The Limerick Blogger: latest Limerick news and Limerick events

John Costello (26) of Kileely in Limerick City pleaded guilty to unawful posession of amphetamines worth €45,000 in the hopes of getting a light sentence. It failed.

Mr. Costello will be serving 10 years of porridge. He did receive a 12 year sentence, but the last two years was suspended

Costello was in a car on 1 September 2004 when it was stopped by Gardai at Mountrath, County Laois when the three kilograms of drugs were found. The court had previously been told that the drugs were destined for the Limerick and Clare market.

Understandably, the papers were giving much coverage to Sunday’s fatal crash in Askeaton.

While we linked to what the broadsheets had to say earlier, we can now give a brief synopsis of what the tabloids printed on Monday morning.

The evening herald did not give as much coverage to the story as the other papers did. However, the paper did claim that the 18 year old driver of the 1994 Audi car was avoiding a Garda checkpoint when the crash happened on the N69 on Sunday morning.

Daily Mirror front page. Click to enlarge

The daily Mirror described the two men, Michael Liston and Brian Kelleher as valued public servants, who died doing what they did best, serving their local community.

The paper also called for those who took lives while behind the wheel to be punnished.

Front page of Star newspaper Click to enlarge

The Star reports that Garda Kelleher should have been off when he was killed on Sunday. While he was based at Croom station, he was filling in for a Garda based at Askeaton station who was on holidays.

The paper also reports that he is the 40th Garda to die in the line of duty since the force was founded in 1923.

Front page of the Daily Mail. Click to enlarge

The Daily Mail highlights the fact that seven children have been left without their dads as a result of this tragedy.

From Tuesday’s broadsheets:

Politicians to attend funerals of tragic garda and fireman – Irish Independent
Tragic garda risked his life in “fearless” high-speed chase – Irish Examiner

A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with the grenade attack on a house in O’Malley Park.

He is being held at Roxboro Garda station under section 30 of the Offenses Against the State Act.

Gardai believe that the attack is in connection with last year’s killing of Noel Crawford.

An update on this morning’s story:

News footage from TV3

and RTE News

Also:

Teen linked to double death tragedy “on way to party” – Irish Examiner
Mike Liston: “He will never be replaced” – Irish Examiner
Heroes dedicated their lives to service of the State – Irish Examiner
Brian Kelleher: “We are shocked by this tragedy” – Irish Examiner
Tragedy highlights never-ending danger – Irish Examiner
Killed in the line of duty – Irish Independent
This is the second recent tragedy for fireman’s family – Irish Independent
Good men who served us all while serving others – Irish Independent
A decent and hard-working family man – Irish Independent
Man arrested after Garda, Fireman killed in crash – Irish Times

She is in to the final Six of the RTE talent show. The same rules apply where the last two performers who receive the fewest votes, will have to fight it out for the judges, who will send one of them home.

Maeve performed “When You Say Nothing At All” which was featured in the movie “Notting Hill.” Performers were asked to perform a song from a movie to mark the Oscars, which takes place later tonight.

In the film, the song was performed by Ronan Keating.

The result will be known by 2100 hrs. tonight.

Maeve is in trouble. She had a lucky excape from the chopping block tonight after she ended up in the final two. Luckily for her, she was saved by the judges.

Following my request in the Dan Sullivan post for more Limerick Blog, i received an email from a nice young lady named Collette, who is from Limerick, and has been blogging since September 2005.

I actually should have added this an hour ago, but was caught up reading it.

Collette is a student at Limerick College of Art and Design and is in her second year. Born and raised in County Limerick, her interests include photography, Driving, listening to music, and, as she says her self, “[I like to]kick back and catch my breath and take in the world around me.”

Being hearing impaired , however, does not seem to have stopped Collette from enjoying life to the fullest.

It will be easy to lose track of time while reading Lette’s Blog., I know I did, a most enjoyable read.

The Limerick City Festivals Office (run by Eightball Promotions and Media) has an online application form for anyone interested in being part of the Pery Square Fair which will begin right after the parade.

They are looking for Market traders, Street Performers and any Musicians who would be interested in ‘adding to the atmosphere’ on the 17th of March

The form is available here, or contact details can be found here.

Basketball Ireland have confirmed that Limerick has won in its bid to host the Superleague Finals Weekend 2007. This is the first time Limerick will host such a major basketball event, which is expected that it will attract 2,000 fans to ‘Irelands Sporting Capital’.

The weekend is basically the play offs where the top teams from both the North and South Conferences will play to make the final, the winning team will be crowned the overall champion of the Nivea for Men Superleague 2006/2007, without actually having to win in their conference. The weekend will also see the Womens Superleague Final and the Women’s Division 1 Final and Men’s Division 1 Final.

From LimerickLions.com, “The Finals will have the finest basketball talent in the country on display over the weekend, with the League champions in four categories being decided Men & Women’s Division 1, and Men’s & Women’s SuperLeague. The event will also have the semi-final games from the NIVEA For Men SuperLeague, which means a total of 6 high calibre games in this festival of basketball.�

The bid was jointly placed by the Limerick Lions (Limericks Mens Superleague club) and UL Aughinish (Women’s SuperLeague Club), speaking on the decision Pat Duffy, Chairman SuperLeague Men’s Board said, “We are delighted that two clubs have come together in this manner, it is an excellent concept for the sport of basketball, and we are looking forward to the prospect of the Finals taking place at such a top class venue�.

It is expected that some events will take place around the city to mark the weekend, more to come sooner to the finals. Here is the general basketball line-up:

Final Weekend Schedule

Saturday March 24th:
- Women’s Division 1 Final
- Men’s Division 1 Final
- NIVEA For Men SuperLeague Semi-Final 1
- NIVEA For Men SuperLeague Semi-Final 2

Sunday March 25th:
- Women’s SuperLeague Final
- NIVEA For Men SuperLeague Final

In the early hours of the morning rescue services were attending a minor car collision, which occurred at Borrigone when a speeding youth came across the scene and killed a fire fighter and a Garda.

The two men were struck by a car around 5.15am this morning, it is believed the driver was intoxicated while driving, he has been detained by gardai and is currently being held in Henry Street Garda station.

According to Live 95fm reports, “the Garda was in his 50s and based at Newcastle West and the fireman was based at Foynes.�

Motorists are being advised that the N69 has been sealed off between Askeaton and Foynes and diversions are in place.

An 18-year old male, who was arrested at the scene of the accident on suspicion of drink-driving, has been released without charge. A file is being prepared for the Director of Prosecutions.

Both men who died in this morning’s accident have been named as Garda Brian Kelliher from Mallow, Co. Cork, who was based at Croom Garda Station, and firefighter Michael Liston from Foynes.

It is the one that got away folks.

Here is one that we neglected to mention in our run down of Limerick bloggers who were shortlisted, or even nominated for the Irish Blog awards.

Daniel K Sullivan, is currently nominated for best videocast at the awards.

Being from Corbally warrants a spot on our list of Limerick blogs.

If you want to visit his site, and see his videocast, click here.

Also, if you know of, or are running a blog which has a connection with Limerick, drop us a mail at limerickblogger@gmail.com