The Limerick Blogger: latest Limerick news and Limerick events

Some new opportunities for gay, lesbien and bisexual members of the community to meet and get in touch have been launched in the last week.

First up, is a web-based community GayLimerick.com. The online community is based on the GayCork.com model, which, in it’s seven years in operation, has proved to be very successful.

Another LGBT related launch due this week will see an end to Gay nights out being a bi-weekly event.

On alternative weeks to the La Boutique” which is held in Dolans, Confessions, will run from downstairs at Scotts off the Dock Road.

From the blurb:

Madonna Lucia is an established Drag Queen performing artist who along with her partner Sheila Fits-Patrick has appeared at numerous venues around the country. She has performed at Dublin pride and at the Alternative Miss Ireland in the Olympia theatre in Dublin. Both Sheila and Madonna are active in their local community and enjoy attending events and supporting causes in aid of the LGBT community. She is currently hard at work with the Limerick Pride festival which has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2007. Madonna is an active canvasser for the visibility and equality of LGBT people and is proud to represent Limerick as an inclusive community where being gay is just part and parcel of everyday life.

“This is a wonderful place to live and work. Whether you are a sportsman or a hairdresser people hold you in the same high regard,” said Madonna. “It is of course my hope that ‘Confession’ will become a crucial part of the scene in Limerick, and the wider community of Clare, Tipperary and indeed Cork. Many people travel to Limerick for a night out and will plan around venues. If you provide a reputable venue and a good clubbing experience people will come, and more importantly they will return.” Madonna emerged as a performer out of the Alternative Miss Limerick pageant in 2005. The AML and La Boutique are run by Nicole Dunphy in Dolans. The Warehouse hosts the AML every October and donates proceeds to HIV charities here in Ireland.

“‘La Boutique’ is one of the best nights in the country and it is my hope that ‘Confession’ will compliment it. ‘Confession’ will run opposite to ‘La Boutique’ so that on any given weekend there will be a club venue to cater to the LGBT community. We believe it makes more business sense to cross promote our venues in tandem with ‘Riddlers’ gay bar so that we can build the gay scene in Limerick. This is one of the best towns for a night out and it is in our customers’ interest that we all continue to thrive and grow.”

Confession is in a location that is ideal for individuals who appreciate discretion and safety when meeting others. “Lots of guys in particular are using the internet to meet up. For young people this can raise all sorts of concerns especially if they are in the ‘closet’, preferring not to disclose their sexual preference to family and friends. Even though its 2009 people can still be treated badly and homophobia still exists. I always prefer to see people meeting in a public place; it’s safer if it doesn’t work out and it gives you other options!”

The club door policy is over 21’s with smart or club dress essential and right of admission is reserved in line with equality legislation. This is a straight friendly venue open to all. Entry to the club is a recession busting 10 euro before 12.30 each night and 15 thereafter. A VIP area is in place which can be booked in advance by mailing confessionatscotts@gmail.com.

Madonna will be hearing confessions from 11.30pm on July 4th.

While we are in a nostalgic mood…

This was found on Cheebah, who subsequently found it on YouTube

The person who owns this film reel discovered it recently, and is hoping members of the public might be able to identify the people in it.

If you can help, you can mail us at editors@limerickblogger.org

Both Limerick Printmakers and Lyric FM are celebrating their tenth anniversaries this year. To mark the occasion, they produced a set of prints from Limerick artists, which were inspired by a chosen piece of music from ten of the Lyric FM presenters.

The launch of the set took place on Thursday at 2 Perry Square.

X: Limerick Printmakers Studio and Gallery and Lyric FM 10th Anniversary Box Set Launch from Limerick Blogger on Vimeo.

An 11 year old boy has died following a traffic accident in Ardpatrick, County Limerick on Wednesday evening.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene and was taken to the Midwestern regional hospital where a postmortem was due to take place.

It is understood that the boy, named as Maurice Cahill of Ardpatrick, was struck by a jeep as he cycled on the Kilmallock to Ardpatrick road at 1815 hrs.

Anyone with information, or who may have witnessed the incident, are asked to contact Gardai at Bruff.

A 16 year old boy has pleaded guilty to the murder of Pat “Happy” Coleman, who died in September 2007

The boy, who cannot be named on account of his age, will find out his sentence at the Central Criminal Court later today.

fMr. Coleman was attacked on his way home after he was out watching an All-Ireland match on television on September 2, in a city bar.   Mr. Coleman, who was originally from Cellbridge in Kildare,  bled to death from his injuries, and his body was found at his home the following day.

There are tough times ahead for those employed at three well-known employers as it emerged that they have come in to difficulty.

Aramount Furniture, which has an outlet in Limerick, announced that it was entering into interim examinership.  KPMG has been appointed as examiners to the company.  A statement released to the media states that the company continues to trade during this period.  The economic downturn and fall in consumer demand are being blamed for the company’s difficulties.

Tom Hogan Motors, which has an outlet in Shannon and employs 150 people in it’s three outlets in Clare, Galway and Tipperary, has entered into voluntary liquidation with the loss of all jobs.  An “extraordinary economic climate” is being cited as the reason for the winding up of the company.  Those who purchased vehicles from the chain are assured that they would still be covered by warranties.

40 jobs at SuperValue at Watch House Cross are in danger of being lost if a new owner cannot be found for the shop.  The Limerick Leader website reports however that there have been expressions of interest in the store.  click.

The Central Statistics Office is due to release it’s monthly report on Live register figures next week.

The 2009 crop of street ambassadors for Limerick City was unveiled yesterday.  In total there will be 12 ambassadors, seven new and five returning.

They will walk three different routes throughout the city offering assistance to tourists looking for information on the city.

Limerick was the first Irish city to institute the street ambassador project.

The new ambassadors are:

• Oliver Hayes, Woodview Park
• Darragh Lyons, Moyross
• Jennifer O’Brien, Hyde Road
• Suzanne O’Brien, Adare
• Edel Ryan, South Circular Road
• Jean Ryan, Castletroy
• Kieran Sparling, King’s Island
• Albert Cullen, Ballysimon Road
• Declan Hassett, Shelbourne Road
• Magda Sodul, Dooradoyle
• Cathal O’Connor, Crecora
• Eithne Deloughry O’Byrne, Mayorstone

Fines totalling €1350 have been handed out to three people in St. Mary’s Park  after the discovery of eight horses in the estate by Gardai.

First up was Owen Treacy, of St. Munchin’s Street, St. Mary’s Park, who was found to have three horses were discovered in stables at the back of the house.  The court heard however, that the horses did not appear to be neglected and a vet was not required.  Treacy came to prominence when he acted as prosecution witness in the trial of five members of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal family, who were later convicted of murdering his uncle Kieran Keane.  Treacy himself received 17 stabwounds from the attack.

Treacy was fined €500

Alan Keane of St. Ita’s Street received a fine of €500 after he pleaded guilty to eight offences in relation to the possession of four horses.

Both Keane and Treacy have similer previous convictions.

A third individual, Gerard Duhig, was fined €350  for having one horse in the city without a licence.  He had no previous convictions.

Horses are currently banned from within the City Council juristiction.

More from the leader here.

It’s been a relatively quiet weekend, which is why there were no updates over the last few days. Just one or two things to bring to your attention.

Limerick County Council is to shell out the bones of a quarter of a million euro in golden handshakes for Councillors who are either retiring, or who failed to get re-elected.  One councillor can expect to pocket close to €40,000.  The amount is based partly on the length of time the has-beens have served as councillors.  While Cormac Hurley is no longer a councillor, having been elected to the City Council, his time as a County Councillor will be taken into consideration when he does retire from the City Council.  Link.

In the City, John Gilligan appears to have had a change of heart after signing a pact with the eight Fine Gael councillors, ensuring the next five Mayors were from the party.  After withdrawing from the pact, Fine Gael were forced to call upon their old mate Pat Kennedy, who in return for his suppport, will become mayor in 2012.  Denic McCarthy is to lose out. Limerick Leader story.

After only 15 percent of judges opted to take a pay cut, Fianna Fail TD Nial Collins is calling for a referrendum on judges pay.  Under the law, judges do not have to accept the same pay cut as every other public employee, and they don’t have to declare publicly whether or not they are taking the cut either