Latest news with #Clonakilty
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
No-mow May pays off with a buzzing garden
I did as advised and let my dandelions grow during May and was rewarded by a visit from this large bumblebee. Which species is it? Catherine McCarthy, Carrick-on-Suir Well done for letting your dandelions flourish. They are a rich source of pollen and nectar for bees . This is the common carder bee, which has a ginger orange thorax. It has a mixture of colours on the abdomen but there are always black hairs on the abdomen of this species that help to distinguish it from the less common large carder bee, which has no black hairs. The common carder makes nests from moss on the ground. These can contain up to 200 bees at peak population, which are very much smaller than honeybee colonies. Sea pink flowers. Photograph: Walter O'Dwyer I saw these wonderful pink flowers growing in large clumps along the coast near Clonakilty in April. What are they and are they native to this country? Walter O'Dwyer, Dublin This is the sea pink or thrift – Armeria maritima. It is a native species and can occur in great sheets of colour on cliff and salt marshes. It has long roots that enable it to seek out fresh water in dry conditions, and it can tolerate high concentrations of salt in the soil. It flowers in April and early May. READ MORE Viviparous lizard. Photograph: Willie Campbell Our cat recently brought this lizard to the door. There was also a smaller dead one at the door a couple of weeks ago. I'm wondering are they native? Willie Campbell, Co Galway Is there no end to the wanton marauding of the domestic feline? This poor lizard was probably sunning itself in an effort to raise its body temperature sufficiently to get going in the morning – it being a cold-blooded creature needing environmental heat. We have just the one native lizard – the viviparous lizard, so-called because it overcomes the risk of living in this cold country by giving birth to live young. What actually happens is that it lays eggs that immediately hatch. There is no placental attachment as in mammals. [ No-mow May pays off with a buzzing garden Opens in new window ] Cuckoo flower with orange tip butterfly. Photograph: A Donovan These pale mauve flowers are growing in the wetter parts of the grassy area in my garden. In early May I saw this butterfly on the flower. Can you tell me what is going on here? A Donovan, Letterkenny This flower, Cardamine pratensis or lady's smock, is also known as the cuckoo flower because the cuckoo has arrived by the time it is in flower. Its natural habitat is wet damp grassland, and it will appear in the absence of mowing. It is the food plant for the caterpillars of the orange-tip butterfly, whose Latin name, Anthocharis cardamines, reflects this fact. Even in the world of butterflies, beautiful colours are not equally distributed – only males have the lovely bright orange tips on their forewings. The hardworking, egg-laying females have just black tips on the white forewings but are distinguished from the cabbage-guzzling large and small whites by having green and white undersides to the back wings. [ Live near a town? Got food or smelly shoes? Foxes and badgers may pay you a visit Opens in new window ] Male stonechat. Photograph: John Glynn Here is a picture of a stonechat, which I saw in the Caher river valley near Fanore in Co Clare at the end of April. John Glynn, Co Clare This is a lovely picture of a male stonechat not yet in full breeding plumage. When it is, the males have a very black head, striking white neck patches and a bright orange breast. The females (wouldn't you just know) are a much duller version of this flamboyant colour scheme. The 'song', which both sexes produce, sounds exactly like two stones being banged together. It is a native species of scrubby uplands with furze. Please submit your nature query, observation, or photo, with a location, via or by email to weekend@
Irish Times
29-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Respecting the National Anthem
I wish to express my concern regarding a growing trend I've noticed at GAA matches – the apparent disregard for our national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann. The national anthem is a powerful symbol of our identity, history, and unity. It deserves the utmost respect, especially in the context of GAA games, which are rooted in Irish culture and pride. However, in recent times, I've observed players leaving their positions or beginning warm-ups well before the final lines of the anthem are sung. While their eagerness to begin the match may be understandable, this behaviour comes across as dismissive and disrespectful. As the GAA is not just a sporting body but also a custodian of Irish heritage, it should take the lead in promoting proper respect for the anthem. One practical suggestion could be to introduce a mandatory two-minute pause between the end of Amhrán na bhFiann and the start of play. This would give players and supporters a moment to compose themselves and by doing so honour the anthem appropriately. READ MORE Respecting our anthem should not be seen as a formality, but as a small yet significant gesture of national pride. I'd like to see the GAA lead by example. – Yours, etc, KEVIN O'REGAN Clonakilty Co Cork
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Decision blocking Irish investors from pursuing developer of Polish shopping centre overturned
The Supreme Court has overturned a decision that an Irish developer of a shopping centre in Poland could not be pursued here for a €6.3 million judgment obtained against him in Poland on behalf of 57 Irish investors. Last year, Michael Scully won an appeal over the enforcement of the Polish judgment here in the Court of Appeal (CoA). But a company, Coucal Ltd, to which the investors had assigned their rights, then appealed that decision to the Supreme Court. On Monday, a five-judge Supreme Court overturned the CoA decision and said Mr Scully could be pursued for enforcement of the judgment here. READ MORE Mr Scully, a Clonakilty farmer who also co-owned Castle Carbery Properties Ltd which built the shopping centre in Opole, Poland in 2009, had appealed a decision of the High Court that a Polish judgment over the investment scheme against him could be enforced here. Some €48 million was borrowed for the purpose of funding the shopping centre. The CoA allowed Mr Scully's appeal after finding that the use of Coucal, a Polish special purpose vehicle (SPV) company set up by the investors, which brought the case against him in Poland, represented 'the commodification of litigation' which was clearly prohibited by Irish public policy. The 57 investors alleged they were defrauded by Mr Scully when he induced them to divest themselves of their investments in the shopping centre, on terms which were very unfavourable to them and very favourable to Mr Scully. Those claims were denied. While proceedings against Mr Scully in Poland were initially unsuccessful, by 2021 the Warsaw Court of Appeal found that Mr. Scully had wrongfully and without authority purported to enter into agreements on behalf of Coucal's shareholders. It awarded judgment against him for some €6.3 million. The Warsaw appeal court also permitted Coucal to bring proceedings in Ireland to enforce the judgment against assets he owns here, including a farm in Co Cork. Mr Scully then brought proceedings here against Coucal Ltd seeking refusal of recognition and enforcement of the Polish judgment. The application was brought under an EU regulation, called Brussels I Recast, relating to enforcement of civil and commercial judgments across the EU. In the meantime, Mr Scully had appealed the judgment to the Polish Supreme Court which decided to make a reference to the Court of Justice of the EU relating to issues concerning judicial independence and impartiality and in particular the claimed lack of independence of one of the Polish Court of Appeal judges. Mr Scully's case here was rejected by the High Court in November 2022 and he appealed, winning the appeal in the CoA just over a year ago. Coucal then sought and was granted an appeal to the Supreme Court. In two separate concurring judgments on behalf of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell and Mr Justice Gerard Hogan allowed the appeal. The Chief Justice said it was clear that enforcement of the judgment in this case did not approach the required standard for being an exceptional case in which recognition of a foreign judgment should be refused on grounds of public policy. If someone enters a contract in another state, they would not normally be entitled to complain of the application of the laws of that state to either their conduct or their transactions, he said. The Brussels Recast Regulation normally requires enforcement of the judgments obtained in other member states without engagement with the underlying merits of the claim or the applicable law, he said. This is consistent with a high hurdle being required to be satisfied before enforcement of any judgment can be refused, he said. Mr Justice Hogan said in the circumstances of this case one cannot say that the recognition of the Polish judgment should be refused on the ground that to do so would be 'manifestly contrary to public policy' in this State within the meaning of the Brussels Recast Regulation. He said his judgment was subject to the caveat that, while the CoA declined to adjudicate on this issue of Polish judicial independence, which had been argued by Mr Scully in the case, he now invited the parties to make further submissions on this issue.
Irish Post
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Cuisine, culture and craic in Clonakilty
THE Irish Yogurts Clonakilty Street Carnival in Co. Cork is being held on June 14. It's now a regular date on the West Cork calendar, when Pearse Street transforms into a day long party with street food and produce stalls of every variety Clonakilty's various events take place across the town, with venues including The Emmet Hotel, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, Scannell's Bar & Restaurant, Clonakilty Park Hotel, O'Donovan's Hotel, The Alley Garden Bistro, Oak Fire Pizza, Casey's Bar & Restaurant, Lil's, Kirby's @ The Whale's Tail, and The Clonakilty Food Company. Organisers and participants getting ready for the carnival in Clonakilty (Pic: Dermot Sullivan) Bands include The Monks, The Kates, and Boola Boom, with performances taking place throughout the day and into the evening. Street entertainers include stilt walkers, jugglers, face painters and probably Clonakilty clowns. The cuisine is top notch —street food, barbecues, Clonakilty Black Pudding and more food. Travel of course broadens the mind, and in this case probably your waistband as well. Fitness expert, radio and TV broadcaster, author and podcast host Karl Henry will officially open the festivities on Saturday, June 14, setting the tone for a full day of upbeat energy. Karl is a leading Irish fitness expert and lives in West Cork with his family.
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Joyous scenes as Irish troops return home from Lebanon
There were emotional scenes at Dublin Airport today as 170 Irish troops from the 125th Infantry Battalion returned home following a six-month deployment with UNIFIL in Lebanon. From earlier this afternoon, families had gathered at Dublin airport. After waiting six months, they had to hold on just a little more to be see with their loved ones, the tour of duty coming to an end. Lisa Ryan was waiting for her husband, Wayne. She was with her daughters, Hannah and Aoife - who was celebrating her 7th birthday. "It's been a long time, but we're extremely proud of him," she said. Just after 3pm, there were joyous scenes as the soldiers stepped into the arrivals hall. Gunner Brian Lane quickly took hold of his daughter. "It was tough enough mentally over there. Once the ceasefire came in, it started to ease off a small bit. We got through it anyway. It's good to be back on home soil as they say," he said. There were similar sentiments from Corporal Glen O'Sullivan. "It's good to be back, thank God. I missed everyone,'" he said. Asked about what his plans now were, his mother, Linda, chimed in: "His mammy is going to look after him for a couple of days. I have Clonakilty sausages ready in the fridge and all for him." From the man in charge, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett, there was an acknowledgement that this tour was a particularly challenging one. "My main priority as a commander is to get everyone back safe and sound and we've done that. So, I'm very relieved in that regards. It was probably be the most kinetic tour of duty I've been on in my career, and I've had nine tours," he said. For Captain Donal Lonergan too, there was relief. He said: "I'm excited to get home now and bring out the bins, cut the grass all that normal stuff that we missed out on for the last six months." His wife, Rachel, said: "It was very worrying. In particular, the start of the trip was severely concerning. This is great to have him back on Irish soil in one piece."
