The Limerick Blogger - latest Limerick news and Limerick events

What you think of the new Limerick Leader, the County Edition and the City Edition were both given a major new look this weekend.

Apart from my initial disappointment that local imagery could not be kept in the banner head, it looks good so far. For as long as I can remember, there has been some local image in the title of the Leader, be it the Limerick Castle coat of arms, the Limerick crest or the treaty stone. That now is all gone as part of the trendy new look.

Also gone is the cumbersome sports section, which takes on the form of an easier to manage tabloid sised pull-out.

The letters to the editor section has also been given a makeover, increasing the area taken up by this section of the paper.

Nostalgic folk amongst you will be interested to know that the columns written by the late John B Keane for the Leader are to get reprinted. The first column, written way back in the 1960s appeared in the paper this week.

Gone too is the old “Leader Timeout” or “Second Section” as it used to be called, replaced by the trendier titled Leader2.

If you are into your history, then this weeks feature on the life of the Leader is an interesting read and I would highly recommend it.

So, have you had a chance to look at the new paper, what do you think?

The famous purple dinosaur, Barney, could be considered an advocate of the use of one’s imagination, however there are times when such use of the imagination can get one into serious trouble, as one former Limerick student found out in court this week.

The student community at UL were plunged into an unwanted sense of fear, and Gardai launched a nationwide investigation after Michael Stanley, (20) Inis Staimer, Lisnagry, claimed he had been kidnapped by two men with knives and wearing Barney the Dinosaur masks in the car park of the University of Limerick. He also claimed that they ordered him to drive to Dublin. He made his claim after presenting himself to Finglas Garda Station in West Dublin.

At the District Court this week, Stanley admitted that the claims, made in March of 2007, were all made up.

The court had heard that he had failed exams at UL the previous year but never told his family. He would leave home in the morning and drive around aimlessly.

John Herbert SC representing Stanley, told the court that his client had been adopted from an orphanage in Romainia when he was three years old, and that he suffered from post institutional autism, which had caused him trouble throughout his life.

Stanley apologised to the court also “I am aware of the panic I caused and I can only apologise for what I done.” he said.

Gardai discovered the claims were untrue after they recovered CCTV footage of Stanley in Mountrath, County Laois, which showed that Stanley was alone in his car.

Describing the incident as being an “aberration measuring 10 on the Richter scale” he adjourned the case until November, He told Stanley that if he did not get into further trouble between now and then he would consider not imposing a custodial sentence.

If the stormy conditions of last night were not enough excitement for you, then this might be of interest to you for the next 24-48 hours.

Issued at 31 January 2008 - 10:00
Weather Warning for severe winds and snow
Wind Warning
It will continue stormy today Thursday and for a time overnight over Ulster, north Leinster and north Connacht. West or northwest winds 55 to 75 km/h will gust 110 to 130 km/h, strongest gusts expected in exposed parts of Ulster. Windy tomorrow, but no severe winds expected. Valid until 1/2/08 at 0600
Snow Warning
Sleet and snow showers are expected today over Ulster and north Connacht. Further snow showers also expected over parts of Ulster, north Connacht,west Munster and north Leinster tonight and tomorrow. Some accumulations are likely at lower levels, but more significant accumulations are possible in hilly and mountain areas. Some snow showers ( mostly light) are likely in other areas too, during Thursday night and especially on Friday. Very cold throughout with any snow lying, and there will be some icy roads too. Showers will be well scattered later Friday night and Saturday with a partial thaw likely on Saturday. Valid until 1800 2/2/08

As usual, feel free to post any reports of disruption to roads or power during this time for the benefit of other readers. Friday being a busy day for road travellers, your comments might assist someone.

UPDATE: At 1800 hrs, Shannon Airport reported snow at their weather station.

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From Met Eireann

Issued at 30 January 2008 - 12:46
Warning of Severe Weather
Stormy tonight. South to southwest winds 55 to 75 km/h will gust 110 to 130 km/h, highest gusts in exposed parts of Ulster and Connacht.
Valid from 30/01/2008 at 2100 to 31/01/2008 at 0700

In the last hour a gust of 88.9 Km/h has been recorded at Shannon

And for Friday there are predictions of snow!

Rather than have an “in brief” post, I am going to just put a brief post up letting people know what the local media are saying. Now that most of them have a half decent enough online presence, it is easier to link to their stories online and go into more detail on the stories that they do not put on their websites.

Thomas Street: Traders on the newly pedestrianised street claim that due to bad planning, business has slumped to such an extent that it would be easier to do business in Beirut. I hadn’t heard any reports of Israeli bombs falling on Thomas Street, but as soon as I do I will let you all know.

Taxi Drivers are feeling the pinch too, according to the Limerick Independent, but this is for different reasons. It is felt that the market is flooded with licenced taxi drivers and full time cabbies are finding it difficult to make a living from the trade.

John Ughamadu: A place has now been found for John Ughamadu at the Central Mental Hospital after he was remanded to Limerick Prison earlier in the week. Ughamadu had previously spent the weekend in the Quality Hotel, which he was later evicted from, as well as spending five days in a Garda cell.

Jailed for twelve months: A 17 year old boy has been jailed for twelve months for crimes relating to an attack on a car at St. Enda’s School. During the incident, the youth smashed one of the windows of the car, showering two children, aged 8 and 11 with glass, and stole a wallet with €90 in cash and some cheques. The youth has 16 previous convictions.