Wicklow Voice - Feb 2014 by Graham O'Neill

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February 2014

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Ask the expert

with Brian Cullen: How to get in financial shape for a home loan Part 2 Typically the deposit which a buyer needs to pay themselves ranges from 8-10% of the house price based on the maximum mortgage available of 9092% of the purchase price. The days of 100% mortgages are very much past! We would see the following as some key tips for a successful mortgage application: • Plan ahead • Get an indication of how much you can borrow. • Keep records of savings and rents paid for at least six months before applying as these will

indicate the monthly amount you can afford in mortgage repayments. For example, monthly savings of €650 plus rent of €850 shows you can afford repayments of €1,450 per month. • Avoid missed payments, referral charges or constantly being overdrawn. • Avoid short-term loans or credit card debt where possible. • To confirm your credit history check with the Irish Credit Bureau (www.icb. ie) • To secure access to the full mortgage market use an independent adviser. As well as being able

to afford mortgage repayments, also remember to budget for adequate mortgage protection and house insurance costs. In addition to saving for a deposit, also remember to save for upfront transaction costs such as stamp duty, legal fees, valuation/ survey fees and other costs. Proper presentation and packaging of your application, taking on board the above tips, gives you the best chance of securing a mortgage in 2014. If you have any questions or would like more information please feel free to contact me.

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Seanie in the dock February 2014

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Wicklow-native FitzPatrick faces trial over Anglo fraud One of Wicklow’s most wellknows natives, Sean ‘Seanie’ Fitzpatrick, has gone on trial on fraud charges relating to Anglo Irish Bank. Former Anglo CEO and Chairman Mr Fitzpatrick, who was born in Bray and went to Presentation College in the town, is charged with providing unlawful financial assistance to 16 people to buy shares in the bank. Mr FitzPatrick (65) of the Burnaby in Greystones, faces the charges along with Patrick Whelan (51) of Malahide in Dublin and William McAteer of Rathgar (63) in Dublin have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mr Whelan has also denied seven charges of being privy to the fraudulent alteration of a loan facility letter. Mr FitzPatrick was chairman of Anglo Irish Bank until he

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resigned in December 2008 amid mounting revelations over hidden loans. The scandal precipitated a collapse of the bank’s share price which in turn led to the bank’s nationalisation on January 21, 2009. Mr FitzPatrick, Mr Whelan, the former director of Irish operations, and former finance director Mr McAteer all deny providing unlawful financial assistance to 16 people to buy shares in Anglo, in July 2008. Mr Whelan has also pleaded not guilty to being privy to the fraudulent alteration in October 2008, of seven facility letters relating to loans to purchase Anglo shares. For the first time in the history of the State, 15 jurors had been sworn in to hear a trial due to its expected length, but only 12 would retire to consider a verdict at the end.

Expected witnesses include Seán Quinn, his wife and children, property investors and developers named in the charges, the former financial regulator and former Anglo and Central Bank employees. The jurors have been told the trial could last until the end of May. In an RTÉ Radio 1 interview on The Marian Finucane Show in October 2008, Mr FitzPatrick denied critics’ charges that the bank had been reckless in making too many big loans to property developers as Ireland’s housing bubble grew. While saying he was grateful for the state’s help, he refused to offer taxpayers an apology, saying “The cause of our problems are global, so I can’t say sorry with any degree of sincerity and decency. But I can say thank you,” he said at the time.”

MUD, sweat and tears: Ross O’Callaghan from Dublin was one of 5,800 Hell Raisers who made it thru ‘Hell and Back Trojan’ in Killruddery Estate. (Pic: Tony Kinlan) » Lots of pictures from around the county inside.

4 | NEWS

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

Garden County gets thumbs up at Belfast tourist show

news in brief St Patrick wants you ... to march! St Patrick is looking for arts, youth, sporting and community groups across Wicklow for the annual St. Patrick’s Parades and Festivals this MArch. Bray’s St Patrick’s Parade and Funfair is a weekend-long series of supporting festival events, including the fantastic Funfair on Bray seafront, live traditional music on the Band Stand and of course the allimportant family fun day out, the Bray St Patrick’s Festival is now acknowledged as one of the largest such St Patrick’s events in the Irish calendar. Meanwhile, Wicklow & District Saint Patrick’s day parade committee met recently to announce this year’s Grand Marshal for the parade, Billy Doran. “I am delighted and see this as a great honour,” said Billy. St. Patrick’s Festival Bray is sponsored by Bray Chamber of Commerce and Bray Town Council. Application Forms for this year’s Paradeare now available from Bray & District Chamber. Please contact Stephanie Curran or Kathy O’Toole on (01) 282 8248 or email: info@ braychamber.ie.

Ann Robinson and Pauline Martin from Bray Tourism at the recent business expo in Killruddery House and Gardens.

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Thank you from the Positive Paper!

The Wicklow Voice – the Positive Paper – would like to say thank to everyone for their support since we launched in September – the reaction from readers, retailers and advertisers has been phenomenal. The Wicklow Voice is committed to highlighting all the great things that are happening in our county as our team of top quality writers cover local politics, property, fashion, fitness, gardening, food, children’s activities and much more. The Wicklow Voice will be coming through your letterbox near or available from our many distribution points. You can contact us at info@ wicklowvoice.ie or write to us at Unit 8, Radio Centre, Killarney Road, Bray.

Calling all candidates!

Are you planning on running in next year’s local elections? Do you want to be portrayed in a positive light by the Positive Paper? Contact is now by emailing info@wicklowvoice.ie with Local Elections in the subject line to register with our database for 2014 and help us to help you with your election campaign.

Wicklow got a big thumbs up recently when delegates from the county headed north for the at the Belfast Holiday World Show. Wicklow Tourism and Bray Tourism teamed up with Strandwood Hotels to create an area dedicated to solely to the garden County. “Wicklow has always ranked very high as a holiday destination for people in Northern Ireland,” said Chairman of Wicklow Tourism, Tom Fortune. “Competition from other domestic and international destinations is fierce, and our annual presence at the show is always important.” “This year’s show was the busiest we have seen in the past three years and a large quantity of brochures and maps were distributed,” said Fred Verdier, Manager of Wicklow Tourism. “Our main objectives were to keep reminding to the Northern Irish Market about the quality of Wicklow as a tourism destination, as well as giving new ideas to those that might not be familiar with the great variety our county has to offer: There is something for everyone in Wicklow”. Staffing of the stand was shared with some of Wicklow Tourism’s members which included: Ashford Self Catering, Avoca Tours, Powerscourt House & Gardens, River Valley, The Grand Hotel, The Martello, Tinakilly House, Wicklow Boat Charters, Wicklow Way Baggages, Wicklow’s Historic Gaol. According to Pauline Martin of Bray Tourism, approximately 600 people visited the Bray Tourism Stand and Bray was very well represented with representatives from Bray Tourism, Strandwood Hotel group (Esplanade, Wilton and Summerhill) and The Martello. “The more senior people really enjoyed talking about days gone by and how the spent many summers down in Bray growing up as children,” said Pauline. “Some even came back on their honeymoons and anniversary.” “This year we also got asked exactly how far from Dublin was Bray in relation to the train

station as a lot more visitors are keen to design their own travel plans and not be so restricted to schedules,” Pauline added. “Whereas the young adults with small children wanted to know what Bray had to offer now, and the Summerfest with all its key activities, was a big draw for all these families. “Particular interest was the Air-Show and a lot of people were keen on what type of packages Bray had to offer for this time of year. “ The Welcome and Friendliness from everyone was second to none and we can only hope that if they do choose to visit Bray or Wicklow that we can but return the warmth and welcome the people from Northern Ireland showed us. “In relation to the www.bray.ie quite a number of people from Northern Ireland have already signed up for email updates regarding what Bray has to offer for the coming year. “We have approximately 500 entries into our competition, which we will be announcing the winners over the coming weeks. “Bray Tourism would like to thank The Martello, The Royal Hotel, The Groove Festival, Bray Summerfest, The Ocean Bar and Grill, Sealife Bray, The Mermaid Arts Centre and East Coast Adventures for kindly donating prizes for our competitions.

“Competition from other domestic and international destinations is fierce, and our annual presence at the show is always important.”

NEWS |5

February 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

wicklow people in pictures

Kelly Ann Conroy and Ann Marie Burke of Arklow Rugby Club after they beat Gorey in Edenderry RFC in the final of the cup. (Pic:Yvette O Beirne)

Mia Coyne and Hannah Byrne from Roundwood were among 5,800 Hell Raisers who made it thru â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hell and Back Trojanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Killruddery Estate. (Pic: Tony Kinlan)

John Walker, who lives in Roundwood, of Johnny and the Bean at the business expo in Killruddery House and Gardens.

Orla Kavanagh and Emma Cahill of Park Academy at the business expo in Killruddery House and Gardens.

Science and Physics Students from Arklow Community College Ryan Walker; Matthew O Gorman; Reece Young and Eric O Toole. The students have been awarded a scholarship to visit The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva in May. (Pic:Yvette O Beirne)

Martina Garner of NYR Organic at the business expo in Killruddery House and Gardens.

Amanda Doyle working in The Bridge Tavern in Wicklow Town.

6 | NEWS

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

Tendering of bus routes ‘to create jobs’ The National Transport Authority (NTA) has launched a tender for 10% of public bus routes in and around Dublin, including two routes in Wicklow. The routes affected will be the 45a to Ballywaltrim and the 184 to Newtownmountkennedy and 185 to Enniskerry and contracts will be awarded in 2015 for August 2016 operation. This will create local jobs and create a better service, according to Eugene Finnegan of Finnegan Coach hire. “There’s no doubt that this will lead to job creation and better service for customers in the Wicklow area if it is awarded locally,” says Mr Finnegan. “We are actively considering tendering for the routes.” Wicklow TD Andrew Doyle of Fine Gael also says that it will benefit customers as the NTA is introducing this tendering process in order to provide an improved service at the same cost. “The local bus service to

Dublin is a vital link for everyone living in County Wicklow who depend on the bus for access to the shops and services and for their employment in Dublin. There have been great improvements on the Expressway bus services which are used by many commuters. But there are many people who would use more commuter services if available at the right price and the right times,” Mr Doyle added. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail candidate for Wicklow County Council, James Doyle, has sounded a word of caution. “Privatisation can be beneficial for consumers. Competition could reduce fares and increase the frequency of the service,” he says. “However that is not always what happens. When it comes to transferring a publically operated service over to a private company it is crucial that certain minimun requirements are met and that penalties exist to ensure the operator upholds them.”

Adam Nolan and Katie Taylor in the ring at the newly revamped €300,000 Bray Boxing Club

Ooh-la-la ... Arklow tops lovers league

It’s official - if you live in Arklow, then you’re in the most romantic place in Ireland. A new survey carried out by Tesco has shown that lovers in the Wicklow town are the most likely to fork out for Valentine’s gifts. The survey was judged on the level of sales of romantic presents in stores and on a survey filled out by shoppers.

And coming top for 2014 is Arklow, formerly known for it’s perfect pottery and now famous for love. The town in the Garden County has knocked Ballieborough in Cavan off the top spot and into fourth place. The seaside town of Kilrush has raced into second place and is a new entry in the top ten as lads and lassies in the

‘Slimming world has given me new found confidence’ Advertorial

Dorothy has had a problem with her weight all her life. She feels that being in boarding school had a lot to do with it, using the infamous tuc box to comfort eat from. After that she went to Agricultural College and went on to pursue a career in farming. Dorothy has spent the last number of years caring for her elderly parents. With the pressure of trying to juggle caring, farming, and her own family she found her weight steadily creeping up. She was finding it very difficult to do the basic day to day jobs. Farming is quite a physical job but Dorothy hadn’t the energy or the stamina to do even small jobs out in the yard. Even going up the stairs or simply putting clothes in the washing machine zapped all her energy and left her very breathless. Her confidence and self-esteem didn’t exist anymore. She came to a very low point in her life and had no interest in things around her. Clothes shopping had become a

Dorothy before and after joining Slimming World chore as she just couldn’t walk around the shops. In January 2012 she decided she decided she needed to do something about her weight and health as there was a history of stroke and heart disease in the family. Ever increasing weight gain meant that soon she would be no of use to her family and life as it was couldn’t continue. It took until April 2012 to finally make the decision that has turned her life around. She saw a notice for Slimming

World in Carlow. Having done every other diet in the book, this was new to her. She checked out Slimming World website found the group times and read very inspiring stories and decided she’d give it a go, and probably fail. She was met and welcomed by her consultant who invited her to sit in on the new member talk. Her consultant explained the whole programme and discovered nothing was off limits. She has never felt hungry. We eat everyday food, meat & veg

for dinner, pasta or Slimming World lasagne for tea. It’s not all about eating rabbit food all the time. She has a slimming world fry for breakfast for example and has snacks of fruit and yogurts. Crisps and bread were her biggest downfall, but she still has them most days and has lost nearly 5½ stone in the process. Slimming World has given her a new found confidence and she has now become a consultant herself, with her group in the Arklow Bay Hotel every Wednesday @ 7.30. Everyone is welcome and the kettle will be on for a cuppa. Having lost 8 ½ pounds in her first week she felt she was onto a winner. She never felt judged and felt she was in a group of people who helped and understood one another. Recipes are shared and taster evenings are enjoyed. She now has the stamina to work on the farm and be a carer and look after her family. The future is bright and it’s all thanks to Slimming World.

Co Clare have upped the ante in the love stakes. Celbridge in Co Kildare rocked in for a third place. Sadly fellas in the capital city need to get their act together when it comes to romance as Dublin fares the worst, bagging seven out of ten spots in the least romantic areas of the country. And of course the ladies have the edge on romance

news in brief New officers in the driving seat The annual Garden of Ireland held their AGM on January 20 at The Grove Bar, when chairperson Liam Kelly, Vice Chairperson Willy Carrick, Secretary Eileen Kennedy, Treasurer Charlotte Carolan, PRO Ray Smith, Events Coordinator Mick Nolan, Safety Officer Colin Gammell were all elected officers for 2014. The Club have also been allocated a stand at The RIAC National Classic Car Show which will take place in the RDS on March 1 and 2 so do come along and visit our stand F40 where you will be made most welcome.

Donnelly publishes new legislation

Stephen Donnelly, Independent TD for Wicklow and East Carlow has published legislation that will make examinership quicker and cheaper for SMEs. The Companies (Amendment) Bill 2014 will be discussed in the Dáil this week. “The Companies (Amendment) Bill 2014 will improve examinership for

as more husband cards are bought than wife cards but men are likely to buy the most expensive ones. We’re a nation of last minute lovers as the majority of Valentine’s cards are bought on Feburary 13th at 6pm. On the shopping list for the big day are steak, strawberries and cream but we’re a bit cheap as more sparkling wine is bought than champagne.

small businesses with less than 50 employees and a turnover of less than €10 million. It makes three main changes to the examinership process: less court involvement; the ability of the examiner to impose lending conditions on secured lenders over a period of five years; and the ability of the examiner to impose changes to leases over a period of five years, based on a minimum term of market plus 7%. “Around 70% of the workforce in Wicklow and East Carlow probably work for SMEs. This means the bill would offer improved legislative protection to around 40,000 workers in constituency. Not to mention many more nationwide.”

Dangerousroad surface highlighted

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has said immediate action is needed to address the dangerous road surface at the Kilcroney roundabout in Bray. He has stated that he has been made aware of many near accidents at the location, when motorists enter onto the roundabout the cars loose all traction. The councillor said “I was first contacted on this issue a number of weeks ago by a motorist who went into a spin in his car.”

6 | NEWS

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

Adam Nolan and Katie Taylor in the ring at the newly revamped €300,000 Bray Boxing Club

Ooh-la-la ... Arklow tops lovers league

‘Slimming world has given me new found confidence’ Advertorial

Dorothy before and after joining Slimming World chore as she just couldn’t walk around the shops. In January 2012 she decided she decided she needed to do something about her weight and health as there was a history of stroke and heart disease in the family. Ever increasing weight gain meant that soon she would be of no use to her family and life as it was, couldn’t continue. It took until April 2012 to finally make the decision that has turned her life around. She saw a notice for Slimming

World in Carlow. Having done every other diet in the book, this was new to her. She checked out Slimming World website and found the group times, read very inspiring stories and decided she’d give it a go, and probably fail. She was met and welcomed by her consultant who invited her to sit in on the new member talk. Her consultant explained the whole programme and she discovered nothing was off limits. She has never felt hungry. We eat everyday food, meat & veg

Donnelly publishes new legislation

Dangerousroad surface highlighted

February 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

NEWS |7

8| HISTORY

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

The call of the sea down the decades

Wicklow Town has always had very close connections with the sea. In fact the County’s eastern boundary is the Irish Sea. Travellers and seafarers of antiquity were aware of its existence. As far back as the 2nd century the area appears on Ptolemy the Greeks’ Map as ‘Menapia’. This is proof, if it were needed that Wicklow’s maritime links go way back. In fact, far earlier than Ptolemy it is believed that there was a settlement around the mouth of the Vartry River during the Bronze Age. To support this belief Bronze Age evidence was found during construction of the Wicklow bypass in 2010. A ‘Fulach Fiadh’ or cooking pit dating from about 1,000 BC was discovered. Fulach Fiadh are quite common around the country and were the original slow cooker. A pit was dug and filled with water. Then rocks were heated in a fire and rolled into the pit. The hot rocks heated the water in which meat could then

Loretta O’Sullivan and Olivia Murphy at the Arklow R.N.L.I “Hurry to the curry” in the Arklow Bay Hotel be cooked. Modern research has shown that the best results were obtained with a cooking time of about 20 minutes per pound! Long after all traces of the

Bronze Age inhabitants disappeared the folklore says that when St. Patrick and his followers arrived in Wicklow they were not welcome and the lo-

cals threw stones at the monks. One of the monks had his teeth knocked out and was nicknamed ‘Mantán’, which means ‘the toothless one’! Mantán

went on to establish a church in the area and hence the Irish name, “Cill Mhantáin” which means the church of Mantán. Things were quite in the area until the arrival of the Vikings in 795AD where the natural harbour enabled them to establish a settlement and a base for their long ships. It is from the Vikings that we get the modern name of the area coming from ‘Vikinglo’, meaning ‘Viking Meadow’. It is really from the time of the Vikings that Wicklow gets its seafaring tradition. This tradition has continued right up to the present day and the sterling work done by the Wicklow Lifeboat Service protecting all those who use the sea. However, perhaps the most famous seafaring son of Wicklow was Robert Halpin - don’t miss next month’s edition when we look explore his great story. Philip Byrne is a Storyteller who under the title of Positive Outcomes is available for storytelling events for children, adults including special needs groups. He can be contacted on 087 2627806.

news in brief Jobs on the cards with new scheme

A number of jobs could be created under the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, will have almost €240,000 of public and private funds, to invest in Wicklow. There are over 700 protected structures in the county and 14 different Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs). “The scheme offers a substantial investment in built heritage in Wicklow,” says Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer with Wicklow County Council. The closing date for applications for the scheme is February 14th. Further information from www. wicklow.ie

Lions’ sea swim rescheduled

The Bray Charities Sea Swim, postponed from New Year’s Day, will now take place on Sunday, February 9 at 12 Noon. Organisers Bray Lions Club, decided to postpone the original swim due to extreme weather conditions. Those registered for the planned swim included 88 year old Bridget Kelly and many children.

February 2014

weddings

E: wicklowvoice@gmail.com

your big day: Audrey Vance talks to the experts

INSIDE: Dresses, venues honeymoons and much, much more ...

Pretty Petals According to Shankill Flowers, the top piece of advice they can give any bride meeting with a florist is to “bring swatches of fabric when choosing the flowers.” The colour of the bride’s dress, along with the bridesmaid’s dresses will strongly dictate the palette of the bouquets and buttonholes. Shankill Flowers they have seen the trends moving towards ‘vintage country’ consisting of mixed tonal flowers of the season, with a hand-tied finish. Note: Classic rose bouquets are never out of fashion! www.shankillflowers.ie

Bridal Beauty Lots of brides these days know what they want when it comes to their make-up, suggests Clare Hogan experienced bridal make-up artist, “My job is to make them look their best on the day.” The trend towards ‘vintage’ means brides are looking for a more daring lip colours, defined eye liner and eye lash extensions, shares Clare, although lots of brides just wish to look natural with a hint of glamour. Note: Book your make-up artist early and always get a trial. www.clarehogan.ie

Let them eat cake Do you know the most popular wedding cake flavours? Chocolate biscuit cake, red velvet and fruit cake are the most requested, according to cake maker, Sam Delahunty, in Bray. With trends moving towards coordinating the

look of the cake to reflect the bride’s dress style, lace finishes with matching ribbons and sugar-made peonies are leading the way for the season ahead, she shares. Note: Allow four to six months for ordering where possible with any cake maker. Tel: 086-3792845 Clickity Click “Find a photographer you like… you’ll be with them all day,” advices experienced photographer Paul Sharp, Dublin. Agreeing on the length of time a couple wants to spend on photographs during their day along with a specific priority list should be discussed in advance for maximum benefit, suggests Paul. Note: Couples are trending towards ‘documentary style’ albums now, including atmospheric shots that capture their guests enjoying the celebrations. www. sharppix.ie

Helping Hand With the average bride taking over 250 hours to plan her wedding, it’s pretty clear that a good wedding planner should save you time. According to Blaithin O’Reilly Murphy, wedding planners not only bring ideas and inspiration to life, they will also keep track of the budget and after the

first consultation they will know all the right vendors to call. Trends are slower to change in weddings than in fashion, shares Blaithin but recent movies like ‘The Great Gatsby’ have been influential. Note: Planners can help as much or little as you need. www.theweddingexpert.ie Bling Bling When buying your engagement ring, Wicklow’s leading goldsmith Joan Gelletlie advices that you also “think about how it will fit with your wedding band.” With trends leaning towards rings that have a central stone surrounded by smaller stones, Joan advices that picking the best ‘colour’ is better than picking a bigger diamond. Note: Platinum and 18 caret white gold are best at holding your precious stones in place. Tel: 0404 67557

Dresses 8

02 | WEDDINGS

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

Style

with Audrey Vance

Are you searching for the one, your dream wedding dress? Over the past couple of weeks I went to visit some gorgeous Wicklow bridal shops and designers to find out just what Irish brides are buying and to glean some pearls of wisdom for all those brides-to-be starting out on their journey. According to Tanya of O’Brien’s Bridal Couture in Rathnew, “You can choose from every dress in shop when you allow nine months before the wedding.” It also makes sense that you are more likely to enjoy the shopping experience when you are not limited by time constraints. She also suggests trying on a variety of styles and to keep an open mind, you can be surprised by what you’ll pick. Bridal designer Anne Gregory suggests that when you have narrowed down your choice of dresses to just two or three favourites then you should consider getting a hair trial when choosing the one.

“If you have time for the hair trial, it really helps you to visualise the wedding day and pick the right dress.” Anne, who has an intimate boutique and design studio in Newtownmountkennedy, also suggests bringing a shoe with the right heel height, pale underwear and of course no fake tan. Irish designer and shop owner, Marie McElheron based in Arklow, suggests that the first fitting is a great time to start trying on accessories. Marie says “ Influenced by The Great Gatsby movie, side head pieces and combs are currently more popular than tiaras.” Along with the other shops, Marie stocks some lovely head pieces, jewellery and veils for the brides to try. So who should you bring with you when bridal shopping? 0 based in Kilcoole suggests bringing only one person when gown shopping. “You don’t need too many opinions when picking your

dress, one trusted person is enough.” Known for her vintage styling, Gay tells me that brides have become very price conscious and all will have a budget that they tend to stick to. Interestingly Gay seemed to credit the bride’s mother with giving the girl the best advice about dress styles that suited her and 50% of the time she’ll pay for the gown as a wedding gift. Celebrities certainly can influence brides and the names that cropped up were Amy Huberman, Vogue Williams, Pippa O’Connor, Kate Moss and Kate Middleton. With brides leaning towards vintage and boho, lace is certainly trending strongly and with so many lace types available it seems that we’ll see a lot of it in 2014. Best of luck to all you engaged ladies out there, hope you enjoy the journey and find the perfect wedding dress. Audrey Vance of www. WeddingDressInk.com.

CITY CHIC, COUNTRY SOPHISTICATION It’s the most special day of your life, one that you will never forget – here at the Parkview Hotel we will make it unforgettable for everyone.

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Home Made Seasonal Vegetabel Soup _____________________ Seared Chicken Fillet wit a Garden Herb Stuffing in a Rich Smoked Bacon & Mushroom Cream Sauce or Grilled Filet of Seabass served on a Creamy Gratin Potatoes with a Roasted Vine Cherry Tomato & Fresh Dill Salsa Served with a melody of Vegetables _____________________ Warm Apple Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream Freshly Brewed Tea & Coffee

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WEDDINGS | 03

February 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

by Marie McElheron

6 Dresses 4-6 by Gay DePaor

by Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Briens Bridal Couture

1 2 3 4 5

(in no particular order!)

venues

08 | WEDDINGS

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

Glenview Hotel & Leisure Club, Glen of the Downs Nestled in the stunning and majestic surroundings of the Glen of the Downs, the Glenview Hotel overlooks the rolling hills of the famous Wicklow Mountains. Set amongst 30 acres of Woodland Walks and beautiful landscaped gardens the Glenview Hotel is a classic hotel. A stunning location combined with experience and dedication, exquisite cuisine and sophisticated ambience, create a truly

magical setting for your very special day. With just one wedding per day, bar extension included and no room hire for Civil Ceremonies, the Glenview’s dedicated wedding team are on hand to ensure your day is as perfect as you have always dreamed it would be. All inclusive packages start from €50.00. Tel 01 274 0000, email: sayido@glenviewhotel.com , www.glenviewhotel.com

Druids Glen Resort, newtownmountkennedy Druids Glen 5-Star Resort enjoys a breath-taking setting in a secluded location which exudes warmth and charm while the stunning scenery provides a perfect backdrop for an exclusive wedding venue and private civil ceremony. All of the 134 Deluxe Rooms and 11 Suites are fitted with every modern luxury and are tailored with plenty of space in mind. The James Joyce Ballroom can cater for up to 220 guests while the Oscar Wilde Suite

is suitable for weddings for up to 80 guests and with its unobtrusive, friendly service, the hotel, its facilities and location are second-to-none Their dedicated wedding coordinator Nessa Kearney is on hand to help with menu and wine choices, place settings, flowers to the tiny finishing touches that set it all apart. Designed to suit all budgets from inclusive packages at €75pp to Á la carte options, you can call on 01 2870811 for your personal appointment.

Tinakilly House, Rathnew An avenue lined with majestic oak trees guides you to stunning views of mountains, lakes, sea and a very warm welcome at this beautifully restored country manor fourstar hotel. Enjoy gorgeous, authentic old world charm with every modern luxury and comfort on 14 acres of idyllic, sprawling gardens overlooking the Irish Sea. Their new luxurious marquee, overlooking the Irish Sea, has the capacity for up to 220

guests while also offering a fine blend of modern and traditional cuisine, creating beautiful and stunning dishes which are both appealing to the eye and sublime on the palate. Fresh fish, Wicklow beef, game and Wicklow lamb are all provided by local suppliers and Tinakilly’s own herb gardens supply the kitchen with a range of fresh vegetables and herbs. Contact 0404 69274 or weddings@tinakilly.ie

Arklow Bay Hotel The 92-bedroom, Arklow Bay Hotel offers an elegant and comfortable setting for weddings with its beautifully proportioned Bay Suite ballroom. Bathed in natural day light, the ballroom which can cater for up to 380 as well as smaller, more intimate affairs. From the moment you arrive to the red carpet welcome, the hotel’s team ensure the total success of your wedding reception The Arklow Bay Hotel offer both mid-week and weekend packages with

Summerhill House Hotel, Enniskerry If you are looking for a Country House Hotel Wedding then getting married at the Summerhill House Hotel is definitely worth your consideration. One of Wicklow and South Dublin’s most popular wedding venues, the Summerhill House Hotel can provide a host of suitable wedding packages including hosting your wedding ceremony. The Summerhill House Hotel offer a selection of All-Inclusive Wedding Packages from midweek at €45.00

per person and weekends starting at €55.00 per person as well as tailor made options. Every Sunday is a Wedding Open Day, where you can find out more about the wedding facilities. The Summerhill House Hotel can now provide wedding couples with their complete wedding package including the opportunity to host your Civil Ceremony or partnership. If you wish for a more traditional Church Ceremony, there are also many churches in the area. Contact 01 2867928.

prices starting at at €29 per person for midweek. You can upgrade to a Gold Package for an additional €5 per person or Platinum Package from €10pp. Weekend weddings start at €37.50 per person with similar upgrade prices. Arklow Bay Hotel is fully registered to provide facilities for a Civil Ceremony/Civil Partnership and can also offer Brides and Grooms with full complimentary access to the online wedding planning service, Moposa. Contact 0402 32309 .

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February 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

The BrookLodge & Wells Spa, Macreddin Village Imagine having a graceful village wedding in a splendid country house hotel where the management and crew have just two goals, to make your wedding the happiest day of your lives and to ensure your guests are totally pampered. The BrookLodge comprises of 86 bedrooms ranging from traditional style standard rooms to New York style mezzanine suites. Each bedroom has been decorated to the highest standard to ensure your stay with us is ultracomfortable and relaxing.

BrookHall is a unique and private residence containing the stunning River Room and is exclusively dedicated to you and your wedding guests. Macreddin Hall, located in the grounds, just across the village green, seats up to 150 people and is approved for civil marriages or you may use the Chapel for a simple blessing. while previously registering your marriage at a registry office. For an appointment please contact Gillian, Julia or Sarah on 0402 36444.

Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy Every wedding at The Parkview Hotel Wicklow is special and the staff promise to look after each and every need. “The Park Room”, which can cater from 50 to 250 people, provides the perfect setting for a wedding reception as it is served by a dance floor, stage and in-room bar and the adjacent terrace which is ideal on those warm Summer evenings. The extensive a la carte wedding menu has been created by award winning chef, Sheenagh Toal to ensure

that all guests will dine in style and at an affordable price. Wedding Packages start at €29.00 per person for midweek packages while the All-Inclusive Packages start from €46.00. Wedding guests can also avail of a special overnight accommodation rate while the bride and groom can enjoy the bridal suite on the wedding night complimentary. Hotel offers 60 spacious guest rooms including four Superior Suites and four Family Rooms. Contact: 0 1 2015600.

pre-design their event. The spectacular ballroom at the hotel seats from 100 to 300 guests, while the Sika Restaurant at Powerscourt Hotel, Resort & Spa offers superior Irish contemporary cooking against a spectacular backdrop of Wicklow’s hills and mountains through tall glass walls. Offering 200 guest rooms including 124 suites, Powerscourt Hotel is also home to ESPA, a luxury spa with 21 treatment rooms and a 20-metre Swarovski crystal-lit pool. Contact 01 274 8888

Avon Ri Hotel, Blessington Lakeshore Avon Ri Wedding Resort is located in the spectacular Wicklow countryside and is perched on the shores of the Blessington Lakes. The resort commands some of the most beautiful views in Ireland and picturesque scenery, which would provide a fantastic backdrop for your wedding day. Avon Rí offers an unforgettable experience – combining magnificent luxury self-catering accommodation, an excellent restaurant and café bar, structured outdoor activities and delightful leisure facilities and a breathtaking lakeshore setting in the

The Grand Hotel Wicklow, Wicklow Town The Grand Hotel has been welcoming guests to the scenic heart of the ‘Garden of Ireland’ since 1896. Situated in the charming seaside town of Wicklow, bordered by stunning coastline and surrounded by the breath-taking Wicklow mountains, it really is a dream setting for your wedding. Whether it’s an intimate wedding of a dozen close family and friends, or a formal wedding extravaganza for 300 guests, The Grand Hotel will cater for your every need.

They say you can’y buy love but you can afford the perfect wedding at The Grand Hotel wwith packages starting at 100 guests from only €3995.00 midweek to €4995.00 on a weekend or Bank Holiday. The Grand Hotel also offers a choice of menus and can cater for special requirements and vegetarians. The hotel consists of 33 wellappointed guest rooms coupled with complimentary WIFI, guest parking as well as a coach dock. Contact 0404 67337.

Wicklow countryside. Accommodation consists of 39 luxury self-catering townhouses with stunning views of either Blessington Lake or the Wicklow countryside. Each self-catering townhouse comprises three large bedrooms with en-suite facilities, and a magnificent open-plan kitchen, dining and living room with fireplace. Avon Rí clubhouse consists of the main reception lobby, Il Lago restaurant, the swimming pool facilities, and the reception for all the outdoor activities. Contact 045 900 670.

(in no particular order!)

Located on the grounds of Powerscourt Estate, this venue prides itself on perfecting the little details that make up one’s big day, from the intimate to extravagant, traditional to unexpected. The Secret Garden, located adjacent to the Ballroom, is a hidden oasis of beauty - the perfect back drop for wedding photos or an integral part of your civil wedding ceremony itself. Powerscourt Hotel houses a unique and elegant showroom that allows couples-to-be the chance to

venues

Powerscourt Hotel, Resort and Spa, Enniskerry

06| WEDDINGS

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

my favourite gifts Have you thought about a gift list for your wedding? With so many couples living together before getting married maybe you think a gift registry isn’t relevant and that cash is king! However here are some fun ideas that might get you to rethink! If you have any feedback please get in touch.

Present day

MyRegistry.com is ideal for today’s savvy bride and groom who are likely to have a diverse gift list ideas and don’t want to settle with just one shop. This website that allows you to pick from all stores with one registry, allowing you to create a very tailor-made gift list to suit yourselves and share with your guests. It even provides you with a ‘cash’ option. www.myregistry.com

Kneading bread

Get your marriage off to a fiery start and spend a fun evening learning to make a tasty selection of breads together in Delgany’s Firehouse Bakery, Co. Wicklow. An evening class with celebrity bread-maker, Patrick Ryan, will involve lots of hands-on kneading and a wood fired oven but everyone leaves with

recipes, ingredients, a baker’s goodie bag and plenty of baked goods. An evening session costs €130 per couple, www.firehousebakery.ie

Wedding Dress Art

With your wedding dress likely to be in the attic or guest bedroom wardrobe, Wedding Dress Ink offers you a way of making it part of your home after the special day. Only needing photographs of the bride in her dress on her wedding day, I can creates an ink illustration that will turn photographs into a treasured heirloom. Each bespoke painting is completely one-off and includes the shoes and bouquet with optional framing. A perfect gift for the bride who loves her dress! Prices from €295, order time f weeks. www. WeddingDressInk.comur

Romantic Recipes

Fancy learning how to cook up a storm in your own kitchen after the wedding? Then maybe a cookery

WHAT’s HOT

with Audrey Vance info@wicklowvoice.ie

getaway in Catherine Fulvios’, Ballyknocken House cookery school is the gift you’re looking for. They are offering a Friday night getaway in their guesthouse with delicious treats on arrival, award-winning breakfast the next morning followed by your cookery session with morning coffee and lunch for €359 per couple. If you have a passion for food or no cooking skills between you this could be a great wedding present. www. cookeryschool.ie

Dress Care

What will you do with your wedding dress after your big day? Couture Care is Ireland’s only dedicated wedding dress dry-cleaners, based in Duleek, Co.Meath and they will come and pick up your dress by courier, assess, clean and repair, beautifully box it for long-term storage and return it to your door. They have very transparent prices listed on their website FAQ page and costs are directly linked to the value of the dress, with boxes also priced according to their size. Request a gift voucher in multiples of €50 and

have your dress and memories stored perfectly. www.couturecare.ie

Designer Notes

There’s something special about sending a card or note by post, especially these days when email has become so prominent. Announce your change of status as Mr and Mrs with some beautiful personalised stationery from elegant designer Marie Bradley of Finer Details, based in Co. Cork. These bespoke notelets and matching envelopes are a gorgeous way to drop someone a note to say ‘hello’ or ‘thank you.’ A set of 50 will cost €87.50 www.finerdetails. ie

Where in the World?

White Dog, based in Dublin have a lovely gift idea for a couple to hang in their home. The three letters can be customised with maps showing locations that are special to a couple. Why not get their initials showing maps of their home places with an ‘&’ representing a place or an interest that they both share? The company has lots of maps, atlases and beautiful papers available. Cost from €180, order time is 3-4 weeks. www. LittleWhiteDog.ie

Cheers

With all the celebrating you are likely to do in the months following your nuptials it might be a good idea to have some suitable champagne glass wear. What could be nicer than sharing a glass of bubbly in these beautiful John Rocha flutes? Available in Anvil on Bray’s Main Street for €110 per pair.

Picture Perfect

Giving something personal as a wedding gift isn’t easy but Little

Audrey Vance , fashion illustrator and owner of Wedding Dress Ink, has a home studio in Co. Wicklow. www. WeddingDressInk.com

Women in Wicklow The best piece of advice I received was to know your worth and don’t sell yourself short.

Your name? Claire Malone Name and contact details of business? Mrs2Be has their head office in Bray. www.mrs2be.ie What does your business offer? Mrs2Be.ie offers an online lead-generation platform for the Irish wedding industry where wedding professionals can advertise and promote their business to their target market. How and when did you set up your business? From what I experienced being a busy bride-to-be, doing most of my research and planning online, along with Keith’s years as a wedding videographer, we both felt that we could create one online destination to bring both Irish brides and wedding professionals together. We put the idea on hold for a couple of years until we had our first child in 2009, and then began to develop the concept. Plans for the future? We’ve so many plans for the

future of mrs2be in Ireland, but they’re all under wraps for the moment! We acquired mrs2be.co.uk and mrs2be. com last year, so developing those sites is the next big step. What has been the toughest moment so far? Trying to juggle the responsibilities of the business and being a mother can be tough. As a couple working together, it’s difficult to switch off, and leave work at the office as it’s not a 9-to-5 business. Best part about your job? The best part is the positive feedback we get from both members of our bridal community and the wedding professionals who advertise with us. Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Tip for any budding entrepreneurs looking to start their own business? Don’t just dive head first into starting a business - take your time to do your research and develop your idea. As a business owner, it’s very easy to get caught up in the day to day running of the business, so ensure you take time out to work on your business, and not just work in your business. Must have beauty product? Intensive-C Radiance Peel from Murad, it’s a home treatment that really brightens your complexion, and revives dull skin. Go-to fashion label for workwear? I’m pregnant at the moment, so my go-to clothing items are comfortable loose tops and anything with an expandable waist! Normally I like Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy. Interview by Audrey Vance

WEDDINGS | 07

February 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

Love is in the Air Travel

with Dee Evans Local Travel Counsellors Dee Evans is a specialist when it comes to honeymoons and just as your choice of wedding venue reflects your own personal tastes, you’ll want a honeymoon destination that fits you both too. “Your honeymoon will probably be the most magical

and memorable trip you will ever take, giving you time to unwind and enjoy each other’s company after all the excitement of your wedding day, so it’s important you choose the right destination,” says Dee. Whether you want to escape to a romantic hideaway with sun drenched beaches, stay in a luxurious resort in the Caribbean, Mexico or the Maldives, experience exciting

destinations such as South Africa, Dubai, China or the Middle East. Why not choose a combination honeymoon such as Mexico and Vegas, Mauritius and Dubai or a cruise and stay which gives you two types of holiday on the one vacation. Europe is still a favoured destination with Sorrento in Italy, Dubrovnik in Croatia and Mediterranean cruises all proving very popular.

Don’t forget The Kids!

Children

Dr Katherine O’Hanlon Talk of weddings usually conjures up images of joyful events heralding the start of an exciting new chapter in a couple’s life together. However, not everyone involved is always so pleased at this new family setup. When one or both partners already have children the situation needs to be carefully considered to ensure things go as smoothly as possible. Thinking through potential challenges ahead of time will enable you to offer your child the support they need to successfully negotiate this transition. It can be helpful to acknowledge that while the marriage will bring happiness to the parents, and may result in positive changes for the family, that change can be difficult and all the changes might not be positive from the child’s perspective. It is important that children feel they can share their mixed or unhappy feelings about the situation with their parents. If they don’t feel safe to do so and bottle them up instead, this can lead to challenging behaviour (as their feelings find another way out!) and can make the new family relationships even

more strained. Although often difficult to express, common feelings experienced by children when a parent marries include: jealousy, ange, resentment, guilt, sadness and worry. Children might also appear especially sensitive to physical or emotional pain, and younger children might regress. Staying patient and calm whilst tuning into your child’s feelings (rather than responding to their behaviour), and acknowledging even the most difficult ones, will show you are trying to understand their position. Make sure they know that all feelings are valid and acceptable and that you want to help them find ways of communicating and managing their emotions. Remember, stepfamilies don’t have to love each other, but they must show respect for each other. While trust, caring and even love may develop over time, allowing everybody to adjust at their own pace will facilitate a smoother process. Acknowledge the changes everyone is living through, and the need to slowly get used to sharing time, space and things but make sure everyone is aware that communicating difficult feelings through disrespectful behaviour is not allowed. Ensure you still make time for each child individually. In the excitement of being a “family”

it is important to remember your child might feel overwhelmed by the additional people around and is likely to be missing the time they had with you before. Where applicable, ensure your child knows they can still contact and see their other parent as much as ever. Emphasise that your new partner will not try and take their mum/dad’s place, but will be another supportive adult for them to turn to. While establishing family rules that everyone must abide by is important, each parent should remain the primary carer for their own children - although in time it might be appropriate to gradually share this role. Although tricky at times, being sensitive to your child feelings throughout will hopefully lead to a situation where you anticipate the difficulties and provide your child - and indeed the whole family -with as positive an experience of this life changing event as possible. Katherine is a clinical psychologist working with children, adolescents and parents at the Novara Centre in Bray. Katherine is now taking bookings for Understanding Your Child’s Behaviour a new 10 week Parenting Course commencing March 6th. www. katherineohanlon.com

When deciding on your destination you must consider the climate in the area at that time of year. August/ September is hurricane season in the Caribbean so probably not the ideal time to visit! South Africa has lovely weather from October to February so is perfect for a winter honeymoon. Expert advice is really essential when it comes to

making these all important decisions. “I find that people are suffering from “information overload” when trying to seek out holidays or travel arrangements for themselves online,” adds Dee. “That’s why I take the time to build relationships with my customers, getting to know them and tailormaking holidays to suit their needs.” Dee also provides

the Travel Counsellors Honeymoon Gift Registry service which works much like the usual department store list except that guests of your special day contribute monetary amounts towards your Honeymoon plans, allowing them to participate in the excitement of one of the most important holidays of your lives. Dee Evans is a Wicklownative and lives in Kilcoole.

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wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

wedding workouts for everyone

Training

Eliza Rzepko When it comes to weddings, everybody wants to look their best on the big day. It’s not just the bride who wants to look fab and fit in her dress, but everyone else too wants to look great too. Whether, the groom, the bridesmaid or the bride’s mother, a little bit of exercise in the run-up to the wedding can make everybody feel great and look fantastic It’s fair to say that the fitness industry can be a confusing at best with counter arguments for ‘this’ and ‘that’ and new advice that contradicts itself with methods that you previously thought would get you the results and goals you are looking for, be it weight lose,

toning, or building muscle . But as technology evolves we now have the science to back up what works and what does not for people. One of the simplest ways to stay in shape and achieve the body that you are looking to attain is by elevating your metabolism. Quite simply you are reprogramming your body to process and use up the food you intake and in the process burn more calories. The higher your metabolic rate is, the more calories you will burn though out the day. This can be done through both diet and exercise and it is very simple. To elevate your metabolism through diet, some simple additions to your meals is all it requires. Start to introduce spices such as chilli, cayenne pepper and cinnamon to your meals. Also drinking several cups of green tea throughout the day will help reduce water retention, and, along with helping speed up your metabolism, will give your body an influx of antioxidants that will help flush out toxins and leave you feeling much fresher. In regards to exercise, think

sprint, not marathon! It’s far more beneficial to keep your workouts short and sharp as opposed to spending hours and hours in the gym. doing long workouts The latest research has proven that exercising for shorter periods of time but with increased intensity and short rest periods will not only burn more body fat but will increase your metabolic rate and leave you burning calories for up 24 hours after your workout. Fat loss, the building of toned, lean muscle, and the increase of your VO2 max will all be achieved far quicker and to a greater degree than jogging for hours on end. So give TRX, Tabatta, Bootcamp, and Interval Training a try and you’ll be amazed at the speed in which your body will transform. But not only will you look great but you will feel great too as your body and mind get into shape for the big day. Then you can relax on the big day knowing you look lean, mean and super sharp as well feeling great too. Eliza is a fitness instructor in the Merrill Leisure Club in Bray.

Newlyweds David and Sarah Halpin the day after their weddings celebrations in Druids Glen recently.

FOOD & WINE| 17

January 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

recipe of the month Warm Chocolate Cake

Ingredients: 500 grams 66% Chocolate 500 grams Melted butter 500 grams Eggs 400 grams Sugar 400 gram Cake flour 15 grams Baking powder

Directions

• Melt Chocolate and butter separately. • Mix the chocolate and butter together and keep warm.

A selections of wedding cakes by Amazing Cakes which is run by Beverley and Brendan Murphy. For further information visit www.amazingcakes.ie

CANCER-Jun 21-Jul 22 Numbers 2, 7, 11, 16, 26, 43 The Sun is shifts into your house of resources so focus on achievements. The 4th put aside your protective side; come out of your shell and have fun.

HOROSCOPES with Siobhan Moore Whelan

ARIES-Mar 21-Apr 19 Numbers 4, 5, 11, 18, 28, 42 As Jupiter transits your solar power is about finance. The 9th is a good time for investing. The 12th brings harmony into any family conflicts. The 14th indicates a new relationship. TAURUS Apr 20-May 20 Numbers: 2, 13, 22, 28, 30, 40 Jupiter goes into Leo and the 7th is the ideal time for a change. The 9th you will drift back to the past , a day to clear out lingering sadness. The 20th is seasonal illness time. GEMINI-May 21-June 20 Numbers 4, 10, 15, 26, 30, 39 Wonderful times coming as your curiosity is insatiable. February, the second year when Saturn is waiting to catch you off your guard so pay attention to your oral health.

LEO-July 23-August 22 Numbers 1,9, 10, 19, 28, 34, 46 A Saturn-Neptune-Jupiter triangle forms which is very favourable in domestic issues. The 18th a small windfall comes your way. The 22nd pay attention while travelling. VIRGO- Aug 23-Sep 22 Numbers 4, 12, 17, 21, 37, 43 Venus enters the house of love and brings joy and fun. The 7th is a time for action to find true happiness. The 20th Venus will be retrograde and brings a little turbulence. LIBRA-Sep 23-Oct 22 Numbers 1,3,17,24,29,37 You are complete when coupled with your lover and this month reveals the bigger picture. The Scales will be on a balanced and even keel and conflict evaporates. SCORPIO-Oct 23-Nov 21 Numbers 4,6,11,20,37,47 A month of evolution and an opportunity for extreme happiness. The 9th will throw you a curve ball in a work

situation. On the 18th don’t over-stretch.SAGITTARIUSNov 22-Dec 21 Numbers-5,10,15,19,33,42 A month of adventure. The 12th Saturn enters and constricts you for two days which brings out the hermit in you. The 15th you are free again to follow your ultimate goals. CAPRICORN-Dec22-Jan 19 Numbers-8,17,22,30,37,39 Keyword “I achieve”. This months offers momentum in various areas with the lunar surpass on the 10th. AQUARIUS-Jan 20-Feb 18 Numbers-2,11,20,23,26,39 Your imagination churns amazing ideas as Water Bearers are about progress, self progress. Planetary energy is now at its highest southern aspect. The 22nd brings a surprise. PISCES-Feb 19-Mar 20 Numbers-10,15,24,29,36,38 Your ruling planet Neptune is on the scene and begins a new significant cycle of change for the better. The 9th your emphasis is on romance. Every Wednesday private appointments in The Grand Hotel Wicklow to book 0851558613. Registered Licenced with Comreg - Over 18’s entertainment PRS E2.40 pm- Siobhan Whelan

Peter Byrne

Head Chef at Sika Restaurant in The Powerscourt Hotel • Mix together the eggs and sugar and set aside. • Sift together the flour and the baking powder. • Combine chocolate mixture with egg mixture. • Add Flour and baking powder, mix well and pipe into prepared ring molds. • Cook at 180 Celsius for 8 minutes.

Peter Byrne is Chef de Cuisine at Sika (fomerly Gordon Ramsay) at the Powerscourt Hotel, Enniskerry. Previously, he worked in Chapter One, The Morrison Hotel, Roly @ The Pavilion and the Killiney Court Hotel.

wine choice Domaine Martin Côtes du Rhône This rich and supple red has plenty of ripe, dark fruits and sufficient depth to match a wide range of dishes. Mouth rich in the flavours of red-berry fruits with a hint of spice. Smooth tannins with long finish. Its lovely ripe fruit also makes it a great wine to drink on its own. Made by one of the best wineries in the southern Rhône , this super buy is available from Wicklow Wine Company for €15.60.

18 | OPINION

opinion&comment You are not alone you can talk to us

eople who are going through difficult times will often want to share their problems with family or friends, but sometimes, for a number of reasons, it can be hard to talk to those who are closest. It can be easier to talk to a stranger, and this is where Samaritans comes in. We provide a safe place for people to talk when things are getting to them. Our volunteers are ordinary people who do extraordinary things, and Samaritans’ service is available round the clock every single day of the year. Calls are confidential and those who contact us can be themselves – Samaritans do not judge. Samaritans was established in Ireland in 1962 and there are now 21 branches on the island of Ireland with 2,100 active volunteers. Samaritans does a great deal to help people struggling to cope, both in terms of answering calls, face-to-face support, emails and texts as well as outreach work in prisons, schools, music festivals and many other places. The work we do can best be summed up in one phrase - we help people to see all the options available to them. In some cases this can quite literally be a lifesaver. People can talk to Samaritans any time, in their own way, about whatever is getting to them. Some people think that you have to be suicidal to talk to Samaritans but that is not the case. In fact, 78% of the people who call us are not suicidal, but they do have something they need to talk about. We are there for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them. It doesn’t matter what kind of problem our callers have, however big or small it may seem compared to the problems other people have. What matters to us is how their life is making them feel. Last year, Samaritans answered 381,128 calls, 13,081 emails, 9,853 SMS text messages and 7,911 face-to-face visits. This is a total of 411,973 contacts to Samaritans Ireland over the past 12 months. People called us to talk about many issues: money worries, family and relationship problems; depression and mental health issues; loneliness and stress and anxiety. With many of these issues, having the opportunity to talk them through with a trained listener can offer huge relief. Where Samaritans feels a person could benefit from a different kind of support, we may sometimes signpost them to alternative services. Men from disadvantaged backgrounds in their 30s, 40s and 50s, are most at risk of suicide. We are working to reach out to this group and to encourage them to seek help when they need it and contact Samaritans, through our campaign We’re in your corner. Our vision has always been the same, for fewer people will die by suicide, but in order to remain relevant, the way we listen has changed. When the service began, many

people did not have a telephone at home and would have relied on a Phone Box, letter or may have visited a branch in person. Today, more and more people prefer to contact us via email or text. When people are in crisis, talking can help them to feel calmer and get through that moment. Through human contact with someone who really listens, people can begin to feel hope. Talking can help people to see their situation in a different light and find their way forward. Samaritans is available round the clock every single day of the year. You can call 1850 60 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org, or text 0872 60 90 90 to talk to us. You can also get in touch by calling into a branch. For opening hours of each branch and to learn more about our work please visit www.samaritans.ie. Catherine Brogan is Executive Director of Samaritans Ireland

The work we do can best be summed up in one phrase we help people to see all the options available to them. In some cases this can quite literally be a lifesaver. Some people think that you have to be suicidal to talk to Samaritans but that is not the case.

with Catherine Brogan

“T

Government decisions are behind many of the increases. It sometimes seems as if ministers are not just content to let the system die but are actively plotting to kill it off.

with Michael Wolsey

I’m getting sick of all the health insurance hikes

he picture they paint is of a country slowly but surely recovering from a recession which, while painful because of the short and sharp decline from boom to bust, was not, in historical terms, so very bad. Our health insurance system is seriously ill and in need of intensive care but the Government and insurance companies do not seem worried. The companies have passed on a string of price increases in full knowledge that they are driving away customers in droves. This exodus hastened the demise of Mount Carmel Hospital and there may yet be other casualties. Government decisions are behind many of the increases. It sometimes seems as if ministers are not just content to let the system die but are actively plotting to kill it off. Premiums have gone up every year since this Government came to power. The latest increases are in a range of 3% to 20%, which is extremely high given that the general inflation rate has been static for years. These rises come just weeks after a Budget which restricted tax relief on policies, effectively increasing the cost to adults by at least €40 a year and, in a few cases, by as much as €800. More increases can be expected thanks to higher government levies. They will add another €49 to adult cover and €15 to cover for a child. Health insurers have also been told to pay an extra €130 million to the Health Service Executive for use of public beds in state hospitals. If you are a taxpayer you will already have paid for these beds. Now, if you have health insurance, you must pay a second time. This may look like a step towards a fair system where no one can buy privileged treatment. Not so. Previously hospitals could only designate 20% of their beds for private use. Now they can charge €800 a night for any bed. Jim Dowdall, chief executive of the medical insurance company GloHealth, fears this change “will have the effect of giving a very clear financial incentive to public hospitals to

treat private patients ahead of public patients.’’ According to Mr Dowdall, the cost of a private room in a public hospital has doubled since 2005. Since 2008 the cost of a private bed has increased by 38pc while the cost of a semiprivate bed has increased by over 57pc. But the rise in premiums means hospitals are not seeing the benefit of these increases. Instead, they are having to cope with more and more non-paying patients. Health Minister James Reilly has promised a universal health care system by 2016 with everyone covered either by insurance or by the state. There seems no possibility of achieving that goal which grows more distant with every price hike. Health insurers, like all insurance companies, rely on the fact that most of their customers rarely make a claim but maintain the policy ‘just in case’. However, health is different from car insurance, say, or home insurance, where claims are random and unpredictable. Health insurers know, beyond doubt, that their customers will make more claims as they grow older. The grim sequence of price increases is driving away young customers, who keep the system going, leaving it with only older folk, like me, who are a drain on its resources. I have been paying health insurance for almost 40 years and, thank God, have very rarely had to use it. My fear is that, if the Government keeps messing, the fund to which I have contributed all my life will not be able to provide for me if I need it. The difficulties of insurance companies are not helped by the community rating, or rather by the strange way it is imposed. The rating means that everyone must be offered comparable health insurance at the same price. It is intended to ensure that people are not penalised because of their age. Michael Wolsey is a former deputy editor of the Irish Independent, features editor of the Irish Press and managing director of the Drogheda Independent group. Michael sits on the judging panel for the National Newspaper of Ireland Journalism Awards.

OPINION | 19

February 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

focus on faces

This month we speak to Kristian O’Neill, documentary maker and director of the March On Film Contest.

Lights, camera, plenty of action How’s life : Really good, mad busy, but really good.

Why are you so busy? Well, along with my wife, Julie, I’m in the midst of setting up a Film making competition called March On Film. Neither of us has done anything like this before so it’s a very steep learning curve! It’s coming along well though. What is March On Film? It’s a filmmaking contest aimed at helping up and coming filmmakers. The first big goal of the March On Film competition is to encourage people to bring their film ideas to life! Whether this is with expensive kit or just an iPhone and a laptop, the first rung on the ladder to filmmaking success is to get out there and do it! The second goal we had for the festival was to promote a mentor scheme in which aspiring filmmakers who have proven talent could benefit from the experience and advice of already established filmmakers.

That is why we have put together a panel of Judges/ Mentors who are at the top of their game in the Irish Industry. People such as Oscar nominated writer/director Kirsten Sheridan and Once cinematographer Tim Fleming. Often the hardest thing about getting into the film industry is getting that first big break. Hopefully with our filmmaking prize package we can help to provide that to the winning team. Did you find it hard to get people on board? Actually, it was much easier than I expected. Everyone we have gone to for help has been so generous and seems to totally get what we’re trying to do. I suppose all our mentors had to start at the bottom themselves so they are happy to give something back. We have a €1500 prize pack which was donated by Film Equipment Hire Ireland and Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE) have also helped out with sponsorship as well as lots of help from their third year

‘the hardest thing about getting into the film industry is getting that first big break. ‘

film students who were a huge asset in helping us establish the contest. Thanks guys!

What made you decide to set up March On film? I came up with the idea for March On Film while living in New Zealand. I lived there for 10 years working as a shooting, editing, director for NZ TV and I was always interested in what was going on in the filmmaking world. One year I got involved in a film-making competition called Tropfest. In this competition people had a finite amount of time to make a film specifically for the festival. I entered and had a great time making a short film with my friends and I thought this would be something that would work really well in Ireland. We moved back home last year and when I saw that a similar kind a festival didn’t exist here I thought it would be great to set one up. Of course I didn’t realise then how much work was involved! But it’s brilliant seeing it come

Are there any entry criteria? No, anyone can enter! That’s actually the third goal of March On Film, to show people that film making is fun. It’s easy nowadays. With the availability of smartphones everyone has the ability to make short films using video

and edit apps. So whether you’re out to have a laugh with your mates or looking to finally bring your visual masterpiece to the screen, so long as you’re into film making, this competition is for you! At the start of March teams will be given three elements which they must include in their film, a line of dialogue, a character name and a prop. Then all the films must be submitted by the end of the month. Entry costs $30 but for Wicklow Voice readers, the first 10 entries are free! So when you register just include the promotional code and wait to hear back from us!

with the tools to achieve their full potential’’. No education system can stand still. When you consider the fast pace of change that exists today, you really need to be revamping educational systems on a shorter and shorter interval. The concept of a Young Scientist Exhibition goes back to the US in the post-war years. Visiting Irish educationalists brought the concept back to Ireland and the Fianna Fail government of the time, led by Sean Lemass, were happy to assist with an exhibition starting up in Ireland. It fitted in well with the economic mood of the times - one of recovery and progress, similar to 2014. We should always be open to adopting educational ideas from other countries that are improvements to what we have at present. This year’s exhibition was split into four categories – Biological and Ecological Sciences; Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Social

and Behavioural Sciences; and Technology. These categories were then further sub-divided into Junior, Intermediate and Senior individual and group projects. All these categories had winners in addition to the overall winner (Paul Clarke from St Paul’s College in Raheny, Dublin with his project on cyclic graph theory). Wicklow schools were very healthily represented amongst the exhibitors. Two schools in particular, Avondale Community College and Dominican College Wicklow, were amongst the top 10 in the entire country in terms of number of projects exhibited. Congratulations to all the students, teachers and schools who participated from the county, especially Lauren Fahey and Jade Duffy from Dominican College Wicklow whose project ‘’An investigation into how oil and water droplets react in zero gravity’’ won the Institute of Technology Ireland Special Award. There was a side-exhibition

off the main hall devoted to class projects from primary schools (the Primary School Science Fair). This was really impressive. Wicklow primary schools were very well represented here this year, with projects from St Joseph’s Girls National School in Rathnew, Sacred Heart National School in Aughrim, St Gerard’s Junior School in Bray and Wicklow Montessori School in Ballyguile, Wicklow. Working in the pharmaceutical industry I found some of the medical-related projects by Wicklow’s students at this year’s Exhibition to be of a very high standard. Elizabeth Vickers and Orla Conroy from Avondale Community College exhibited on ‘’breathe training, a new approach to increasing lung capacity’’ – in a country with a higher than average incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, this was a topical project. Michaela Gahan from the same school exhibited on diabetes and in particular

together. Just last week we found out that Trinity College have come on board and so all the entries will be screened in their cinema! And I can tell you from entering these kinds of things, there’s nothing better than seeing your short film on the big screen!

Any last words of advice for the film makers? Good luck and see you at the award ceremonies! Kristian O’Neill is a documentary film maker and director of the March On Film Film Making Contest. His credits include the hitchiking documentary Bluffing It! and the series The One O’Clock Question, both aired in New Zealand where he lived for the last 10 years. He is currently working on a documentary called The Garden of the Mind.

Wicklow wonders dazzle at exhibition

he 50th running of the Young Scientist Exhibition took place in the RDS between January 9 and 11. The quality and range of the exhibitions demonstrated that the future of science in Ireland is in safe hands. Measures by successive governments to promote the study of the STEM subjects [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] are clearly paying dividends, but we can’t rest on our laurels – export-led economic growth is vital to our recovery and in order to achieve this we need to maintain and increase the number of STEM graduates and continue to attract multinationals to provide jobs in these areas, as well as doing all we can to keep hold of such firms already here. The fact that the Exhibition, had stands from many of the leading science and technology multinationals shows also that we are getting

Brian Quigley the integrated three-way relationship between science, education and business right. Participating in events like the Young Scientist Exhibition helps round students. The reforms to the Junior Certificate being proposed by Minister Ruairi Quinn look like they will help with this as well. The new Junior Cycle Student Award [JCSA] to be introduced from September, will endeavour to ensure ‘’students become informed teenagers and citizens

what it can mean for affected teenagers – again very topical given that Type 2 diabetes is a problem growing at an alarming rate in the western world. My favourite Wicklow exhibition was by Tamara Phelan and Caitlin Olohan from Avondale Community College. They investigated if there was a correlation between academic grades and interest in subjects at school by monitoring brainwave impulses. For me, this exhibit put its finger on one of the cornerstones of our modern educational system – having quality teachers who can engender an interest in their subject amongst their pupils. Judging by the standard of work on show in the RDS at this year’s Exhibition, we have students both in the county and nationally that are interested in science subjects and the teachers can take their share of the credit for being able to instil this interest in their students and harness it into accomplished project work.

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20| WHAT’S HOT

with Michelle McGlynn

info@wicklowvoice.ie

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

Radio show of the month Wicklow This Week – East Coast FM Saturday, Feb 8 2014, 9 – 10am and weekly after that East Coast FM will launch new show, Wicklow This Week, from Saturday February 8. Aengus Cox, journalist and reporter at East Coast FM will present the show with Lizzie Nolan producing. Cox is eager to get started and has no qualms with the hard work involved. The son of broadcaster Valerie Cox, he is well aware of the hard work that will be involved. The show will discuss both local and national news from the perspective of the Wicklow community. Listeners are encouraged to participate and let Cox know what topics are important to them. The debut broadcast will feature Evanne Cahill who will be discussing the CRC scandal and its repercussions.

Exercise idea of the month Nordic Walking Killruddery Estate, Saturdays at 10.30am and Sundays at 11am Nordic Walking is a social and enjoyable way to keep fit while taking in the beauty of your surroundings. The technique has become quite popular in Ireland as a way to keep fit as it is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Dairine, a qualified Nordic Walking instructor, holds

classes in Killruddery Estate at the weekends. All you need is a pair of walking boots and some weatherproof clothing. The poles will be provided. The walks vary to provide classes with different views of Killruddery House and Gardens. Groups consist of both beginners and more experienced walkers. A fantastic way to meet new people and enjoy some scenery.

Book of the month I am Malala Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb October 9 2012 the world was shocked when it was reported that the Taliban had attempted to assassinate fifteen year old Malala Yousafzai. Malala had been, and remains, an outspoken activist for girls’ right to education. She grew more prominent as media outlets picked up her story. The Taliban retaliated by sending death

threats to Malala. When she refused to be silenced a gunman got on Malala’s school bus and shot her twice in the head. Miraculously, she survived but her familtywere forced to leave. They now reside in Birmingham, England but Malala has not forgotten her home or the struggles of those still living there. This is Malala’s story. Pictured right are Hugh Hamilton and Hilary Hamilton in Wicklow Town.

TV SHOW of the month House of Cards

Feb 14, Netflix

Who needs flowers and romance? The hotly anticipated second season of political drama House of Cards hits Netflix this St Valentine’s Day. This Golden Globe nominated drama began slowly but has quickly built up a large fanbase since it first arrived on Netflix last February. The dark take on the political

clever idea of the month Cats Only Vet Clinic BrayVet, Old Connaught Avenue Cats Only is the first cat specific clinic in all of Leinster. The concept of a Cats Only Clinic had been widely welcomed within feline veterinary care. The clinic is designed to make the experience a more relaxed one for both cat and owner. It boasts a separate

waiting room, a feline hospital ward and large cat-only kennels. Nicola Neumann assures that consultations will not be hurried in order to allow the cat to acclimatize to its surroundings. This in turn will provide more accurate readings of heart rates and blood pressure. More information can be found at www.catsonly.ie or by calling 01 282 1909.

world boasts President Obama among its fans. Stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright have both received critical acclaim for their performances. Spacey appears to relish playing the morally bankrupt politician. So curl up with Kevin Spacey and some chocolates because with the entire season at your fingertips you will not be able to stop yourself binge-watching.

MOVIE of the month The Lego Movie Gaiety Cinema, Arklow Based on the line of Lego toys comes a new animated film from the directors of 21 Jump Street. Emmet (Chris Pratt) is just an ordinary minifigure until he is mistaken for the MasterBuilder. Now in accordance with legend, the fate of the Lego universe is in his hands. The evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) is plotting to destory the universe and glue it back together on his terms on Taco Tuesday. Together with the wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), tough girl Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and his group of newfound friends, Emmet must stop Lord Business before it is too late. This is a fun film for kids and adults alike.

FUDNRAISER of the month Ladies Day Greystone Rugby Football Club., Saturday, Feb 15 2014, 12.30pm

lunch and Greystones XV with play against Ards RFC on the main pitch. The fun continues with a prize for the best dressed lady and most fab shoes. There will also be a raffle and even a “slave auction”. Organiser Taragh Hanley promises that it will be a fantastic day out in GRFC. Tickets are €30 and are available at the club or by emailing social@greystonesrfc.ie

Greystones Rugby Football Club will hold their now famous Ladies Day this February 15. It is a day for lady members to get together, have some fun and raise some much needed funds for the club. There will be a champagne

event of the month Babytalk Festival O’Reilly Hall, UCD, Feb 22 – 23 The new Babytalk Festival taking place this month in UCD is hoping to celebrate this magical time in a family’s life while providing easy-to-understand, accurate information. The women behind the festival Marie Dunne and Rachel Lane felt that there was difficulty in finding trustworthy information

regarding family planning, pregnancy, birth and being a new parent. There are a number of talks scheduled including a talk on fertility by Dr. Deirdre Lundy who is based in the Well Woman Centre in Bray. Tickets are available on the door or online at €10 for one day or €15 for two days. Information can be found at www. babytalkfestival.ie. Pictured right are Marie and Juliet.

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WHAT’S HOT | 21

February 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

Gig of the month Greystones Orchestra Winter Concert St. Anthony of Padua Church, Kilcoole, Feb 8 2014, 8pm. Adele Johnson, principal violist with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra joins the Greystones Orchestra for their Winter Concert on Saturday 8th February in St Anthony of Padua Church in Kilcoole at 8pm.

play of the Month The Waiting Room The Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Feb 13 – 15, 8pm Wicklow’s Shane Cradock has written a new play entitled The Waiting Room which will debut at The Civic Theatre this month. Cradock has previously received an award from The Irish Screenwriters & Playwrights Guild. Cradock works as a

It’s a rare treat to be able to enjoy a soloist of Adele’s talent and notoriety in such an intimate local venue. The program includes Bruch’s Romanze Opus 85 for Viola and Orchestra, Stamitz’ Viola Concerto in D major and Haydn’s Symphony No 104. Tickets €15 (concession €12) are available at the door and from orchestra members. There are also family tickets available for €30.

‘Pullquote here– In the Mafia, those who go against the wishes “A feelDons good comedycan with a pinch of soul” a short life’ of the have

business coach and his experiences have helped inform his writing. He says there is a strong positive message at its core. The play centres around Mick, an average guy who’s life is just passing him by. That is until something happens which turns his whole life upside down and puts the fate of the universe in his hands. Tickets can be booked at civictheatre.ie or 01-4627477.

The

Waiting Room Written by Shane Cradock Directed by Liz Lloyd

22 | PROPERTY

It’s officially spring - but not that you’d know it! Gardening If your garden has managed to survive Ireland’s recent bout of storms then you must be doing something right. But at this time of year there is still important work to be done to keep gardens looking pristine. At this crucial time we have some tips to help you on your way. Trees • Any deciduous trees or shrubs need to be lifted over the coming weeks. • Bush roses and repeatflowering clombers should be pruned within the next fortnight. • Rose bushes can be planted from pots. Flowers • Now is the time to control weeds in beds and on borders before the new season growth begins. • There is still time to sow some dahlias, french marigolds and petunias.

wicklowvoice.ie February 2014

hothouse Mount Carraig House, Ashford, Co Wicklow, asking price €950,000

• Perennial flowers in gardens on heavy soil should be moved as they get no setback and reroot quickly. Lawn • As soon as the soil is not squelchy underfoot then it is time to bring out the lawnmower again. • If the damp months have cause heavy moss growth then apply sulphate of iron to kill it. It may blacken the grass but this is only temporary. • Lawn edges can be straightened and humps and hollows can be fixed at this time of year. Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs • Once the soil has dried, begin sowing early vegetables outdoors such as garlic, shallots, early peas, parsnips and onions. • New fruit trees should be planted as soon as possible. • Pruning of apple and pear trees as well as blackcurrant bushes should be finished by the end of the month.

Summary

A wonderful opportunity has arisen to acquire a spectacular family home within close proximity of Ashford village. The current owners have created a very welcoming, versatile and spacious interior with a high quality finish throughout. Interconnecting rooms and delightful exterior spaces will prove to be very appealing for those who like to entertain. Standing on approximately

four acres in an increasingly popular and sought after location this characteristic property comes to the market with the advantage of a large chalet ideal for conversion to stables plus a large paddock with a separate gated entrance. A very appealing property for those looking for a ‘lifestyle change’ and interested in equestrian pursuits. An early viewing of this impressive country residence (c.370 sq.mts.) that

is ‘ready to move in to’ is highly recommended. The property is entered through iron gates and approached via a gravel driveway. To the front the gardens are in lawn with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. The rear garden has several different pathways, a sunny barbeque area and a small orchard. Contact McDonnell Properties, Ballinahinch, shford on 0404-42828

BER C1 Hall: (2.6m x 5.2m) (6.4m x 2.2m) Bathroom: (2.8m x 4m) Living room: (7m x 7m) Kitchen/Family room: (6.8m x 4.5m) (4m x 2.8m) Utility Room: (2.5m x 4.6m) Sunroom: (4.4m 4.5m) Bedroom 1: (4m x 3.3m) Bedroom 2: (4.2m x 4.3m) Ensuite: (2.3m x 3.3m) Master Bedroom: (4.4m x 7.2m) En Suite: (2.3m x 3.3m) Library/Office Area: (5m x 6m) Bathroom: (4m x 2.3m) Bedroom 4: (4.5m x 6.6m) Gamesroom: (7.2 x 8m)

A picture speaks a thousand words Homes

with Clodagh Doyle (info@wicklowvoice.ie)

With our hectic busy lifestyles, we have less time to spend reading and trailing through content in newspapers, magazines and indeed online. Research has proven that we love nothing more than to look at a picture and let it do the talking. Photographs have been around for as long as we can remember but now they offer us so much more than a trip down memory lane. You do not have to be a Facebook or Instagram user to appreciate how you are drawn to photographs. As we are time poor our curiosity can be satisfied by simply looking at a photograph. Businesses strive to capture their prospective customer’s attention for their products or services with the clever use of images, advertising a property for sell or let is no different. The first impression any prospective buyers or tenants will have of your property will be from the on-line marketing

photographs or perhaps the photographs in your Agent’s brochure. It is of the upmost importance that your photographs look there absolute best, standing out from the competition and highlighting your properties best features. These photographs need to provoke enough interest to a wide audience of potential buyers or tenants so that they are persuaded to investigate further. Only too often properties are placed for sale or let with a limited number of photographs or poor quality ones - and this will put off potential viewers. Even the best photographer will not be able to disguise a poorly presented property especially if it is cluttered, has undefined spaces, lacks natural light or has a tired and dated colour scheme. It is only when you ensure your property is immaculately presented throughout that a good range of high quality photographs can be used. Staging your property for marketing photographs can be a very worthwhile process. Staging has been around for many decades and worldwide research has proven that the right kind of preparation helps sell or let a property in the fastest possible time for the most amount of money. So what is staging? Staging is about using simple technique that will make the most of your property so that it

appeals to the greatest number of buyers or tenants. It is about helping viewers to easily visualise how they can use the space to suit their needs and work to ensure they are given little or no reason to find fault with the property. Your property should look comfortable, warm, fresh and inviting – it’s all about striking the right balance. With the Wicklow property market heating up, if you are considering selling or letting this Spring or Summer – you had better get moving. Preparing your property in plenty of time will help ensure your marketing photographs speak a thousand words and more! Our hot house is the perfect example of an exemplary presented property with picture perfect photographs.

Thinking of selling or letting your property or perhaps making some improvements to your home? Our one-stop range of affordable services will save you time, stress, energy and money! Get in touch on 086 815953, 01 25480701 or e-mail us at info@placelift.ie or visit www. placelift.ie

Sport| 23

February 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

insideback

with Brian Quigley

The end of an era as Devlin departs Soccer The 2014 League of Ireland season kicks off on Sunday March 2 with the inaugural President’s Cup match between last season’s Airtricity League Premier Division champions (St Patricks Athletic) and FAI Ford Cup winners (Sligo Rovers). Bray Wanderers start their league campaign on March 7 away to Limerick in Thomond Park, with their home league debut a week later on March 14 against Sligo Rovers at the Carlisle Grounds. Before that Alan Mathews’ men take on Longford Town in a home pre-season friendly on February 4 and are away to Bohemians on February 15 in the next round of the Leinster Senior Cup. The big story of the off-season has been Alan Mathews and Barry O’Connor coming in as Bray’s new management team following the news that Pat Devlin wouldn’t be at the Carlisle for 2014. This really does represent the end of an era as Pat has been a great servant to the club over the years and has brought huge success to the county. The FAI Cup wins in 1990 and 1999, all the promotions, high-profile friendlies, European football. Heady days indeed. Alan and Barry, both former Wanderers players under Pat, have plenty of managerial experience though (Alan won the FAI Cup twice himself as manager of Longford Town) and we wish them every success and will be right behind them. It would seem that a disagreement over the club’s new business model was behind Pat’s and the club parting company – whilst unfortunate that this happened all have had to move on and the focus now is on getting behind the team for the coming season. Financing a football club is no easy task and in the current economic climate that task has become harder and harder. The ideal situation would be for the fans of a club like Bray Wanderers to be large enough in number and financial resource to become the owners and run the club. Look at Shamrock Rovers (owned by a couple of thousand fans) and on a bigger scale Barcelona (owned by a couple of hundred thousand fans) – you can’t argue with the way these clubs are being run or their perennial success. Other clubs like AFC Wimbledon, FC United of Manchester and Portsmouth also spring to mind as examples of this way of running a football club. I’m really looking forward

Brothers Jack (5), Rían (6) and Aaron O’Rourke (11) going for swimming lessons at Shoreline, Greystones. It is recommended that children and teenagers get 60 minutes of physical exercise a day. Shoreline Leisure offers various ranges of activities for children and teens such as swimming lessons, activity camps, astro and football pitches, a running track and skate park. Shoreline Leisure also offer a teen gym class every Thursday at 4.30-5.30pm, Shoreline Bray and Friday at 5-6pm Shoreline Greystones. to the new season and think that we have an excellent chance of extending our unbroken 10year membership of the Premier Division by a few more years. The Wicklow Voice have been keeping tabs on Wanderers’ Under 19’s through the winter and they continued their climb up the table in the Elite Division of the Under 19 League of Ireland in January with a superb 2-1 win at home to Sligo Rovers U19 on January 11 and a hardfought 0-0 draw at the same venue a week later against Salthill Devon U19. Rugby. Greystones RFC brought their fine form from 2013 into 2014 with a superb 7-0 win away to Navan RFC on January 11 that keeps them in 2nd place in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland Rugby League Division 2B. Paul Lennon’s men, who have Reggie Corrigan as head coach, are playing some exciting rugby at present in their quest for promotion and are well worth a trip to Dr Hickey Park to watch. Spring is always a great rugby time of the year, with the Six Nations starting up. The Beauchamps Leinster Schools Junior and Senior Cups are also in full swing. St Gerards and Presentation College Bray from the county are both due into action early in February in the Junior Cup, whilst in the second tier of the Senior Cup (the Vinnie Murray Cup) Presentation College Bray and East Glendalough both exited the competition in January. St Gerards were still flying the flag for the county in this competition though having fought through to the semi-final at the time of writing against CBS Wexford. One more

victory will see them qualify for the Senior Cup proper. Cricket At around the same time as the Australian Open tennis was making the headlines for the heat wave it was being played in, Ireland’s ladies cricket team were in action in the heat of Qatar as part of a tri-nation Twenty20 tournament involving Ireland, Pakistan and South Africa. They beat the mighty Pakistan on January 19 which was a monumental result given the status of Pakistan in cricket. Bray twins Isobel and Cecelia Joyce played key roles for Ireland in the victory. Cecelia was 30 not out and Isobel hit 28, the sisters putting up a 44-run partnership. Isobel Joyce was voted player of the match. Cecelia unfortunately injured her hand in the following day’s match . We wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she is fit to play in the Women’s 2014 World Twenty20 Championships in Bangladesh in March / April. The Joyce twins’ brother Ed meanwhile has been included in the Ireland men’s cricket squad that will tour the West Indies this spring ahead of the Men’s 2014 World Twenty20 Championships, also being held in Bangladesh in March / April. Athletics. A large number of runners from the county will be heading to Cork on March 9 for the Ballycotton 10-mile road race (more than 20 athletes from Bray Runners alone will be making the trip). We wish them the best of luck in this most prestigious of road races. Congratulations to Richard Owens who was named Senior

Athlete of the Year for 2013 at the recent Athletics Wicklow Star Awards. Richard had a very successful season culminating in a magnificent performance in the Wicklow Senior Cross Country Championship in December.

Kilcoole Muay Thai will stage The Uprising in the Parkview Hotel, Newtown On March 15. Promoters and professional fighters Ivan Clinch (above) and Darren McFall (Irish K1 Champion) have an action packed night of Thai boxing from local clubs with 15 fights lined up plus one professional fight. Tickets are €20 with a full bar and local DJs on the night. Doors open at 6pm with first fight at 7pm. Contact 0857060003 or 0858348498.

Guaranteed!

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wicklowvoice.ie February 2014