The Limerick Blogger: latest Limerick news and Limerick events

The bastardization of the Dock rd continue with the first set of traffic lights installed!  Just when things were starting to move a bit better with the two lanes outbound, along come this set of lights and if memory serves another set are due before the end of the year.   With the tunnel being on the plans for opening at the end of 2009, obviously plans are being put in place to encourage the hard pressed motorist to pay the toll and use the tunnel rather than drive out the dock rd!! While on a transport theme, World car free day is on Monday and there is a bit of a shindig on Bedford Row at mid day Monday with the city councils plans for road transport in the city in the future.  Also check out the middle of the Limerick Post for more information around page 48-52.  

An American military plane made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport on Saturday after suffering an engine problem.  The plane landed without incident at 1pm approx on its other working engine!

The regeneration plans which are ready to go have had their public unveiling put back until after the budget in October. Also Limerick City council have confirmed that they have ran out of money for knocking down  derelict houses for this year.  The cost of knocking and cleaning up afterwards is apparently in the region of 35,000 euro for a semi detached home.

After putting up 50 points last week in the Magners league, Munster were run a lot closer tonight and had to come from behind to beat the Cardifff blues by 28-20 tonight at Musgrave Park. Having made ten changes to the team that won so well last week, it was good to see Alan Quinlan and John Hayes back in the 22.  Next up for the red army is an away trip to the posh boys of Leinster next Sunday week.  

In soccer news its a tale of 2-1.  Last week Shelbourne were the visitors to Jackman Park and after a fairly uneventful 72 minutes, there were three goals in the last quarter, two of them outstanding free kicks, one form each side but Limerick came out on the wrong side of a 2-1 defeat.  Club owner Jack McCarthy made the trip over from the States and while disappointed with the result he must have been happy with the crowd of 750. Similar to the game on the 4th of July there was a deal of a fiver for a program, hot dog and a beer and with the weather helping by not pissing rain it went off very well.  Last night the blues were back in Jackman and once again the result was 2-1, but this time the super blues were on the winning end, thanks to a last minute penalty by Pat Purcell that broke Monaghan hearts!

Last Monday An Evening with Giovanni Trapattoni’ event was officially launched at  a press conference to announce the details of  the gala fundraising evening which will take place in the Castletroy Park Hotel on Thursday October 16^th.  PR below..

 ”The gala evening which will be hosted by local comedian and avid Limerick FC fan, Karl Spain will include a raffle and auction for an array of luxurious prizes including a corporate box for 12 in Croke Park at an upcoming Ireland international, a trip for two to New York, a Marriott Hotel Weekend Break, 4 VIP tickets to Celtic, Chelsea or Man Utd, signed boxing gloves from Limerick’s own Andy Lee,  the opportunity for 6 children to be flag bearers at an Ireland home international, a fourball at Doonbeg and 4 tickets for the NFL Superbowl.”

In other sports news, an attempt at a world record will be made at UL as up to 3000 people try to do a Haka in celebration of Limerick Mental health week.  Also it has been confirmed that the All Ireland Corporate games will be in Limerick again next year from the 26th to 28th of June 2009.

The next senior hurling manager for Limerick will be ratified at the next county board meeting on the 14th of October.  Interviews started this week apparently and there are 7 people going forward for the post. Richie Bennis, Justin McCarthy, Tony Considine, Pat Herbert, Gerry Molyneaux and Eddie Murphy are the people who are going for the position

Some comedy stuff we have been asked to let you know about, PJ Gallagher, best known for his multiple roles on the hit RTE show, Naked Camera, will be performing in Limerick in October.

From the blurb

PJ Gallagher has become one of Ireland’s best-loved comedians. Following the huge success of his role as Jake Stevens and many others in the hilarious and sometimes outrageous hit TV show Naked Camera, PJ rarely has time to be himself these days as he prepares for yet another TV series based in the USA.
PJ Gallagher is a Vicar Street regular, he has played the venue more than 10 times already this year, each time a complete sell out ! In 2008 He has headlined at the Cat Laughs festival in Kilkenny and the Bulmers Comedy Festival while his show on Sunday afternoon at Electric Picnic this year was nothing short of legendary !

The 1 October performance marks the occasion of the Schnitzel Comedy Club finding a new home at the Trinity Rooms. His set will be followed by Maeve Higgins. The club will take place every fortnight.

Tickets are availible for PJ Gallagher at ticketmaster.ie or at the Clubhouse.

The 3,000 workers at Dell’s manufacturing facility in Limerick will hear either if their jobs are safe or if there will by lay-offs as senior Dell executive Michael Canon is due to travel to Limerick.

From the Independent

Mr Cannon is the right-hand man of Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell. He was appointed president of global operations last year to revamp the company’s manufacturing operations.

Prior to this he was CEO of Solectron, an electronic manufacturing service company which provides supply chain solutions for technology companies, including outsourcing. This made him an ideal choice to bring in radical change.

Speculation has been rife over the past week as to Dell’s future in Limerick following an article in Monday’s Wall Street Journal claiming that the computer manufacturing had already decided on the future of the Limerick facility.

We posted a video of the Stab City debate at UL earlier this week. Given its topicality, we’ve produced a transcript, which is posted below. Unfortunately, our transcriber had some difficulty understanding parts of the audio (the quality wasn’t the best), so some words are left as question marks. But the overall meaning should be clear, and all speakers made some very interesting points.

Cllr Diarmuid Scully: Madame Chairperson of the Journalism Society and Madame ??? of the Debate Union. Ladies and gentlemen, I came here tonight with a certain degree of trepidation. Now it’s not because I’m a few months away from a local election and I’m getting in a row with journalists despite the old political adage that you shouldn’t make a row or fight with somebody who buys them by the barrel.

I’m sure that there won’t be any consequences after what I have to say tonight. I’m sure my press releases won’t be left aside while my opponents’ get printed and I won’t be shown with my face constantly scowling or worse still looking as if I’m asleep at meetings while my opponents are shown smiling. I’m sure that sort of thing won’t happen. There’s absolutely no danger of that.

My fear is the nature of the debate itself because we’re debating about Limerick and crime and we’re debating about the image of Limerick and crime and it’s something of a sterile debate. It’s one that really achieves nothing and gets us nowhere. It traps us in this constant cycle of referring to Limerick and crime without ever actually doing anything about it, talking solely about the image and not dealing with the reality. Not dealing with the problems and crimes that actually exist. Not actually trying to tackle them.

(more…)

The contest is now closed and the winners have been picked at random.  When all entries were received they were assigned a number depending on when they arrived to us.  the first was given number one, the second number two and so on.

The two winners picked were

Colum from Adare

Marian from Dooradoyle

An estimated 50 people will be darkening doors around the city over the next couple of months in the hope of attaining the glitz and glamour that is the life of a city councillor.  And what an array of hopefuls it could turn out to be, ranging from the old reliables who have paced the hallowed halls of power for decades to the “new blood” coming in for the first time.

With political parties not having officially confirmed their selections, the list of possibilities is quite a colourful one.

Limerick South (Formerly Ward 3 and 4)

The Limerick South electoral constituency came about after the merging of Wards 3 and 4, wich include parts of the City Centre, Prospect, Ballinacurra Weston, Rathbane, Southill, and Janesborough.  The combined wards will be losing one of their seats however, so sitting councillors will have to fight even harder to retain their seats, as one of them is definately going to be out of a job.  So who is in the running.

Jim Hickey (Progressive Democrats): Mr. Hickey, according to the Limerick Leader, has indicated that he is highly likely to run, whether or not the 4,000 strong party membership decide to disband the Progressive Democrats at their special meeting next month.  Whether he runs as an independent or joins a political party is unknown.  However, given that most of the parties have already begun their selection processes, running as an independent would increase his chances.

Frank Fortune (Fianna Fail): Fianna Fail will not be holding a convention to select candidates for 2009’s elections, choosing instead to interview hopefuls.  Fortune’s name is one of four within Fianna Fail being mooted as a possible candidate.  He is a prominent member of Ogra Fianna Fail and is a member of the family made famous by their flooring and bedding business empire.

Anna Banko (Fianna Fail): Hoping to be the first non-Irish member of Limerick City Council, Banko runs a manicure business on Fox’s Bow.  At least if she breaks a nail handing out leaflets, she will know exactly what to do.

Jack Bourke (Fianna Fail): Already canvassing according to the Limerick Leader, Bourke is hoping to take back the seat he lost in 2004.

Orla McGloughlan (Labour): The daughter of current city councillor Gerry McGloughlan, she is one of two people who it is hoped will win a second seat in the South Constituency.  The party is confident that Joe Leddin will hold his seat in this constituency.

James Houlihan (Independent): After being at the centre of a row and eventual fracturing of the Labour Party in Limerick City Council, Houlihan has decided to embark on a solo career and run as an independent candidate, which may put the kybosh on Labour getting a second seat.

Pat Kennedy (Independent): Kennedy, a former member of Fine Gael, is already darkening our doorsteps, and the doorsteps of those living in the new part of his constituency.  A long serving councillor, he stands an excellent chance of being re-elected.

Sean O’Niell (Republican Sinn Fein) O’Neill is a senior member of the RSF party in Limerick City and has been for many years.  He considered running in the last General Election but decided not to do so due to ill-health.

Anthony Kelly (Independent) The brother of the late City Alderman Michael Kelly, Anthony has told the Leader that he may give the oul’ politics ago, but made it clear that the alleged sheebeen being run by his brother Francis will not be on his agenda.

Fine Gael are unlikely to change their current set up, with the four currently in seats likely to contest them again.  Sinn Fein have yet to announce a name for the Limerick South Constituency, as do the Socialist Party.  In 2004, they ran the youngest local election candidate Aisling Golden.

Limerick North (Formerly Ward 1)

With the residents of Cahirdavin and Moyross now part of the new City North constituency, you can expect some surprises here in this constituency.  The Leader predicts 15 candidates from eight parties.  So who are these people?

Cormac Hurley (Fine Gael): Limerick County Council’s loss will be the City Council’s gain no doubt, if Hurley is elected.  (OK I’m being diplomatic) Hurley is running in the city the location of his base changed hands following the partial boundary extension.  I wonder will he now support a full boundary extension now that he is running in the City?

Joe Crowley (Fianna Fail): Fianna Fail are hoping to take an extra seat in this constituency, and it is expected that they will be pinning their hopes on businessman Joe Cowley.  He is expected to be joined on the party tickey by sitting councillor John Cronin.

Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein): Hoping to fair better in the locals than in the last General Election, Quinlivan looks set to be ratified as the Sinn Fein candidate for Limerick North.

James Nix (Green Party): Unsuccessful in the General Election as a candidate in Limerick West last year, Nix is hoping to contest as the first ever Green candidate for the Northside.

Conor O’Donoghue (Christian Solidarity Party): As with all CSP members, there is little information to hand about him, other than that in the last local election he received 67 votes.  A candidate who truely could use some divine intervention.

Mick Ryan (Republican Sinn Fein): Known affectionately as “The Quill”, Ryan is a former employee of Limerick City Council and is from Ballynanty.  In all there are three RSF candidates running in Limerick, two in the city, and one in the County.

Labour are due to hold their selection convention next week.

Limerick East (Formerly Ward 2)

The constituency of Mayor John Gilligan, the boundary of this constituency remains unchanged since the last local elections, So who are the ones to watch.

Kieran Walshe (Independent): Amid claims of cliques and closed shop operations, Walshe was part of the two-man exodus from the Labour Party earlier this year.  He had previously indicated that he would run as an Independent but his position on this now is unknown.

Catherine O’Farrell (Fine Gael) A maybe from the Fine Gael Party is the unlucky Catherine, who managed to get more first preference votes than both Councillors McLoughlan and O’Hanlon, but was overtaken when it came to counting transferred votes.  She has declared an interest in becoming a candidate.

Noel Hannan (Garryowen): Hannan is hoping that he can get a community hall for Garryowen, and believes that becoming a city councillor will help him achieve this.  The memo stating that councillors have no real power hasn’t reached him yet.

Lisa Hannigan, who most will know her from her featuring on some of Damien Rice’ songs, such as “Unplayed Piano,”  has started a solo tour of the country to promote her new album, “Sea Sew.”

Wednesday, 24th September sees her perform at the University of Limerick. The concert takes place at the Jean Monet theatre and doors open at 2000 hrs.

From the blurb

Lisa Hannigan is probably best known as Damien Rice’s female collaborator on  his massive rise to stardom. They spent  over seven years working together, however in the last 12 months she has stepped out from behind the shadows, initially through her involvement in the Cake Sale Project and now and more substantially in the form of her very impressive debut solo album call “See Sew”. The album has received massive critical acclaim as is widely regarded by many as a shoe in for the title of Irish Album of the year while in the UK it is strongly fancied to win the mercury prize in 2009. Her dates around the country have been very well received while the single off the album Lille has had huge airplay on all radio stations.

As for our competition, thanks to Eightball promotions, we have two pairs of tickets to give away.

To enter, You will need to answer the following question.

What is the name of Lisa Hannigan’s new single?

Send your answers to editors@limerickblogger.org. Please include your first name and where you are from. You will not be asked for a postal address unless you are one of the winners.

Entries will be accepted until 2359 hrs TONIGHT and two entries with the correct answer will be picked at random by computer.

If you want to find out more about this and any other concert dates, you can do so by visiting Lisa Hannigan’s official website.

Dell’s policy of remaining tight lipped about a recent Wall Street Journal story on the future of their Limerick plant is not doing them any favours, as it has sparked an increasing amount of speculation.  It has gotten to a point now where even Limerick Chamber of Commerce has stated that it is undermining confidence in the midwest region.

Coverage of these concerns were covered on RTE yesterday and have made the front page of the Independent today.

With an estimated six percent of all employment in the Midwest region dependent on Dell, a loss of confidence amid this speculation and unanswered questions from Dell can only serve to do some serious damage to the economy, a “death by a thousand cuts” if you will.

Were they to come out and say “Yeah, we are shipping out” then the short term reprocussions might be severe, but it would get the trauma over with to make way for some sort of a recovery.

Some video of Tuesday’s debate at UL discussing whether the “Stab City” slur given to Limerick is justified or not.

Speakers featured here are former Limerick City Mayor Diarmuid Scully, Midwest Correspondent from the Irish Independent, Communications Executive of the Limerick Co-ordination Office, and Colme Keena of the Irish Times.

The moderator is Mary Dundon of the Journalism department of UL, and was organised by the Debating Union in conjunction with the Journalism Society.

Update: a transcript is also available.