Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye. Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing, Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king? The king was in his counting house, counting out his money. The queen was in the parlour, eating bread and honey. The maid was in the garden, hanging out the clothes, When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose. There was such a commotion, that little Jenny wren, Flew down into the garden, and put it back again. END
The common Blackbird, formerly also known as an ‘Ouzel’, is a species of the Thrush family. The plumage of the adult male is all black, except for a yellow beak. The adult female and all juveniles birds, on the other hand, have mainly a dark brown plumage, with speckles on the upper breast, which slightly resemble our Irish Song Thrush.
Pictured today, two baby Blackbirds waiting for parents to return with grub. Under the Irish Wildlife Act, it is against the law to cut, burn or otherwise destroy vegetation including hedges between March 1st and August 31st. The purpose of this ban is to prevent the disturbance and destruction of nesting sites of many of our wild bird species. Pic: G. Willoughby.
One would have assumed that Carrion Crows, Ravens, Rooks and Jackdaws would have been referred to first as ‘blackbirds’, but of course historically the word ‘bird’ was correctly used to differentiate larger species from the smaller bird variety; hence the larger Crows, Jackdaws etc. are categorised as ‘wild fowl’.
The blackbird species breeds in Irish woods and gardens; building a neat, round cup-shaped nest, same bound together with dried muck. Its daily diet includes a wide range of insects, earthworms, berries, and fruits. It is a regular visitor to our bird tables, attracted by porridge oats, fruit and cooked potato leftovers. The birds are territorial, especially during the breeding season.
The English nursery rhyme above, entitled ‘Sing a Song of Sixpence’ is possibly as old as the 1500s; which we all learned as primary school kids, was supposedly a coded message used by the legendary pirate Captain Blackbeard to recruit pirates. Sixpence and a hip-flask of rye whisky was the weekly pirate’s wage. Thus the ‘blackbirds’ were Blackbeard’s pirates and the ‘pie’ his sailing vessel.
Yet another theory, which is more acceptable, suggests that the King ‘in his counting house’ and the ‘Queen in the parlour’, actually refers to Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, while the maid ‘in the garden, hanging out the clothes’, refers to Ann Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII. Henry VIII, our readers will remember, divorced and executed Ann Boleyn, whom he had beheaded on May 19th, 1536, at the Tower of London. So the reference to the blackbird snipping off the maids nose could possibly represent his decision to separate from the then existing Church of Rome.
Ireland’s power generation and industrial emissions decreased by 17% in 2023.
In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies covered by the EU Emissions Trading System decreased by 17%.
Emissions decreased by almost 24% from the electricity generation sector.
The decrease in industrial emissions was over 6%, with cement industry emissions decreasing by 6.2% mainly due to lower production levels.
In contrast, greenhouse gas emissions from aviation increased by more than 9% compared to 2022, which reflects continued growth in this sector.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today released its preliminary analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 from the Emissions Trading System (ETS) sector. Emissions from Irish power generation and industrial companies decreased by 17% (more than 2.4 million tonnes) in 2023 to 12.19 million tonnes of CO2. This compares with a decrease of approximately 15.5% across Europe, according to data published by the EU Commission.
Ireland’s ETS sector delivered a decrease in emissions in 2023 due to a combination of factors, including an increase in imports of electricity, the use of renewable electricity and renewable fuels as well as a decrease in cement production.
The electricity sector used less coal generation compared to the previous year, with increased use of wind and solar powered electricity. This is the second year that a drop in emissions from Moneypoint is observed, but fossil-fired power stations continue to play a strong role in meeting a high electricity demand. Importation of electricity from other countries outside the EU will require a carbon price to be paid in the longer term under the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism unless there is a linking agreement with the ETS in the exporting country.
Ms Laura Burke, EPA Director General said: “While Ireland is increasingly moving away from coal generation, we still rely heavily on fossil fuels to meet our electricity demand. Ireland must continue to put a priority on renewable generation infrastructure to deliver grid decarbonisation.”
109 major industrial and electricity generation sites were required to report their emissions for 2023 by 31 March 2024 in the EU Emissions Trading System. These include sites operating in the power generation, cement, lime, and oil refining sectors. Also included are large companies in sectors such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors.
Cement industries recorded a 6% decrease overall due to a drop in production.
Emissions from the food and drink sector also showed a decrease in emissions of more than 3%.
Emissions from bulk manufacturing of pharmaceuticals decreased by more than 6% while emissions from manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations increased slightly by almost 3%.
Aviation emissions from flights within the European Economic Area reported to Ireland by 31 March increased by over 9% compared to 2022, to over 11 million tonnes. This is still lower than the pre-pandemic levels of 12.8 million tonnes, nevertheless, the emissions data for 2023 reflect the ongoing growth of traffic in this sector and the need to put a series of measures in place to reduce air traffic emissions. The revised ETS Directive published in 2023, allows aircraft operators to claim free allocation where they can show that they have used Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
Dr Maria Martin, EPA Senior Manager, said: “The EU Emissions Trading System is one of the key policy tools driving decarbonisation. The system is expanding to bring in new sectors including buildings, road transport and smaller industries as well as the maritime sector and this will provide an incentive to reduce emissions in those areas.”
Maritime emissions come under the EU ETS from the start of this year and this will provide an incentive to reduce emissions from container shipping and passenger ferries.
Further details about Emissions Trading are available on the EPA website. Further information about Ireland’s overall greenhouse gas emissions is also available on the EPA website and the EPA has developed useful infographics and published the detailed greenhouse gas inventory HERE.
Analysis of the EU data can be found in a DG Climate Action news article published on 3rd April, which also contains a link to the data.
The EPA announces funding of €14.5m for new environmental and climate research across open themes, focusing on medium- to longer-term environmental research needs.
Research proposals are invited for research across the following areas:
Addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs
Delivering a Healthy Environment
Facilitating a Green and Circular Economy
Protecting and Restoring our Natural Environment
Funding high quality environmental research is essential to support policy development as well as building capacity within the environmental research community in Ireland.
Successful researchers will work closely with policy makers to ensure that the research is impactful and effectively informs environmental policy in Ireland.
Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced research funding of up to €14.5 million for new environmental research. The EPA is inviting proposals from the research community for innovative projects to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.
Announcing the EPA funding call, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment said, “The EPA is committed to funding excellent research to address knowledge gaps, build capacity and provide robust evidence to support the implementation of effective environmental policies in Ireland. We have recently announced an increase in the PhD stipend to €25,000 for EPA-funded students and now invite research proposals across a range of open themes focusing on funding medium- to longer-term research. In 2023, 40 per cent of awardees had not previously applied to the EPA for funding and we hope to see this trend continue in 2024.”
Areas of research include exploring global risks to Ireland achieving its climate and environmental goals; understanding vulnerabilities to climate change at a local level including climate attribution science related to extreme weather events in Ireland; how to accelerate our transition to a circular economy; the impact of a changing climate on our health; and how we can consider benefits to both nature and the economy in decision-making.
Dr Darragh O’Neill, EPA Research Manager, said, “Building on last year’s call, which included a number of broad research themes and attracted a large proportion of new applicants, we are pleased to extend this approach in the EPA Research Call 2024. The call invites applications across a wider range and larger number of thematic areas, with funding available for up to four years in most of these areas. Recognising the environmental, economic and societal challenges associated with the green transition, we particularly encourage applicants to consider inter- and transdisciplinary projects with contributions from diverse research disciplines and sectors.”
The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Under this year’s call, the EPA is delighted to be partnering with Met Éireann to co-fund projects in areas of mutual interest.
The people of Thurles have long learned not to trust locally elected councillors or elected politicians, when their lips move.
Further proof, if proof was ever in doubt, was the statement published on the Facebook page of Councillor Mr Sean Ryan, dated March 28th last 2024. View HERE. (Note: Cllr Ryan has a habit of removing comments, especially from me; from his social media pages, so this statement of his may also vanish.)
Mr Ryan had stated that, quote, “Temporary repair work will commence on Kickham St. in Thurles, on Thursday April 4th & Friday April 5th. The major scheme for Kickham St. will commence in the summer.”
The people of Kickham Street, Thurles waited all day, today April 4th, and as expected, the potholes in the road surface got deeper and the gravel and muck from previous weeks of patching, continued to hop of the front window of my home, same encouraged courtesy of failings by town engineer Mr Thomas Duffy, in what I refer to as the (view link)“Duffy Pothole Solution.”
Damage caused by the ‘Thomas Duffy Road Surface Solution’ of pothole drainage. Pic. G. Willoughby.
I had fairly pointed out, on Cllr. Ryan’s Facebook page, that an email received by me from Ms Sharon Scully, (TMD administrator), contradicted his timeline of work scheduled for the busiest road in Thurles town, which had been initially highlighted continuously over the past 3 years.
Ms Scully’s email [dated Wed, 27th March, 18:46] read: “I can confirm that I have been to Kickham Street many times including over the last number of days and weeks. I can further confirm that the construction phase for the N75 Liberty Square to Anner Hotel scheme in Thurles is scheduled to take place between August and December of the current year. Temporary patching of the road will continue until this permanent work can take place.
Regards, Sharon Scully.
20.32 centimeters (8 inch) deep crater normally filled twice weekly on Kickham Street, Thurles. Pic. G. Willoughby.
Ms Scully’s reply, having visited Kickham Street, as she stated ‘many times’, further is proof that this county, at least, is governed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and not by Tipperary Co. Council officials or local Councillors.
I had also pointed out that Cllr. Ryan was involved in an advanced form of electioneering with local elections scheduled on the immediate horizon. (Pictures sent and my comment were removed by Cllr. Ryan in case Mr Micheál Martin might refer to his Facebook.)
Road surface today on Kickham Street, Thurles, (April 4th, 2024.) Pic. G. Willoughby.
Yes, An Tánaiste Mr Micheál Martin was in Two-Mile-Borris yesterday, canvassing. He later dropped into the Arch Bar in Liberty Square, Thurles. Those rubbing of his suit jacket, included TD Mr Jackie Cahill, Cllr. Sean Ryan and European candidate Ms Cynthia Ni Murchu. (His arrival was unannounced.)
I am convinced his formal procession, latter riding in motor vehicles, entered Thurles via Mitchel Street, for surely Mr Martin would have asked why the road surface on Kickham Street, was in such a 3rd world condition entering a town.
I await my request, sent some weeks ago, on how to appeal against property tax payments made over the past 3 years, same request having been sent to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Mr Eamon Ryan, (eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie), and the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael McGrath, (michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie).
I notice TD’s within the present government set themselves above replying to requests made by those who elected them.
Is An Tánaiste, Mr Micheál Martin fully aware that the name Fianna Fáil will most likely vanish within Co. Tipperary over the period of the next 3 elections, [Local, European, and General], due to total political indifference, shown by elected representatives of his political party.
Meanwhile, with regards ‘Temporary patching‘, the waste by Tipperary Co. Council continues.
WEEE Ireland, in conjunction with the German multinational family-owned discount supermarket Aldi will host free e-waste collection days across the eight major towns in Co. Tipperary, including Thurles, Roscrea, Nenagh, Cashel, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel and Tipperary Town.
Co. Tipperary householders are being urged to bring their batteries, electrical, and electronic waste to a set of free collection days, to help Tipperary meet its national e-waste recycling targets for 2024.
WEEE Ireland dates for all collection venues together with Addresses and Eircodes are as follows:-
Remember: Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled for free on the day, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mobile phones, remote controls, batteries, including farm fence batteries, and even watches.
In 2022, the equivalent of 216,157 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling e-waste through the WEEE Ireland Scheme as opposed to same being sent to landfill. Same is equivalent to the annual carbon consumption of some 4,323 hectares of trees.
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