Latest news with #GAEL
The Journal
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Should GAA county boards in Ireland gift newborns with a club jersey?
A FINE GAEL senator has said that GAA county boards across the country should gift newborns with a club jersey, following an initiative being carried out by Bologna FC. The initiative promotes 'club community spirit' from a young age, said Senator Eileen Lynch. Advertisement 'Bologna FC, in partnership with their local government, provides free jerseys to all babies born in Bologna, before they even leave the hospital. The Italian team provides the jerseys in club-coloured boxes to parents of newborns throughout the city,' she said. She encouraged Cork GAA and other clubs to consider the proposal. Do you think GAA county boards in Ireland should gift newborns with a club jersey? Poll Results: No (567) Yes, that's a great idea (254) No interest/no opinion (80) Maybe (43) Yes, that's a great idea Maybe No No interest/no opinion Vote
The Journal
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Fine Gael councillor Ray McAdam elected as new Lord Mayor of Dublin
LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago FINE GAEL COUNCILLOR Ray McAdam has been elected as Dublin's newest Lord Mayor. At this evening's Annual Council meeting, McAdam was elected to succeed his party colleague Emma Blain, who had served as Lord Mayor since 18 December. He will now serve as the 358th Lord Mayor of Dublin until 29 June next year. McAdam, a Cavan native who has previously acted as a Parliamentary Assistant to Paschal Donohoe, is a North Inner City councillor and was first elected in 2009. He has been re-elected at subsequent Local Elections in 2014, 2019 and again in 2024. Speaking following the election, McAdam thanked those who elected him as the 358th Lord Mayor of Dublin, his family and his colleagues in the chamber. Congratulations to Councillor Ray McAdam who was Elected as the 358th Lord Mayor of Dublin 🎉 — Lord Mayor of Dublin (@LordMayorDublin) June 30, 2025 McAdam also paid tribute to his predecessor Blain, who he said brought 'empathy and purpose to the role'. 'Let this become the place where ambition meets action,' McAdam said, adding that celebrating Dublin 'will be the guiding star' of his term as Lord Mayor. 'We will celebrate Dublin, not only as it is, but as it can become. Because to truly celebrate something is also to shape it, to lift it up, to call it forward, to demand that it live up to its best self.' McAdam then outlined five key initiatives for her term as Lord Mayor – including the rejuvenation of O'Connell Street, tackling dereliction, a 'get Dublin moving' sports initiative, a Dublin disability inclusion drive and a 'young Dubliners speak' initiative. He also pledged to install a new statue on O'Connell Street within the year honouring 'the women of the revolution'. O'Connell Street. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'I am grateful for the courage, the leadership and the sacrifice of the women who shaped Ireland's revolutionary past, and I will do my part to ensure they are remembered not only with dignity and with respect, but in full view of the city they helped to build,' McAdam said. He went on to say that the council knows the challenges facing the city – including housing, safety, climate change and socioeconomic barriers. 'These challenges are real, but they demand action, not avoidance. They demand leadership, not lament,' McAdam said. Advertisement 'Even in the face of these realities, I firmly believe in this city, not only because of what it has been, but because of what it can still be.' Ahead of the election, Blain was invited to address her former Dublin City Council colleagues, where she thanked staff at the Mansion House on Dawson Street, her family and fellow councillors, and recalled some of the many 'memorable moments' during her tenure. 'Thank you for your belief in what Dublin can be,' Blain said. 'It was the greatest honour of my life'. Former Lord Mayor Emma Blain. 'Dublin is in a good place. There's a renewed energy and a sense that we've turned a corner, and I've been glad to play a small part in that work,' she added. 'There is still work to do, but we're building strong foundations with talented and committed people leading the way.' Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe congratulated his constituency and party colleague. 'A glorious moment as my wonderful friend Ray McAdam arrives at the Mansion House having been elected as the 358th Lord Mayor Dublin,' he said in a post on X. 'Ray is one of the hardest working people I know. He is ambitious for the role and will do a magnificent job. I wish him all the luck in the world.' In addition to the support of his Fine Gael party, McAdam also got the backing of Fianna Fáil, Labour and Green party councillors. This is because Dublin City councillors from these parties entered into a political agreement last year , which is set to run until 2029. The position of Lord Mayor is set to be rotated among these parties as part of the agreement. There are 63 councillors within Dublin City Council and 31 councillors belong to this pact. Ray McAdam received 34 votes during the election this evening. Sinn Féin, which has nine councillors elected to Dublin City Council, nominated Councillor Kourtney Kenny as their candidate for Lord Mayor. Sinn Féin is part of a newly-formed 'Progressive Alliance' which includes the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and independent councillors Pat Dunne, Cieran Perry, and John Lyons. This alliance contains 24 councillors who supported Kenny's bid. Kenny received 22 votes this evening. 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
The Journal
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Local councillor pleads for extra gardaí in Rathkeale after four homes targeted in arson attacks
The aftermath at the scene of one of a number of suspected arson attacks in Rathkeale A FINE GAEL councillor has called on his parry's leader, Tánaiste Simon Harris, to help provide additional gardaí for Rathkeale, Co Limerick following four suspected arson attacks on homes in the town this morning. Councillor Adam Teskey highlighted a visit to the town by Harris, as acting Minister for Justice Minister, in December 2022, who then promised additional Gardaí after a wave of violent feuding by Traveller families. Speaking then, Harris pledged the additional Garda resources 'would be forthcoming' in Rathkeale and that 'no part of this country is beyond the reach of the law'. Four properties located in and around the town were attacked with petrol bombs at around 4am this morning, one property was burnt out, and the other two homes were badly damaged. No injuries were reported. Cllr Teskey, who has previously called on the government for extra garda resources following violence in the town, said: 'This further proves the point that we need additional Garda resources and I'm sick and tired of looking for resources for the area that I represent, and seem to be getting nowhere. 'Our local Superintendent that I have full confidence in, and his team, need to be appropriately resourced, and that means we need gardai in boots, on the street, rank and file members, we need to see more presence,' added Cllr Teskey Gardai are investigating a number of lines of enquiry including that the co-ordinated attacks may have been retaliation following a previous serious incident in the town. A reliable local source said this morning's fire attacks were suspected to be linked to a local Traveller dispute. Advertisement The aftermath at the scene of one of a number of suspected arson attacks in Rathkeale 'Four houses were petrol bombed overnight, the place is is lockdown, there are gardaí at the different scenes,' said the source. 'One house was completely destroyed, another is badly damaged and two more are also damaged,' they added. Four fire brigade units from Rathkeale, Newcastle West and Foynes attended and quenched the flames. Gardaí are to harvest and study any closed circuit television camera footage around the west County Limerick town in order to try to trace the individuals involved. In a clear SOS to government, Cllr Teskey said the sanctioning of extra gardai for Rathkeale 'has to happen immediately',' said Cllr Teskey. 'We were given a commitment from the previous Minister for Justice, who is now the Tánaiste, that resources would be made available to the area, and that promise now needs to be fulfilled, or else it is simply another empty political promise that was given to us, and that is simply not good enough,' Cllr Teskey said. 'The people of Rathkeale have gone through enough and are sick and tired of seeing law and order out of control, it has to stop, and the resources need to be forthcoming. We shouldn't have to be looking for resources they should be here.' Cllr Teskey, who sits on the local Joint Policing Committee, he had concerns that Rathkeale was verging on 'lawlessness' because of inadequate garda resources. 'The superintendent has my full confidence and support but he needs resources, and I would praise his and his team's efforts to date.' The aftermath at the scene of one of a number of suspected arson attacks in Rathkeale Separately, Cllr Teskey said the town was also wide open to the threats and impacts associated with drug dealing: 'It's tragic, we have seen the previous removal of the Drugs Unit from County Limerick taken away – that has to be restored and brought back and put in place.' 'We need to get back to basics in terms of old style policing. Here in Rathkeale, we are living in a state of prolonged lawlessness, and we need to go after the true criminals in this town.' A member of the Garda Press Office said they were awaiting a report on the matter from local gardai. 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
