MICROSOFT IRELAND AND CJ FALLON JOIN FORCES TO MAKE SCHOOL BOOKS AVAILABLE IN THE CLOUD: Microsoft Ireland have announced details of their partnership with CJ Fallon, Ireland’s leading educational publisher, through the Microsoft Windows Azure Programme to deliver school books via the cloud through the CJ Fallon eReader platform by the beginning of the 2012 school year, providing a saving to parents on the cost of textbooks of up to 25% per student. Both Microsoft and CJ Fallon deemed the partnership as a great example of how Cloud applications can enable the ability of all sectors to transition to the cloud. Pictured making the announcement were 6th class students from Pope John Paul II School in Malahide,Cara Lynch, age 11 and  Margaret Richardson, age 12.

Nicole Langan and Scott Wylie-Dob helped to launch  GraboneEscapes.ie ,  a new specialist travel website offering 50-90% savings on regular prices .

Pictured at the test drive of LYNX ATTRACT -the  worlds first ever female LYNX bodyspray expected to unleash chaos on Irish men. This limited edition scent is available for purchase exclusively from Dunnes Stores from February 8th – 14th and in all other retailers for three weeks after that.

www.facebook.com/lynxireland <http://www.facebook.com/lynxireland>  | www.lynxeffect.ie <http://www.lynxeffect.ie>

GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
TREATMENT COMMENCED FOR POMPE DISEASE
The first woman in Ireland last week commenced treatment for Pompe Disease, a strain of muscular dystrophy, which is a progressive muscle weakening condition. Margaret Whelan from Bray aged 53 is a wheelchair user and can only walk a few steps with the aid of a walking frame. She also experiences considerable respiratory difficulties due to this type of muscular dystrophy. The battle to receive funding for this treatment commenced in 2008 when diagnosis was confirmed. Appealing for support for the National "Have a Heart" Awareness Campaign Muscular Dystrophy Ireland is asking people to visit their local Tesco or Debenhams store and buy a box of two heart shaped Lily O'Briens chocolates for just €2 or a scented candle for €3. The money raised will be used to fund the respite support services and medical research into muscular dystrophy.
Pic shows 10yr old Naglis Montvilas  from Balbriggan.

The original supermarket matchmaker brings back
"Singles night" shopping
Matchmaker Ray Foley and Model Tara O'Farrell Share The Love announcing Single Night Shopping on Valentine's night across 8 Superquinn stores.
Superquinn will be hosting a family day across all stores on Sunday 12th February with activities for all the family to enjoy from face paintings to tastings, and is delighted to bring back single night shopping on Valentine's night, Tuesday 14th. Across eight specifically selected stores, Superquinn will create a romantic atmosphere to encourage singles to have fun and find love among the aisles.
For further details on Superquinn and the Valentine's event  check out Superquinn on Facebook or visit www.superquinn.ie

Former Olympian and Irish Senator Eamonn Coghlan is joining the Fine Gael Party and announced it with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Leister House yesterday

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton T.D. launched a new pilot programme for primary schools which focuses on the EU, called the Blue Star Programme. They were joined by pupils from the Star of the Sea Primary School, Sandymount, Dublin.
The Blue Star Programme will introduce participants - pupils , teachers, parents and the wider community to the EU, what it means and how it works. It is supported by the Communicating Europe initiative, the Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs and the European Commission Representation in Ireland. European Movement Ireland is the national coordinator for the pilot year of the programme.

Oyin Solanke and Aoife Byrne experience the light at the launch of Corona Light in Ireland. Currently the No. 1 imported light beer in the US, this is the very first time it has been available outside Mexico and the US. With only 99 calories per bottle, Corona Light will appeal to health conscious individuals who still want the unique refreshing taste of the original Corona Extra. 

Pictured at the announcement of the judges for the Junk Kouture Recycled Fashion Competition 2012 was Model Nirlene Cruz wearing an outfit designed for last years competition by students from the Holy Trinity College, Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
The competition invites secondary school students nationwide north and south to create Couture outfits made from recycled materials.

Irish Italian model Nadia Forde, along with Michele McGrath announce the Irish Traditional Italian Chippers Association (ITICA) EURO 2012 Giveaway, which will see ITICA members throughout the country offer customers the chance to win one of 16 amazing trips to the European Championships in Poland this summer. For the month of February, customers will be invited to enter the competition at their local ITICA Chipper. The prizes include two ten-day trips and eight four-day trips for two people, as well as six one-day passes for individual winners.

Pictured at the launch of Early Childhood Irelands National Pyjama Day 2012 was children from Little Oaks Crèche: (left) Ruth Leon (4) , James Sexton (4)  and Catriona Kelly (3) to look forward to helping raise much needed funds for the Irish Hospice Foundation’s ‘Children’s Hospice Home Care Programme’. Pyjama Day 2012 takes place on the 23rd of March.

Pictured at LauraLynn House in Leopardstown were Lorraine Keane with resident Caoimhe Flood (6) and her sister Aoife (4) from Tallaght  encouraging everyone to brighten up January and bring all waste batteries back for recycling before January 31st as a part of WEEE Ireland’s “Spread a Little Sunshine” campaign.

PwC  have  announced  that they will become an official partner of the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association marking a historic first joint commercial venture between the GAA and the players' body .

Students filling in their CAO forms can log onto the Smart Futures online career fair this week to get an insight into life in the technology industry from people working in the top companies in Ireland.  Students, parents and guidance counsellors can log onto www.smartfutures.ie from Monday 23rd - Thursday 26th January to discover the tech opportunities for young graduates!

HOW TO ELECT MORE WOMEN - A Conference convened by MINISTER OF STATE, KATHLEEN LYNCH, T.D.Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People And DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND EQUALITY (with support from European Social Fund).

President Michael D Higgins hosted an event at Aras an Uachtarain for  the presentation to the President of New Year Greetings by the Diplomatic Corps.

US multinational’s stand at BTYS&T Exhibition demonstrates growth areas of cloud, big data and security. EMC, the US high-tech multinational that employs 2,500 people in Ireland, has urged students to choose college courses in information communications technology (ICT) as schools gather in the RDS in Dublin this week for the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

Emirates Airlines launched a new route between Dublin and Dubai and the first plane landed in Dublin yesterday.