Election 2024 . Not that one, though the Trump victory is sure to influence some of what we are threatened and promised. presumably we'll have a date soon.

[DeanElderberry]

Any wise thoughts?

@Marblesbackagain

That is assuming locals have knowledge on how to do that.

It is not uncommon for a huge amount of kids to leave school without adequate reading and writing.

That's why this is the time to push your new elected representatives to help things change. Foroige. Some physical activities for the young that don't involve them getting hit and facing an old age with Parkinson's or dementia. Is Pride of Place already operating in D1? If not, get the brochure and turn up in the offices of each of your new TDs and demand help.

Yes but honestly boxing wouldn't be on my horizon for my children. And it was always known it area that there were links to unsavoury people.

Dancing (many styles), basketball, gymnastics, climbing wall, badminton, tennis, GAA . . .

Not being hit, or hitting.

Yes but if there is a link to criminality my children aren't going within a mile of it.

Another reason for a Pride of Place tie-in, organisations looking for public support and funding always need a bank account and a tax clearance certificate and named officers with PPS numbers and verified addresses.

Scrutiny. Which will be resisted (possibly with threats and menaces) by anyone with organised crime links, which in turn is why you need an umbrella for civic groups to combine under, and why politicians and the local authority have to give their support and be visible while doing it.

I used to volunteer my time to help people fill in SW forms, MC forms etc.

It was supposed to be 3 hours a month, it completely snowballed. I had to stop as I was inundated and had people coming to my door.

There is a fear of asking the community welfare office for help as they will stop my money mindset.

There are serious challenges in the D1 none of which GH could fix.

But the people believed he could.

I would really like the situation with GH to be the thing that has politicians ask what the hell is going on?

But that needs to start grassroots. They need to reach out to everyone, not relying on representatives which are not representing but have held the position for decades and won't be giving it up.

That is another issue within the local communities. That was something I tried to do, go on the local residents committee and it was not a hope.

oh, yes, the gangs of four who run the Tidy Towns/History society/Graveyard group committee for 30 years and are unchangeable until they die off. And never have new ideas, because why would they? Very familiar.

Never heard of pride of place.

But I have just googled and downloaded the brochure.

I will look through it.

I do want to try to help install hope and change just struggling myself with how.

We can't/aren't the only community who is living this. I need to see what they did

That's the mindset, even after the horrendous last few years of murders.

It's hard to understand when you haven't been steeped in it for generations and know nothing else.

It is uncommon now the statistics show the literacy issues are higher amongst older people. Children are getting more support and the old drumcondra tests flag up any systemic issues.

I wholeheartedly believe the capacity is in that community. What is lacking is adequate support and long term funded projects that allow those people to take up those roles.

FF are supporting Verona Murphy for Ceann Comhairle apparently.
I wonder how the people in her Wexford constituency who voted her in feel, now, that she will be unable to work for or advocate for them for the term of the Dáil.

Seán O Fearghaile, the Current Ceann Comhairle is putting his name forward for another Dáil term at the job

Angus O' Snodaigh's name is in the ring too - does anyone else remember the printing ink cartridges worth over €50,000 he took, lawfully, from the Dail stationary store - for constituency work, over 2 years.
That’s a lot of letters to constituents .

Anyone been following this afternoon's shenanigans? I switched the radio on at 4.30 and am agog.

Can you summarise and say who was at fault?

TBH I haven't, just as I didn't follow the Trump inauguration, following it in real time is a bit too much to deal with. I'll read the reports and summaries..
But now I feel guilty about not keeping up with such important events so I'll grit my teeth and turn on the News.

Oh they're talking about the weather not the Dáil - another stormageddon on the way😱
I feel so sorry for the met people - if they give a storm warning they are wokesters keeping sheeple in a constant state of fear, if they fail to give a storm warning, it's 'Why weren't there any warnings!'

Those Other Ones

according to

All Of Them

with a side order of backatcha and so's your mother.

The weather enthusiasts on boards.ie seem convinced this storm is going to be seriously bad, so I suppose I'd better buy some more cat food to replace the stuff the little rotters have eaten since the snow. Maybe some food for me too.