New internet safety director appointed

The Government has appointed John Laffan as the director of the Office for Internet Safety (OIS) in Ireland. Mr Laffan will take up his post at the beginning of next month.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan, who made the announcement today, said the OIS will "encourage greater cohesion across state agencies and develop closer relationships with the gardaí on the practicalities for the application of blocking technologies".

The Minister was speaking at the publication of the final booklet in the Government's Get with IT series advising safer internet usage. The booklet is a guide for parents to social networking sites and the practicalities involved in allowing children to use them. It is available free of charge through libraries, community information centres and credit unions, or online at the Department of Justice website.

Get with IT! - A Parents' Guide to New Media

A parents' guide to new media technologies, has been published by the Internet Advisory Board.
Get with IT - a Parents Guide to New Media (PDF - 1.31MB)
Get with IT - A Parents Guide to Filtering Technologies (PDF - 1.06MB)
Get with IT - A Parents Guide to Social-Networking Websites (PDF - 2.73MB)

All documents are available here:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Get_with_IT

O2 Ireland launches mobile safety website

12.02.2008 - O2 Ireland has launched a dedicated website aimed at promoting safer use of mobile phones by young teenagers and children.
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Satellite - an exhibition in light and dark

Library Square Tallaght / 13 – 17 February.

New websites launched – Satellite and Bacon Instead!

Two great websites for the arts in South Dublin have just been launched. Newly designed website http://www.satellitesouthdublin.com for Satellite, features the new artworks of In Context 3 artists in the newly built Library Square, which will shortly see the opening of the impressive new County Library. htp://www.BaconInstead.org is the interactive website for Jackie Sumell’s Bacon Instead project has a stop motion Flash interface, a real contrast to corporate website styles – which is entirely appropriate as Bacon Instead is all about reclaiming advertising space for personal use.

You can contribute to the site with ideas on what you would like to see instead of advertisements or download DIY booklets submitted by other artists.

Award for New Tallaght Library

The new Tallaght Library Building has picked up the Best Public building Award at the recent Lama Awards. Congratulations to all involved. The library building will open in the coming weeks. Further information available on: www.southdublinlibraries.ie

Emmet & Devlin Committee

The Emmet & Devlin Committee and Dublin City Public Libraries
Present 4th Annual Robert Emmet Spring Lecture on Monday March 3rd 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
in Dublin City Library and Archive (The Gilbert Library) 138 - 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

The Military career of Lt. Col. Sean Clancy 1901 - 2006 - Veteran of the War of Independence and Civil War and Longest surviving associate of Michael Collins presented by Gerry MacCann.

With author and broadcaster Aidan O’Hara as MC. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Admission free - all are welcome. Fáilte roimh cách. Further details from the Library on (01) 6744873.

Launch Party of SnaGct, Seachtain an Gaeilge Nationally and Ceol 08

South Dublin County Council is delighted to announce that we are hosting the local launch of Seachtain na Gaeilge tha Cliath Theas & also the National Launch of Seachtain na Gaeilge and Ceol 08!! This night promises to be hugely entertaining with well known artists such as Declan ORourke, Fiach, Lir, Bastable Warren Irish Dancers, Gerry O Connor, Johnny Connolly, Mattie Joe Shamuis Flatharta, Marcus Hernon, Aisteoir Chrnin, Rincedance and more. Dith S is Fear an T for the night.

There is no cover charge for the launch or SnaG 08 but booking is essential at Gaeilge@sdublincoco.ie or 086-8228916. The event will take place @ 19.00 on the 6th March 2008.

For more information contact the Irish Office in South Dublin County Council at above details; or visit www.athcliaththeas.ie

For information in relation to national events contact Orla Nic Shuibhne at 0879845760 or www.snag.ie

Anam Cara Parent Bereavement Support

Anam Cara Parent Bereavement Support will be launched in Dublin today. The group was formed to address the needs of bereaved parents and families. The loss of your child is like no other and bereaved parents often find them selves isolated and lonely in their grief. Who can really understand how you are feeling? Only someone else who is walking the same road as yourself.

Anam Cara will not take the pain away but we hope it will make it easier to bear. We offer information, support and events during the year to let you know you are not alone in your darkest hours.

Weblink: http://www.anamcara.ie/

Laptops rolled out in St. Aidan's

It has been a busy few weeks in St. Aidan's with the rollout of the laptops now complete and students are now accessing the VLE.

PURE Education Pack Launched

The Mayor of South Dublin County Council Billy Gogarty launched the PURE (Protecting Uplands and Rural Environments) Education Pack for Primary Schools in County Hall, Tallaght on Wednesday 9th January 2008 at 11am.

Pupils from Glenasmole National School, who took part in the recent PURE Poster Competition, were present at the launch along with their Principal and representatives from South Dublin County Council and PURE. The winner of the poster competition was Orla Mooney and her poster is included in the Education Pack which will be distributed to all Primary Schools in South Dublin County.
Press Release

Satellite - showcase of artwork

A showcase of artwork in light-based media by artists from In Context 3, South Dublin County Councils Per Cent for Art programme.

February 13th - 17th 2008
Library Square, Tallaght, Beside Tallaght Luas stop
Best viewed from twilight onwards (after 5.15 pm)

Light, colour and imagination will transform the pavements, windows and walls of Library Square around the new County Library building. Poetry, films and images by artists from In Context 3 will light up this new public space. Satellite is a free event and the artworks will be visible from the outside, particularly during the darkening of early evening. Poetry written in light on the paved areas, films appearing in windows and animations of trees moving across walls are some of the surprises in store for passers-by.

http://incontext.southdublin.ie
Contact: Rachel McAree, tel 01 414 9321