Ancient Greek 'computer' decoded

Scientists have used modern scanning technology to unlock the secrets of an ancient Greek 'computer', the Antikythera Mechanism.
The astronomical calculator, considered a technological marvel of antiquity, was also used to track dates of the ancient Olympic games, researchers reported today in the British science journal Nature. Read More

Courtesy: RTE

South Dublin County Ethiopian Partnership Project takes the Public Sector Award in the inaugural Africa Day Awards

On Sunday 27 July 2008 South Dublin County Council was successful in taking the Public Sector Award in the inaugural Africa Day Awards at a ceremony in the splendid surroundings of St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle for its South Dublin County Ethiopian Partnership Project.
This project is a unique venture that seeks to improve the well being of two towns in Ethiopia; Butajira and Werabe and which also provides financial support for a slum regeneration project in Addis Ababa – the Integrated Holistic Approach Urban Development Project. Read More

Courtesy: SDCC

Polish / Irish Family Day 23rd August 2008

For the first time ever in South Dublin County, the Community Services Department of South Dublin County Council are organising a Polish/Irish Family Day in the grounds of the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Saturday 23rd August from 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm. Read More

Courtesy: SDCC

RTÉ Special Series

RTÉ.ie, in association with the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund, present a special series about technology in the developing world.We go to India, Rwanda and Kenya where three programmes, including the Irish charity Camara, are using three very different approaches to achieve the same goal: educating the world's youngest citizens.Read More

Courtesy: RTE

Tech jobs are still out there

Despite recent increases in the unemployment rate, an estimated 7,000 vacancies remain unfilled in the technology sector while average salaries are continuing to increase, writes John Collins.

Shane Dempsey, director of the Irish Software Association, says the industry is now facing a potential "skills gap" as there is a time lag between students training in technology and being available to work.Read More

Courtesy: Irish Times

Patent for taxi texting service

A SMALL Irish company has been granted a patent for a new type of system that will allow customers to order taxis by text, writes Ciara O'Brien .
The TextaTaxi service is the brainchild of Text One Group, a small firm based in Inishowen, Co Donegal, which specialises in database, SMS delivery and application development.Read More

Courtesy: Irish Times

Facebook's future outlined

Founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg this week outlined at Facebook's annual conference how the company's features will run on affiliated sites outside its own.

Facebook Connect will transform the social network from a private site where activity occurs entirely within a "walled garden" to a web-wide phenomenon where software makers, with user permission, can tap member data for use on their sites.Read More

Courtesy: Irish Times

Women who blog empowered at 'BlogHer'

Last weekend BlogHer, the conference for women who blog, was in San Francisco, and I'm one of the handful of men around, writes Danny O'Brien .

It's fascinating in the way that attending any conference that's not really aimed at you is fascinating. You get to see otherwise invisible allegiances and networks; you hear stories and terminology that you wouldn't normally hear, and the general level of the conversation raises to a professional point that is usually dimmed or simplified when others are around.Read More

Courtesy: Irish Times

Cylinders Containing Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) Have Been Successfully Chemically Neutralised

South Dublin County Council has successfully chemically neutralised seven cylinders containing agricultural fumigant (Hydrogen Cyanide/HCN) that were stored at pest control company Rentokil. A US company, Integrated Environmental Services (IES), specialists in on-site management of waste compressed gas cylinders undertook the project at a County Council owned compound at Grange Castle, Co Dublin. There was no risk to the public. The nearby golf course was closed during the neutralising process. No explosives were used. Four IES personnel travelled from Atlanta and using specialist equipment flown in from the US, carried out the safe disposal procedure. Read More

Courtesy: SDCC

Digital dosh is still lurking

FORGET THE jet-cars and food-in-a-pill - whatever happened to the promise of digital cash? When the internet first reared its global head in the early 1990s, the area where it was expected to have the most dramatic impact was the world of money. Not making it or sending it or even saving it: but the very idea of money itself. Read More

Courtesy: Irish Times

Crackdown on jobless benefit claims

People signing on the Live Register will now have to collect their weekly benefit payment at a post office instead of having it paid into their bank account.
The Government says this is to reduce the likelihood of people claiming benefits while they are not resident in Ireland. Read More

Courtesy: RTE

ThinkPad update

IF EVER there was a symbol of the onward march of globalisation it is Lenovo. Acquiring IBM's consumer PC division in 2005, the Chinese company made assurances that ThinkPad fans would still get quality business notebooks.
But instead of just continuing the ThinkPad range, Lenovo innovated and extended into the consumer space with its V series machines. This week...... Read More

Courtesy: Irish Times

Funding our future

The Government must invest more money in school ICT programmes so Irish pupils get the same tech training as those in other countries... Read More

Courtesy: Irish Times

Ubuntu Ireland goes for open source success

Microsoft Windows remains the standard operating system (OS) for most personal computers throughout the world but advocates for the open source Linux-based OS Ubuntu are pushing its benefits for personal, educational and organisational uses, not least because it is free and community developed. Read More

Courtesy: Silicon Republic

National College of Ireland Part-time Programmes Open Evening

Do you want to step up your career, develop new skills and knowledge, or build on an existing qualification? If so, then call into the Part-time Programmes Open Evening at National College of Ireland on Wednesday 23rd July in the IFSC, Dublin 1 Read More

Courtesy: Community Exchange

New website for Irish Charities Seeking Funding

A new website,developed by The Wheel, aims to provide Irish charities with an efficient and cost effective way to diversify their funding. – A unique service providing comprehensive information about hundreds of funding schemes currently available to Irish charities, including EU funds, independent trusts and corporate and central and local government grants. Read More

Courtesy: Community Exchange

New Councillor Dorothy Corrigan

At the Council Meeting held on 14th July 2008 Cllr. Dorothy Corrigan was co-opted to fill the casual vacancy on South Dublin County Council.Read More

Courtesy: SDCC

Gas, electricity prices to rise

RTÉ News has learned the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is considering a gas price increase of between 35% and 40%.
The announcement follows a 17.5% interim increase in electricity prices, which will take effect from August.
The ESB sought and secured the electricity price increase as a response to ongoing volatility in the international energy market.Read More

Courtesy: RTE

A Heritage Plan for South Dublin

South Dublin County Council, with the support of the Heritage Council, is commencing the process of preparing the County’s first Heritage Plan. The importance of heritage in the County is recognised in the South Dublin County Development Plan 2004-2010, where the preparation of a County Heritage Plan is a stated objective.Read More

Courtesy: SDCC

Web Innovators get €100,000 research funding

14.07.2008 Four innovative start-up technology companies – HeyStaks, Locle, TouristR and Playza – have been unveiled as the winning recipients who will each share in the Eircom €100,000 Web Innovation Fund. Read More

Courtesy: Silicon Republic

Launch of Copper Bucket Making Programme

On Wednesday 9th July 2008 in South Dublin County Council Headquarters the Mayor of South Dublin County, Councillor Marie Corr launched the Copper Bucket Making Programme. The Copper Bucket Making Programme is part of the Traveller Culture Project the Sports & Recreation Officer, Social Inclusion Officer and Arts Officer are undertaking.Read More

Courtesy: SDCC

Deputy Seamus Brennan T.D. R.I.P (16 February 1948 – 9 July 2008)

The Mayor Marie Corr, Elected Members, County Manager and Staff wish to express their sympathy to the Brennan family on their sad loss. Funeral arrangements are as follows: Reposing from 4.00 pm today(Thursday) at Fanagans Funeral Home, Lower Main Street, Dundrum prior to his removal at 6.30 pm to the Church of the Holy Cross, Dundrum arriving at 7.00 pm.

Funeral Mass tomorrow (Friday) after 12.00 O’Clock Mass to St. Nahi’s Cemetery.
May he rest in peace, Ar dhéis lámh Dé go raibh a anam dilís

Smart and ESB in deal for next generation fibre network

Smart Telecom has concluded a multi-million euro deal with ESB Telecoms (ESBT) enabling Smart Telecom to provide high capacity Next Generation broadband services throughout Ireland.
The 3-year deal will see ESBT provide Smart Telecom with up to 10Gbps of capacity around Ireland across two national fibre rings spanning the entire country.Read More

Courtesy: RTE

New Mayor for South Dublin County Council

New Mayor elected for South Dublin County Council for 2008/2009. Cllr. Marie Corr was elected Mayor at the Annual Meeting of the Council on Friday 27th June 2008.

New Deputy Mayor elected for South Dublin County Council for 2008/2009. Cllr. Guss O'Connell was elected Deputy Mayor at the Annual Meeting of the Council on Friday 27th June 2008.The following Councillors were elected Area Chairpersons:-


Cllr. Derek Keating - Lucan/Clondalkin
Cllr. Caitriona Jones - Tallaght
Cllr. Paddy Cosgrave - Terenure/Rathfarnahm

Courtesy: SDCC

Welcome for release of Ingrid Betancourt

World leaders have welcomed the rescue by the Colombian military forces of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages. The hostages had been held captive by FARC rebels in remote jungle areas of the country for six years.Read more

Courtesy: RTE

Fuel: The road to where?

RTÉ News looks at how fuel costs are affecting how we travel and looks at the reasons for recent surges.Read more

Courtesy: RTE

Bill Gates retires from Microsoft

Sensing the start of a personal computer revolution, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard University in 1975 to start Microsoft Corp and pursue a vision of a computer on every desk and in every home. Read more

Courtesy: RTE