Latest news with #ChrisBellew
The Journal
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Bloom gets underway at Phoenix Park this morning, with over 100,000 visitors expected
NOW IN ITS 19 th year, the popular gardening festival Bloom returns to Dublin's Phoenix Park this morning. The festival, featuring food, fashion and flowers, gets underway this morning at 9am and will run until 6pm on the June Bank Holiday this coming Monday. Originally created to promote plants, garden design, horticulture and gardening, the festival has grown to also promote food and drink. Advertisement Julie Sebode & Eddie Lloyd Federation of Irish Beekeepers at the Pink Lady Balcony, sponsored by Pink Lady at Bord Bia Bloom Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography / Fennell Photography Across a 70-acre site in the Phoenix Park, visitors can enjoy live entertainment, talks, interactive workshops, dining, and shopping. Over 100 food and drink companies will have exhibits at the festival, and there'll be over 300 live talks, demonstrations, musical performances and family friendly activities taking place across the five days. President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Micheál Martin will be in attendance on the opening day, as will broadcasters Marty Morrissey, Áine Lawlor and Marty Whelan. Gardening experts Diarmuid Gavin and Adam Frost (BBC Gardener's World) will also be there, as will chefs Trisha Lewis, Neven Maguire, Rory O'Connell and Edward Hayden. 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 Irish Sun
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Cork student crowned Young Journalist of the Year for feature documenting her own battle with scoliosis
A CORK student has been crowned the Young Journalist of the Year for a feature documenting her own battle with scoliosis. Grace Callaghan, of Pobalscoil na Trionoide, Youghal, 2 Grace Callaghan was crowned the Young Journalist of the Year Credit: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography 2 She won for a feature documenting her own battle with scoliosis Credit: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography Speaking about her winning piece, Chair of the Judging Panel and Business Post Editor Daniel McConnell said: 'Grace Callaghan demonstrated an ability to write a truly evocative piece about wrestling with preconceptions around body image and seeing scars not as imperfections but as symbols of resilience in the face of adversity.' The judge's citation said: 'This year's winning feature is a courageous and deeply personal journey through scoliosis diagnosis, surgery, and recovery. 'This piece stands out for its ability to reframe a medical condition not as a limitation but as an opportunity for growth. 'Grace challenges societal ideals of perfection and instead offers a powerful message: that scars, far from being blemishes, are markers of survival, strength, and authenticity. Her story does not just inform— it uplifts and empowers.' Read more in News The winners of the awards, run by NewsBrands Ireland, were announced at a ceremony in the Aviva Stadium, celebrating the outstanding work of secondary school students across the country. Prizes were awarded across five categories: Features, Opinion, Sports Journalism, Photojournalism, and School Newspaper. The Irish Sun last year launched its As of last month, 228 children who need operations for conditions like scoliosis Most read in Irish News It was a small decrease on March when 233 kids were waiting for their surgeries. However, some 132 children have been deemed by doctors as Some 43 children have been waiting longer than six months for their surgeries – including 15 who are waiting longer than a year. Meanwhile a HIQA report last month revealed how three children had Children's Health Ireland and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill were forced into grovelling apologies to The REVIEW ONGOING And last month The Irish Sun reported how the HSE's top brass has no idea when In the wake of the HIQA report, the Government has come under pressure to take action with calls for a full statutory inquiry and to sack the Board of CHI. But Taoiseach Minister Carroll MacNeill's spokesman told us the minister is awaiting the Nayagam Review before considering the next steps in relation to orthopaedic services at CHI. Our Kids Can't Wait Campaign WAITING lists in Ireland have long been a national disgrace. More than 106,000 children are on hospital waiting lists for all treatments. However, a new source of shame has emerged as 327 children wait for life changing spinal surgeries. Their conditions are getting worse while they languish on waiting lists. Such are the delays, many child patients will be outside the therapeutic window when their treatments are approved. Earlier this month, the Seanad heard how at least one child has become permanently paralysed since the issue was raised publicly before Christmas. Their plight has been spearheaded by campaigning Senator Tom Clonan, who himself has a child with a disability. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has even admitted that the health service is failing these kids. Children are being allowed to deteriorate due to mismanagement, which has allowed the waiting lists to grow. The Irish Sun's Kids Can't Wait campaign aims to shine a light on how the State is failing sick children and give their families a voice. It will also force the Government to do something to clear the backlog of operations and give these children a chance of living a normal life.
