Three arrested at tense but quiet Smithfield
The mood was "tense" at Dublin's Smithfield Horse Fair at the weekend.
A large number of gardai were present as the event -- which was marred with bloodshed last month -- returned to the city centre.
Law enforcers made a determined effort to avoid a repeat of scenes from March 6, when two men were shot and a third was injured with a slash hook.
The day passed without major incident.
But three men in their 20s were arrested.
One man was detained just before 11am on suspicion of stealing a horse.
Two other men were arrested a short time later for alleged public order offences and failing to control a horse, after an animal galloped through the square.
The men were taken to the Bridewell Garda station where they were charged and then released.
A regular at the fair told how numbers were well down on previous events.
Luke Connors, from Newbridge, Co Kildare, has been coming to the fair for over 45 years and said there would normally be over 100 people buying and selling horses.
Yesterday, the figure was closer to 20.
Mr Connors, who said the fair has historical significance, was accompanied by his younger assistants and grandchildren -- Luke (11) and Jim (12).
"I have been coming here for years, as did my father and his father before him, and I'm here with my grandchildren and it is very quiet here today," he said."It is a bit tense but I suppose you'll get that at any big public event, even a football match."
The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) said it was a "miracle" no one was killed at the last staging of the horse fair, when shots were fired and hundreds of terrified people and frightened horses ran from the plaza.
Gardai had asked people to stay away from this month's fair as a result and it was obvious the request did not fall on deaf ears.
Horse trader Thomas Clarke, from Cabra, said he would prefer if the fair stayed in Smithfield but he understands there are safety concerns, especially with children under 16 trying to control horses.
Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has sought legal advice from the Attorney General over the closure of the market, and the move has been welcomed by both the DSPCA and local businesses.
Dubs hero Cluxton and McAteer see red at charity game
DUBLIN goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton saw red at a charity match when he floored ex-Ireland star Jason McAteer.
Stephen was constantly wound up by the former ‘Spice Boy’ during the soccer game in Dublin.
Stunned football fans looked on – some thinking that the entire scrap was staged – as both players were given their marching orders.
A large crowd of 2,500 witnessed the incident during a charity game for Autism Action at Morton Stadium, Santry.
Sparks flew during the second half when Stephen Cluxton was fouled by former Liverpool player McAteer as the Dublin netminder dispossessed the soccer ace.
The latter appeared to kick out, Cluxton stood his ground and as words were exchanged, the incident followed. Both players were dismissed by ex-League of Ireland referee Joe O'Brien.
According to an eye-witness, Cluxton lashed out at McAteer after being fouled on a number of occasions.
“McAteer had been niggling at him through the game and Cluxton had enough,” he said. “Cluxton is a seriously talented footballer and had the better of McAteer on a number of occasions, so they were clashing throughout the game. The referee never hesitated for a second in sending them both off.”
Former world boxing champ Bernard Dunne told followers on Twitter that it was a blow he would have been proud of.
“Stephen Cluxton is my hero. Showed a soccer player today (Jason McAteer) GAA boys don't fanny about like those soccer players ... 1-2 uni flu!,” he tweeted.
“I don't condone it of course but f **k me that was impressive. Unlike our western neighbours sport GAA boys dont mess about..
“It was a whopper. I’d be careful about saying anything about his mistakes in future if I was on d Dublin panel. Legend.”
Bernard Brogan, who was playing alongside Cluxton in the charity event, told Dunne that he “would of been proud of that left hook.”
Former Republic of Ireland legend John Aldridge remonstrated furiously with the redcarded duo as they made their way to the dressing room.
McAteer reportedly turned up for a special dinner following the event and was not sporting any visible injuries. Dublin boss Pat Gilroy scored a cracking individual goal in a charity soccer match but it wasn’t enough as the Liverpool/Manchester United legends defeated a Darndale Celtic selection.
Ex-Super-Bantamweight world champ Bernard Dunne entered the fray shortly afterwards and things calmed down.
The incident soured what was otherwise a very wellorganised, sporting occasion.
Over 3,000 tickets were sold for the event which also saw a dinner and auction at the Hilton Hotel at Clarehall attended by FAI Chief Executive John Delaney, who was the highest bidder at €1,000 for a pair of Eric Cantona's boots.
Bob Boulder, Phil Neal, Alan Kennedy, Paul Walsh, John Wark, Aldridge, McAteer, Don Hutchison, Clayton Blackmore, Keith Gillespie and David May all lined out for the Legends.
Stroke mum Leona's skydive challenge
A Dublin mum who suffered two massive strokes when she was pregnant is taking part in a world record skydive.
Leona Vickers (33), who was left paralysed on one side after the stroke, is aiming to participate in the fundraising jump which her family hope will break the record for most sky divers taking part.
She collapsed in May 2008 and fell into a coma, and while doctors saved her baby by performing an emergency C-section, her family were told that there was no hope for her. But since receiving stem cell treatment in the Xcell centre in Dusseldorf in December, the young mum of Ben (2) has been improving steadily.
Leona did a charity sky dive in 2006 , and next August she hopes to take the plunge again -- with her doctor's permission.
Her uncle Sean told the Herald: "She's up for it and it'll give her something to live for. As soon as we said it, she started bouncing up and down with excitement -- she needs a big thing like this to look forward to."
Leona hopes to return to Dusseldorf in a few months time for another round of specialist treatment. It is hoped that the sky dive will raise the €10,000 required to do this. The jump will take place in Offaly in August, and Sean is liaising with the Guinness Book of World Records to create the world record challenge.
"There's loads of people out there who've said that a sky dive is something they've always wanted to do. And they can contact me to do this one," he said.
Anyone who wishes to join Leona in the sky dive can contact seanmooney1@ gmail.com. You can donate to the Hope for Leona fund at Bank of Ireland account number 62484995, sort code 900551.