Trim Swift Festival is an academic and cultural event celebrating the life, works and legacy of Jonathan Swift, and his close connections with the town of Trim. It is open to academics, students and the general public with the aim of bringing together experts and enthusiasts in an atmosphere of scholarly but informal discussion and debate. The academic strand of the festival features a programme of six speakers, internationally recognised for their work on Swift and eighteenth-century literature. Each speaker will present on a topic relating to their research and each lecture-talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The festival will also feature a series of debates and discussions on Swift’s legacy as a satirist, led by notable figures from politics and the media, and there will be tours of important sites associated with Swift, including Stella’s cottage. There will also be evening entertainment in the form of dramatic performances, readings, music and song, and a closing banquet.

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More info: http://www.trimswiftfestival.com/

A body that will over see transport projects across the Greater Dublin area was unveiled by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey today.

The Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 will see the creation of a Dublin Transport Authority (DTA) that will have responsibility for co-ordinating transport in the Greater Dublin Area. This region takes in the local authority areas of Dublin city, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.

Under the Bill, the authority will have powers to ensure major infrastructure projects, such as the Metro, are delivered efficiently, cost effectively, and with minimal disruption. The DTA will also have powers to ensure all modes of public transport are integrated.

"The public have a right to expect a world class, integrated public transport system and this new authority will have the powers to make that happen. . . . the DTA will ensure that these projects are delivered to the highest standards in the shortest time period possible," Mr Dempsey said.

Continues http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0414/breaking167.htm

At a time when an average of 447 people die by suicide each year in Ireland, the Awareness Education Office in collaboration with Meath Charity Truck Convoy are hosting a public seminar on suicide awareness in Scoil Mhuire, Trim.
The event is being organised by Dunboyne brothers Gary and Thomas Cannon who lost their father through suicide in 1997. At a very difficult time, the brothers found that attending the Awareness Education Office`s seminar `Facing up to suicide` helped them to understand more about suicide and come to terms with their loss.
Thomas and Gary wanted to give something back to the charity and are both volunteers with the Awareness Education Office. For the past two years, they have raised funds for the charity by organising an annual truck convoy through Meath. Thanks to the funds raised, the Facing Up To Suicide seminar will be held in Trim on 12th April and all those who have been affected by suicide or who wish to understand more about it are invited to attend.

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Continues http://www.meathchronicle.ie/story.asp?stID=2585&cid=126&cid2=