The Fairmont Monte Carlo is getting all its preparations in hand ahead of a busy year in the Principality, starting with a recruitment event to fill the many positions available in the various departments of the hotel.
After undergoing a series of renovations, including the remodelling of Nobu Monte Carlo, which is set to reopen in March, the hotel has expanded its services and will be looking to recruit for some 260 positions across almost all of its departments on Wednesday 31st January.
Between 9am and 6pm in the Grand Salon, the iconic luxury resort, known for its 596 rooms, internationally acclaimed dining options like Nobu and Nikki Beach and breathtaking Formula 1 views – it even claims the name of one of the most exciting corners on the track – will be opening its doors to candidates who think they would make a good fit for the Fairmont.
Prospective candidates will be invited to explore the many opportunities on offer, from positions in the hotel’s restaurants to spa and wellness-related roles, housekeeping posts and customer services jobs.
Pedestrian access and car parking in and around Port Hercule will be limited over the next few weeks as the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo and then the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique come to town.
With two big motorsport events on the horizon, firstly the 92nd Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo from 22nd to 28th January and then the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique from 31st January to 7th February, the Monaco Government has released a list of incoming disruptions to car parking and pedestrian access in the Port Hercule area that both residents and visitors should be aware of.
From 6am on 22nd January until 10am on 8th February, vehicles will be prohibited from accessing and parking on the Quai Albert I er. The quay will also be closed to pedestrians for the same time period.
Parking will be off limits too between No. 19 and No. 27 of the Boulevard Albert Ier from 6am on 22nd January until midnight on 9th February.
Down on the Darse Sud, parking will not be possible between 6am on 25th January and 10am on 8th February, while parking on the Esplanade des Pêcheurs will be temporarily affected from 6am on 27th January until midnight on 28th January.
Discover the captivating journey of Princess Grace’s Irish heritage in our interview with Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, as he prepares to unveil the intertwined tales of Irish American resilience and royalty in his upcoming lecture at the Princess Grace Irish Library.
Patrick O’Sullivan Greene is a distinguished Irish author and historian, renowned for his insightful research and publications on Irish American history and cultural identity. He offered to Monaco Life a compelling preview of his upcoming talk, ‘From Revolution to Royalty: The Making of an Irish American Princess’. The insightful discussion sets the stage for what promises to be a revealing exploration of an iconic figure’s roots and the broader narrative of Irish American achievement.
The legacy of resilience
Grace Patricia Kelly, a name resonating with deep Irish lineage, was born into a family where Irish roots were a proud legacy. Her father, Jack Kelly, was a son of Irish immigrants and instilled in her a narrative of resilience and hard work. O’Sullivan Greene explains, “His parents, Grace Kelly’s grandparents, would’ve immigrated in difficult circumstances out of Ireland where the country was going through a famine.” This history of overcoming adversity deeply impacted the Kelly family, fostering a spirit of determination and commitment.
These Irish roots were instrumental in shaping Princess Grace’s identity. O’Sullivan Greene highlights the socio-economic ascent of Irish Americans, crucial to her foray into the arts. “Two of Jack Kelly’s brothers, Princess Grace’s uncles, were successful in the arts and cultural sphere… enabling Princess Grace to even think about that type of profession,” he remarks. This progress epitomizes the diligent nature of the Irish immigrant community, paving the way for her achievements.
Patrick O’Sullivan Greene
The story of Jack Kelly, Grace’s father, from bricklayer to Olympian and millionaire, epitomises the Irish American dream. O’Sullivan Greene reflects on Jack Kelly’s accomplishments, “His sporting success was another step along the socio-economic ladder for the Irish people in America.” Despite these achievements, the Kelly family confronted societal barriers, indicative of the struggles faced by Irish Americans.
“The culmination of the Irish American dream”
O’Sullivan Greene’s book, ‘Revolution at the Waldorf: America and the Irish War of Independence’, intertwines with this larger narrative. It uncovers the intricate relationship between Irish Americans and their homeland, illustrating their fight for equality in America. “It’s almost a conflict between the diaspora and the motherland,” he notes, revealing the complexities of Irish American identity.
He delves into the historical backdrop of the Irish American experience, from the influence of various revolutions to the catastrophic Great Famine. These events shaped Irish American history. O’Sullivan Greene emphasises, “That post famine diaspora created the hard working first generation Irish Americans… leading us right into the second and third generation… They are successful but still carrying the generational legacy of being fully involved in gaining equal access to American politics and society.”
Grace Kelly’s marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco is viewed by O’Sullivan Greene as the apex of this journey. “The marriage of an Irish American girl to a Prince of Monaco is almost the culmination of the Irish American journey,” he states, symbolising the ultimate realisation of the American dream.
The Princess Grace Irish Library: a symbol of Irish American heritage
Patrick O’Sullivan Greene has a personal connection with the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco, which plays a significant role in preserving Irish culture and history. Reflecting on his journey, he shares, “I first visited the library in 2002, never imagining I’d be giving a talk here 22 years later.”
Through O’Sullivan Greene’s lens, Princess Grace’s story continues to inspire, weaving together the enduring threads of Irish heritage with timeless elegance.
Monaco is set to honour one of its oldest and most revered traditions, the celebration of its Patron Saint, Sainte Dévote. The event is deeply rooted in Monegasque culture, encompassing various aspects including religion, folklore, history, and arts.
This year’s celebrations, on 26th and 27th January, are particularly noteworthy as Monaco will be welcoming representatives of its twin towns – the newly-joined Lucciana, Dolceacqua (Italy), and Ostende (Belgium) – marking 60 years of twinning.
The festivities will commence on Friday 26th January at 10:30am with a traditional mass conducted in the Monegasque language at the Sainte-Dévote Church. This spiritual ceremony will also include the Blessing of the Sea, a significant ritual in the Principality.
The religious procession marking Sainte Devote in Monaco. Photo source: Mairie de Monaco
Later in the evening, at 6:30pm, the procession of Sainte-Dévote’s relics will begin, marking a key moment in the celebration. This procession, starting from the Grand Prix chicane, will lead to the arrival of the boat at Vallon des Gaumates at around 6:40pm. The ceremonial blessing of the relics will take place here, followed by a procession to Place Sainte-Dévote. At 7:00pm, a special service, the Benediction, will be held at the Sainte-Dévote Church, presided over by Archbishop Dominique-Marie David of Monaco and Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo of Ajaccio. The day’s events will reach a climax at 7:45pm with the lighting of the boat by the Princely Family at Quai Albert Ier, symbolising the legend of Sainte-Dévote. The evening will conclude with spectacular pyro melodic fireworks display at 8:15pm.
The following day, Saturday 27th January, will begin with a pontifical mass at 10am at the Monaco Cathedral, led by Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo. In the evening, at 6pm, a unique candle-lit concert will be held at the Monaco Cathedral, featuring performances by the ‘Tenebrae choir’ and the children’s choir of Rainier III Academy.
The 2024 Sainte-Dévote celebrations in Monaco are set to offer a reflective yet vibrant experience, highlighting both the Principality’s historical roots and its contemporary cultural connections.
Every year, more than 2,500 children and young adults are given a cancer diagnosis in France. Annually, 300 sadly lose their lives in their fight against the deadly disease.
The most common cancers suffered by the young are brain, bone and blood, and the approach to treatment for them is different to that employed for adults. One of the key reasons for this is that the disease is unlikely to have developed due to lifestyle factors, as is more common in adults, and instead has seemingly sprung out of nowhere.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
On the final day of the 2024 Monaco Biennial Cancer Congress, which will be held from 23rd to 26th January at the Grimaldi Forum, Doctor Christopher Montemagno from the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, who specialises in uncovering innovative new treatments for paediatric cancer victims, will be leading a special conference on the breakthroughs in his field.
“The management of brain tumours in children today relies on the use of a trimodal approach involving excision surgery, chemotherapy and external radiotherapy,” says Doctor Montemagno. “Unfortunately, despite this protocol, 30% of patients have recurrences, with fatal relapses. It is therefore absolutely fundamental to propose new therapeutic approaches.”
THERANOSTIC APPROACH
His method is called the ‘Theranostic Approach’ and targets specific tumour cells using high sensitivity imaging to precisely define the affected areas, thus allowing for an increasingly precise radiotherapeutic option.
“Our team, with the assistance of the Princess Grace Hospital Centre and the Grenoble University Hospital Centre, was able to describe the role of the integrin αvβ3 protein in the development of this type of cancer and its involvement in relapses in young patients,” he explains. “Basically, we created a nuclear medicine vehicle that identifies the integrin. Once the identification is made, we replace the identifier with another nuclear medicine vehicle that destroys the tumour cells in the space they occupy, without affecting healthy cells.”
The concept is to treat tumours without affecting healthy cells, ideally causing less damage overall than can be incurred through the application of more traditionally used methods.
The Monaco Biennial Cancer Congress is set to unite more than 1,500 healthcare providers and specialists beneath one roof to discuss not only paediatric cancer, but also other forms of the disease, as well as pioneering preventative and treatment options.
A census is conducted in some form every year in France, but not all residents are asked to take part. Here’s the reason why, as well as what to expect if you receive a letter requesting your participation.
France’s annual census is carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) and helps provide detailed insight into the population, from data on demographics to housing conditions, occupations and even transportation.
One key outcome of the census is that the information compiled helps guide policy making and can impact how much state funding and support is given to municipalities. The number of people living in a place also determines how many elected officials there will be on local city and town councils.
WHO IS POLLED?
Just 8% of addresses in municipalities with 10,000 or more residents are polled each year. In smaller towns and villages, a census of the population is only required once every five years.
To be counted in the census of a specific locale, that municipality must be the location of a person’s main residence. If a person is contacted as part of the census at their second home, it is not necessary for the form to be filled out and the census taker will take note of the person’s living situation for future reference.
If a person is selected to take part in the census, a letter from the local mayor will be dispatched to their address in the days before a visit from the census taker is due.
Participation is obligatory, although those selected can choose to complete the form at their convenience online rather than in-person with the census taker. Completed paper documents can either be collected by the census taker or sent to the local mairie or INSEE.
WHEN WILL IT TAKE PLACE?
The annually taken census will commence on 18th January and run until 24th February. For smaller communes concerned with the latest five-year census, data-taking will take place between 18th January and 17th February.
The forms are available in several languages in addition to French, such as English, Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, Romanian, German, Turkish and Spanish.
Click here for further information about this year’s census.
