Newsletter 25th October 2015
Superann Newsletter 25th October 2015
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The Death has occurred of Thomas RYAN - Erris Road, Cabra, Dublin
Father of colleague Deirdre Ryan (Vision Mixing)
Our deepest sympathy to colleague Deirdre Ryan ( Vixing Mixing) and the Ryan family on the death of her father Thomas..
The following notice appears:
Ryan. Thomas. Dublin. 21st October 2015. Peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the Mater Hospital. Late of Erris Road, Cabra. Predeceased by his daughter Ann. Sadly missed by his loving wife Bernadette, children Joe, David and Deirdre, extended family and friends.
May he rest in peace
Reposing at Massey Bros. Funeral Home, 88a New Cabra Road today, Thursday 22nd Oct 2015 , from 5pm to 7.30pm. Removal Friday 23rd Oct 2015 morning, from funeral home to Christ the King Church, Cabra arriving at 9.50am for 10am Requiem Mass followed by burial in Glasnevin Cemetery. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Mater Heart Foundation.
Date Published: Thursday 22nd October 2015 Date of Death: Wednesday 21st October 2015
(Many thanks to colleague Louise Nolan for alerting me to this sad news...CB)
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RTÉ Director General Noel Curran has announced his decision to stand down from the role in May 2016.
Noel Curran was appointed Director General in 2011 and over the course of five years in the role he oversaw a programme of significant restructuring across RTÉ. Speaking about his departure, Noel said: "After five years as Director General and 12 years on the RTÉ Executive Board, I feel the time is right to move on and take on new professional challenges. "Through the considerable efforts of staff, management and independent producers the organisation is on a more stable footing. "Most importantly, through all their combined talents, RTÉ continues to produce strong programming, continues to innovate, and has made the transition to a modern digital media organisation."
Noel said: "There is still a lot of work to be done before my departure in May." He added: "In particular, I am very much looking forward to preparing for and leading RTÉ's coverage of both the upcoming General Election and the 2016 Commemorations - two hugely important national events. "Finally I want to thank everyone I've worked with during my time as Director General, both inside and outside RTÉ."
Minister for Communications Alex White paid tribute to Mr Curran and said: "Noel has provided strong leadership and direction to RTÉ throughout a period of major change in Irish broadcasting, against a backdrop of significant financial pressures on the station in a fast-moving and highly competitive market. "His clear vision for public service broadcasting in the digital era has helped steer RTÉ through the highly successful switch to Saorview and the development of the broadcaster's online platform. "He has been a part of the RTÉ family for over 20 years. Noel is a man of outstanding character, and a highly accomplished television producer, who has been a huge asset to the organisation. I want to thank him warmly for the excellent service he has given to RTÉ, and to the people of Ireland, over the last 20 years, and I wish him well in his future endeavours." Mr White said the RTÉ Board would begin the process of finding a replacement shortly.
Chair of the RTÉ Board Moya Doherty said: "The Board collectively, and I as chair, owe Noel a great debt, and his experience and insight will be truly missed.
"I know, however, that these skills will stand him well in the next phase of his career and we wish him well for his future ventures."
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Annual Commemorative Mass For Deceased Colleagues
The annual Commemorative Mass for deceased colleagues and those associated with RTÉ will take place on Monday, 2nd November, 2015 at 1.00pm in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook. The Mass will be celebrated by Fr Dermod McCarthy and a representative from another denomination will be present. This year we are delighted to welcome an ensemble from the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the RTÉ Staff Choir. Everyone is very welcome.
This Commemorative Mass is an occasion to remember and honour those who have preceded us in RTÉ, whose work helped to create and maintain our organisation. Those who died in the past twelve months and whom we particularly remember are:
Daphne Brennan nee Carroll (RTÉ Players)
Gerard Carty (TV Cameras)
Eileen Comber O’Moore (Music Department)
Derek Davis (Broadcaster)
Brian Farrell (Broadcaster)
Desmond Fisher (News & TV)
John Fitzgerald (Engineering)
Kevin Grattan (Subtitling)
John Hallissy (Network)
Kathleen Kelleher (Education Programmes, Radio)
Mike Kelly (Independent Programmes, TV)
John Lucas (Design)
Arthur Martin (Engineering)
Noel Merrigan ( RTÉ Orchestras)
Joseph McArdle (Offices Services)
Leonora McCullagh (Library)
Dermot McGrath (Appointments & Staff Development)
Brian McNamee (Network)
David Mitchell (Central Stores)
Noel Merrigan (RTÉ Orchestras)
Nicholas Molloy (Video Editing, News)
Alexander Mooney (Staging)
Peter Mooney (Producer, Radio)
Neasa Ní Bhriain (RTÉ Players)
Maire Nic Eoin (Clerical)
Anita Notaro (Producer, TV)
Colm O’Braonáin (News Editing)
William O’Brien (Network)
Hugh O’Connor (Staging)
Michael O’Connor (Construction)
Al O’Donnell (Graphic Design)
Bill O’Donovan (2FM)
Alexander O’Driscoll (Telecine VTR)
Bill O’Herlihy (Current Affairs & Sport)
Catherine O’Loughlin (Programme Administration, Radio)
Liam O’Murchú (Irish Programmes)
Michael O’Neill (Library)
Thomas Studley (Radio Éireann Players)
Liam Thackaberry (Finance)
Bernard Tobin (Technical Support, Radio)
Des Troy (Electrical, TV)
Jean Darling (Aunty Poppy)
Joan Egan (Tyrone Productions)
Tony Fagan (Fenton) (2fm)
Peter Gibney (BTS)
Anne Curley ( McRedmond) (PA - BCO)
Suaimhneas síoraí dá n-anam.
The annual Commemorative Mass for deceased staff and those associated with RTÉ will take place on Monday 2nd November 2015 at 1.00 p.m. in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook.
Our thanks to Fr. Dermod , Marzena Van Zyl and our colleagues in RTÉ HR for their help with the above... CB
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Cumann Rioga Teilifis
Royal Television Society
Republic of Ireland Centre
You are invited to
A Festive Screening of
“ I Created Dracula"
(The Life and Times of Bram Stoker )
By
Producer Ian Graham
On
Thursday 29th October 2015
at 8 p.m.
Studio 4 Audience Reception – Television Centre
To confirm attendance ring or leave message at 087 251 3092 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CB
“Today I am going to be magnificent "
You !
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Ella McSweeney wins TV category in IFAJ awards
for Broadcast and Digital Media 2015
Ear to the Ground presenter, Ella McSweeney received the highly commended TV Category Award at the IFAJ awards for Broadcast and Digital media for their story on the increasing risk of antibiotic resistance. (IFAJ -The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists}.
Ella commented: “It’s such an honour to get any award for the work we do on Ear to the Ground, but particularly this one. I feel very lucky to get the chance to do this kind of work on RTÉ, and I’d like to thank them for supporting me. Antibiotic resistance is an alarming global issue which affects each and every one of us. The farmers and other contributors who agreed to talk to me should be commended for their honesty and willingness to tackle what is a public interest issue.”
Ear to the Ground producer, Paula Williams, said:
“It’s great to see Ear to the Ground being recognised for the work it put into the story about antibiotic resistance. The continued over-use of antibiotics poses a serious threat to human health unless urgent worldwide action is taken.
Fuelling this resistance is the widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture.
"It is important for Ear to the Ground as a farming programme, to look at the type of antibiotics being used on Irish farms, especially for the prophylactic treatment of infections like mastitis.
We did this at a time when dairy quotas were coming to an end and looking to the future where there would be significantly more animals in Irish herds and therefore further use of antibiotics.“
Ear to the Ground is produced for RTÉ by Independent Pictures.
Series Producer - John Cummins
Presenters - Darragh McCullough, Helen Carroll, Ella McSweeney
Directors - Paula Williams, Liam Lavelle
Executive Producer for RTÉ - Ray McCarthy
Press enquiries:
TVPR – Ann Coughlan 087 6778045
Pauline Cronin 087 2629967
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Happy Birthday to Brush..
Many thanks to colleague Julian Vignoles for sending this photo...
Celebrating the 70th birthday of a great friend of mine this afternoon - the one and only Brush Shiels - on the radio today!...Many thanks Julian for the above...CB
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BALLYFIN
Tx Tuesday 10 November, RTÉ One, 10.15pm
BALLYFIN is a one hour documentary that tells the story of the rise, decline, and rebirth of one of Ireland’s architectural treasures. Designed by the renowned Irish architects Sir Richard Morrison and his son William Vitruvius, it was subject to one of the most extensive renovations ever undertaken in a private house and is now regarded as one of the best hotels in Ireland.
Set beneath the gentle contours of the Slieve Bloom Mountains the house and demesne at Ballyfin in County Laois are rich in tradition and history. For centuries these lands were associated with the O’Mores, one of the region’s ancient clans.
The demesne was established in the early decades of the seventeenth century. Over time, as the property passed through different owners, including the older brother of the Duke of Wellington, a succession of houses were built here.
In 1823 construction on the present house was begun. At this point the house was owned by Sir Charles Coote an Irish baronet. The Coote family’s heritage and prestige was reflected in the magnificence of the building – a country house built to provide suitable grandeur for political entertaining and everyday living. Sir Charles sold an entire town, Jamestown in County Leitrim, to fund the project.
For one hundred years, the Coote family enjoyed the splendour of life at Ballyfin, where more than 100 people were employed.
The First World War, Ireland’s War of Independence and the Civil War meant that houses like Ballyfin were almost impossible to run and maintain as before. The house was closed up, the family moved to England and in 1927 Ballyfin was sold to the Patrician Brothers, a Catholic teaching order.
The house was turned into a boarding school where for eight decades students were educated.
But over time this great house became an increasing burden for the dwindling number of Patrician Brothers who lived there. Eventually, parts of the building began to deteriorate and by the end of the century Ballyfin became one of the most endangered country houses in Ireland.
In 2002 the Patrician Brothers were approached by someone looking for a house to restore and took the opportunity to sell Ballyfin. The decision was made easier because the new owner allowed the school to remain onsite for five more years.
There followed an ambitious and painstaking restoration of Ballyfin; it was perhaps the most challenging and successful restoration of a private house ever seen in Ireland.
The vision was to restore the house, converting it into a hotel while returning it to its original resplendent condition. The desired effect was to create the impression of a house from which the family had only recently taken leave, gone out as it were, for a day’s leisure and likely to return at any moment.
Ballyfin was awarded 12th place in the 100 Best Hotels and Resorts in the World (International Traveller Magazine),The Ultimate Destination for 2014 (Harper's Bazaar), Top 10 Upscale All-Inclusive Resorts 2013 (Forbes magazine), 4th in the Top 20 International Hideaways (Andrew Harper Reader's Choice Awards 2015) and numerous other national and international awards and accolades.
QUOTES FROM MANAGER JIM REYNOLDS:
"This was a unique opportunity to rescue one of the most important Georgian houses in the country with its rich and lavish interiors and to give it a new life and purpose.
This was not to be a cold commercial exploitation as has been the case in many restoration projects but an occasion in which the place could be remade as a house and home which welcomes guests as if coming to a friend’s private place – all within the existing historic fabric of the place and enhoused by the surrounding 614 acre demesne with its restored lake, gardens, fountains, grotto, tower and parkland."
BALLYFIN was produced and directed by David Hare of InProduction.TV for RTÉ.
Publicity:
TVPR
Ann Coughlan 087 6778045
Pauline Cronin 087 2629967
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Bank Holiday Quiz Time ...
with thanks to colleague Peter Fletcher..
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There are only nine questions. This is a quiz for people who know everything! 1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends. 2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward? 3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables? 4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside? 5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters ' dw' and they are all common words. Name two of them. 7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them? 8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh. 9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter 'S.'
Answers To Quiz:
1. The one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends: Boxing.
2 North American landmark constantly moving backward: Niagara Falls ... The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute. 3 Only two vegetables that can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons: Asparagus and rhubarb. 4 The fruit with its seeds on the outside: Strawberry.
5 How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle? It grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.
6 Three English words beginning with dw: Dwarf, dwell and dwindle... 7 Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar: Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation mark, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses. 8 The only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh: Lettuce. 9 Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with 'S': Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts. PLEASE DO YOUR PART ; Today is National Mental Health Day. Don't send it back to me. I've already failed it That's all for now ....have a good week....CB |