A bit of Everything Today

Dublin Fact: On April 13th 1742 the world wide premier of George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah was preformed at the New Music Hall in Fishamble Street. Some of the choirs or Christchurch and St. Patricks Cathedrals took part in this production.


Places to Visit: St Patricks Cathedral is located in the centre of Dublin on St Patricks Close. The cathedral was founded in 1191, is the largest church in Ireland and has a 140 feet (43 Metre) spire. The Cathedral is headed by the Dean of St. Patricks, since 1219 and the most famous dean was Jonathan Swift who was dean from 1713 until his death in 1745. A full restoration of the cathedral was carried out between 1860 and 1900 by the Guinness Family.

St Patricks Cathedral Dublin.

Presidential Election: The pre election tours have been in full swing with all 7 candidates visiting all corners of the country and turning up where ever there is a chance of a crowd of people. On October 6th the results of a poll carried out by RedC for Paddy Power indicated that Michael D Higgins and Sean Gallagher were leading the race with 25% and 21% of the vote respectively with Martin McGuinness in third place on 16%. David Norris is next on 14% and Gay Mitchell completes a top 5 places for male candidates on 10%. Mary Davis on 9% and Dana Rosemary Scallon on 6% are the bottom two which means that if the polls are to be believed we have have our first male president since Patrick Hillary in 1990.

Michael D Higgins

Sean Gallagher

The winner of the race to the Aras will become the 9th Irish President following in the footsteps of

• Douglas Hyde who was President from 1938 to 1945.
• Sean T O'Ceallaigh who was President from 1945 to 1959.
• Eamon De  Valera who was President from 1959 to 1973.
• Erskine Childers who was President from 1973 to 1974 when he died while in office.
• Cearbhall O'Dalaigh who was President from 1974 to 1976 when he resigned his position.
• Patrick Hillary who was President from 1976 to 1990.
• Mary Robinson who was President from 1990 to 1997 when she resigned her position.
• Mary McAleese who is President since 1997.

On the day of the Presidential election the Irish public will be asked to vote on two referendums to the Irish Constitution. The first referendum is on judicial salary pay cuts and the second is on giving extra powers to committees of the Oireachtas.
The people of the constituency of Dublin West will be asked to vote in a bye election caused following the untimely death of the former Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan.

The Irish Soccer team will play their final qualifying game for UEFA Euro 2012 finals tonight at 18.45 in Dublin's Aviva Stadium. They will play against Armenia and a draw will be enough for them to qualify for a playoff place at a later stage. Good luck to the team.