The Dublin Community Blog

15:16
I’ve just received a text alert to let me know that emergency services are currently working on a ‘Major Incident’ in Dun Laoghaire. I’ve no details of what it is just yet, if anyone is around and about and has more info, or pictures, please send them on.

15:20
According to Reports on the incident are unclear with some suggesting a bus carrying children entered the water. Other reports say it was a yachting incident.

15:23
Keeping an eye on these webcams from Dun Laoghaire harbour but so far not a whole lot showing up on them.

15:30
Apparently a school-kids regatta has been affected by some freak weather, and up to 120 children have been blown off their boats into the water.

15:35
It would appear that the webcams have disappeared offline, probably due to the volume of people watching them.

15:38
A further update from ireland.com

According to the Department of Transport four local yacht clubs were taking part in a junior regatta involving 91 boats and 110 children when weather conditions worsened sharply at around 2.15pm leading to the overturning of a number of boats.

The children involved were aged between 10 to 15 years of age.

Lifeboats from Dun Laoighre and Howth along with a Dublin-based coastguard helicopter are involved in rescuing the children from the sea.

It is not yet clear how many of the boats overturned or whether there have been any injuries.

A Dublin Fire Brigade spokesman said numerous units have been sent to the scene, including specialist water rescue units.

15:38

According to this RTE News article, this incident actually occurred at 14:00 today, and that up to 120 children had to be rescued from the sea off Dún Laoghaire after over 90 vessels capsized. According to a spokesperson for Dun Laoghaire, all of the children were wearing life jackets and all have since been accounted for.

There are some interesting exhibitions in IMMA at the moment. I visited last Sunday and can recommend a look around the Anne Madden exhibition. I wish I had the money and a wall big enough to purchase her work. Very beautiful – especially the Aurora Borealis series.

Also exhibiting is the work of Lucien Freud. His painting doesn’t excite me personally, however he is considered the most important figurative painter of today and its great to have an opportunity to view his work in Dublin. Both exhibitions are showing until September.

During July and August there is late opening on Thursday evenings until 8.00pm.

Big apology due to all our readers and commentators here, I’ve been completely out of the loop for the past two weeks or so, and I noticed this morning that there were a heap of unapproved comments sitting in the queue awaiting approval. They’ve all been approved and are viewable now, hopefully the debate can continue, and fingers crossed it won’t happen again!

Speaking of contributing to the blog, if anyone is interested in coming onboard and joining the team and writing for us, just let me know, we’d love to have you here if you have something, good or bad to say about Dublin!