A Dublin native has been charged with the murder of Shane Geoghegan last November.
Barry Doyle, (23) Portland Row, Dublin, but living at 106 Hyde Road, Limerick was charged with the murder at a special sitting of Limerick District Court.
During the hearing, the court was told that Doyle said “I have nothing to say” when charged. He was remanded in custody to appear before the court again on Friday, 6th March.
One of the main points which John Fitzgerald wanted to drive home when he wrote his report was that before physical regeneration could take place, the crime and anti-social behaviour would have to be dealt with first.
His sentiments ring hollow though following the news that the government are to cut funding for the Dial to Report Drug Dealing Helpline.
The service was set up for people who wanted to report dealers in their area, but who, for whatever reason, did not want to deal with the Gardai directly. The idea was that people could call this number, and the volunteers at the the helpline would report it to Gardai for them, thus protecting their identity.
The phone line was initially set up as a pilot project in Blanchardstown, Dublin in 2006. According to their research, 67 percent of reports they received were of some help to Gardai in tackling drug dealing in the area.
The service was due to be rolled out accross the country this year, and Limerick was one of the areas to bennefit from this. However, Government funding for this has been cut.
It seems the strategy for the government to cut funding from projects which help people who are unable, unlike the over 70s, to protest in front of Leinster house.
In the last six months, funding was cut from the NCCRI, which helps the victims of racism, people who are in a strange land and wouldn’t even know where to begin to protest. Funding was also cut from the Equality Authority, which helps people who are too afraid to protest for fear their employers will use it as an excuse to sack them, and now this, cutting funding to a service which helps people to afraid to leave their homes to protest for fear of intimidation from drug pushers.
Contrast this with the news this week that Limerick Regeneration is to receive €28m in funding this year. Some of this money should be used to keep the Dial to Report Drug Dealing number alive. With a little help from the private sector the cost could be kept to a minimum. Regeneration could pay for the running costs of manning the helpline, while the likes of the Leader, Post, Limerick Independent, and local radio stations could run an awareness campaign. Bus Eireann could even through the number on the back of their busses to make people aware of it.
If you would like to know more about Dial to Stop Drug Dealing, you can visit their website.
Intel has announced an expansion to its R & D facility in Shannon. Mary Coughlan was around yesterday to announce a 50 million euro investment that may create up to 134 jobs over the next four years. Intel have a facility in the Shannon Free Zone. Still on a political tone, Our MInister for Defence is out in Chad at the minute but wants the Heineken cup semi final (should Munster qualify of course) played at the gaelic grounds instead of Croke Park.
In other tv news, John Gilligan, CIty Mayor was on Pat the Plank, the Late Late show last night. Feed should be on http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/ later on.. Also No Frontiers the travel show is on RTE 1 on Sunday @ 7.30pm with a piece on Limerick as a travel destination.
Tara Hartigan and Olivia O’Sullivan, the brains behind thestylexchange.net event
Here’s a word they will be wanting to add to the Oxford dictionary at the end of 2009, Recessionista. According to Wikipedia, it is a person who wants to remain fashionable, but do so on a minimal budget. I have to admit, it is the first time I heard the word.
Anyway, it is the recessionista that this event is for. thestylexchange.net is a Limerick endeavour, which kills three birds with one stone. Firstly, it gives women the chance to clear out the wardrobe of stuff that they don’t wear very often. Secondly, it allows the same women to get stuff that other women don’t wear very often at a knock-down price, and Thirdly, it raises money for two very deserving charities.
The launch of thestylexchange.net’s first event was held yesterday evening at Trinity Rooms, who will be hosting the event itself on March 27th
So here is how it works.
Ladies wishing to participate can drop off their unwanted clothing, shoes, bags, and other accessories off at the Trinity Rooms at specific days. A list of drop off dates and times can be found here.
These items will then be exchanged for tokens, depending on what the item is valued at. Those with tokens can then come back on the 27th for the event where they will be able to exchange their tokens for any of the items handed in by other women.
The main event night will not only include the exchange, but there are a number of other events taking place that make a real girls night out of it.
TThere will be absolut vodka cocktails and canapés reception.
As well as discounts, there will be hair and beauty experts on hand to give free advice, from companies such as Halo, Urban Retreat, Beau Ireland, the Ivy Beauty Salon as well as Make Up artist, Mandy O’Laughlan.
There are prizes to be won also, including overnight stays at the George Hotel, the Marriott Hotel, and a break at the G hotel in Galway. A Brown Thomas voucher is also up for grabs.
Local celebrities, will be auctioning off items to raise funds for the two charities. The Limerick Rape Crisis Centre, and Adapt Services.
All the above is covered in a €15 admission fee. Those who did not hand in items for exchange, while not being able to take part in all the swapping, can still participate in the other events.
It is really a night for women to have a night out, meet other women, and help charities which support women in dire need of assistance.
Some new bloggery for your eyeballs. Calling Limerick is the creation of a 30-something UL graduate who was born, bread and buttered in Limerick.
In typical limerick fashion, The Last Furlong, (his blog handle) is mad about sport, and is a “massive fan of Limerick FC.”
As for his blog, he says:
Limerick Calling itself is going to be random musings on all things local and beyond. Main topics will be sports, movies and politics but i tend to have an opinion on most things. I like the ideas of Polls on topical issues so will try and get one a week up. Also you would expect to see numerous 80s references as i have a very soft spot for all things 80s be it music, tv shows or Starship!
Limerick Calling has been added to the list of local blogs. If you have a blog from or about Limerick City or County, send us the link editors@limerickblogger.ie
Speakers on the night were Eamon Gillmore, leader of the labour party, as well as Jan O’Sullivan, party spokesperson for health.
ADVISORY: contains flash photography
Some of the events taking place over the next week which we have been asked to give a mention to:
Tonight sees the Nu Killa Kru celebrate their ninth birthday. The party kicks off at 2230 hrs at the Underground on Baker Place. Admission is €5 before 2300 hrs and €7 after.
From the blurb:
As you may or may not know, we have been bringing the sounds of Drum & Bass / Jungle to Limerick City for many years now and on Friday the 27th of February we’re celebrating 9 years of bringing a different beat to this town !
The annual B-Day gigs are eagerly anticipated around these parts and as usual it will be an all-local line-up at the controls. Each Dj gets 30 – 40 mins on the decks in what should be a whirlwind journey through every style and flavour of Drum & Bass imaginable. Bee, Roller T, Mecca, Deep Cut, Lymer, Leon and Code are all pencilled in for the night. We hope you can come down and help us onto the dancefloor – we are quite old.
On Wednesday, 4th March, Trinity Rooms plays host to Edinbourogh Comedy Festival winner, David O’Doherty.
From the blurb:
Schnitzel, the Wednesday night comedy club at Trinity Rooms has a super start to March with an exclusive bonus show on Wednesday 4th March with IF Comedy Award Winner David O’Doherty,
In 2008, David O’Doherty won the if.comedy award at Edinburgh, two years after first being nominated.
He shot to fame at Edinburgh in 1999 when he won Channel 4’s ” So you think your funny” and in 2003 was named Hot Press Irish Comedian Of The Year
He has performed around the world at festivals in Melbourne, Montreal,New York and Wellington. He has toured around Ireland with Tommy Tiernan, around Britain with Rich Hall and recently around America with Demetri Martin.
Having sold out Dolan’s last month, he returns to play Schnitzel Comedy Club before heading off on dates all across the world.
Tickets priced €12 are available from Trinity Rooms, LSAD Students Union and on the door on the night from 8pm.
Other Schnitzel Comedy club manoeuvres in March include a double header with Josie Long and Colm O’Regan for the LSAD Rag Week Special on March 11th and a very special guest on the 25th March.
And finally, on Thursday 5th of March, there is a table quiz taking place to raise funds for the Regional Hospital’s Children’s ark.
This takes place at 2100 hrs and the cost per table is €40. There is also a raffle taking place, and the list of prizes are below
Signed English Premiership & Championship Football merchandise
Signed Munster rugby jersey
Signed Irish International rugby jersey
2 tickets to Ireland V Bulgaria International world cup qualifier @ Croke Park
Dinner for 2 @ the George Boutique Hotel, Limerick
€40 voucher for Radiance Beauty Salon
Further spot prizes to be won on the night!
I am going to hold my hands up and say that I am not entirely sure how this one works. Aparantly, there are new plans on the way where members of the public who generate more energy than they need, through for example, solar panels on their roof, will be able to have that energy harnassed, and piped into the electricity grid, and get paid for it by the ESB.
If you want more information on this, you can either contact ESB customer supply. The first four thousand people who sign up for it will receive 19c for every kilowatt hour they put into the ESB grid. If your not an ESB customer you will only get 10c for every Kilowatt hour.
Below is the press release from the Green Party’s James Nix. Best I post it unedited it might make more sense.
Nix says new rules allowing electricity to be sold back to the ESB will cut costs, boost jobs and help meet our environmental commitments.
James Nix, the Green Party’s candidate in the city’s North Ward, said we send 6 billion euro abroad every year to buy fossil fuels, and this new initiative is a major step in keeping this money in Ireland to been spent on wind, solar, hydro and district heating schemes.
Highlighting the new incentives, James Nix said that local producers of energy will now be paid for spare power they generate. “Until now we have lived with an electricity network designed to accommodate the flow of electricity from large centralised plants to customers spread throughout the country. We to to change to deal with the challenges ahead and micro-generation at local level now introduces two-way flows to the electricity system. Local generators will be paid by the ESB for electricity that is surplus to their own requirements and the energy can be sold on to where it’s needed.”
District heating offers great promise in Limerick, according to James Nix. We’re lucky in having a steady supply of wood reasonably close to the city; burning timber in district heating plants generates electricity as well as heat for local homes, according to James.
The first 4,000 people to sign up to the scheme with the ESB will get a guaranteed price of 19 cents per kWh. Non ESB customers will get 10c per kWh. “This initiative paves the way for local power generation, whether it’s harnessing the tide of the Shannon or district heating schemes using local wood. Green policy will help people to lower their energy costs and to fight climate change.
“The rules have changed. Before, you received your power from a central source and paid for it. Now you can generate for yourself and be paid for the excess you don’t use. We can use our abundant natural resources to bolster the economy, create skilled, lasting, green-collar jobs and reduce carbon emissions at the same time.
“This type of long-term investment with a guaranteed return, represents the best value for spending and lending. “By generating power at home from clean, renewable sources, we will improve our energy independence and keep more money in Ireland. We do not want to be dependent on Russia, Saudi Arabia or even England for our energy needs; we can supply our own.”
A 37 year old woman has been arrested in relation to the murder of Shane Geoghegan. The arrest was made today in the Ballinacurra Weston area.
This brings to 15 the number of people arrested this week as part of the murder investigation.
One of the 14 people arrested on Tuesday has been released. RTE News is reporting that a file is also being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions
UPDATE: Seven people have now been released without charge, while a further eight remain in custody at various Garda stations.
Labour Party leader, Eamon Gilmore was in Limerick to speak at a reception being held at the Marriot Hotel. More photos below, and video of the speach is coming shortly. The text of his speech is below the fold.
Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore meets local Labour Party members at the Marriot Hotel reception
Limerick City Councillor, Joe Leddin at the Labour Party Reception in the Marriot Hotel.
Mayor of Nenagh Cllr. Virginia O’Dowd with Labour spokesperson on Health Jan O’Sullivan TD at the Labour Party Reception.
Click below the fold for the speech.
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