April Edition 2005
 
 
 
 

Roger Prepares For Close Shave
By Phil Pemble
This month one of our employees is preparing for a close shave to lose his 10-year-old beard to raise funds for an Erdington school. Roger Ford, who works at our head office, wants to raise money to help the Bridge School - which caters for children with special needs – in buying a special trolley which will help significantly in getting the children showered after hydrotherapy sessions....More

Anti-Smoking Crack-Down
By Enda Mullen
Birminghams Lord Mayor has ignited a heated debate after council bureaucrats banned him from smoking his pipe on the Council House steps.
Councillor Mike Nangle has branded the restriction - imposed as part of a drive to make the building and its surrounds a smoke free zone - “an infringement of civil liberties”....More

My Year As Birmingham Rose
By Angela Growley
My year as a Rose is drawing to an end, and it will soon be time for me to hand my sash over to another lucky young lady, who at present, will be quite blissfully unaware of the eventful year ahead of her. It’s been a hectic but very enjoyable year for me and only now, as I reflect on the past 12 months do I realise quite how busy it’s been!
The focal point of my year was without a doubt the trip to the Rose festival in Tralee last August....More

Boyle In The County Roscommon
By Brendan Mulvey
This month I am taking you on a visit to the town of Boyle. I have very fond memories of this lovely town, the All Ireland Fleadh Ceoil was held in the town back in the Sixties and I was very proud to be a drummer in The Kiltubid Pipe Band that took part in the Pipe Band Competition at the Fleadh. We were delighted to take second place in the competition, and this was also the first time I took part in a mass Pipe Band, it was indeed a lovely sight and sound as nine pipe bands joined together to march down “The Crescent” and through the town.....More

New York St. Patrick's Day Parade
By Patrick McCool
A selection of photos taken at the New York Parade on Thursday 17th March 2005....More
 


U2 Can’t Build Extension!
Plans by Bono and the Edge for a massive expansion of their landmark Clarence Hotel beside Dublin’s Temple Bar area have been hit by new planning objections.
The U2 frontmen had just received planning permission from Dublin City Council for the ambitious expansion of the city centre hotel renowned for its celebrity visitors.
But an appeal has now been lodged against that decision with a Bord Pleanala by a businessman who runs a coffee shop beside the hotel site.
The objection claims that the major expansion is too high and would seriously impact on the character of the area.
Most of the buildings involved in the multi-million euro hotel expansion plan are protected historic structures in the heart of the city overlooking the River Liffey along Wellington Quay.
Smoking Ban Boost For Pubs
Pub culture has changed dramatically in the 12 months since the smoking ban has come into force, and while many bars have seen sales ebb away, there are pubs reporting a small surge in business.
Pubs which have embraced the ban and are fortunate enough to have space have, in some cases, seen strong increases in volume terms over the last year.
The type of pubs most likely to have experienced growth include those which have a good food offering, invested in developing outdoor areas, and have encouraged trade throughout the day.
Blair’s Inn in Cloghroe, Blarney, Co Cork has seen business remain strong over the past year. It is situated in a rural area not far from Cork city, and the clientele is a mix of local drinkers and urban customers.
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