CityScapes will be broadcasting again from tonight for the next 12 days (inclusive of weekends) from 8.03pm.

You can watch it on Virgin Media Channel 802 or online at: https://www.dctv.ie/live/.

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI Ireland) is the leading national provider of community-based neuro-rehabilitation services for people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) in Ireland.

Thanks to the generous support of St Patrick’s Cathedral Community Fund, ABI have been
able to reduce isolation and create meaningful opportunities for brain injury survivors to
reconnect with their communities.

Through a calendar of group trips and activities chosen by the participants themselves,
survivors have been supported to explore new interests, build confidence, and strengthen
social connections. These experiences have not only promoted inclusion and understanding
between people with and without disabilities but have also helped survivors regain
independence and rediscover joy and purpose in everyday life.

Positive presence works! After many years of consistent Halloween anti-social behaviour mitigation efforts, we have had probably the best night of them all last Friday, 8 years on from commencement of interagency collaboration. Despite early inclement weather, spirits were not dampened for the actual event!  From the last stats shared, over a thousand individuals had come to the park for the family-friendly event. Feedback has been consistently positive from people on the night, and since. Thanks are due in abundance to Dublin City Council Area manager Brian Hanney and his community team under Síle McNulty-Goodwin, and Kevin Kelleher who planned and engaged contractors to facilitate the programme of activities. An Garda Síochána Community Policing Team under Supt David Butler, Insp Ian Lambe, and Sgt Mick Nagle were present throughout the day from the 10 start of setup right through to load-out and lockup. Commitment and partnership in making this little pocket of D8 safer for all to enjoy has been a labour intensive investment that we are beginning to see bear fruit. Of particular note, was the feedback in relation to the quiet hour in the earlier part of the evening with one mum in particular sharing that her child had never attended before, but that this year was so welcoming and she even managed to stay later into the event, making it easier all round for the whole family. It was such a pleasure to see the youngest members of the community coming out in vast numbers to enjoy a shared space safely. Garda presence, civil defence, multiple stewards, and consistency throughout the day and evening ensured that antisocial behaviour was kept at bay.  Looking forward to seeing how we might spread this across the year in smaller ways on a regular basis to support better outcomes for people living closest to the park especially.

Interagency partners and stakeholders include: DCC South East Area, An Garda Síochána, The Iveagh Trust, 61^st Merchants Quay Scouts, YMCA Dublin, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Child & Family Support Network, RADE (Recovery through Arts Drama and Education), Maldron Hotel, Hyatt Centric Liberties Dublin, Local Residents and Schools.

Gaisce – The President’s Award is Ireland’s national youth award and is a personal development programme for young people aged 14-25. It is a direct challenge from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, to all young people to dream big and fulfil their potential. In 2025 Gaisce celebrates its 40th Anniversary.  The Cathedral Community Officer, Kelley Bermingham, has been a President Award Leader (PAL) and has signed off on elements of candidates Gaisce portfolios since commencing the collaboration with the Cathedral as a Gaisce Award Partner.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that our youngest bellringer has successfully attained his Gaisce Bronze Award with the entirety of his activities in four specific areas signed off by the Cathedral.

Cormac is a member of the Society of Bell Ringers Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, the Irish Association of Change Ringers, and a non-resident member of the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers, the Liverpool Branch.

Bronze Award Challenge Areas:

Cormac dedicated a minimum of 1 hour per week for 13 weeks to each main Challenge Area;

• Personal Skill: Quarter Peel Attempt – preparation and practice culminating in the peel attempt from March 2025 to May 2025. A Quarter Peal Attempt involves continuous change ringing for 50minutes
• Community Involvement: In 2023, Cormac developed his bellringing capabilities in the Minot Tower with the team of volunteers, led by the Ringing Master Robert MacDonald and Tower Captain Derek McEndoo.
• Physical Recreation: Legacy Taekwondo, Drogheda – weekly classes from October 2023 to February 2024
• Additional weeks of a challenge area: Cormac undertook a series of bellringing storytelling videos which are available on his YouTube account ‘The Drogheda Bellringer’.  Cormac’s work featured in the Drogheda ‘Jumpcut’ Film Festival and received a special mention in the Junior Programme.

Bronze Adventure Journey: Cormac went on a tour of bell towers across northwest England in summer 2025 across 4&½ days including participation in the Northwest Ringing Course held at the historically significant Borwick Hall, Carnforth, Lancaster. The duration exceeded the minimum required but is demonstrative of the commitment that Cormac has made to pursuing his achievements.

Cormac has already set out rough plans of how he will attain his Silver Award, and we are planning a youth adventure journey in 2026.  Silver involves each challenge area set out as in Bronze, and requires a minimum participation of 1 hour per week for 26 weeks. The Adventure Journey takes place over a minimum of 3 days and 2 nights.

Young people with an interest in exploration of bellringing in specific locations, especially the adventure journey are invited to engage with Cormac and Kelley to progress their Gaisce award. For anyone interested in participating in Gaisce, or a joint award with the Duke of Edinburgh Award via the Cathedral, can email community@stpatrickscathedral.ie A meeting can be set up to discuss and plan your Gaisce level and challenge areas (virtual or in-person).

We’re delighted to say that Saint Patrick’s Cathedral have made the Shortlist in the Best Customer Experience in Tourism & Hospitality  category at the 2025 Customer Experience Awards!

Winners will be named on the night of the awards in October.

Exciting news! The CityScapes 12-part documentary series will be broadcast on Dublin Community Television (Virgin Media Channel 802) starting Monday, 25th August at 7.30pm daily (including weekends) through Friday, 5th September.

Our very own St Patrick’s Cathedral will feature in the first four episodes, airing Monday 25th – Thursday 28th August.
The Iveagh Trust stories will air on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th August.

You can also watch online here:  https://www.dctv.ie/live/

A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this project possible. We hope you enjoy the series!