Jim McCarthy sadly died on 16th November 2006. He was a long time member of Ringsend Active Retirement Association and will be greatly missed by all the members.

RETURN OF THE WREN BOYS
The Wren Boys events will take place on St Stephen’s Day, 26th December, as usual on Sandymount Green.

There will be a Poetry Reading at 11am at Gus Ryan’s Sandymount House Pub. The Gig Rig will swing into action at 12 midday with entertainment from the Swords Mummers, City Fair, Mick Lacey and the Ned O’Shea Set Dancers from the Merchant Pub in Dublin. There will also be various musicians from around the city and country.

Thanks for all the hard work to the Wren Boys committee: Tom Ahern, Pat McEvoy, Anne Curran, Bob Ryan and Grand Marshal Mick O’Brien.

ANDREWS APPOINTED TO DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL
Chris Andrews, Fianna Fáil General Election candidate in Dublin South East has been co-opted to become a new member of Dublin City Council in the South East Inner City.

Following his appointment he said that Dublin was a wonderful city but faced many serious challenges to becoming a truly great city. “Dublin has all the potential to become a strong community and business-friendly city. To achieve that Dublin City Council must take a lead in protecting parks and green spaces, providing more play facilities and ensuring easy access to all-weather sports facilities.”

He also called for acceleration by the City Council of measures “to halt the decline of Grafton Street.”

Councillor Andrews concluded by saying: “It is an honour to represent the people of the South East Inner City and to have the opportunity to have a direct input into the further development of the city.” He also paid tribute to Councillor Garry Keegan for his work on the Council.

NEW STRIP FOR CAMBRIDGE BOYS' TEAM
The people at Ringsend Credit Union, pictured above, recently presented a new set of jerseys to Cambridge Boys’ football team.

SINN FEIN SELECT DOOLIN FOR DUBLIN SOUTH EAST
Sinn Féin has selected Cllr. Daithí Doolan to contest the forthcoming General Election for the party in Dublin South East.

Following a unanimous vote at the recent electoral convention, Doolan is set to make history by being the first republican to take a seat in Dublin South East since Countess Markievicz in 1918.

Cllr. Doolan said: “I am looking forward to this election. I have no doubt that it will be challenging but I have every confidence that we will make history and win the seat. Our campaign will be positive and it will be about offering real and relevant solutions to the problems that face people here in Dublin South East.”

Pictured above are Mary Lou McDonald MEP and Cllr. Daithí Doolan.

STAND UP, BOYS AT THE BACK!
An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD is pictured with Chris Andrews and Jim O’Callaghan
during a recent visit to Star of the Sea School, Sandymount.

LIAM'S WINTER WONDERLAND RETURNS TO BATH AVENUE
Liam Tilley of Bath Avenue is clearly a man who loves Christmas! Every year at this time we can depend on him to put on a wonderful display of Christmas lights in the garden of his house.

Not surprisingly, Liam worked for the ESB and setting up the lights takes about five days. Liam also has a wishing-well where passers-by can donate money, which is sent to a deserving cause each year. The house is easy to find!

SERIOUS FUN
Explore Lesotho, southern Africa’s mountain kingdom with Barretstown in May 2007
Barretstown’s ethos is all about Serious Fun and its therapeutic recreation programmes help thousands of children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Next May the children’s charity is inviting you to have some Serious Fun by participating in its Lesotho Challenge, a journey of a lifetime through the magical kingdom of Lesotho, to raise money so that more children can visit Barretstown.

The 2007 Challenge will see participants trek through unknown wilderness areas in Southern Africa’s mountain kingdom introducing them to the astonishing culture and scenery of Lesotho and the Drakensberg Mountains.

The ten-day trek covers approximately 100km and gives trekkers the chance to make lifelong friends and take part in a journey of personal discovery as they take on new challenges and experiences.

For those wishing to take part in this unique challenge, there are two treks in May– from May 2nd to 12th and May 16th to 26th, 2007. A fund-raising target of €5,000 has to be achieved. This includes international flights and all meals and accommodation. Further details may be obtained on www.barretstown.org

ALL IN THE FAMILY!
Joann, Anthony and Ann Carroll of Ringsend. Mother and Daughter, Joann and Ann graduated with a Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management, while son, Anthony received a Higher Certificate in Business from the National College of Ireland.

LAUNCH OF W.T. COSGRAVE BIOGRAPHY
The launch of the book ‘W.T. Cosgrave 1880–1965, Founder of modern Ireland’, written by Anthony J. Jordan, took place recently.

After taking part in the 1916 Rising, Cosgrave was sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment, before becoming one of Ireland’s most influential politicians.

Pictured are, from right, Enda Kenny TD, leader of Fine Gael, Anthony J. Jordan, Councillor Lucinda Creighton and Paddy McCartan.

CHRISTMAS ON THE CORNER IN RINGSEND
Full marks must go to Eugene at Ringsend Barber Shop for the lively and imaginative exterior! It has become a seasonal canvas. At Halloween, the shopfront was vividly decorated with witches and ghoulies. Now, the corner premises is covered with snowmen and Santas. The window display at Brown Thomas pales by comparison!

TANAISTE DROPS IN AT RINGSEND COMMUNITY CENTRE
The Tanaiste, Michael McDowell, recently visited the Ringsend Community Centre. He is pictured above with Terry Wright, May Kane, Lorraine Brady and Peter Tobin. The Tanaiste said that the Centre was a ‘fantastic facility’. He reminisced about the former Community Centre where he had his clinic: “It was a barn of a place and freezing cold,” he said. When asked about the incinerator, Mr McDowell reiterated his opposition to it and said “it makes no sense and is totally unacceptable.”

IRISHTOWN HEALTH CENTRE
Planning permission for the new Irishtown Health Centre was refused recently leaving a gap of three months before a new application can be submitted. However, some services have moved already. The Mental Health Unit under Dr. Freda O’Connell that practised on Wednesday afternoon has moved to Baggot Street at the same time of the week. The Dental practice has moved back to Dún Laoghaire and Cornmarket.

There are still two G.P. Doctors in practice every morning, Dr John Ryan is in between 9.30 and 11.30am, with Dr. Tony O’Sullivan is in from 10am until 11.30am and 2pm until 4pm.
The Welfare Officer is open between 10am and 11.30am Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as usual.

OLD DUBLIN CINEMAS
George Kearns and Patrick Maguire have produced a book recording the history of old Dublin cinemas entitled ‘A to Z of All Old Dublin Cinemas’. The book is a definitive reference book and a mine of information.

George Kearns is a distant relative through marriage to the Murphys of Ringsend and his distant cousins may well be surprised to know that William Murphy, a Stevedore of Cambridge House, Cambridge Road was to the fore in introducing the cinema to Ringsend in 1925.

He and a number of other directors opened the Rinn Cinema in Fitzwilliam Street on November 14th 1925. People from Sandymount may also be surprised to know that there were two cinemas operating in Serpentine Avenue in the first quarter of the 20th century, namely the Assembly Picture Hall and of course the Shed which was most commonly known as the Shack.

ST ANDREW.S CHURCH CHOIR CD
St Andrew’s Church Choir, Westland Row has launched their CD ‘A Christmas to Remember’. The album, displayed above by Jennifer Wetter, is a collection of the most popular and favourite festive songs and carols. The CDs are selling for €15 and may be obtained from Veritas, Abbey Street, The National Gallery of Ireland Book Shop, St Andrew’s Resource Centre and St Andrew’s Church Office, Westland Row. The charity ‘Relay for Life’ (Irish Cancer Society) and St Andrew’s Church and Organ refurbishment will benefit from CD Sales.

ANN HAS WITNESSED HISTORY
Annie Fitzpatrick [nee Hanlon] was born on December 15th 1906 in Pembroke Cottages Ringsend. She was one of eight girls and has one sister living in Luton.

Annie has been a guest of the Royal Hospital Donnybrook for a number of years now. You may remember her as the lady who always wore a hat going to daily mass in Ringsend. She has witnessed two world wars, the 1916 rising, the advent of radio and TV, the four changes of currency to mention but a few.

TODDLING FOR MENINGITIS TRUST

Toddle Waddle is one of the Meningitis Trust’s annual fundraising events, raising in excess of €125,000 each year for the charity. St. Matthew’s Pre-School, above, raised over €400 for the trust.