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April / May 2021

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Serving Sandymount, Irishtown, Ringsend, Pearse Street, Docklands, Ballsbridge & Donnybrook

Images OF Tents On The Dodder

Pose Questions About Homelessness

A
n Dermot Carmody
year of staying at home
has been a huge chal-
lenge for everybody, but
for one section of our commu-
nity the constraints and vicis-
situdes of Covid19 have added
a new layer of difficulty to an
already fraught set of circum-
stances. Homelessness in Dub-
lin continues to be a serious
problem, and one symptom of
this is the familiar sight of small
tents pitched along locations
like The Grand Canal and the
Dodder river.
Ringsend-based graphic de-
signer Sharon Kirkpatrick noticed
the proliferation of these tents in
the course of her regular rambles
in the area, on which she usually
photographs local landmarks and
scenery. “Due to lockdown, I’m
going off the beaten tracks,” she
told NewsFour. “Consistently
every time I do I’m finding a tent.
This is equally intriguing and
wrong on so many levels.”
Sharon was particularly moved
by the plight of those relying on
these flimsy shelters as she has
had experience of working with
people affected by homelessness
some years ago in a previous ca-
reer. “I worked in frontline home-
less services including high sup-
port (emergency hostels), HIV
Respite, Rehab, and with other
non profits over the years un-
til I was made redundant in the
last recession,” Sharon explains.
Though she is keen to emphasise
that her knowledge of the situ-
ation is rooted in her experience
some years ago, Sharon is clearly
affected by seeing the effects of
homelessness scattered along the
waterways. “I can’t even begin
to imagine what living in a tent
in the bitter cold could do to your
overall and mental health,” she
says.
The plight of homeless people
living in small tents around the
city has come to the fore regu-
larly in recent times. Last year
there was an outcry when a man
received “life-changing” injuries
during the removal of his tent
from The Grand Canal by Dub-
lin City Council, whose agents
believed the tent to be empty.
More recently many expressed
concern when a number of tents
were removed earlier this year by
DCC. The Dublin Region Home-
less Executive (DRHE) defended
the removal pointing out that it
was not legal, safe or sanitary for
people to pitch these tents where
they did. Further, the executive
claimed it was in contact with
people living in the tents and that
some had active tenancies and
therefore no need to use tents for
accommodation.
If that is the case, however, then
why do people elect a precarious
life under a skimpy canvass by
the side of a waterway in hostile
weather?
The recent RTÉ Investigates
report in January brought to light
some of the underlying issues,
where on the one hand the coun-
cil-run DRHE is claiming there is
surplus emergency hostel accom-
modation available for anyone
finding themselves without a bed
in the capital, whilst on the other
hand a casual walk around the
city will provide you with proof
that some people either choose to
live in tents, or feel that this is the
best option of an unenviable bad
lot.
This aspect of the problems en-
countered by people who have be-
come homeless should be seen in
the context of the wider causes of
homelessness. Problems experi-
enced on becoming homeless are
greatly exacerbated by the fact of
being homeless. For example the
RTÉ Investigates report highlights
the fact that while in a large num-
ber of cases people suffering from
drug addiction did so before they
became homeless, and that a large
proportion of those consider their
problem with drug use got worse
as a result of the misery of being
trapped in homelessness. Addi-
tionally the report demonstrated
that people may either start to use
drugs or relapse into drug use be-
cause they lack other resources to
cope with the difficulty of being
homeless and hopeless. The avail-
ability of drugs, and the prolifera-
tion of other drug users who can
be encountered in the emergency
accommodation provided, cou-
pled with the attendant problems
of violent or criminal behaviour in
some hostels that might be associ-
ated with drug use, leaves some
people feeling they are safer in a
tent by the Dodder or The Grand
Canal. Here at least they may feel
they have some space which is
their own, and some control over
who they share that space with.
As suggested by Mike Allen,
Director of Advocacy for the
homeless organisation Focus, in
that programme, the bigger issue

IN THIS ISSUE…
Pgs 6: Beacons: The Majesty of Ice Pgs 8: Snapshot of Shelly Banks Page 26-27: Darkness Into Light Page 34-35: White Water Rafting

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Page 2 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021

with the provision of such emer- ways. And while no one would sued in a coordinated way at na-
gency accommodation however, dispute that there is a need for tional and local government level
in addition to the ones highlighted temporary emergency accommo- here. If more people are actually
above. In some cases people who dation provided by local authori- being removed from the cycle of
NewsFour Newspaper do not come from Dublin cannot ties and others in order to address homelessness and given the op-
is part of a DEASP access emergency accommoda- the immediate needs of people portunity and support to move
Community Employment tion here. The issue of policy in sleeping on the streets, a perma- beyond their situation into a more
Programme this regard and of its execution nent solution must be to the fore dignified life there would be a fi-
is further muddied in that the in any long-term policy develop- nancial benefit for the country as
NewsFour DRHE appears at odds with the
government’s policy as stated by
ment.
However the conversation
a whole, with valuable resources
going towards the creation of per-
the Minister for Housing, Lo- about policy on homelessness is manent homes, instead of being
Editor
cal Government and Heritage, not a new one and there is evi- funnelled into temporary emer-
Eoin Meegan
Darragh O’Brien. O’Brien actu- dent frustration that we have not gency accommodation.
ally apologised to one individual moved on from this to a proac- We’re not saying the solution is
Online Editor highlighted by RTÉ Investigates tive long-term solution. There is easy, and it does require resources
Geneva Pattison and stated that people in his situ- a consensus that any such solu- at a time when dealing with the
ation should be given emergency tion must focus on the provision Covid19 pandemic has skewed
Journalists may be one of policy, whereby accommodation in Dublin where of actual homes for those who do the focus of all government re-
Peter McNamara resources are being used to pro- it is available, in contradiction to not have one, a so-called Hous- sources. However sights like that
David Prendeville vide emergency accommodation, the apparent policy of the DRHE. ing First policy, which not only in Sharon Kirkpatrick’s photo-
Geneva Pattison which in some cases may perpetu- In addition, the information about speedily escalates people from graph of the shiny, magnificent
Dermot Carmody ate the problems of those clients inspections of the suitability of emergency response situations to and empty Aviva Stadium loom-
Michael Greene using the services rather than di- contractors providing emergency permanent housing solutions, but ing over someone’s tent-home
recting resources towards actually accommodation is unpublished, also vitally provides support ser- huddled on the banks of the Dod-
Contributors finding permanent homes for peo- which lack of transparency makes vices for its clients in areas like der must remind us that despite
Felix O’Regan, ple. Allen and others have point- the discussion about policy and mental and physical health, sub- efforts all around, we have a seri-
Gavan Bergin ed out that by providing stable action on homelessness more dif- stance abuse and debt manage- ous problem and are a long way
Paul Brannock, accommodation for people you ficult. Speaking for the DRHE ment, among others. from finding a serious solution.
Ger Siggins can give them a base in life from Mr. Jordan said in the programme Housing First is a European
Chris Andrews, which it then becomes possible that such reports were considered policy which could, given po- All images courtesy of Sharon
Michael Gavin, to deal with underlying problems an internal matter between the litical will, be prioritised and pur- Kirkpatrick
such as mental health issues, trau- executive and contractors and not
ma from domestic abuse or drug for publication, a position with
Crossword use. which social policy experts, and
Gemma Byrne Defending the DRHE in the perhaps many ordinary citizens,
same programme, its National Di- would surely disagree.
Design and Layout rector of Housing Bob Jordan said Agencies such as Focus and the
Joseph Martin it was a priority of the Executive Peter McVerry Trust do much vi-
to progress people to longer term tal and difficult work with limited
housing solutions, but said that resources to address the needs of
Ad Design
the emergency accommodation homeless people, and to progress
Dara O Riordain
provided was necessary to protect them from the cycle of emergency
them in the meantime. There ap- accommodation and rough sleep-
Photo Diary Design
pear to be a number of problems ing in tents, car parks and door-
Gary Burke

Sandymount
Community Services,
13A Fitzwilliam Street,
Ringsend, Dublin 4.
Telephone: (01)6673317
E-mail:
newsfour@gmail.com
Website:
www.newsfour.ie
Opinions expressed in NewsFour
do not necessarily represent
the views of Sandymount
Community Services.
Printed by
Webprint,
Mahon, Co. Cork
The Editor’s Corner
We all breathed a sigh of relief this We can all take precautions against a forgetting Darkness Into Light (pg.
year when April arrived. At last the virus. It’s harder, however, to recog- 26-7), a movement that has been ad-
first shoots of recovery and a return to nise and respond to the damage and dressing suicidal ideation for the past
living outside a straitjacket appeared deep malaise that prolonged exposure nine years; both organisations deserve
on the horizon. However, the road map to lockdown can cause; the impact on huge credit for their work in the area
out is still hazy. We now need a clear people’s mental health, loneliness, iso- of mental health; a theme also touched
plan for the resumption of outdoor lation, and domestic abuse. Many are on in an upcoming film on Dublin’s
dining and outdoor culture to revive suffering in silence, and the pandemic, Forty Foot (pg 4), and a unique art
the flattened economy. despite its real threat, must not be al- sale in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s
lowed to eclipse a compassionate re- Foundation (pg 7) elsewhere we look
The much vaulted 17m injection of sponse to that suffering. at recovery from physical brain injury
capital to create ‘European-style’ out- (16-17).
door dining needs to encompass all as- And it’s to these issues that we give
pects of social interaction; restaurants, particular attention in this, our first This must be a time for hope. Sensi-
cafes, room for buskers, open spaces, print issue of 2021(February/March ble precautions, along with the com-
and the reopening of all pubs, not only issue available at www.newsfour.ie), prehensive vaccine programme should
those serving food. This plan must by highlighting important projects obviate the necessity for any further
also include a major boost to kick start like Walk in My Shoes (pg 32), and lockdowns. A new optimism is being
Dublin’s nightlife which right now is a the campaign to reframe mental health ignited, as together we are about to
graveyard. stigma (pg 33), both initiatives of St complete the last leg of this journey
Patrick’s Mental Health Services. Not out of darkness and into the light.
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 Page 3

DUBLIN SAMARITANS: PANDEMIC all know, pressures can become

PUTS PRESSURE ON VOLUNTEERS
Dublin Samaritans’ Volunteers double their hours
to cope with pandemic pressure
EVERY six minutes someone
in distress phones Dublin Sa-
maritans*. The ‘listening’ ser-
vice provides a lifeline to thou-
sands of people in Ireland each
year who are troubled, in dis-
tress, struggling to cope, or at
risk of suicide. Run by volun-
teers, many have doubled their
listening hours to ensure that the
service can remain open 24/7 at
this crucial time.  “Ordinary people do not only
The Pandemic has placed the
organisation under immense
pressure. Run by 290 unpaid
volunteers who devote their
time to offer a non-judgemental
and empathetic listener to those
in need. A volunteer usually
commits to a three hour shift
every week and one overnight
per month. With added pres-
sures from the Pandemic, many
are now doing two shifts weekly
and two overnights to ensure that
the service remains available to
everyone who needs it 24 hours
a day. Dublin Samaritans is the
largest branch in Ireland and
provides approximately 20 per
cent of the total listening time,
over 14,000 hours of listening
in 2020. Throughout lockdown
almost all callers have men-
tioned Covid-19 as contributing
to their distress and reason for
calling the Dublin Samaritans.
A Samaritan is available 24/7.  can take calls. They are then
Director of Dublin Samari-
tans, Anne Vaughan said,
experience anxiety between the
set hours of nine to five. As we
overwhelming at any time of the
day or night and it is vital that
we can continue to offer a confi-
dential and non-judgemental lis-
tening service to those who need
it… 24/7.”
“People who call us are from
every walk of life and age
bracket. They talk to us about a
range of topics including lone-
liness, isolation, relationships,
finance, abuse, the future, and,
in the last year, the struggles of
living through lockdown fea-
tures in almost every call. It’s
so important to talk and our
amazing volunteers are special-
ly trained to just listen without
judgement.” Anne, who is a vol-
unteer, went on to say.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of
Dublin Samaritans. Anyone in-
terested in becoming a volunteer
participates in an interview and
follow-up selection process. Po-
tential volunteers undergo com-
prehensive training before they
mentored for a period of time
and, following a final interview,
they become full volunteers.
Volunteers all participate in con-
tinuous ongoing training.
Dublin Samaritans is one
of 22 voluntary-run branch-
es across Ireland. The organisa-
tion also engages with people
via email and offers one-to-one
personal sessions when restric-
tions allow. Anyone who is ex-
periencing distress can contact
Dublin Samaritans on its free
phoneline 116 123, free even to
a mobile with no credit,  or vis-
it www.samaritans.org/ireland/
branches/dublin. 
Like all charities the Dublin
Samaritans has seen a drop in
fund-raising opportunities and
in donations. Dublin Samaritans
is volunteer run, employing just
one full-time and one part-time
administrator to organise the
running of the branch.
“If something is troubling you,
no matter how large or small you
feel it may be, don’t be afraid to
pick up the phone.” concluded
Anne Vaughan.
 
Those who wish to contact the
service can call 116 123 or vis-
it www.samaritans.org/ireland/
branches/dublin
 Page 4
The Forty Foot on Film
T
he Forty Foot, a screen-
play and film project
written by two MetFilm
School Berlin graduates; Caolan
Flood, and Brian Hose was se-
lected for the 2021 international
Junior Entertainment Talent
Slate (JETS) Initiative. Only 27
potential film projects were se-
lected.
The Forty Foot is a coming-
of-age story, set in Ireland. Writ-
ten by Caolan and Brian, who
come from Ireland and the USA
respectively, the story is very
close to both men’s hearts.
Caolan who is originally an
Economics graduate, and spent
time teaching English in Spain
explained: “I really enjoyed
teaching teenagers, I enjoyed
their energy much more than
teaching the younger kids – I
didn’t have the sort of patience
and energy for 5–6-year-olds,
but the cheekiness of teenagers
was fine by me.”
There was always a part of
Caolan that wanted to make
films, he said: “While I was
studying Economics, I realised
that I really did not want to do
business and economics, I al-
ways loved English and writ-
ing, and storytelling when I was
at school. So, I started to teach
myself about screenwriting be-
cause I knew that’s what I was
passionate about, I knew that’s
what I wanted to do.
“When I came back from
Spain, I started to take screen-
writing a little more seriously;
Dublin is quite an expensive
place to live and I was ready to
experience something different.
I chose to study my Masters at
MetFilm School Berlin, because
I was looking for a film school
that taught in English but could
give me the lifestyle and the cul-
ture that I really wanted to expe-
rience. Berlin ticks all of those
boxes.”
The Richard Ayoade film
Submarine had a big influence
on Caolan.
“It came out in 2010, so I
would have been 16 or 17 when
I saw it. It’s a coming-of-age
film, really stylised, and it was
different to all the American
coming-of-age films that I’d
seen.
“I was a really awkward teen-
ager and this film really con-
nected with me. It was really re-
latable, and I’d love to see more
of those kinds of stories told.”
Brian’s route to film school
was a little different to most
other students, his first job was
working in a hair salon as a
hairstylist, then he went to study
Marketing. His first marketing
job was with a start-up in New
York.
He said: “While I was work-
ing in marketing, that’s where I
got exposed more to video and
FILM
cameras and I ended up work-
ing as a content producer, that’s
what piqued my interest in doing
it more professionally. At some
point I got really tired of Mar-
keting and the grind of living in
New York City, and I thought it
was a chance for me to go and
study Film and I went to Berlin
and studied BA Practical Film-
making at MetFilm School.
Brian chose Berlin because
he was looking for ‘something
different’, he said: “I had lived
in the US my whole life, my
mother is from Denmark and I
always thought that I would live
in Europe someday, and I really
love European films and I want-
ed to get a European perspective
on cinema.”
He said: “Right after we
graduated from MetFilm School
Berlin, we were looking for a
new project, I had seen Caolan’s
graduation film, and I really
liked it. It was a coming-of-
age story, and I had worked on
a coming-of-age story too, my
own graduation film was about
teenagers in a physical educa-
tion class, and we kind of con-
nected around those themes and
decided that we should try and
write something together.
“We met up several times
over a few weeks and shared
our own memories from adoles-
cence, we didn’t know whether
we would create a short, or a
www.newsfour.ie
feature or a series…”
Caolan added: “It kind of
organically grew I guess. We
just chatted about stuff that we
knew, the different experiences
from growing up with our fami-
lies, school and adolescence re-
ally. Despite growing up in very
different countries there were
a lot of similarities and that
helped guide and focus us on
what we were going to make a
film about.”
The more Caolan told Brian
about Dublin, the more inter-
ested he became and that’s why
The Forty Foot is set in Dublin.
Caolan added: “The more we
talked, the more we knew that
we were going to write a feature
film.”
Brian said: “While we were
talking through our project, one
theme that was really important
to us was dealing with mental
health, and how, especially in
young boys it’s not so easy to
talk about mental health strug-
gles, and I think that was one
of the reasons that we wanted
to set it in Ireland. There’s been
a big conversation there about
mental health.”
Caolan agreed he said: “Yes,
it’s something that’s not talked
about really, not to put Ireland
down or anything, but suicide
rates are very, very high, and
yet, internationally people look
at Ireland as this very happy, fun
culture which it is, but there is
this other side that people don’t
talk about.
“People don’t talk about sim-
ple emotions. People don’t say if
they‘re happy or sad, and that’s
kind of basic stuff and if you’re
a teenager you can’t stretch to
simple emotions that you need
to express. And then there’s
consequences to that, the conse-
quences are there for everyone
to see. And, only now are people
really talking about it, only now
are people trying to bring about
change but it’s very, very slow.
April / May 2021
“It’s a topic that we’re both
very interested in and it’s some-
thing that I’ve had personal ex-
perience with, particularly while
teaching and working with teen-
agers.”
The film is a story about a
teenager (Sean) who is living in
his own world and is trying to
figure out his own issues. He is
oblivious to what is happening
inside his family with his moth-
er and with his grandmother,
and the whole dynamic.
Brian explained the film’s ti-
tle, he said: “The Forty Foot is
an historic swimming area in
Dublin, it’s very well known.
People jump into the freezing
water at Christmas time. It’s
an important filming location
throughout the film, ‘Sean’ vis-
its it with his grandmother, his
mother and with a friend and it
takes on a bigger, more symbol-
ic meaning.”
“We’re in the early develop-
ment stage, we are still develop-
ing the script, so we are applying
to certain script development
funds in Ireland, and maybe in
Germany. One of our next steps
is to find an Irish co-production
partner.
“We will be filming in Ireland
and it’s an Irish story so it’s only
natural to work with an Irish
production company.”
Besides Germany, the partner
countries are currently Canada,
Ireland, South Africa, Norway,
Great Britain, and the USA, and
the aim is to support young tal-
ents in an ever-growing interna-
tional film market.
Traditionally, the JETS Initia-
tive takes place during the Ber-
lin International Film Festival.
JETS: More information here:
https://wepfilms.com/2021/01/
jets-2021-selected-participants/
More information about
Caolan and Brian can be found
on their respective websites:
Images: Caolan Flood and Brian
Hose; the Forty Foot - Pinterest.
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
The Liffey is about to be-
come a lot cleaner thanks to
the launch of the new Liffey
Sweeper. “This is the first
project of its kind to tackle
environmental waste,” Jimmy
Murray, Director of the Irish
Nautical Trust, and the man
behind the ambitious project,
says. “It’s an ecological and
A Clean Sweep for the Liffey
environmental development
research project, which has
been designed over the last
two years to help prevent the
accumulation of all non-natu-
ral debris and to stop it getting
into the sea and the biosphere,
where it affects marine wild-
life. The ship will be part of
the River Liffey Cleaning Pro-
ject, a scheme which envisions
removing detriment from not
only the Liffey, but the Tolka
and Dodder too, and which has
received assistance from Co-
vanta, through its Community
Gain Fund.
The aim is to remove all
floating debris from these riv-
ers, and from the Port area too.
This can include so much plas-
tic waste, such as bottles, cans,
plastic bags and all kinds of
household items, which sadly
people discard mindlessly.
It all ends up in the open sea
where it can become a danger-
ous hazard to fish and wildlife
and threaten the marine eco-
system. As well as that tree
Page 5
branches and other natural ob-
jects get carried off by the tide.
With the Liffey Sweeper it is
hoped to prevent this before
getting to sea. The sweeper has
a large hold and all the debris
collected will then be sorted,
what can be recycled will,
and the rest sent to Covanta’s
Waste to Energy Treatment
Plant.
The MV Liffey Sweeper’s
role will be to sweep from the
upper part of the River Liffey
at Butt Bridge to the mouth of
the River and Clontarf area, in-
cluding the basins and all the
shipping berths within Dublin
Port. Using its large front cage
and additional side cages, it
will collect both floating and
neutral buoyancy debris. Well
done to Jimmy and all con-
cerned for making our rivers
and planet a safer and cleaner
place.
 Page 6
The Majesty of Ice: BEACONS - new photographic exhibition
by Daragh Muldowney
B
n David Prendeville
EACONS, a new ex-
hibition by Photog-
rapher Daragh Mul-
downey, celebrates
the beauty of ice and the small
pine trees found along the vast
ice roads of Lake Baikal. Mul-
downey has been travelling to
Lake Baikal, Siberia, the largest
freshwater lake on the planet,
for the past three years. He has
been compiling work for his lat-
est exhibition which documents
his many trips to this alluring
area of breathtaking natural
beauty, creating stunning im-
ages that illustrate the immense
attraction of the ice there and
the small trees that mark out the
road traversing the frozen lake.
Muldowney is proud to present
his work in the eight-week ex-
hibition in conjunction with his
recently released beautiful art
photobook of this work, both
entitled BEACONS.  tures drop as low as -40°C and
While it was originally hoped
that the exhibition, which start-
ed on February 17th and runs
until April 14th, would be able
to take place physically in The
Copperhouse Gallery, Covid re-
strictions have meant that Mud-
lowney is instead hosting Zoom
sessions, where he brings his
audiences through the exhibi-
tion (in location) via video ar-
ranged specially made for this
set up. As he guides the invited
guests through the exhibition he
talks about the project and indi-
vidual pieces. These Zooms are
limited to 6 people and they last
about an hour. People can ask
questions about each piece at
the time also.
Lake Baikal is one of the
most biodiverse places on earth
as it is home to thousands of
species of plants and animals,
many of which are endemic to
the region. In winter, tempera-
ART/CULTURE
the lake becomes a vast frozen
plain. Crossing the lake can
be a hazardous journey as the
ice comes under huge pressure
causing it to either break apart
exposing the frigid water below
or crush together creating large
jagged hummocks. To help trav-
ellers across the ice, the locals
mark out an ice road by drilling
holes and ‘planting’ small pine
trees that act as markers, ‘bea-
cons’ guiding the way.  nature that we often overlook.
Photographing this ancient
road system was a fascinating
experience for Muldowney in
many ways and he feels that
his documentation of this unu-
sual and unique way of life is a
beautiful human story that also
highlights the immense natural
beauty of Lake Baikal.
Daragh’s interest in photogra-
phy originally developed, when
he completed a Scuba Diving
course in 1992, where he was
awestruck by the experience
www.newsfour.ie
of being under water. Life un-
der the sea seemed like another
world, where he made an instant
connection with the elements.
Shortly after Daragh bought a
Canon camera, a thirty year old
model he still uses occasionally,
and began to take photographs
to convey his experiences and
love of nature. His photography
aims to present a surreal per-
spective and the small detail of
As a result, his work gently re-
minds us to appreciate our beau-
tiful planet.
Daragh began exhibiting his
work on the railings of St. Ste-
phen’s Green in Dublin in the
summer of 2002 and due to the
success of this exhibition he
founded Dúlra Photography in
February, 2003. Daragh’s com-
mitment to developing his work
was further demonstrated when
he travelled across the Sahara
in Morocco, and then trekked
April / May 2021
across glaciers in Iceland, tak-
ing photographs of the opposing
climates and conditions. The
images from the two trips were
launched in 2007 as his first
themed exhibition called ‘Sand
& Ice’.
Beacons is Daragh’s third
book of his photography. He
previously had success with
‘Jewellery Box - Ireland’s Hid-
den Gems’ and ‘Out of Thin Air’
which won the 2015 FEP Euro-
pean landscape photobook of
the year award.
More information on the exhi-
bition and Daragh Muldowney’s
work can can be found at: htt-
ps://dulraphotography.com/ 
Images courtesy of
Daragh Muldowney
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
Incognito 2021 Online Art Sale
Take part in Incognito 2021
Online Art Sale on April 22nd
and support the great work
of the Jack & Jill Children’s
Foundation
T
he Incognito art collec-
tion comprising 287 art-
ists from Dublin is now
live at www.incognito.ie with
the online art sale taking place
on Thursday April 22 at 10am
sharp. And all in support of the
Jack & Jill Children’s Founda-
tion.
What’s so incredibly fun and
exciting about Incognito com-
pared with any other art sale is
that the identity of the artists
behind the paintings – for sale
at €60 each – is kept top secret
until the sale has closed.
Down to a Fine Art
The Incognito collection is
made up of 3,000-plus original
postcard-sized artworks in a
range of mediums, from oils and
pastels, to glass and metalwork,
in a sale that is usually a sprint
to the checkout. Everything sold
out last year in just 15 minutes!
Among the Dublin artists tak-
ing part are Jill & Gill, Ruthie
Ashenhurst, Una Sealy, Maser,
Robert Ballagh, Guggi, Mo
Kelly, Ed Miliano, Jules Coll,
Duda and Bridget Flinn. Some
of the famous national and in-
ternational faces taking part
this year are U2’s The Edge,
rock star Bob Geldof, fashion
designer Paul Costelloe, come-
dians Jason Byrne and Tommy
Tiernan, artist Don Conroy and
Nobel prize winner Dr William
Campbell.
So, whether you’re an art
collector or a bargain hunter,
there’s something for everyone
at Incognito 2021.
In the five years since its in-
ception, Incognito has raised al-
most €450,000 for Jack & Jill’s
home nursing care for children
with highly complex medical
conditions, including end-of-life
care. This equates to more than
28,000 hours of specialist home
nursing care provided by Jack &
Jill nurses and carers the length
and breadth of the country.
For Carmel Doyle, CEO of
the Jack & Jill Children’s Foun-
dation, Incognito 2021 is about
generous, talented artists turn-
ing their art into a real currency
for care:
“Each year, Jack & Jill has to
raise over €4 million to contin-
ue doing what we do supporting
families to look after their sick
children at home, where they
belong. Less than 20 percent of
our funding comes from Gov-
ernment, and with COVID-19
ART/CULTURE
continuing to restrict our pub-
lic-facing fundraising and our
charity shops still closed, we are
relying hugely on the generosity
and support of the public for In-
cognito 2021.
“Each piece sold translates
into almost four hours of spe-
cialist home nursing care for lo-
cal children, turning this beauti-
ful art into a real currency for
care.”
How Incognito Works:
1. Register online in advance
of the online sale on Thursday
April 22 at www.incognito.ie –
with the sale likely to sell out
in minutes, it will save precious
time in your sprint to the check-
out on the day.
2. Browse the collection of
3,000-plus postcard artworks,
each numbered without artists’
names identified.
Page 7
3. Note down details of the
artworks you wish to purchase
for your wish list.
4. Be ready to go online on
Thursday April 22 at 10am
sharp when the sale goes live
and choose your selected art-
works.
5. Once your purchase is suc-
cessful, let the suspense begin
for your chosen piece of art to
arrive in the post!
Full details on the purchase
process can be found at www.
incognito.ie
For more information on the
vital work of the Jack & Jill
Children’s Foundation, visit
www.jackandjill.ie.
Images: Former Dublin GAA sen-
ior hurling team captain, David
Sweeney, one of more than 1,200
artists taking part in this year’s
Incognito online art sale
Carrickmines artist Jules Coll
A small selection of artworks in
this year’s Incognito 2021 Online
Art Sale
 Page 8
Snapshot of a Dublin Past along the Shelly Banks
n Paul Brannock
“ I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running
tide. Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.
(John Masefield)
A
nother New Year
and another new
day. Friday has
come again and de-
spite the dreadful monotony of
these deathly times, I still feel
that ‘thank crunchie’ feeling.
Pivotal to this is that I happen
to be overlooking my favourite
spot in Ireland. I have viewed
many such beauty spots around
the country, but the Shelly
Banks never fail to capture my
heart. Being a proud Ringsend-
er of many generations from
both sides of my family, the
Shelliers, the river and Dublin
Bay are woven into every fibre
of me. For these places conjure
up many memories as they are
an integral part of my childhood
and family history. The water
of the Irish Sea, and the Liffey
which comes to meet it are our
meeting of the waters. They are,
as the man said, in my blood.
As I stand on the corner of
Irishtown Nature Park, or the
Tiphead as we knew it (closed
” straight onto the wall. In those
in 1977), I look firstly into the
bay, spotting a couple of incom-
ing ferries. It is 12 noon, the tide
is almost fully up and there is
a strong easterly wind swelling
up the waves and crashing them
hard on the rocks below, creat-
ing that sound and sight which
is magical music to my senses.
This instils in me a further feel-
ing of inner peace and wellbe-
ing. The rougher the sea, the
calmer I am. It must be like this
for a lot of people, I suspect, cre-
ating a wonderful contradiction,
storm and calm intertwined, a
sense of freedom perhaps?
Dominating the entire view
of course, are the twin chim-
ney stacks of the former ESB
station. As I continue my gaze
along the road, I can remember
the new car park being con-
structed, along with the steps
which lead onto the beach. This
was probably 1978.  Also, a new
stretch of road was laid to lead
around to the Shelly Banks, for-
ever cutting off the old route.
REMINISCENCE
Prior to this, the road went, from
what is now the 3rd last bend,
sizzling, seventies summers (my
teenage son doesn’t believe we
had them), the No.1 bus would
take you to the ESB gates on
the long stretch of the road, the
timetables of 8am, 1pm and
5pm, being strictly adhered to
so as to accommodate workers
along the route. If you missed
the 5pm one, you had a hell of a
long walk to South Lotts. Other
memories of those times are of
being burned several times dur-
ing 1976 and running out to the
far off Cockle Lake for a swim
by the old rusty buoy, being
stung by jellyfish, then having
to run all the way back in order
to get warm. Not a pleasant ex-
perience for a skinny kid as it
seemed like ten miles. My da
and uncle Robert took way too
much delight in all this.
Nowadays, the landscape has
changed dramatically. In con-
trast to many scenarios, the area
is becoming ever more beauti-
ful. This is mainly due to the
encroachment of the sandbar to
the right of the chimney stacks.
The strand was officially de-
clared a beach about 30 years
ago and the sheer amount of
sea which the dunes have gob-
bled up in the meantime is as-
tonishing. I reckon the spit will
have joined up with the corner
of the nature park in less than
two years. Reclaimed land au
natural. It’s a magnificent view
from where I’m standing.  All
along the coast trail to our long
buried childhood sandpits, it is
the same. Palm trees flourish.
‘The trail is beautiful, be still’
is engraved on a bench behind
me. Apt description indeed!
The ruins at Costello’s, battered
since by the fury of a thousand
storms, grow ever more pleas-
ing to the eye as the sea beats
its waves and chisels its marks
on our one time oasis; though
it’s a pity the paintings of sev-
eral schooners which adorned
the walls have been stripped by
the elements. Silt and sand have
been driven high into this unique
little corner of Dublin Bay and
the whole area has been trans-
formed into a stunning montage
of natural beauty, all this set
against the backdrop of the Bay.
I’m reminded of the now defunct
PD party and their preposterous
dumb proposal, accompanied
www.newsfour.ie
by a computer generated im-
age of a lower Manhattan type
development which would have
destroyed this sanctuary. Thank
the heavens it will never see the
light of day.
I look out again. The Hill of
Howth, the Bailey, the North
Bull, the Half Moon club on
the meandering wall, and at the
end the Red of Poolbeg Light-
house. The waves are drowning
the wall. What a spectacle! The
two ships have themselves me-
andered through the various sets
of buoys which border the ship-
ping canal and the first one ap-
pears to be about to collide with
the lighthouse. An intriguing
thing to witness at about 4.30pm
each evening is the arrival of up
to five ferries snaking their way
through the doglegs of the canal,
but longer evenings are required
to behold this. The Kish, a white
dot near the horizon. To the
right, the lights and piers of Dun
Laoghaire Harbour, the town
itself, Killiney and the barely
visible obelisk or ‘witch’s hat’.
Bray Head in the background,
little Sugarloaf (Sliabh Chu-
lainn), the Dublin/ Wicklow
mountains, all along to Strand
Road, Sandymount, which ac-
cording to a local historian was
built so the English monarch,
Victoria, on her fourth and final
visit to Ireland in 1900, could
catch a glimpse of the majesty
of the bay from her carriage.
Presently, as we know, this road
has again become a bone of con-
tention. Of course, during her
reign the bay would have been
one of many points of export
during An Gorta Mor, when vast
quantities of food were shipped
out by English and Irish mer-
chants whilst millions of poor
people, Catholic, Protestant and
Presbyterian starved, shameful-
ly sacrificed for greed. Beneath
where I now stand, there lies the
tattered remnants of a tent. This
was home to some unfortunate
for a number of years. I wonder
if he has found a proper home
and hope he is alive. Though I
visited here often, I never saw
him. Just recently, I noticed
some weather-beaten Christ-
mas baubles hanging from a
tree right behind where he lived.
I felt deep sadness and anger
about this.
Right now, another home
is being cobbled together in a
nearby clump of trees. When
April / May 2021
the Tip was here the only person
sleeping rough was a homeless
man we knew as Redbeard. He
lived in a wooden hut which
he shared with his trusty com-
panion, an escapee greyhound
from Shelbourne Park. Now,
in the inner sanctum of Nature
Park, every possible place of
shelter contains a tent or corru-
gated iron hoarding. Simply put,
this is a shocking indictment of
Irish society. In my opinion, the
people in power for the last two
decades, in cahoots with their
masters, native and foreign, are
every bit as culpable as those of
the 1840s.
“
Fumble in their greasy till
and add the halfpence to the
pence.
(Yeats)
”
Food banks may have re-
placed workhouses and soup
kitchens and there isn’t any-
one dying from starvation, but
there has been far too many
people living and dying on
our streets, and quite frankly,
again it is human greed that has
caused this. All of us should be
ashamed for allowing this situ-
ation. And when we think we
have it bad ‘cos we can’t go to
the pub or restaurant, maybe we
should reflect on this and really
be thankful that we have a roof
over our heads. Change must
come!
The Shelly Banks, the Liffey,
the Bay. Snapshots in memory
of a lifetime spent here, of learn-
ing to swim, of digging lug-
worm and fishing with friends
at the lighthouse. As we know,
time truly flies. In these present
times of highs and lows, ebbs
and flows, the Shelliers are  in-
deed a Godsend. Assuming I
survive the waves of this pan-
demic, I will walk this beauti-
ful place for a few more years.
When my own ship has sailed,
I wish some of my ashes to be
scattered where I am now stand-
ing and some at our beloved
Costelloe’s. I will finish with
my Father’s favourite saying
for nothing is more true: “Time
nor tide waits for no man.” Hey,
let’s be careful out there!
Abridged article from ‘Ringsend
People Home and Abroad’
Image: Paul Brannock
www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 Page 9
 Page 10
Brian Siggins: A Tribute
n Ger Siggins
B
rian Siggins was one of
those people on whom
great communities are
built, and his loss inflicted a
great blow on his family, his
neighbours and the people of
Ringsend, Irishtown and Sand-
ymount.
His passion for the history of
the area, and his deep and broad
knowledge gathered over dec-
ades, was recognised and re-
spected all over the city. He was
a member of the Old Dublin So-
ciety for more than 50 years and
served as its Hon Secretary for
more than 20 of them.
His greatest interest was the
history of the three villages
and his research and conserva-
tion kept that alive and kicking
through many years of lectures
to history societies, community
groups, schools and old people’s
homes. He regularly made his
photographic collection avail-
able to libraries and churches,
and indeed the pages of News-
Four.
He was generous with his
knowledge and it is no exagger-
ation that he helped hundreds of
children with school projects on
the neighbourhoods as well as
other writers and historians.
He sprang to national fame
in 1973 when he chanced upon
some wooden stakes from Wood
Quay that had been bulldozed
and dumped by Dublin Corpo-
ration in Ringsend Dump. He
enlisted his children to help sift
through the mounds and they
found several important arte-
facts that ended up in the Civic
Museum.  His appearance on
the television news was recently
restored to the RTE website.
He was thrilled to win the
Old Dublin Society medal for
the year’s best lecture of 2009,
while another of his great inter-
ests led to his book to mark the
centenary of the Herbert Park
exhibition. The Great White
Fair was a best-seller and went
into a second edition.
But as his life-long friend,
and brother-in-law, Fr Jim Ge-
oghegan wrote in a tribute read
at his funeral: “As a historian
Brian loved the past but was
never stuck in it, he loved the
OBITUARY
present and its politics as he de-
voured the newspapers and TV
programmes and he looked to
the future with hope, an interest
that was reinvigorated with the
arrival of his fifth grandchild,
Tilly.”
Brian was born in Holles
Street in January 1933, eldest
surviving child of Jack Siggins
and Ethel O’Keeffe. He grew
www.newsfour.ie
up in the newly-built O’Connell
Gardens, and moved next door
when he married Maureen Ge-
oghegan in April 1961.
The Gardens were devastated
by bereavements in 2020, losing
Thomas Johnston, Michael By-
rne, Chris Daly, Dot Trehy, Joe
McCann, Therese Cunningham
and Christy O’Connell, while
Brian’s death robbed it of its
longest resident.
Brian spent all his working
life in Ringsend Tech. He had
been an excellent student at Star
of the Sea and Westland Row,
winning a scholarship to study
on after his Intermediate Cer-
tificate. But his father had died
when he was just ten years old
and his family’s needs meant he
had to forgo school and take up
an apprenticeship.
In Ringsend his keen mind,
skilled hands and willingness
ensured he found new opportu-
nities and he was promoted to
Laboratory Technician where
he spent most of his career. His
diligence and helpful nature was
remarked on by many of his
former pupils and colleagues.
He later taught woodwork and
metalwork and would have been
a fantastic teacher if allowed
to pursue that route. He retired
in September 1998, just four
months short of fifty years’ ser-
vice.
He always kept busy and kept
his days packed with his many
interests and passions. From
his earliest days he was a keen
sportsman – he was an excellent
athlete whose greatest regret
was having an asthma attack the
April / May 2021
night before the national mara-
thon trials and thus finishing
fourth – the first three finishers
went to the Olympic Games.
He was also a keen hiker and
a long-time member of An Oige.
He spent a summer holiday
walking along the Rhine and
was delighted to return there
with Maureen on a retirement
cruise.  They were both active
and committed to those less for-
tunate in the community and for
their service they were awarded
a joint Sean Moore Award by
Dublin City Council in 1990.
Table-tennis became Brian’s
passion and he was a dogged,
unhurried player with a lethal
backhand. He ran the teachers’
leagues for many years and also
set up Star of the Sea Past Pu-
pils TTC with his brother David.
The club ran for more than a
decade and helped develop three
Ireland internationals as well as
providing a valued community
resource for teenagers.
Brian had a full, generally
healthy retirement until the last
four years. He was well cared
for by the staff of St Vincent’s
and Blackrock Hospice, and by
his daughter Ethel.
There’s an old African prov-
erb which says that when an old
man dies, a library is burned to
the ground. Never a truer word
was spoken in the case of Brian
Siggins.
NewsFour would like to pass
on our condolences to Ger (a
founding editor of this paper) on
the loss of his father.
Images courtesy of Ger Siggins.
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 ADVERTORIAL Page 11

A Dentist’s Guide to
Tooth-Friendly Snacks
A healthy snack regime is an
important part of every child’s
diet, but is it possible to meet
those endless lockdown snack
demands and still protect their
teeth?
“The problem with constant
snacking is that it increases the
amount of time sugars are sit-
ting on our teeth, which adds
to the likelihood of cavities and
tooth decay. To protect teeth
from long-term damage, it helps
to be mindful of hidden sugars,
as well as both the timing and
frequency of snacks,” says Dr
Jennifer Collins, lead general
dentist at Northumberland Den-
tal Care in Ballsbridge.
Six tooth-friendly snack-
ing tips:
#1 Balance and variety
A tooth-friendly snack rou-
tine should include a balance of
foods that are low in sugar and
high in minerals such as calci-
um, phosphate and Vitamin D.
For healthy snack options which
are kind to teeth, try cheese
cubes, natural yoghurt, oat-
cakes, raw vegetables and fruits.
#2 Offer water or milk
Ideally, opt for water or milk
at snack times. Drinking water
will help to dilute any acid at-
tacks caused by sugary snacks.
Try to avoid fizzy drinks, di-
luted beverages and even fruit
juices or smoothies, which can
all be high in sugar and there-
fore impact on dental decay.
#3 Try a crunchy bite
Eating crunchy fruits and veg-
etables such as apples and pears
or carrot and celery sticks will
stimulate production of saliva,
which helps to wash away any
plaque. Raw fruits and vegeta-
bles are a natural abrasive that
can help to keep children’s teeth
clean.
#4 Save treats for mealtimes
Rather than grazing on treats
throughout the day, try to save
sugary snacks such as biscuits
and chocolate for after lunch
or dinner. Saliva production
increases during meals, which
helps rinse away sugary food
particles and can reduce the risk
of cavities.
#5 Avoid lingering snacks
The longer sugary food stays
in your child’s mouth, the more
damage it can cause to teeth.
Avoid snacks that tend to linger,
such as raisins and other dried
fruit which are both sticky and
full of sugar.
#6 Maintain a routine
To help prevent long-term
dental concerns, it is impor-
tant for children to maintain
a basic dental care routine at
home. Despite the challenges
of lockdown, try to ensure that
they brush twice per day for
two minutes with a fluoridated
toothpaste appropriate to their
age.
Dr Jennifer Collins is lead
general dentist at Northumber-
land Dental Care in Ballsbridge,
part of the Dental Care Ireland
group. For further tips and ad-
vice on looking after your oral
health, visit northumberland-
dentalcare.ie
 Page 12
Great Initiative by Young Irish Woman to
Promote Irish Products Online
During the pandemic, consumers started to show real
concern and urge to support Irish businesses. How-
ever, although the intention is there, consumers still
struggle to source Irish products online, especially
when there is the temptation to use the convenient
platform ASOS. Croía Ireland’s mission is to solve
this problem by making shopping local effortless.
Croia Ireland is a new one-stop-shop for buying Irish
brands and Irish made products, making it simple for
consumers to buy Irish. The online trading platform
is run by all young women and is a place where Irish
businesses can connect with a targeted online com-
Capital Credit Union introduce New Switcher Loan
At a special reduced interest rate of 6.9% (7.1% APR*),
the introduction of the Switcher Loan from Capital Credit
Union is welcome news for borrowers.
Loans of up to €100,000 are available at the new reduced
rate, which aims to encourage people in the community to
borrow with their local Credit Union, ahead of more costly
finance options.
In light of Ulster Bank’s departure and the closure of Bank
of Ireland branches around communities in Ireland, many
consumers will switch to Credit Unions - rather than go to
the two big banks.
 
Commenting on Ulster Bank’s planned exit and the closure
of Bank of Ireland’s branches, Gerry McConville, CEO of
Capital Credit Union, said:  the focus is on our community, and on developing finan-
“It’s unavoidable that some banking customers will be
badly hit when Ulster Bank exits the market.
 
Unlike in other countries, such as Canada and the USA,
Irish consumers have an over-dependence on a couple of
large national banks and, as a country, we have tradition-
ally underutilised local banking and credit options.
 
But it’s not all bad news for consumers – there are options.
The level of development in many Credit Unions, includ-
munity. Launching last November with one goal in
mind- “to give back”. To date, the ladies have signed
up over 100 Irish suppliers from small businesses to
larger well-known brands and have over 700 prod-
ucts live on the site including gifts, jewellery, home-
ware and decor, beauty, food and drink, Irish designer
clothing, artwork, and cards.
Founded by 25-year-old Ciara Hennebry during the
Covid-19 lockdown in early 2020, the young entre-
preneur saw a gap in the market to set up an online
platform to support the growth of Irish brands and
products. Now more than ever before, accelerated by
the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, more
consumers are choosing to shop online, and there is
a growing sentiment across the Irish consumer-base
to support local, buy Irish and in turn boost the wider
Irish economy as a whole. The need for such a plat-
form that supports Irish businesses is clearly reflected
in Croía Ireland’s powerful social media presence, as
the Croia ladies have already successfully and organ-
ically grown their Instagram following to over 16.5k
followers.
Every €100 spent locally is worth €500 to the Irish
economy. Yet, more than two-thirds of Irish expendi-
ture is spent online and disappears overseas each
ing Capital Credit Union, in recent years has been strong.  comfort of their home.
The vast majority of Credit Unions have substantially
modernised their operations and they are now well placed
to provide credit facilities to the thousands of personal and
business customers impacted by recent announcement.
 While well known for our range of personal loans, Capi-
tal Credit Union now offers business lending, mortgages,
home, life and travel insurance. Reliable and efficient on-
line banking is now the norm and the uptake from mem-
bers has been very strong.
 
We are confident that many consumers will see that Credit
Unions are well positioned to step in and fill some of the
void left behind in the Irish banking sector.”
Credit Union borrowers have the flexibility to repay a loan
balance ahead of time with no financial penalties or costs
for doing so.
“The pandemic has affected all individuals and families,
and many of them financially.  At Capital Credit Union
cial products that our members need, when they need them
most”, Gerry McConville added.
Capital Credit Union has nine offices based in south
county Dublin and the south inner-city, with over 50,000
members. Membership is open to people living, working
or studying in the catchment area.  
With online banking and the ability to join the credit union
online, individuals in the area can join the Credit Union,
apply for a loan and draw it down online, and all from the
www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
year. Hence, losing the multiplier effect. However,
Croia Ireland is the solution to this issue by offering
access and convenience to a wide range of products
all produced in Ireland.
Croía Ireland Founder, Ciara Hennebry said: “Shop-
ping locally and supporting Irish talent has always
been a huge passion of mine and so the Croía journey
began in 2020 as I saw this as the perfect opportunity
to give back to Irish businesses and provide to them
not just a selling platform, but an empowering and
encouraging community to become a part of. Our vi-
sion is to become the go-to online store for high-qual-
ity Irish goods that are fashionable and made with
love. We want to promote longevity and durability
in online purchases; a piece from Croía is something
to have in your heart always. 2020 has been a tough
year for us all, especially for our homegrown busi-
nesses, but we have been delighted to see the wel-
coming and positive reaction so far from both suppli-
ers and potential consumers alike, so we cannot wait
for the Croía journey to begin.”
For more information on Croía Ireland visit here htt-
ps://croiaireland.com/
   
Capital Credit Union also has a Member Service Team to
facilitate enquiries outside of office hours and those unable
to call into their local branch.  A member of staff can be
contacted by phone or email from 8.00am to 8.00pm on
weekdays, and between 9.00am and 2.00pm on Saturdays.
For more information on the new low-interest rate Switch-
er Loan of up to €100,000, or any personal or business
borrowings, savings or financial products, visit www.capi-
talcu.ie, call 01 299 0400 or email info@capitalcu.ie.
Capital Credit Union is regulated by the Central Bank of
Ireland.  Loans are subject to approval.  Terms & Condi-
tions apply.
Warning: If you do not meet repayments on your loan,
your account will go into arrears.  This may affect your
credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit
in the future.
Changing your loans may result in you paying over a long-
er term and/or paying more interest over the life of your
loan.
Representative example: €15,000 loan repayable over 5
years. Rate of interest 6.9% per annum variable. *APR
(Annual Percentage Rate) 7.1%. 60 monthly repayments of
€296.31 per month. Total amount payable is €17,778.65.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jonathan Fenton jfenton@capitalcu.ie T: 01 299 0400
or Caroline Moody T: 087 265 2485,
E: caroline@moodypr.ie
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 ADVERTORIAL Page 13

New Life for Old Graveyards

A
new Columbarium wall in the graveyard of St Image: courtesy
Matthew’s Church, Irishtown, was dedicated by Dublin Inquirer
Archbishop Michael Jackson on Sunday Febru- A FINAL RESTING PLACE
ary 28th 2021 during a Service of Holy Communion
which was livestreamed to parishioners who could not
attend due to Covid restrictions.

Set in the tranquil cemetery adjacent to the church, the

new Columbarium wall will be the final resting place
for parishioners and the wider community welcoming
all faiths. It has been designed to provide a natural en-
vironment within the Irishtown, Ringsend and Sand-
ymount area. Visitors will notice the historic setting that
provides an offering of peace and tranquillity and an op-
portunity of reflection.

St Matthews Parish website will also provide a dedicat-

ed family page to upload comments and condolences,
and for people to offer their memories of their loved
ones. Further the Parish Administration is on hand to as-
sist with all aspects of pre-planning internment require-
ments, ensuring peace of mind for those left behind.
The St Matthew’s Church Columbarium Wall is
Columbaria are walls with niches into which urns and
cremated remains of loved ones are placed. They are now available to book a final resting place for
in wide use throughout Europe and are now starting to your loved ones in the Community. For more
become popular in Dublin. With just over thirty percent
of all funerals in Dublin now being cremations, and details and to receive a Brochure, call the St
land and grave plots becoming as rare as hens’ teeth,
this looks to be the way for the future. NewsFour has
Matthews Parish Office on 087 254 0378 or
also learned that approval has been granted for another email Jonny Bell at jonathanbell61@gmail.com
Columbarium for the old cemetery in Donnybrook. This
is really good news as it will mean the ancient cemetery
(going back to the time of St Broc) will once more be
in use.
 Page 14
From the creators of Normal
People - Conversations with
Friends to hit our screens
n David Prendeville
F
ollowing the outstand-
ing success of Normal
People, Dublin 4 based
production company, Element
Pictures, recently announced the
casting for the BBC and Hulu
TV adaptation, in association
with RTÉ, of Sally Rooney’s
debut literary sensation, ‘Con-
versations with Friends’.
Alison Oliver, an emerging
talent from Lir Academy (whose
graduates include Normal Peo-
ple’s Paul Mescal) will play
Frances, Sasha Lane (Ameri-
can Honey, The Miseducation
of Cameron Post) will star as
Bobbi, Joe Alwyn (The Favour-
ite, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime
Walk) as Nick and Jemima
Kirke (Sex Education, Girls)
as Melissa, in this unique series
that is both a complex coming
of age drama and a very modern
love story.
Element Pictures is once again
LITERATURE
collaborating with director Len-
ny Abrahamson and writer Alice
Birch who will work alongside
writers Mark O’Halloran (Ri-
alto), Meadhbh McHugh (Ask-
ing For It) and Susan Soon He
Stanton (Succession) on the
12-part drama for BBC Three in
partnership with Hulu, made in
association with RTÉ.
Filming will take place this
year in Dublin, Belfast and
international locations yet to
be confirmed, with the Oscar-
nominated director at the helm
of Normal People, Lenny Abra-
hamson (Room, The Little
Stranger, Frank) returning and
sharing the directorial duties
with Leanne Welham (Pili, His
Dark Materials).
Conversations with Friends
follows Frances (Alison Oliver),
a 21 year old college student, as
she navigates a series of rela-
tionships that force her to con-
front her own vulnerabilities for
the first time.
Frances is observant, cerebral
and sharp. Her ex-girlfriend,
now best friend, Bobbi (Sasha
Lane) is self-assured, outspo-
ken and compelling. Though
they broke up three years ago,
Frances and Bobbi are virtu-
ally inseparable and perform
spoken word poetry together in
Dublin. It’s at one of their shows
that they meet Melissa (Jemima
Kirke), an older writer, who is
fascinated by the pair.
Bobbi and Frances start to
spend time with Melissa and
her husband, Nick (Joe Alwyn),
a handsome but reserved actor.
www.newsfour.ie
While Melissa and Bobbi flirt
with each other openly, Nick
and Frances embark on an in-
tense, secret affair that is sur-
prising to them both. Soon the
affair begins to test the bond be-
tween Frances and Bobbi, forc-
ing Frances to reconsider her
sense of self, and the friendship
she holds so dear.
Lenny Abrahamson, Execu-
tive Producer and Director, com-
ments: “I feel so excited to be
collaborating with four such su-
perb actors to bring Sally’s bril-
liant novel to the screen. Over
the last few months it has been a
privilege to work alongside Ele-
ment Pictures and our extraordi-
nary team of writers to get the
scripts to a point where we all
feel so excited to start shooting.
I’ll be joined by a world class
crew (many of whom worked on
Normal People) and supporting
cast and I’m particularly happy
to have Leanne Welham come
on board. I’ve been an admirer
of her work for a long time and
I have no doubt she will bring
great skill and subtlety to the
episodes she directs.”
Ed Guiney, Executive Pro-
ducer and Company Director
of Element Pictures, adds: “Ali-
son, Sasha, Joe and Jemima are
the dream cast to lead Conversa-
tions With Friends and all of us
April / May 2021
at Element are so excited about
the incredible scripts from our
amazing team of writers which
we have been developing with
the oversight of the brilliant
Lenny Abrahamson. We can’t
wait to start filming with Lenny,
Leanne and our wonderful cast
and crew to bring Sally’s ex-
traordinary novel to the screen.”
Dermot Horan, RTÉ’s Direc-
tor of Acquisitions and Co-Pro-
ductions, said: ‘Normal People
was such a phenomenal hit on
RTÉ last spring, and has broken
all records on the RTÉ Player.
We’re so delighted to once again
work with Element, on this ex-
citing new production.’
Conversations with Friends
will air next year on BBC, Hulu,
and RTÉ.
Images: Alison Oliver courtesy
of Lir Academy
Lenny Abrahamson - newstates-
man.com
Sasha Lane - flickr.com
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 LITERATURE Page 15

Book Review:
A Ghost in the Throat
force of Eibhlín’s words calls
to her from across time. One
voice calling to another, to
share in the love and the loss.
So engrossed with this poem
was the young Ní Ghríofa,
that she found herself fill-
ing in the blanks with tender
caresses and dramatic thun-
dering hooves, from her own
imagination. This is only the
second iteration of the writer’s
life intertwining with the Cao-
ineadh. As the book develops,
we see how the poem has acted
as both a guiding light and a
protective entity to Ní Ghríofa,
often shaping her movements
and charting her life’s path.
All roads seemed to lead her to
Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill.
The author fills in some of
the missing pieces surround-
ing the life of Ní Chonaill
with care, despite there being
very little written accounts of
her in her childhood home at
Derrynane or being married to
Airt Ó Laoghaire. She was the
aunt of political leader Daniel
O’Connell and even in rela-
tion to that fact, there is little
written mention of her. While
delving into her research, Ní
Ghríofa reflects on the fact
that much of Eibhlín’s patch-
work history has been mould-
ed by the writings of men. The
subject of Caoineadh Airt Uí
Laoghaire, is her husband and
his death, which often eclipses
Eibhlín as the wordsmith and
speaker. Like a woman writ-
ence, in her past life studying
dentistry. Not just on morality,
the fleeting nature of life or
the selflessness of giving your
body to science, but the space
that surrounds life and life af-
ter death. She recalls dream-
ing about the dissection room,
well before ever seeing it in
person. The room itself haunts
her, in a neutral but transform-
ative way. It acts as a liminal
space, a portal between her vi-
sions of her past self and her
future self.
The role of motherhood fea-
tures heavily in the book, with
Ní Ghríofa laying out her own
trials with a complicated birth
and witnessing mothers and
babies struggle in the neonatal
wards. She brings the reader’s
attention to the emotional
bond between mothers and ba-
bies and internal and external
fights mothers battle to pro-
vide for their children. This is
also reflected in her search for
Eibhlín’s story, she wonders
what motherhood looked like
for her?
A Ghost in the Throat is an
astounding piece of work. It
marries the unusual with the
mundane to create this beauti-
fully empathetic award win-
ning text. Ní Ghríofa’s person-
al reflections feel like a friend
relating their story. More often
than not, her words will sum-
mon you forth through the
pages to stand next to her, to
share in the joys and sorrows
of life.
In creating this text she has
in a way come full circle, for
just as Eibhlín called out to
her, Ní Ghríofa has called out
to us and this time, we will
listen.

W
n Geneva Pattison
inner of the 2020
An Post Book
Awards’ Irish Book
of the Year category, A Ghost
in the Throat is a truly unique
and delicately woven piece of
prose. Doireann Ní Ghríofa’s
book invites the reader to dis-
cover the realities, worries
and innermost thoughts of her
own life, her experience with
motherhood and her journey
to discover the lost history of
Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill’s
existence.
The book begins with a pow-
erful statement.“This is a fe-
male text”, an exclamation, a
eulogy, an elegy and a remind-
er that the everyday lives of
women matter. The beginning
of the book sees Ní Ghríofa
map out her day to day life,
the chores and childcare ritu-
als that keep her world ticking
over. We are introduced to Eib-
hlín Dubh’s Caoineadh, a la-
ment that seems to melt away
the author’s current surround-
ings and welcomes us back to
her childhood, the very first
time she and Eibhlín met. Of
course, she jokes that Eibhlín
“... had been dead for centu-
ries.”. The author paints a pic-
ture of herself as a young girl,
pulled from her daydreaming,
into the harsh and emotional
world of a poem from the
1700’s.
Upon her second encoun-
ter with Eibhlín’s poem, the
writer is a teenager and finds
herself engrossed in the ro-
mance of the text. The sheer
ten out of history, she has been
“occluded by the shadows of
men”. A Ghost in the Throat
combats this notion, through
Ní Ghríofa’s conscious choice
to include accounts and lists
of her daily cleaning, cooking
and childcare responsibilities,
a reflection that the everyday
labours of women matter and
should be celebrated. These
tasks help shape her day, give
it meaning, while she dedi-
cates the space in between to
studying the Caoineadh, her
search for truth.
As Ní Ghríofa continues
to research and reflect on the
poem, we see her lay out her
own version of a lament. She
illuminates the complex rev-
elations she had while dis-
secting bodies donated to sci-
 Page 16
Looking After Your Brain:
Headway Interview for Brain Awareness Week 2021
N
n Geneva Pattison
ational Brain Aware-
ness Week took place
from March 15th to
21st this year. To mark the im-
portant date, NewsFour got in
touch with Headway, a char-
ity that offers help and reha-
bilitation to people who have
suffered an acquired brain
injury, while also offering ser-
vices to families of those who
are affected. Headway is a free
to access charity for people
with acquired brain injury or
their families and they can be
accessed without GP referral
through the Headway website.
Sara Sabbioni of Headway
chatted with us about the
charity’s services, how to ac-
cess services in the pandemic
and how best to mind our own
brain.
NF: When was Headway es-
tablished?
Sara: It was established in
1985, so quite a long time ago.
The aim of Headway was a sup-
port group started by families
in the beginning, because as
you can imagine a brain injury
is such a traumatic event that
involves not just the person af-
fected but the whole family. At
this stage now we are in Dublin,
Limerick, Cork, Kerry and Car-
low, so we have grown quite a
bit.
NF: It’s wonderful that you
have expanded to so many plac-
es, but I’m sure there’s always
room for more growth to reach
more people?
Sara: Absolutely and I have
to say that because of the pan-
demic, we have moved most of
our services online at the mo-
ment. A lot of people who live
down the country who would
have struggled to commute for
services can now access certain
services from their computer at
home, with our online training.
But obviously there’s always
room for improvement. Be-
tween all our centres, we serve
1342 adults and family mem-
bers. (Outside Covid-19 times)
we have a centre where people
come in daily, a helpline, a com-
munity integration service for
HEALTH/INTERVIEW www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
people with a brain injury who
want to interact within the com-
munity. We also have psycho-
logical and vocational services,
often people with a brain injury
cannot return to work immedi-
ately, because they spend a lot
of time in hospital. So we would
help them rehabilitate and pre-
pare for a return to work.
NF: Do you offer support to
people with more severe brain
injuries too? People who are
bedbound or paralysied?
Sara: Yes, Headway would
work with a wide range of peo-
ple, from mild brain injury to
people who are severely injured.
For example we would work
with people who live in the hos-
pital full time, who may come
into our centres for rehabilita-
tion and also work with people
who can live independently and
would come in unassisted. Our
services are really tailored to the
person’s needs, we always say
that a brain injury is very unique there’s been a lot of talk in the bed. I think this is so wrong, the healthy lifestyle with a healthy
because it’s such a complex or- media about sport related head message people should under- diet with regular exercise. These
gan. Every situation is different, injuries. What steps would stand is that if they experience days our lives are unfortunately
so you have to listen to the per- Headway recommend to see unusual headaches or hit their very stressful, we push our-
son’s needs and what they want that sports related head injuries head, they should err on the side selves to our limits. So some-
to get out of the sessions. become less frequent or eventu- of caution and go to their GP times self care and reminding
ally cease? or go to hospital. People often ourselves of what our priorities
NF: Headway seems like a think that acquired brain injury in life are, can help a lot. Some-
very goal orientated charity. Sara: A few years ago, a col- just happens to elderly peo- times I talk with clients about
With all the charities currently league of mine started the “If in ple, or that it happens because this and they say that it’s really
suffering due to the pandemic, Doubt, Sit it Out” campaign (in they might live a certain life- an eye opener, they didn’t real-
how can people best support relation to concussion aware- style with drugs or alcohol. But ise what their priorities were.
Headway? ness). Rugby players have re- from our data, the average age Their priorities may not be to
corded videos in support of it. of people who access Headway make loads of money or work
Sara: There are different She would have done quite a was 47.7, so that’s pretty young. forever, but rather to look after
ways, we have a Facebook page lot to raise awareness about A large percentage of which themselves and spend time with
and a website, www.headway. this issue and Headway would would access our services for family would be their real goals
ie. If you go on our website, we do so too when we can. But the a stroke or brain hemorrhage. in life. So my advice would be
have a donation section where pandemic has made everything People don’t realise that a brain to slow down a little bit and look
they can see Headway’s bank much harder than before, before injury can happen to anyone and after what matters to them a lit-
details so they can make a bank we would visit schools and hos- can happen out of the blue. tle more.
transfer or they can send us a pitals to try and raise awareness
cheque. On our Facebook page about this issue. NF: The NAI (Neurological NF: Because stress can affect
there’s a section on the bottom Alliance of Ireland) released a a person’s brain psychologically
that says “Donate” and people NF: So would speaking up report on the 15th of March de- and physically, would you rec-
can donate any amount they about any suspicious brain or tailing severe gaps in neurology ommend practicing mindful-
want to, they can also set up head pain be important in terms services and aftercare in Ireland, ness as a relaxing or protective
fundraising events for us. Re- of early intervention? with regards to funding. Con- method?
cently we have been creating sidering that there are around
online events and online quiz- Sara: Yes that would be 800,000 people in Ireland living Sara: Absolutely and mind-
zes to raise money and they can key sometimes. I have been in with a neurological condition, fulness is something we do in
be found on our Facebook page. Headway for the past 13 years how can the everyday person Headway on a regular basis. We
So it’s a bit of fun and it’s for and what is surprising to me best protect their brain health? have several groups going and
a good cause, if people want to is, I still hear people or clients it definitely has a positive effect
join in the more the merrier! saying “I had a headache for a Sara: Prevention is key. Ob- on the mind.
number of days and it didn’t go viously check and rule out
NF: In the last couple of years away” and they just take to their any suspicions and maintain a NF: In terms of Brain Aware-
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
ness Week this Year, how is
Headway getting involved in
spreading awareness?
Sara: (Pre-Pandemic) We
used to do quite a lot in the cen-
tres. We had coffee mornings,
went into hospitals and more.
This year it will be a little more
low key unfortunately. We’re
trying to do as much as pos-
sible online, like holding cel-
ebrations, events and spreading
awareness online.
Data from 2019 shows that
Headway’s service demands
have increased by 27%. The
data showed that they are serv-
ing 1342 clients in the repub-
lic of Ireland who have an
acquired brain injury and had
962 helpline calls that year. In
2019, 446 people were referred
to Headway for assistance or,
referred themselves or fam-
ily members, which shows an
increase of nearly 100 people
when compared with the previ-
ous year. The precise average
age of people accessing the
service was 47.7, with 56% of
people referred suffering non-
traumatic brain injury versus
44% receiving a traumatic brain
injury diagnosis. Statistics from
Headway also show that client’s
wellbeing and life satisfaction
improved upon receiving inter-
vention from Headway.
Any brain injury is drastic and
is for life. It can lead to disabil-
ity, impaired motor functioning
and have a drastic impact on a
person’s mental health. While
some people with milder brain
injuries may recover to a large
extent, there are some people
who will need lifelong care and
assistance. According to the
NAI report released this year,
the neurological care and health
sector is critically understaffed
and much of the long-term re-
habilitation and aftercare falls
on the shoulders of neurological
charity services. On the topic of
this in the NAI report, Professor
Orla Hardiman, National Clini-
cal Lead for Neurology said:
“The vital importance of
not-for-profit organisations in
the delivery of everyday care
for neurological illness in this
country cannot be overstated.
They contribute millions each
year from fundraised income
without which neurological care
in this country could not be sus-
tained. It is vital that the section
39 organisations be funded by
the state to reflect the true cost
of providing these services.”
Interview With Volunteer
and Service User,
Caroline Leonard on
Headway’s Work.
NF: How did you find out
about Headway?
Caroline: When I was di-
agnosed with my condition,
there wasn’t a lot of informa-
tion available. It was very dif-
ficult to source help, so I found
it through trial and error really.
I knew of Headway in the UK,
then I found out about them in
Ireland.
NF: What services did you
feel benefitted you most?
Caroline: I should mention
before this, that there’s nearly a
year waiting list to get any of the
services from Headway. They
do a full assessment looking at
what you’re going to need and
after that there’s still a waiting
time. This is because they don’t
have enough resources. But they
do really important neuro-psy-
chological work, yes the physi-
ological side (of brain injuries)
is important too, but you’ve also
got communication challenges,
memory issues, thinking issues
and emotional issues. Headway
have specialist neuro-psychol-
ogists that understand all of
these particular neuro-cognitive
actions. For my situation, my
speech would have been slightly
gone and distorted, my thinking
was impaired as well. Obvious-
ly you need them to understand
how best to get you back on
track again. Headway also has
occupational therapy, their sup-
port service to help you think
about getting back to work.
They also have social groups
and lots of information for link-
ing you up to other charitable
bodies, for example Epilepsy
Ireland. They also offer clients
the chance to be in their fund-
raising group. Headway doesn’t
have enough funding to have an
in-house fundraising team. So,
myself and a few other people
who would have an acquired
brain injury of some sort would
meet up (pre-Covid) every 10
days or so to draft fundraising
strategies. But once you get into
Headway’s services, what they
do is fantastic.
HEALTH/INTERVIEW Page 17
NF: Has the
experience be-
ing involved
on a voluntary
basis for Head-
way’s fundrais-
ing, helped you
on your own
journey of re-
covery?
Caroline: Yes
I suppose so.
Initially when
I think of fun-
draising I think
of people out-
side (fundrais-
ing on streets),
but we come up
with the ideas
together. For
example, there
are some peo-
ple in there who
are artists and
they have been
involved in
creating the art
behind the char-
ity Christmas
cards. I would
have previ-
ously operated
at a very senior
level, so I got
stuck in and felt
very strongly
about Headway
needing to be promoted more, own experience) It’s a real chal- and fundraising everywhere for
along with more funding and lenge that question. Overall, in cancer awareness, I’d like to see
more general awareness about one hospital I’d rate the service brain injury awareness get to
brain health. I’ve had as good, obviously hos- that level.
pitals have a lot of difficulties to
NF: Have you found a net- deal with, but another hospital To get in touch with Headway
work of friends or acquaintanc- I’d rate less than good and I and find out more about their
es through Headway that you don’t like saying that. There’s services, visit www.headway.ie
can connect to? more of a straight forward pro- or call their national helpline on
tocol when dealing with some- 1800 400 478.
Caroline: That’s been a bit of thing like a sports injury, but
a challenge this year, because we other injuries can cause compli- Headway Website:
can’t be in a room together. But cations in relation to time spent https://headway.ie/
apart from that, I’ve also found in hospital and recovery rates. Headway Twitter(@Headway-
that returning to my studies has (After hospital) My own GP Ireland):
been a great source for interac- was great. Twitter.com/HeadwayIreland
tion and connection for me. It’s Headway Facebook:
been really good for building NF: How important is Brain Facebook.com/Headway.ie
that confidence back up again. Awareness Week to you and to Headway Care Statistics:
I would be very involved in the Headway? https://headway.ie/about-us/
advocacy group also, who work our-outcomes/
to push politicians to acknowl- Caroline: It matters an awful NAI March 15th 2021 Report:
edge the important funding as- lot to me because before I knew https://www.nai.ie/go/news/15-
pects that need attention. about Headway, I knew about 3-2021-nai-report-reveals-criti-
Brain Awareness Week. I just cal-gaps-in-neurology-services
NF: How do you feel the sup- wish that it was more publicised
port or aftercare available for because with so many people Images:Headway stats- Head-
people with varying types of suffering with brain related is- way website, Cerebral cortex -
brain injuries is in the public sues and not talking about them pixy.org
health system? it makes me incredibly sad, it’s
like a hidden illness. The way
Caroline: (In relation to her you see daffodil day advertised
 Page 18
STAYING HOME IS THE NEW GOING AWAY
A
STAYCATION is like-
ly to be the holiday of
choice for many this
summer and in the foreseeable
future. to help you avoid painful
pitfalls the Competition & Con-
sumer Protection Commission
(CCPC) has put together the fol-
lowing guidelines on what con-
sumers should look out for.
¥¥ Take time to read the
t&cs: Read the terms and condi-
tions (T&Cs) and make sure you
understand them before you pay
a deposit, or pay in full. Look
for the cancellation policy and
any references to public health
measures, or Government ad-
vice that may affect your book-
ing. Only book when you are
happy with what you are agree-
ing to.  fund?
¥¥ Request a copy before
you book: If you cannot find the
T&Cs, for example on the busi-
ness’s website, contact them di-
rectly and ask for a copy before
you pay any money. If the busi-
ness does not have this informa-
tion available, ask them to con-
firm the details in writing.   mean you have a record of your
¥¥ If anything is unclear –
contact the business: If any of
the T&Cs are unclear, or if you
need to clarify any details, get
in touch with the business to
make sure you fully understand
your rights and obligations be-
fore you book. If any important
information is given over the
phone, follow up with an email
confirming the details. This will
conversation, which may help
in the event that you need to re-
quest a refund in the future.
 
¥¥ Ask the ‘what if..?’ ques-
tions: Many standard T&Cs
may not cover alternative ar-
rangements, or deposit refunds
where public health measures
STAYCATION
prevent a booking from going
ahead. You can contact the busi-
ness and ask them for additional
information before you make a
payment. Scenarios to consider
include:
What are my options if my
booking is cancelled due to
public health measures, or other
COVID-19 related circumstanc-
es?
Am I entitled to a refund if I
www.newsfour.ie
cancel my booking because of
Government guidance?
If I feel uncomfortable trav-
elling due to circumstances at
the time and wish to cancel my
booking, will I be offered a re-
If I am unable to travel due to
mandatory quarantine, am I en-
titled to a refund? If not, what
are my options?
 
¥¥ Ask about payment op-
tions: Find out if it’s possible to
pay in instalments rather than
paying up front? You may wish
to consider looking for busi-
nesses that offer payment closer
to departure when there’s more
certainty about travel proceed-
ing.  posit or providing payment in
¥¥ Keep a copy of the t&cs:
Keep a copy of the T&Cs at
the time of booking as proof of
your entitlements if there is a
April / May 2021
change of plans or something
goes wrong. For example, if
the original T&Cs give you the
right to a refund, the business is
not allowed to change that term
without your agreement. 
¥¥ Do your research & be
vigilant: Be sure to do your re-
search before you book. Watch
out for rental accommodation
scams. This is where scammers
go to a genuine holiday website
and put up a fake listing for a
place to rent. These scams will
try and get you to pay the full
rental price or a sizeable deposit
upfront. Therefore it’s impor-
tant to do some quick research,
check reviews and social media
pages before paying either a de-
full.
Images: Cliffs Of Moher - Joseph
Martin, Eyre Square - Eoin Meegan
others-Wiki.
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
Popular swimming pool to possibly get a Reprieve
C
n Michael Greene
losed last year due to the
Covid 19 pandemic, the
current status of Mar-
ian College Swimming Pool is
that it is to remain closed for
the foreseeable future. Earlier
this year the Swimming Pool’s
Board of Management released
the following statement:
“To all associated with Mar-
ian College swimming pool.
Soul Nourishment from The Millennial Therapist
Sara Kuburic, better known
as the Millennial Therapist, de-
scribes herself as an identity,
relationship, and moral trauma
expert. Her aim is to help you
feel empowered, live freely and
authentically, thrive in your re-
lationships with yourself and
others, experience healing and
change, and uncover purpose
in your life. Sara is a Canadian
with Balkan roots.
During lockdown, when eve-
ryone was needing a little extra
boost NewsFour talked remote-
ly to Sara.
It is with a heavy heart that
the Board of Management an-
nounces the closure of Marian
College Swimming Pool. Not-
withstanding the efforts of the
pool manager and her team, the
Covid 19 pandemic, restrictions
and related costs have had a sig-
nificant impact on the long-term
viability of the swimming pool.
 We would like to thank you
for your loyalty and support of
NF: Why is Self Love so im-
portant?
The way we relate to ourselves
is often how we relate to others.
In order to have healthy rela-
tionships with others, we have
to strive towards a healthy rela-
tionship with ourselves. In order
to create a positive change in the
world, we must create a positive
change within. No one can love
us the way that we can love our-
selves. This is a need that can
only be fulfilled by us – this is
why it’s important to address it.
Self-love is not something we
the pool since its opening in
1966. The pool, which was the
first indoor swimming pool built
in Dublin in the 20th century, has
been at the forefront of training
and teaching in swimming, wa-
ter polo and other water sports.
It has also been a great resource
for the community, providing
enjoyment, fun and life-saving
skills in all things aquatic to
thousands of its users down
through the years.
 The Board would like to
particularly acknowledge the
contribution of all the staff, the
community, the local author-
ity, community gain funds and
sporting agencies who sup-
ported the pool since its incep-
tion in 1966, and our patrons the
Marist Brothers.The pool could
not have operated for so long
without your support and we
sincerely thank you for it.”
 Opened in 1966, Marian was
the first indoor swimming pool
built in Dublin in the 20th cen-
tury and has been at the fore-
front of training and teaching in
can outsource, although we of-
ten try to, especially within our
relationships. A lack of self-love
can contribute to a wide array of
mental health issues. The degree
to which we love ourselves will
dictate the way we treat our-
selves.  times, and who cannot access
NF: Would you say having
an innate sense of self-appre-
ciation and self-esteem is fun-
damental to self love?
Yes. Self-appreciation, self-
esteem, and I would add self-
acceptance, are all fundamental
components of self-love. How-
ever, these inner experiences
may not always feel innate.
Sometimes, arguably, often-
times, they require a lot of work,
intentionality, and dedication.
  
NF: Do you find today’s ob-
session with the body, beauty
products, and with being a
certain shape can actually be
an impediment to self-appre-
ciation and self love?
Absolutely. I think the hyper
focus and, consequently, the
expectations that follow do not
leave space for individuals to
swimming, water polo and other
water sports. It has been a great
resource for the community,
providing enjoyment, fun and
life-saving skills to all of its us-
ers down through the years.
A campaign to save the pool
was started on Uplift some
months ago and to date has re-
ceived over 4,000 signatures,
but despite this, and petitions
to Dublin City Council, Swim
Ireland, Sports Ireland and Min-
ister for Sport Catherine Martin
its future is uncertain. However,
all may not be lost as a recent
report presented to the Dub-
lin City Council Budget Con-
sultative Committee proposed
€40,000 in additional funding
for the beleaguered Swimming
Pool.
The report reads:
“Marian College has operated
a swimming pool since 1966,
which is now closed; the pool
was available to the school dur-
ing school hours and available
to the public, swimming groups,
clubs and local community. A
show up authentically or appre-
ciate their inherent uniqueness.
The expectations are often un-
realistic and promote an illusion
of perfection that leaves many
people feeling resentful, disap-
pointed, and inadequate.  nected during these strange
NF: What made you decide
to get involved in the Body
Shop’s Self Love Movement?
As someone who has been,
and currently still is, on a jour-
ney of self-love I wanted to help
others do the same. The Body
Shop Self Love campaign is a
movement, meaning it high-
lights that love is an action not
merely a feeling. This stance is
incredibly empowering because
it reminds us that we have the
honour of building a relation-
ship we desire with ourselves.  yourself you might be at, be-
I was born in the Balkans. I
survived two wars by the age of
nine. I think that early childhood
experience of what it means to
see a world without love has
shaped who I am today. It has
motivated me to advocate for a
world where people can learn to
love themselves and often, as a
consequence, be open to loving
Page 19
number of other schools in the
area also uses the facility. As the
facility provides a significant re-
source to the local community
and with the nearest Dublin City
Council pool being Markievicz
it is accepted that without ac-
cess to this pool many schools,
groups and public would be at
a significant loss. Dublin City
Council propose to engage with
Board of Management of the
pool to explore options to reo-
pen the pool. It is proposed to
make a contribution of €40k
subject to discussions.”
There is a chance that this
additional funding will be ap-
proved at the full council meet-
ing in April. If so the swimming
pool could still survive.
We at NewsFour hope that
this great resource can be saved,
as next to Markievicz it is the
only available local community
pool, and its closure would have
a devastating effect on the com-
munity of Ballsbridge and its
surrounds. 
others.
NF: What words of en-
couragement might you give
to those who may be feeling
frightened, lonely and discon-
that sense of well-being we
need to thrive?
• Be gracious and patient.
Self-love is not something we
earn or can fail at. Rather, I see
it as a relationship we get to
build and nurture over time (at
whatever pace and in whichever
way you choose). There is no
such thing as a perfect relation-
ship, not even with ourselves.
• Choose to meet yourself at
whatever phase or version of
cause you deserve to be loved
– always. 
Wise words of truth indeed.
Image courtesy of Sara Kuburic
Page 20 PHOTO DIARY www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 PHOTO DIARY Page 21
 Page 22
DCC Notes
for March / April 2021
Compiled by Dermot Carmody
Citywide Introduction of
30 kph Speed Limit
Councillors on the South East
Area Committee (SEAC) meet-
ing by Zoom on March 8th were
given a presentation on the pro-
posed citywide rollout of a de-
fault speed limit of 30 kph with
particular reference to the South
East Area by Rossana Camargo,
Executive Engineer with Dublin
City Council (DCC).
Councillors heard that the
Loving 30 campaign associated
with the new speed limit would
promote the main aims of the
measure, which are to reduce
traffic speed on the roads and to
make it safer for people walking
and cycling in the city, especial-
ly children.
The plan envisages a default
speed limit of 30 kph on roads
and in villages. Ms. Camargo
highlighted the success of simi-
lar moves in other European cit-
ies. Dropping the speed limit to
20 mph (Approximately 32 kph)
in London and Edinburgh has
been successful reducing acci-
dents and casualties consider-
ably. In Paris the introduction
of a 30 kph limit has reduced
emissions, while in Brussels the
benefits of reducing the limit
were achieved without, it was
claimed, significantly lengthen-
ing journey times in the city.
Ms. Camargo noted that hav-
ing numerous different speed
limits should be minimized in
order to avoid excessive dis-
tracting signage on roads, and
that under the proposed meas-
ures the speed limit around
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL NOTES www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
main able to travel at 50 kph on
the Pigeon House Road in the
context of attempts to improve
the footpaths was under licence
from the Roads Department.
Private landings to which the
formation he got from revenue
says owners of buildings must
now provide tax details - their
matters there for pedestrians and public has access is under the PPS and the property number.
cyclists. Planning Department. He said He was glad to see revenue in-
there may be a relaxation of volved and wondered what the
all school areas would drop to A number of councillors al- rules as the government wants impact of these changes will be?
30kph, bringing obvious safety luded to the failure of DCC to to encourage outdoor dining be-
benefits to children. pass similar measures in the re- cause of covid. DCC Roads and In response, Mr. Downey said
cent past. Cllr Pat Dunne (I4C) Planning Department will make that the success of new revenue
The plan proposes two nota- said it was unfortunate that a policy decision on accommo- measures will depend on peo-
ble exceptions where the speed similar proposals were defeated dating any such easement of ple complying with the require-
limit would remain at the 50 last year  as result of lobbying rules. ments to submit details. People
kph limit as at present. These of councillors by motorists and will try to hide the fact from
are the stretch of the N11 from other groups. He said the 30kph Cllr Claire Byrne said she gets revenue and local authority that
the border with Dun Laoghaire limit applies in many suburbs lots of complaints about breach- STL is taking place, he said, and
Rathdown County Council to and the city centre and that it’s ing of rules in developments es- it can be difficult to identify - es-
the junction of Anglesea Rd and time to roll it out citywide. He pecially in Docklands. In a lot pecially with apartments, which
Beaver Row, and the route from hoped Councillors will resist of cases, according to residents, ones are being used for STL.
Dublin Port Tunnel to the Sean lobbying this time and the re- builders just continue to breach
Moore roundabout, both north- port is implemented. Cllr Anne working hours and traffic plans, Report Suggests Belmont
bound and southbound. The lat- Feeny said she had voted against causing stress to residents who Avenue Traffic Calming
ter exemption would be in place the last report as she had felt it feel that nothing is being done Measures
to facilitate trucks accessing the was impractical to enforce, but about it. She accepted the de- Andrew Duff Neighbourhood,
waste incinerator.  that she had changed her mind partment was doing its best to Transport Engineer at the De-
and been convinced this time enforce rules but said residents partment of the Environment
Once initial feedback had because of better communica- were being left in a difficult presented the outcome of a re-
been elicited from councillors, tion on the Loving 30 campaign. situation.  port into posible traffic calming
Ms. Camargo said the proposal Expressing support for the measures in Belmont Avenue in
would go to the Public Consul- plans, Cllr. Caroline Moore Car- Mr. Downey responded say- Donnybrook. Problems on the
tation Hub from 29th of March oline Moore (GP) said it has to ing that there is no 30 day grace residential road, where a school
to 9th of April, and would ulti- be about more than just chang- period for working hour breach- is also located, arise from nar-
mately be enacted in Decem- ing speed limits. She said that es by developers and that the row footpaths and carriageways.
ber 2021 if a full DCC council infrastructural changes will also department engages with them The issues are rat running dur-
meeting passed it. be needed to slow traffic down, immediately on such breach- ing morning and evening peak
and that signs alone won’t work es. He said developers need hours and speeding by motor-
Councillors were broadly sup- without traffic calming meas- derogations of working hours ists. Mounting of kerbs by driv-
portive of the proposals, includ- ures. where large concrete pours are ers and speeding to pass other
ing Fine Gael councillors Paddy required. If it comes to the de- vehicles on the narrow road
McCartan and James Geoghan. For the Council, Ms. Camargo partment’s attention that they have been noted by drivers. 
Mr. Geoghan commended the said they were liaising with Gar- are breaching working hours
Safe Schools initiative and sug- dai on enforcement of existing they halt these derogations for Suggested actions include
gested that residential roads 30 kph limits as well as plans for a period, giving the department the reduction of speed limit to
could adopt a similar model. enforcement under the proposed some leverage to enforce rules. 30 kph, removal of some park-
He asked if it would be possible changes. He sympathised with residents ing bays to allow cars to pull in
to trial the 30 kph limit on resi- near infill development in the to let oncoming traffic to pass,
dential roads. Ms. Camargo said Presentation On Planning city and said that generally even hopefully decreasing aggres-
this was not possible under the Enforcement by DCC where there are complaints the sive driving, removing parking
relevant bye-laws. John Downey, Administra- department finds that builders entirely and widening the car-
tive Officer planning Depart- are compliant but admitted that, riageway and footpaths, and in-
Cllr. Mary Freehill (LAB) ment DCC, gave a presentation because it is so close to residents stitution of a one way system on
noted that cities used for com- on Planning Enforcement by who are staying at home, it still the road.
parison in the report, such as  the Council, following which causes a problem.
London and Paris, have un- Cllr Mannix Flynn expressed Two further solutions, how-
derground rail systems which concern that developers in Cllr. Paddy McCartan (FG) ever, appeared to be the most
contribute to people’s ability docklands have exceeded the brought up the matter of short likely to succeed and to meet the
to travel round the city. She ar- permitted building height in term lets (STL). He said the In- approval of residents, accord-
gued that the  Metro here should new developments. He also ex-
go ahead. Cllr. Deirdre Conroy pressed concern that, to facili-
(FF) echoed this point and raised tate outdoor dining, publicans
the issue of buses speeding. She are building gazebos and en-
said there should be automatic croaching on footpaths without
speed cameras to enforce the permission. He said this was not
speed limits. Cllr. Mannix Flynn just street furniture but perma-
agreed with Cllr. Conroy’s con- nent structures “nailed into the
cern about buses, which he said ground.”
“think they’re in some sort of
Grand Prix.” Mr Downey said that the mat-
ter of one specific docklands
Cllr. Claire Byrne (GP), also building height was in court at
welcoming the proposal, ques- the moment. On the matter of
tioned whether trucks should re- outdoor dining, he said use of
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 Page 23

Significant Move towards Greater Equality

Guest article by Equality is fundamental to
Chris Andrews TD. Republicanism and a basic prin-
ciple of any modern-day society.
While it may appear as a simple
and straight forward principle,
to put into practice it is com-
plex, as any gap in legislation
can lead to exploitation and dis-
crimination, causing suffering
to many within our community.
As an Irish Republican elected
to the Dáil, I wanted equality to
be a cornerstone to the politics
that I bring to that institution.
For this reason, once elected I
began working to develop legis-
lation to amend both the Equal
Status Act and the Employment
Equality Act and to plug the gap
within these Acts.
The purpose of this Bill is to
put in place safeguards that will
prevent people being discrimi-
nated against simply because of
where they may have grown up,
where they live, or the accent
they speak with.
In one example a young con-
stituent from one of the city’s
flat complexes, who had a Mas-
ter’s degree and is a fluent Por-
tuguese speaker, reported his ex-
perience to me. After submitting
a video application for a job in a
large multinational company, he
was contacted by a concerned
employee of that company who
informed him that employees
reviewing his video application
had joked and mocked about the
young individual’s Inner City
Dublin accent, with one also
questioning how and where the
applicant picked up Portuguese.
This young man’s accent sadly
became a deciding factor on
whether he got the job or not.
When this young man went to
the Workplace Relations Com-
mission (WRC), despite having
copies of the messages by the
interview panel mocking and
insulting his accent and address,
the WRC told him that this case
did not fall under laws on dis-
crimination in the workplace.
Like many forms of discrimi-
nation, they can be difficult to
clearly prove, so while this Bill
may not be a ‘’silver bullet’’
of a solution, what it will do,
is to give those with clear evi-
dence the support they deserve
to stand up against this form of
discrimination.
This Bill is an important step
in sending out a message to so-
ciety and those that are affected
by this type of discrimination.
It is unacceptable for people to
discriminate against individuals
on the basis that you come from
a disadvantaged socioeconomic
background or speak with a par-
ticular accent.
By continuing to exclude so-
cioeconomic status inequality
in legislation we are creating a
hierarchy of equality in which
we prohibit and recognise cer-
tain forms of discrimination but
tolerate other forms
Our various unique accents
are an essential part of who we
are, our culture and our heritage.
To be discriminated against be-
cause of them should never be
tolerated under any law.

Green Party calls for recognition of

DCC Notes Cont’d
ing to most councillors. These
are firstly, restricting access to

clean water as a human right

vehicles from the Donnybrook
end only, or secondly a “filtered
permeability” scheme, whereby
locations would be provided
where cars can turn and exit the
road from where they came in.
Councillors agreed that these
two were the more feasible of
the suggested options, but some
expressed concern that any such
action was bound to have a
knock on effect, increasing traf-
fic on adjacent roads in the area
as a result.
The proposed options are
likely to be whittled down in
number following feedback
from councillors, and will be
opened up to public consulta-
tion in April, Mr. Duff said.
April will open up options for
public consultation. He said that
where displaced traffic goes de-
pends on the options ultimately
chosen. He conceded that traffic
will go onto neighbouring roads
but noted that Belmont Avenue
is not designed to take peak traf-
fic, whereas Marlborough Road,
for example, is an arterial route
and could take more traffic than
Belmont Avenue.  source to sea and every-
Access to clean water ers, lakes, and ground- Access to Clean Water guaranteed investment let, but the motion in the
is a basic human right of water.” and Sanitation is also a going forward.” Seanad is a first step. We
every inhabitant of this United Nation’s Sustain- want to ensure that every
country, the Green Party The Programme for able Development Goal According to the Wa- person in this country
has said. March 22nd is Government commits that we have signed up ter Quality in Ireland will see a change for the
World Water Day and to making the provision to. report published by the better - better health and
this year’s focus on the of safe drinking water Senators Pauline Environmental Protec- better quality of life.”
value of water has never and the proper treatment O’Reilly and Vincent P tion Agency (EPA) in
been more important. of wastewater a prior- Martin joined Senator December 2020, only Senator Garvey con-
ity, and Senator Róisín Garvey at the launch. 53% of our surface wa- cluded: “Coming from
Senator Róisín Garvey Garvey will bring a mo- ter bodies have satisfac- rural Ireland, I see huge
said: “Water is a basic tion to Seanad Éireann Senator O’Reilly stat- tory water quality. There issues with lack of infra-
human right, yet here we next week calling for: ed: “Water is so much are now just 20 pristine structure. We have many
are in 2021 with a huge part of our environment river sites, down from villages in towns that
water crisis in Ireland. The State to provide on this island – not just over 500 sites in the late are one water treatment
It’s time we valued our for the management, our seas but also our 1980s. In addition, the plant away from surviv-
water and gave it the re- treatment and distri- wetlands. €1.3bn was al- CSO recently reported ing and thriving. There is
spect and investment it bution of safe water located to Irish Water in that treatment at 19 of no housing without water
needs so people can feel through systems in pub- budget 2021. That was Ireland’s large towns and infrastructure. There is
safe drinking and using lic or community owner- key for us in listening cities, including Dublin no rural development or
it again. We as a Govern- ship, ensuring the protec- not just to those protect- and Cork, failed to meet regional balance without
ment party have made tion and restoration of ing our wildlife, but also EU standards set to pre- water infrastructure.”
commitments in the the ecological status of to those looking to con- vent pollution.
Programme for Govern- water bodies. struct more homes and
ment and now we have more businesses, par- Senator Martin stated:
to turn those into action. Recognition that clean ticularly in rural Ireland. “We need to get serious
We must protect it from water is a basic human That investment is need- about this. It requires
right of every inhabitant ed now more than ever, prioritisation and invest-
thing along the way, riv- of this country and that and we need to see that ment. It’s not a silver bul-
 Page 24
Recipe’s for Easter
As Easter peers its little ears
around the corner, getting
excited for a long season of
barbecues and beers under
the spring evening sun be-
comes a whole lot easier.
Fear not if your barbecue has
not been touched since last
September…these nifty little
numbers are the perfect transi-
tion back into garden grilling.
Great for all ages and bursting
with flavour, you can guarantee
a positively hoppy family feast,
once the chocolate overload has
subsided…
 
Serves: 6-8 people
 
Cooking method:
Direct
Temp: 200-230°C
Prep time: 20 minutes
Chill time: 1-8 hours (marinad-
ing)
Cooking time: 8-12 minutes
Ingredients:
Kofta:
Extra-virgin olive oil
The NewsFour Crossword
April May 2021
Compiled by Gemma Byrne
1 2 3 4
9 10
11
13
14
15 16
18 19
21 22
25 26
29
Name:…………………………… Telephone:…………………
Address:…………………………………………………………
900g minced lamb
6 crushed garlic cloves
½ small onion, chopped
4 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
and tender stems
4 tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 ½ tsp sea salt
1 tsp sweet paprika
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp ground black pepper
 
Yogurt Sauce:
240ml natural Greek yogurt
1 tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves
1 crushed garlic cloves
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp hot sauce, tabasco
 
Side Sauce:
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 ½ tbsp chopped fresh mint
leaves
1 ½ tbsp chopped coriander
leaves
175ml of harissa
In the kitchen:
1. Lightly oil a large baking tray.
5 6
8
12
17
20
23
24
27
www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
In a large bowl, combine all the
remaining kofta ingredients and
mix gently with your hands un-
til evenly distributed. Divide
into 18 equal portions (about
55g each) and arrange on bak-
ing tray.
2. With damp hands and a light
touch, form each portion into an
oval shape (7.5cm long and 4cm
wide). Insert skewer into each
portion. Cover loosely with
clingfilm and refrigerate for 1 –
8 hours to firm up.
3. In a small bowl, whisk all the
yogurt ingredients together. You
should have 240ml. Cover and
refrigerate until ready to serve.
 
At the barbecue:
1. Prepare the barbecue for di-
rect heat, approx. 200-230°C.
A high heat is required. While
the barbecue heats, let the kofta
mixture sit at room temperature.
2. Lightly brush the koftas with
olive oil. Grill the kofta over
grilling / direct medium – high
heat, with the lid closed, for
8-12 minutes, until browned on nish with mint and coriander. range and for more recipe inspi-
all sides and cooked through, Serve with the harissa and yo- ration visit www.weber.com
turning occasionally. gurt sauces.
3. Arrange on serving platter,   Image: Weber’s Barbecue Bible
drizzle with olive oil and gar- To view Weber’s full product Cookbook, Hamlyn
Crossword Clues April May 2021 Solutions for the Feb/March 21
Crossword
ACROSS:
1) A glutton for punishment (9) ACROSS:
5) Dahl wrote of a giant version of this stone fruit (5)
7 9) Fingers or phone number (6) 1) Adolescents, 6) CAB, 8) Taj
10) Roux and milk based sauce (8) Mahal, 9) Panama, 13) Buck,
11) A strategic planner (9) 14) Sale of Work,
12) A long long way to run according to Maria (3) 16) Oxidation, 18) Biden, 19)
13) Ingest (3) Nod off, 21) Herb, 22) Pub
14) Washes one’s hands of (7) Crawl,
15) Detainees (7) 23) Bateau, 26) Emancipation,
17) Delight in another’s misfortune (5) 28) Neighbours, 29) Bass
18) Superior quality French vineyard (3)
21) Prayer cushion for kneeling (7)
23) Had a hankering (7) DOWN:
25) Type of language Gogarty used about Stagg in the Dáil (15)
29) NO2 (8, 7) 1) Autobiography, 2) Objection-
able, 3) Exam, 4) Chapati, 5)
DOWN: Tap, 7) Black and Blue,
1) Famous George Eliot novel (11) 10) Affable, 11) Avoidable, 12)
2) Ninth astrological sign (11) Mean, 15) Balderdash, 17) Oaf,
3) A large-scale and sudden event (9) 20) Few,
28
4) Follower (10) 21) Hob, 24) Alto, 25) Spur, 27)
6) Assessment (4) Ova
7) Without enthusiasm or energy (13)
8) Country on the equator and home to the Galapagos islands (7)
12) Decorate (7)
16) Part of a curve or a story (3) Prize of €25 book token. Post
19) Precipitation (4) entries to;
20) Selection of small Middle Eastern dishes (4) NewsFour, 13A Fitzwilliam
22) A single step on a flight (5) Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4
24) One used by others for their own ends (4) by the 22nd May 2021.
25) Vase for storing ashes (3)
26) Fall behind (3)
27) VAT or DIRT (3)
28) Mr Hull, friend of Emu (3)
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 NEWSFOUR FICTION Page 25

Continuing our New NewsFour Fiction

Welcome back, Mommy and
Daddy, we are so excited to tell
you about Uncle Mick that we
cannot meow.  We have to write
instead.  Apparently, you told
Aunty Nicola that he is a big
doggie fan and does not like
us cats and to protect us while
you were away, but you were so
wrong.  He truly loves us and
wants us to have great adven-
tures in life.
He gave us a wonderful day on
Friday, full of thrills and love
and Aunty Nicola too!  She is
such a great actress; the reels of
Hollywood have utterly lost a
star. She left for work at the usu-
Holiday Thrills
by Michael Gavin
al time and we were dreading in case we got lost. for us at the top, the joker pre- Please keep this a secret, Mom-
the long boring day ahead; then tended to try and push us off, but my and Daddy.  He would be so
about ten thirty we heard Uncle Arriving in Howth, he threw us we landed in a hay lorry passing embarrassed if he thought for a
Mick singing a song of welcome into the water and told us that below.  I’m amazed at his being second that you knew of his lov-
from the back garden.  He told you had both arrived home early so clever as to be able to organ- ing nature.  When we arrive for
us that he had come over to give and wanted to treat us to lunch ise that perfect timing. Christmas dinner in his apart-
us a surprise and wasn’t Aunty in Killiney.  Such a joker!  We ment not only will we be the
Nicola so good not to spoil it. swam over, and you weren’t But he can be such a silly bil- centre of attention, he is even
there. ly.  He wanted to surprise us by going to have his warming ma-
He is such a joker.  He told us camping out on Lambay Island chine ready in case we are feel-
to jump from the bathroom win- We swam back to Howth, but overnight but when we got there ing the December chill.
dow and that he would catch us his evil identical twin brother he discovered that he had forgot-
but the messer dropped his arms was there instead. He used a ten to bring a tent or food.  He He has asked us to weigh our-
at the last minute just before we long-headed brush to push us rowed back to the mainland to selves the day before and text
were going to hit the ground.  back in the water.  Then magic get them but then forgot to come him the result. Imagine being
He obviously knew us kitties happened.  As a garda walked back to us.  I suppose that he is so caring as to need to know
always land safely on our feet. by the evil brother changed into over fifty now, and getting for- the temperature per kilo and the
Mick and he told the guard that getful, so we forgive him.  If it warming time for us.
Saying we deserved a day out in he was using the brush to rescue wasn’t for Aunty Nicola swim-
Howth for being so good while us, which he did.  He is so good.  ming out, we could be writing You should thank the Lord that
you were away, he brought us to Oh, the bad language he used, it this from kitty heaven. such a caring, sensitive man is a
Lansdowne Road station.  When would shock you!!  His brother friend of yours.
we got there, however, his Leap must be a very bad man to be Imagine she is so good an actor
Card could not cover the three called those names. that she could pretend in front Your Furry Babies.
of us.  He has a bad knee, so we of us to be angry about him, but
agreed that he should sit on the Next, he showed such confi- didn’t he tell us that her fam- Michael has been a member of
train.  He is so intelligent and dence in us that he encouraged ily are training to take part in the Rathmines Writers’ Group
told us to stay on the tracks and us to climb the cliff face with the TV series, Ireland’s Fittest for a number of years.
run directly in front of the train no safety equipment.  Waiting Family.

In the Corridors of her Head

Unspoken thoughts drift with a February
sun stirring memories of her first night in
England. A hostel in Dover in 1948  a thousand years in hell!
when she couldn’t ask for a cup of tea in
the native tongue.
Instead she read a book of poetry, the fuel
of her soul,
words kept her above the waves between
life and death.
Now in a hospital bed, old lungs are hold-
ing onto the morning air. In her nose there
is still the odour of Auschwitz –
In her ears the choking breaths, cries be-
yond the perimeter. It was there she lied
about her age, saying she was eighteen not
fourteen, put to work collecting the gold
out of dead mouths.
If unlucky, she might have been soiled in
the dark  A Necklace of Stars
or even the bright of day, stained by what-
ever came into their heads.
There the prettiest girls were washed and
locked in a private harem
fed for their captors’ lust. Walking like
zombies, they were kept in a garden where
the screams of those going to the showers
were unheard.
Again, she remembered the bitch-guards,
Poems by James Conway
daughters of Satan, how she’d wished them
Where are the tribes of “Reuben, Gad and
Menasha?” she whispers,
trembling in the corridors of her head.
Again she is opening mouths,
whipping out the gold fillings between the
stare of frozen eyes.  with a necklace of stars
In England she always wore a cardigan,
even in summer, to hide those
five numbers of Auschwitz. On her last
breath she is above pain, terror.
Above the cliché of false sympathy, she
walks in the sun holding
hands with freedom, sucking in the deliri-
um of the cleanest air.
In evening still
when decades lost
seem like tinsel
or the confetti  The great unseen taunts me, teases my soul
of his dreams, he
stamps his lonely
trail along the canal
over the quiver of water
beside country reeds
the grasp of hearing,
but when I go, it has fled
to warm its own breast alone.
his poetry comes to life
if only for a moment In a window high above my midnight
in the geometry  prayer, a light turns on
of yesterday with an and the scent of the great unseen across si-
image of stony fields. lence teases 
some more, ready on its hind to crack my
Under the dark tree’s light fragile fear.
under a cloudless sky It robbed my Love, shut the door on my
heart, and thrashed me bare.
telling of tomorrow
where dreams are laid With one ounce left, I raise my head, con-
out like a blanket tort my stare
and dare to steal our past again, and run
and all he ever wanted  with you between
here was a picnic life and death, to where sanctuary waits for
amongst city streets us in enigma’s 
with the coming of summer lustre, one chance, one breath, I swear.
sighted over the hill
as he sat alone 
James Conway is a member of the Rath-
on Baggot street bridge mines Writers’ Workshop, and to date has
with music wafting clear. had two collections published, Vertebrae
of Journey (2010), and Purple Coat
(2017).
Across Silence
with the scorch of its invisible fire resound-
ing and scatters my existence across silence
without apology for torture or fear.
Amongst the wind, the rustle of yesterday
hovers high, stirs within a music beyond
 Page 26 MENTAL HEALTH www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021

Keeping The Light Burning

Darkness into Light 2021
ELECTRIC IRELAND
IS PROUD TO SUPPORT
PIETA AND DARKNESS
INTO LIGHT FOR A NINTH
YEAR AS AMBASSADORS
SHARE LETTERS OF
HOPE 
 
Electric Ireland and Pi-
eta urge people to sign up at
darknessintolight.ie and take
part in a special Dark-
ness Into Light Sunrise on
May 8th.
This year, participants can
walk, run, swim, hike, bike or
simply share One Sunrise To-
gether for Darkness Into Light,
as organised walks are not pos-
sible due to Covid-19 restric-
tions
Darkness Into Light ambas-
sadors share Sunrise Notes for
this year’s launch – express-
ing how they have found light
in the dark
Electric Ireland is proud
to support Pieta and Dark-
ness Into Light for the ninth
year and are urging people to have found light in the dark, ing #DIL2021. The concept of for Darkness Into Light, as we support Pieta with their mis-
sign up at darknessintolight. especially over the last 12 writing and sharing a heartfelt look towards a brighter future sion to help those who need
ie to take part in a special months.   note will help normalise the together. I’m looking forward it most. Electric Ireland truly
Darkness Into Light Sunrise The  campaign is proud- challenges people have been to when we can walk hand in believe that when the nation
on May 8th; a moment that can ly supported by Broadcast- facing this year, bringing peo- hand, arm in arm at dawn at comes together, it has the pow-
unite us whilst still physically er Miriam O’Callaghan, Sena- ple together through shared future Darkness Into Light er to bring hope to those who
apart. By taking part in Dark- tor Eileen Flynn, Lord Mayor experiences of finding light in events. Until then, while we’re need it most; a true demon-
ness Into Light, now a global of Dublin Hazel Chu, writ- the darkness. apart, let’s unite for Dark- stration of how we’re brighter
movement and Pieta’s main er Donal Ryan, Blogger Louise Broadcaster Miriam ness Into Light: One Sunrise together. This year while we
fundraiser, participants will Cooney, Olympic Diver Oli- O’Callaghan, commented: Together.” can’t physically be together for
help shine a light on suicide ver Dingley and Creative Di- “Darkness Into Light is an Marguerite Sayers, Execu- Darkness Into Light 2021, we
and self-harm while raising rector Lawson Mpame. Sun- incredibly important event on tive Director, Electric Ireland, can still come together while
vital funds for Pieta’s lifesav- rise Notes from some of the the Irish calendar. Now more added:  apart and sign up, show our
ing services, which are needed ambassadors are available to than ever, Pieta need support “We are proud to support Pi- support for Pieta and share a
now more than ever, following read at  https://www.electricire- from the Irish public to ensure eta with Darkness Into Light special sunrise with thousands
a difficult year. land.ie/sunrise-notes. Electric their valued services can con- for our ninth consecutive year. of others around the country.”
As part of the campaign Ireland and Pieta are also en- tinue for those who need it. The partnership is incredibly Elaine Austin, CEO, Pieta
launch, Electric Ireland  to- couraging the nation  to take This year has seen Irish peo- important to all Electric Ire- commented: 
gether with Pieta have worked pen to paper to  write  their ple adapt and come together land staff and customers.  We “We have all faced with
with well-known ambassa- own Sunrise Note and share in times of darkness. We’re a understand how difficult this some incredible and daunting
dors who have written Sunrise their stories of finding hope nation of doers, and I’m sure year has been for many people, challenges over the last year.
Notes, which detail how they in the darkness online us- there will be a rally of support and there is an urgent need to Pieta is here to support all of
those in suicidal crisis and our
free counselling has contin-
ued, uninterrupted throughout
the Covid lockdowns.  Our
clinical team provide services
over the phone, via text and
in-person in twenty centres na-
tionwide and, since last year,
we now provide free counsel-
ling over video. In 2020, we
delivered over 52,000 hours of
therapy and we received over
70,000 calls and texts for help
through our 24/7 crisis hel-
pline.   
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
Darkness Into Light is cru-
cial in delivering the funds
needed to support this level of
service. We have a great part-
nership with Electric Ireland
and the company have been
unwavering in their support
over the years. We are grate-
ful too for our Darkness into
Light committees who gal-
vanise support for the event
across the country year after
year.  It’s important for all of
us to hold on to hope and Dark-
ness Into Light gives us the op-
portunity to come together un-
der this one common purpose,
to remember our loved ones
and to help those struggling
at this time, and I do hope you
will all join us on May 8th.”  hashtags (#BrighterTogether,
Although there are no or-
ganised walks this year, Pi-
eta and Electric Ireland are
still urging the nation to
sign up and mark this spe-
cial Darkness Into Light sun-
rise within Covid guidelines,
on May 8th to show support
to those impacted by sui-
cide. Now, one year on from
when the country went into
lockdown, Pieta’s services
are in demand more than ever
and they need the public’s
support. So, get involved for
Darkness Into Light  whether
that’s writing a sunrise note,
walking, running, swimming,
hiking, biking or simply shar-
ing your sunrise snap using the
MENTAL HEALTH
#DIL2021), Because under
one sunrise, we’re brighter
together. Sign up now at dark-
nessintolight.ie.  And when somebody does lis-
“There is always hope and
you’re never alone although
you feel very very lonely and
you find it very hard to reach
out. Trust me, you’re never
alone in your feelings. Thanks
Savvi Credit Union welcomes Mark Beirne
as new CEO
Mark joined Savvi Credit
Union in January and brings
a wealth of experience in the
financial sector as well as end-
less enthusiasm and optimism
for what Credit Unions can ac-
complish.
What attracted you to the po-
sition of CEO in Savvi Credit
Union?
Firstly, I love the idea of a
member owned organisation
utilising its resources to help
support its community. I Union that our members will
think that, over time, my con-
cept of what this represents
has evolved – most likely as a
result of my lifetime involve-
ment with the GAA. When
I combine all this with my
working background in finan-
cial services, and the genu-
to Pieta, there is always some-
one you can reach out to when
you need someone to listen.
ten, life always gets better. The
night cannot last forever and
after the darkness there is al-
ways the sunshine - a new day
full of fresh starts and a new
possibility. Hang in there. You
ine kick I get from working
closely with teams to achieve
a common purpose, the oppor-
tunity to lead Savvi was really
appealing. I am hugely excited
to see what we can do together.
Tell us about some of the
challenges you have faced so
far in your role?
Starting a new role during
a pandemic, where most of
my interaction with the team
is done in a virtual sense, is
by far the biggest challenge. I
really look forward to the day
when we can all be back in a
physical sense (at least for part
of the week!) and really start to
get the momentum going as a
team.
What is your vision for Sav-
vi Credit Union over the next
couple of years?
Essentially, to create a Credit
be proud to be part of, that
meets their needs and expec-
tations and where the staff are
growing, developing and feel
part of a team that is delivering
a quality service. Success, for
me - when that time comes -
would be if I could leave Savvi
Page 27
came this far and you can go
farther.” Senator Eileen Flynn 
#BrighterTogether 
#DIL2021 
Images include Dublin Lord
Mayor Hazel Chu, Miriam
O’Callaghan, Senator Eileen
Flynn and others. Courtesy of
Darkness into Light
in a better place than when I
started.
Do credit unions continue to
have an important part to play
in the community?
Yes, I believe so. Credit Un-
ions are at the heart of many
communities, along with the
local GAA /Sports club or the
Post Office. Ireland is built on
communities and Credit Un-
ions are woven into many of
these communities across the
country. We look after just
over 23,000 members provid-
ing them with a wide range of
financial services which ena-
bles them to interact with us in
whatever way suits them best -
in branch, via phone or online.
Finally, did you take up any
new hobbies during lockdown?
Yes, I now have to buy piz-
zas every Saturday night for
my two daughters! That has
become a ‘lockdown tradition’
according to them! I have tried
to keep fit with regular running
and the odd sea swim. Also
have started a healthy ‘scrab-
ble’ competition with my wife
that can get heated at times!
 Page 28
US Embassy Relocation:
The Past and Future of an Icon
P
n Peter McNamara
lans by the US embassy
to move into the former
Jury’s Hotel site in Balls-
bridge have been backed by
local city councillors. The em-
bassy, currently headed by dep-
uty chief of mission, Alexandra
McKnight, is located where El-
gin Road joins Ballsbridge, just
across from the site where it
now hopes to move. The embas-
sy needs to double the size of its
workforce to 400. Extra space is
needed for diplomatic and trade
operations which promote US
investment in Ireland, totalling
$160 billion.  has frequently focused on plans
The United States is upgrading
its embassies around the world
– a new embassy was opened
in London in 2017. Councillors
voted to write to the US embas-
sy asking for the original mod-
ern-era office building (which
is now 55 years old) to be made
a protected structure. The move
requires a rezoning for the hotel
site. There will now be a four-
week public consultation before
it comes to a full council meet-
ing, possibly in May. Rezoning,
planning and construction could
take three years, according to
some estimates.
US diplomats have been seek-
ing a new home in Ireland for
close to nine years. Following a
long search, the US government
agreed to buy what is now the
Ballsbridge Hotel from devel-
oper Joe O’Reilly’s Chartered
Land. Real estate agent Savills
is brokering the deal. Valuers
say the site could be worth more
than €150 million.
Local and national attention
for the hotel since its former
owner Jurys Doyle sold it and
the adjoining Berkeley Court
to developer Sean Dunne for a
record €240 million in 2005.
Mr Dunne was one of the big-
ger players in a debt-funded real
estate bubble that burst in 2008,
sparking a sustained recession
that left the State insolvent after
bailing out its banks. He subse-
LOCAL/HISTORY
quently fought a long bankrupt-
cy case in the US, which was
resolved in 2019.
The Ballsbridge embassy was
the focal point for an eventful
century of US-Irish relations:
as America grew into the pre-
eminent global superpower, the
fledgling Irish state strived to
assert some kind of identity as a
sovereign state. As we consider
the future of this iconic Dublin
4 building, it might be timely
to look back on the conception
and construction of this land-
mark – and the consternation
the modern-looking design first
incited.
A Monstrosity Gives a
Whiskey Party  requirements of an embassy” –
America first opened a consu-
late in Ireland in 1859 in a build-
ing off Adelaide Road. In Feb
1948, the offices of the legation
moved to Merrion Square. The
Deerfield Residence – a large
18th-century house on over 60
acres in the Phoenix Park, which
has been the Ambassador’s of-
www.newsfour.ie
ficial residence in Ireland since
1927 – also housed elements
of the embassy. As the years
passed, however, it became
clear that these locations were
no longer suitable and in 1957,
the new location in Ballsbridge
was announced. A Victorian
house was previously on the
site, and had been used by Bord
Fáilte as their headquarters.
The Harvard-educated John
MacLane Johansen was hired
to design the Dublin embassy.
According to the Irish Times,
his criteria were that it should
be “modern but defer to local
tradition, should beautify the
site, should suggest permanence
and should satisfy the functional
which included a reception hall
for 500 people and office space
for 150 employees. These ad-
ditions were far-seeing as there
were only 73 people on the pay-
roll at the time.  described diplomats’ represen-
In the 1950s and 60s, the US
State Department was building
three embassies or consulates
April / May 2021
A preparatory sketch by architect
John MacLane Johansen
annually and the fashion was
to adopt designs that flattered
the host countries: the embassy
in New Delhi had echoes of a
Hindu temple; the embassy in
Baghdad was made reminis-
cent of a caliph’s tent; the one
in Athens included marble from
Mount Penteli, the source of the
stone in the Parthenon.
Johansen inspected “Celtic
round castles”, Martello towers
and the Book of Kells, and even
considered the first American
flag, before designing a circular
building placed within a moat
and with a façade “that turned
its back on no one”. A “moat”
of flowering shrubbery, bridged
at the entrance, and a park-like
plaza of benches and trees, com-
pleted the setting. 
As it turned out, designing this
complex building was the easy
part. The project was quickly
beset with political problems.
A harbinger of trouble came
early when Representative John
Rooney of Brooklyn publicly
described the proposed Balls-
bridge location as a “slum”. 
Rooney, the chairman of the
House Appropriations Com-
mittee and a feisty critic of the
State Department, had famously
tation allowances as “booze
money for cookie pushers.”
Residents close to the site –
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
professors, judges, diplomats
and other “eminent” people
– reacted with what the Irish
Times described as “a mixture
of amusement and indignation.”
The design was also criticised
by Congressman Wayne T Hays
of Ohio, a member of the For-
eign Affairs Committee and the
chairman of its sub-committee
on State Department organisa-
tion. It was, he declared, an “ar-
chitectural monstrosity” and its
circular design would disrupt its
traditional surroundings.
Infighting and budgetary is-
sues delayed the project and
almost derailed it completely. It
took the arrival of John F. Ken-
nedy in the White House to res-
cue matters. Johansen personal-
ly showed Kennedy his designs
and with Presidential endorse-
ment ground was finally broken
in 1962. The building was com-
pleted in May 1964, and opened
on 23 May of that year, an oc-
casion Johansen remembered as
a “free whiskey party for some
300 tipsy Dubliners.”
You Can’t Please
Everyone  detectives, who also provide
There are five floors to the
Ballsbridge embassy building:
three above ground level and
two below. Irish materials were
used whenever possible; the
base of the building is of Irish
granite and the floors through-
out are terrazzo of Connemara
marble. Dominating the interior
is a three-storey atrium called
“the rotunda”. Upon entering
the building, the eye of the visi-
tor is dramatically led upward to
glass walls at the top of the ro-
tunda. This allows the space to
be bathed with natural light.  2013 significant upgrades were
On completion the building
was broadly welcomed, with
voices as diverse as the Archi-
tectural Review, Time Maga-
zine, the Irish Builder, the Irish
Times and An Taisce uniting in
enthusiasm and praise. It was
accomplished as any building in
the US embassy programme of
the 1950s and 60s, and far bet-
ter than most. The ambassador,
Grant Stockdale, proclaimed the
building “the showpiece of Eu-
rope.”  even closer. In February 1994,
In 1969, An Taisce gave the
building an award for its ef-
fective use of a corner site and
today most people would agree
that is has – as an Irish Times
journalist predicted – “mellowed
down into happy harmony with
its surroundings.” Among some
Dubliners, it acquired the name
“Wall of Death” owing to its
circular shape. Writing in 1985,
Frank McDonald deemed that,
despite the building’s modern
design, it sits well in its Vic-
torian context as it’s of similar
height to the surrounding build-
ings.
Some minor criticism did con-
tinue. A rival architect claimed
that the interior had been copied
from Kilmainham Gaol, while
an anonymous American wrote
that the shape represented “a
department of government run-
ning around in circles.” Incred-
ible as it might seem now, the
open space around the building
was seen as an enhancement of
the amenities of the area and
plans to erect protective rail-
ings around the building were
dropped – in theory, if a woman
stepped in from the street and
gave birth on the grass her child
would be an American citizen.
On that note, it comes as no
surprise that security at the em-
bassy today is seen as a priority
for an Garda Síochána. The site
is protected around-the-clock by
a team of armed, plainclothes
close protection to the ambassa-
dor and high-ranking diplomats
when travelling outside of the
embassy, as well as motorcade
security. Within the embassy
and residence grounds, security
is the responsibility of the US
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
and Marine Corps Embassy Se-
curity Group, who are heavily
armed.  On the other hand, Ameri-
Following the September 11
attacks in 2001, new secure en-
trances, guardhouses and blast
walls were installed. In late
made to the physical and pe-
rimeter security of the embassy,
designed to reduce the threat of
vehicle bombings and to repel
intruders. This was part of US
government security directives
at diplomatic missions across
14 different European nations in
response to the 2012 Benghazi
attacks. No doubt the new em-
bassy building, when it is finally
completed, will be even more
impenetrable.  brought Ireland and America
Ireland and the American
Century
For almost sixty years, the
soon-to-be-vacated US embassy
has been a Dublin 4 icon, and the
focal point for a deepening of
Irish-American relations. Dur-
ing the Cold War, Irish military
policy, while ostensibly neu-
LOCAL/HISTORY
tral, was biased towards NATO.
Irish security forces monitored
communists and agents of com-
munist governments operating
in Ireland, primarily through
embassies in Dublin, sharing
information with western allies.
During the Cuban Missile Cri-
sis, Seán Lemass authorised the
search of Cuban and Czecho-
slovak aircraft passing through
Shannon and passed the infor-
mation to the CIA.
Another notable incident
came during Barack Obama’s
visit to Ireland in 2011, when the
Presidential State Car (known as
the Beast) got stuck on a ramp
as it exited the embassy. Appar-
ently, the wheelbase of the ve-
hicle was too wide for the ramp
– it had to be towed away as a
large crowd looked on. Presi-
dent Obama was not on board,
and left the embassy through an
alternative exit.
A striking image of the 1980s
recession was the picture of a
line of young Irish people wait-
ing to enter the American em-
bassy in Ballsbridge to apply for
visas. Irish immigration to the
USA has played a large role in
the culture of the United States.
About 33.3 million Americans
– 10.5% of the total popula-
tion – reported Irish ancestry in
the 2013 American Community
Survey conducted by the US
Census Bureau. These people
have contributed incalculably
to US culture, business, and the
nation’s success.  involved in the 2003 invasion of
can foreign direct investment
in Ireland has been particularly
important to the growth and
modernisation of Irish indus-
try since 1980, providing new
technology, export capabilities,
and employment opportunities.
This contributed to the rapid
economic growth of the Celtic
Tiger, when, for the first time in
our modern history, Ireland ex-
perienced high levels of inward
migration.
The Troubles caused a strain
in the “Special Relationship”
between the United Kingdom
and the United States, and
British Prime Minister John Ma-
jor refused to answer US Presi-
dent Bill Clinton’s telephone
calls for days over his decision
to grant Sinn Féin leader Gerry
Adams a visa to visit the United
States – Adams was listed as a
terrorist by London. Clinton
later claimed vindication af-
The interior “rotunda” bathes the embassy in natural light.
ter the IRA ceasefire of August
1994. To the further disappoint-
ment of  Prime Minister Major,
the American president received
Adams at the White House on St
Patrick’s Day 1995, despite the
fact the paramilitaries had not
agreed to disarm.
The US was a central inter-
mediary during the Northern
Ireland peace process, sending
Senator George Mitchell in 1995
to lead an international body to
provide an independent assess-
ment of the decommissioning
issue. Clinton himself spoke to a
huge rally at Belfast’s City Hall;
and it was Mitchell who broke
the news on the Good Friday
Agreement on 10 April 1998.
More controversially, Ire-
land’s air facilities were used by
the United States military for the
delivery of military personnel
Iraq through Shannon Airport.
The airport had previously been
used for the invasion of Afghan-
istan in 2001, as well as the First
Gulf War. The  Irish govern-
ment has come under internal
and external pressure to inspect
airplanes at Shannon Airport to
investigate whether or not they
contain extraordinary rendition
captives – a euphemism for tor-
tured suspects. Ireland has been
censured by the European Par-
liament for its role in facilitating
extraordinary rendition and tak-
ing insufficient or no measures
to uphold its obligations under
the United Nations Convention
Against Torture.
How Did the Embassy
Cross the Road?  new US embassy will be a bus-
As far back as 2009, the Unit-
ed States Department of State
has been planning to move the
embassy. The current building
no longer meets the needs in
terms of size of the expanding
American diplomatic presence
Page 29
in Ireland (between 150 and 200
staff work at the embassy), and
does not conform to new con-
struction and security require-
ments issued by Washington
D.C. 
The Ballsbridge Hotel site
is currently owned by Gerry
O’Reilly’s Chartered Land and
is reported to be worth around
€150m. It was part of the
site once owned by developer
Sean Dunne who bought it for
€240m before the recession
and who unsuccessfully ap-
plied for planning permission
for a high density luxury devel-
opment to include a 37-storey
tower.
Chartered Land is due to apply
to Dublin City Council shortly
to have the site rezoned for of-
fice use from its current desig-
nation, allowing for residential
and commercial building. If
councillors vote to approve that,
the US embassy will submit its
plans for the site soon after.
Throughout his presidency,
Donald Trump consistently
criticised Ireland, the lax Irish
tax system, and the high lev-
els of US commercial invest-
ment in this country. Given that
President Biden is demonstra-
bly proud of his Ballina roots,
and has spoken repeatedly on
the need for the US to maintain
close Irish ties, the future may
have brightened some for dip-
lomats on both sides. Although
America will be keen to bring
industry home, with a Mayo na-
tive at the helm, Ireland might
hope for a more sympathetic
ear. One thing is for sure, the
tling place for a long while yet.
Images: courtesy of WikiCom-
mons
 Page 30
n Michael Greene
“It has always been my wish
that those with talent be en-
couraged to develop their tal-
ents, particularly in Ireland”
Lillias Mitchell (1915-2000)
Founder of the Golden Fleece
Award.
All her life Lillias Mitchell
displayed energetic enthusi-
asm for the practice and teach-
ing of art, craft and design. She
studied painting for two years
at the Royal Hibernian Acad-
emy School and did sculpture
courses at the National College
of Art. In 1940, she won sec-
ond place in the RDS Taylor Art
Award for her very fine statue,
‘St. Patrick Struggling in his
Soul for Peace’.
In 1951 she was appointed
to open a Weaving Department
in the National College of Art
& Design, Dublin where she
taught spinning, weaving and
dyeing until her retirement. She
then opened her own weaving
workshop where she first de-
veloped her personal Golden
Fleece emblem.
The Golden Fleece Award
was born from a trust fund she
established and devoted much
of her later years to. Today the
Award is managed by a Board of
Trustees, drawn from both fam-
ily members and experts in fi-
nance management and the arts.
“I am very conscious of the
fact that many artists can-
not develop their talents be-
cause their art does not bring
in a steady income for them
and yet they need to sup-
port themselves financially.”
Lillias Mitchell.
Normally the Golden Fleece
Award prize consists of around
€20,000 overall, separated into
smaller prizes, but as this year
they are celebrating their 20th
anniversary and because these
are some of the most challeng-
ing times to be an artist in a
struggling sector, they have de-
cided to give the very generous
prize of €60,000 which will be
distributed across six €10,000
prizes. The Trustees work close-
ly with the specialist Advisory
Panel who draw up the annual
shortlist for their consideration
and are the final arbitrators of
Golden Fleece Award 2021
who receives the awards.
Former winners of the Award
include film and photographic
artist Ailbhe Ní Bhriain, John
Lee, who experiments in wood,
and sculptor and artist Marcel
Vidal.
This years shortlist is as fol-
lows:
Aideen Barry (multimedia /
sculpture / installation)
Aideen Barry is a multidis-
ciplinary artist whose work in
video, performance, sculpture,
installation, drawing and text at-
tempts to deal with anxiety and
the persistent feeling of mona-
chopsis (the sensation of being
out of place in the world or a
particular environment.)
Barry uses a clever mixture of
visual trickery, fiction and slap-
stick as devices through which
to simultaneously attract and
repel viewers. Among her nota-
ble works are In between, Mole-
skins, and Strange Terrain.
Bassam Al-Sabah (multime-
dia / CGI filmmaking)
Dissolving Beyond the Worm
Moon, 2019, solo exhibition at
Solstice Arts Centre, Navan
Al-Sabah’s idiosyncratic and
experimental multimedia work
references feelings of displace-
ment juxtaposed with nostalgia,
representations of war, resist-
ance, and personal mythologies
are channelled through the me-
dium of digital animation, paint-
ing, sculpture and textiles.
Fiona Byrne (glass)
Seven Sister Series, 2020
ART/CULTURE
Byrne describes herself as a
maker, educator and researcher,
and as a creative practitioner.
Her background is in traditional
techniques of glass blowing,
and her work is closely con-
nected to process and material-
ity. The concept of knowledge
drives her work: what it is, how
we categorise it, what types of
knowledge we value. Recent
pieces are inspired by the art of
divination, or scrying, carry-
ing messages broadcast but not
understood.
Izzy O’Reilly (fashion design)
Delia_s Prizefighter - Glass Jaw,
2019
O’Reilly is a fashion designer
who combines couture with art.
Her work focuses on high-qual-
ity conceptual pieces utilising
both established tailoring prac-
tices and a sculptural approach
to garment design. She adopts a
tactile and humorous approach
to experimental pattern cutting,
employing unexpected mate-
rial contrasts to create absurd
hybrid images.
For example, In Delia’s
Prizefighter design the artist
gives a nod to the ‘stereotypical
gender polarities of an ear-
lier era’, contrasting the soft
feminine fabrics with the bulky
boxer attire.
Jennifer Hickey (ceramic
sculpture)
Hickey describes themes
of fragility, ephemerality and
translucency as central to her
work, with porcelain often her
chosen medium. “The rituals of
making, the physical rhythms,
the process and time involved
are important aspects to my
practice.” Her work explores the
delicate and ethereal properties
of porcelain and has developed
a uniquely intricate approach, a
good example is the 2016 bone
Entwined.
www.newsfour.ie
Laura Fitzgerald (painting /
installation / video)
Fantasy Farming
The work of Laura Fitzgerald
encompasses drawing, painting,
text and video, focusing on the
rapid changes she and others
are experiencing in the modern
world. Her works include Por-
traits of a Stone, Brian Rock,
and a mini DVD of prickly
yellow furze and gorse humor-
ously named A Way to Clear My
Head.
Lorna Donlon (tapestry weav-
ing / collage / installation)
Melody in the kiftsgate, 2019
A tapestry weaver, textile and
installation artist, Donlon com-
bines the scientific practices of
collecting, categorising, label-
ling and displaying objects,
managing to marry these two
diverse forms in her art world.
Her work acts as a storytelling
device that connects the worlds
of art and science. Her most re-
cent works are inspired by The
Lady and the Unicorn, a famous
tapestry from Flanders (see im-
age) which is said to represent
the five physical senses and the
soul.
Maria McKinney (sculpture /
multimedia)
McKinney works through a
range of media including sculp-
ture, installation, photography
and video, and combines craft
techniques with materials that
respond to context. Hers is a
multimedia context-specific
work, including handcrafted
material that can be worn on
April / May 2021
the body. Very often her work
explores themes of agriculture,
including cattle, and animal ge-
netics, which she is currently
doing research into.
Sinead O’Dwyer (fashion de-
sign / textiles)
O’Dwyer’s work operates at
the intersection of fashion and
art. She investigates the flawed
patterns in which female-iden-
tifying and femme bodies pri-
vately relate to their bodies as
visible objects. She uses life-
casting, fiberglass mould mak-
ing and silicone casting to trace
the body and pattern-cut gar-
ments, and is collaborating on a
movement piece exploring bod-
ily autonomy in the context of
dance, fashion and public space.
Tamsin Snow (sculpture / in-
stallation, CGI filmmaking)
Waiting Room, 2018
Snow makes CGI films, sculp-
ture and immersive installations
using the aesthetics and intrinsic
values of modernist architec-
ture and the spaces she exhibits
in. She uses crowd-sourced 3D
models of existing buildings,
those portrayed in cinema and
corporate language to create
strange yet familiar locations.
She is currently making new
CGI animations and sculptural
works for her first solo exhibi-
tion in Ireland in autumn 2021.
The arts embrace all aspects
of our lives, from entertainment,
film, music, art and books to the
everyday objects that we use.
The Golden Fleece Award is a
perennial support for art in all its
diversity, and particularly new
emerging artists and creators.
The winner will be announced
in November. NewsFour wishes
all the nominees the best of luck.
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
Oscar Contenders in a year
without Cinema
n David Prendeville teresting works, the final list of
nominees announced on March
T
15th, hardly represent anything
he 93rd Academy Awards radical. David Fincher’s Mank
Ceremony will take leads the way with ten nomi-
place in the early hours nations. The Netflix production
of Monday the 26th of April. It ticks plenty of Oscar boxes -
will likely be the strangest cer- previous winner (Gary Old-
emony in its long history, given man), playing a real-life person
that there will be no in-person (Herman J. Manckiewicz), in a
attendance. It will also finally period film about Hollywood,
bring to an end an especially directed by a previous nominee
long awards campaign for all (Fincher). The film’s tepid re-
the films and film-makers in- views though may have harmed
volved. its chances of nabbing any of
While many predicted that the big awards on the night. The
this truncated year for cinema hot favourite for Best Picture is
would give the Academy the op- Chloe Zhao’s acclaimed drama
portunity, or rather force them, Nomadland. The film follows a
to recognise smaller, more in- woman, who after the closure
CULTURE/FILM
of her business during the great
recession, takes to the road as
a modern-day nomad. It has
been seen as the favourite for
some time now. The other films
nominated for Best Picture are:
The Father, Judas and the Black
Messiah, Minari, Promising
Young Woman, Sound of Metal
and The Trial of the Chicago 7
Zhao is also seen as the fa-
vourite to nab Best Director.
Zhao and Fincher will compete
against Thomas Vinterberg (An-
other Round), Lee Isaac Chung
(Minari), and Emerald Fennell
(Promising Young Woman) for
the big prize there. Up until re-
cently, Nomadland’s star Franc-
es McDormand was seen as a
shoo-in for Best Actress, though
she now faces stiff competi-
tion from Carey Mulligan for
her turn in Emerald Fennell’s
black comedy Promising Young
Woman. McDormand is Oscars
royalty, having previously won
Best Actress for Fargo in 1996
and Three Billboards Outside
of Ebbing Missouri in 2017.
However, the momentum at the
moment seems to be with Mul-
ligan’s searing turn as a woman
out to seek vengeance for a trag-
ic event in her past. Viola Davis
(Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom),
Andra Day (The United States
Vs. Billie Holiday) and Vanes-
sa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman)
make up the other contenders in
the Best Actress category.
In the Best Actor role the
frontrunner is the late Chadwick
Boseman, who tragically died at
the age of 43 last year. His final
film role in George C. Wolfe’s
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has
received universal praise. The
other nominees here are made
up of Riz Ahmed (Sound of
Metal), Anthony Hopkins (The
Father), Gary Oldman (Mank),
and Steven Yeun (Minari). Of
those, perhaps Ahmed would be
the one most likely to provide
an upset, but it remains unlike-
ly. Best Supporting Actor also
seems to be fairly solidly ce-
mented with Daniel Kaluuya the
overwhelming favourite for his
turn as Fred Hampton, chairman
of the Illinois Black Panthers, in
the hugely acclaimed Judas and
the Black Messiah. He faces off
against his own co-star in the
same film, Lakeith Stanfield,
along with Sacha Baron Cohen
(The Trial of the Chicago 7),
Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in
Miami) and Paul Raci (Sound of
Metal).
The standout surprise nomina-
tion of the year is, undoubtedly,
Maria Bakalova’s nod for Best
Supporting Actress for her turn
as Borat’s beleaguered daughter
in the belated Borat sequel Bo-
rat: Subsequent Moviefilm. The
film, while a decidedly mixed
bag, will be remembered for
that infamous scene that finds
Rudy Giuliani in a rather com-
promising position opposite the
excellent Bakalova. It is terrific
to see the Academy recognise
comedy, something they rarely
do. It would be great to see them
go one further now, and actually
give Bakalova the prize. She
faces competition from Olivia
Colman (The Father), Glenn
Close (Hillbilly Elegy), Aman-
da Seyfried (Mank), Youn-Yuh
Jung (Minari).
In terms of Irish interest, the
big news was that Kilkenny
based animation company Car-
toon Saloon nabbed a nomina-
tion for Best Animated Film
for their hugely acclaimed
Wolfwalkers. The film is direct-
ed by Tomm Moore and Ross
Stewart. This is the third time
the animation company has re-
ceived an Oscar nomination in
this category. They previously
Page 31
got the nod for The Secret of
Kells in 2009, Song of the Sea
in 2015 and The Breadwinner in
2018. They also received a nom-
ination for Best Animated Short
for the film Late Afternoon in
2019.
The most disappointing aspect
of this year’s nominations is the
lack of recognition for Kelly
Reichardt and Charlie Kauf-
man for their work on First Cow
and I’m Thinking of Ending
Things, respectively. Reichardt
has established herself as one
of the key modern American
film-makers. Her quiet, medita-
tive films would usually be seen
as far too close to the arthouse
to really figure in academy
minds. If ever there was a year
to change that, this was the year.
Kaufman has received Academy
love before, even winning Best
Original Screenplay for Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
However, since he started direct-
ing his own scripts and became
the scourge of Mark Kermode,
he’s moved into ever more idi-
osyncratic and decidedly less
Oscar-friendly territory. It’s also
terribly disappointing to see
Irish actress Jessie Buckley not
receive any recognition for her
towering central performance in
Kaufman’s film.
Images: Carey Mulligan -
WikiCommons
Chloe Zhao - criterion collection
Frances McDormand -
biography.com
 Page 32
Walk in My Shoes:
the ‘Frame of Mind’ short-film competition for
St Pat’s Mental Health announced
W
n David Prendeville
alk in My
Shoes, the
flagship
aware-
ness-rais-
ing campaign of St Patrick’s
Mental Health Services, re-
cently announced the win-
ners of its annual ‘Frame of
Mind’ short-film competi-
tion.
Now in its seventh year,
‘Frame of Mind’ asks ama-
teur film makers to promote
a positive mental health
message through film, and
with the challenges we’ve
all been presented with
over the last 12 months, the
competition has never been
more important. A record-
high number (almost 100
entries) has highlighted the
importance people are plac-
ing on mental health at this
time.
The competition was open
to secondary school stu-
dents and budding filmmak-
ers alike, who were asked
to create a short film of up
to three minutes long, shar-
ing affirming mental health
messages or addressing
misconceptions about men-
tal health difficulties. This
year’s competition also in-
MENTAL HEALTH www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
cluded its first ever TikTok Run, with Rachel Gregan traordinary challenges, have wellbeing is a top priority. I
video category. awarded runner-up with her shown their commitment to would encourage everyone
Although filmmakers film Positive Mental Health. prioritising mental health to take time to view these
were asked to create their The first-place winner of the and wellbeing promotion, videos, as there is some-
films in line with public Secondary School category and to finding innovative thing that will resonate with
health guidance, restrictions was St Louis Secondary ways to collaborate on film- all ages, and many reflect
did not hinder the crea- School, Monaghan for their making from their virtual how we are all feeling at the
tive talents of the entrants. film Hidden Struggles and classrooms. moment.”
While the traditional awards the €500 runner-up prize
ceremony was unable to was secured by John the Social media platforms RTÉ Guide Movie Editor,
take place, the winners were Baptist Community School, like TikTok have been grow-
Michael Doherty, has been
announced at a celebratory Limerick, with Mind Your ing their influence world-
a judge on the panel since
online event that showcased Mind. wide since the pandemic be-
its introduction in 2015: “I
their thought-provoking, gan, with people looking for
am very proud to once again
inspirational films. The Both the winning and run- new ways to come together be involved in the Walk in
awards ceremony premiered ner-up schools in the TikTok and connect socially while
My Shoes ‘Frame of Mind’
on Youtube, where it is now category are from Limerick, staying physically apart. competition. It provides an
available to view. with John the Baptist Com- The response and creativityimportant and much-needed
munity School claiming the shown reflects the appetiteplatform to reframe mental
Winners in each of the top prize with their entry, that exists to use these on-
health, and to move away
competition categories re- Let’s Talk About Mental line communities to con- from negative and outdated
ceived a €1,000 prize and Health, while Salesian Sec- nect, and to create positive,
on-screen portrayals. This
runners-up received €500. ondary School claimed the uplifting and educational competition offers film-
The judging panel included runner-up prize for Tips to content to share with our makers an opportunity to
RTÉ Guide Movies Editor, Get Through Lockdown. peers.” challenge stigma and raise
Michael Doherty; a rep- awareness in a positive and
resentative of St Patrick’s With the new TikTok Fellow returning judge, uplifting manner. I would
Mental Health Services’ category proving to be the Sean Fitzpatrick from St like to congratulate all of
Service User and Support- most popular category for Patrick’s Mental Health this year’s entrants and win-
ers Council (SUAS), Sean this year’s competition, ac- Services’ Service User ners for their outstanding
Fitzpatrick; Director of Ser- counting for almost 50% of and Supporters Council contributions.”
vices at St Patrick’s, Tom all entrants, Tamara Nolan, (SUAS), said: “While we
Maher; and Director of Director of Communica- all continue to live with the For more information on
Communications and Advo- tions and Advocacy at St pandemic and its challenges Walk in My Shoes resourc-
cacy at St Patrick’s, Tamara Patrick’s, said: “We were to our mental wellbeing, es for schools, please see
Nolan. delighted to receive such a this year’s ‘Frame of Mind’ www.walkinmyshoes.ie.
high level of engagement competition is particularly
The top prize of €1,000 this year, particularly from meaningful as it highlights And to view the Awards
in the General Category was educators and young people, people’s ongoing dedica- Ceremony click here www.
awarded to Honor Lynch and who, despite being faced tion to promoting positive walkinmyshoes.ie/cam-
her family for their film The with school closures and ex- mental health and ensuring paigns/frame-of-mind
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
Stigma Doesn’t
Play, I Do
S
helbourne Football Club
(FC) and St Patrick’s
Mental Health Services
are delighted to announce a mul-
ti-faceted partnership aiming to
reframe mental health stigma
and promote mental wellbeing
in the community.
Shelbourne FC is commit-
ted to embedding mental health
promotion as a core value of its
club ethos, and sees the holis-
tic development of young club
members, via the Shelbourne
FC Youth Academy, with a
membership of over 400 young
people in particular, as a key
part of its community work.
St Patrick’s Mental Health
Services is Ireland’s largest,
not-for-profit mental health
service provider.  Its vision is
to see a society where all citi-
zens are empowered and given
the opportunity to live mentally
healthy lives.
Mental health stigma can im-
pact how quickly we seek sup-
port when we need it.
In 2020, St Patrick’s launched
the first phase of its #NoStigma
campaign to reframe mental
health stigma and discrimina-
tion by showing the positive ef-
fect on life when they are not ex-
perienced. Its aim is to highlight
how it serves us all collectively
when stigma does not exist, ena-
bling us to fully participate and
access support at home, at work
and in our communities.
Taking part in community life
through participation in com-
munity activities such as sport,
through playing, volunteering
or supporting, can positively
impact mental health in daily
life and can support recovery
for those experiencing difficul-
ties. Fear of mental health stig-
ma and discrimination has the
potential to hold us back unnec-
essarily from doing these things
or from seeking support from
teammates or peers.
Kicking off the partnership,
and to mark the second phase
of the #NoStigma campaign,
Shelbourne FC will be adding
the #NoStigma campaign mes-
sage, “Stigma Doesn’t Play, I
Do”, to the men and women’s
MENTAL HEALTH Page 33
senior teams’ home and away
day match kits. The collabora-
tion aims to create an openness
and understanding about men-
tal health and promote wellbe-
ing among those involved with
Shelbourne FC, particularly its
young club members.
A recent survey carried out
by the Central Statistics Office
showed that almost 60% of peo-
ple say their mental health has
been impacted by the pandemic,
with younger people more like-
ly to have experienced recent
difficulties with their wellbeing.
This is felt among all age
groups throughout its club and
community.
The collaboration will in-
clude:
• Promotion of the #NoS-
tigma message via the
Shelbourne FC new team
kits
• Development of bespoke
mental health promotion
resources and information
for club members
• Participation of young
club members in ini-
tiatives by Walk in My
Shoes, St Patrick’s Mental
Health Services’ flagship
mental health education
and awareness-raising
campaign for young peo-
ple 
• Providing information
and encouraging people
to seek support when
needed.
This initiative is particularly
meaningful for members and
supporters of Shelbourne FC,
who sadly lost two supporters
to suicide in 2018. In the same nity to come together to leave Our 2020 Annual Stigma sur-
year, the club also experienced mental health stigma behind.  vey showed that one in five of
the tragic and sudden loss of a CEO of St Patrick’s Mental us has had a positive experience
young player during one of its Health Services, Paul Gilli- of talking about a mental health
matches due to a rare heart con- gan, said: “We are delighted to difficulty in our local commu-
dition. These events have left a partner with Shelbourne FC to nity. Let’s make this everyone’s
lasting imprint on the club, and build on the #NoStigma mes- reality.”
supporting and promoting men- sage within the community. As
tal health within the Shelbourne we continue to tackle the mental Images: Brendan Clarke,
FC community has become in- health challenges of the Cov- Kevin O_Connor
trinsic to its core values. id-19 pandemic, this partnership
With over 1,000 club members is an opportunity to emphasise
of all ages, including 400 boys the importance of leaving men-
and girls in its Youth Academy, tal health stigma behind and to
Shelbourne FC and St Patrick’s highlight how supporting one
Mental Health Services have another can positively impact a
identified a significant opportu- person’s mental health journey.
 Page 34
Proposed Docklands Water
Rafting Facility in Choppy Waters
n Peter McNamara
T
he proposed white-water
rafting facility in Dub-
lin’s docklands has had
to wade against much public
acrimony since the project was
first mooted in 2019. Now,
faced with another funding set-
back, the tide may be turning
even further against it.  lors voted 37 to 19 (with 3 ab-
Dublin City Council is cur-
rently gauging expressions of
interest for the construction of a
€22.8 million ‘flagshipʼ rafting
facility planned for the Custom
House Dock, which has been
strongly criticised for being de-
veloped in the midst of a hous-
ing and homelessness crisis.  What is Proposed and Who is
The project, which has been
delayed last year because of the
pandemic, will include a white-
water rafting course, swift-
water rescue training facility
and a kayaking and canoe polo
pool area at Georgeʼs Dock on
the River Liffey. The Dock –
which previously hosted events
like Oktoberfest and Christmas
markets – at the IFSC area in
the centre of Dublin. The cen-
tre is expected to take between
18 months to two years to com-
plete.  EPIC, The Irish Immigration
The white-water course is
designed for use as a tourist at-
traction and by sports clubs but
will also be made available to
Dublin Fire Brigade and other
emergency services as a training
resource. If built, it is expected
to draw thousands of visitors on
an annual basis.  the outset, and said this type of
In December 2019, council-
staining) to approve the plans.
Later that month, they voted
on a motion to rescind the deci-
sion, but a majority rejected that
move. As new funding issues
loom, the future of the centre is
far from certain.  of the facility to emergency ser-
it for?
The white-water course is
designed for use as a tourist at-
traction and by sports clubs but
will also be made available to
Dublin Fire Brigade and other
emergency services as a train-
ing resource. The plans consist
of an inner reservoir of water
surrounded by the white-water
rafting course. Cafes already
located along the CHQ building
will overlook the attraction. The
dock, which runs adjacent to
FEATURE www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
Museum, has been lying unused According to Dublin City Rising Costs: From a Trickle
in recent years. It was previous- Council, the urban flooding to a Flood
ly used to host Christmas mar- streetscape will be the most If the project secures suffi-
kets and Spiegeltent concerts in unique feature of the facility cient funding, private construc-
addition to the annual Oktober- as it will be a very realistic and tion companies will be invited
fest.  probably the only practical way to submit bids for the contract
Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) to simulate a sense of what a – at present the Council is seek-
has supported the plans from flooded street with fast moving ing expressions of interest from
water looks and feels like, but six companies. The price tag has
facility has proved to be invalu- achieving it in a safe and con- already gone from an estimated
able for other emergency servic- trolled manner.  €12 million to an estimated
es around the world, including Kayaking and canoe clubs €25 million. 
emergency services in parts of weighed in during the public Owen Keegan, CEO of Dublin
the UK and in New York.  consultation stage of the plan- City Council, has said that the
Speaking to council members, ning process with many saying plans could come back to coun-
Greg O’Dwyer, Senior Officer this type resource is unheard cillors again for another vote if
at DFB reiterated the benefits of in Ireland at present leaving the costs increase more. “If the
many clubs travelling to facili- cost is higher than we indicated
vices nationwide. “Two things ties abroad.  in the capital programme, we
we need for training, and two of David Henry, of the Silver will bring it back.” Another vote
our biggest concerns, are water Bridge Kayak Club said: “I am would see councillors voting for
quality and water quantity. Wa- a recreational kayaker and in the a third time on the project. 
ter quality is a health and safety past have had to travel to Brit- The council’s past plan was
issue and we have had a number ain to avail of similar facilities to pay for the estimated €21.9
of people taking ill on courses in preparation for expeditions million cost of the project with
so we have to stop using the up- further afield. Such a scheme €5.9 million in development
per Liffey area,” he said.  would be invaluable for lo- levies, €4 million in borrowing,
“This facility will give us two cal and national recreational €4 million from the capital re-
big advantages. Once the qual- water-sport users, youth clubs, serve, and €8 million in grants.
ity of the water will be guar- scouting, kayak clubs, and most The Capital Programme 2020–
anteed for our members, they importantly, our athletes who 2022 states that, to date no grant
won’t be getting ill from train- regularly travel to Europe to aid has been approved for this
ing... we will also have the re- train for international events,” project. 
quired amount of water we need he added.  The rise in the cost of the pro-
and when we need it.”  ject, originally costed at €12
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021
million, has sparked renewed
concern about its viability. Ac-
cording to TheJournal.ie, Derek
Kelly, Docklands Area Man-
ager, explained that the initial
figure cited earlier this year “ex-
cluded the design team fee, cost
of developing two new build-
ings, and VAT.”
“I’m happy that as we stand
the figure is robust... we’re
working on €22.8 million all
in, including design fees,” Kelly
said. The current costing in-
cludes these omissions as well
as the cost of developing a wa-
ter treatment plant which was
not part of the plans originally.
Kelly said a minimum of 36,000
visitors per year is expected to
attend and the facility will be-
come profitable in the second
year of operation.
“A Grotesque Vanity Project”
Coming in the midst of an
ever deepening housing and
homelessness crisis in Ireland’s
capital city, there has been se-
vere criticism of the proposal.
Former Fine Gael TD Noel
Rock has described the project
as an “expensive gimmick”.
Sinn Féin Councillor Janice
Boylan said there are “seri-
ous questions raised by locals”
about the project. The fiercest
criticism has come from Senator
Michael McDowell.  authority, it has a direct respon-
In a statement this January,
McDowell, the former leader of
the Progressive Democrats, who
served as Tánaiste and Minister
for Justice in the 2000s, said the
facility “is a political obscenity
in the context of the calamitous
failure of the Council to address
the crisis of housing shortage
for many years.”  Senator McDowell said he is
He claimed this is not an idea
that came from councillors, but
from the executive of Dublin
City Council itself. “This is a
project which is vanity-driven
and at the peculiar interest of
some people in the executive of
Dublin City Council.”
In his statement, McDowell
called the justification of Fire
Brigade training a “threadbare
excuse”, and then called on the
Government and the Housing
Minister Darragh OʼBrien to
withdraw the tender process and
to indicate that there will be no
funding to the council as long as
the tender project is proceeding.
“More than €1 million has al-
ready been wasted… shame on
the craven councillors who have
not stopped the process months
ago.”  “the ugliest site” and expressing
Speaking to Newstalk later in
January, the Senator insisted the
council should focus on its pri-
mary duty of housing.  just left there. So I welcome this
“I think Dublin City Council
has lost its way completely - one
of its primary functions is to ad-
dress the housing crisis. Under
the Housing Act, as a housing
sibility to provide homes, social
housing and to make available
and to re-organise the plan-
ning of the city so there is ac-
tual housing available… Instead
of that, they are engaging in
a tendering process for a pro-
ject, which is peripheral to their
function.”  He said he was “proud to have
not against development, but
this is not the time. “I’ve no
problem with the development
of the Docklands area, I’m just
saying that Dublin City Coun-
cil should not waste between
€25m and €30m on this pro-
ject at this time when it is fail-
ing miserably to do it’s primary
function - which is to look after
the people who are looking for
homes in Dublin.”
“It’s a waste of time, it’s a
waste of money - Dubliners will
not pay €50 per head to partici-
pate in it, and it’s about time it
was called out for what it is.”
“Dublin Needs Ideas”
On the other hand, councillor
Christy Burke described the cur-
rent state of George’s Dock as
FEATURE
hope that the new facility will
bring the area to life. “It reminds
you of a huge open grave that’s
with open arms,” he told The-
Journal.ie.  “Many thought [our] ideas
Writing in the Sunday Busi-
ness Post, Dermot Lacey, a for-
mer Lord Mayor of Dublin and
member of the Dublin Dock-
lands Development Council,
has given the project his full
support. Lacey, the leader of the
Labour group on Dublin City
Council believes the city needs
big ideas like this which will
generate jobs and economic ac-
tivity.  In response to those who cite the
voted for it and I look forward
to it opening.” Lacey believes
that Dublin needs people with
imagination, creativity, bravery
and hope to bring forward those
ideas without fear of instant at-
tack and condemnation and to
help create the sort of vibrant,
living city that the capital could
be.  €25 million price tag into con-
The Labour councillor cited
parallels between these latest
proposals, and those regarding
the Dublin Docklands Develop-
ment Authority in the late 1990s.
“Sitting in a makeshift office in
the middle of dereliction we
collectively envisaged a bright
future for this then significantly
deprived and disadvantaged part
of Dublin. We were told to let
our ideas flow and we did.”
In that instance, new offices,
parks, community facilities,
hotels, a theatre and thousands
of new homes were envisioned
– there was even discussion of
building a new third-level col-
lege.
could never be delivered. In
most cases they were, and today
the Docklands is a totally differ-
ent place.”
Councillor Lacey sees the
white-water facility as “the lat-
est in that line of big ideas”. Ad-
dressing criticisms that the cen-
tre will hardly be used, he points
to the ever-popular Dublin Zoo
and the National Aquatic Centre.
housing crisis as a reason to halt
the project and re-direct funds,
Lacey notes that the funding
that the council is attempting to
secure for the facility is already
ring-fenced for sports and tour-
ism projects and as such is not
available for housing and home-
lessness interventions.  be saved had DFB the use of a
Putting the centre’s current
text, the former Lord Mayor
cites the nearly €3 billion of
private investment has been
made in the Docklands, and the
€65 million collected in local
property tax in the Dublin City
Council area last year. Com-
mercial rates now collected in
the rejuvenated Docklands area
amount to well over €60 mil-
lion per annum and develop-
ment levies to be collected are
expected to exceed €50 million.  City Council
Difficult Waters Ahead
Page 35
Given the optics of opening
a high-end recreational facility
during a time of widespread pri-
vation in Dublin, it’s no surprise
that the rafting facility proposal
has become an emotive issue.
Added to this the increasingly
precarious nature of internation-
al tourism – not just due to the
as-yet unresolved pandemic, but
also due to climate change con-
cerns regarding air travel – this
project is easy to disregard as
out of step, and more subtle
arguments are being shouted
down. 
It has also emerged that, ac-
cording to Independent Coun-
cillor Anthony Flynn, council-
lors were misled on the amount
of money spent on training Dub-
lin Fire Brigade at special facili-
ties abroad. To induce them to
vote in support of the project,
the council was advised of high
annual training costs that could
facility in Ireland. On inquiry by
Flynn, it emerged that the Dub-
lin Fire and Ambulance Swift
Water Training unit had no such
expenses in the period 2015-
2019.
Such confusion will only
deepen the division around this
issue. As final costs are estimat-
ed, one thing is certain: the raft-
ing facility faces choppy waters
ahead.
Images: courtesy of Dublin
 Page 36
Double Defeat Throws Ireland’s World Cup
Hopes into Disarray
O
n David Prendeville
h dear. The good will
and faint causes of op-
timism to be taken from
Ireland’s gutsy 3-2 defeat in
Serbia evaporated but days lat-
er with the 1-0 loss at home to
Luxembourg, one of the worst
results in Ireland’s history. Pres-
sure is already starting to mount
massively on Stephen Kenny.
After ten games in charge, he is
yet to taste victory.
Let’s start with the positives.
Kenny was courageous in his
team selection for the away trip
to Belgrade. It was refreshing
to see him drop the woefully
out of form Shane Duffy, and
also leave Jeff Hendrick out of
the midfield. Kenny’s emphasis
on youth and his fearlessness in
throwing in young players like
Dara O’Shea, Josh Cullen and
Jayson Molumby, was quite the
tonic for fans used to the inher-
ent conservatism of the likes of
Mick McCarthy, Martin O’Neill
and Giovanni Trapatonni. Also,
finally we got to see Seamus
Coleman and Matt Doherty in
the same team, since the attempt
to fit the two best Irish players
into the same eleven was aban-
doned after half a game in Mc-
Carthy’s miserable Euro 2020
qualifying campaign.
Ireland looked sharp against
Serbia and put some nice moves
together. It was altogether far
more aesthetically pleasing than
the bilge served up by McCa-
rthy. It’s also possibly fair to say
that we looked more open de-
fensively than we would
have under Kenny’s
predecessor. Crit-
ics will argue
that despite the
attempts to play
good football,
Ireland would
have stood a
better chance
of getting a
result under
McCarthy’s dour
pragmatism. One
could imagine
McCarthy’s
Ireland
SPORT
grinding out a 0-0, though I
would wager that a 1-0 defeat
would have been a more likely
outcome. Maybe we looked
more naive but we certainly
showed an ambition we’re not
used to seeing in this game, and
in terms of the long-term future
of the team, that is very impor-
tant indeed.
The sad reality is Serbia are a
vastly superior team to Ireland
and we really had little chance
to ever qualify from this group,
with Portugal and Serbia look-
ing like shoo-ins for the top two
positions. With that in mind, this
campaign must be judged be-
yond results. It is clear that Ire-
land have a poor crop of players
currently, as a result of years of
mis-management and short term
fixes by the FAI. Kenny’s job
really has to be to bring a new
generation of players through
and to modernise the way Ire-
land play.
Beyond the blessed relief of
breaking our scoring drought
and nabbing not one, but two
(!) goals, there were passages of
play that were very impressive
by Ireland in Belgrade. The first
goal by Alan Browne was a su-
perb team move. When Serbia
equalised, Ireland’s heads didn’t
drop, and they actually began to
dominate the game at the begin-
ning of the second half. If VAR
was being used, there’s every
chance Aaron Connolly may
have gotten a penalty in this
period of the game. The play-
ers also looked comfortable in
the 3-4-3 formation adopted
to accommodate getting both
Coleman and Doherty into
the team. Coleman was ex-
cellent as the right-sided
centre back. Doherty
provided a good out-
let at right wing-back
but sadly his crossing
was wasteful on the
night.
The game turned
when substitute Alek-
sander Mitrović caught
out the inexperienced Mark Tra-
vers, with an excellent lob over
the ‘keeper, who was stranded
off his line. It was cruel. It was
harsh on Travers and indeed
Kenny. But it was also a mo-
ment of quality from a player
www.newsfour.ie
of whose calibre Ireland simply
do not have. And he was only a
substitute for Serbia, remember.
When it went to 3-1, Ireland fans
may well have had flashbacks of
the World Cup play-off against
Denmark in 2017, and expected
a hammering. But again, Ire-
land showed guts and character
to reduce the deficit and stay in
the game. Even in defeat, this
was the first time in a long time
where the Irish team were actu-
ally good to watch. Dare I whis-
per it, but it was actually quite a
good game. When was the last
time you could say that about an
Ireland match?
On the contrary, to say the
Luxembourg debacle was bad is
something of an understatement.
It really was an atrocious perfor-
mance. The single positive that
could be taken from it was the
fine performance of 19-year-old
Gavin Bazunu in goal. Ireland
put together one good move
that James Collins really should
have finished off in the first
half. They offered absolutely
nothing beyond that. The lack
of any urgency or tempo in the
Irish performance was astonish-
ing. This was a game they des-
perately needed to win, against
very limited opposition. Yet the
Irish players looked frightened
of the ball and totally bereft of
any confidence. Where had the
gutsy performance of just a few
days earlier gone to? Luxem-
bourg fully deserved their win.
It was as bad a performance as
I’ve ever seen from an Ireland
team and there have been a fair
few nadirs over the years.
The big question is, where
April / May 2021
does this leave Kenny? Some
pundits have already called for
him to be sacked, prematurely
in my opinion. Ireland looked
clueless and hopeless against
Luxembourg but we can’t just
throw everything out the win-
dow because of one bad game.
The FAI have long made short-
term, damaging decisions, and
there is no quick fix to Ireland’s
current malaise. Kenny should
be given until the end of the
qualifying campaign, at which
point we will be able to assess
whether any progress is be-
ing made and whether or not it
seems he can realise his vision
of what the Irish team should
look like in its style of play.
Of course, there are legitimate
doubts about whether Kenny
will be able to achieve these
goals. He’s vastly inexperienced
at this level of football manage-
ment. There has been very little
to cheer in general since his ap-
pointment. However, for now
we must cling to the morsels of
hope put forth by the impres-
sive, albeit losing, display in
Serbia and the bold team selec-
tions and decisions Kenny has
made.
Hopefully at the end of this
campaign, the future will look
a bit brighter for Irish soccer.
Surely, it can’t look any worse?
Images: Stephen Kenny - flickr
Dara O’Shea ©INPHO_Laszlo
Geczo
 www.newsfour.ie April / May 2021 SPORTING HISTORY
FRANK THOMPSON
Part One
dashing outside-left stepped up
to save the day with a couple
of goals to put Linfield 3-2 up.
They didn’t let it slip from then
and won the match to become
champions of Ireland. There
was no doubt about who had
made the difference for Linfield,
as the Antrim Northern Whig
made clear in its report, which
said: “the hero of the game was
undoubtedly Frank Thompson.”
That outstanding performance
came in Frank’s last match as
a Linfield player. He moved
to the English First Division
club, Bradford City, in Febru-
ary 1911. Frank instantly took
to playing high class football in
England and he was in top form
as Bradford attained a credit-
able fifth place finish in the First
Division. That League placing
ery made him a hero to the sup- was certainly no mean feat, but
porters at Cliftonville’s Soli
Page 37
ther team’s forward line shone,
and it finished 0-0 after extra-
time.
That meant there had to be a
Cup Final replay, which took
place four days later on April
26th 1911 at Old Trafford in
Manchester. The attendance for
the replay was 66,646, which
was the biggest ever crowd for
a midweek match in England.
Those spectators saw a match
that was “an exhibition of hard,
forthright tackling by both sides,
in which the Bradford defence
again performed heroically.”
With Bradford under relentless
pressure again from Newcas-
tle, it seemed a long shot that
Bradford would survive. But
then, fifteen minutes into the
game, Frank got forward down
the right wing, went infield and
found the space to play a per-