websites

A new website for parents called Help My Kid Learn was launched recently by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. This simple website brings together relevant information for parents and the wider community to support children’s literacy and numeracy development.

The purpose of the website is to provide fun activities that parents can do with their children to develop their literacy and numeracy skills. It includes general information, fun activities and useful tips. Read more »

Dublin Digital Day Event, Grafton Street, Friday, 8th March.

Create a digital memory, using your old photographs, on Digital Dublin Day, Friday 8th March. 

Do you have some old photographs of Dublin or Dubliners lying around at home? Perhaps a snapshot of friends meeting under Clery's Clock? Or photographs that show Dublin shops, pubs or other buildings in the background? Read more »

Have you always wanted to write a book but don’t know how to start? The National Emerging Writers Programme aims to encourage new writing talent from all parts of the country by providing expert advice on DVD and online from some of Ireland's best known and internationally successful writers.

Photo: Jason Clarke

Hear Carlo Gébler discuss starting to write, Sinéad Moriarty talk about telling the story and Declan Hughes giving tips on revising, rewriting and overcoming obstacles.

The DVDs are available to borrow from Dublin City Public Libraries and libraries nationwide. The content can also be accessed online at Writing.ie  or on YouTube. Read more »

On Saturday, November 10th 2012, you will be asked to vote on a proposal to change the Irish Constitution. The proposed changes to the Constitution concern the rights of children. The proposal is to add a new Article 42A to the Constitution and to delete the existing Article 42.5.

Right: The posters are up! (click image to enlarge)

While the proposed new Article has a number of parts to it, you may only vote yes or no to the total proposal. You may not vote to adopt only part of the proposed Article 42A, nor may you vote to adopt it and retain Article 42.5 in its present form.

The proposal contains four main elements: Read more »

A new version of Tell Me More Campus, the language learning program, has arrived here at the Open Learning Centre. This program, first introduced here in November 2008, teaches six languages through the medium of 19 interface languages. The six languages are: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Dutch. Included in the interface languages are: Portuguese, Slovak, Polish, Russian, Chinese and Korean as well as the major Western European languages. Read more »

Have you ever wished that someone would explain exactly how the banking crises happened without having to read the small print? Your wish is granted. This award winning documentary 'Inside Job' does exactly that. It is a well paced easily accessible account, through narration and extensive interviews with financiers, ex-government staff, academics and Chinese factory workers! It won an Academy award in for Best Documentary in 2010.

Let's start joining up the dots with a podcast available on Dublin City Public Library website. This talk by Simon Carswell explains how Anglo Irish bank "broke Ireland". Another very good example is Fintan O'Toole's book, 'Ship of Fools', which is a very readable account of the the property bubble in Ireland. While looking at reviews for this book I came across a very interesting website called Irish Left Review, if you have time click on the Irish Shadow Banking System. Read more »