Latest news with #CoKildare
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Almost 3,000 drivers caught speeding over bank holiday weekend
Almost 3,000 drivers were caught speeding over the bank holiday weekend, according to gardaí. This wass part of an operation that started on Thursday at 7am and lasted until 7am Tuesday. Advertisement The highst speed was recorded was on the M50 at Templeogue, where a driver was recorded riving 188km/h in a 100km/h zone. Other speeds included a driver going 119km/h in a 80km/h zone on R148 at Broadford, Co. Kildare. While in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, a driver was recorded going 114km/h in a 60km/h zone. Over 4,000 breath tests and approximately 270 oral fluid tests were carried out, leading to 167 arrests for suspected driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Advertisement During this period, there was one fatality on our roads, while 14 serious collisions resulted in 14 individuals sustaining severe and life-threatening injuries. There was 210 fixed charge notices for drivers using their phones, with over 215 for Unaccompanied learner drivers. Over 70 drivers were given fixed charged notices for not wearing a seatbelt. 99 vehicles were seized from learner permit holders driving unaccompanied, with 380 vehicles seized for not having tax or insurance. In a statement, gardaí said: "An Garda Síochána continue to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and keep your eyes always on the road."
BreakingNews.ie
25-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Bernie and Jane Sanders attend plaque unveiling in Co Kildare
US senator Bernie Sanders has accompanied his wife Jane to a Co Kildare town where she traces her roots for the unveiling of plaque commemorating an anti-war song. Dr Jane O'Meara Sanders, an activist and political strategist, has ancestral links to Athy. Advertisement The couple were special guests at St Michael's Cemetery in the town for the unveiling of the plaque dedicated to the 19th century anti-war folk song 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye'. The crowd at the St Michael's Cemetery war memorial at the unveiling of the plaque for the anti-war song in Athy, Co Kildare (PA) The song tells the story of a woman who, on the road to Athy, meets a former lover who has returned from war badly injured. The plaque is part of the Made Of Athy Project, a local initiative that recognises people with links to the town who have made significant contributions to world culture. Mr and Mrs Sanders attended the event during their short visit to Ireland. Advertisement On Saturday evening, the 83-year-old US senator urged working people in Ireland and across the world to unite to stop the rise of oligarchy as he delivered a keynote speech in Dublin. He used an address at the Robert Tressell Festival at Liberty Hall to criticise what he characterised as a new generation of billionaires who do not believe in government or democracy. Mr Sanders also expressed concern that artificial intelligence and new technology were being used against working people, to take their jobs, rather than being harnessed to benefit workers and generate wealth across society.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Legal challenge over alleged unauthorised gates blocking access to Castletown House
A community group has claimed in the High Court that a set of gates allegedly blocking public access to a period house and its estate in Co Kildare is an unauthorised development. Save Castletown Committee CLG claim the gates and connected fencing, erected by the owners of a 235-acre parcel of land within the historic demesne of Castletown House in Celbridge, are blocking public vehicular to the house and grounds via a road known as Gay's Avenue. Advertisement The committee is seeking an order requiring the owners to remove the gates and fencing, on the grounds that planning permission was not obtained for their erection. According to court documents, Save Castletown Committee was established in September 2023 after the Office of Public Works did not acquire the 235-acres parcel of land within the historic demesne of Castletown House. The land was instead acquired by a group of related companies, the respondents in the action: Celio Properties Ltd, Kilross Properties Ltd, Liffey Bridge Homes Ltd and Springwood Properties Ltd. The 235-acre, privately-owned parcel makes up part of the historic demesne of Castletown House. The State-owned part of the historic demesne includes the grounds on which the house itself is built on. Advertisement On Monday, Save Castletown Committee's counsel John Rogers SC, appearing with Peter Leonard BL and instructed by FP Logue solicitors, said his side were looking for 'some priority' in seeking a hearing date. Appearing for respondent parties, Michael O'Donnell BL said Kildare County Council considers the erected gates to be an exempted development. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys listed the case for an expedited hearing date, set for late July. In a sworn statement, Fintan Monaghan, chairperson of Save Castletown Committee, says that the public has previously 'enjoyed habitual access' to Castletown House via Gay's Avenue. Gay's Avenue connects an access point to the house to the northern entrance to the historic demesne, which is close to the M4 motorway. Advertisement The erection of the gates and fencing has blocked all public vehicular access to the house and demesne grounds, Mr Monaghan claims. 'The lack of vehicular access has significantly limited the ability of the public to habitually access this recreational and tourist amenity,' he says. Mr Monaghan says that the ongoing blocking of access to Castletown House at Gay's Avenue is having a 'severe impact' on the local community. Ireland Environmental group brings court challenge against... Read More He claims the gates obstruct the primary route from the M4 motorway to the demesne, and could potentially delay emergency medical services from reaching the northside of the demesne, or access the demesne via the M4 in a timely manner. Advertisement The gates could also impact tourism and recreation at Castletown House, Mr Monaghan says, and threaten the financial viability of the house. This could have a knock on effect on local business, he says. Mr Monaghan says his group's purpose is to promote public access to the Castletown House estate, and the reunification of the historic demesne lands. '[Save Castletown House] believes that Castletown lands are of vital historical, cultural, and ecological significance for the community of Celbridge and Leixlip, and therefore considers that they should be in State ownership for the use and benefit of the people of the area and for the State as a whole,' he says.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Punchestown Festival: Ex-Garda scoops Best Dressed award thanks to help from ‘little sidekick' daughter
GENEVIEVE Ryan scooped the Best Dressed award for day one of the Punchestown Festival thanks to help from her "little sidekick" daughter Lily-Mae. The former Garda wowed judges with a black and white polka dot number. 4 Genevieve Ryan's black top was beautifully contrasted by the sunny weather Credit: Sportsfile 4 Alongside another racegoer in Lisa Walsh from Meath Credit: Sportsfile 4 Marine Nationale stormed to victory in the day's big race 4 It was a slight upset for jockey Sean Flanagan and trainer Barry Connell as Willie Mullins' star Fact to File had been expected to win Speaking to Furthermore, daughter Lily-Mae showcased some outside the box thinking by cutely suggesting that her mam top it all off by accessorising with her teddy bear. Genevieve recalled how her little girl noticed the teddy fit the colour scheme perfectly, saying: "I had the skirt and hat, but I was looking for a polka dot fabric. "So I bought one myself, which I had originally planned on using, and then my three-year-old girl said, 'No, Mommy, this is the same, use this!'" Read More On Irish Sport "I'm thrilled that she has a part to play in it because she's my little sidekick and we do everything together." Lily-Mae may well have earned herself a day out at the races later in the week with her fashionable insights beyond her years. A beaming Genevieve added: "I think I'm going to bring her on Friday just to see me up here with the teddy bear's ribbon." There will be a further three racegoers picked out as the Best Dressed across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before one of them is crowned the overall winner. Most read in Horse Racing As for the eye-catching action on the track throughout day one of the five-day meet? Well, there was a slight upset in the day's feature race as Marine Nationale took the Champion Chase while favourite Fact to File could only manage fourth. Watch the terrifying moment Molly-Mae Hague is thrown from her horse in 'traumatising' accident Winning trainer Barry Connell joked afterwards that people will think "I'm nuts" after magical Marine Nationale turned on the style. The Co Kildare trainer hailed the eight-year-old as a 'horse of a lifetime' after he easily completed a Festival Champion Chase double. Marine Nationale The showdown with Fact To File was a non-event. The winner of the Ryanair was beaten three out, eventually trailing home in last place. Sean Flanagan and Marine Nationale were always going best and skipped clear after the last to beat Captain Guinness by seven lengths. Connell said: 'There is no doubt he's the best two-mile chaser around — and I reckon he will go down as one of the greats." He then revealed: "I spend a lot of time alone with this horse in his box. "There is an aura about him. He gives off this energy. You may think I'm nuts but that's what I do and that's what I feel."
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Illness industry is making a killing from Ireland's struggling health service
Did anybody count the number of millionaires in Big Pharma recently? Until our so-called health ministers spend more than about 2pc of their budget educating school attendees on how to stay healthy and what many bad habits can do to our internal bodies, the hospital situation will continue to get worse. Richard Barton, Maynooth, Co Kildare Childish focus on seating arrangements struck the wrong note on solemn day Congratulations to the Irish Independent for your coverage of the papal funeral. Balanced and fair. Prior to the funeral of Pope Francis (RIP), a number of media outlets were rather childishly gloating over the prospect that US president Donald Trump would be seated well down the back. It seems no occasion is safe from their vacuous speculations. Especially when it might show their ideological enemy in a negative light. Well, it appears that the Vatican didn't get this particular memo. Mr Trump couldn't have been given a more prominent position in the seating arrangements. Front and centre. Cardinal Timothy Dolan is no fool. I viewed the funeral on Sky (liberal) and Fox (conservative) News, to get a balanced perspective, and on both outlets the US president was a central focus of attention. Apart, of course, from the late Pope Francis. It's a pity that such a solemn and dignified ceremony was used by some outlets in an attempt to score cheap points. As it transpired, they only gave credence to Mr Trump's accusations that some media sources are promoting 'fake news'. ADVERTISEMENT We also definitely now know who's who in the world pecking order. Eric Conway, Navan, Co Meath Osbourne and co should save the outrage for those killing children in Gaza It's heartbreaking to constantly hear of children who are being actively starved to death in Gaza. This should prompt non-stop outrage in the world's media. Why is it that there appears to have been far more outrage in certain sections of the US media about the fact that the west Belfast rap group Kneecap recently ended their Californian performance at Coachella by displaying a risque message calling for the Palestinians to be freed? US Fox News then went into a complete meltdown about it. The TV personality Sharon Osbourne then came out and denounced what she called Kneecap's aggressive statements and called for the group to have their US visas revoked. I totally concur with Kneecap's response to Osbourne by noting: 'Statements aren't aggressive, murdering 20,000 children is though.' John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Selling hospital's name to the highest bidder would be a shameful decision As minister for health in 2020, Simon Harris considered naming the new National Children's Hospital after a wealthy donor as a way of funding the project. Mr Harris cited approvingly the sponsorship by golfer Jack Nicklaus of a children's hospital in Miami as an example we could follow. I find this suggestion repugnant and unethical as there is no such thing as a free lunch. The Independent senator Victor Boyhan suggested naming the new hospital in memory of Dr Kathleen Lynn. I feel certain such a choice would have universal agreement. We in this country have been very fortunate with the calibre of citizens who, on the premise of volunteer participation, gave sterling service to assist the poor, the sick and the marginalised and are worthy of recognition by the State. Dr Kathleen Lynn is one who must surely be considered by the current Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Dr Lynn set high standards of care for the less well-off and destitute children at a time when the nascent Irish Free State could not cope. To even consider selling naming rights of the new hospital to the highest bidder tarnishes the reputation of the Oireachtas. Tom Cooper, Templeogue, Dublin 6 Like Mary Regan, I still remember the moment I caught the political bug I would like to wish Mary Regan the best of luck in her new role as the Irish Independent political editor. I can remember the headline about the Grand Alliance between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats that first whetted her political interest (Irish Independent, April 26). Mary was in her grandmother's shop and people were identified by what newspaper they read. I remember that summer and I would not have called the government that emerged from that election as a Grand Alliance. It was more of a reunion of old foes that put their differences aside to form a government. There were some members of the stronger party in that government that used to refer to the arrangement as temporary, but they did stick together for three years and then the stronger party did find another partner. The two parties that did coalesce in 1989 were bedfellows again in 1997. I admire her phrase 'a new political era was declared and the pulse of electricity generated by such a novel turn in Irish politics'. There has been many a turn in Irish politics since. My political interest was whetted in the Burren in 1977 when the news of a landslide victory for Jack Lynch was coming across on the radio. I can remember how happy the children of the devoted supporters of the poor Fianna Fáil farmers were feeling. They felt like a new era was dawning. Government ministers like Justin Keating were losing their seats and a party with the greatest ever overall majority was coming in to place. I am glad to see that Mary is trying to whet the political interest of her daughter. I hope that she will remember her day out in Leinster House that Friday. I never forgot that day on June 16, 1977, in O'Brien's tower on the Cliffs of Moher in my short pants, when the tally figures results were broadcast nationwide. Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo McGregor's visit to the garden was an unwelcome reminder to many of us As Conor McGregor shows up at the Garden of Remembrance – the wish is, please stay in your own garden so we can forget you.
