Latest news with #Plunkett
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Fix it up: Historic Horace Plunkett home in Dublin's Foxrock is hungry for a big revamp
Depending on how you look at it, the house at 4 Kilteragh Pines in Westminister Road, Foxrock, D18 is either a three-storey house or a sort of huge, multi-level 'apartment'. Either which way, it is one-sixth (or thereabouts) of the historic home of Sir Horace Plunkett, the founder of the agricultural cooperative movement and a subject of every Irish school history book. Tell me more... Kilteragh Pines was attacked and burned during the War of Independence and rebuilt in 1923, when presumably it was refashioned in its current 'international modern' style and divided into six residences. Number 4 got the original grand entrance and comes with six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a hallway, drawing room, dining room, kitchen, pantry and study area, as well as a substantial roof terrace and courtyard. The bad news? These days, it's quite tired and run-down and by the looks of things has not been decorated since the 1980s or thereabouts. By the looks of the fuse box, this will definitely need a rewire and most likely, replumbing. It will need a kitchen fit-out and complete redecoration, and possibly a new heating system. Any other issues will be subject to a proper survey being carried out. There is an annual service charge of €2,200 per annum. And the good news? The service charge includes the maintenance of a substantial and very well-kept communal garden, entrance and driveway. The house itself is large, at not much short of 3,000 sq ft, and is BER exempt. There is a separate lock-up garage and it comes with its own private lawned garden in addition to the communal space. Its orientation and generous fenestration make it a bright prospect inside. How much to buy it? Offers in the region of €1.275m. And to fix it up? If you've got pockets deep enough to bid, you've more than likely got access to the minimum of €200,000 (and up to €500,000) more required to bring this historical pad into the 21st century. What will I end up with? A six-bedroom home in the affluent suburb of Foxrock with both private and communal gardens. You're also buying into some serious cultural capital too, not only with the architectural style, but also through the Plunkett history. This time machine also has connections to HG Wells and George Bernard Shaw, both of whom are said to have been visitors to Plunkett's home when he lived there. Who should I talk to? You can co-op Paul Aherne of DNG Stillorgan (01 283 2700) to show you around No4's very generous facilities.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Stolen Sister episode 1, recapped
The author Alice Walker once said: "Is solace anywhere more comforting than that in the arms of a sister?" This philosophy seems fitting when speaking about the sisters of Elizabeth Plunkett. Many people will be familiar with Elizabeth's name in 1976, she was brutally murdered in Brittas Bay Co Wicklow by Ireland's first serial killers, John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans. For many, justice was served nearly 50 years ago when the pair were both sentenced to life in prison. However, a parole hearing for Shaw nearly two years ago would turn the lives of this family, in particular the Plunkett sisters - Kathleen, Bernie and Joan, upside down. The women contacted the DPP, the Garda Commissioner and the State Solicitor's Office for assistance, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. So, in July 2024, they took a leap of faith and emailed their final port of call - the team at RTÉ Documentary On One. After months of work, that email has given rise to Stolen Sister, a six-part podcast series hosted by Roz Purcell that unpacks how a routine parole application rewrote the history of this case and forced the Plunkett family to take their story public for the first time in nearly 50 years. Because a lot of things you've read about the murder of Elizabeth Plunkett in books, the media or online, it's well, wrong. If you struggle to believe that, I strongly suggest you keep reading or, better yet, start streaming episode one of Stolen Sister right now. Ringsend In the first episode, the Plunkett siblings take the listener back in time to their childhood home in Ringsend. It set the scene and creates a feeling of intimacy between the listener and the family before the harrowing details of the case emerge. In the 70s Ringsend was a tight-knit community full of working-class families, and as the middle child of eight, Elizabeth ruled the roost. There were four boys - Eddie, Thomas, Liam and Sean and four girls - Joan, Elizabeth, Kathleen and Bernie in the Plunkett family. The podcast touches on the changes taking place as Ireland moved from the 60s into the 70s and women slowly gained more independence. Elizabeth's sister Bernie described the impact this changing time had on her beloved sister and how it shaped her outlook. "There was more independence. There was more work, and there was more money. So they were saying, don't stick back in the old-fashioned way like their parents, you got married, you had children, you stayed at home. This wasn't going to be a life that Elizabeth wanted." Eddie, the eldest boy, also contributed to the series; he described how Elizabeth would take over the family home on a Saturday morning and clean it from top to bottom. Throughout the series, the family speaks of the split in their lives - the world before and after Elizabeth was killed. The family home is situated on the banks of the Liffey in Dublin City, where the river meets the Irish Sea. "We were a very united, large Dublin working class family. The bond then was unique… Little did we know that all of this would come crashing down, it destroyed the peace." - Eddie Plunkett, Elizabeth's brother On a clear day, Purcell tells the listener, you can make out the Northwest of England, the homeplace of the men who would take Elizabeth's life. JS and GE At the time they murdered Elizabeth, and later Mayo woman Mary Duffy John Shaw, and Geoffrey Evans were in Ireland evading sexual assault and rape charges in the UK under new identities. Both men had been married and had children. They met in prison while serving time for robbery and assault. Before they began their reign of terror, the men were arrested for burglary and had a year-long stay in Irish prisons in Limerick and Mountjoy. They were due to be extradited back to the UK to answer the charges, so they decided to abduct, rape and murder a woman a week until they were caught. The reason why the pair weren't extradited immediately was because Shaw claimed he wasn't the same person named on the extradition warrant, so the judge released him on bail, and the gardaí had to build a case to prove his identity. Even more shockingly, this same legal loophole worked for Evans three weeks later. In 1974, as Elizabeth turned 21, Shaw and Evans were released from prison in England and within a short time, they'd brutally kidnapped and raped three victims in the Greater Manchester area - Roz Purcell, host The Plunkett sisters do not say the name of their sister's murderers during the podcast; instead, they simply refer to them as JS and GE. Damien The podcast makers managed to secure an interview with Elizabeth's close friend Mella Nesbitt, a key figure in this story. The women met while working in the De La Rue factory. A few months before Elizabeth died, Mella introduced her to her brother Damien. Damian and Elizabeth began dating, and according to Mella, they were inseparable. "I was the little gooseberry. I was always stuck between the two of them. Now I would be maybe a couple of yards behind them or I might be sitting somewhere and I could just hear the two of them shouting at one another that they loved one another." He worked as a mechanic in his family's garage in Inchicore, Co Dublin. According to the Plunkett sisters, Damien would pull up in his Capri car to collect Elizabeth blaring ABBA out the windows. In July 1976, Elizabeth, Mella and Damien took a trip to St Tropez, where Elizabeth would purchase the infamous jumper she wore the night she was killed. Damien was a really nice guy, I have to say. She was madly in love with him and I think he felt the same about her - Bernie Plunkett, Elizabeth's sister That fateful night when Elizabeth was murdered Damien got into an argument with a friend about a car, while that detail might seem irrelevant, it would ultimately alter the course of Elizabeth's life… Brittas Bay The summer of 1976 was one of the hottest on record in Ireland. A last trip to Brittas Bay was supposed to close out the summer season for Elizabeth Plunkett and her friends. It was supposed to be the kind of weekend you dream about during your 9-5, instead it became a nightmare for the entire nation. Statements given to gardaí by Elizabeth's killers, as well as her friends, are read throughout the podcast to create an accurate timeline of her last movements. It is worth adding that the statements given by Shaw and Evans are eerily detailed and not for the faint of heart. Elizabeth left McDaniel's pub at around 10.30 pm. She had grown frustrated when Damien and his friend Joe McCoy started a fight over a car. The men had bought a car together, which Damien had then sold without consulting Joe. As you can expect, within a few minutes, the men had resolved their dispute, and Damien went in search of Elizabeth. He should have found her, made up and joined their friends for a wonderful weekend in a caravan by the sea. But he never did find her, nor did he ever see her again. I put my finger on her left cheek and said, "Go away, don't be annoying me. She said, "If you do that again I'll go home". I said to her "go home then" - Damien Bushe, Elizabeth's former boyfriend Right, before Shaw and Evans preyed upon Elizabeth, they approached another woman who managed to get away - gardaí never have managed to locate this woman. I mention this as like all Doc on One series, this is an active investigation, so if you were in Brittas Bay on 28th August 1976 and have any further information on Elizabeth Plunkett, please contact us in confidence at documentaries@
West Australian
29-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Australian wool markets sees first increase, 14 cents, for first time in four consecutive weeks
The Australian wool industry is breathing a sigh of relief as the wool market makes its first meaningful recovery after four consecutive weeks of declines. Wool industry experts say the result — owing to the stabilisation of the Australian currency, an increase in consumer confidence and an increase in woollen top sales — is indicative of future market trends. The Eastern Market Indicator added 14 cents to close at 1203¢/kg on April 22. Australian Wool Exchange senior market analyst Lionell Plunkett said the national offering was the smallest it's been since 2020 at 26,897 bales. With Fremantle not in operation, bales were down 3762 on the week prior. Mr Plunkett said the smaller offering this week attracted good widespread competition, pushing prices higher from the outset. 'Although the strongest demand continued to be on the higher yielding lots, particularly those possessing favourable additional measurement (AM) results, with such a limited selection of these types, the lesser style types and wool with less favourable (AM) results also benefited from the rising market,' he said. 'On the opening day, all the published individual AWEX Micron Price Guides across all three centres posted upward results. 'The Merino fleece MPGs added between 5 and 54 cents. 'The crossbred and skirting markets both trended higher.' Mr Plunkett said the benchmark EMI added 10 cents for the day — the biggest daily rise in nine selling days. 'The EMI also managed a US2¢ increase,' he said. 'This was the first time the EMI rose in both Australian (AUD) and US currency terms since the 19th of March.' On the second day, AWEX said the market again trended higher. 'The EMI rose again in both AUD and US terms, adding 4 and 3 cents respectively. 'The EMI finished the series 14 cents higher, closing at 1203¢/kg clean.' Although most wool types experienced a rise, the Merino carding indicator was the only anomaly with a 28¢/kg drop in Melbourne. Westcoast Wool and Livestock regional wool manager Brad Faithfull said he was confident the wool market had found its base level and would continue a positive trend. He said a major indicator in the trend was the increase in woollen top sales, which was 'always a good sign'. Demand from trader buyers forced price rises into the local sale rooms as trading exporters quite often had to outbid the top makers and indents to meet their shipment obligations. 'We have also seen our currency — which has been radical for a while — stabilise and an increase in producer confidence,' Mr Faithfull said. 'Greasy stock is down at an international level which is also boosting demand.' Around 28,000 bales are being offered on April 29, with the WA centre at Fremantle selling just one day again on Tuesday.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
St. Thomas University students will get a taste of motor sports through race team sponsorship
Jeff Plunkett was trembling. Plunkett is what some might call a nerd. He is the dean of St. Thomas University's College of Health, Sciences and Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in neurobiology at Georgia State, and he completed his post-doctoral training at the University of Miami. But Plunkett is also a gearhead. He has been to Daytona International Speedway more than 50 times, and that's why he was so thrilled recently when STU announced a partnership with the Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) team. 'I'm a huge racing fan,' Plunkett said. 'I'm shaking. I'm so excited.' STU will sponsor Meyer Shank in the IndyCar Milwaukee Mile on Aug. 24. Other universities have forged similar relationships with racing teams through the years. Texas A&M has sponsored both NASCAR and IndyCar teams. Indiana University has a Motorsports Engineering program that partners with IndyCar. And Purdue has a long history with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the Purdue Grand Prix. But Michael Shank, one of the owners of MSR Racing, said that the partnership with STU is unique. 'Purdue and some of those other schools have race-engineering-based classes,' Shank told the Miami Herald. 'These are kids who want to do mechanical engineering and aerodynamic engineering and can get a motor sports degree. But what we're doing here is different.' The difference, Shank said, is that STU students — across many majors — will contribute to MSR. For example: STU's fashion students will create a new fire suit for MSR driver Marcus Armstrong to wear on race day. Dr. Ashlee Rzyczycki, the program director for STU's Fashion, Merchandising and Design major, has issued a challenge to her students to 'create a look that is fashion forward and yet captures the essence or car racing.' The top six designs will be sent to the Meyer Shank team, which will narrow it down to three. From there, fans will choose the winning design on social media. 'It's not just about the fashion of the suit,' Rzyczycki said. 'It's about the technical aspects. It's about marketing and branding.' Armstrong said he likes colorful suits. 'You can really get away with going extra [on racing suits],' he said. 'There's no such thing as too much. … I don't know if I should've said that [laughs], but I'm looking forward to seeing what the students come up with.' Marieth Useche, an 18-year-old freshman from Venezuela who enrolled at STU in January, has come up with three sports drinks that Armstrong can use for hydration on race day. She created three flavors and gave them names that are apropos: Victory Lap Mint Mojito; Push 2 Pass Passion Fruit Mai Tai; and Pole Position Mango Mojito. In her presentation to the Meyer Shank team, Useche mentioned that temperatures can reach over 140 degrees in a race car and that drivers can lose five to 10 pounds during a race from sweating. 'Hydration is key for motor sports athletes to maintain focus and energy for the entire race,' she said. 'Dehydration can result in a reduced response time and in difficulty in concentration.' Naeve Duarte, who plays on the STU women's basketball team and is a master's degree student, gave a pitch to MSR based on a partnership with Neuralink, a neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk. 'The driver will wear a headset that will record the driver's brain data in real time as he or she moves around the track,' Duarte said. This information will be useful for the Meyer Shank team, but, Duarte said it will also 'give fans an opportunity to experience what a driver goes through in a racing simulator.' Plunkett's science and technology students will get a look at the actual numbers that impact racing. 'Gone are the days where you used to build a car in the garage, take it to the track and have the engine succeed or fail,' Plunkett said. 'Today, with all the parity in Indy Racing, NASCAR and Formula 1, it comes down to milliseconds. Data given from the driver and the car to the team can make the difference between winning and second place.' Plunkett said he has already met with MSR engineers. 'Our students will be able to compare MSR's data to other racing teams and say, 'Here is where we can have an advantage.' 'It's going to be fascinating.' In the future, Plunkett will look to his exercise and physiology team to study potential performance enhancements for drivers. If this goes well, Plunkett said, team owners could pick drivers that have certain performance markers. 'Think of it like the NFL Draft where all those athletes get measured and tested at the [scouting] combine,' Plunkett said. 'The same could one day be true for drivers due to on-track and off-track testing.' In addition to all of this, Shank said there might be an opportunity for an STU student to update the MSR logo, which is 20 years old. About the partnership in general, Armstrong said: 'We have a lot of experienced people in our industry, but we don't have as much creative people who will think outside the box.' The deal between STU and Meyer Shank was first discussed in April 2024. Marc Cannon, who is on STU's Board of Trustees and is also a major sponsor of Meyer Shank, made the introduction. In January, STU President David A. Armstrong met with Shank and fellow MSR owners Helio Castroneves and Tim Meyer. Castroneves, who is one of only four drivers who has won the Indy 500 a record four times, was immediately sold on the idea. 'But he wanted it to be innovative,' Cannon said. 'He wanted it to have a purpose.' David Armstrong — no relation to MSR driver Marcus Armstrong — was initially concerned about whether STU could financially afford the sponsorship. 'I said, 'Don't worry about it — we'll make it affordable,'' Cannon said. 'MSR won't make any money on the deal.' Cannon said the price tag is $250,000 — less than half of what a sponsorship would normally cost. In return, STU gets great publicity, including its logo on the car and racing suit, and a valuable experience for its student. Meyer Shank gets some new ideas. It's a win-win-win. 'The business of racing is massive,' David Armstrong said. 'For our students who are majoring in sports administration, this is great for them to be a part of because of the amount of money that's in racing. It's insane — from the cars, to the advertising and to all the people involved. 'Plus, education should be fun. This will be a fun opportunity, and I can't wait to see the end product in Milwaukee.' Cannon said a few other racing teams have already tried to find out details of what Meyer Shank is cooking up with STU. Shank, meanwhile, said he usually talks to other car owners. Getting ideas from a younger generation is appealing. 'I'm all in,' Shank said. Driver Marcus Armstrong is just 24 years old, but prior to coming to St. Thomas for the announcement of this deal, he had never set foot on a college campus. A native of New Zealand, Armstrong left home at age 13, living in Italy as he chased his driver dreams. But because he is now in this partnership with STU, someone asked if the university might give him an honorary degree. That's when David Armstrong got the last word on the question of an honorary degree. 'If he wins,' STU's president said with a smile, 'because that's what we do here at STU.'
West Australian
13-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Dusty, low-yielding wool is the current norm Australia-wide due to dry seasonal conditions
A lack of rain across the country is taking its toll on Australian wool quality, with dusty, low-yielding wool more prevalent than usual. The industry is not unfamiliar with dry conditions and experienced similar conditions this time last year but traders say it has been difficult to find a home for lower-style wools. Australian Wool Exchange senior market analyst Lionell Plunkett said the ongoing dry weather across the country had contributed to dusty growing environments. He said in turn, this resulted in reduced fleece yields and had negatively impacted wool style and quality. AWEX classifies wool into seven style categories, ranging from one (choice) to seven (inferior). Most Australian wool is usually graded within style categories three and five, but during the past four to six weeks there has been a clear increase in the number of sale lots assessed as style six and seven. Mr Plunkett said the decline in style quality had been particularly noticeable in the Southern and Western selling centres. Figures from the Southern region increased 14 percentage points since the final sale of 2024, from one per cent to 15. 'In the Western region, the proportion has risen sharply from 2 per cent in December to 23 per cent this week,' Mr Plunkett said. 'Traders are finding it increasingly difficult to integrate these lower-style wools into existing orders, which is placing further downward pressure on the market.' The Eastern Market Indicator fell 19¢/kg during the May 6 and 7 sales, to close at 1191¢/kg, but prices were still up five per cent, or 57¢, compared to the same time last week. The latest stats marked the third week in succession of falling prices, with brokers attributing price variances to varying quality. Westcoast Wool and Livestock broker Justin Haydock said he is currently seeing 'a lot' of low-yielding wool come through the system, believing it to be season-related. 'It seems to be worse than usual,' he said. Mr Haydock said he was watching 21 microns carefully, believing changes to the 21 microns in the market would be reflective of the market as a whole but does not believe there will be a shift any time soon. 'I believe the micron price spread will stay low for quite some time with many breeding objectives over the years being to produce a finer wool while maintaining wool cut, seasonal conditions nationwide — causing a finer micron,' he said. 'In my opinion, the only way we will see fines lift is if 21 microns can break through their resistance level of 1500, something they have rarely done. 'Due to a supply-and-demand scenario, historic data tells us that the micron price spread could stay low for the near future until we see an increase in broader wools on the market.'
