An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD joined Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton and Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor in launching the Women's Campaign for a YES vote in the European Stability Treaty. The Taoiseach and Minister Creighton spoke to an audience of over 200 women about the importance of a YES vote for Ireland’s economic future.

EXPERT TODDLER NUTRITION ADVICE FROM COW & GATE AT IMAGINOSITY, DUBLIN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
New partnership sees Cow & Gate team up with Imaginosity, Dublin Children’s Museum to offer nutrition expertise and advice for parents
Expert toddler nutrition advice from Cow & Gate at Imaginosity, Dublin Children’s museum. New partnership sees Cow & Gate experts hosting a series of nutrition talks to provide nutrition advice and tips for busy parents. Pictured here to mark the announcement at Imaginostiy is Samantha Browne.

420  Primary Schools across the country receive a significant Award in Science and Maths Excellence
Picture shows students from Scoil Aonghusa Junior, Balrothery Tallaght ; at the announcement that 420 primary schools have received an Award of Science and Maths Excellence as part of the Discover Primary Science & Maths (DPSM) programme.
Discover Science & Engineering (DSE) announced that 420 primary schools have received an Award of Science and Maths Excellence as part of the Discover Primary Science & Maths (DPSM) programme.
The Awards of Science & Maths Excellence recognises the achievements of primary school children and teachers in the application of science and maths in the classroom. Now in its eight year, the programme has in excess of 6000 teachers registered on the programme.

DUBLIN MAKES A SPLASH WITH THE COUNTDOWN TO THE TALL SHIPS RACES 2012 - DUBLIN ...Pic shows Mermaid ,Chantal McCormick at a photocall for the Tall Ships races 2012. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague commenced the countdown to The Tall Ships Races 2012 Dublin – August 23rd to 26th with an awesome splash and the help of “First Mate” Keith Duffy as mythical Dublin “Mermaid” (Chantal McCormick of Fidget Feet) presented an aerial performance from The Jeanie Johnston on Dublin’s Custom House Quay. Local school children from Gardiner Street Primary School and St. Patrick’s GNS Ringsend were also on hand to encourage everyone to “jump on board” The Tall Ships Races 2012 - Dublin when up to 50 majestic Tall Ships will make their arrival into city and line the quays North and South of the River Liffey, as the centerpiece of the spectacular four day free festival in August The Johanna Lucretia, one of the majestic tall ships taking part in the race also travelled from the UK to mark the occasion and joined in the action on the river Liffey as she sailed up the river through the East Link Bridge, guided in with an impressive water salute from the tugs of The Dublin Port Company just before the Samuel Beckett Bridge.The Tall Ships Races 2012 - Dublin, presented by Szczecin and organised by Sail Training International arrives in Dublin on Thursday 23rd August and will see the city come alive with a festival atmosphere both on an off the water. Local organisers, Dublin City Council and Dublin Port Company are delighted that Dublin was chosen as the final host port of The Tall Ships Races 2012.

"Super" Paddy Power, Head of Communications with Paddy Power plc, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin  for the company's Annual General Meeting and launch of their 2011 annual report.

In business, a little edge can make a big difference - Vodafone Ireland today launched Vodafone One Net, a completely new communications solution that merges all the flexibility of mobile and the benefits of fixed into one scalable phone system. One of the key challenges currently experienced by 80% of Irish SMEs is improving relationships with customers - Vodafone One Net is an innovative new product designed to give business the edge over competitors by being more responsive to customers. Pictured at the launch of One Net are Anne O’Leary, enterprise director, Vodafone Ireland with Rob Reid, Obelisk Telecoms Rigger

Taoiseach visits Covidien's Athlone Campus
Picture shows from left Liam Hynes, Plant Manager, Covidien Athlone;Pete Wehrly, Group President of Covidien  ;An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD  and   the two longest serving employees of 30 years in Covidien Athlone  , Bridget McCormack , and  Noreen Feehily during a visit to the company’s Athlone campus.  Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, has six campuses across Ireland and employs more than 1,500 people.

Darkness into Light – the annual fundraiser for suicide and self-harm crisis centre Pieta House took place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin  and we were up early to capture some great shots!

Pictured at the PwC/Localise fundraiser 'One Minute to Save a Life', with the help of the GAA are L-R: Patrick Hartford (aged 12), St Laurence O'Toole's CBS; Cody Hanlon (aged 12), St Laurence O'Toole's GNS; Rónán Murphy, PwC Senior Partner and Jonathan Anene (aged 12), St Laurence O'Toole's CBS.

TELEFÓNICA LAUNCHES WAYRA IN IRELAND –
A NEW MULTI MILLION EURO STARTUP ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME FOR TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURS
O2’s parent Telefónica today announced the launch in Ireland of its global technology accelerator programme, Wayra, marking a multi million Euro investment by Telefónica in Irish-based startups.Wayra, which means ‘wind’ in Quechua, a language of the central Andes, is part of Telefónica’s new global Digital unit and is set to become the world’s largest technology accelerator programme. Initially launched last year in Latin America and Spain, Wayra has been created to find and nurture the best technology ideas and talent around the world, aiming to become an accelerator for the development of future ‘Silicon Valleys’ in the countries where Telefónica is present.

(www.firstcheck.ie) Ireland’s FIRST direct “Health Checks at Home” was launched in Dublin city area by the Lord Mayor Andrew Montague at the Mansion House. Within months the service will be rolled out nationwide.

‘Uno di questo, uno di quello’
Models Karena Graham and Michele McGrath enjoy a 'one and one' at the announcement of the third annual ITICA National Fish & Chips Day. On Wednesday 30th May, all Irish Traditional Italian Chippers Association (ITICA) members in Ireland will offer their customers half price Fish & Chips to reflect the 126 year old tradition.

NUI MAYNOOTH STUDENTS WIN THE IRISH MICROSOFT IMAGINE CUP FINALS 2012 WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSION: Today students pictured from left  Donal O’Sullivan; Marie Farrell;and Cosmin Siclovan from NUI Maynooth were crowned winners of the Irish finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2012, the company’s global student technology competition. The students won with their cloud based application to provide a doctor-patient synchronisation system offering a personalised symptomatic journal with reminders for the patient and client management features to the medical professional. The students will now go on to represent Ireland in the global finals in Syndney this summer. Microsoft will work with them in the coming weeks so that the team have the winning strategy in Sydney. For further detail on the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition log onto www.imaginecup.com

MICROSOFT MARKS NATIONAL CLOUD WEEK WITH SOFTWARE DONATION OF OVER €1.2 MILLION TO NON PROFIT SECTOR:
Picture shows from left Microsoft staff Donna Gibson ; Marian Thornton ; Alain Guilbery; Veronica Rodriquez; and Colin Moynagh, help to announce that Microsoft donated just over €1.2 million in software donations to non-profit organisations to support their efforts to transition to the Cloud as part of National Cloud Week.
The week, organised by Microsoft, has been running since Monday with each day focusing on different sectors where Cloud Computing can drive economic growth, support job creation and to deliver savings and efficiencies in both the public and private sector in Ireland. Enable Ireland today received just over €1 million in software donations from Microsoft. Through the donation, the organisation has plans to transition to the Cloud with an objective to support services for children and adults with disabilities. In addition to Enable Ireland Microsoft donated €118k to Junior Achievement and €88K to St. Vincent de Paul.

Full of Beans: Insomnia Coffee Company, Ireland's largest independently owned coffee shop chain, today announced plans to enter into the retail franchising market. Pictured making the announcement is Insomnia's Chairman, Bobby Kerr and Chief Executive Officer, Harry O'Kelly. The new strategy will allow entrepreneurs to share in the success of the Insomnia brand while also supporting the company's ambition to further increase its market presence. The Company plans to open 15 stores over the next 5 years through selectively recruiting and qualifying suitable franchisees. This will lead to the creation of 100 new jobs.

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, pic this afternoon as he  visited TPI, the printing company in Fonthill which is producing Fine Gael’s posters for the Stability Treaty campaign.The posters will form part of what will be a nationwide campaign to be launched by Fine Gael next week calling for a Yes vote in the upcoming Referendum. The campaign will involve all levels of the Party in every constituency across the country.

TAOISEACH SUPPORTS JOB SHADOW DAY BY PROVIDING PLACEMENT FOR CIAN O CONNOR TO SHADOW HIM. THE IASE INITIATIVE WILL PROVIDE OVER 400 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT IRELAND A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SHADOW A WORKPLACE MENTOR. IASE IS A NATIONAL ORGANISATION PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO WORK AND TRAINING FOR ALL PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY IN IRELAND.

Pictured is Daniella Moyles at the launch of the new 48 Events App.
48, the SIM only mobile network for 18 to 22 year olds, today launched the first of its kind user-generated events application to potentially reach over 2 million Facebook members. For more information go to http://www.facebook.com/48GoConquer

NATIONAL CLOUD WEEK KICKED OFF WITH RESEARCH SHOWING IRISH ECONOMY YET TO REAP FULL BENEFITS OF CLOUD COMPUTING:

To mark the beginning of National Cloud Week, Microsoft launched the inaugural Microsoft / Amarach Cloud Index with from left Gerard O'Neill, Amárach Research;  Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton; and  Paul Rellis, MD, Microsoft Ireland

The Index has been developed to track adoption of Cloud Computing amongst organisations in Ireland. The Index shows that nearly two fifths (37%) of the organisations surveyed have already deployed Cloud Computing. This rises to over half (53%) of the largest category of organisations (employing more than 250 people). The same proportion (39%) of public and private sector organisations has deployed Cloud Computing. Nevertheless, the majority of businesses (and public sector organisations surveyed) have not yet deployed Cloud Computing.  National Cloud Week has been developed by Microsoft to further raise awareness about the role that Cloud Computing can play in helping to drive economic growth, support job creation while also delivering savings and efficiencies in both the public and private sector in Ireland. A series of events run by Microsoft, their Partners and academic institutions will take place over the course of the week to highlight the potential of Cloud Computing.

IRELAND’S OLDEST WORKING TELEVISION – A 1948 ECKO - UNVEILED
WITH THE HELP OF THE RAY D’ARCY SHOW
Pictured with the 1948 TV are from left Ray D’Arcy and Frank Cuffe from Roscommon, proud owner of the oldest working television in Ireland. Frank is the delighted recipient of a brand new Saorview approved television set as his prize, which will ensure he is more than prepared for the Digital TV Switchover on Wednesday 24th October 2012.
The oldest working TV in Ireland has just been discovered and it’s a 1948 Ekco TSC91. The TV was located as part of a search for Ireland’s oldest working TV by the Ray D’Arcy Show to mark the Digital Switchover public information and awareness campaign being carried out by the Departments of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources.
For more information and to make sure that you’re ready for the Digital Switchover, visit www.goingdigital.ie

Pic shows the Cable in its hold waiting to be laid across the Irish sea on board the Largest cable laying vessel in the world which arrived in Irish Waters to lay marine cable for the EirGrid Interconnector.     The AMC Connector is the world’s largest cable installation, the vessel purposely built to install Ireland’s first interconnector to Britain which is capable of operating in water depth up to 3,000 metres and measures 157m in length and 35m in width with a   Capacity to hold 9,000 tonnes of cable and  can accommodate 140 people along with a hospital facility.