Limerick Blogger - independent Limerick news, sport, events and forum

Some good news for Shannon airport with the release of the Winter schedule from Aer Lingus which is is to continue to operate daily direct flights from Shannon to New York and Boston. Confirming the airline’s winter schedule today, Aer Lingus Commercial Director, Enda Corneille said :’Under the new Open Skies agreement we see great potential and continued opportunity for Shannon airport’.

Martin Moroney, Airport Director at Shannon, said today that the Airport Authority is making every effort to ensure that year-round service is maintained by offering reduced airport charges to transatlantic carriers during the winter ‘off-season’ schedule and by investing in a new US customs system.

He said the loyalty of the regional business and travel community, and tourism promotion in the US would be key elements in Shannon’s success.

Limerick 37 had a comfortable win at home in the eircom First division tuesday night against visitors Wexford Youths. The blues put three past the boys from Wexford without reply, with a brace from Brian “Chucka” Buckley in the 35th and 67th minute and a third from substitute Joey Moloney in the last minute of regular time. All the goals scored were from headers so it is fair to say that Limerick posed a severe aerial threat to the Wexford defence! The match was played in front of a crowd of 618 people on a dry sunny evening. The result keeps Limerick in the hunt in third place in the first division and was their biggest win of the season. The draw for the second round of the Ford (previously Carslberg) FAI cup takes place on this Thursday and will be shown live on the rte 6 o clock news. Hopefully the blues will get a good home draw to bring a crowd to Jackman Park. It has to be said that a good atmosphere is developing at the ground with the home fans learning to show their vocal support more often. During the second half as Joey Moloney was warming up prior to his coming on as a substitute the crowd were chanting his name down at the stand end and when he scored his goal he acknowledged the fans down there which went down well. Small stuff maybe, but this is the type of thing that helps the home team build a rapport with the fans who in turn will support the team more vocally. The next game for the blues is away to Finn Harps and after that there is a three week break in the league before the next home game versus Kilkenny City.

The health and Safety authority must be contacted 28 days before a building that contains asbestos can be demolished.

However someone ignored this rule, and a few days ago, decided it would be a good time to demolish an old bakery on Wall lane in Rathkeale, which contained asbestos in the roof.

Now, the County Council have ordered a halt to work on the demolition site, and the health and Safety authority are to carry out inspection of the site before they will allow the public near it.

As a result, there have been traffic diversions in the area.

Irish Examiner has the full story.

It is looking like those who set fire to a house on Byrne Avenue in Prospect by way of a petrol bomb did so because they were refused entry into the afters party of the wedding the house’ owners were attending.

The residents of the house were attending the wedding of a relative who was getting married. When the men were refused entry into the party taking place at a city hotel, they sought revenge by setting fire to the house of one of the bride’s relatives.

The 18 year old babysitter who was in the house with the nine month old baby when the petrol bomb came through the front window was awoken by the sound of breaking glass, managed to grab the baby and make her escape downstairs and through the back door of the house.

The men who tried to gain entry into the wedding party were on the hunt for late night drink.

Gardai have told Jimmy Woulfe of the Irish Examiner that the attack was not feud related.

With any luck CCTV footage from the hotel might identify those who attacked the house, and some arrests can be made.

The Polish national accused of the attack on Clonmel born NewsTalk researcher Mairead O’Dwyer told Gardai that voices in his head prompted him to attack the 27 year old in Dublin’s inner-city during the weekend.

Lezsek Jarosz (21) told Gardai; “I presume it was because of the voices I heard to get money for drugs.” while he was being interviewed following his arrest.

Jarosz has only been in Ireland for three weeks, and was accompanied in court by his sister.

The accused was arrested by Gardai at the Mill Apartments, Weaver Square, Dublin 8, and taken to Kevin Street Garda Satation on Friday.

In court yesterday, Jarosz was charged with the attack on O’Dwyer as well as two other counts of robbery which occoured on the same date.

The court was told that he admitted to the attack on Ms O’Dwyer and claimed that he was under the influence of hash when he carried out the two robberies.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear before Cloverhill court on Friday.

Limerick City Council are defending their role in the whole voting mess that became apparant in the election last Thursday.

At least 200 people were denied their vote within the City Council jurisdiction

A spokesperson for the council told Live 95FM that they were happy with amendments with the register and that it would never be perfect..

However, speaking to Today FM’s Matt Cooper last Saturday, outgoing minister for Defence, Willie O’Dea said that he had to concede that the electoral register was a mess.

He told the radio host that his office was “full of messages” from constituents complaining about not being able to vote.

It is believed that as many as 170,000 people lost the right to vote nationwide.

Election candidates speaking to us during last Friday’s count expressed concerns that most of the complaints they received about not being able to vote came from people in “working class” areas.