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Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kind pedestrians and cyclists given 'I'm sound' badges by Dublin City Council
A bunch of kind pedestrians and cyclists were awarded badges by Dublin City Council's 'soundness detectors' on Wednesday. As part of its public awareness campaign 'Be Sound This Summer', the council renewed its appeal for all road and path users to be more respectful of others. And pedestrians, cyclists and drivers that looked out for others and prioritised safety in the city centre on Wednesday were awarded with an 'I'm Sound' badge. Through social media videos, the council is encouraging people to stop hogging lanes, breaking lights or dangerously dashing. Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, said: "As a city, we're working to make travel safer, cleaner and more connected — not just through infrastructure, but through how we treat one another. ''Be Sound This Summer' is about recognising and celebrating those small, everyday actions that make our streets safer and more respectful for everyone. By adding a bit of fun and positivity to the message, we're encouraging all road users to look out for each other. Whatever way you travel, being sound goes a long way.' Active travel, such as walking and cycling, plays a central role in how Dubliners get around the city. On average, people split their weekly transport time almost evenly between walking or wheeling (41 per cent) and driving (40 per cent), with a further 19 per cent spent cycling, according to the Your Dublin Your Voice survey. In Dublin, 71 per cent of adults walk five or more days a week, while 47 per cent use a car five or more days a week. One in four adults say they cycle at least once a week. According to the Walking and Cycling Index, 530,000 cars are taken off the road every day in the Dublin Metropolitan Area because of those who decide to walk and cycle. If these cars were all in a traffic jam, it would tail back 2,500 kilometres, equivalent to over nine times the distance from Dublin City to Cork City. Over half a million fewer cars on the road generates an annual benefit of €2.39 billion for individuals and the wider city. It also prevents 3,655 serious long-term health conditions each year and saves the health service approximately €64.5 million - equivalent to over 1.17 million GP appointments. Those walking and cycling instead of driving also save greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1.69 million flights from Dublin Airport to London Heathrow Airport. A bicycle traffic light in Dublin There has been a large increase in older residents engaging in active travel in recent years. Some 74 per cent of Dublin residents aged over 66 now walk or wheel at least five days a week, up from 54 per cent in 2021, and 12 per cent of residents aged over 66 cycle at least once a week, up from 10 per cent in 2021. Dublin City Council said it will continue to roll out dedicated infrastructure across the city to keep this momentum up and encourage people to walk and cycle. Within the next four weeks, three active travel schemes will be completed across the city, including the Ranelagh Village interim scheme, Beatty's Avenue to Herbert Park (part of the Dodder Greenway) scheme and the Royal Canal Phase 3 scheme. Director of Dublin City Council's active travel programme office, Christopher K Manzira, said: 'With more people choosing to travel actively across the city, we all have a shared responsibility to look out for one another. 'Be Sound' is a reminder that safety and respect are essential on our streets. "Whether you're walking to the shop, wheeling to work, or driving through town, a little soundness can make a big difference. The data shows that active travel benefits us all, from reducing emissions to easing congestion as well as the additional health benefits. We want everyone to feel confident and safe doing so.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
RTÉ News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Much-changed Shelbourne exit Champions League but regain pride after narrow loss to Qarabag in Baku
Shelbourne's adventure in the UEFA Champions League came to an end with a 1-0 (4-0 aggregate) defeat to Qarabag at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku. A James Norris own-goal was the Dubliners undoing on a night that saw Wessel Speel announce his arrival at the League of Ireland champions by saving a second-half penalty from Kady. The Reds are now into the Europa League qualifiers and are drawn to play the losers of the tie between HNK Rijeka of Croatia and Bulgarian heavyweights Ludogorets, knowing they are guaranteed a place in the Conference League play-off round. Shels were attempting the impossible trying to overturn a three-goal deficit away from home, and Joey O'Brien kept just three players from the first leg at Tolka Park. Kameron Ledwidge, Kerr McInroy, and Ademipo Odubeko all started on a night that saw Speel make his Shelbourne debut after joining the club on loan from Minnesota United. What played out was a predictable affair, with Qarabag dominating possession and the League of Ireland side focused on keeping it tight while players like Pedro Bicalho and Kady tried their luck early on. The Reds only got forward once by going long and John Martin was able to knock the ball on, but Odubeko was unable to get to it. The Republic of Ireland U21 international did get in to shoot before the half-hour mark and his effort went wide in a rare moment of attacking flurry for the Dubliners. Qarabag retaliated by strengthening their hold over the pace of the game and with that came the opening goal, from a corner and turned in by Norris in the 44th minute. Shelbourne fully went for it after the restart, beginning with a John Martin header getting cleared by the home side. Norris also got through during this burst and set up Kerr McInroy for a shot that went straight at Mateusz Kochalski. At the other end of the pitch, Emmanuel Addai went for goal from distance and was denied by a stern save from Speel in the 59th minute. O'Brien responded by making a triple substitution that bringing on Sean Boyd, JJ Lunney, and Harry Wood for Odubeko, McInroy, and Martin. Qarabağ won a penalty off a Ledwidge handball just as the trio settled and there was relief for Shelbourne as Speel denied Kady in the 68th minute. That was it – there was no great drama as the home side comfortably booked their place in the third round qualifiers. Qarabağ FK: Mateusz Kochalski, Matheus Silva, Bahlul Mustafazade, Kevin Medina (Samy Mmaee 72), Elvin Jafarquliyev (Tural Bayramov 80), Pedro Bicalho, Kady (Olexiy Kashchuk 80), Leonardo Andrade, Emmanuel Addai, Abdellah Zoubir (Chris Kouakou 72), Nariman Akhundzade (Musa Gurbanli 72). Shelbourne: Wessel Speel, Lewis Temple, Sam Bone, James Norris (Evan Caffrey 71), Kameron Ledwidge, Daniel Kelly, Mark Coyle, Elis Chapman (Ali Coote 80), Ademipo Odubeko (Sean Boyd 62), Kerr McInroy (JJ Lunney 62), John Martin (Harry Wood 62).
Irish Independent
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Shelbourne bow out of Champions League after own-goal ends faint hopes against Qarabag
But after a sobering end to the first leg removed any suspense from their Champions League tie with Qarabag, Joey O'Brien used the return leg as preparation for the road ahead in more ways than one and yet still managed to escape serious damage. The only goal of the game on a draining evening in Baku was scored by a Shelbourne player. Unfortunately, it was John Martin turning a first-half cross into his own goal, a frustration for the visitors given that they restricted the favourites to a handful of clearcut opportunities. Eight changes to the starting team reflected that O'Brien had one eye on a busy seven days featuring a league game against Sligo Rovers on Saturday and a crucial away tie in the Europa League parachute round next Wednesday against either Rijeka or Ludogorets. Therefore, he rotated options and rested some important legs, a risk against a quality opponent playing in front of an expectant crowd. But Qarabag were content enough with the general situation and while a makeshift Shels side acquitted themselves well, and could have nicked a draw on the night with Kerr McInroy and Daniel Kelly missing second-half chances – an important caveat is that Gurban Gurbanov's experienced outfit never needed to go up another gear either. They also missed a second-half penalty, with Shels debutant Wessel Speel, the Dutchman on loan from Minnesota United, getting down well to save from Kady Borges. It was a poor spot-kick, but Speel was solid overall and has put himself in line for involvement in a crucial few weeks where the Dubliners have two more chances to book a €4m league phase ticket. He will likely be protected by a different defence when it comes to the real money matches. Paddy Barrett and Sean Gannon were given the night off, with Sam Bone coming into the middle of a back three and youngster Lewis Temple trusted on the right. Kameron Ledwidge was retained after a tricky ending to last week's three-goal defeat, with McInroy and Mipo Odubeko the only other starters to be selected again. There wasn't much in the match with Qarabag controlling the ball without necessarily being incisive until their 42nd minute breakthrough, a goal that arose from their first corner. ADVERTISEMENT It was worked short, with the patient Borges drawing in Mark Coyle before nipping away from the Shels skipper and sending in a dangerous cross that Martin turned into his own net as he struggled to get himself out of the way. That was a tough blow to take for Shels with the badly needed interval recharge in sight, but they resumed sprightly enough and created their best chance of the match when James Norris raided down the flank and pulled the ball back for McInroy, who should really have done better on his favoured left foot from ten yards. Qarabag were sparked into life by the let-off as both benches prepared multiple changes and the spot-kick was forced by a moderate spell of pressure with Ledwidge punished for a handball as he raised an arm in an attempt to block a cross. Borges lacked conviction from the spot and Speel did enough to push it away. He had made a better stop just beforehand when a deflection off Bone added difficulty to another shot from outside the area. Opportunities inside the box were in short supply, with the Shels stand-ins performing well without the ball. They lasted the duration as O'Brien swapped his other options around ahead of him, ensuring that none of his key men were active for the full ninety minutes. Kelly could have grabbed an equaliser at the death but fired over the bar when he had more time to pick his spot. It would have been a nice moment for the group, but meaningless in the broader picture. Next Wednesday is what really matters. Qarabag: Kochalski, Silva, Mustafazada, Medina (Mmaee 72), Cafarquilyev (Bayramov 80); Bicalho, Borges (Kashchuk 80); Andrade, Addai, Zoubir (Kouakou 72); Akhundzade (Gurbanli 72) Shelbourne: Speel, Temple, Bone, Ledwidge; Kelly, Coyle, Chapman (Coote 80), Norris (Caffrey 71); McInroy (Lunney 62); Odubeko (Boyd 62), Martin (Wood 62) Ref: A Colombo (Italy)
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Dublin's Hugh Lane Gallery to close for ‘at least 3 years'
It was announced today that the art gallery is set to close its doors for a planned refurbishment, alongside the construction of a new city library for Dublin. Hugh Lane Gallery was founded in 1908 by Sir Hugh Lane and his supporters, who donated a collection of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century European art to Dublin. It is the oldest extant 20th-century public modern art gallery. A council spokesperson said the gallery would close its doors to the public on September 28 to 'facilitate renovation and safe removal of the gallery's collection'. 'It is expected to remain closed for at least 3 years,' they added. The planned refurbishment is a part of a major investment in Parnell Square North, which will transform the square into a 'significant cultural quarter' set to enrich the experience of Dubliners and its visitors. 'The refurbishment will upgrade the original 1930s wing to 21st-century museum standards of security and environmental controls,' a statement from Dublin City Council said. 'It will ensure the preservation of the collection for future generations and will enhance our ability to secure significant international loans for major temporary exhibitions. 'The refurbishment will also include a direct link between the gallery and the new Dublin City library, creating a unique cultural experience across art and literature. 'The Hugh Lane Gallery conservation team is working hard to safely pack and transport the gallery's renowned collection to museum-standard storage facilities. 'This ensures the public's collection is being cared for to the highest standards and will be ready for display when the gallery reopens. 'Francis Bacon's Studio will be fully protected throughout the temporary closure period and will remain on-site,' the statement added.
The Irish Sun
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hunt for Irish ‘Ring doorbell' voice with open casting call and auditions announced for three cities starting this week
A MAJOR hunt is on the way for an Irish 'Ring doorbell' voice - with open casting call and auditions announced for three cities starting this week. The smart home security company 2 Ring has launched a nationwide casting call and auditions in three cities Credit: Ring 2 The home security company is looking for their first ever Irish voice on its video doorbells Credit: Ring The campaign, titled 'Voice of the Nation,' kicks off this week with in-person auditions scheduled in Cork, The chosen winner will become the official Irish voice behind Ring's 'Quick Replies,' which are pre-recorded greetings used when people can't answer the door in real time. These replies work like a front-door answering machine, giving visitors a friendly message and the option to leave one of their own. Auditions begin in READ MORE IN TECH The pop-up then moves to Eyre Square Centre in Galway on August 9 and August 10, next to Penneys on Level 1. Final in-person auditions take place in Anyone who can't attend in person can audition online by recording themselves saying the line: 'We can't answer the door right now, but if you'd like to leave a message, you can do it now.' And for those who want to audition in Irish are asked to record the phrase: 'Dia dhuit! Ní féidir linn an doras a oscailt faoi láthair, ach más mian leat teachtaireacht ghearr a fhágáil is féidir leat é sin a dhéanamh anois.' Most read in News Tech People with a Ring device and a Ring Protect subscription can also audition directly through the Ring app by recording a video and using the 'Share with Ring' feature. Radio and TV presenter Amazon's Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus watches your front door & doesn't need any wires It comes after new research from Ring that is based on a survey of 1,000 Irish adults found 55 per cent of people love their accent and wouldn't switch it for another. Cork came out on top as Ireland's favourite regional accent at 12 per cent, with Dublin just behind on 11 per cent. And only a quarter of Dubliners said they want to hear their own accent on The final deadline to submit an audition is 11:59pm on Thursday September 5 and entries received after this won't be accepted. Ring says the final decision will be made by January 31st, 2026 by a panel of judges, including Carl Mullan and other independent experts. The person chosen as the Irish Voice of the Nation will be contacted by email or phone after the judging process is complete. Ring's EU & International Managing Director Dave Ward said the new Irish voice will add a local touch to the He said: 'Our customers find Quick Replies really helpful when they want to answer the door, but just can't make it in time. We're celebrating the beauty of Irish accents by personalising this useful feature and bringing authentic local dialects to doorsteps across Ireland.' To enter online, applicants need to post their clip on
