Year in Review 2020: February

4By Maurice Garvey

Election time seemed like years ago pre-Covid, but it was big news on the local political scene. It led to a number of shock losses and surprises for sitting TDs and Sinn Féin wishing they had put forward more candidates, both nationally and in The Echo constituency – topping all three local electoral areas.

Tallaght artist Fran Halpin, and two other Irish women artists were invited to the global exhibition, $€X¥ Gstaad, to represent the Irish female cohort and say enough to gender imbalance in the artworld. (February 20 edition)

An historic election in the Dublin Mid-West constituency with a first-ever two seats win by Sinn Féin for Eoin Ó Broin and Mark Ward in a remarkable 1, 2. Emer Higgins (FG) claimed the third seat, and a tense battle saw transfers enough for Gino Kenny (S-PBP) to hold onto his seat as outgoing John Curran (FF) surprisingly lost.

A 62-YEAR-OLD man pleaded with South Dublin County Council not to evict him from the one-bedroom bungalow in Castle Park, Tallaght, that he previously shared with his late mother, amid fears about becoming homeless.

Graham Bowen moved into the bungalow in 2015 to care for his elderly mother Margaret ‘Peggy’ Bowen, who passed away aged 99 following a fall. Over 150 of Mr Bowen’s neighbours signed a petition against the eviction. (February 13 edition)

Mother of local hero Daisy McDonald (6), Lynn, was forced to fundraise for her daughter’s 24-hour palliative nursing care. (February 6 edition)

For a full look back at December visit The Echo’s website HERE, where all editions from 2020 are free to read online until January 31st 2021.