Posts filed under 'General'
Setanta Cup Challenge
USA Rugby will host its second annual Setanta Challenge Cup, featuring the USA Eagles versus the 2008 Heineken Cup champions, Munster, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., on Saturday week, August 23 at 3 p.m. (EDT).
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Canyon International & Oceanico Group Sponsor Munster Rugby Golf Classic
Canyon International Property Ltd and the Oceanico Group, the largest Golf & Leisure company in Europe and second largest in the world have agreed a three year sponsorship deal with Munster Rugby- sponsoring the ever popular Munster Rugby Golf Classic.
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Upcoming Coaching Courses
Have you signed up yet?
Make sure you are covered to coach at the correct level and sign up to one of the many coaching courses organised by the Munster Rugby Development Office this season.
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August 15th, 2008
Players Move Upstairs
Three players who retired from the senior squad at the end of last season - Anthony Foley, Mossy Lawlor and John Kelly - will remain involved with Munster at various levels.
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2008 Meteor Munster Sevens Tournament
Munster Rugby officially launch the Meteor Munster Seven’s Cup, the second annual club sevens rugby tournament in the province. This year’s event will take place on Saturday 30th August at Garryowen F.C.
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August 8th, 2008
Leamy out until Christmas
An operation on a shoulder will keep Denis Leamy out of action until end of November or early December.
The Tipperary man will undergo the surgery next Monday. Leamy had been troubled by the injury for past while and examination after the end of the tour to New Zealand and Australia confirmed the need for the surgery.
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McGahan’s team nears completion
The announcement of Laurie Fisher as Munster Forwards coach, firmly ticked one of the boxes that remained open in Tony McGahan’s coaching staff.
Fisher, who was coach to the ACT Brumbies for the past number of seasons succeeds another Brumbies man, Jim Williams, and he (Fisher) returned to Australia the following day to put his affairs in order before returning to take up his new role alongside McGahan.
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Munster U18 and U19 Summer Training
The nine week training programme is well underway at this stage, with the ultimate goal of identifying next season’s U18 and U19 Interprovincial sides.
The nine week programme will culminate with both camps taking part in an intense, week-long training session in Clongowes. Players from all over the province have been selected to take part in the training, which incorporates outdoor skill sessions and gym conditioning programmes utilising Munster Rugby resources.
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July 11th, 2008
The Dublin Events team have been running a competition on our behalf on their website www.dublinevents.com over the past couple of months and we would like to extend a very warm welcome to the Dublin Events team on their visit to Shelbourne Park this evening.
The result of all their work is that 310 people are enjoying their visit to Shelbourne tonight and one of them will win the overall prize of Dinner for Four in our magnificent Dobbins Restaurant.
We hope all our guests have a fantastic evening with us and that many of them will return in the future to sample the unique entertainment package that is Greyhound Racing at the home of greyhound racing, Shelbourne Park.
We race here at Shelbourne every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday with doors opening at 6.30 p.m and racing commencing at 7.55 p.m.
Restaurant bookings can be made by ringing 1890 269 969 (1890 BOW WOW)
June 3rd, 2008
Foley To Lead Munster
Squad announced for Munster’s final Magners League game of the 07/08 Season, against Glasgow Warriors in Musgrave Park on Saturday.
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End of an Era
When John Kelly made his debut for Munster in September 1997, Anthony Foley already had three seasons in the red jersey under his belt. In this season that sees Munster nominated the number 1 club in Europe, both hang up their boots, 13 and 10 seasons respectively after they started, leaving the squad ever the stronger for their presence. Mark Woods remembers two of the legends of Munster rugby.
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Video - Jason Holland
Jason Holland, Munster Rugby Video Analyst talks on the Munster View.
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May 9th, 2008
Strong Squad for Strategy
Munster will send their strongest possible squad to Wales for the weekend Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets, this being Munster’s third away game in the space of six days.
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Junior Interprovincial Championship 2008
Round two of the Junior Interprovincial Championships and Munster take on their Ulster counterparts in Ballincollig RFC, Sat. 3rd May, ko 3pm.
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IRB Rugby Ready Programme
The IRB Rugby Ready programme aims to support individual coaches, referees, players and Unions in preparing to play the game and with good practice models for physical conditioning, technique, injury prevention and injury management.
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May 2nd, 2008
Planning permission has been granted for the first phase of the terminal expansion at Ireland West Airport Knock. The airport expansion is due to be completed by the end of the year.
Currently, Ireland West Airport Knock can carry 500,000 passengers a year. When the new developments are completed, this should rise to 800,000.
The terminal expansion will include a new security screening area, an expanded check-in hall, additional departures capacity and enhancements to the baggage sorting facility.
There is also a second extension planned for 2009-2010, which will provide additional arrivals capacity and further develop the departures areas.
April 9th, 2008
An Aide de Service - a specially designed service stop for motorhomes - has been launched at Askeaton in County Limerick.
Previously practically unheard of in Ireland, Aide de Services are common throughout the UK and the rest of Europe. According to current Aide de Service sites, they can bring in the benefits of tourist activity, such as increased business for local shops and restaurants.
The first official Aire de Service in Askeaton forms part of the Askeaton Pool and Leisure Centre Development and is close to the Tourist Information Point at Askeaton Civic Trust House.
Many tourists enjoy driving holidays in Ireland, touring the country in their motorhomes. Research has shown they tend to stay longer in the country, spend more money and travel to more rural locations.
An Aide de Service post will include some or all of the following: a fresh water fill point, waste water emptying point, chemical toilet emptying point, rubbish disposal facility and in some cases, even an electrical hook-up. Those using the service say it is an excellent way to meet fellow motorhome owners.
April 9th, 2008
Dublin’s own Gate Theatre visits the prestigious Lincoln Center Festival this July in New York.
Three prestigious actors, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Barry McGovern, will perform Samuel Beckett monologues as part of the Gate | Beckett portion of the festival. This will feature three works not originally conceived for the theatre: Eh Joe, I’ll Go On and First Love.
Eh Joe will star renowned Irish actor Liam Neeson in his debut role for the Gate. This powerful monologue has been described as one of the “greatest half hours in theatrical history”.
Barry McGovern will star in I’ll Go On, a one-man show based on Molloy, Malone Dies and The Unnamable. First performed at the Gate Theatre in 1985, this tour de force has toured worldwide to great critical acclaim.
First Love, Beckett’s darkly humorous post war novella, stars international stage and screen actor Ralph Fiennes with direction by Gate Theatre Director Michael Colgan. The 55-minutes which make up First Love will fly by thanks to Ralph Fiennes’ charismatic performance.
The Lincoln Center Festival is a great opportunity to increase the international artistic significance of the Gate Theatre. Visit www.lincolncenter.org for booking details.
March 27th, 2008
In the 80 years since it opened the Gate Theatre has been a unique venue. It has only had two artistic directors in its time, a level of consistency not seen in any other theatre.
In 1991 the Gate was the first theatre in the world to show a full retrospective of Samuel Beckett’s 19 stage plays. The theatre has also been at the forefront of promoting Irish writing and acting talent.
Over the past 25 years, the Gate Theatre has continued to refurbish, improve and expand on the 18th century building it is housed in. This building has been an architectural focal point in Dublin for over 200 years.
This year sees the Gate celebrate 80 years since it opened its doors as a theatre. Don’t miss the programme of plays and talks to mark this momentous event.
March 26th, 2008
Trastevere is an iconic restaurant in Dublin’s Temple Bar. The white timber chairs enhance the genuine Mediterranean atmosphere, and you can even be serenaded by a virtuoso busker while you dine.
Of course, the menu is the most important thing. And Trastevere more than delivers. There is a great selection of starters, including mozzarella-topped garlic bread, wild mushrooms, calamari and mussels. You can also build your own pizza, from an extensive list of ingredients. If you’d prefer something simpler, the set pizzas are also delicious.
You will be spoiled for choice if you decide to have pasta at Trastevere. There are more than a dozen varieties, including classics like spaghetti and ravioli.
As you would expect from an Italian restaurant, the wine list is designed to appeal to all tastes. The waiters will also be happy to recommend the best wine to compliment your meal.
If you want classic Italian cuisine, in a beautiful family run restaurant, you will be hard pushed to find anywhere better than Trastevere in Dublin.
March 20th, 2008
Every Saturday from 10AM - 5PM, The Designer Mart will showcase the work of over 30 Irish and Irish-based designers.
This is a great chance to see beautiful handmade creations in the areas of fashion, furnishings, crafts and visual arts.
The Designer Mart at Cow’s Lane, Temple Bar will run on every Saturday from March 22nd.
March 18th, 2008
The 19th century was a period of great change for Dublin. By 1800 the population of Dublin had risen to around 180,000. To meet the needs of the growing population, fever hospitals were opened in Dublin in 1803 and 1804. The most common fever was typhus, sometimes called gaol fever, because it was so common in prisons.
In the early 19th century several new bridges were built across the River Liffey to improve transportation in Dublin. O’Donovan Rossa bridge was built in 1813; Ha’Penny Bridge (also called Liffey Bridge) opened in 1816 and Kingsbridge opened in 1828. This later had its name changed to Heuston bridge). Queen Victoria bridge, now Rory O’More Bridge was built in 1859. The Royal Canal was opened in 1817.
A column with a statue of Nelson on top was erected in 1808. It was destroyed in the 1960s. In 1855 the fair which had been held each year since the 13th century was stopped. In 1825 St Mary’s Protestant Cathedral was built.
In 1824 a gasworks was built in Dublin and gas was used to light the streets from 1825. The first electric lights in Dublin were switched on in 1881 but electric light was a rare novelty until the early 20th century. In the early 19th century sewers were laid but only in the middle class districts (poor areas could not pay the necessary rates). The sewers were extended in the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s.
The railway reached Dublin in 1834 when a line to Kingsbridge was built. Horse drawn buses began running in Dublin in 1840. They were followed by horse drawn trams in 1872.
From 1838 there were workhouses in Dublin where the destitute were fed and housed. During the potato famine they were overwhelmed by the numbers fleeing starvation in the countryside. Soup kitchens had to be set up in the streets to try and feed them. Although the population of Ireland fell sharply after the famine the population of Dublin actually rose because of the number of starving people fleeing to the city.
In 1853 an industrial exhibition was held in Dublin on Leinster Lawn. The Zoological Gardens opened in Phoenix Park in 1830. Portobello Gardens opened as a park in 1839. A Natural History Museum opened in 1857. The National Gallery of Ireland opened in 1864. The National Museum of Ireland opened in 1890. The Gaiety Theatre opened in 1871. In 1882 a memorial to O’Connell was erected in O’Connell Street.
The Catholic University was founded in 1845. Catholics were allowed to attend Trinity College after 1873 but the Catholic church disapproved of Catholics going there. Glasnevin Catholic cemetery opened in 1832. In 1892 a new fruit and vegetable market opened and in 1897 a new fish market opened.
March 12th, 2008
You can win a trip for two people to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing by entering the Budweiser Rock Paper Scissors Championships.
From Thursday 6th March, contestants will bravely risk hand cramps, broken nails and psychological exhaustion in their bid to become the Budweiser Rock Paper Scissors Champion of Ireland.
The champion will go on to represent Ireland at the 2008 Olympic Games (as a spectator).
Speaking at the launch of the Championship, Diageo Head of Lagers, Niall Tracey said “There is a real sense of excitement about this championship. It’s the first of its kind in Ireland and we hope to find a worthy Budweiser Rock Paper Scissors Champion, and of course have a lot of fun along the way. We will be looking out for someone with real agility and stamina that will be able to compete against the best”.
Matti Leshem, Commissioner of the USA Rock Paper Scissors League said: “With the support of Budweiser, we are excited to take Rock Paper Scissors to the international stage in 2008 and expect Ireland to produce a talented field. Rock Paper Scissors is a game of strategy and skill, and competitors will not be able to rely on the ‘luck of the Irish’ to become the country’s Rock Paper Scissors champion!”
The Rock Paper Scissors championships will take place in 64 pubs in the Dublin area throughout March and April. Players will compete in a knock-out tournament, on a best of three matches basis, until there is one left standing.
Any competitors may want to take note of some practical advice from the USARPS League: Rock is the most common opening move, and also the move used most often in times need. Paper is considered to be a passive move, but it still defeats rock. Scissors is the favourite of more cerebral players.
If you want to represent Ireland at the Olympics, now is the time to get practising. No-one wants to risk finger strain during the championships.
Find out more at http://www.usarps.com
March 5th, 2008
Ron Black’s is all about socialising around food and drink.
Its city centre location makes it a convenient meeting place for locals and tourists and the split-level arrangement is exciting. The quality furnishings in Ron Black’s create a comfort zone; especially the lounge area at the rear of the ground floor bar and restaurant area. There is a variety of choice for a variety of moods and needs.
Whether you want to sit at the bar, people watch at the window or recline lazily on one of the couches at the rear, you can at Ron Black’s. You can even invite 150 of your friends to a party with its own private bar.
The restaurant area seats 200, making a lively atmosphere. The quality of the service is exceptional from a Europe-wide staff blessed with extra charm and courtesy.
The lunch menu combines excellent flavours with great value. Nothing on the food menu exceeds €10.50. If you have a soft spot for side orders such as delicious onion rings or cheese and garlic ciabatta. Main meals include beef cannelloni, Thai chicken curry, lasagne and Caesar salads, but even in these sophisticated circumstances, bangers and mash, fish and chips and burgers are also on offer. The younger members of the party will love them.
Sunday brunch comes highly recommended and the prices for evening meals do not drift upwards.
Ron Black’s is located opposite the Mansion House in Dawson Street.
March 4th, 2008
Pub chain Thomas Read has won the Best Multiple Operator award in the Irish Region at the Ireland & UK Theme Bar and Restaurant Awards 2008.
They were also nominated for Best New Bar, Best Drinks Selection and Best Bar Team.
The Best Multiple Operator Award was judged throughout all 32 counties of Ireland and the winners were announced on the 26th February in Belfast
All the winners automatically qualify as finalists for the Ireland & UK Theme Bar and Restaurant Awards Final. This takes place on the 17th June in London.
The Theme Bar and Restaurant Awards celebrates the best in the hospitality industry.
Now in their seventh year, they include four regional nomination parties and culminate in the Ireland & UK Final, where over 800 key professionals celebrate the dynamic and exciting industry.
The winners are chosen through a mixture of online voting, extensive canvassing of opinion from key regional contacts and mystery visiting. At the end of the process a winner for each category in each region is announced, with the four regional winners subject to further scrutiny and mystery visits prior to the announcement of the Ireland & UK Theme Bar and Restaurant Awards 2008 Winners on 17th June.
The four regions are: Ireland, Scotland, the South of England (covering everywhere south of Birmingham) and The North of England and Wales (this covers everywhere north of Birmingham and Wales).
The Thomas Read Group has successfully operated some of Dublin’s finest, cutting-edge and market-leading bars and restaurants.
Along with the original Thomas Read & Oak Bar, the group’s portfolio has expanded into different markets and includes popular venues such as Ron Black’s, The Bailey, Searsons, Lincoln’s Inn, The Globe, Ri-Ri, Pravda, Harbourmaster, Floridita Dublin, Thomas Read Smithfield, Thomas House, TRG Airport, Bodega Wine & Tapas Bar and Kingswood Country House.
They also run the Dawson Lounge, famed as the smallest bar in Dublin.
Recent additions including The Champagne Bar and The Winding Stair Restaurant & Bookshop prove the company’s commitment to leading the way in the food and drink sector.
The award winning Winding Stair Restaurant & Bookshop is situated on Lower Ormond Quay. Specialising in simple Irish cooking with an organic direction and extensive wine list, their latest award is the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand.
Its ‘unique’ atmosphere has been maintained and it still attracts many regulars who visit daily. The Winding Stair establishment is widely seen as one of Dublin’s hidden gems.
The Champagne Bar, located on the 1st Floor above Ron Black’s, is renowned for its large selection of Champagnes & Wines and its beautiful décor.
On the back of this, the Thomas Read Group has secured the ‘exclusive distribution’ rights for Henri Abelé Champagne in Ireland. This excellent Brut Traditional NV is true, highly-spirited champagne with distinctive floral aromas and a pleasing crispness.
With an expanding selection of venues, the Thomas Read group should expect even more success in the future.
February 29th, 2008
Enjoy Texas Hold ‘Em, one of the most popular types of poker, with a free Guinness Poker Kit.
The kit contains a Guinness glass, Guinness can voucher, guide to Texas Hold ‘Em, chips and cards.
All you have to do is register with Guinness.com for your chance to win this great poker set. When You’ve registered, you can even pass on the competition details to your friends with a personalised video message.
Brush up on your poker skills with Guinness.
February 28th, 2008
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world. However, for many it is simply a party, rather than a chance to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint. This is strange, because Saint Patrick had a dramatic life.
As a young lad of sixteen years he was captured by a band of raiders near Bologne in Gaul and taken with many others to slavery in Ireland. He was first brought to Mayo, but later sold to an Antrim farmer and he spent six years in captivity as a shepherd on Slemish Mountain.
One cold winter’s night, while Patrick slept, he heard a voice telling him “it is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country” and a short time later the voice said to him “Look, your ship is ready”.
The spirit guided Patrick to the south of Ireland near Wicklow where he boarded a ship with a cargo of dogs bound for Gaul.
At this time an invasion of Gaul had left much of it desolate. Patrick and the crew of the boat wandered for 28 days until all food had run out. Patrick said to the crew “turn to God and he will provide” and suddenly a herd of pigs appeared and they had food once more. Patrick had performed his first miracle.
For a number of years Patrick wandered through Gaul. Conscious of his lack of formal training in theology and law he spent his time talking to and learning from the wise deacons and Bishops and soon he was made a Bishop in Rome.
He was lonely in Gaul so he went to visit his relations in Britain. While he was there he had another vision in which a man arrived from Ireland with many letters, including one for himself. The letter said “We ask you boy to come and walk once more among us”. Patrick was delighted and went to Ireland immediately.
The people of Ireland at this time were pagans under the influence of the Druids. Patrick had first to rid the country of these “magicians”. This is symbolised by the banishing of the snakes forever from Ireland.
He now set about converting the people to Christianity. His deep faith and belief in the Blessed Trinity made this doctrine a centre piece of his instruction. To help explain the mystery he used the simple 3 leaf shamrock to illustrate 3 persons in one God.
St Patrick died in 461. By this time he had created an established structured church throughout the country. His converts were across the entire social classes from Princes to slaves and many of his priests and deacons were from the youth of Ireland. He is still to this day the most famous figure in Irish history and is one of the best known figures throughout the Christian world.
February 27th, 2008
Padraic Hanley knows what it takes to make a great evening out at a restaurant. That’s why the Ouzo Bistro embraces convenient design and innovative technology.
The Ouzo Bistro uses a paging system for diners, an idea Padraic picked up in Florida. It is a simple concept: You arrive at the restaurant, secure a table by giving your credit card details, order your food and are given a pager which lights up when your meal is ready.
While you are waiting, you can go for a quick drink in McSorley’s Pub, just down stairs from the Ouzo Bistro.
Padraic provides a well-balanced, mouth watering menu. Seafood is caught daily, to ensure only the freshest and finest are used. There is a great range of meat, poultry, fish and pasta, while the seafood chowder can be a meal in itself.
February 25th, 2008
Dublin Castle is one of the most important tourist attractions in Ireland, and has played an important role in Irish history throughout the centuries.
Construction began in 1204 and by 1230, Dublin Castle was largely complete. The original castle was of typical Norman design, with a defensive tower and each corner and a courtyard instead of a keep. Today, Record Tower is the sole surviving tower of the medieval castle.
The castle continued to evolve and change use over the years, acting as the seat of government, a prison, a royal residence and, its original purpose, a defensive fort.
Today Dublin Castle is a great tourist attraction and is also used to host state functions. The castle complex also hosts the Chester Beatty Library, which houses the manuscripts collected by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty.
No visit to Ireland is complete without visiting Dublin Castle – a remarkable building with a remarkable history.
January 29th, 2008
Jaipur, winner of the Best World Cuisine Award in 2004 counts celebrities such as Bono, Van Morrison, Pierce Brosnan, authors Maeve Binchy and Hugh Leonard among its satisfied customers.
Jaipur is an authentic Indian restaurant in the charming village of Dalkey, which nestles between Killiney Hill and the Dublin Bay coast. Everything on the menu celebrates traditional Indian cooking, no more than the special Gourmet Menu. Priced at €40 Euro per person, this includes eleven delectable items.
As well as using traditional ingredients, the chefs in Jaipur recreate authentic cooking methods. For instance, to produce the rustic smoked taste for the kebabs, the traditional Punjab wood charcoal method is used.
According to manager Poojary, the Jaipur menu: “reflects the confluence of flavours drawn from the four corners of the Indian sub-continent. We endeavour to cook each dish in its purest traditional culinary form with spicing levels determined by the customer or the talented chef, Sunic.”
Jaipur talented staff have interpreted Indian cuisine and reproduced it in the context of the contemporary Irish environment. The result is a cooking format along European lines which is a process of refining the sauces and producing distinctive layers of flavours for the palate. This detailed dedication is truly admirable.
Jaipur in Dalkey is open seven days a week from 5.30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Early bird specials are available from 5.30 to 7 p.m - three delicious courses for just €20.
January 8th, 2008
Calendars may be a traditional Christmas gift, but the John Nolan 2008 calendar ‘Paying Homage’ is still a great present.
The calendar features prints of twelve of John Nolan’s recent works, incorporating images and references from masters such as Van Gogh, Modigliani, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Matisse and Picasso.
Each picture includes an explanatory note which discusses the nature of the painting and John’s influences.
By paying homage to some of the most well-known modern artists in history, John Nolan has produced an excellent collection, making the calendar a wonderful gift from anyone who appreciates great art.
January 3rd, 2008
There’s still time to pick up some great gifts at the Temple Bar Christmas Market.
The markets are on every Saturday and Sunday in the run-up to Christmas. That’s the 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd of December. Each day’s trading runs from 9.3AM to 4PM.
The Old City area in Temple Bar is completely pedestrianised, so you can enjoy a wander about the cobbled streets,without worrying about traffic.
You will be able to get jewellery, beauty products, decorations and much more at the Temple Bar Christmas Market. If all that shopping gives you an appetite, enjoy a cup of mulled wine and lunch at one of the local cafes or bakeries.
December 13th, 2007
The Unicorn in Merrion Court is a famous name in Dublin’s restaurant scene, where it has served its citizens and visitors for over 60 years.
The Unicorn is an established rendezvous for the movers and shakers in society, especially for Saturday lunch when it is popular with political animals, media types, thespians, musicians and playwrights. It offers a lively contemporary atmosphere with a sure-fire sense of occasion and a fidelity to Italian cuisine which is “religious” in its intensity.
Proprietors Giorgio and Jeff, who acquired the restaurant in 1995 from the family who ran it for the previous 58 years, believe in hands on management. The details of the traceable origin of the food are included on the menu. They monitor the quality of the food and its regional origins in Tuscany, Lombardy or Piedmont.
The outdoor terraced section of the restaurant which makes the Merrion Court a most colourful scene is a smokers’ sanctuary par excellence. Weather permitting, al fresco dining is enjoyed by non smokers to.
The Unicorn is a highly successful business which has expanded to a piano bar in a separate building and thriving retail outlet for Italian food. The professional staffs, including chefs Paul Skelton and Brian Farren, enjoy a well earned reputation for friendliness and efficient service.
Book a table at the Unicorn to experience the excellent Italian cuisine.
November 28th, 2007
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