2011 Festival showcases best in Japanese cinema in Dublin from November 10 – 13

The 4th Japanese Film Festival will arrive in Dublin in November showcasing the best in Japanese cinema for Dublin audiences.

The event expands this year as a result of a hugely popular event last year which showed the appetite in Dublin for Japanese cinema. The films screen at Cineworld, Parnell Street, on November 10th and 11th and in the Screen Cinema, D’Olier Street on November 12th and 13th.

The most acclaimed filmmakers from contemporary Japanese cinema are included in the packed programme, with a variety of themes, genres and topics to appeal to all audiences. Tickets are now on sale from access>CINEMA on 01 6794420 or online at www.accesscinema.ie, or from the box-offices of the individual cinemas. The Embassy of Japan, access>CINEMA and the Ireland Japan Association are the co-organisers of the festival.

The 2010 Festival boasted sell-out screenings in all locations and the organisers expect this year to be no different, with a carefully selected programme designed to intrigue, educate and entertain.

“We’re aware of the appetite around the country for world cinema through our day-to-day work with film clubs,” commented Maeve Cooke, Director of access>CINEMA. “Given the nature of the highly acclaimed films that are being consistently produced in Japan, it’s great that we have the opportunity to organise a Festival which can bring this quality international cinema to Dublin audiences who have always been massively supportive of the Japanese Film Festival. If you’re not familiar with Japanese cinema, we encourage you to experience some of the richly diverse films from this extraordinary country.”

The Festival, while providing entertainment and escapism, also includes more thought-provoking and challenging titles, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and society among Irish citizens and to strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries. Additional cultural events will take place on the periphery of the Festival showcasing other fascinating and intriguing elements of Japanese culture.

Highlights in the programme include Colorful, the highly acclaimed and multi-award winning animated feature from Keiichi Hara; Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, a mind-bending and surreal time-travel epic animation; the fascinating food documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, which is sure to appeal to the legions of Japanese food fans with its cinematic celebration of the art of sushi; the hilarious Sawako Decides, a thought-provoking satire on class, gender and age made all the more interesting coming from a Japanese point of view; and the richly detailed, multi-layered and moving character drama Villain from renowned director Lee Sang-il.

The festival will also tour Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Cork. The full programme is now available from www.accesscinema.ie, along with further information on additional activities taking place. Co-organisers access>CINEMA are the resource organisation for regional cultural cinema exhibition in Ireland, and are supported by the Arts Council.

ENDS

Electricity Savings Greater Than 25% With Wattics

Wattics, the electricity management savings company, launched their money saving “Clever Metering” system which can save businesses thousands of euros. Wattics break-through technology helps customers understand and reduce energy consumption with a single meter, while producing the same breakdown as more expensive and complex competitor solutions.

Unlike their market competitors, Wattics assists businesses by monitoring electricity usage down to individual equipment with a single meter, which not only saves money, but provides a plug-and-play solution deployable in a only few hours.

The young Irish start up already has a successful track record with a wide range of businesses both here and in Europe, including; Charlestown Shopping Centre, Mandat International UN House, Geneva and Jurys Hotel Group. Key features of the management service include;

• Installation price €1,500 to €2,000
• 10-15 times cheaper than competition to maintain
• Delivery of significant savings greater than 25%
• Return of Investment within 1 year for customers with €1,000 energy bill or higher

Speaking at the launch, Antonio Ruzzelli, CEO said “We are looking for businesses who want to save money and reduce their electricity costs. Wattics can provide cost-effective solutions for companies, allowing full understanding of their energy-use profile by site, building and room, and even by “offending” appliance. The implications of this for energy saving and for appliance is globally immense”.

With deregulation and greater transparency required in the utility market, customers are demanding access to their own usage data and with an ever greening business environment, large enterprises demand energy consumption analytics in detail.

Speaking about working with Wattics, John Corroon, Lead maintenance manager, Jurys Inn Custom House said ” I have been amazed at the depth in which the reports go into each appliance by simply clipping a standard meter onto the boards, which allowed us achieve more than 25% reduction on the monitored distribution board for our air handling units”.

Wattics award winning technology won the Globe Sustainability Research Award 2011 for the most original and challenging research within the sustainability field developed in-house by their talented team, provides unprecedented insights into energy use, highlighting immediate opportunities for savings.

ENDS

Sunday 11th September saw up to 10,000 people take to the streets of Dublin on two wheels for the first ever Sky Ride Dublin, making it the largest group cycling event that Ireland has ever seen!

Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague officially opened the event, joined by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the Sky Ride Dublin ambassadors Nicky Byrne of Westlife and stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick, and Team Sky pro cyclist Russell Downing.

8km of Dublin’s streets were closed to cars, giving people of all ages and abilities a unique chance to ride their bikes freely around the city centre with no traffic. The free event, organised by Limelight Communications on behalf of Dublin City Council and Sky, allowed riders to take in the route at their own pace whilst enjoying some well-known landmarks including Merrion Square, the Pepper Canister Church, Grand Canal Square, Samuel Beckett Bridge, the National Convention Centre, and the Custom House. Participants were treated to a whole host of activities and entertainment throughout the day along the route, with performances from local entertainers, demonstrations by RampRage BMXers, and the Sky 3D ‘outdoor living room’ experience.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague said: “Dublin prides itself on being a cycle friendly city, but rarely do we see so many cyclists together as we’ve seen today at Sky Ride. Well done to everyone involved here today.”

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “I’m happy to come along and see so many people participate in this event. The benefits are obvious – for young people in a city, there’s learning how to cycle in a group with no traffic and for families it’s an opportunity for good healthy exercise. I’m all for that!”

Sky Ride Ambassador Nicky Byrne commented: “It’s been a fantastic day here at Sky Ride Dublin with people of all ages getting back on their bikes and enjoying cycling around on traffic-free streets. I hope that all 8,500 people that have taken part today will be inspired to start cycling more regularly and continue to have fun on two wheels.”

ENDS

Ireland’s biggest triathlon, Waterways Ireland triAthlone, is expected to generate in excess of €12 million for the local economy in Athlone and surrounding area next weekend. Over 2,000 triathletes, amateurs and professionals, are expected take to the river Shannon and streets of Athlone for this year’s Waterways Ireland triAthlone which takes place next Saturday, 2nd July, 2011.

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Irish Vocational Education Authority meet with Advisory Group to Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector

The Irish Vocational Education Authority (IVEA) met with the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector earlier today to present their submission.

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Despite the rain, over 1,250 cyclists working in and around Dublin joined Minister for Public & Commuter Transport Alan Kelly TD, to put their foot on the pedal for Dublin’s Bike to Work Day on Wednesday, 22 June.

Gathering for the 1pm cycle in Grand Canal Square, the ‘thousand plus’ cyclists took a spin around the city to promote health, fitness, money saving and stress free travel.

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Rewind, the new Irish thriller starring Amy Huberman and Allen Leech will receive a cinema release in Ireland this Friday. The film was nominated for three IFTA (Irish Film and Television Academy Awards), including Best Director for PJ Dillon, Best Actress in a Lead Role for Amy Huberman, and Best Sound. Lead actress Amy Huberman scooped the prize for best actress for her role in the new Irish thriller.

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The Pipe, Risteard Ó Domhnaill’s documentary film focusing on the Shell to Sea saga, has sold out all three of its public screenings at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation on Friday night. Director Risteard Ó Domhnaill was joined at this screening by producer Rachel Lysaght, and four local residents from County Mayo featured in the film: Willie and Mary Corduff, John Monaghan and Pat O’Donnell. The screenings took place on Friday, Saturday and today at the BFI South Bank, coincidentally only a few hundred yards from Shell UK’s head office.

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International speakers come together in Dublin to discuss new research findings on conditions of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalous

Limelight Communications was delighted to be involved in the Annual World Conference hosted by Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland on Friday June 11th and Saturday June 12th in Citywest Dublin. The congress, which is an invaluable resource for patients and family alike, is an international meeting which enables families from diverse countries and cultures to explore the common challenges presented by Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and to learn from each other.
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Limelight Communications was delighted to come on board for the launch of Teknomining, a Dublin-headquartered mining and exploration company on the London PLUS-quoted Markets by introduction on Thursday April 29^th. 

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