Yeats Society in Sligo gifted an Elizabeth Yeats painting by Dublin couple
An Elizabeth Yeats watercolour painting has been donated to the Yeats Society Sligo by a couple from Dublin. The painting, Rhododendrons was completed in 1937, just three years before Elizabeth's death in January 1940.
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RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Stolen Sister episode 1, recapped
The author Alice Walker once said: "Is solace anywhere more comforting than that in the arms of a sister?" This philosophy seems fitting when speaking about the sisters of Elizabeth Plunkett. Many people will be familiar with Elizabeth's name in 1976, she was brutally murdered in Brittas Bay Co Wicklow by Ireland's first serial killers, John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans. For many, justice was served nearly 50 years ago when the pair were both sentenced to life in prison. However, a parole hearing for Shaw nearly two years ago would turn the lives of this family, in particular the Plunkett sisters - Kathleen, Bernie and Joan, upside down. The women contacted the DPP, the Garda Commissioner and the State Solicitor's Office for assistance, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. So, in July 2024, they took a leap of faith and emailed their final port of call - the team at RTÉ Documentary On One. After months of work, that email has given rise to Stolen Sister, a six-part podcast series hosted by Roz Purcell that unpacks how a routine parole application rewrote the history of this case and forced the Plunkett family to take their story public for the first time in nearly 50 years. Because a lot of things you've read about the murder of Elizabeth Plunkett in books, the media or online, it's well, wrong. If you struggle to believe that, I strongly suggest you keep reading or, better yet, start streaming episode one of Stolen Sister right now. Ringsend In the first episode, the Plunkett siblings take the listener back in time to their childhood home in Ringsend. It set the scene and creates a feeling of intimacy between the listener and the family before the harrowing details of the case emerge. In the 70s Ringsend was a tight-knit community full of working-class families, and as the middle child of eight, Elizabeth ruled the roost. There were four boys - Eddie, Thomas, Liam and Sean and four girls - Joan, Elizabeth, Kathleen and Bernie in the Plunkett family. The podcast touches on the changes taking place as Ireland moved from the 60s into the 70s and women slowly gained more independence. Elizabeth's sister Bernie described the impact this changing time had on her beloved sister and how it shaped her outlook. "There was more independence. There was more work, and there was more money. So they were saying, don't stick back in the old-fashioned way like their parents, you got married, you had children, you stayed at home. This wasn't going to be a life that Elizabeth wanted." Eddie, the eldest boy, also contributed to the series; he described how Elizabeth would take over the family home on a Saturday morning and clean it from top to bottom. Throughout the series, the family speaks of the split in their lives - the world before and after Elizabeth was killed. The family home is situated on the banks of the Liffey in Dublin City, where the river meets the Irish Sea. "We were a very united, large Dublin working class family. The bond then was unique… Little did we know that all of this would come crashing down, it destroyed the peace." - Eddie Plunkett, Elizabeth's brother On a clear day, Purcell tells the listener, you can make out the Northwest of England, the homeplace of the men who would take Elizabeth's life. JS and GE At the time they murdered Elizabeth, and later Mayo woman Mary Duffy John Shaw, and Geoffrey Evans were in Ireland evading sexual assault and rape charges in the UK under new identities. Both men had been married and had children. They met in prison while serving time for robbery and assault. Before they began their reign of terror, the men were arrested for burglary and had a year-long stay in Irish prisons in Limerick and Mountjoy. They were due to be extradited back to the UK to answer the charges, so they decided to abduct, rape and murder a woman a week until they were caught. The reason why the pair weren't extradited immediately was because Shaw claimed he wasn't the same person named on the extradition warrant, so the judge released him on bail, and the gardaí had to build a case to prove his identity. Even more shockingly, this same legal loophole worked for Evans three weeks later. In 1974, as Elizabeth turned 21, Shaw and Evans were released from prison in England and within a short time, they'd brutally kidnapped and raped three victims in the Greater Manchester area - Roz Purcell, host The Plunkett sisters do not say the name of their sister's murderers during the podcast; instead, they simply refer to them as JS and GE. Damien The podcast makers managed to secure an interview with Elizabeth's close friend Mella Nesbitt, a key figure in this story. The women met while working in the De La Rue factory. A few months before Elizabeth died, Mella introduced her to her brother Damien. Damian and Elizabeth began dating, and according to Mella, they were inseparable. "I was the little gooseberry. I was always stuck between the two of them. Now I would be maybe a couple of yards behind them or I might be sitting somewhere and I could just hear the two of them shouting at one another that they loved one another." He worked as a mechanic in his family's garage in Inchicore, Co Dublin. According to the Plunkett sisters, Damien would pull up in his Capri car to collect Elizabeth blaring ABBA out the windows. In July 1976, Elizabeth, Mella and Damien took a trip to St Tropez, where Elizabeth would purchase the infamous jumper she wore the night she was killed. Damien was a really nice guy, I have to say. She was madly in love with him and I think he felt the same about her - Bernie Plunkett, Elizabeth's sister That fateful night when Elizabeth was murdered Damien got into an argument with a friend about a car, while that detail might seem irrelevant, it would ultimately alter the course of Elizabeth's life… Brittas Bay The summer of 1976 was one of the hottest on record in Ireland. A last trip to Brittas Bay was supposed to close out the summer season for Elizabeth Plunkett and her friends. It was supposed to be the kind of weekend you dream about during your 9-5, instead it became a nightmare for the entire nation. Statements given to gardaí by Elizabeth's killers, as well as her friends, are read throughout the podcast to create an accurate timeline of her last movements. It is worth adding that the statements given by Shaw and Evans are eerily detailed and not for the faint of heart. Elizabeth left McDaniel's pub at around 10.30 pm. She had grown frustrated when Damien and his friend Joe McCoy started a fight over a car. The men had bought a car together, which Damien had then sold without consulting Joe. As you can expect, within a few minutes, the men had resolved their dispute, and Damien went in search of Elizabeth. He should have found her, made up and joined their friends for a wonderful weekend in a caravan by the sea. But he never did find her, nor did he ever see her again. I put my finger on her left cheek and said, "Go away, don't be annoying me. She said, "If you do that again I'll go home". I said to her "go home then" - Damien Bushe, Elizabeth's former boyfriend Right, before Shaw and Evans preyed upon Elizabeth, they approached another woman who managed to get away - gardaí never have managed to locate this woman. I mention this as like all Doc on One series, this is an active investigation, so if you were in Brittas Bay on 28th August 1976 and have any further information on Elizabeth Plunkett, please contact us in confidence at documentaries@
Irish Independent
03-06-2025
- Irish Independent
In photos – Colour, creativity and a quick change of venue for Wexford Pride in the Park 2025
Now five years in, the much anticipated annual event made the last-minute move from Min Ryan Park to Wexford Arts Centre, whose staff stepped in to ensure that the show would go on. "Wexford Pride would like to extended our sincerest gratitude to the staff at Wexford Arts Centre, particularly Elizabeth, Pauline and Olchan who supported getting everything in place so swiftly,' the organisers said. 'The response that followed from our Pride in the Park acts, vendors, community organisations and volunteers spoke to the values that have always underpinned Wexford Pride in the Park (and our actions more generally) that create the conditions for community-led events like Pride possible.' Always taking the opportunity to platform local and emerging talent from across the county, this year saw performances from the likes of Johnny O'Brien, Bloco Garman, 12 Gauge Outrage, The Quay Notes, The Zonai, Andrei Boyd, Redder Herring, Wexford Pride Queer Chorus, Mz Red Dear, Lilli Luna, Make & Luke and Ovalords. Wexford Pride were also delighted to welcome back Poppy DeScrace & Disgraceful Cabaret for this year's Pride After Party which featured a stellar line-up of kings, queens and all things burlesque Poppy joined by Asher B Grant, José Mové, Gaylor Swift, Sionna Seanchaí and Chronic QT. Organisers thanked everyone who got involved with the event stating: 'Pride in the Park is made possible through the support of volunteers who contribute their time, energy and skills in preparation for and during the day's celebrations - this generosity of time and spirit is invaluable. "Wexford Pride would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each person who's efforts together made the day such a success.'
Irish Independent
31-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Louth father of three outlines how life has changed for the better after return to education thanks to Headstart course
After battling personal challenges, Dean Bradley enrolled in Headstart in 2020, which was delivered entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The support and encouragement he received enabled him to pursue further education: 'The Headstart Programme gave me direction. The team taught me how to go with it, how to stay with it, and really just about resilience.' Dean's perseverance led him to complete multiple Level 5 and Level 6 courses, culminating in his current pursuit of a degree in Social Care at DkIT. He advises others considering the programme to 'Take it day by day and week by week. Don't look at the years. For me, life has really changed for the better.' He is one of a number former participants of the Pathways and Headstar community education programmes, delivered by Dundalk Institute of Technology in partnership with Louth Local Development's SICAP Social Inclusion Programme, who have been sharing their experiences of the courses. Likewise Elizabeth Awosanya, a mother of three, embarked on her educational journey through the Pathways programme before transitioning into Headstart. Now nearing the completion of her degree in Social Care, Elizabeth reflects on her experience, saying 'Pathways helped me build confidence, engage with learning at my own pace, and get a real feel for what higher education might be like in a non-intimidating way. Transitioning into Headstart deepened my readiness for third-level education and mentally and practically prepared me for the challenges of college life.' Elizabeth's journey illustrates the programmes' ability to provide a solid foundation for those returning to education, fostering both academic readiness and personal growth. Their views are shared by Laure Nzia Djakou, who has just completed her second year studying International Tourism and Management at DkIT. Having previously struggled to balance third-level education with other life commitments, the mother of three found renewed motivation and support through these programmes: 'The programmes were designed for people like me—mature students who needed a bit of encouragement and guidance. The supportive environment and the opportunity to build my confidence were exactly what I needed.' Laure now envisions a future where she can pursue a Masters degree or contribute to the tourism industry, all while managing her family commitments. The success of the Pathways and Headstart programmes was recognised recently DkIT was awarded €1 million in performance funding. The programmes were launched by DkIT in partnership with Louth Local Development n 2017 and 2018 with the aim of improving access to higher education for underrepresented groups in County Louth, including low-income households, ethnic minorities, refugees, asylum seekers, the long-term unemployed, lone parents, and individuals with disabilities or mental health issues. Pathways offered a 14-week introductory course in local community centres, providing a supportive environment for adults to experience higher education without the pressure of assignments. Headstart, a 10-week follow-up programme delivered on the DkIT campus, focused on building participants' self-confidence and academic skills, such as study techniques, time management, and career guidance. Graduates from these programmes have gone on to pursue degrees in various fields, including Social Care, Nursing, and Creative Media, and many have secured employment opportunities. Since 2017, a total of 325 students have graduated from the programmes. For the individuals taking part, both Pathways and Headstart have literally been life changing. The beneficiaries of the initiative have included people with disabilities, long term unemployed, migrants, one parent and low-income families, people with addiction issues, teenage parents, refugees, Irish Travellers, young people in the care of the State, youth attending Youthreach or similar programmes, student carers, 'second chance' mature learners, those in the criminal justice system, and people who are homeless. The next Headstart course starts on Wednesday September 3, 2025 and runs every Wednesday for ten weeks. Anyone interested in registering should email or call 0877462507.
