Latest news with #Brophy
Irish Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Five homes on view this week in Kildare and Dublin from €360,000 to €1.15m
56 Oldbridge View, Osbertown, Naas, Co Kildare €360,000, Sherry FitzGerald O'Reilly An easy walk to the Sallins Arrow rail station, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom, mid-terrace B2-Ber-rated bungalow is a well-presented space. Extending to 95sq m (1,023sq ft) it has a separate living room and open-plan kitchen, diner, and a lounge that opens out to its well-maintained south-facing garden. It's also a short stroll to the Grand Canal walkway. On View: By appointment at Apartment 17, The Quarry, Carrickhill Road Upper, Portmarnock, Co Dublin €379,000, Brophy Within a short walk of Portmarnock's famed Velvet Strand, this ground-floor two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in a low-rise development has tasteful maritime touches such as its porthole-inspired round windows. Its open-plan living room opens on to a private southeast-facing patio. The 56sq m (602sq ft) property has a C3 Ber rating. On View: By appointment at READ MORE 5 Watermill Avenue, Raheny, Dublin 5 €575,000, Flynn & Associates This three-bedroom, two-bathroom semi-detached is within a five-minute walk of the village and St Anne's Park. It is also minutes from the coastal path and cycleway that can take you to Howth or across the city and the Causeway Road to Dollymount and Bull Island. The 96sq m (1,033sq ft) property has a D2 Ber rating. On View: By appointment at [ Meticulously restored Marino midterrace for €635,000 Opens in new window ] 201 The Links, Elm Park, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 €850,000, Owen Reilly Boasting panoramic views over Elm Park Golf Course and all the way to the Dublin Mountains, this three-bedroom, three-bathroom C1 Ber-rated duplex penthouse sits on the seventh and eighth floors. With a west-facing aspect the 144sq m (1,550sq ft) space has a double-height living space with floor-to-ceiling windows, a mezzanine-level home-working station, a generous terrace, and two designated underground parking spaces. On View: By appointment at [ Refreshed Modernist-style terraced home in Dundrum for €900,000 Opens in new window ] 69 Glenomena Park, Booterstown, Blackrock, Co Dublin €1.15m, DNG This fine five-bedroom, three-bathroom semi- detached has a brick-fronted extension, a decorative detail that is carried through into the low-maintenance back garden. The C1 Ber-rated property, which extends to 208sq m (2,239sq ft), has a utility garage, off-street parking and is in proximity to both schools and shops, and UCD's Belfield campus. On View: By appointment at
The Journal
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Migration Minister says he is unaware of reported plans to purchase Dublin's Citywest Hotel
THE MINISTER FOR Migration, Fine Gael's Colm Brophy, today said that he is not aware of plans to purchase Dublin's Citywest Hotel to house international protection applicants. The Irish Times reported yesterday that Cabinet has been considering the purchase of the 764-bedroom hotel, and are set discuss the purchase as soon as Tuesday. The facility could reportedly house up to 1,000 people. The report comes as the Department of Justice stepped back from contentious plans to convert the site of the former Crown Paints in Coolock to Ipas accommodation. The site had been at the centre of many protests – some of which turned violent. Speaking today on RTÉ's This Week, Brophy was asked about the report and whether it was accurate. Advertisement Brophy reiterated that he is a Minister of State and is therefore not privy to what is discussed during Cabinet meetings. 'I cannot comment on what is going to Cabinet on Tuesday for the very simple reason that as a Minister of State, I am not a member of the cabinet, so I don't have access to it,' he told host Justin McCarthy. 'I have the same level of knowledge that you have, which is you've read an Irish Times report and I've read an Irish Times report, so you're asking me to actually say something, as if I knew when I don't actually have access.' Brophy said he is 'absolutely aware of [the government's] program, of what we're looking to purchase. I am not aware of the specific memo that is going to Cabinet on Tuesday.' Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who was also on the programme, and Brophy argued over the state's approach to both Coolock and Ipas more generally. Ó Ríordáin said that the government had 'made a bags of it', referring to its handling of Coolock, while Brophy later labelled Ó Ríordáin's assertions as 'rubbish'. 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
RTÉ News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Coolock IPAS U-turn due to State property focus
Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy has said the U-turn by the Department of Justice on housing asylum seekers in Coolock was due to the move towards State-acquired properties and State IPAS centres. He told RTÉ's This Week programme that this policy shift would be good for the taxpayer. On Friday, it emerged that the Department of Justice had reversed a plan to house asylum seekers at the site of a former paint factory in Coolock in Dublin. The proposal had seen prolonged local opposition. The Department said that planning delays were one of the reasons for the decision along with value for money, required works and residents' welfare. Mr Brophy denied that the Government had handed a template to protesters on how to thwart plans for a centre in their area. Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the coalition had made "a bags of the move and a bags of the announcement" by not having a representative available on Friday when the news emerged. He said there was a lot of goodwill for the project with all political parties and local representatives on board. The MEP said it felt like "the protesters had won" and he added that he believed it would take years for the tensions in the area to dissipate. Yesterday, it was reported that the Government was understood to be looking into purchasing the Citywest Hotel in west Dublin in order to significantly expand accommodation for asylum seekers on the site. Minister Brophy said he cannot comment on potential Government plans to purchase the Citywest Hotel. A memo on the issue will be brought to Cabinet tomorrow. Mr Brophy said that because he was a Minister of State, he was therefore not a member of Cabinet. "I'm a Minister of State. I am not aware of what goes into Cabinet on Tuesday, I want to be absolutely clear," he said. Mr Brophy said that both himself and Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan were in favour of State-owned refugee accommodation. "Myself and Minister O'Callaghan are actively supporting a State-run and purchased scheme, where we will own and provide services directly by the state," he said.
Extra.ie
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Revealed: Thousands of Ukrainians to be told to go by August
Some 4,000 Ukrainian refugees face being moved out of their current homes, as pressure on privately supplied accommodation eases. The Government's move is expected to release a significant tranche of hotel rooms and accommodation normally designated for students. The decision will be announced by Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy today and will be cleared by the Cabinet tomorrow. Colm Brophy. 'Ukrainians will be getting a tap on the shoulder on Monday [today] and will be expected to be out of their accommodations by August,' one source said. It is a move that will be welcomed by rural TDs who have faced protests in areas where there is a shortage of hotel rooms and community facilities. The Government 'temporarily paused' moves to relocate Ukrainian refugees after a series of local controversies over the uprooting of Ukrainian families, who had put down roots in Ireland, in March. Pic: Getty Images Payments under the Homes For Ukraine scheme, which paid €800 to people hosting Ukrainian refugees here, will be cut by 25% to €600 next month. One Government source told 'Ukrainians are still welcome, it is just that we are engaging in a process where we are moving towards the European norm. 'Ireland can't be offering better deals. A rationalisation of accommodation services is simply part of this process. 'The number of Ukrainians has reduced from 114,000 to 80,000. A lot of hotels have seen significant reductions in the number of Ukrainians. They are almost like 'ghost hotels' so can be restored to their original purpose.' Minister Brophy confirmed plans to move 4,000 Ukrainians will be announced today, saying: 'This is part of a rationalisation process. The number of Ukrainians has reduced from 114,000 to 80,000.' He added: 'A lot of properties involved are hotel accommodation and student accommodation. Accommodation has reduced significantly in certain hotels, and student accommodation is desperately needed, so, in short, maintaining them as asylum centres no longer makes sense.'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cracow, Queensland: A hidden gem in the Australian Outback with a storied past
Not all roads lead to Cracow. In fact, getting to this town in the heart of the Outback requires careful preparation. Halfway there, the GPS signal disappears. And, as there are no petrol stations along the route, you need to bring an adequate supply of fuel if you don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Cracow, however, rewards the traveller's effort. After a long, pothole-laden journey, you finally see a town that — although it does not resemble Kraków, the better-known Polish city — has its own subtly charming, albeit austere, character. The town's ties to Poland remain unclear. Some say that the founder of the first settlement in the area had a Polish wife and was moved by her compatriots' struggle for freedom in the 19th century. But others believe that the name comes from the rustling of dry branches (or crack), which are abundant in this harsh climate. Either way, what is beyond doubt is that this place has long attracted people with an explorer's spirit and a desire for something more than an ordinary life. Cracow was one of the last towns to emerge during the gold rush of the 1930s. At its peak, it had a bustling population of around 10,000 people, and almost 20,000 kg of gold was mined locally. Eventually, its good fortune came to an end — the gold mine closed and Cracow turned into a ghost town. The population dropped to around 50, and its centre was filled with rusty buildings no longer reminiscent of its past vibrancy. Related This sustainable Galapagos cruise showed me a side of the islands Darwin never saw Deep snow, thick ice and zero delays: Inside the Arctic Circle airports that never cancel a flight Prominent among these dilapidated locales, however, is the Cracow Hotel and Pub, run by Stuart and Nikki Burke along with their two children, Brophy and Chilli. Although the local gold mine has resumed operations after being deserted for years, the town is far from revived. Euronews headed to Cracow to find out how a pub in the middle of nowhere works, and to tell the story of the people who have decided to breathe life into this forgotten place. Cracow Pub and Hotel owner Stuart Burke is one of those rare free spirits willing to choose the Australian wilderness as his home. Stuart was part of a troupe of tent boxers in his youth and participated in fights under the nickname "Kid Goanna". He and other fighters travelled from town to town, offering a rare moment of entertainment for hard-working farmers and miners in the Australian Outback. The Cracow Hotel had been in the hands of another boxer before — for many years it was owned by legendary boxer Fred Brophy, an icon of the Australian tent boxing scene. It was with this troupe that Stuart Burke first came to town, and the Cracow pub is where he met his future wife, Nikki. When Brophy announced that he was going to sell the property, the Burkes immediately decided to buy it — to ensure that the Cracow story continued. "Twenty-three years later, we're married, have two children and run the pub where we met," says Stuart. But life in the Australian wilderness is far from perfect. Parcels cannot be sent to Cracow, and the nearest shop is a 3.5-hour drive away. The Burkes do what they can, but at the height of the tourist season they have to travel this route up to once a week. Stuart isn't complaining, however: "We didn't even have a road until 10 years ago." Despite the obvious challenges of living in Cracow, the family cannot imagine living anywhere else. They agree that Cracow is their home, and running the pub is their way of life. As Nikki recalls, since its founding in 1938, the pub has showed its "ability to survive" even through the worst of times. Stuart stresses that there are two ways to get to Cracow. "You either have to be very meticulous to get to us or get very, very lost!" The spiritual atmosphere and reputation of the last town of the gold rush era attracts a particular type of visitor. "All types of people visit us, but especially vagabonds, travellers and even rock stars," he says. The walls and ceilings of the pub, covered from top to bottom with visitors' signatures, are an archive of all those who have managed to reach this remote place. Related Give back while you travel: Fiji's 'Loloma Hour' invites visitors to help protect paradise But Cracow values loyalty above all: the area's permanent residents visit the pub regularly, and the staff know their orders by heart. It is a place to exchange good and bad news, overhear local gossip and complain about the weather. The pub's owners are particularly proud that they manage to attract customers despite not having the poker machines, so-called 'pokies', that are booming in popularity in the Australian Outback. Gambling addiction is one of the country's leading public health challenges. Australians lose more than $25bn (€13.9bn) each year on legal gambling, making them the world "leaders" in terms of per capita losses. The Cracow Pub is resisting these trends by trying to build a local identity around other activities. The owners recently became involved in organising a rally of Cracovians — both descendants of former miners and those whose ties to the town are purely emotional. Residents also recognise the role played by the reopened mine. Although it has not contributed to significant population growth, it is sustaining the local community. The Cracowians stubbornly refuse to let their town disappear from the map. In recent years, the town has gained yet another face and one straight out of a horror film. A film crew has moved into the abandoned hospital in Cracow, and the town has grown into a mecca for independent horror films. Special effects creator and make-up artist Kadey Platt, who works as a bartender in the Cracow pub after hours, explains that although she ended up in the town by accident, she has now lived there for two years. "I'm a city girl. I never imagined myself in a place like this," she says. Platt and her team were looking for a location for a horror film about a zombie kangaroo. The strangeness of the Cracow pub seemed ideal, and she later decided to stay on. Along with her crew, she bought a nearby abandoned hospital and turned it into their command centre. As she recalls, "the quietness that Cracow offers is conducive to creativity. There are no distractions, instead you can find a kangaroo mum relaxing by the threshold". Platt emphasises that the contrast between the quiet town and the lively pub never ceases to amaze her. "These walls are full of history," she says. The spirits of Cracow are particularly looked after by Brophy, the 20-year-old son of the pub's owners, who was named after the legendary boxer through whom his parents met. Together with his mum, Brophy has been researching unmarked graves in Cracow. Thanks to their efforts, they were able to restore the cemetery and commemorate the miners and locals buried there whose names are no longer remembered. As he points out, although no one has found gold in Cracow on their own for years, the ground here hides other stories. Related Planning a wellness break? Discover Poland's hidden gem on the Baltic Coast Brophy is interested in the fate of the indigenous inhabitants of the area — their culture, customs and tragic fates. He explores the traces of massacres perpetrated on Aboriginal people by white settlers in pursuit of gold. "It's an unwritten chapter," he says. Just as we were about to leave Cracow, a car pulled up in front of the pub. One of the locals came up to Brophy with a box full of old newspaper cuttings, found somewhere in an attic in Cracow. "I've got some new stories for you," he said. And so we saw with our own eyes how a pub in the Australian wilderness had become a custodian of the memory of a small town and its intricate history. "That's the way it is with Cracow," says Stuart. "It may not be on the way, but you can't stop coming back to it!"
