There are currently only three people in the Dublin area receiving medicinal cannabis according to the Health Service Executive.
The figure was confirmed to TheCity.ie following a freedom of information request.
The Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) was launched in the summer of 2019 by then Health Minister Simon Harris as a pilot programme for five years.
Barry Fuchs (30) from Swords was diagnosed with an inflammatory disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis a few years ago. The condition is a type of arthritis that causes the vertebrae in the spine to fuse.
Speaking to thecity.ie he describes his pain.
“My condition causes me to be very stiff and sore, especially in the mornings there before I move around and do my stretches,” he says.
Once simple tasks such as tying his shoelaces or putting on his jumper have now become ordeals.
“I asked my GP about the medical cannabis but he told me that he doesn’t think I’m at that stage yet, so, maybe if I get very bad he might let me,” he adds with optimism. “I just think medical cannabis could help just take your mind off it at certain points during the day and also help you sleep at night.”
Currently the MCAP only applies to people with multiple sclerosis, people with severe epilepsy or patients suffering bad side effects from chemotherapy. Researchers don’t know for certain if cannabis can ease the symptoms of arthritis, but some studies suggest it helps with pain relieve and aids sleeping.
TD Gino Kenny told thecity.ie that “hopefully the MCAP will be expand to include other conditions. There is an ongoing review into the programme and early next year they will announce if the programme should include any other conditions.”
The People before Profit TD has been a vocally prominent supporter of decriminalising cannabis and legalising medicinal marijuana. Last week he introduced a bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 that would legalise cannabis for personal use. “Seven grams would be personal use,” Mr Kenny tells thecity.ie, adding “this [would be] emulating what has happening in Malta and Luxemburg.”
The bill first needs to be approved by Government TDs before going for a vote. “Hopefully early next year we will have a debate and more crucially a vote to see if the bill should progress to the next stage of the process. Even if it does progress that doesn’t necessary mean it will become law,” Gino warned.
According to Euronews.com, medicinal cannabis has been available in Germany since 2016. The German health minister unveiled plans this month to legalise it for recreational use.
With shining Christmas lights across Dublin City Centre and colourful projections illuminating 16 City Centre locations, Christmas is just around the corner.
While many people are revelling in Christmas, which is widely regarded as the season of giving and spending time with loved ones, there are volunteers for people who are sleeping rough on the streets, not just on Christmas day.
As the number of people who are at the risk of homeless or at risk of homelessness has increased due to the cost of living crisis in Dublin, Dublin Simon Community provides essential services for those who need support.
The Christmas lights on Grafton Street have been switched on. Photo by Injae Kang
“The number of elderly people experiencing homelessness in Dublin has increased by 28 per cent in the last 12 months. A record-breaking number of people will spend this Christmas in homelessness”, Roisin Coulter who is a community and events manager at Dublin Simon Community said.
“As housing supply remains at an all-time low, these people will have no indication of how many more Christmases will be spent this way. Several more will spend their Christmas at home in fear that it may be their last as the cost-of-living crisis pushes more and more people below the breadline”, she said.
Number of People Homeless in Ireland. Source by Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
With over 200 volunteers, choirs, and artists who give up their time during the Christmas days, Dublin Simon Community will plan to hold upcoming Christmas events for the purpose of raising much-needed funds for those most vulnerable in Irish society who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The Sing For Simon event will take place on the 8th of December in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre. Wild Youth, the Lucan Gospel Choir, Curtis Walsh, and others will be performing and showing their support for the event.
Dublin Simon Community will also have a ‘Carolathon’ event, which is 24 hours of carolling on the streets of Dublin. Where Choirs will come together in a relay to raise vital funds for the events and services.
Also, its Christmas events will round off with its traditional Christmas Eve Busk outside the Gaiety Theatre. In the busk, “For over 10 years, some of Ireland’s favourite artists have come down to show their support and raise vital funds for our work”, she said.
Students from Trinity and UCD founded the Dublin Simon Community in 1969 to provide soup and sandwiches to people sleeping rough in the City Centre.
“Dublin Simon works to prevent and address homelessness in Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan. We provide services at all stages of homelessness and enable people to move to a place they can call home”, she said.
In addition to the Christmas events, Dublin Simon Community provides a variety of services for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. A variety of services are provided, including emergency accommodation, soup runs, health care, and treatment.
She spoke about one of the charity events provided by the organization: “Next year will mark the 40th year of what was the Fun Run but is now the Home Run. Home Run is a fun and challenging, five-mile race through our capital’s beautiful Phoenix Park on the first Saturday in October.
“This is more than just a run. Each year members of the public, the business community, students, teachers, Simon staff, volunteers and clients all take part in this fantastic event. They run, walk or jog through the park; coming together as a community to challenge themselves and show their support for those living through the nightmare of homelessness.”
The number of people reaching out to sexual abuse services has almost tripled since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
By Aly McGrath
In 2020, WomensAid.ie recorded that they had 29,717 contacts with the organisation. This is a rise of 10,628 from 2018.
WomensAid is an organisation that works to protect women and children from domestic violence. It offers support to those who have been affected by abuse and work towards receiving justice and social change.
The number of contacts dropped slightly since the climax of the pandemic with it currently standing at 26,906 according to the National and International Statistics on WomensAid.ie.
Covid-19 was found to be one of the busiest years for organisations such as WomensAid. In 2020, Safe Ireland found that within the first six months of the pandemic 3,500 women and 600 children contacted the domestic violence service for the first time. This equates to 19 women and 3 new children every day.
In a press release done by WomensAid on February 15th, 2021, the organisation said that “young women experiencing abuse risk are being left behind during the covid-19 pandemic. Reports from other jurisdictions indicate that instances of image-based sexual abuse have surged since last March.”
In the same press release CEO, Sarah Benson talks of the dangers of online and digital sexual abuse. “We need to remember that you do not need to be living with a partner for them to target and abuse you when you can be achieved through digital and online means. This abuse can disproportionately impact young adults.”
Sexual abuse online or in person can have disastrous effects on a person. 84% of young women have reported that they suffer anxiety, depression and low self-esteem whilst being isolated from family and friends as a result of the abuse. Other results have been reported, such as suicide ideation and hospitalisation due to physical injuries.
“We cannot continue to stand over a situation where such a significant number of young women, many minors, are deeply harmed and traumatised at the hands of current and former intimate partners,” Benson explains.
The organisation announced a new campaign early this year called the ‘Too Into You’ campaign. It provides a wide range of tools and resources for young people including a relationship health check quiz. This quiz checks for the signs of abuse in relationships and has information on legal protection and a guide to staying safe online. The organisation hopes that this campaign may help anyone affected by intimate relationship abuse or concerned about a friend or loved one who is at risk.
“We encourage anyone who is anxious or worried about their relationship to reach out for support and remember if it feels wrong, it probably is.” says Benson.
If you have been affected or know anyone at risk of any topic in this article, please call the WomensAid 24hr National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900 or contact their private chat rooms to receive support and advice.
Staying healthy during winter- your top tips from TheCity.ie. Photo courtesy of iStock
By Johnathon Pearl
Winter is here and exercise is more important than ever, not only for the body but also for the mind.
With temperatures plummeting and evenings getting darker by the day, many people find motivation to exercise extremely difficult and as a result it simply gets lost in routine.
Summer months provide people with a lot more freedom to exercise. A December night in Ireland lasts almost 17 hours and the days start about 4 hours earlier compared to the summer months.
In Winter, particularly on weekdays it can be extremely difficult to get out for a run, go for a cycle and virtually impossible to go for a swim, unless you wanted hypothermia.
So how do people go about exercising in the Winter?
Strength and fitness coach Suzanne Flannagan explained just how important it is to keep up a level of exercise during the winter months and how to train efficiently.
‘’It is very important for young people to do some sort of exercise at all times but especially in the world we live in right now.
‘’With technology so advanced it is so easy for young people to just sit inside with play stations, which keep them entertained until they go to sleep and not exercise at all.’’
‘’We all know it is very difficult in the winter months, (gets dark early) so planning is vitally important. Designate an hour when it is bright to exercise 4 or 5 times a day and it will make you feel so much better about yourself.”
Suzanne Flannagan
‘’Any sort of exercise young people can benefit from, a simple jog out the back of the house, a workout with another family member, whatever people feel comfortable with.”
Flannagan emphasized the need to plan before exercising.
‘’We all know it is very difficult in the winter months, (gets dark early) so planning is vitally important. Designate an hour when it is bright to exercise 4 or 5 times a day and it will make you feel so much better about yourself,” she explained.
‘’Plan a time to exercise at the start of the week or even the night before, so that you know its going to be bright while exercising.
‘You don’t’ have to go outside to exercise’ remarked Flannagan when asked about the shortened days.
‘’Equipment like an exercise bike, a treadmill or even a rowing machine can be used but even getting a matt out in a corner by yourself and doing body weight exercises is perfect. It will give a great boost to your day.
Personal Trainer Gavin McCoy recently moved to Australia to study health and conditioning.
Speaking to thecity.ie he gave tips for exercising in Winter but also commented on studying the benefits exercise can have on the mind.
‘’Exercise is so important, so many studies are done on it, but I still think the majority of people don’t actually realize how valuable it is.’
‘’Learning more about mental health over here, (Australia) makes you become such a big advocate to encourage people to have at least one piece of exercise in their daily lives.’
‘’A lot of fitness advocates that are big on Tik Tok and Instagram constantly talk about taking rest days, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do yoga or stretching. I would be really big on doing a piece of exercise a day.
‘’Some people might not think it but for an exercise Yoga is probably one of the best things you can do. Especially with the early nights, find a peaceful place in your house bring your mat and do some Yoga, it is brilliant for the mind.’’
‘’Of course, running, swimming, cycling help but not everyone likes or can do them, an hour of meditating or stretching are also great ways of feeling better particularly as the days in Ireland are quite short.’’
Talking about his studies he enlightens us on different ways to feel better about yourself and how different ways of exercising appeals to different personalities.
‘’Obviously, exercise is key but some of the ways I have learned that improves your mental health and day to day living are crazy.
‘’One of the probably eye-opening things we were told was having a cold shower at the start of every day. It is crazy because it puts you in such a good place mentally.
‘’I know everyone loves a warm shower and they are nice but, the idea of having a cold shower in the morning is that it’s your first challenge of the day, the idea of a shower like that is that it isn’t supposed to be nice and relaxing it’s all about passing the first challenge of the day, it is brilliant.’’
Gavin also stressed that ‘people should only focus on themselves and not other people.’
‘’I get asked about gym membership all the time, and whether or not people have to get gym membership to exercise, which just entirely isn’t the case. A lot of people focus on other people and what they are doing when all that people should be caring about is themselves.
‘’Going to the gym and working out with other people can be beneficial to some but it can be also quite daunting. It’s all about yourself and what you prefer, constantly thinking about what others are doing can be really difficult on people’ minds and it won’t allow you to get the best out of yourself.’’
Exercising is one of the most important things to do in Winter. Whether it is a run, a cycle, yoga or even swimming, every little helps.
Supporting local has never been more important, with an increasing number of small businesses feeling the strain of the current cost of living crisis. TheCity.ie has created a guide to markets happening all over Dublin.
Munya Market is an up-and-coming late-night market, which takes place in Fegans 1924 on Chancery St. Dublin 7. The late-night market is one of Irelands firsts and started in June this year by Oran Lapettina.
Every Thursday and Saturday from 6pm-10pm, the café consists of stalls selling Jewellery, photo prints, crochet pieces and preloved clothes. Flash tattoos from tattoo artists such as big smoke ink, are also available from €30. The market also hosts open mic and hip hop nights for you to enjoy while browsing the stalls.
Speaking to Olivia Grimes, a student from Maynooth, she described how helpful the market has been for buying and selling clothes at reasonable prices. “I’ve rented a stall at the market before, and it’s really helped me make and save some money as a student”. She added, “it almost feels like a real life Depop, and there’s always a good atmosphere on the night”.
Munya Market have recently began collaborating with The Soundhouse Dublin, to host an extended late-night market. The event is free entry all night and celebrates local talent from tattoo artists to crochet designers. It’s a whole venue takeover, with local DJs playing until 2:30am. Dates for future Soundhouse collaborations can be found on Munya Market’s Instagram.
If you’re on the hunt for a good Flea Market somewhere in Dublin, The Useless Project, hosts a monthly market in The Workman’s Club located near Temple Bar. The founders, Geraldine Carton and Taz Kelleher, have announced they’ll be hosting a Christmas market on the 18th of December.
They stated on their Instagram it’s their biggest flea market yet, with over 50 stalls taking over three floors. Vintage fashion, candles, homeware, crafts, and prints will be found throughout the market, all sustainably sourced and made. Combined with complimentary drinks and music.
The Alternative, a Dublin based cultural hub, are also hosting a Dublin Christmas Flea Market in The Grand Social, on Liffey Street. The market will be taking place from Saturday the 10th of December to Sunday the 11th of December. From 11am to 4pm, the market will consist of 25+ stalls selling fashion, art, and some fun Christmas décor across all four rooms. The venue is expecting a large turn out so to guarantee entry, event tickets can be found here, free of charge.
WeloveMarkets is also hosting their annual Dandelion Christmas Markets, every Sunday from the 13th of November to the 19th of December in the Well located near Grafton St. If you’re looking to support local businesses this Christmas pop down between 12pm to 5pm for unique, personal, and handmade gifts with over 60 stalls across the whole venue.
Jewellery and accessories all handcrafted by Ciarna Pham are available at her own stall, ‘KIKI NA ART’ at this market. Ciarna specialises in hand painted earrings and necklaces of iconic public figures such as David Bowie, Kate Bush and many more.
According to her website, “I studied fine art painting and also love photography, so I wanted to find a way to mix my love for fashion, art and photography in a way that was funky and wearable.”
She added, “I always liked the idea of people wearing religious icons around their neck, however I am not religious myself, so I decided to work on the idea of modern icons.”
If you can’t make these dates, The Liberty Market takes places weekly in Dublin 8 from 9:30am to 4:30pm every Thursday through to Saturday. It’s one of Irelands’ longest running markets, selling freshly made pastries, cakes, and other sweet treats.
If you’re shopping on a budget this Christmas, the market is an ideal alternative to higher end retail shops, offering low prices and great bargains.
On The Liberty Market website they stated, “we work on tiny profit margins (a fraction of your average shop). We have vastly reduced overheads compared to average shops and the overheads which do apply are shared amongst all the traders”.
They added, “we simply have no time for overcharging customers.”
If you can’t find what you’re after there, you can always pop down to the Ha’penny market which takes place every Saturday from 12pm to 6pm. With no market the same as they rotate stall holders each week.
With an abundance of markets to choose from you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect Christmas gifts, that won’t break your bank account, whilst also supporting Irish local businesses.
Taxi’s warn that the shortage of drivers will only increase over the Christmas period.
Taxi rank in the heart of the city.
By Lucy Harris
After two years of staying home, Dublin city is slowly starting to return to her old self.
The beginning of the Christmas chapter only confirms this fact. The streets, now filled with happy shoppers and dotted with musicians give an atmosphere of a pre-pandemic Dublin. December is, without fail, one of the busiest months that Dublin experiences every year.
But, with the average rent in Dublin City Centre sitting at just over €2000 per month, many locals face the daunting experience of trying to return home after a day in town. It’s no secret that Dublin’s transport system is in need of improvement. In comparison to other European cities, it rates pretty low.
Berlin has the U-Bahn, which runs 24 hours, at 15 minute intervals. Paris has the Noctiliens night bus, a series of 47 lines which crisscross the city and outer suburbs of the French capital. Madrid boasts a rate of 89% of its inhabitants living 1 km or less from their nearest station.
In Dublin, after midnight, the options become very limited. The Luas and train cease running, along with the majority of buses. The exception, of course, being the Nitelink, which operates on a Friday and Saturday night with 13 buses running once an hour between midnight and 4am.
For many people, a taxi is the only course of action. The introduction of apps such as, Free Now and Bolt have streamlined the act of getting a taxi. A quick click of a button and within 3 minutes a taxi will apparate, as if from thin air.
But it seems that the demand far outweighs the supply. Reports from individuals who have been left wandering the city centre in hopes of flagging down a taxi for hours after their night out finished, are being told on Twitter. One user expressed his disappointment in the situation, “I’ve been so frustrated lately living in Dublin. Everything is expensive. On top of that, we have a taxi shortage. I was out last night and although my night ended at 1am, I couldn’t find a taxi for an hour. I felt so helpless”.
“Covid played a big part for a lot of drivers”, explained David Dunne, local taxi driver in the Dublin 7 area.
“Before the pandemic, nobody had a second to think, for me anyway I was working over 60 hours a week but then all of a second, I had all of this time.”
He goes on to explain how during the lockdown he switched nights for daytime work. A sentiment that was reflected in a survey released by the National Transport Authority (NTA) that stated that only 29% of registered taxi drivers in Dublin are currently working on Friday and Saturday nights. An element of fear regarding safety also has a part to play for the decreasing amount of taxi drivers left on the streets.
“If a group of drunk people get in the car there’s a way higher risk of something going wrong”, says Dunne. “I’ve had a few cases of people running off without paying or getting sick in the car- if that happens the car is off the road for the night and I’ve lost my income for the week”.
Dunne also goes on to explain how argumentative people can get late at night, saying how a lot of drivers “just don’t want the hassle of it anymore”.
Other contributing factors include the rise in the fees that apps like Free Now take from each journey. Free Now increased the fees that they charge drivers to 15% per journey effective from March 2021.
“When I started it was a 10% fee with Free Now, it keeps gradually getting higher and higher each year”. Dunne also goes on to talk about how, because of these fees, many drivers opt to switch off the app during busy periods and attempt to avail of cash payments.
So what does the future look like? Well, according to Dunne, the announcement of a 6am closing time for nightclubs should ease the load. “At the moment everyone in Dublin is looking for a taxi at 3am because that’s when everything ends. I’m hoping the new rules give us a bit more of a gradual night of work” ends Dunne.
Two African men install solar panels neatly on a residential roof of a house near the ocean. Sustainable living. Photo credit- Unsplash
Solar panels, an option for combatting increasing energy bills
By Nimra Ahmed
There is a climate and biodiversity emergency across the world, yet Ireland has been slow in finding solutions to slash the rising costs of energy.
An attractive system for household electricity generation could be solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
Most solar PV systems feed excess power back to the electricity grid where it is consumed by residential, commercial and industrial users. These solar panels would be an additional source of domestically generated energy and help reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels.
According to a national study of domestic solar potential, if residents fitted solar panels it could reduce electricity bills by €900 per annum and produce 36 per cent of all residential demand. The solar PV system would pay for itself in seven years. Furthermore, the EU policy aspires to have rooftop panels for all new residences by 2029.
The MaREI Research Centre at University College Cork used satellite data to look at every rooftop in Ireland and found there was enough roof space for 10 solar panels in more than one million homes. Furthermore, residents could also benefit from a substantial grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Developers also approached Irish landowners for potential solar farms. As of January 2012, farmers who want to install a solar PV system can claim back the VAT incurred on the purchase of the system.
The review of Irish planning laws began in 2019 but it has taken an energy crisis to push the government into action three years later. The government has finally decided to amend its very restrictive planning rules. As of 2022, the Irish government has said that homeowners will be paid for the exported electricity they produce through their solar PV system to the grid by their energy supplier.
However, the initial €200 million fund to provide grants to install these panels is not enough and should be increased. Households were given up to €2,400 to install solar panels, this should be doubled to up to €4,800 so that families who are eager to get the benefits but can’t afford the upfront payment can avail of the scheme.
“The Climate Action Plan process outlines a series of actions that need to be taken by government, by sector and by citizens to meet the ambitious target of a 51 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2023.”
Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
The government also has plans to put solar panels in every school in the country. Another step Ireland has taken towards sustainability is wind turbines. This has helped in cutting costs and increasing productivity for the future.
Do you think the government will give more incentives to farmers to increase the number of wind turbines to make it 100% on all farms?
“The government is fully committed to and recognises the benefits of the deployment of renewable technology at a farm level, as a cost-saving measure and a diversification opportunity as well as contributing in a positive way to the decarbonisation of the energy system. Under the Microgeneration Support scheme, micro-wind is one of four technologies included for support. More details on this scheme can be found here. Homes, farms, businesses and communities to benefit as Eamon Ryan, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, announces the Micro-generation Support Scheme,” said Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
What can farmers in Ireland do on a small scale that would help increase sustainability on their farms?
“At a farm scale, there are three ways in which farms can increase their sustainability by: reducing absolute emissions through activities such as reducing chemical fertiliser at farm level, using low emissions slurry spreading (LESS) technologies for spreading animal manures and adopting nutrient planning at a farm level.
“Increasing carbon sequestration through forestry and better management of organic and mineral soils.”Increasing carbon sequestration through forestry and better management of organic and mineral soils.
“Contributing to sustainable energy through adopting energy efficiency measures, deployment of renewables and the provision of bioenergy materials as a displacement for fossil fuels and energy-intensive materials. The Teagasc Signpost Farm Programme provides further details on the types of measures that can be taken at a farm level: Signpost Programme – Teagasc I Agriculture and Food Development Authority, said McConalogue.”
Do you think rural Ireland is doing enough to meet the future demands of Carbon footprint?
“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require an economy-wide and all-of -L approach where each member of society will have an important contribution to make, including rural Ireland. The Climate Action Plan process outlines a series of actions that need to be taken by government, by sector and by citizens to meet the ambitious target of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2023. Agriculture must and will play its part in meeting this objective to ensure that we have economically and environmentally sustainable rural and coastal communities, said McConalogue.”
Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Photo Courtesy of Charlie McConalogue.
“Systems cost roughly between €4,500 and €5,500 typically, to include the inverter, controls and meters. Solar users prioritize their energy, first on the fridge, then the cooker, lights, laptop and other devices, and directing any excess to hot water if they have a hot water diverter installed,” James Boland (48) a solar panel installation businessman.
“Unwieldy planning processes are hindering Ireland’s transition to cleaner energy with unnecessary delays. But there has been an increase in domestic solar PV panels after the government’s incentives. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough trained workers to put in the panels, so even when homeowners are keen on it, they aren’t ready to wait for a long time for the installation, said Boland.”
With recent reports stating that the new National Children’s Hospital (NCH) is 80% complete, it would be an understatement to suggest that the long-awaited project has come with its criticisms of the escalating cost and timeframe of the project.
The National Children’s Hospital under construction in 2018. Photo source: bamireland.com
First recommended by the Royal College of Surgeons in 1993, it was February 2006 before the HSE commissioned a report which recommended the merging of the three existing children’s hospitals; Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s Hospital and the National Children’s Hospital in Tallaght.
In 2007 the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) was established, choosing The Mater Hospital in Dublin 7 as the location for the new hospital. This plan was nullified in 2012 by An Bord Pleanála as it would overdevelop the Dublin skyline.
In June 2012, The Government announced that St. James’ Hospital in Dublin 8 would be the location for the NCH, despite criticisms of access and its central location. A projected delivery date of early 2018 was also announced.
With an original estimated cost of €500 million, and an agreed location, a series of delays arose for the Government in the following years.
Rising cost: the cost of the National Children’s Hospital has risen by over €1.2 billion since its Dublin 8 location was first agreed
Planning permission wasn’t granted until 2016, prior to the then Minister for Health Leo Varadkar announcing an additional €150 million in costs for the project in August 2015, bringing the estimated cost to €650 million.
Further delays in the process came about the following year, as it wasn’t until April 2017 that the hospital was signed off on by Varadkar’s successor in the role, Simon Harris.
Harris denied that the budget for the hospital had spiralled out of control, despite the cost rising to over €1 billion.
“We are doing an awful lot more than was estimated in that figure – we did not include the hospital school, the third level research centre, the retail and the parking. It didn’t include the equipping and it certainly didn’t include making this Ireland’s first digital hospital,” said Mr. Harris in April 2017.
“I expect, and the government expects, for this to come in on budget and on time.”
It did not, and the estimated cost rose again to €1.433 billion in December 2018 when Leo Varadkar addressed the Dail on the project.
Fast forward to April 2022, when current Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly confirmed that costs have risen to €1.7 billion, while the hospital still hasn’t been built, over four years after its first estimated delivery date of early 2018.
As things currently stand, the new opening date for the NCH is September 2024, as was announced at the hospital’s media tour last month. It was also announced that the project is now 80% complete.
Current reports have suggested that the total costs for the project could exceed €2 billion, with Minister Donnelly refusing to rule out this possibility.
It’s official; everyone and their cousin has been to Amsterdam, and everyone who hasn’t been always talks about wanting to go. But what if you want something different? Something similar to Amsterdam but cheaper and without the swarms of tourists?
Next time go off the beaten track and follow this guide to the Netherlands’ second largest city, Rotterdam.
Known as the gateway to Europe, this architectural wonder of a city is only 40 minutes outside of Amsterdam. It is full of amazing food, amazing things to do and amazing people. Here is The City’s guide to Rotterdam.
Culture/Cultuur
Rotterdam is full of modern art museums and some of the coolest architecture you have ever seen. There’s even a dance culture for those who love a boogie.
For art lovers, visit Depot Boijmans van Beuningen; the first ever publicly accessible art depot in the world. Called the giant’s mirror, it’s truly a wonder for architecture lovers and art lovers alike.
Go see the famousKubuswoningen (Cube Houses) and even get inside. Built in 1977 these houses are designed as high-density housing with enough space on the ground lever, while still having amazing space inside. And for only 3 euro you can get inside one of these houses and see it for yourself.
Get ready to dance the night away in some of Rotterdam’s famous dance clubs. Cultuurpodium Perron is the most famous, it has even hosted Boiler Room sessions for native Rotterdam DJs like Bas Mooy.
Rotterdam is full of some seriously amazing food. Check out these restaurants on your next visit.
Go to Café de Beurs for some traditional Dutch bitterballen. Bitterballen are deep fried beef stew balls, found across the country usually as an accompaniment to some pints. You can get them in most pubs, but Café de Beurs have the best in the city!
Address: Kruiskade 55, 3012 EE Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Grab a beer and some burgers in BrewDog Outpost Rotterdam. Serving 18 different craft beers this brewpub has 10 fermenters and 10 serving tanks, this pub always has a class smell of brewing beer.
For the best burger in Rotterdam take a trip to Ter Marsch & Co. After opening in Rotterdam in 2014, they have gone on to win many awards and even opened a second location in Amsterdam! Last year they even won the best burger in the country!
Address: Witte de Withstraat 70, 3012 BS Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Shopping/Inkopen
Rotterdam is full of local markets and vintage shops you absolutely have to see!
Visit the wonderful Markthal for some of the best small shops and Asian food in the city. Every Tuesday you can also visit the food and clothes markets that happen in the square outside. Only a stone’s throw from the cube houses, it makes for a great day out!
Address: Rev. Jan Scharpstraat 298, 3011 GZ Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Go treasure hunting in the best vintage shop in the city, Cheap Fashion. Filled with two floors of stunning vintage clothes, shoes, and accessories: it’s a fashion lovers haven.
For the music lovers, head over the road from Cheap fashion to discover the very cool Songs for Sale. Full of new and used records as well as some rare ones, stock up your music collection before heading home (if your case isn’t too full already!).
Address: Meent 22A, 3011 JK Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Meath Ladies GAA footballer Emma Duggan was nominated for the 2022 TG4 Player’ Player of the Year award, following a stellar season.
Despite her success at both club and county level, Duggan was pipped to the award by Donegal’s Niamh McLoughlin.
Duggan – who is clubmates with previous POTY winner, and current AFL player Vicki Wall – starred as Meath completed back-to-back All-Ireland wins beating Kerry. An icon in football in Ireland, Duggan kicked 1-12 in this year’s championship.
Reflecting on the year, Duggan expressed her delight at starring in another All-Ireland final.
‘’It was just great to be back on that stage competing for another All-Ireland. I would say a lot of people had sort of wondered if we could do it again after being a bit of a surprise package last year,” Duggan said.
“We weren’t really playing as well as we could have, certainly at the start of the year, but as the year went on, we got better and better.”
Meath’s All-Ireland bid had stuttered with a draw to Armagh, meaning they would face Galway in the quarter-final in Tullamore. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock and the game level, Duggan stepped up and scored a ‘buzzer beater’ point to win the game.
‘’It was a great win in Tullamore, we always knew that Galway were going to be such a tough team to play against and it went right down to the wire,” Duggan said.
“The ball kind of just came to me and I didn’t really have a lot of time to think about what I was going to do with it, I was just delighted when I saw it went over, even though it held in the air for a long time,” she added.
Beating Donegal in the semi final set up a clash with Kerry in the final, which Meath would later win in style. Duggan’s well rounded performance contributed to their nine-point win.
‘’Kind of like our year, we got better as the game went on. We obviously didn’t start well but the goals in the second half gave us a bit of a cushion,” Duggan said.
‘’I remember having the ball as the clock was ticking down. Honestly, it’s one of the best feelings ever to know all the hard work has paid off.”
Following the Championship success, Duggan also won her first Senior Division One league title, beating Donegal on a scoreline of 2-8 to 1-9. It completed all the accolades she could win after winning both trophies at Junior and Intermediate levels.
‘’The league was a weird one because we were coming back from being All-Ireland champions. We had two great games with Dublin and then a really close battle with Donegal in the final,” Duggan said.
After the Inter-County season, Duggan won her third Meath ladies final in a row with her local club Dunboyne, scoring 1-9 in the decider. A hectic season came to an end, finishing with her third title.
Duggan told thecity.ie of her delight at winning yet another County title:
‘’To win three-in-a-row with Dunboyne was a special feeling. We weren’t great in the final, but we got the job done against a really good Dunshaughlin team and that’s all that matters.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.