News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Protesters at the Occupy Galway camp say they have no intention of leaving Eyre Square as they begin their 130th day of demonstrating against austerity cutbacks and the bailout of the bankers.

Some members of Galway City Council might prefer if they would vanish into thin air, but the committed group of activists who have camped out for over 18 weeks said they are not going anywhere.

The activists have had little or no contact with city officials since they began their protest in October, and only learned that the Council intends to take legal action in order to move them on through local media reports last week.

The protesters said that Gardai on the beat have been “really brilliant” since they set up the encampment and, apart from the odd exception, even the late night drunks have been supportive of Occupy Galway.

(Source: Connacht Sentinel)

KERRY

A 20-year-old Firies man involved in the "scandalous, wanton destruction" of a Killorglin graveyard last May, has agreed to pay compensation totaling ****3,500 to relatives of the deceased whose graves were damaged.

Aaron O'Loughlin appeared before Killorglin District Court to face a charge of criminal damage at Dromavalla Cemetery on May 5. The court heard how three people were involved in the incident as O'Loughlin had been accompanied by two minors, both born in 1995, and he made a full admission following his arrest.

(Source: The Kerryman)

KILDARE

A three year rebranding program aimed to change the negative perceptions of Athy to positive, was presented to members of Athy Town Council at their February meeting.

The councilors heard that the Brand Athy project, which began in October 2009 and runs until September 2012, is 75% funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), while Kildare County Council funds the remainder. Athy is one of four towns in Ireland and Wales availing of the project along with Rhyl, Holyhead and Dún Laoghaire.

The presentation on the project was delivered by Brand Athy coordinator Patricia Berry, who explained why Athy was chosen for the project.

“The four towns chosen all had one thing in common and that was an issue of perception. There are five different groups whose perception of a town is important and these are local residents, local businesses, the tourism and hospitality sector and external opinion formers. The project aims to develop and test a method of place rebranding.”
 
(Source: Kildare Nationalist)

KILKENNY

A 50-member marching band from the University of Notre Dame, complete with cheerleaders, is set to participate in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Kilkenny city.

The group representing the Indiana university known as “The Fighting Irish” will give a public performance on the Parade Plaza on March 16.

With 50 band members, plus cheerleaders, managers and team, the blue-and-gold clad performers are sure to put on a show the city won’t soon forget.

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Nster.com