Henry Mckean On The Hard Shoulder

As restrictions continue to be eased today why is it that people are still using the capital as an open urinal? Does the capital smell of a dirty public toilet? Henry McKean has been out and about with Dublin City Council Waste Management washing the streets 24/7. DCC have a Night team, 2 wash teams 7 nights a week, a graffiti removal team and 400 staff keeping the city clean, they are on twitter @DubCityEnviro where you can watch them working away. 

Across Dublin City Centre this afternoon you’ll find Chuggers - or Charity Muggers - out on the streets Yes, ‘Direct Charity Fundraisers’ are on the public paths asking for your donations. Is the public ready for them after the Pandemic, is this a sign of a return to normality? And why do charities use them? Henry McKean has been out and about.

The Master of the Rotunda Professor Fergal Malone has said maternity restrictions will be relaxed if expecting mums and their partners get vaccinated. At the moment vaccine uptake stands at about 40%, way below the national average of 78%. Henry McKean met dads having to wait in the car and mums to-be outside the Rotunda to hear their story.

Climate change is “widespread, rapid and intensifying”, according to a major UN report. And “A Code Red for Humanity.” Sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide are required urgently to limit the damage to the world. Henry McKean has been speaking to people in Portrane and Donabate about how climate change is affecting them and what they are doing about it.

Skibbereen is beginning to come to terms with Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy winning gold in the lightweight double sculls final. Henry McKean met Olympic Gold medalist Paul O'Donovan's mum Trish and Bronze Medalist Emily Hegarty's mum Mary. Henry asked does it take a village to raise Olympians?

Indoor dining is back for the first time since before Christmas. And Wet pubs can reopen their doors for the first time since March 2020. Fully vaccinated or those who have recovered from Covid in the last 6 months were allowed inside today with accompanied children. Henry McKean has visited Naas, Drogheda and Drimnagh to take in the atmosphere. Visiting the Black Forge Inn opening for the first time under new ownership under Conor McGregor.   

It’s a status Orange High Temperature Weather Warning for Cavan, Monaghan, South Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford. And Status Yellow for the rest of the country.  Henry McKean visited Virginia County Cavan for us find out how hot it got. 

It is estimated that there are round 15 volunteer soup runs operating throughout Dublin. Some of the groups are now being inspected by the HSE Environmental Health Service and have been found to be in breach of food safety regulations. Soup runs in Dublin have been inspected by the HSE Environmental Health Service. The volunteers say they have been found to be in breach of a number of food safety requirements. Hear from Denise Carroll from @homeless_cafe, @FHFDublin and @FSAIinfo on @PatKennyNT. pic.twitter.com/HBI81HsWD3 — Josh Crosbie (@JoshCrosbie3) July 21, 2021 Some say this is red tape gone mad, others argue that there does need to be more control our reporter Josh Crosbie spoke to those on both sides.

Ireland's heat wave is set to continue until Friday. Most of the nation has decamped to the beach. Henry McKean caught up with beach goers in Bettystown County Meath and sent us this report from the sand dunes. With opera singer Gavan Ring.

If you think the ‘Clutch’ is in your car and ‘tea’ is a hot drink and ‘shade’ is something we all needed today to get out of the sun you are out of date. According to Language experts Busuu, Generation Z (The under 25s) are leaving older people baffled with their words and phrases. Our Generation X correspondent Henry McKean has tried to get to the bottom of these phrases and figure out what is going on inside Gen Z’s heads.

England manager Gareth Southgate said the racist abuse targeted at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after the Euro 2020 penalty shootout final defeat by Italy was 'unforgivable'. Meanwhile a north Dublin soccer team walked off the pitch at the weekend following two incidents of racist abuse. Henry McKean reports.