Latest news with #DúnLaoghaire-RathdownCountyCouncil
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Mystery of vanishing old Irish street signs sparks concern in Dún Laoghaire
Today at 07:59 A series of bilingual street signs, with distinctive Gaelic typefaces, have gone missing from streets around Dún Laoghaire. Fine Gael councillor Lorraine Hall was contacted by two separate residents' associations in recent weeks about the sudden disappearance of three of the distinctive green-and-white signs. All three were located within close proximity of each other, on Silchester Road, Royal Terrace East, and Woodlawn Park. 'These lovely, very old green signs with the Irish Gaelic script on them have gone missing in recent weeks,' councillor Hall said. 'They're really beautiful. People really appreciate these signs. They have emotional and sentimental importance, and there's a strong heritage value to them too.' Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has confirmed it was not responsible for their removal, raising suspicions that the signs may have been taken, or stolen, without authorisation. 'We suspect they are being taken because they're quite attractive,' Cllr Hall said. 'They look very nice in pubs or private collections. But they belong to the community.' The signs, often featuring cló Gaelach, a stylised Irish-language typeface historically associated with cultural resistance, date back to around the 1950s and 60s and are now considered rare. While some are protected in architectural conservation areas, most are not, and there is currently no statutory provision under the Official Languages Act for the preservation of these original designs. 'These signs can't really be replicated today,' Cllr Hall said. 'They're not just practical markers. They represent something deeper – our shared identity and history.' Cllr Hall has issued a public appeal, asking residents across the county to check if similar signs have vanished in their areas. The issue comes as researchers at Trinity College Dublin document the capital's remaining examples of the bilingual signage. As part of a digital humanities initiative called the CLÓSCAPE project, members of the public are being asked to submit photos of old green street signs to help build a digital archive before more are lost. This script, once considered a form of 'silent rebellion' against British rule, is used in Irish manuscripts, on shop and pub fronts, and on our distinctive old street signs. When the Irish state was founded, there was 'huge pressure' to use Gaelic in educational materials, on street signs, and in books as a symbol of reinforcing Irish identity. Little is known about the roll-out or distribution of these signs, and the project aims to collect photographic evidence, both past and present, to reconstruct the historic placement of Irish typeface signs and preserve them for future generations. Many signs are subsequently replaced by modern blue-and-white signs with Roman fonts, with no provision for the use of cló gaelach in the current Official Languages Act.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Padraig Harrington admits he has NEVER paid a green fee in his life
Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington has said he has NEVER paid a green fee in his life despite playing thousands of rounds of golf. Harrington is the epitome of golfing royalty, winning three majors and was recently inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame. And known for his straight-talking demeanour, the Dubliner took part in a DP World Tour video about the last time he played a green fee. Harrington features alongside other legends, such as Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley, and he opens up about the last time he put his hand in his pocket. "I don't think I've ever paid a green fee," Harrington said. "Never paid a green fee. In Ireland, it is kind of an unwritten rule that once you get to a good standard, such as Junior International, you can go and play the clubs in your local area with other Juniors for free, so I've never paid a green fee." Ryder Cup-winning captain Paul McGinley was also unable to remember the last time he paid a green fee. "I am embarrassed to say I can't remember," he laughed. Even in the last years of college, I was on the Irish team, and it was free green fees whenever I played. Honestly, I can't remember. I must have been 17 or 18." Harrington has certainly given back to Irish golf over the years and recently teamed up with the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to help set up a free putting green in Marlay Park. The amenity is free to use, and equipment is provided by Harrington, teaming up with longtime sponsors Wilson and Titleist to provide equipment for those willing to play. Both McGinley and Harrington aren't unique when it comes to green fee privileges, with Rory McIlroy recently revealing he last paid a green fee of €250 in 2005 to play Valderamma.
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
10 popular Dublin beaches hit with ‘no swimming' notice after bathing banned at popular strand for MONTHS
SWIMMERS have been warned not to swim at ten popular Dublin beaches in the latest notice from council chiefs. It comes after a popular strand was slapped with a months-long 4 Dublin beaches have issued a 'not swim' warning due to concerns over water quality Credit: Getty 4 Swimming in poor quality water could expose beachgoers to pollution Credit: Getty 4 It can also risk creating health problems Credit: © Peter Cavanagh Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council took to A 'No They added: "No Swimming Notice in place due to heavy rainfall, swimming is not advised. "The notice for these locations is in place until at least 23rd of July. READ MORE ON IRISH NEWS "Water quality testing is ongoing, with results expected on Wednesday, 23rd July. "After heavy rain, it's important to avoid contact with the water for at least 48 hours to reduce the risk of recreational water illnesses." The reason for the ban is that the water quality at the Most read in Irish News It came into effect today for a period of five days following consultation with the The city council said:"Due to heavy rainfall, Dublin City Council has issued a temporary prohibition warning for the Dollymount Strand bathing area, effective from 21st July 2025 for a period of 5 days. The Irish cable car that's only one that crosses open sea in Europe with incredible views, stone walls & €10 tickets "The decision to remove or extend the warning will be determined by bathing water sampling. "Sample results will be made available online (DCC website and and in hardcopy format at the bathing waters as soon as possible. "The warning was erected in consultation with the Health Service Executive and the Environmental Protection Agency has been notified." ANOTHER BAN Swimming on It means swimmers can't return to the Irish sea spot until the bathing season is over, which runs from June 1 to September 15. The reason for the ban is that the water quality at the beach, tested by Dublin City The city council said: "A swim restriction applies at Sandymount Strand for the entire 2025 season. "Based on the 2021 - 2024 bathing assessment, Sandymount Strand will be classified as Poor for the 2025 season. "In accordance with 14(1)(a) of Bathing Water Regulations, a temporary restriction needs to be applied to prevent exposure of bathers to pollution." 4 A popular strand has also been slapped with a months-long swimming ban Credit: Getty
RTÉ News
18-07-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Bank of Ireland apologises over oil spill at Dublin site
Bank of Ireland has said that it sincerely apologises for an oil spill at one of its sites in south Dublin, which impacted a number of animals at a public park. The diesel spill was detected at the bank's data centre in Cabinteely. The spill contaminated a lake in Kilbogget Park in the area. An assessment carried out on 16 July discovered diesel oil on the water, which was emitting strong fumes. A family of swans with four cygnets were rescued at the location; volunteers continue to try to rescue other water birds from the area. A spokesperson for Bank of Ireland said that it engaged with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in relation to the spill. "We would like to sincerely apologise to the local community for the impact caused," the spokesperson said. The EPA said that it was contacted by the bank yesterday about the oil spill, which happened following a delivery of fuel. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has said that booms and pads have been installed at the Kilbogget Park site to absorb the oil spill. The spokesperson said that the booms and pads will be replaced regularly while the oil is there. Animal rescue efforts also took place in Laois following a separate oil spill this week. Kildare Wildlife Rescue was alerted to an incident in the Kilminchy area of Portlaoise on 11 July, where severe oil pollution had affected three connected lakes in a residential area. The incident impacted a range of wildlife, including a family of swans with four cygnets along with several mallards, moorhens, coots, cormorants and herons. KWR had an emergency response team bring the swans to safety. KWR Rescue Coordinator Pearse Stokes, who has attended numerous oil spills, said the fumes were among the strongest he had experienced. "The site at Kilbogget Park had the most intense fumes that I have ever encountered in any oiled wildlife response. This is not just concerning for the wildlife affected, but also a public safety concern for people and their pets walking and exercising in the park. "This is a beautiful park with rich biodiversity and the impact of the oil will be severe on the wildlife in the area." Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, he said: "Rescuing oiled wildlife is additionally difficult because you need to wear PPE like facemasks and gowns to protect yourself from the contaminates and working then in the high heat that we had last weekend. "And with that heat also comes an added complication where the oil in the water is evaporating and becoming quite toxic fumes for people so it's a kind of public safety concern, as well as a concern for the safety of our first responders and the wildlife." Mr Stokes said the rescue team gathered up the swan family that lives on that particular pond and brought them to Kildare Wildlife Rescue. "We are all quietly very hopeful for both sets of swan families" that have been rescued, he said. He said a few days later when they responded to the second oil spill in south Dublin, he experienced "the worst fumes" he ever encountered on an oil spill. "We get a lot of them, but this was really, really heavy in the air and you couldn't really spend too long in there just because of the smell." He said they will continue to monitor both sites and pick up any animals that are sick and need to be taken into care. While the swan family from Laois are washed and stable, the charity said that the swans in Kilbogget are still undergoing treatment. An adult female is the most affected and is receiving intensive care from the Village Vets Greyabbey. The rehabilitation of oiled birds can be a difficult process, according to KWR Manager Dan Donoher. "The birds need to first be stabilised, warmed and given fluid therapy," he said. "Washing can never be done on the same day, they need to be strong and pass multiple health checks before the stressful washing process begins." He said that both swam families will remain in their care until their territories are clean and safe again. KWR currently has over 400 animals in its rehabilitation centre. While the source of the spill in Laois remains unknown, local county councils have begun clean-up operations and opened investigations into a potential cause. KWR thanked Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Laois County Council for their support with the rescue efforts.
The Journal
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Dublin residents appeal decision to put a toilet for bus drivers at entrance of their estate
A PLANNING ROW has broken out between Dublin Bus and the residents of a south Dublin housing estate over a proposal to install a portable toilet for drivers near the terminus of a bus route. Kingston Residents' Association have lodged an appeal with An Coimisiún Pleanála over concerns that the toilet adjacent to a bus stop on Brehon Field Road, Ballinteer, Dublin 16 will become 'a magnet for graffiti and anti-social behaviour'. The' association, which represents approximately 270 households, claims the proposed self-cleansing unisex toilet must be rejected on aesthetic grounds. Chairperson Ian Duckenfield said they understood Dublin Bus was considering new bus routes and timetables, and believed some new arrangement could be found 'which does away with the requirement for a WC at the entrance to our estate'. Kingston Residents' Association said it fully appreciated that bus drivers must have proper welfare facilities but stressed that it must not be 'at the expense of residents'. It claimed sewage and electricity connections would be easier and cheaper if the toilet was located on the other side of the road as that is where buses stop at the end of a journey and drivers would not have to cross the road to access the facility. Dublin Bus had originally proposed that the toilet would be located further east on the same side of Brehon Field Road, but planners with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council asked the company to review the location over landscaping concerns. Advertisement Dublin Bus said it had examined four alternative locations on Brehon Field Road to the current proposal, including near a bus stop on the other side of the road which was deemed 'unsuitable' due to a lack of space as a result of a cycle path. The company said a grass area on Kingston Drive was also discounted because of its high visual impact on residents of the estate. Dublin Bus said the proposed site was considered 'the best location for the purpose'. It added: 'The closeness to the existing bus shelter contributes to reduce the visual impact notably.' The company observed there was a pedestrian crossing 50 metres from the bus stops which provided a perfect connection to the bus terminus. It claimed the installation of self-cleaning, standalone toilets has been assessed as the most sensible option. Dublin Bus said a failure to deliver welfare facilities for drivers would have an evident negative impact on a group of people who provide an essential public service. It also said that passengers could experience delays if there were no facilities provided. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said a staff toilet may be approved following a greenlight from the relevant planning authorities and standards. It stressed that the facility in Ballinteer would not be publicly accessible. The National Transport Authority, which is overseeing the BusConnects programme across Dublin, said a key element was a significant expansion of the bus network with new and more frequent services. Among the expansion plans, it is understood, up to 15 staff toilets will be placed at the last stop for routes in the Limekiln, Swords, Seán Moore Road, Ballycullen, Tallaght and Citywest areas of Dublin. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
