Olympic hero returns
Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington has said “it is so nice to be finally home” and is “delighted” to be bringing the gold back to the north inner city”.
The boxer has landed at Dublin Airport and will shortly make her way to her family home in Portland Row in the inner city, where she is expected to arrive by open-top bus.
In a message delivered through Dublin City Council, the 31-year-old who arrived shortly before 1pm, added: “Winning the gold is a huge honour and I’m so grateful for all the support from my family, my local community and my country.”
Rents still rising
Rents in the second quarter of this year in Ireland were an average of 5.6 per cent higher than the same period in 2020, according to a report from Daft.ie.
The average monthly rent stood at €1,477 in the second quarter of 2021, up 2.4 per cent on the first three months of the year and almost 99 per cent from a low of €742 per month seen in late 2011.
In Dublin, rents are just 0.5 per cent above the level seen a year ago, but other cities have seen much larger increases – rents in Cork, Galway and Limerick cities are between 9 per cent and 10 per cent higher than a year ago while in Waterford they are nearly 12 per cent higher.
Nationwide, there were just 2,455 homes available to rent on August 1st, an all-time low in a series that extends back to January 2006.
Climate crisis
Former president Mary Robinson has said it is time for Ireland to set out its “actual plan” to tackle climate change.
A landmark report on the catastrophic impact of global warming, published by the UN on Monday, said the world will reach or exceed temperature rises of 1.5 degrees Celsius over the next two decades.
Ms Robinson, the chairwoman of international non-governmental organisation The Elders, said that the country is no longer a “laggard” when it comes to climate change, but there is still plenty of work to be done.
“Now we need to see the actual plan, the steps, and that does need not just the Government’s leadership but Government and opposition leadership,” she said.
Tyrone murder
Two people have been charged over the death of a two-year-old girl in Co Tyrone.
The child, named locally as Ali Jayden Maguire, died in hospital on Friday after sustaining head injuries at a house in Dungannon.
The PSNI said in a statement a 32-year-old man has been charged with murder and perverting the course of justice, while a 24-year-old woman has been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice.
‘Robot trees’
Controversial new “robot trees” installed in Cork city centre promise to absorb 80 per cent of fine dust particles from the air.
Five high-tech CityTrees, costing €350,000 a year to maintain, are being installed at St Patrick’s Street and on the Grand Parade near the City Library.
Cork City Council said the trees will help combat fine dust particles and other pollution associated with traffic congestion.
But atmospheric scientist Dean Venables said the devices are “a costly and ineffectual gimmick” and will have no meaningful impact on the city’s air quality.
