies come alive and fly around my house. Should I leave them in the house or put them out? Will they survive outside in the winter? – Sheelagh Coyle, Mountmellick, Co Laois
Don't put them out unless you put them in a shelter such as a shed.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address


Church services

National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9.15 EUCHARIST 11.15 CHORAL EUCHARIST sung by the Lay Vicars Choral Preacher : The Revd A.H.N .
McKinley , M.A.
, Treasurer .
15.15 CHORAL EVENSONG - sung by the Lay Vicars Choral livestream only SUNG MATINS at 9.00 on Tuesday , Wednesday , Thursday and Friday .
CHORAL EVENSONG at 17.30 on Thursday .
Our other weekday evening services this week will remain online .
Full details may be found on https : //www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/worship/music-lists/ .
Please note that due to strict protocols in place , we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For further information visit www.stpatrickscathedral.ie or telephone 01 453 9472 .
Christ Church Bray Sunday 6th December 11am Holy Communion .
Up to 50 people may attend in Church , or you can watch the live stream , or view a recording later at www.churchservices.tv/christchurchbray St John the Evangelist , Park Avenue , Sandymount Sunday 6th December - Advent 2 : Holy Eucharist 11 a.m. We are taking appropriate precautions to make our worship as safe as possible .
www.sandymount.dublin.anglican.org Dun Laoghaire , Co Dublin The Methodist Church , Northumberland Avenue , Dun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online at www.dlmc.org First Church,21 Herbert Park , ,Dublin 4 Sunday Service 11am.Wed Testimony Meeting 8pm.Reading Room,15 Sth Gt Georges St , Dublin 2 .
Open 11am-3pm , Tues , Thurs , Frid.Tel 01-6793524.All are Welcome .

CATHEDRALS
National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9.15 EUCHARIST 11.15 CHORAL EUCHARIST sung by the Lay Vicars Choral Preacher: The Revd A.H.N. McKinley, M.A., Treasurer. 15.15 CHORAL EVENSONG - sung by the Lay Vicars Choral livestream only SUNG MATINS at 9.00 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. CHORAL EVENSONG at 17.30 on Thursday. Our other weekday evening services this week will remain online. Full details may be found on https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/worship/music-lists/. Please note that due to strict protocols in place, we can only admit limited numbers at present. For further information visit www.stpatrickscathedral.ie or telephone 01 453 9472.
CHURCH OF IRELAND
Christ Church Bray Sunday 6th December 11am Holy Communion. Up to 50 people may attend in Church, or you can watch the live stream, or view a recording later at www.churchservices.tv/christchurchbray
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St John the Evangelist, Park Avenue, Sandymount Sunday 6th December - Advent 2: Holy Eucharist 11 a.m. We are taking appropriate precautions to make our worship as safe as possible. www.sandymount.dublin.anglican.org
METHODIST
Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin The Methodist Church, Northumberland Avenue, Dun Laoghaire. Our services can be accessed online at www.dlmc.org
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
First Church,21 Herbert Park,,Dublin 4 Sunday Service 11am.Wed Testimony Meeting 8pm.Reading Room,15 Sth Gt Georges St ,Dublin 2. Open 11am-3pm,Tues,Thurs,Frid.Tel 01-6793524.All are Welcome.