The Limerick Blogger: latest Limerick news and Limerick events

Of interest to any long distance travellers over the weekend.

From Met Eireann

Issued at 27 November 2008 – 11:30
Weather Advisory
Very cold weather expected on Friday, the weekend and the early days of next week.
Wintry showers on Friday of hail and sleet with snow on high ground in west Ulster, Connacht and west Munster.
Occasional wintry showers in all areas from Friday night onwards with snow possible.
Severe frosts at night with dense fog in places.
Valid 6 am Friday 28/11/2008 until 1200 Wed 4/12/2008

I’m not sure about rural areas, but roads in the city are starting to ice over. Any reports of icy areas can be posted in the comments for the benefit of other readers.

A boards.ie user based in Abbeyfeale reported snow on the site’s weather forum.

Gardai investigating the murder of Shane Geoghegan yesterday seized a large quantity of guns, ammunition and drugs during searches in Southill.

Gardai searching the Galvone Industrial Estate recovered three firearms, a sizable quantity of ammunition and two kilogrammes of Cocaine.

The estimated value of the cocaine is said to be in the region of €150,000.

So far, €300,000 worth of drugs have been seized in Limerick this week, along with weapons and ammunition.

It is also understood that a number of people have come forward with information since Shane’s murder was featured on the RTE Crimecall programme last week.

More from the Limerick Leader.

The two winners of this competition were picked at random by generating two numbers between 1 and the number of correct entries, in this case there were 11 correct answers.

This is the site used to generate the numbers.

The two winners are as follows

Fiona, who gave Limerick as her location

Gary, who gave Shannon as his location.

The “Ma Kelly’s” saga continued today after a man appeared in court accused of occupying an unlicenced premises ontrary to Section 26.3 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962 on

Anthony Kelly, (48) from O’Malley Park was alleged to have been present at a Sheebeen in Lilac Court when Gardai carried out a raid on it April 17th.

Kelly was accompanied by his brother Francis, who claims that he was only “facilitating friends who pooled their money together to buy cheap alcohol at supermarket chains.”

During todays hearing, Kelly’s legal representative petitioned the court to make the state provide evidence such as copies of search warrants and photographs taken during the raid on the Lilac Court premises.

The presiding judge granted the application and adjourned the case for hearing again until January 9th, 2009.

Anthony Kelly is said to be considering whether or not to run for a seat in the local election next year.

A man who members of the Emergency Response Unit tazered during his arrest has pleaded guilty to being in possession of a Glock pistol and 19 rounds of ammunition.

Stephen Fitzgerald, of no fixed abode, but from Limerick, was arrested in a pre-planned operation on April 10 near Canal Bank, Rhebogue.

On hearing the guilty plea, Judge Sean O’Donnabhain remanded Fitzgerald in custody pending a sentencing hearing on December 18th.

More from the Leader.

NOTE: As of 2359 hrs on Friday 28th November, this competition is closed. please do not send any more entries.

Wednesday nights sees the popular show “Whose Line is it Anyway” coming to University Concert Hall. The live show will feature, amongst others, Phil Jupitus, of Nevermind the Buzzcocks and QI fame.

Tickets are availible from the University Concert Hall, The Ticket Desk at Arthurs Quay and online at uch.ie, price €22.50

From the blurb

For the very first time in Limerick, the stars of the worldwide hit comedy show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” bring their amazing comedy improvisation show to the stage. From wowing at the Edinburgh Comedy festival to selling out all over Canada, Steven Frost and his troop are at the very top level of stage comedy and for this special show at the UCH they are bringing one of the best know comedy faces on tv, Phil Jupitus from Never Mind the Buzzcocks. With Full Bar Facilities in place and a post show party at Trinity Rooms, this is an ideal way to kick of the festive season with a smile on your face !

Five brave performers will arrive with no script and not the faintest idea of what will happen. Willed on by a supportive crowd, through improvisation they create whole sketches and comic dramas that are amazingly inventive and sometimes take off into flights of surreal brilliance. The TV show of the same name, “Whose Line Is it Anyway?” is a pale imitation when compared to this live show. Featuring some of the most popular characters from the English TV series – The live show follows the same format as the TV show as seen on Channel 4 (currently on Dave Channel on SKY ) with loads of audience participation and madcap improvised Comedy sketches. The format is simple. The comedians improvise a full night of comedy based on audience suggestion. It is comedy without a safety net, it is guerrilla theatre and it is very very funny.

Anyway, we have two pairs of tickets to give away.

To enter, simply answer the following question.

Which of these TV shows HAVE NOT featured Phil Jupitus

(a)Never Mind the Buzzcocks
(b) QI
(c) Murphy’s Micro Quizzum

Send your answer, along with your name and location to editors@limerickblogger.org. Answers should reach us before 2359 hrs on Friday, and the winner will be revealed on Saturday after midnight. Only the competition winners will be asked for postal addresses. Winners will be picked by computer at random shortly after the conpetition closes.

The search for Shane Geoghegan’s killers has lead to the discovery of some weaponry and drugs.

During a search of a vacant house in Ballinacurra Weston yesterday, Gardai uncovered a firearm and a quantity of ammunition.

On Monday, Gardai searching Caledonian Park in Prospect recovered more ammunition and €50,000 worth of cannabis.

Elsewhere, a Sunday Newspaper has claimed they have made contact with one of the suspects in the killing.

The Sunday Tribune carried a report this week which claimed that they managed to have one of their reporters added as a “friend” to the bebo page of the alleged driver in the killing. The paper also claimed that the 19 year old was currently in hiding in Liverpool. It was also claimed that messages of support for the suspect were being left on his page by family members in Limerick.

Meanwhile, the St. Joseph’s Parish in the city are to hold a candle light vigil for Shane.

The vigil will be held at St Joseph’s Church at 2000 hrs on Wednesday December 3rd.

It has been announced that Limerick city and County is to lose a total of 119 jobs.

60 jobs will go at the Brothers of Charity home for the mentally disabled at Bawnmore after a refusal by the HSE to increase funding for the centre by €1.5m

30 jobs at the centre will be gone by the end of the year and a further 30 will go during 2009.

Services for up to 100 patients will be curtailed as a result of the job losses.

“This is the worst thing that has every happened to us. It is really serious and people should know what is going on,” said Bob Sillery, Managing Director of Bawnmore in today’s Limerick Leader.

Fine Gael’s Michael Noonan said Minister for Health Mary Harney has refused repeaded requests for funding for the centre.  “Since Budget day I have pressed the Minister for Health to increase the funding. She has, however, rejected my requests and insists she has no more money for the vulnerable people who avail of the services there.”

The fundamental problem with the Brothers of Charity is that they are in effect seriously under-funded for the level of care that they provide within the community. While the organisation has a good working relationship with the HSE locally, they have to date accumulated a debt of over €1.5million in unpaid costs for services provided for and on behalf of the HSE.

Labour spokes person on Health, Jan O’Sullivan also appealed to the HSE to provide funding.

“The Brothers of Charity have been informed by the HSE locally that there is simply no money available to fund the current deficit, while simultaneously they are expected to continue to provide the same level of service to its existing client base of just under 400 people.”

Meanwhile, Filtertek in Newcastle West is to lay off 59 staff in a bid to streamline it’s product range.

A statement from the water filtration company said “The company regrets having to reduce the size of its workforce but it is confident that this action will strengthen its financial and strategic position and give it a solid foundation on which profitable growth can be built in future,”

The company currently employs 99 people in Newcastle West, this will be reduced to 40.

Gardai investigating the violent attack on a 21 year old man on Michael Street on Friday evening have arrested an individual in relation to the incident.

The arrest was made in the city centre at around midday today, and the man can be detained for 24 hours.

It is believed that two men in total were involved in the attack, which left the man is intensive care in Cork University Hospital. A second man is now being sought.

A spokesperson for CUH has described the victim’s condition as stable, but serious.

UPDATE: A man has appeared in court charged in relation to this assault.

Michael Kirby (24) with an address of Hyde Road, Prospect, stands accused of assaulting a 21 year old man on Michael Street last Friday evening.  It is alleged that the victim sustained head and body injuries during the attack.  He is now in intensive care at Cork University Hospital.

The court heard today that Kirby was arrested yesterday in Limerick City Centre.  It was also heard that he made no reply when charged.

John Herbert, legal representative for Kirby, told the court that his client would be reserving his position with regard to bail, whereupon Kirby was remanded in custody to appear before the court again on December 2nd.

More from the Limerick Leader.

Fine Gael’s Deputy Michael Noonan has said the opening of the new Irish Aid offices in Henry Street was an ideal opportunity to set up a passport office in Limerick. Irish Aid is a branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs, dedicated to overseas development.

“It makes no sense whatsoever that people from the immediate Limerick area and the Mid-West region in general should have to travel to Cork or Dublin to get a passport,” said Deputy Noonan. “We have an international airport within 20 miles of our city and there have been cases in the past that people travelling from Shannon Airport have had difficulties with loss of passports prior to departure or passports being out of date and this only being discovered a day or two before travelling.”

Limerick now had a “great opportunity” to see this happen and it “would not be a major difficulty” for Peter Power, who was recently rewarded with the Junior Ministry portfolio, to deliver, Deputy Noonan said.

In response,the Minister of State hinted he was already looking into the matter:

“I would like to thank Michael for his interest in this matter but he can rest assured that this is a matter which I have taken a personal interest in already. I am already exploring various avenues to see how we may use the newly decentralised offices in Limerick. It is premature to make an announcement at this stage,” he said.

Barring the obvious cutbacks excuse, it would represent a saving of both time and energy for citizens and our next generation of emigrants (who will shortly have a €10 Emigration Tax put on their flights out) were a Passport Office to be sited in what will obviously be an under-utilised facility for Irish Aid – unless we ourselves become a recipient for foreign aid, which may not be too far-fetched a notion.