Kells

Saorvew – Freeview – RTE Digital TV in Ireland

Saorview is  RTÉ’s free to air digital terrestial television (DTT) service.
EU rules mean that the current analogue ( ariel based TV )  signals have to be turned  off in October 2012.
Saorview is a mixed language word – with Saor meaning Free . Pronounced Sair or Seer . (They couldn’t use the name Freeview – because that is in use in the UK and would confuse people.)
The equivalent digital TV service called Freeview – in the UK has been running since 2002.

The old UK channels using analogue signals were starting to get switched off in September 2011 – and many Irish residents who pick up BBC and ITV from Wales or Northern Ireland via an aerial will see those channels dissappear soon if they have not already done so.

The minority (340,000) of  households  in Ireland still use their TV ariel for watching TV  . The switch to digital TV will hardly affect the majority of the country’s consumers, who receive their TV from digital providers such as Sky (625,000) or UPC (375,000)

There will be 5 “new”  digital channels – RTÉ Two HD, RTÉ Aertel Digital, RTÉ jr, RTÉ One + 1 and RTÉ News Now.
In the UK – there are dozens of channels on their Freeview setup.

What Will You Need  to Buy ?

Set Top Box

The Digital TV  Saorview  signal can be received on all types of televisions from most aerials using a set-top box.
There are Saorview approved set top boxes – retailing at about €100. But any UK Freeview HD set top box will work.

Aerials

Some households may need to adjust or replace their aerial:  expect to pay about  €150.
Don’t be conned into paying for a new aerial if you don’t need one. If you currently can receive TV3 through your aerial then your aerial is most likely fine and is pointing in the right direction. You should not need to do anything with your aerial.

2. If you currently receive RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4  through your aerial but do not receive TV3 then your aerial is most likely fine but for some homes it may be pointing in the wrong direction.

3. If you receive only RTÉ One and RTÉ Two through your aerial and do not receive TV3 and TG4 then you will probably need a new UHF aerial pointed at the best transmission site for your area.

Televisions

You don’t need a new TV – but If you are planning on buying a new TV – you should consider  a  television with Saorview built in or look for Freeview HD.
The 340,000 households that currently just view TV via an ariel – will be made up of a high proportion of elderly , rural dwellers and those on lower incomes.

Freeview televisions from the UK will not work with Saorview. But Freeview HD televisions should be able to pick up the Saorview signal.

Any  Television with an MPEG4 digital tuner should work. – Freeview HD uses MPEG4.

By October 2012 SAORVIEW should be accessible to 98% of the population.  Approximately 2% of the population will not be able to receive the SAORVIEW service.
RTÉ is currently in the process of also developing and testing a free-to-air satellite service, SAORSAT, which will make it possible for 100% of the population to access Irish free-to-air digital television channels and services. This will provide coverage to the homes not covered by SAORVIEW.

Unfinished Ghost Estates and the Household Charge

We are still waiting for the list of unfinished estates that will be exempt from the 2012 Household Charge.
The total number of estates is expected to be less than 1300. The Irish Independent seems to think it will be less than 300 estates.

It is important to note – that even if your house is in one of the infamous Unfinished Estates – you still need to register for the Household Charge and then claim the exemption. If you don’t register you could be fined.

If you live in a dwelling that is not permanently attached to the ground – i.e a boat or a caravan – you do not need to register it for the household tax.

More details about Household Charge and Exemptions Here

County Meath Speed Cameras

Mobile Speed Camera Locations in County Meath

These are the likely roads where the new mobile cameras will operate from November  16th 2010.

There will be a total of 45 mobile cameras in vans – covering about 600 locations all over  Ireland. So – the chances of a camera being at a specific location is about  one in thirteen

Top 20 Tourist Attractions In Ireland

These are the most popular places for visitors in Ireland.
Based on visitor numbers for 2008. These are all destinations that charge a fee.
The number of visitors is shown next to each attraction. Figures from Failte Ireland

Guinness Storehouse            1,038,910
Dublin Zoo                                     932,000
Cliffs of Moher                              808,310
National Aquatic Centre          706,739
Book of Kells                                 541,364
Dublin Castle                                 365,000
Blarney Castle                            360,000
St Patrick’s Cathedral     Dublin          345,965
Fota Wildlife Park   Cork          331,062
Bunratty Castle                         305,557
Kilmainham Gaol                     300,828
Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre        290,000
Kilkenny Castle                        256,533
Jameson Distillery                250,000
Rock of Cashel                        237,732
Bru Na Boinne                         236,312
Powerscourt House & Gardens          232,257
Kylemore Abbey & Garden                 180,000
Christ Church Cathedral    Dublin         180,000
Atlantic Edge                      166,017

Towns with Cryptosporidium danger in drinking water .

Galway residents had to suffer months of having to buy bottled water because of Cryptosporidium in their water supply for a large part of 2007. Several people became ill because of the poor water quality and tourism was badly affected. The bad news is that it could get worse for many other Irish towns.The following towns are some of the larger ones in Ireland where drinking water supplies have been identified by the Environmental Protection agency as needing improvements because thay have inadequate treatment for Cryptosporidium. (Over 184 thousand people are supplied by these sub standard water schemes).

Letterkenny
Clonmel
Kells
Oldcastle
Tipperary
Carrick-on-Suir
Castletownbere
Moate
Kenmare
Ballinalee
Edgeworthstown
Rathdrum
Graigue
Castlegregory
Rosmuc
Cleggan
Claddaghduff
Cong
Sneem

Chinese prefer Bray

There were 16250 people of Chinese ethnic origin living in Ireland at the 2006 census. This is 0.4% of the population.
Bray has the highest proportion of Chinese  with 1.42% .
Athlone is the next highest with 0.99% and the Greater Dublin area has 0.98% of residents with Chinese ethnic origin.
Kells (Ceannanus Mor) is the least popular town for Chinese people – 0.058% or just 3 people. That is slightly lower than the whole Rural area which has 0.064% Chinese.