Dublin Voice 15-5-20

dublinvoice May 15, 2020 t: 01 901 5565, e: info@dublinvoice.ie

FREE

free

We’re still on track

FREE

.ie

Unit 5, IDEA House, Killarney Road Business Park, Bray

Leo: Bus Connects and Metro should not be scrapped The has said that Bus Connects and the proposed Metro should go-ahead despite following calls for them to be scrapped from a trans port union.

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) thinks lower cost projects should be the priority instead.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar does not believe they should be abandoned.

“I do think we are going to have to review our transport infrastructure plans in light of what we know about this pandemic and this virus.

“I think we are certainly

going to need more investment in cycling, more investment in pedestrianisation.

“We know they are among the lowest risk in terms of transmitting infection.

“But I definitely wouldn’t go as far as saying at this stage that we would cancel projects such as Metro or Bus Connects.”

The general secretary of the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) Dermot O’Leary has said that a letter sent by the union to the political parties was an attempt to stimulate a public debate on the future of transport.

Mr O’Leary told Newstalk Breakfast that he wanted to see an “open and transparent debate” as decisions on future transport plans should not be made “by a small cabal.”

“The central point for me is that there needs to be an open and transparent debate. People who are interested or want to use transport or need to use transport should be factored into that debate.

“The decision on future transport plans shouldn’t be made by a small cabal. The unfortunate part is that no politician will stick their neck

out and say ‘scrap that’, it’s not a popular thing to say.”

Mr O’Leary said that the union has been following the data on transport “for generations at this stage, people will know that Metro North, Metro Link, or whatever you’re having yourself has been on the go for the last 15 years at this stage, at least.

“We now have the situation where I feel, personally, that politicians of all parties and none come out and promise what I call ‘high falutin’ rail projects on the basis that they’ll get at least three elections.”

Ciara Tomkins who took part in the ‘100,000 steps in less than 24hrs’ challenge which r aised more more than €12,000 going to the COVID Unit in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital.

02 |

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

May 15, 2020

Stretching a helping hand

AN organisation that has been delivering fresh fruit and vegetables to disadvantaged families in Dublin has extended its operations nationwide.

The not-for-profit ‘Good Grub’ (volunteers pictured above) has raised more than €250,000 for the benefit of DEIS students while their schools are closed.

It has now re-set its fundraising target to €500,000 and is delivering to disadvantaged communities around Ireland.

More information and donations at www.goodgrub. ie or https://www.gofundme. com/f/9yuctw-Good-Grub The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), meanwhile, has launched an urgent fundraising appeal as it expects calls for help to escalate. Last year SVP helped more than 160,000 people and families and it had expected that figure to rise by about 10% this year.

But SVP now believes that figure will be greatly exceeded as people lose their

jobs or have their incomes cut.With the SVP income drastically reduced by the closure of its 234 shops and the cancellation of churchgate and shopping centre collections, it is now making an urgent appeal for funds.

Donations can be made through www.svp.ie by calling 1818 176 176 or by post to Society of St Vincent de Paul, National Office, SVP House, 91-92 Sean McDermott Street, FREEPOST, FDN5235, Dublin 1. DO1WV38.

Proeprty values may fall by 12%

KBC Bank has estimated that property prices here will fall by up to 12% this year.

The prediction is contained in a document prepared for investors and analysts as part of the presentation of its first quarter results.

Peter Roebben, chief executive of KBC Bank Ireland, said the model reflects the correlation between GDP and house prices.

“Our house price drop is just what we would typically see in a 5% GDP drop across the board affecting house prices,” he said.

“The difficulty is of course that there are so many moving pieces in this particular crisis that models that are difficult to run at the best of times are extremely difficult to run now, particularly at the moment.”

The bank’s base case for property values this year is a 12% fall, with an 8% increase in 2021 and 5% rise in 2022.

But in a pessimistic scenario, it says the drop this year could be as much as 20%, with a further decrease of 5% next year, before a 3% recovery in 2022.

Scouting Ireland says sorry for abuse Scouting Ireland said sorry to victims and survivors of sexual abuse in the group which has stretched back over decades.

The chair of Scouting Ireland, Adrian Tennant, made the apology as the report by child protection consultant Ian Elliott on his investigations into abuse in the organisation was published.

Mr Tennant said that Mr Elliott’s learning review into historical sexual abuse, which was commissioned by Scouting Ireland, uncovered “shocking stories of sexual abuse in Scouting over many decades.”

“To date 356 victims and survivors have come forward to Scouting Ireland, to the Gardai, to the PSNI and to Tusla and Gateway to share their stories.

We know of 275 known or suspected perpetrators,” he added.

“Young people in Scouting were abused, sexually and physically, and sometimes violently.

Some alleged perpetrators were serial abusers with multiple victims. The alleged perpetrators were at all

levels within their organisations up to the most senior levels,” he stated. “There is evidence that very senior people knew of, and protected, alleged perpetrators within these organisations.

This ‘cronyism’ led to coverup or looking the other way.

Abuse did happen, it was not responded to in a way that protected the young person or sought to hold the offender to account,” he said.

“Most shockingly of all, Mr Elliott states that based on emerging evidence, that senior volunteers, who were thought to be sex offenders, did share information with each other about their abuse and took steps to facilitate that abuse for each other,” he added.

In his apology, Mr Tennant said Scouting Ireland “unreservedly apologises to the victims and survivors of abuse in scouting who were failed.”

“We are sorry that adults in scouting harmed you. We are sorry that you were not protected. We are sorry that you were not listened to or were unable to tell your story at that time,” he said.

Why you can’t keep that dollar windfall

FIRST the good news: some former students in the county have received an unexpected cash boost from the US revenue department.

Now the bad: tax experts say they should give the money back.

The cash comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security scheme, a stimulus package which aims to support workers in the US, earning less than $75,000 per year, with a one-time payment of $1,200.

Many Irish visa holders who spent time in the US in 2018 or 2019 filed tax returns and did not close down their American bank accounts. The money, intended for US residents only, has been paid into those accounts.

But consultants, Taxback. com, have warned that holding onto the money could have ramifications for those looking to travel to the US in the future.

“People are finding funds in their US bank accounts and are questioning why they are there,” said Laura Mc Hugh of Taxback. “Anyone who finds themselves in this situation should act to rectify it in two ways – firstly, by sending an email to the IRS to flag receipt of the payment and by refunding the money to the IRS. Secondly these people should also amend their previous tax return to a ‘nonresident’ return.”

Taxback.com says there will be no consequences for anyone who takes corrective action now.

May 15, 2020

|03

04|

May 15, 2020

‘Reduce school numbers’

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has said it will be necessary to reduce the number of children attending at one time in almost all schools, given the current guidance around physical distancing.

In its submission to the Department to Education on reopening schools, it warns that this will pose what it said are “huge operational challenges” for schools and clear communication with parents will be necessary.

The organisation has outlined its contingency planning arrangements and key issues of concern for primary and special schools for this school year.

It said there is a clear acknowledgement that it is not possible to observe physical distancing in a primary or special school setting, as it is in shops or other workplaces - particularly among younger children and some children with special educational needs.

It said this is a matter which is of huge concern to their members. The INTO is seeking firm assurances that schools are not re-opened prematurely and then might face a second period of enforced closure.

Remote workers Food for thought: doing extra hours We turn to veg during lockdown

People who are working from home due to the coronavirus are clocking up an extra 38 hours per month - the equivalent of an additional working week - new research shows.

The research, commissioned

by LinkedIn, also revealed that 56% of respondents said they felt more anxious or stressed about work than before the Covid-19 lockdown was introduced.

LinkedIn’s research also found that men were more likely to feel anxious and stressed than women, with 61% of men saying they were

experiencing these feelings while working from home, compared to 54% of women.

The lockdown is also having a greater impact on the stress levels of younger workers, with over 70% of respondents under the age of 24 saying that they feel stressed or anxious as a result of working from home.

Over 63% of 25-34 year olds also reported higher stress and anxiety levels.

This compares to 41% of 45-54 year olds and 34% of those aged over-55.

Working from home has also resulted in 46% of over

55 year olds saying that they missed interacting with their colleagues - compared to just 24% of under-24 years olds.

21% also admitted to feeling lonely.

A total of 36% of remote workers also said the lockdown has affected their ability to focus and 27% said that they have found themselves being easily distracted by their home environment.

Meanwhile, the merging of home and work environments resulted in almost one-quarter of respondents struggling to switch off at the end of the day.

Shoppers cut spending on ready-made meals and bought more fruit and vegetables, turning to healthier eating during coronavirus lockdowns, preliminary results of a research project showed.

People at home also tried new recipes and threw away less food, the survey of 11,000 shoppers in 11 countries, including Ireland, found.

“Amid lockdowns people are eating healthier, are cooking their own food and are consuming more fruit and vegetables,” said Charlotte De Backer, who coordinated the study at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.

As they deserted offices and cooked at home, shoppers cut purchases of microwaveable food in all the countries surveyed – Ireland, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Uganda, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Greece, Canada, and Brazil.

In nearly half of the countries surveyed, shoppers bought fewer salty or sweet snacks, although overall sales remained stable. Consumption of salty,

fat and sweet products usually goes up when people are under stress, but during the pandemic this heightened craving has been fulfilled in many countries with home-baked delicacies, said Ms De Backer, who chairs FOOMS, a research group on food and media at the University of Antwerp.

Consumption of meat, fish and alcoholic drinks remained stable throughout the pandemic.

The survey, based on voluntary online responses from 17 April to 7 May, will be extended to consumers in about 25 countries with final results due by the end of June.

Ms De Backer said the preliminary findings showed clear trends that were unlikely to be modified by new data, as the pandemic has strengthened people’s attention to food and healthier options.

In all surveyed countries people bought more fresh, canned or frozen fruit and vegetables throughout lockdowns, a change Ms DeBacker said could be explained by heightened health concerns.

The HSE has said it hopes to have tests returned within three days and improved contract tracing in the coming months.

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid said almost 270,000 tests have been carried out so far, and outlined targets for the health service from next week.

Mr Reid said he had never seen “so much change” happen so quickly across the HSE as it responds to the crisis, however, he said it needs “to improve” further with testing and tracing.

“The time it takes from taking a swab from a person to get a result. The second is an end-toend turnaround time,” he said, adding that it is all driven by public health guidelines.

He said test results are currently running at around 3% positivity, and those who

test negative will receive their results within two days.

He said 90% of those who test positive will be contacted the following day, and their contacts also. The remainder, who he referred to as “complex”, who may be in nursing homes or intensive care units, will be followed up on in a lot more detail and will take longer.

He said a number of actions that are part of the HSE’s road map relate to “strengthening swabbing centres” with more staff and additional hours that they operate. Mr Reid said the time to get a test result from a lab to the contact tracing team had been 24 hours, but it is now done “in 90 minutes”.

He said most people tested will get their results by text

message, which speeds up the process, and added that automating the results will decrease the backlog.

In terms of lab tests, Mr Reid said they are ahead of the target set at 12,000, when they had a capacity to deliver 15,000.

He said for next week, targets are set to complete 15,000 swabs across the country.

He also outlined a big challenge for the HSE is to design and develop a “future method of operation” to deal with other pandemics.

He said that while the HSE has come under “understandable scrutiny and criticism” in the past, over the last few weeks there has been very “significant mobilisation” to deal with Covid-19, from acute hospitals to community organisations.

HSE hoping for tests back in three days

|05

May 15, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE Did you know not all Pharmacies charge the same?

PURE PHARMACY BRINGS LOWER PRESCRIPTION PRICES TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND

FREE DELIVERY ON PRESCRIPTION DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK! CALL 042 9331344 TO SCHEDULE YOUR DELIVERY

SAVE UP TO 60% ON YOUR PRESCRIPTION

TO FIND YOUR NEAREST PURE PHARMACY VISIT PUREPHARMACY.IE TODAY DONT DELAY - SWITCH TODAY 100% IRISH ORDER ANY OTC MEDICATION ONLINE OWN VISIT PUREPHARMACY.IE TODAY AND GET 20% OFF YOUR ORDER WITH CODE NORTHSIDE2020

ED

06 |

May 15, 2020

insideback

I’m fine but I’d love a bit of flesh!

D

espite seven or so weeks of isolation, we are surrounded by bodies — lone bodies, bodies from afar, bodies on your daily constitutional walk to be avoided, bodies of youths hanging out in groups, bodies in lines outside shops, bodies flattened on screens and, above all, bodies of dead loved ones, and of health workers and carers, the latter not normally praised, now being celebrated.

We are learning a whole new etiquette of, eh, bodies.

Despite a forthcoming easing off of things in Step 1 of the 5-Step plan, social isolation will be with us for some time to come, so we still have to tippytoe around each other, side-step into the near-empty street, calculate distances at entrances to the pharmacist, avoid even eye contact.

It’s strange, somewhat discombobulating, not quite second nature...

The sweating, smelling, holding, stroking body of another becomes for now a distant

memory – while for others, such as those sharing a house with teenagers, it’s just all too much.

We no longer have social communion in the flesh, the handshake or the hug, the secret pleasure of eating out with a friend or lover while seated near strangers.

The saddest thing about the coronavirus is that we can’t help one another through it.

We can’t lay on hands, we can only wash them: in fact, the way we’ve been explicitly told to help is to stay away from one another.

That makes us a little off-centre: social, or rather physical, distancing goes hard against the grain of that gregarious instinct that makes us who we are.

Every other time that we have faced a natural disaster, we have come together: that’s the instinctive, invariable human response to a crisis.

In the wake of an earthquake, a bombing or, in our case, a major storm, most people prove altruistic, urgently engaged in caring for those around them, strangers and neighbours as well as friends and loved ones.

Dr Angus Lloyd, a professional rugby player at Connaught Rugby, who was one of 312 doctors to graduate from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences at a virtual conferring ceremony. Pic: Julien Behal

With coronavirus, none of such altruistic behaviour is possible, health officials and those at the frontline notwithstanding.

There’s little way to be of use except to disappear inside your home, so that you can’t infect anyone. The places we gather

for solace, sport and entertainment are off limits.

It’s not all gloom and doom, though — far from it. My isolation is easy for me as I have plied my trade as an editor and writer from home for almost eight years now. I am well used to the solitary life.

I go for my long walk, most days.

But, if you see me out with an energetic stride, just don’t expect me to be like a rash all over you, up close and personal like.

I am more likely to wave my hacking stick at you from over the wall, a la Father Ted, and shout: “I hear we’re all doomed now (Father)...”

There’s more than a few around each day and those I pass look at me sheepishly, because I’m wearing a bright yellow bandana over my mouth and nose.

I want to say to them: “Don’t you just love TK Maxx for these kind of everyday essentials?”

But I think better, knowing that right now they might have a lot on their plate.

My isolation is not a ‘I’ll never see anyone ever again’ scenario.

I may need veg for tonight’s dinner, so will have to go to the supermarket, my bright yellow bandana around my gob, and the garden shovel with which to hand the veg to the check-out person from a safe distance.

Jesus, but you couldn’t make this up.

Honest, I am fine where I am.

I have work to do, mainly for newspapers and online sites on Covid-19, and my evenings are spent with Netflix and Apple+ TV. I have, too, my books and my poetry (of Heaney and Kavanagh) to protect me. But I am no rock, no island.

WhatsApp and my super, super iPhone 11 is seeing to that.

Like the youngest daughter of a long-time friend texting me to say she is doing a big pasta bake and will drop some off to me should I be short of food. Well, bless her cotton socks.

What a sweetheart (she always was) and she and so many others, in particular neighbours and friends of my children, have in the past weeks restored to a grand scale my faith in human nature.

- Paul Hopkins

May 15, 2020

| 07

08 |

May 15, 2020

May 15, 2020

| 09

10 |

May 15, 2020

May 15, 2020

| 11

12 |

May 15, 2020

opinion&comment

ALONE is there to help you

A

LONE, the organisation which supports older people, has cautioned that current COVID-19 cocooning measures will have long term effects on the physical health and wellbeing of older people across the country.

The organisation is concerned that current cocooning measures are causing a ‘health gap’ among older people which will have a negative impact on their physical health in the coming weeks and months.

The organisation has previously voiced concerns on the impact of cocooning on older people’s mental health, and is now highlighting the long term impacts to physical health as restrictive measures continue.

ALONE has hugely expanded their services since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ireland to meet the needs of older people nationwide, and is running a national helpline for older people

in collaboration with the Department of Health, the HSE, and Local Authorities. Since it launched in March, ALONE’s national helpline for older people has received over 18,784 calls.

In addition to this, ALONE staff and volunteers have made 63,106 calls to older people who needed support. 73% of the older people who called the ALONE helpline in the last week are living alone.

This week ALONE noted an increase in calls regarding nonCOVID related hospital visits, such as injuries related to falls.

While it has now been advised that older people can go outside to exercise, ALONE is urging them to be careful, as long periods of physical inactivity while cocooning may result in deconditioning and loss of muscle mass, resulting in an increased fall risk among older people.

Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls, mostly at home, and falls are the leading cause of injury, disability and admission to nursing

homes for this group.

The organisation has also noted with concern that some older people are unsure about whether to seek needed medical attention for fear of contracting COVID-19 at a GP appointment or in hospital.

ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan stated, “While we welcomed the news last week that cocooning measures would be relaxed slightly and that older people would be able to leave their homes to exercise, we are encouraging older people to take extra care when out walking to reduce the risk of a trip or a fall.

“Last week we saw an increase in the number of calls from people telling us they have fallen recently, or are afraid to go outside their homes for fear of falling.

“We are concerned that a number of older people were ringing for advice on whether they should either call an ambulance or their GP after they had fallen as they were concerned about going to hospital/GP due to COVID-19,” said ALONE

CEO Seán Moynihan.

ALONE has voiced its concern that older people may be missing medical appointments due to fears surrounding the virus, with many older people apprehensive to visit GPs and hospitals in case they come into contact with the virus.

There are concerns that without checkups, existing health issues could worsen and cause long term damage to older people’s health.

The organisation is encouraging older people to talk to their GP for advice on whether they should attend appointments, and to contact their GP or a hospital if they are experiencing any health difficulties.

“We are very conscious of the adverse effects that prolonged cocooning measures are having on older people, and we are urging any older person with existing medical issues to attend checkups and appointments if they have been advised to do so by their GP,” he continued.

“We have received many calls from older people with underly-

ing health conditions who don’t want to visit their GP or hospital because they are worried that they will contract the virus.

“We are urging people to keep existing appointments with medical professionals to prevent their conditions from worsening. As we know, COVID-19 poses increased risks for older people who contract it, but we must also ensure that older people with other health conditions continue to receive medical advice and support.”

Last week it was announced that older people are advised they can go outside to take exercise to maintain their physical and mental health, with Dublin City Council parks allocating a period from 1:30 – 3:30 daily for older people to visit their local park.

ALONE is reminding the general public to respect older people and to avoid using parks during these times.

Moynihan continued, “We have also received an increased number of calls from older people who are afraid to visit their

local park as they are anxious that it will be too busy and they could come into contact with someone carrying the virus.

“We ask that members of the public respect these older people and to refrain from visiting parks during these specified times.”

ALONE is encouraging older people who need advice or support to call their support line, 0818 222 024 from 8am-8pm, seven days a week.

The support line, which is running in collaboration with the Department of Health and the HSE, is available to all older people including those who have not used ALONE’s services previously.

The support line is designed to complement the clinical advice and information being provided by the HSE through its website and helpline.

Contact ALONE on 0818 222 024 if you have concerns about your own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person you know. Further information can be found on www.alone.ie.

| 13

May 15, 2020

WILDLIFE

with Justin Ivory

Welcome to the Cub

ninenottomiss book of the week

seven letters

by Sinéad Moriarty

Fox Cub (Photo Justin Ivory) May is a great month to see foxes as the young cubs born earlier in the spring begin to emerge above ground for the first time.

Breeding in foxes usually takes place over the winter from late November to early February.

Female foxes, vixens, are typically pregnant for 7 to 8 weeks before giving birth to anywhere from 2 to 5 cubs, between February and April.

Only one family (litter) is produced per year.

The vixen gives birth in an underground breeding den known as an ‘earth’. This breeding den is very spartan with no bedding material or other luxuries. The cubs are born on to the bare ground trampled smooth by the adult.

Fox cubs are born blind and deaf and have a dark, chocolate coloured coat and lovely blue eyes. They vixen remains in the earth with her cubs for the first few weeks and the male (dog) fox brings her food.

When they are about 3 weeks old, and particularly if the weather is warm, the cubs will venture outside the earth with their mother and eventually on their own as she goes further afield to hunt.

At four weeks their eyes will start to change colour from blue to amber. The cub in the photo above taken in Dublin at the weekend still has blue eyes so is probably 3 to 4 weeks old.

Cubs start to take solid food from about 4 weeks and will start trying to catch their own food from about 6 weeks.

Typically the vixen will provide them with milk up to 7 weeks old but they will continue to pester her to suckle for long after that if they can get away with it!

As May progresses into June the cubs will spend longer periods outside the earth and further afield during daylight hours.

Playing rough and tumble with each other and practicing hunting and pouncing.

All the skills they will need to survive when they have to go their own way come winter.

Sarah loves being a mother - it defines her.

Every year she writes a birthday letter of love to her adored daughter, Izzy, now seven. And after she falls pregnant, she promises Izzy that the arrival of a baby brother will make their family complete. So when she collapses a few months later, the safe happy life Izzy knows is shattered. With Sarah’s future, and the future of her pregnancy, in their hands, her husband and sister disagree fiercely about her treatment.

Can those who love Sarah get beyond the fog of grief to figure out what’s for the best?

charity of the week

tv show of the week

Marty & Bernard - On The Road Again RTÉ One, Wednesdays, 9.35pm Marty Morrissey and Bernard O’Shea are back for a second run of their road trip TV show. In this brand new three part series, Marty and Bernard meet various people from different communities, who do remarkable things for their community. Each week they will meet a new group, with whom they will set a challenge in order to fundraise for that group.

In the first episode , they meet a group of women from Ballybough in Dublin.

game of the week

HOROSCOPES

film of the week

uncut gems Netflix With his debts mounting and angry collectors closing in, a fast-talking New York City jeweler risks everything in hopes of staying afloat and alive. Returning to the screen with a pulsepounding crime comedy, Josh and Benny Safdie (Good Time, Heaven Knows What) tell the story of Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a charismatic and slippery jeweller. Howard is determined to prove himself a champion in his day-to-day life. Sandler commands the screen with such a nuanced performance that it’s like Howard has been sewn into his skin.

kids film of the week

Aries- This week is a 7 Consider the excellent advice of someone who loves you. You could struggle to achieve goals.

Repay debts.

Taurus- This week is a 7 Technical difficulty could disrupt your communications. Practical demands have your attention.

Gemini- This week is a 7 Avoid jealousies, controversy or conflicting interests. Keep things simple. Meet or beat the budget. Hold out for the best deal, and make a firm offer.

Cancer- This week is an 8 Focus on immediate priorities. A mess requires personal attention. Avoid excess. Postpone nonessential matters.

Leo- This week is a 5 Review and revise your plans. Recent changes require adaptation. Lay low, and stay close to home.

Avoid crowds and chaos.

ISPCC Childline www.Childline.ie

jenga www.monopoly.hasbro.com

The Princess Bride Streaming online

ISPCC Childline is Ireland’s 24-hour active listening service for children. The service is confidential, non-judgmental and free to contact from anywhere in Ireland. Children and young people up to the age of 18 can contact Childline at any time, about any issue which may be on their mind. Childline’s online, phone and text services are all accessible to children and young people 24 hours a day, every day.

Children and young people can reach Childline in the following ways: Chat online at Childline. ie, Call 1800 66 66 66, Text to 50101

Players build motor skills, strategy, and patience while competing with friends. The goal of the game is to pull out a block without letting the stack fall apart — because once the tower falls, it’s game over. Players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower constructed of 54 blocks. Each block removed is then placed on top of the tower, creating a progressively more unstable structure.

Rob Reiner’s beloved classic offers up an alternative fairy tale realm in which nothing is quite as you’d expect, like a Walt Disney yarn filtered through a postmodern prism.

William Goldman’s script is playful and filled with quotable dialogue (“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”) and kids will love its zest, energy and rollicking sword fights. Stardust and others have aped it but the idea of anything matching it is, well, inconceivable.

replay of the week

podcast of the week

documentary of the week

Virgo- This week is a 7 Things could get chaotic in a group situation. Even if you make mistakes, you’re charming. Share diplomacy and tact. Find the underlying humor.

Libra- This week is an 8 Focus on a professional project. Choose private over public engagements. Hunt for efficiencies. Discipline is required.

Scorpio- This week is a 7 Discover enchantments in your own backyard. You may experience delays with long-distance travel and shipping. Studies could get fruitful.

Sagittarius- This week is a 6

You could have an unexpected draw on your finances. Stick to your budget. Don’t buy toys, and convince others to wait.

Marty’s Magical Eurovision Moments Saturday, from 6.55pm, RTE and RTEPlayer Eurovision commentary stalwart, Marty Whelan, says his upcoming Eurovision special will be “looking at some of the mad stuff that goes on in Eurovision”, while “giving a sense” of his own feel of the much-loved annual singing competition. With no Eurovision Song Contest being staged this year, Marty will instead take viewers through the highs and lows of Eurovisions past. From Ireland’s coveted title of most-wins to other stand-out winners like Dana International, the special hour-long show is set to revisit the Eurovision’s magic moments.

The Laughs Of Your Life with Doireann Garrihy podcasts.apple.com/ie The Laughs of your Life is a podcast with Doireann Garrihy at helm. In this series, Doireann aims to delve into the beauty of having a laugh, speaking to guests from all walks of life. From first memories of laughter to being laughed at to “if I didn’t laugh I’d cry” moments, these markers will shape the interviews, bringing out the best in some of Ireland’s most influential people.

Free Solo Disney+ If your friend told you they had decided to free solo climb up the 3,000-foot granite El Capitan wall in Yosemite, California, with no rope, you’d think they had gone barking mad.

But that’s exactly what Alex Honnold set out to do back in 2017. Honnold’s quest to climb the vertical wall was documented by his two director friends Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin as he took on the ascent to become the world’s first person to free climb El Capitan. The won the Academy Award for Best Documentary last year.

Capricorn- This week is a 7 You’re especially attracted and attractive. Collaboration could get messy. Reinforce basic foundational structures.

Aquarius-This week is a 7 Focus your physical and health practices toward strengthening core and basic fundamentals. Don’t force or overdo things.

Pisces- This week is an 8 Have fun with people and activities that you love.

Avoid expense or fuss.

Resolve misunderstandings as they occur.

14 |

NCT set to be off road for months

The Minister for Transport Shane Ross has said because of public health guidelines around social distancing, NCT tests will not be resuming any time soon.

He said the situation was similar for driving tests and that it would “probably be fairly late in the day” when they can resume.

Testing of cars under the National Car Testing programme was suspended on March 28. Driving tests were suspended on April 17 under measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.

In response to questions from Independent TDs Danny and Michael Healy-Rae in the Dáil, the minister said driving tests would be difficult to carry out because of the closeness of people in cars.

Mr Ross said it would be reasonable to speculate that it “will probably be fairly late in the day. The reality is that driving tests will be very, very difficult to introduce under social distancing, and it would be because the distance between people when they’re in cars together is so close… similar with NCT tests.”

May 15, 2020

Under presure: Locals told to conserve water

People in the county are being urged to conserve water as much as possible as fears rise of a water shortage as we enter summer and more and more people return to work.

Irish Water has confirmed that there has been a significant increase in household water usage, with people adhering to government advice and staying at home since mid-March in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

New domestic metering data has revealed that households are using an additional 24 litres of water per person per day, a 20% increase from February.

But to offset this, non-domestic water usage has decreased with many businesses, construction sites, schools, colleges, gyms, hotels, bars and restaurants temporarily closed.

Irish Water is worried that when Government restrictions are lifted, many commercial premises will need to use extra water to clean and flush their plumbing systems, while water usage in homes will continue

Enjoying the sunshine recently were Robbie Freija, Robbie, Nina and Emily May Morris

to remain higher than normal which could put pressure on the water supplies.

As water treatment plants are already working to their maximum capacity, Irish Water is ap-

pealing to the public to conserve water now where they can, so that together we can meet the increased demands on our network when restrictions are relaxed for businesses.

Speaking about the need to conserve water, Irish Water’s Managing Director Niall Gleeson said: “It is really important that everyone follows the HSE guidance on hand-

washing, however, there are some ways to conserve water that will not impact on hygiene.

“We can see a significant change in water usage patterns in commuter belt towns and rural areas where significant numbers of people would usually be out of the house for long periods during the day.

“We are also conscious that we have had an extremely dry spell so we are continually monitoring our water sources for any signs of drought.

“There are some simple measures that the public can take including stopping the use of powerwashers at home; using a watering can rather than a hose in the garden; taking showers over baths; and fix any dripping taps where it is possible to do so,” Mr Gleeson concluded.

Irish Water has published advice and guidance for homes, businesses and farms regarding water conservation, and can be found at www.water.ie/ conservation.

| 15

May 15, 2020

opinion&comment

Better no sport than no crowds

I

miss televised sport a lot. And that’s a surprise because, if, before the Covid-19 crisis, you had asked me about my sports viewing, I would have said it amounted to very little.

I am a Liverpool fan and have always watched them play and I would tune in at weekends to the Sunday Game.

And that was about it, I would have said.

Well, that and the Champions League. I mean, everybody watches the Champions League, don’t they? And the FA Cup. And I had forgotten about the League Cup, whatever it’s called nowadays. And the League of Ireland matches RTE used to show on Friday nights.

And the Saturday games in the GAA’s football championship.

And the hurling.

But, really, I hardly ever watched sport, especially a mad sport like tennis. Although I would sometimes take a peak at Wimbledon. And maybe the French Open.

I’d draw the line at golf, of

Michael Wolsey

course. A good walk spoiled, as Mark Twain said. But if it was the Irish Open, now, or a Major, and an Irish golfer was in with a chance, well, sure, I’d have to watch that. More news than sport, really.

And, of course, there was the Six Nations. And the Heineken Cup. And this was to have been the year of the Olympics and we had medal hopes in rowing and sailing and women’s hockey.

I know little about hockey, less about sailing and nothing at all about rowing. But I was looking forward to it all the same. Yes, I hardly watched sport at all. But I certainly miss it.

However, for all that I would love to see live sport back on our screens, I can’t go along with the Taoiseach’s idea that the GAA championships might be played behind closed doors, for television consumption only.

Big inter-county matches are not just about the players. It is the loyalty and rivalry of the

supporters that turns them into great occasions. An All-Ireland final would count for very little without the roar of the crowd from a packed Croke Park.

It is a different, matter, for, say, the Premier League in England. Its season is almost over and if it takes a few closed-door games to tidy up the business (and give the title to Liverpool!)

then, so be it. There may also be financial considerations for English soccer, although I’m not sure if that often-repeated theory is, in fact, correct. The television companies have already paid for the viewing rights and I don’t think they are likely to pay a second time just because of the present strange circumstances.

Whatever about paying the clubs, we should be talking about whether Sky, and the other big companies, are prepared to refund subsrcribers like me who are paying for a service we no longer receive. But that is beside the point. Even if closeddoor games could spin a profit for English football the same would not apply to the GAA. The Association makes its money from what used to be called gate receipts - ticket money, paying-punters and its share of the cash changing hands at the cafés, bars and shops that are a key part of every good ground and every big match.

So if spectators can’t attend championship games, the GAA should forget about them. Formally call the whole thing off and give both players and fans a bit of certainty. We’ll look forward all the more to the 2021 tournaments.

The Olympics and Wimbledon have bowed to the inevitable and so should the GAA. Not that it really bothers me.

I hardly watch any televised sport.

16 |

dublinvoice.ie May 15, 2020