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5th March 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 08 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Mystery Of ‘Amelia’ The Parrot Solved Swords man, Alexander Fitzsimmons got the shock of his life, when his beloved parrot escaped last week. Bird lover, Alexander, opened the door of his aviary in his back garden, and the parrot, a plumb head parakeet, saw the opportunity to effect a daring escape. Alexander told the County Leader, “I was locking up the aviary last week when she flew out over my head. I was so worried for her because I didn’t think she could survive predators and the frosty nights. She is one of a
By Patrick Finnegan breeding pair and her partner was clearly missing her. She took off into the sky and we thought that was the last we would see of her.” But the parrot had other ideas and had sought refuge at the airport. During a routine patrol, Patrice Dorney of the Dublin Airport airside operations unit was surprised to spot a bright blue and green parrot on the ramp where aircraft embark and
disembark passengers. The bird appeared to be uninjured, but was hungry and dehydrated. The airside staff quickly set about finding out where the lovely creature came from. There were no markings or tags on the bird so, after ringing around several pet stores, they struck gold with Kinsealy Pet Store, where shop staff knew of a parakeet that had gone missing. Shop staff contacted Alexander, who was over the moon to hear his bird had been found. Derek Shortall from airside operations drove the bird to the pet store for the reunion. Alexander said he has decided to call his beloved parrot Amelia, after another pioneering lady who loved the adventure of flight. Thankfully, unlike Amelia Earhart, the parakeet had a safer landing at Dublin Airport and is now happily reunited with her partner safe and sound.
DAA Staff Donate €250K to Barretstown
Dublin Airport Authority staff donated a record €250,000 to its Charity of The Year 2012, Barretstown, the highest
CITY CENTRE €23
amount raised in a year by DAA since the dedicated charity programme began six years ago. This incredible donation brings the
total money raised by DAA and its employees to €1 million for Irish charities in the last six years. Celebrating the achievement, DAA Chief Executive Kevin Toland told the County Leader that achieving the €1 million raised was a “massive” achievement, particularly if you think of all the diffi-
culties in Ireland over the last number of years.” “To me it’s an example of what the DAA can do when it comes together in one purpose, with everyone working together and pushing in the same direction,” he said. Mr Toland said he looked forward to playing his own part in the 2013
fund raising effort. Accepting the cheque for €250k, Barreststown Chief Executive, Dee Ahern said she was “shell-shocked” at the sum raised. “It’s absolutely unbelievable,” she said. She thanked everybody at the DAA on behalf of the staff at Barretstown, the children
Alexander Fitzsimmons from Swords is pictured here after being reunited with Amelia, the parakeet, after her adventures at Dublin Airport
who use the facilities there and their families. “It’s really appreciated.” Over the course of 2012 a record number of events took place with employees, families and friends getting involved to support Barretstown. Events included: the annual 100/50k cycle, 40 DAA ladies participated in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon, a 5k road race at Dublin Airport, a para-
chute jump, white collar boxing, and book and cake sales. The amount of money raised is greatly helped by the coin donations made by visitors to Dublin Airport. The DAA is now gearing
up for another successful year of fundraising for the 2013 Charities of The Year as selected by DAA employees – Bee for Battens, Make A Wish Foundation, and Down Syndrome Ireland.
Pictured are delighted DAA staff members, Karl McTiernan, Siobhan Moore, Bryan Russell, Mark James Ryan, Nicola Radford, Brendan Lavin, Mike Englishby and Ciaran Grant.
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