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

The Davin Arms, on the Ennis Rd is to close within the next couple of months, staff have been notified of so .This well known watering hole as referred to by some of the people that frequent it, opened its doors first to the public in 1963 It is owned by the Hayes Family. Due to its proximity to the Gaelic grounds, it used to be thronged on match days, it was also a great meeting point for people going to the matches as well as been a social outlet. There is a certain degree of disappointment in the vicinity as this part of city is very lacking in having a proper Pub. Financial losses for the past number of years are given as the reason for its closure. There are up to fifty staff employed.
The staff have been told that site could be redeveloped, Lidl being mentioned. Supermac’s which is next to the Davin is leased from the Hayes‘s, it is due to relocate to across the road to the new Ennis Rd Retail Park. It is certainly all change out the Ennis Rd direction with the new developments and more in the pipeline it seems.

Three men, who viciously assaulted Darren Coughlan (18) on 4 November 2005, were handed down six and seven year prison sentences for manslaughter.

Joseph Keane, (19) from Greenhills Road in Garryowen, the son of murdered crime boss Kieran Keane, received a six year sentence.

Richard Treacy, (18) from St. Mary’s Park, also received a six year sentence.

Shane Kelly (20) who has clocked up a whopping 71 previous convictions in his short time on Earth, received a seven year stretch.

During the trial, the court had previously been told that Mr. Coughlan was in no way connected to the feuding gangs, and apart from the odd minor public order offence, he had not come to the attention of the Gardai in the 12 months leading up to his death.

Whilst on a night out, a car stopped on the street beside Mr. Coughlan and three men demanded to know where someone called Mark Coughlan was.

One of the men pointed at him and shouted “There he is.”

Mr. Coughlan attemped to escape but tripped, allowing his attackers to catch up with him, kicking and beating him.

The court also heard that Mr. Coughlan lost conciousness while in hospital and died three days after the attack. He was kept on a life support machine after he died as he expressed a desire to have his organs donated.

During her victim impact statement, Darren’s mother told the court that she wished for the senseless killings of innocent people to stop.

RTE news has more on this story.

A aircraft pilot from Clonlara died over the weekend as he attempted to land his plane after a display flight at the Ardfert Summer Festival in County Kerry.

John Keane, a retired mechanic with the Air Corps got into difficulty when trying to land the Cesna light aircraft he was piloting at a private airfield at approximately 1620 hrs yesterday.

Those who were present in Ardfert at the time are quoted in the Monday edition of the Limerick Leader as saying that there wasn’t a cloud in the sky at the time,, and weather conditions were good.

Mr. Keane was one of three pilots taking part in the festival, however he was the only one in the air at the time of the crash.

The State’s Air Accident Investigation Unit were carrying out investigations into the crash.

Mr. Keane was pronounced dead at the scene and his remains moved to Kerry General Hospital where a post-mortem was carried out today.

For the past half a century, the people of Ballinanty have been able to avail of the services of their local post office, next to Tommy Cassidy’s shop.

But An Post have saw fit now to discommode the elderly, infirm, and just about anybody in the area that require the services of the post office, by locating it to Watch House Cross.

But An post spokesperson Anne McHugh claims that it’s not that big a deal.

“The post office will remain in the same general area. It is the same contractor, it will provide the same range of services but it will be more accessible as it is a better and more suitable premises,”

The over 1,500 people who signed the petition at Tommy Cassidy’s shop, many of whom are from Moyross disagree.

Those who wish to keep the post office where it is might also consider asking ComReg, the communications regulator, ot intervene or maybe act as an arbitrator in this matter.

Anne McHugh doesn’t live in Ballynanty, nor is she elderly or infirm, which is why local consultation should have taken place before An Post made this rash decision.

For the first time ever the city is throwing a fabulous party to celebrate all that is gay in Limerick. The festival will coincide with World Pride Week and is actually a pretty large affair!
The lineup includes Gay Cinema, Gay Arts (Music, Theatrical & Visual Art), and even a Pride Parade along O’Connell Street. The festival is a citywide event in venues across the city - The Belltable, Bar 3, Dolans, Perys Hotel and on the streets.
As well as all that the organisers have pulled together some hell of a party, daily breakfasts, garden party, bbq, disco, “pride party” and even a spot of Bingo. There will also be street entertainment after the parade and have organised a free historic tour of Limerick for anyone interested.

For those who dont really understand the point behind such a festival, it is for all gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people but not exclusively. These events are generally open to every one in the city, to come out and show support for the community.

The lineup is more impressive then what City Hall can mustar for St. Patrick (which is slightly worrying), but this is a first for the city and a sign of how diverse the city has become. Pride Parades go through most cities in the western world (including Dublin, and i think Galway) and from my experience abroad is a much talked about and very popular celebration for the entire city.

Anyways, here is the line up for Limerick Pride Festival 2007, August 27th to September 2nd:

MONDAY, AUGUST 27

PRIDE BREAKFAST
Bubblicious @ Bar 3, 9am
Continues every day at 9am until August 2.

GARDEN PARTY EXHIBITION
Belltable Arts Centre, 6pm
On display daily until August 2.

LAUNCH OF GARDEN PARTY
Belltable Arts Centre, 10pm

DISCO
Bubblicious @ Bar 3, 10pm
Continues every night until August 2.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
Belltable Theatre, 8pm, €6
Cult movie musical adapted from John Cameron Mitchell’s off Broadway hit.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29

GOLDFISH MEMORY
Belltable Theatre, 8pm, €6
A light-hearted look at the dangers and delights of dating, gay and straight, in contemporary Dublin.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30

SHORTBUS
Belltable Theatre, 8pm, €6
Various New York City characters navigate the comic/tragic intersections between love and lust.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31

WHITE & BLACK MASQUERADE BALL
Best Western Pery’s Hotel Ballroom, 8pm, €50
Including a formal sit down three-course meal with top class entertainment.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

12PM PRIDE PARADE
Limerick City Centre, gathering at the Town Hall 11am for a 12am kick-off.
Dress up in your finest and show Limerick the joy of gay!

PRIDE FESTIVAL
Post-parade arts, street theatre, music, magic, pool competition, until 8pm.

4 POOFS AND A PIANO
Belltable Arts Centre, 8pm, €20/18, Early bird €15
Fresh from BBC1’s The Jonathon Ross Show (BBC1) the whimsical foursome show off their vocal dexterity and shiny attitude to life.

CLUB WILDE PRIDE PARTY
Bubblicious @ Club3, 10pm, €5
Queer comedy and disco.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

HISTORIC CITY WALK
Starts at St Mary’s Cathedral, 11.30am
Everything you ever wanted to know about Limerick.

GARDEN PARTY & AUCTION
At a private location in Murroe, Co Limerick, 1pm, €65
A fine ensemble of jazz, food, wine, and fun with special guests Nell McCafferty and Gloria and art auction in aid of Rainbow Support Services.

BBQ
Bubblicious @ Bar 3, 1pm

CAMP BINGO
Bubblicious @ Bar 3, 3pm

From the Irish Independent:

Holocaust ‘myth’ group probed

A FILE is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions over a far right political party which calls itself Movement to Save Ireland.

Garda spokesperson Superintendent Kevin Donohue confirmed that officers had made an arrest and seized computers from the group last month. The group’s leader had claimed on Newstalk’s ‘The Breakfast Show’ that the Holocaust was a “myth”.

For anyone who is interested, holocaust denial is not a crime in Ireland. One can deny the holocaust happened if they so choose to do so. The act in which the Movement to Save Ireland is being investigated under is the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989,

While there is nothing more than what occurred in the NewsTalk segment contained in the Independent article, claims on far-right wing websites that certain people are being charged with holocaust denial can now be put to rest, as they are false.

Opinion on newstalk feature and transcript can be found by clicking here.