St. Clare’s Primary School, Harold’s Cross, are the proud winners of The Dublin City Neighbourhoods School Awards 2012 for their effort in striving to promote a green environment and healthy lifestyle.
The Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí presented the award to St. Clare’s at the Mansion House, Dublin, this morning.
Primary and Secondary Schools around Dublin were invited to enter this competition and are judged on various environmental elements. From waste management initiatives and water conservation efforts, to the landscaping of their school grounds and absence of litter and graffiti. All efforts to work towards a greener environment are taken into consideration.
The pupils and staff of St. Clare’s Primary School actively reduced the cost energy in their school over the past 3 years from €22,000 to €17,000. The Green Energy Guzzler of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was so impressed with the efforts of the school that St. Clare’s were chosen to make a promotional DVD on reducing energy in schools. This DVD is currently being rolled out to all schools in Ireland.
The Lord Mayor said:- “Congratulations to the pupils and teachers of St. Clare’s Primary School on their win in the Dublin City Neighbourhood Schools Awards 2012. A reduction of €5,000 in energy costs over 3 years is really impressive. They have participated in the City Neighbourhoods Awards, Green Flag Award and Green Home Programme with great enthusiasm and have been rewarded for thinking globally and acting locally!”
St. Clare’s Primary School is a Green school and has achieved all seven green flags receiving their first European Green Flag in 2001. They are currently striving to obtain the Active School Award.
Explore the Magnificently Decorated Manuscript Page by Page in High Resolution with New Book of Kells for iPad
In a unique synergy of expertise, a Trinity campus company, X Communications and Trinity College Library have produced the Book of Kells for iPad app. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful decorated manuscripts and a masterpiece of European medieval art, the Book of Kells for iPad app now allows the user to view its images in high resolution in all their richness. It is also the first manuscript in its complete form available as an iPad app.
The app contains all 680 pages of the manuscript, permitting the user to scroll through the manuscript page by page. High resolution images of the most highly decorated pages are included at up to six times their original size.
Commenting on its significance, College Librarian, Robin Adams says: “The Book of Kells is arguably Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure and the Library exhibits the manuscript to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Working with X Communications we can now share its imagery, colour and imagination through an engaging and interactive medium.”
Professor Marie Redmond of the School of Computer Science & Statistics heads up X Communications, a campus company that was founded in 1994. The company is an award-winning digital media agency that has produced interactive installations for The National Museum, The National Library, the Hugh Lane Gallery, and the National Gallery.
The images used for the Book of Kells for iPad app were digitised by The Digital Resources & Imaging Services in Trinity College Library from transparencies provided by Faksimile-Verlag Luzern which published a facsimile of the manuscript in 1990.
Following on from the international award-winning DVD-ROM also produced by X Communications, this app showcases the decorative skills of the scribes and the rich and varied colours used in the drawings. The app took just six months to complete and the team in X Communications included designer Stephanie Francis and programmer, Killian Walsh.
“The Book of Kells is a visual experience and the iPad is the perfect platform for viewing the images in high resolution especially on the new retina display screens. Viewing the entire manuscript, showing the pages in the exact order that they were written explains how the work was conceived and shows the amazing talent of the scribes. The wonder is that we could not produce a work of this extraordinary beauty and magnitude today ,” Professor Marie Redmond .
Summary of the key features
● Explore all 680 surviving pages
● View in detail 21 of the most decorated pages available at 6 times their actual size
● Learn about the history of the book including where, when and how it was made
● Understand the meaning behind the decorative symbols used throughout the manuscript
● Browse through over 600 examples of animals, initial letters and other decorative themes.
A man was killed last night after falling under a bus in Dublin city centre in what Garda now say was a suspicious incident. They are now said to be hunting two men in connection with the pedestrian’s death.
At the time Garda published the following statement:-
“Gardai in Pearse Street are investigating the suspicious death of a male at the junction of Nassau Street and Dawson Street at approximately 5.45pm this evening .
A male in his late 20s was fatally injured when he was struck by a bus. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured.
The services of the State Pathologist and the Garda Technical Bureau have been requested and diversions are in place.
Gardai wish to appeal for witnesses to contact Pearse Street Garda Station on 01- 6669000, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
All that remains this morning is police tape around the junction of Nassau Street with Dawson Street, cordoning the area off for pedestrians, which means that pedestrians are crossing Nassau Street into the path of oncoming traffic. The Reporter hopes that the tape is removed soon to make it safer for all road users today.
Dublin Bus have issued the following statement:-
“Dublin Bus wishes to advise customers that due to last night’s accident on Dawson Street, the below diversions will be in place until further notice.
All services will operate as normal to Dawson St then via Nassau St, Lincoln Place, Westland Row, Pearse St, College St to Westmoreland St and back to normal route.
Intending passengers from Suffolk St should please make their way to the next stop on their route.
Dublin Bus apologise for any inconvenience to our customers.”
There are also some members of the Garda and Dublin Bus staff standing nearby, apparently in an effort to obtain any other eye-witness accounts of what was a horrific scene according to other news outlets, including The Irish Times who have posted this video:-
We are willing to bet you that you will come out of the cinema after watching this film and head straight for the nearest music store, or download the music immediately from iTunes. The film, Searching for Sugar Man, is a documentary, but having already won the Special Jury Prize and the World Cinema Audience Award for Documentary at this year’s Sundance Festival, and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, as well as winning second place at the Tribeca Festival, you know that it has to be special. And it is.
The story is true of course, but it is one which is barely believable, even when the film draws to a close. (And you will not want it to end anyway). Sixto Rodriguez, a singer songwriter of Mexican descent, lived in Detroit and sang in less than fabulous bars there, including one called The Sewer. Two record producers, Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore, signed him to make his first album called Cold Fact in 1970 and a second album Coming from Reality followed which was produced by famed music producer, Steve Rowland. But neither of these amazing offerings became a hit in the US, despite the fact that all three of the record producers worked with many huge stars, both before and after working with Rodriguez. It fell to the South African market to buy his records, and he became a musical legend there. His songs, in the words of one person interviewed in the film, were ‘the soundtrack of our youth.’ This was the South Africa of apartheid, of oppression. His songs appeared to speak directly to the people at the heart of that struggle, and they simply loved him.
The music is sort of Bob Dylan but better. It is quite mellow, but with enough lyrical twists and turns to engage you. And in our view his music is better than Dylan in many respects, principally that you can understand what he is singing.
In the opening sequence of the film you might think that you are on the Pacific Highway in California, but this is not possible as the car is driving on the left hand side. It is only when you are told that it is Cape Town that you realise the film is starting on a different continent with staggeringly beautiful scenery. This proves to be a world away from the streets of Detroit.
There are some unanswered questions, including the destination of money earned from the sale of the records, but we think it is just as well that those areas were left unexplored, at least for the time being. The intrigue and mystery might easily have been compromised, and a great film spoiled. But the team behind it knew what they were doing.
It is the work of Director, Malik Bendjelloul. Based in Stockholm, Malik Bendjelloul has been directing documentaries for twelve years, primarily based on musicians. In 2001, Bendjelloul directed the first ever documentary about German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk. He has also made a documentary series about the history of heavy metal as well as some single documentaries, collaborating with such iconic artists as Björk, Sting, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Mariah Carey, U2 and Kylie Minogue. Last autumn Bendjelloul directed a filmed concert with Prince.
Bendjelloul has also worked as director and creative producer for Swedish Television’s international cultural weekly show Kobra, where he made short documentaries covering a wide range of stories. Among the subjects were the First Earth Battalion – the American army division who tried to teach their soldiers to walk through walls; and a profile on Alfred Merhan, a man who has been living in Charles de Gaulle airport for 18 years and who became the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s THE TERMINAL. Other subjects have included the controversial story of British pop band The KLF burning a million pounds, and a film exploring the rumours surrounding Paul McCartney’s death.
He had worked on Sugar Man for a long time before meeting up with the Producers Simon Chinn and John Battsek who helped complete the film. Bendejelloul said:- “In 2006, after five years making TV documentaries in Sweden, I spent six months travelling around Africa and South America looking for good stories. In Cape Town I met Stephen “Sugar” Segerman, who told me about Rodriguez. I was completely speechless – I hadn’t heard a better story in my life. This was five years ago and I have been working on this film more or less every day since then.”
The producer Simon Chinn has already won Oscars and other plaudits and you will possibly know him for his most recent films Project Nim and Man on Wire (the latter did win the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance). It became Rotten Tomatoes best-reviewed film of all time.
In 2005, Chinn established his production company, Red Box Films, to produce MAN ON WIRE (taking inspiration from Philippe Petit, who kept his ideas for future projects, including his high wire walk between the Twin Towers, in a red box under his bed) and it currently has a slate of projects – including feature documentaries, feature films and television dramas – at various stages of production and development.
We loved it, and we are struggling to tell you about it in too much detail since we really do not want to spoil it for you. It is the story of Rodriguez, an American singer, his music and his life. Maybe that is all you ought to know before you storm the doors of your nearest cinema from 27 July 2012 when it is available on general release. Then sit back and prepare to be amazed by the story of a singer songwriter who was bigger than Elvis in South Africa.
Formula One came to Dublin today, and even though the day started off rainy and wet, the excitement was palpable. The former World Champion, Jenson Button, took last year’s car for a spin along past Customs House, round by Trinity and back to the garage at the Quays. As well as that there were displays of car driving that we hope none of you will try to emulate when the streets are opened again. Doughnuts and hand brake turns were the order of the day by rally drivers and Ferrari owners alike. We captured what we could despite everyone else having a phone or camera in their hand…
Tipped by the press as being ‘the future sound of Irish Music’, Dublin’s Les Marionettes are up to the challenge…they have just released their new E.P Meet My Generation on Saturday past at Dublin’s Grand Social.
The band Members are Keith Farrell, Ger Eaton, Derren Dempsey & Lucy Coady.
Keith Farrell & Ger Eaton have been familiar faces on the Irish music scene for a number of years now. Between them, they have played with Mundy, Cathy Davey, Duke Special, Fionn Regan and Jack L. These collaborations have seen them play Drums at Glastonbury, Bass Guitar at Slane Castle & Harmonium on Later with Jools Holland……
Indeed these experiences would satisfy most of their contemporaries, but their desire to create the perfect pop record has brought them to form ‘Les Marionettes’.
The Sky Ride took place today in Dublin city centre. Some of the streets were closed off and cyclists of all ages had a traffic-free environment to enjoy until 4 o’clock this afternoon.
The event is designed to encourage people to get on their bikes and enjoy some city centre exercise. Another similar event was organised in Glasgow at the same time.
Sky teamed up with Dublin City Council to organise the 8 km cycle. We were there simply as observers to get some shots of the action.
We really enjoyed the live music in Merrion Square where the music of the late great Johnny Cash filled the air.
Gardai are warning road users and pedestrians to exercise caution on the roads and footpaths over the next number of days.
As the ice and snow that remains on some roads and paths thaws, they say it will lead to dangerous conditions in those areas. Motorists are asked to keep speeds down and pedestrians are asked to take care if out and about and wear hi-vis clothing, and not to walk on the road if there is a footpath available.
Gardai in Blanchardstown are investigating the circumstance surrounding the death and discovery of a female in a house at Station Court Hall, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 on the 25th December 2010.
At approx 9.20pm on the 25th December 2010 Gardai received a call that a seriously injured female was in a house at Station Court Hall, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. On arrival Gardai contacted a local doctor and immediately sealed off the area. The doctor pronounced the female (52 yrs) dead at the scene. The body remains at the scene pending the arrival of the State Pathologist.
A 32yr old female was arrested at the scene and is currently being detained in Blanchardstown Garda Station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 as amended.
The scene is currently being examined by a team from the Garda Technical Bureau.
