Latest news with #Ballina
Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Mrs Robinson: a Wikipedia entry brought to life
Mary Robinson is a transformative figure in Irish politics – the country's first female president, a tireless campaigner for equality and ferocious advocate for human rights. It's a shame, then, that her life has been flattened out into a functional feel-good story by Mrs Robinson (RTÉ One,9.35pm). The documentary, released in cinemas in 2024 and now airing on terrestrial television, has a becalmed, 'eat your greens' quality and is incurious about the private person behind the public figure. The best that can be said is that it does an efficient job tracing the broad arc of Robinson's career – from her childhood as the daughter of two doctors and the grandchild of a well-connected local lawyer in Ballina to her advocacy for women's rights as a young barrister in 1970s Dublin. Her fearlessness in the face of power is confirmed all over again as we see her become UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and stand up to both China and the United States – only to be asked to leave the job before her term was up. But while these milestones are ticked off, Mrs Robinson doesn't seem to have any opinions of its own about the former Uachtarán and what has ended up on screen has the quality of a Wikipedia entry brought to life. Across its 90 minutes, the film cries out for a spark – a zinging insight, a surprise that adds to our appreciation or understanding of Robinson. None is forthcoming. READ MORE It also glosses over Robinson's privileged background as the daughter of doctors, who grew up in a prominent house in the middle of Ballina. At a time when most people had very little, the Bourkes had a lot. There was a nanny at home and rather than attend school in Mayo she was educated privately at Mount Anville in Dublin. She was, as she says on camera, a woman and, thus, a second-class citizen in post-de Valera Ireland. But there were a lot of third-class citizens at the time, too, and it is a shame that she isn't asked for her views about privilege and power in Ireland. The turning point in her life, of course, was the 1990 presidential election. As the film shows, the campaign against her had a nasty edge. One low was Charles Haughey apparatchik Pádraig Flynn going on the radio and claiming that she was presenting a fake version of herself and of her having a newfound interest in her family. However, Mrs Robinson makes the baffling decision to skirt around rival candidate Brian Lenihan's self-sabotage when he contradicted himself on television over whether he had phoned the Aras to ask President Hillery to decline to dissolve the Dáil in 1982. At the time, the 'mature recollection' debacle was widely regarded as having swung the election. And yet Mrs Robinson does not mention it. Nor does it broach the whispering campaign against the President once she had taken up residency at the Phoenix Park - for instance, the notorious 'Big Bird' incident in which her fashion sense was mocked. There was a feeling at the time that many in Ireland wished to undermine her and could not come to terms with a woman in power. You wouldn't know it from watching Mrs Robinson. There are contributions from celebrity admirers such as mogul Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel. The film isn't quite a hagiography, however. Robinson admits to bad judgment over leaving the presidency three months early to take up her job with the UN. She is embarrassed, too, over having been manipulated into vouching for the safety of Dubai's Princess Latifa. Good on her for having the courage to acknowledge her missteps – and for her continuing advocacy for climate justice. As both a young lawyer and today as an outspoken elder stateswoman, she has always walked towards the future with dignity and courage. She deserves better than this often plodding film.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Fire at Co Mayo site set for major social housing development
A fire has caused extensive damage at a derelict building in Ballina, Co Mayo, on Monday night. The incident occurred on Kevin Barry Street at the property opposite the bus station, with the fire breaking out shortly after 9 pm. Advertisement Emergency services were alerted after the alarm was raised and the blaze was brought under control. The Western People reports Councillors had last week granted Part 8 planning permission for 31 social housing units at this site. The street remains closed off to traffic this morning, and diversions are in place. Gardaí have said no injuries have been reported at this time.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley pays tribute to boyfriend Michael Breen after Tipperary win
The champion runner was among those wearing the blue and gold jersey cheering on Tipperary after the Premier County won the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final at Croke Park in Dublin yesterday. In a post on social media, the sprinter from Newport in west Tipperary posted a picture of the couple holding the Liam MacCarthy Cup. "Proud of you every day, but that little bit prouder today,' she wrote on Instagram, also sharing a heartwarming photo of the pair hugging each other. The pair hit the headlines earlier this month when they were pictured kissing after Tipperary beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-finals. They did a 'hard launch' of their romance on May 18, following Tipperary's win against Waterford in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. The Olympian athlete shared a photo of herself and Breen from the pitch in their matching county colours, captioning it 'Tippin' on'. Irish Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley and hurler Michael Breen celebrate Tipperary's win in Croke Park yesterday. Photo: Instagram/Sharlene Mawdsley Michael Breen of Tipperary celebrates with his girlfriend, Irish Olympian, Sharlene Mawdsley and the Liam MacCarthy Cup after his side's victory in the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Cork and Tipperary at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Mawdsley was on the Ireland team that came fourth in the Paris Olympics last year in the 4x400m relay. She suffered heartache just last month following the sudden death of her father, Thomas 'Tucker' Mawdsley, on June 3, at the age of 67. The runner returned to the track just a few weeks later when a last-minute decision to compete saw her finishing third in the Women's 400m at the European Team Championships in Slovenia. Achieving a season's best, she dedicated her bronze medal win to her father. Tipperary's defender Michael Breen (31), also plays for Tipperary Senior Championships club Ballina. His hurling career started at his home town of Ballina on the Limerick border, where he joined his local club at an early age. Breen made his senior championship debut as a substitute in the 2015 Munster semi-final against Limerick. He was nominated for All-Star awards at midfield in 2016 and 2020 and won an InterProvincial hurling medal with Munster in 2016. The hurler also posted a picture on Instagram with his teammates holding a trophy after Tipperary's victory. "Liam is coming home,' he captioned the post. Tipperary claimed a 29th All-Ireland hurling title on Sunday, their first since 2019, defeating Cork with a 3-27 to 1-18. rs. Michael Breen (right), with Eoghan Connolly and Robert Doyle (left). Photo: Instagram/Michael Breen
News.com.au
16-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Ballina man Craig Nolte remembered after dying from lyssavirus
A devastated NSW community is mourning the death of a beloved local carpenter who died from lyssavirus after being bitten by a bat, despite receiving treatment. Craig Nolte, aged in his 50s, died on July 3 after what his wife described as a 'very quick case of lyssavirus'. Mr Nolte is the first confirmed case of the rare infection in NSW. Typically transmitted through bites or scratches from infected bats, lyssavirus is closely related to rabies. Mr Nolte's wife, Robyn, shared the news on social media, paying tribute to her 'best friend'. 'I said goodbye to Craig on the 3rd of July to a very quick case of lyssavirus,' she said. 'RIP my love, my best friend.' She said Mr Nolte, affectionately known as 'Zebbo', was a familiar face in the community after operating Ballina Kiddi Care for 18 years. 'I need to put this out to the community,' she said. 'We knew a lot of families.' Ms Nolte said her husband had been bitten by a bat eight months before his death and had received the full post-exposure prophylaxis treatment. 'Eight months ago Craig got bitten and he got the post exposure prophylaxis injections,' she said. 'NSW Health still grappling in their words to how this happened that the injection didn't work.' NSW Health issued a statement expressing 'sincere condolences to the man's family and friends for their tragic loss' and confirmed his case was being 'looked at by experts'. 'The man had been bitten by a bat several months ago and received treatment following the injury,' a NSW health spokesperson said. 'An investigation is underway to understand factors which may have played a role in his illness. 'Post-exposure prophylaxis for lyssavirus exposure includes both immunoglobulin and at least four vaccines given over several weeks. 'The treatment is very safe and has been proven worldwide to be highly effective.' While cases of the virus are extremely rare, health authorities acknowledged that there have been occasional reports of breakthrough infections worldwide. 'These are thoroughly investigated to determine the contributing factors. This recent case in NSW is being looked at by experts.'
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Aussie father-of-two who DIED after catching a horrific virus when he was bitten by a bat is identified - as horror new details emerge
A father-of-two who died after being bitten by a bat has been identified, with his grieving wife claiming health authorities are still 'grappling' with how medical treatment failed to save his life. Craig Nolte, 56, tried to free the bat - which had flown into the verandah of his Ballina home and gotten trapped - when he was bitten in October last year. The carpenter by trade contracted the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) from the bite, which marked the first case of the virus in NSW. His wife Robyn, who operates a childcare centre in Ballina, confirmed he received a prophylaxis immunoglobulin injection after he was bitten by the animal. 'NSW Health [is] still grappling in their words [about] how this happened that the injection didn't work,' she wrote in a post to social media on Wednesday. 'RIP my love my best friend.' NSW Health confirmed he received initial treatment but later developed symptoms and fell into a critical condition. On Wednesday, it offered its 'sincere condolences' to friends and family and said an investigation was underway into the circumstances surrounding his illness. 'Post-exposure prophylaxis for lyssavirus exposure includes both immunoglobulin and at least four vaccines given over several weeks,' it said. 'The treatment is very safe and has been proven worldwide to be highly effective.' More to come.
