Latest news with #DavidHarrington
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Drivers urged to be aware of pedestrians and cyclists over Bank Holiday Weekend
'We don't want to have to call to anybody's door to deliver bad news over the course of this weekend' Gardai have issued a special appeal for drivers to be 'particularly mindful of the risks associated with vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists' over the Bank Holiday Weekend. They are urging everyone to stay safe as bank holidays are the busiest periods on Irish roads. In a fresh appeal posted across social media platforms this afternoon, Chief Superintendent, Roads Policing, David Harrington, asked all road users 'to pay additional care and attention to how they use our road networks'. Chief Superintendent David Harrington issues a new appeal News in 90 Seconds - May 30th He highlighted vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists as he appealed to all drivers, 'to reduce speed, remove distractions such as mobile phones, wear their seatbelts and under no circumstances ever drive under the influence of drink or drugs'. 'We don't want to have to call to anybody's door to deliver bad news over the course of this weekend,' Chief Super Harrington said. 'People should be enjoying themselves and carrying out safe journeys across the country so please be mindful of your behaviour on the roads this weekend. Two people were killed and six others were left with life-threatening injuries over the recent May bank holiday weekend. Gardaí had carried out a major roads policing operation nationwide from the morning of Thursday, May 1 until Tuesday, May 6, in a bid to improve road safety. During the operation gardaí carried out more than 1,000 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints, which resulted in over 13,000 breath tests and around 280 oral fluid tests. A total of 187 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. More than 3,000 drivers were clocked driving above the legal speed limit. Gardaí issued hundreds of Fixed Charge Notices for additional road safety offences, including over 270 for using mobile phones while driving, more than 340 for unaccompanied learner drivers, and 115 for not wearing seatbelts. In total, 147 vehicles were seized from learner drivers who were driving unaccompanied, while 444 vehicles were taken off the road for having no tax or insurance.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
June bank holiday road safety appeal issued by Gardaí – ‘We don't want to have to call to anybody's door this weekend'
The long weekend will see many people across the country gathering to attend social events, including high-profile events such as Bord Bia Bloom in Phoenix Park in Dublin and BikeFest in Killarney, Co Kerry. Gardaí are preparing for a visible enforcement presence across the country, monitoring for dangerous road behaviour as part of an extensive Garda Roads Policing Operation lasting until Tuesday, June 3. So far this year, 68 people have been killed on Irish roads. The June bank holiday road safety appeal focuses on the theme of drink driving, with warnings issued over the dangers of driving while under the influence of any illicit substances. The appeal comes following RSA research that revealed a stark contrast between off-peak and peak hours of drink driving from 2016-2020, with 70pc of driver fatalities during off-peak hours, between 10pm and 6am, testing positive for alcohol, compared to 21pc during peak times. The appeal was launched off the N83 roundabout in Tuam, Co Galway, with Transport Minister Seán Canney, Garda Chief Superintendent of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau David Harrington and RSA officials in attendance. Speaking at the event, Minister Canney said: 'We're here in Tuam launching an appeal to all drivers for this bank holiday weekend to have respect for everybody else on the roads. 'Speed, distraction, drink and drugs and seatbelts are the four major issues that cause accidents. We want to reduce the number of accidents and want everybody to have a nice weekend, enjoy themselves and make sure we have an accident-free weekend.' Chief Superintendent Harrington said: 'As we approach this June Bank Holiday Weekend, I'd like to appeal to all road users to pay extra care and attention in their use of our road networks, particularly in respect of our vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. 'I would ask all drivers to reduce speed, wear their seatbelts, remove distractions such as mobile phones and under no circumstances drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. ADVERTISEMENT 'We don't want to have to call to anybody's door to deliver bad news over the course of this weekend when people should be enjoying themselves and carrying out safe journeys across the country. Please be mindful of your behaviour on the roads this weekend.' The appeal comes off the back of a devastating weekend on Irish roads, where four women were killed in separate incidents in Wexford, Clare, Meath and Tyrone. RSA spokesperson Sarah O'Connor urged the public to be vigilant on the roads, noting the lasting impact a tragedy can have. 'Every single one of those collisions is the most devastating day in a family's life, but the devastation doesn't go away after that day – it marks a community, family and friend group,' she said. 'What we're really saying for this bank holiday weekend is we can change this; we can turn this around for the remainder of the month and for the month of June. There were 11 fatalities last June in Ireland, there were 55 across the last five Junes in Ireland. 'What would this June be like if there were none? Could we all buy into that and change our behaviour and adapt to keep this June a very safe month? The reality is that the impact is so tragic and so marked. 'We deal very regularly with advocates, the minister has been meeting with advocates extensively in the last number of months, and the loss is so profound. 'We're really asking people to make small, manageable decisions so that you do not hurt anyone, and you do not get hurt this weekend and this month.'
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- RTÉ News
Drivers urged to be aware of vulnerable people on roads this weekend
An appeal has been launched by An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) calling on road users to be vigilant and never to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs ahead of the bank holiday weekend. With large crowds expected to travel to large events like Bloom in Dublin's Phoenix Park, Dublin, and BikeFest in Killarney, Co Kerry, drivers are reminded to stay alert, avoid distractions, and share the road responsibly. The RSA is reminding the public that this time of year typically sees an increase in cyclist and motorcyclist casualties, asking drivers to slow down and be mindful of vulnerable road users. The public is also being asked to be aware of road closures in the Ballsbridge and Donnybrook area as a result of the Women's Mini Marathon which begins at 12.30pm on Sunday, 1 June, and to plan ahead. So far this year, 68 people have died on Irish roads. Last weekend, four women were killed in separate incidents in counties Wexford, Clare, Meath and Tyrone. In 2024, a total of 174 people died as a result of road traffic collisions. Analysis by the RSA has found that over one third of driver fatalities during the years 2016-2020 had a positive toxicology report result for alcohol. The analysis shows a stark contrast between off-peak and peak hours, as 70% of driver fatalities during off-peak hours (10pm–5.59am) had a positive toxicology for alcohol, compared to 21% during peak times. Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney said the RSA data was deeply concerning. "The figures show a consistent pattern of people taking deadly risks by driving under the influence, especially at night. My message this weekend is simple: never, ever drink and drive. "It's not worth the risk to your life or anyone else's. I urge everyone to act responsibly and make safe choices on our roads." Chief Superintendent David Harrington of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said that driving under the influence not only impairs your driving performance but removes the capacity to drive safely. "Some people may take the risk of driving under influence because they believe they won't encounter gardaí on the road to detect them, but the reality is that we are on the roads conducting checkpoints and are called to the scene of every one of the fatal or serious injury collisions caused by a driver that has been drinking". Meanwhile the Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland are urging the public to take extra precautions in and around water over the weekend. Kevin Whitney, Head of Operations Section at the Irish Coast Guard said that as the June bank holiday typically marks the start of summer celebrations for many. "We are urging everyone to be mindful of the dangers, plan ahead, and follow the appropriate safety guidelines for your activity". There has been a 10% increase in drownings so far this year, compared to the same period last year. To stay safe, the public is advised to check the weather and tides before going to the shore, and be aware of rip currents at sea. Other advice includes: Never swim alone, and inform someone of your plans to go swimming. Always swim within your depth and stay within your depth. When on the water always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, dial 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has warned that bank holiday weekends are usually a busy time for acute and community health services and may result in long wait times at emergency departments.
San Francisco Chronicle
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Kronos Festival opening night packs politics and world premieres
For more than five decades, San Francisco's Kronos Quartet has been an iconic fixture in contemporary music, expanding the string quartet repertoire and taking on contemporary challenges. Since its founding in 1978 by violinist David Harrington — who leads the ensemble as its only remaining original member — Kronos has focused on globally and socially resonant music, and the 10th annual Kronos Festival promises to continue this signature mission while simultaneously launching a new era. The festival's opening-night concert on Friday, April 25, at the SFJazz Center's Miner Auditorium began with an uplifting throwback — Terry Riley's 'Good Medicine,' an excerpt from the American minimalist composer's quartet-ballad 'Salome Dances for Peace,' which Kronos commissioned and premiered in 1986. ('Good Medicine' is the title and theme of this year's entire festival.) It all seemed so natural for Kronos that you might almost have forgotten the big news — that this concert marked the Bay Area debut of a fresh lineup. Violinist Gabriela Díaz and violist Ayane Kozasa joined the Quartet in mid-2024, succeeding longtime players John Sherba and Hank Dutt. And cellist Paul Wiancko only joined in 2023. Kronos, of course, embraces novelty with zeal. Friday's program featured four world premieres — a pair of commissioned pieces, along with two bespoke arrangements. Kronos' penchant for creative curation shone in the concert's opening half. Riley's curtain-raiser proved an entrancing romp, the music's dance-like motion blending minimalist loops, ritual drones and ecstatic violin riffs. This eclectic, folksy modernism is the ensemble's bread and butter, and the new lineup already projects a tone that is warm, fleshy, exactingly precise and seemingly effortless. That distinctive palette stitched together a dizzying spread of musical styles and traditions, including Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir's 'Folk Faer Andlit' (in a new arrangement by Kronos), the Trindidadian folk song 'A Shout' (in a new arrangement by Jacob Garchik) and South Korean musician Soo Yeon Lyuh's 'Sumbisori — Sound of Resilience' (in its world premiere). A particular standout was Peni Candra Rini's 'Hujan' (also arranged by Garchick). Here, uncanny, gliding washes of atonal polyphony moved to seductive violin serenades and groovy percussive jolts. At times, Candra Rini's evocation of Indonesia's mountains and seas echoed the rustic good humor of both Riley and 'A Shout.' The concert's second half addressed contemporary concerns most directly. The world premiere of Aleksandra Vrebalov's 'Cardinal Directions' marked the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's conclusion. Vietnamese instrumentalist Vân-Ánh Võ joined the Quartet, playing the shimmering đàn tranh and a battery of percussion, while violist Kozasa at one point used her bow to play a set of drinking glasses, piercing the soundscape with a silvery sheen. Gabriella Smith's 'Keep Going' sought to carve out a space for joy in the face of climate change. Accompanying field recordings of environmental activists, the Quartet replaced their bows with acorns, sticks and rocks. Ethereal harmonics evoking birdsong and back-of-the-bow knocks yielded to propulsive, euphoric ensemble vamps — the kind of irrepressible optimism that suffuses Kronos' politics. The Quartet's prevailing aesthetic in confronting social and political issues has become one of exuberant excess. Kronos is celebrated for having commissioned more than 1,000 pieces, but the surfeit of musical styles and political issues means that any significant engagement is necessarily limited. For example, the five-minute 'Folk Faer Andlit' — translated as 'People Get Faces' and composed to recognize the individual humanity of refugees — was presented here divested of the context needed for the piece to hit home. 'Sumbisori,' which featured Lyuh on haegeum, explored a hauntingly aching musical palette, accompanied by breathtaking photography of South Korea's Jeju Island. But as the composer delivered spoken narration describing the island's culture of female sea-diving, the Quartet receded into monotonous minor chords. Telling this story came at the cost of musical interest and coherence. Audiences have the chance to dive deeper into the ideas inspiring two of the festival's featured composers in events on Saturday, April 26. The whirlwind mainstage concerts, however, perhaps offer more uplift than cure for our cultural ills. While we may require a stronger prescription, Kronos' 'Good Medicine' nonetheless promises the dose of hope — or at least joyful distraction — that many of us need most.
New York Times
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Review: A Kronos Quartet Glow Up: New Players, Newly Lustrous Sound
The Kronos Quartet was at Zankel Hall on Friday with a typically eclectic program that included new works drawing on jazz, psychedelic rock and Nordic folk music. The vibrant performance was not only the ensemble's return to a space it reliably fills with devoted fans; with the quartet's ranks refreshed by three brilliant new players, it also felt like a comeback. In recent years, the aging ensemble — founded in 1973 by David Harrington, who continues to lead it as first violin — sometimes seemed to have had slid into an identity crisis. The Kronos brand was still strong: Ambitious commissions kept pushing the boundaries of quartet music, resulting in more than 1,000 new works and arrangements drawing on every imaginable style. In the run-up to its golden jubilee, the ensemble initiated a commissioning project, 50 for the Future, and made the sheet music to all 50 pieces available free online. But the quality of the playing had become inconsistent. And the spoken introductions the players offered at concerts felt perfunctory and tired. When the violinists John Sherba and Hank Dutt, who had been in the lineup since 1978, retired last year, the quartet might have disbanded. Instead, Harrington brought in fresh talent and — judging by the music-making on Friday — strong personalities. The quartet's middle voices now belong to the violinist Gabriela Díaz and the violist Ayane Kozasa, who join the composer and cellist Paul Wiancko, who came onboard in 2022. During the kaleidoscopic first half of the concert the two women asserted themselves as the quartet's engines of emotional intensity and a newly lustrous, rich sound. This came through most powerfully in Aleksandra Vrebalov's incantatory 'Gold Came From Space,' which gradually grows in sonic density and expressive intent of tremulous whispers. Time and again, Kozasa's viola stole the spotlight with its absorbing mixture of lyricism and throaty candor. She channeled Nina Simone's tough-nosed tenderness in Jacob Garchik's arrangement of 'For All We Know' (composed by J. Fred Coots) and set the tone for Wiancko's arrangement of Neil Young's protest song 'Ohio.' Two songs by Sun Ra, 'Outer Spaceways Incorporated' (wittily arranged by Garchik) and 'Kiss Yo' Ass Goodbye,' in a psychedelic arrangement by Terry Riley and Sara Miyamoto, sparkled with experimental glee. That exploratory zest had always been a hallmark of Kronos. But the heart-on-sleeve directness the group brought to Viet Cuong's stirring 'Next Week's Trees,' in which the quartet sometimes sounds like a giant harp, felt new. The second half was taken up by a single work, 'Elja,' by Benedicte Maurseth and Kristine Tjogersen. Maurseth, who joined the Kronos players for the performance, is a master on the Norwegian hardanger fiddle, a violin-like instrument with four extra resonating strings and a curved neck and carved scroll that evokes the bow of an ancient ship. For the 45-minute piece, which also featured recorded nature sounds, the Kronos players switched to hardanger versions of their own instruments. (The viola and cello fiddles were specially built for Kronos by the Norwegian luthier Ottar Kasa.) Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
