FORMER Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave came face-to-face with a larger than life-size image of his late father W.T. Cosgrave, during the opening of An Post’s GPO Witness History visitor centre.

Cosgrave (95), a Knocklyon resident, admired, with his daughter, a photograph of his father – Ireland’s first Taoiseach – during a visit to the opening of the history centre.

The new centre is one of the State’s permanent 2016 ‘Reminder’ projects for which the Department of Arts provided funds of €7 million.

An Post GPO Witness History is an immersive, interactive visitor attraction bringing history to life though technology, video, sound and authentic artefacts.

It has special effects, soundscapes, and heartfelt stories of real people in extraordinary circumstances to captivate visitors.

Cosgrave was elected as a Fine Gael TD in 1943, was leader of the party from 1965, served as Taoiseach from 1973-77, and retired from politics in 1981.

His time as Taoiseach was not an easy one. Although he managed to ensure Ireland became a member of the UN and foster good working relations with Europe, his conservatism and position on contraception and austerity policy damaged the government at the time.

For details on the An Post GPO Witness History centre, which is open seven days a week, visit www.gpowitnesshistory.ie

Gardai are continuing to question two men this morning after they stopped a car on Wednesday night at the junction of the Naas Road and Long Mile Road and discovered what they believe to be explosives.

The roads around the area remained closed for several hours and a full investigation got underway.

According to Gardai as a result of an intelligence led operation conducted by officers attached to Crime and Security section and the Special Detective Unit, a car was stopped by members of the Emergency Response Unit on the Naas Road, inbound just before the Long Mile Road junction, at approximately 7.30pm on Wednesday evening.

Two males (early 30's and early 40's) years were arrested are currently being detained at Ballyfermot and Ronanstown Garda station under the provisions of section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 as amended.

FINANCIAL difficulties have forced a local pitch and putt club to place some of their land on the market.

Clondalkin Paper Mills Sports and Social Club have instructed O’Dwyer English Auctioneers to bring two lots to the market – with a guide price of €695,000 for a 3.61 acre site, and €595,000 for a 2.14 acre site.

The club are selling nine of their 18 holes, in an effort to pay bills and maintain finances going ahead.

Only Lot 1 (back nine) or Lot 2 (front nine) may be sold and the purchaser has the option to bid for either lot.

The clubhouse and bar – known locally as The Gluepot – is not included in the sale.

Located in the centre of Clondalkin Village around the corner from the Mill Shopping Centre, the lands have “great development potential”, according to Patrick O’Dwyer, Senior Negotiator handling the sale.

Joe Connor, Clondalkin Pitch and Putt Secretary, said: “We’re selling nine of 18 holes. If a prospective buyer is interested, they can buy the front nine or the back nine.”

An unsuccessful bid by the club last year for a Sports Capital Grant, led to members agreeing a decision to sell some of the land at a club AGM on February 14.

Joe continued: “The way things are going, we don’t get a dig-out, and have bills all over the place. We applied for a capital grant to get new bridges over the Camac, new toilets and disabled access, but it wasn’t successful. I informed members of the financial difficulty at the AGM.”

Martin Gouldsbury, has been Chairman of CPM since the early 1970s.

Mr Gouldsbury said: “The club was run by Clondalkin Paper Mills, and when that closed down, it came to members of the club, or associated members, as it was known then.

“Paid-up members control the club now. Every year, we are open for membership. It’s €50 from October to October. Members have access to the facilities, clubhouse, pool table.”

CPM have approximately 350 members, including men and women, who both have darts’ teams that play each week.

The clubhouse bar also features attractive prices, with a pint of Guinness available for €3.95.
The bar is known as The Gluepot, as former members used to glue bags in the paper mills – although the price of porter may give new members a reason to ‘stick’ around.

The property guide lists the non-residential 2.14 acre site as separated by a river from the 3.61 acre site, which contains the clubhouse, bar and car parking.

Patrick O’Dwyer, says the site contains “potential development lands due to its large frontage onto the Old Nangor Road/Newcastle secondary roadway and located in a large residential and commercial area.”

Prominent features include serenic surroundings, all services (water/sewerage/gas) at hand, suitable for development, and prime location.

Current zoning permitted in principal includes for the land permits community/cultural use, recreational, sports club.

Current zoning open for consideration includes hotel, public services, restaurant, residential, hospital, agricultural buildings, caravan park, cemetery, education, garden centre, guest house, and a recycling facility.

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ANOTHER armed robbery spree – this time in Ballyfermot and Palmerstown – has left businesses calling for stiffer sentences for repeat offenders.

Gun-wielding raiders attacked a number of premises in Ballyfermot and Palmerstown within the space of an hour on Wednesday, April 6.

A masked thug wielding a gun threatened staff and left with a small sum of money during a robbery at Newstime on Manor Road, Palmerstown, on Wednesday, April 6, at approximately 11.30am.

Shortly afterwards, another thug attempted to rob the Londis on Ballyfermot Road at noon, but this proved unsuccessful, when a staff member locked the till and walked away.

A salon in the Ballyfermot area was also robbed around the same time. Staff there were too terrified to talk to The Echo, and have undergone counselling as a result of their ordeal.

Later that day, another raider robbed a Centra on Kimmage Road Lower, making off with a small sum of cash.

One prominent Ballyfermot businessman blasted a lax legal system, and believes there is a recent spike in armed raids at small premises.

“What kind of person takes that sort of a risk with a gun, for maybe €200,” said the shop owner.

He continued: “With social media now, there is a lot more communication with retailers, and you realise how much of a problem this is at the moment. I’m constantly checking social media apps, and have seen a lot of robberies in recent weeks. Repeat offenders are allowed to carry out these crimes, but they only get a slap on the wrist if brought before the courts.”

Whilst no injuries were reported in the robberies on April 6 – violent attacks have an adverse effect on the mental wellbeing of staff and customers.

The Echo understands up to nine people were in the Londis at the time of the attempted robbery, whilst staff in Palmerstown and an elderly shopper were threatened during the ordeal.

The salon are worried raiders will strike again, and said some of their clients declined to come into the premises in the aftermath of the attack.

Just last week, The Echo covered two armed raids in the same Clondalkin shop within three days.
Businesses in Clondalkin shopping centres sought a meeting with gardaí this week to tackle the problem.

Gardaí are investigating the robberies, and are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

A Garda spokesperson said the suspect in the Palmerstown case is “male described as 5’5” in height with a Dublin accent wearing a blue jacket with his face covered.”

The suspect in the attempted Londis raid is described as “5’2” in height, with a Dublin accent, wearing a green jacket with his face covered, navy baseball cap, dark bottoms and dark runners”, whilst the Centra, Kimage, suspect is described as “5’8 in height, aged 40/50s, medium build, wearing a navy jacket with hood up, which had a light coloured stripe on both sleeves, blue jeans and black runners with white trim.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Ballyfermot Garda Station at 6667200 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666111.

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AN EXTENSION of permission is being sought for a housing development that was previously submitted as part of the Adamstown SDZ, for 177 residential units that include 150 houses.

The original application for the development was granted permission back in February 2011 for a period of five years, and was made within the provisions of the Adamstown planning scheme, with the entire development taking place within the Adamstown SDZ.

Included within the development, which is to take place on a 3.98 hectare site located between Adamstown Avenue, Adamstown Park, Adamstown Boulevard and Adamstown Way, will be three two bedroom houses, 137 three bedroom houses and ten four bedroom houses.

27 apartments are also part of the development, arranged in three storey and five storey apartment buildings.

There will also be three areas of public open space within the development, with car and bicycle parking, internal roads and landscaping all included within the previously permitted application.

Support for the original application was given by local councillors William Lavelle (Fine Gael) and Eamon Tuffy (Labour).

Both the original application and the extension of permission was submitted by Castlethorn Construction, which includes property developer Joe O'Reilly among its directors.

O'Reilly is known to have reportedly owed NAMA up to €2.8 billion following the collapse of the housing market.

Castlethorn previously constructed a number of housing schemes in Adamstown, including The Sentinel Townhouses and The Courtyard at Adamstown Square – its commercial developments include the Adamstown Sentinel complex.

It lists “Adamstown Central” as one of its upcoming developments. A planning application for Adamstown Central by Castlethorn was previously submitted back in 2008, with plans for a Primary Healthcare Centre, an Inter-Church Place of Worship, a leisure centre and swimming pool, library, Enterprise Centre and several civic squares.

60 retail units, an eight screen cinema and 900 apartments would have rounded off the development, which was expected to cost €1.2 billion.

A NUMBER of local properties are being offered for auction at this month's Allsop Auction, which will take place in the RDS on April 28.

Five industrial units will be on offer as part of the sale, with a mid-terraced warehouse unit located within Greenogue Business Park leading the pack.

The 6,150 sqft unit is located over ground and partial first floors to provide a modern warehouse unit, with offices located at the first floor level.

It has a reserve range of €300,000 to €340,000 and is available with vacant possession.

There are also five local residential properties being offered on auction, including four two bedroom apartments in Thornfield Square in Clondalkin that are being offered as one lot.

Of the four apartments, three are subjects to tenancies with an annual rental income of €27,600 per annum.

The apartments are being offered as an “ideal investment opportunity” with a reserve not to exceed €380,000.

Other residential properties being offered include a vacant house that includes three two bedroom residential units located at Whitetorn Crescent in Palmerstown.

The property has a reserve not to exceed €200,000 and each unit extends to approximately 473 sqft.

For a list of local properties being auctioned on April 28, visit www.allsopireland.ie.

PEAMOUNT Healthcare has been granted permission for the development of a new two-storey healthcare unit that can accommodate 100 people, which will be linked to the hospital's rehabiliatation ward.

It was granted permission on March 21, and is for the development of the unit which also includes ancillary healthcare services, pharmacy and staff facilities.

Within the planning permission is provision for the redistribution of existing car parking spaces on the site and the demolition of the disused St Mary's Ward building.

An letter in support of the application was submitted by Fine Gael councillor William Lavelle.

Conditions attached to the grant of permission include a reduction in height for the ward, a redesign of the area between the proposed car park and the Manor House (a protected structure) and the relocation of any bat roosts that are discovered in St Mary's Ward before its demolition.

In its application, Peamount Healthcare said: “The development will secure Peamount's future role in providing HIQA registered residential care to older people and people with disabilities, and will enable Peamount to continue as an important referral point for rehabilitation to its acute hospital partners, general practicioners and the community.”

It was recommended in a brief as part of Peamount Healthcare's Five Year Strategy 2008-2013 and is part of the Peamount Healthcare Campus Master Plan which was published in October 2014.

LOCAL ties to the 1916 Easter Rising continued to be unveiled following the national centenary events, with one well-known entertainer and stage-school teacher sharing her family’s story.

Helen Jordan, who lives in Old Bawn and has spent decades training hundreds of children for the stage both locally and nationally, discovered that her family members were being commemorated as part of the 1916 centenary during a visit to Collins Barracks.

Helen’s grandfather Christopher Jordan and her uncle James were shot in their home at Lower Mount Street on April 29, 1916 – Christopher was shot dead, with James surviving a further two years before dying from his injuries.

Christopher’s wife Elizabeth, Helen’s grandmother, managed to escape the house with one of her daughters and get help from the parish priest, Fr Fleming, who persuaded the soldiers to stop firing on the house.

Helen told The Echo: “My father was seven years old when it happened, there were seven children in the house on Mount Street.

“During the fighting on Easter week, the British opened fire on the house and my grandfather, who was a member of the Citizen’s Army, was shot dead and taken to Holles Street hospital before being buried in a mass grave in Glasnevin.

“His son, my Uncle James, was shot by the same bullet. It went through my grandfather and then lodged into my uncle.

“They could not remove the bullet from him and he lived for two years afterward. In 1918 he died leaving a wife and three children.

“My Aunt Margaret, we called her Maggie, was aged around 15, worked for Michael Collins and was a member of the Cumann na mBan.

"She used to regale us with stories about how she hid guns in her bloomers and how she received letters for Michael Collins that were sent to the house she worked in after he left. They are now in Kilmainham Barracks.”

Helen’s family have been attending events taking place in Dublin as part of the 1916 centenary commemorations, with Helen telling The Echo that the acknowledgement of her grandfather and uncle has meant a lot to her family.

She said: “I was at the RDS ceremony to see the president speak, and he was brilliant, just incredible.

“It’s fantastic to see the country commemorating it all. My family was so moved when the wall in Glasnevin was unveiled, and to see their names there.”

The Jordan family will have a ceremony to commemorate Christopher and James in Glasnevin Cemetery on May 1 at their gravestone, with a performance from a piper.

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 TWO youngsters from Ballyfermot raised a proclamation flag for their school on March 16, but also to honour the life of their rebel great-grandmother.

Sophia (11) and Aaron Keeley (5), students in St Louise De Marillac, are the great-grandkids of battle-hardened Christina Keeley (nee Caffrey) – who was a pivotal member of the Easter Rising.

Christina was born in Dublin in 1898, and a member of the Irish Citizen Army (ICA).

She worked with Countess Markievicz in Liberty Hall during the 1913 Lockout, and at the age of 18, she was one of a handful of girls who marched out with insurgents in 1916.

Christina’s grandson, Dermot Keeley, a Drumfin Road resident, and parent of Sophia and Aaron, told The Echo of her involvement.

Dermot said: “She was involved with the St Stephen’s Green garrison with Michael Mallin. He gave her a message to bring to James Connolly in the GPO (during artillery bombardment) but she was caught by British soldiers and brought to Dublin Castle.

“She stuffed the message in her mouth, officers asked her what she was doing, and she took out a bag of sweets and offered them one. They decided to let her go. She was also in the Jacob’s Biscuit Factory during the Rising.”

Dermot continued: “After the Rising, Christina married James Keeley, who was also involved in The Rising as a professional moulder for bombs and grenades. She was sent over to Glasgow by the Cumann na mBan, and was running guns and ammo back to Ireland. They moved back to Dublin and lived in North Wall.”

Christina did not take part in the Civil War, but became well known in the theatre world and was a wardrobe mistress in the Gate and the Theatre Royal.

She died in 1976 at the age of 78.

As a young boy, Dermot was brought to see her in hospital before she passed.

“I’m glad I got to see her, even though I was too young to understand,” said Dermot.

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BODEN THEATRE Group have been hard at work over the long winter nights in rehearsal for their new production A Terrible Beauty is Born which commemorates 1916. The title of the play is of course inspired by W.B. Yeats’ iconic poem Easter 1916.

The group have enjoyed their rehearsals and have created a unique three-act play using small excerpts from plays based on The Rising, as well as original material written by some of the group’s actors.

The Boden Theatre Group say they are truly excited to be part of Ballyboden’s 100th Centenary Programme and believe their contribution will bring to life the real sense of turmoil and tragedy experienced, not only by the volunteers and signatories, but the ordinary people who were alive in 1916.

The play will be interspersed with song, poetry and music by club members, which will bring great energy to the production and give an insight into our cultural past during one of the most difficult times in our history.

The show runs from Thursday, April 14 to Saturday, April 16 at 8pm. For ticket reservations and enquiries Contact: Ger: 086 8516387 or Carol: 086 4070015.

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A DISABILITY school in Clondalkin are currently working in a facility that is “not-fit-for purpose.”

Scoil Mochua on Old Nangor Road, have the support of South Dublin County Council, to take ownership of council owned lands beside the school, which would allow for a “dedicated centre of excellence.”

The non-denominational/co-ed school cater for children with disabilities from the age of three to 18 years, and are under the patronage of the Central Remedial Clinic.

A spokesperson for CRC said they supported the school consulting directly with the Department of Education to receive approval to the Department’s school list – which was approved in November 2015. 

CRC said: “The current school building at Scoil Mochua is not-fit-for purpose to support the needs of children with disabilities and their families. Over the last two years the CRC have invested heavily in improving the existing infrastructure within the current limitations of the building.”

Following approval to the schools list, the school approached the council regarding a strip of land which boundaries the existing school building and lands.

“This land, if shared, would allow for the development of a dedicated centre of excellence,” said the CRC.

The CRC say proposals include enhanced CRC supports and a “state-of-the-art facility catering specifically for the needs and requirements of children with disabilities and their families.”

At a recent Clondalkin ACM, Labour Councillor Breeda Bonner, a principal at St Bernadette’s NS, asked the committee to recommend the disposal of council owned land to Scoil Mochua.

In response, the council said they are committed to supporting the school in their proposed plans.

A SDCC spokesperson said: “Any request for disposal of council owned lands at the location will be examined and considered in tandem with Scoil Mochua development proposals.

"It is the council's understanding that Scoil Mochua are in the course of reviewing their proposals for further development which will be subject to a future planning application.

“The formal disposal of council owned lands is subject to the approval of the elected members in accordance with the Section 183 process.”

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PLANS for a €2 million works project on Walkinstown roundabout are on hold – after the National Transport Authority (NTA) initiated a bus corridor study.

As reported in The Echo last year, South Dublin County Council plan to reduce the approach to Walkinstown roundabout from three lanes to two lanes, in an effort to “increase efficiency” and “improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.”

Works were initially meant to commence in summer, but this is now on hold, until the NTA approves the bus study. The NTA are funding the project.

Walkinstown roundabout is one of the busiest in Dublin. Roads off it are located in South Dublin County Council and Dublin City Council areas.

While a number of councillors accept the roundabout can be dangerous, others such as Crumlin/Kimmage Cllr Pat Dunne (PBP), fear the reduction of lanes will result in “longer tailbacks.”

During a presentation to DCC last November, SDCC officials working on the project said the works planned are “not dramatic”, but are required in order to tackle a “chaotic roundabout.”

SDCC said one of the problems was the “high speed of traffic on the roundabout.”

Reducing circulation speed will make a “more effective use of the roundabout and better gap acceptance.”

The outside arm (left lane on approach) at Walkinstown is considered to be ineffective, with cars “sitting out” waiting to enter the roundabout and “cutting off lanes.”

Plans include wider pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes, and wider pedestrian footpaths with 11,000 sq.m. of additional footpath to be added.

Independent Councillor Dermot Looney asked for an update on the plans at the recent Rathfarnham ACM.

In response SDCC said: “Walkinstown roundabout plans are now on hold as the NTA have initiated a bus corridor feasibility study from Tallaght/Greenhills through Walkinstown to Crumlin.

“When the study is complete, July 2016 at the earliest, a further review of the Walkinstown Roundabout proposals will be carried out to include the results of the study, and then NTA approval will be sought to proceed to complete the design and consultation process.”

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CALLS to increase the amount of housing being built across South Dublin County and to declare the housing crisis a national emergency were made at Monday’s full meeting of South Dublin County Council.

The housing crisis was the main topic of discussion at the meeting, which saw several motions and a report directly related to the development of housing across the county.

As part of the report, it was confirmed that more than 100 rapid unit builds will be included within infill housing sites throughout the county that will be developed by the end of 2017 as part of the €64.7 million allocated to South Dublin County Council as part of the government’s plan to tackle the housing crisis.

The development of rapid-build houses in Poppintree, Ballymun was praised by a number of councillors who visited the site in recent weeks, with the build quality of the homes being highlighted throughout the meeting.

Director of Housing, Social and Community Development Billy Coman said that the rapid-build housing would become cheaper overall to develop and would have the same lifespan of a regular build, and would have a shorter build time of four months instead of 18 months.

A motion presented by People Before Profit councillor Ruth Nolan called on the government to declare a national housing crisis and present a housing programme that would build housing on a mass scale, and was supported unanimously by all councillors who were present at the meeting.

Cllr Nolan noted that declaring the housing crisis a national emergency would grant the government additional funding from the EU to fast track the development of housing.

Independent councillor Paul Gogarty asked that Mayor Sarah Holland meet with the mayors of the other Dublin local authorities to discuss a plan for Dublin, with Mayor Holland agreeing to organise a meeting.

Sinn Féin councillor Maire Devine called the housing crisis a “tsunami of an issue” and asked whether land that was to be used for the development of a new children’s hospital could be considered for a considerable housing development.

Anti Austerity Alliance councillor Mick Murphy said that a development the “scale of Tallaght” with over 1,000 acres of land would be needed.

Calls were also made to consider the Clonburris and Adamstown SDZ as possible solutions to the crisis.

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A LARGE crowd gathered in The Pearse Institute (The Ireland Institute), as Pieta House launched Dublin’s Darkness Into Light 2016 (DIL 2016) in association with Electric Ireland.

Joan Freeman, Founder of Pieta House, was joined by Edel McCarthy, Group Sponsorship Manager at Electric Ireland, RTÉ presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, along with members of local organisations and volunteers to launch the eighth year of DIL.

This year’s event takes place on Saturday May 7, and Marlay Park, Phoenix Park, Malahide and Skerries are again set to host the DIL event in Dublin.

Darkness Into Light is a unique, early morning experience that begins in darkness at 4.15am as thousands of people walk or run a 5km route as dawn is breaking.

Last year’s event attracted over 100,000 participants in over 80 locations across Ireland and abroad.

“Last year’s Darkness Into Light in Dublin was an incredible success and we’re delighted that you’re hosting the event again this year,” said Joan Freeman, Founder of Pieta House.

“We’re so grateful for your continued support. Your courage, vision and generosity has helped Pieta House to bring hope to over 5,000 people alone last year.

“Together we’re leading the way with Darkness Into Light now reaching communities from Dublin to Abu Dhabi and many more across the world” she said.

Pieta House is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

More than 20,000 people have come through the nine centres across Ireland during the last decade. 
Online registration and further details are available on www.darknessintolight.ie

For more information on Darkness Into Light in County Dublin contact Marie Peelo of Pieta House on 01 6282111.

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A MOTHER-of-three has stressed the need for more awareness of the symptoms and signs of a stroke, after she collapsed in work despite being fit, healthy and showing no warning signs.

Rebecca Fallon (47) was working in a florist in Clondalkin 18 months ago when the left side of her body became weak and she collapsed on the floor.

A mother of three boys, Rebecca was in the florist on her own at the time of her collapse and believed she had just fainted – until her young co-worker arrived on the premises and called 999 after looking at Rebecca’s symptoms. 

“I am so grateful to this young lad for calling an ambulance”, Rebecca said. 

“I thought I had just fainted and needed air but when he came back and saw that the left side of my face looked numb and that my speech was slightly slurry, he called 999 straight away. 

“If he hadn’t been there I probably would have crawled out the door for some air- which would have resulted in things been very different for me today.” 

Rebecca told The Echo that she was fit, healthy and had no history of heart problems, high blood pressure or cholesterol when got, what she describes as, “a cloud of smoke in her head” and collapsed. 

However, she was a busy mam of three and looking back she believes she may have been stressed or anxious about starting a new full-time job. 

She said: “I had been getting headaches for a few weeks before the stroke but I didn’t think anything of it as I’ve suffered with migraines in the past. 

“However, the one thing that was different about these headaches was that they were waking me up in the night.”

She added: “Nobody is immune to a stroke, they can affect anybody of any age and it’s so important that people are aware of the signs.

“They say that people have a tight window to get administered stroke treatment and thankfully, due to the quick action of my co-worker, I was in Tallaght Hospital, which is a centre of excellence for stroke care, within two-and-a-half hours and had received the drug thrombolysis – which helps to break down the clot in the artery. 

“I had minimal movement in my left leg after the stroke and nothing at all in my left arm after the stroke. 

“However, I have between 50 and 60 percent control, and I’m back doing some things like driving. 

“A stroke can devastate a life. You lose a sense of yourself because you can’t do what you did before. 

“It can make you feel very isolated but with small goals every day and some motivation you can feel fit and healthy again – it just takes time.”

Rebecca, who is currently re-training in Tallaght, has encouraged people to be aware of the symptoms of a stroke and the FAST [Face, Arms, Speech, Time to Call] test. 

Rebecca also commended Tallaght Hospital for its care and continued support. 

Tallaght Hospital established the first organised all-age stroke service in Ireland and is a national leader in the provision of acute stroke care, currently providing a tertiary stroke service to the people of South West Dublin and Dublin Mid-Leinster. 

Dr Ronan Collins, Director of Stroke Services at Tallaght Hospital, told The Echo: “Time is crucial with a stroke, no other disease is as time dependant. 

“Brain tissue is very sensitive to lack of oxygen and the quicker we get a patient in, the better the chance of saving as much brain tissue as possible – and ultimately better recovery.” 

Visit www.stroke.ie for more.

STUDENTS from Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Lucan recently graduated from a Gluais youth leadership programme.

The 2016 Gluais graduation ceremony took place at Kylemore College, Ballyfermot. Gluais, a voluntary organisation, works with Transition Year students, teaching youth leadership programmes.

Ten students are selected from each school and brought on a five-day training course, where they engage in a variety of exercises and return to become part of their school’s Gluais team.

Throughout the year they organise events for First Year students, and help them settle in and make friends.

Robert Dillon, PRO Gluais said: “Many students mention how Gluais has changed their life and many of the voluntary leaders who train the students are ex-students themselves – myself included. It is an excellent programme.”

Schools who took part in the programme include Lucan Community College, St Joseph’s College, Kylemore Community College, Collinstown Park Community College, CBS Lucan and St Kevin’s Community College.

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PUBLIC lights installed before the early 1990s, are at the back of the list to be replaced under a countywide LED upgrade programme.

South Dublin County Council say “technical issues” exist with older public lighting stock.

The local authority will continue an LED upgrade with lamps installed after the early 1990s, as technical issues with older public lighting stock “would delay the programme for this year.”

SDCC are replacing low energy lamps with more efficient/energy saving LED lights.

A new public lighting scheme was piloted at Greenhills Road in late 2014, at a cost of €290,000 – increasing visibility and reducing energy consumption by 59 per cent.

Council chiefs hope the rollout of the programme across the county will meet energy-saving targets of 33 per cent by 2020.

The first phase of the programme in 2015, saw over 400 lanterns replaced in villages at Lucan, Palmerstown, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Rathfarnham and Templeogue, and over 650 lanterns replaced in residential areas across the county.

A report at the monthly council meeting on Monday by the public lighting department revealed proposals to upgrade “800 to 900 fittings” in the county this year.

New LED fittings are scheduled to be installed at Bancroft/St Maelruains/ Tallaght Village, Westbourne/ Castlegrange/ Grangeview in Clondalkin, Foxborough/Abbeywood in Lucan, Daletree/Wood Dale/Oakdale in Templeogue, and Woodfield/Orlagh in Rathfarnham.

SDCC have “endeavoured to spread the upgrade equally between each electoral area – also taking into account upgrades installed in late 2015.”

A SDCC spokesperson said: “Due to technical issues with our older PL stock, which would delay the programme for this year, we have chosen PL schemes that were installed in the early 1990s and later.

“Residential housing estates have been chosen due to ease of traffic management, thereby increasing the number of fittings we can upgrade during this period. Estates are chosen with a low tree population/ maturity, since trees cannot be co-located with these fittings.”

The upgrade has been organised to commence at the borders of electoral areas and proceed geographically inwards.

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A NEWSAGENT suffered a third armed raid in the space of nine days this week – with staff fearing an escalation of the thug’s reign of terror.

Staff at the More4Less shop in Bawnogue Shopping Centre in Clondalkin, believe the same person is involved in the attacks, the most recent occurred on Sunday, April 17, at 11.45am.

Two weeks ago, The Echo reported how businesses urged the community to take a stand against a sinister gang of youths wreaking havoc at Bawnogue Shopping Centre.

On Sunday, a raider armed with a gun and knife, crept into the shop from the back door.

CCTV footage shows the raider stalking the shop floor from the rear yard, before creeping his way towards the till and threatening a staff member.

After securing a minimal amount of cash from the till, the disgruntled thug then points the gun at the head of a manager, and orders him to open the safe in another area of the store, before fleeing upon discovering a batch of leap and scratch cards.

The string of robberies has “staff being on edge everyday”, according to a More4Less store employee.

“It’s the same guy and it’s gone beyond a joke at this stage,” said an employee.

“There is a suspicion the robber is watching us, and we’re concerned that he is escalating his activity. You can’t stop thinking about it every day when you’re going to work.

“This is the second Sunday in a row, but this time, he came in the back door, and checked the safe. It’s mostly a coin safe, and we hadn’t many coins – just payzone cards, leap cards and scratch cards.”

A manager at the store was told he would be shot after ejecting a shoplifter two weeks ago.

The store are considering hiring security, due to an ongoing problem with gangs of youths threatening and intimidating staff on a daily basis.

Footage shows the thug wielding a gun and a knife, whilst waiting for an elderly customer to leave the shop before striking.

During the robbery, there was a small child in another area of the shop, oblivious to the danger.

The Echo understands Clondalkin gardaí have identified suspects for the robberies and increased patrols in the Bawnogue area in recent weeks.

Superintendent Brendan Connolly, from Clondalkin Garda Station said: “We have identified a number of individuals, and made a number of drug seizures under Section 3 (possession).

“We are paying attention, and work has began with a new liaison officer between the shopping centre and gardaí. A lot of it is gathering evidence, and it take time to put together a file for the DPP.”

The More4Less store suffered another blow this week, when South Dublin County Council refused permission for a planning application that the store were seeking to improve the shopping centre.

The owner of More4Less submitted a planning application with South Dublin County Council to amalgamate three retail units into a small supermarket, incorporating the local post office.

“It would reinvigorate the centre, and provide more resources and benefits for the community,” said the employee.

“Unfortunately the council said the site notice for the application was invalid and on a tree. We had six site notices up on lampposts, none on a tree. We can’t put the site notice up outside the shop, because kids take them down. It’s a real double blow for us.”

The initial site notice earlier this year was declared invalid because an election poster was covering it when council officials arrived out to inspect the notice.

Anyone with information on the robberies or anti-social activity, is encouraged to contact Clondalkin Garda Station at 666 7600.

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THE seat on South Dublin County Council previously vacated by Deputy Gino Kenny after his election to Dáil Eireann was filled last Monday, following the co-option of Madeleine Johansson (People Before Profit) to the Clondalkin Local Electoral Area (LEA).

Cllr Johansson, who is originally from Sweden, has worked with Deputy Kenny in the Clondalkin area and was the director of elections for the People Before Profit Alliance in the Dublin Mid West electorate area during the general election.

Speaking on her co-option to the council, Cllr Johansson said: “I’m extremely proud to have been nominated to replace Gino Kenny on South Dublin County Council.

“Myself and Gino come from very different backgrounds, Gino grew up in Neilstown while I grew up in a small town in Sweden.

“I want to continue the work that Gino has done in the council, linking the local with the global, but more importantly continue the work on the streets in Clondalkin.

Cllr Johansson joins Sinn Féin councillor Mark Ward (Clondalkin), Fine Gael councillor Brian Lawlor (Templeogue-Terenure) and Fianna Fáil councillor Emma Murphy (Rathfarnham), who were co-opted onto South Dublin County Council last month following the election of Deputies Eoin Ó Broin, Colm Brophy and John Lahart to the Dáil.