‘thinking aloud’ Archive

List of protected structures on Irish Rail network

Using Access to Information on the Environment, I requested the list of protected structures on the Irish Rail network,  this was the reply, I’ve moved the notes to the top here:
Below is a list of protected stations on our network.  Please note the caveats at the end of the list.

Notes:

All protected railway structures include ancilliary buildings including signal cabins, tank houses, water [...]

Don’t bother with Cliffs of Moher…

…the cliffs beside the Ceide Fields in Mayo are free to view…

World Record space hopper attempt in Dublin

UPDATE: Dublin Observer has an a report a video of the successful attempt
The Street Performance World Championship are hosting a World Record space hopper attempt in Dublin this weekend. Make sure to email them at worldrecord@spwc.ie if you’re attending (one email per person apparently).
More details at the attempt’s Facebook page.
Also see the Street Performance World Championship at their [...]

Irish Labour Party more Lib Dem than Labour

Bit late to blog on this, but anyway… Some interesting talk was coming from Irish Labour Party members — on twitter and elsewhere – about the Liberal Democrats back at the time of the UK elections.
The Labour Party, or at least members at different levels, seem oblivious to the similarities with their party and the Lib Dems. First, both have been the third party in [...]

Road Safety Authority’s promotion of helmets

My first Access to Information on the Environment request was successful. The request took advantage of the wide range of the definition of environmental information, it was as follows:
Under the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) regulations, S.I. No. 133 of 2007, I am seeking all research on which the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has based its advice that cyclists should wear a helmet.
If [...]

Dublin cycling news

Dublin cycling news, including Dublin Cycle Chic, lecture on Building a Cycling Culture, community gardens cycle, Bike Week 2010 details, new Dublin Bikes and stations, and contraflow lanes across Dublin city centre at http://cyclingindublin.com/

Blurred Keys is updating again

Blogging may be slightly out of vogue, but Irish media blog Blurred Keys is being updated again at blurredkeys.com and now also on twitter @blurredkeys.

Journalism courses — a few questions

The issue is an ongoing one discussed on Boards.ie’s News / Media forum (the long list is below), and two years ago Shane Hegarty also blogged at IrishTimes.com on journalism courses and standards.
Here’s a few questions I’m interested getting answers to:

Are courses worth it?
Are journalism degrees and diplomas respected in the industry?
Which ones are most [...]

Reason Bertie got artists’ tax exemption?

The reason Bertie got artists’ tax exemption, as explained in The Irish Times letters page the other day:
Bertie Ahern’s tax perk
Madam, – When I wrote a biography of Brendan Bracken I was denied the artists’ tax exemption by the Revenue because a biography, being a recital of facts, did not rank as an original and [...]

2009: A good year for cycling in Ireland?

Cycling is in fashion, even in Ireland. There has been a number of  signs of continued growth in cycling here this year. The phrase “On your bike!” started to be sicking. Sub editors showed they never read newspapers, with ‘on your bike’ appearing in headlines again and again on some of the many cycling [...]