Wicklow Voice April 2 2015 by Graham O'Neill

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04| NEWS

Summerfest future set for crunch talks

Cathoirleach of Bray Municipal District hopes to meet with the Bray Summerfest Committee in the coming days. Speaking to the Wicklow Voice, Cllr John Brady confirmed that he had received correspondance from Chairman of the Committee, Mick Glynn. Cllr Brady said that he will be responding and hopes to arrange a meeting with the Summerfest Committee to discuss the situation surrounding the festival with the aim of resolving the current impasse. Last week, councillors of Bray Municipal District voted to reduce the days that the seafront funfair will run during Bray Summerfest from 24 days to 15. These changes will not come into effect until 2016 but organisers of the Summerfest have said that there will be wide-ranging ramifications for the festival. CLARIFICATION: In our article ‘Air Display faces axe’ which appeared in our March 26 edition, we incorrectly stated that the Bray Summerfest was being reduced from 28 days instead of 24 days to 15 days. Mick Glynn: Page 11

wicklowvoice.ie April 2 2015

Local woman loses 13 stone

Carol Ann Curley from Roundwood before and after her dramatic weight loss By Michelle McGlynn A local woman has lost 13 stone in just over one year. Carol Ann Curley from Roundwood feared she would not see her two grandchildren grow up unless she did something immediately. A visit to her GP revealed that she had diabetes, extremely high blood pressure and her kidneys were failing. The upsetting news left 48-year-old Carol Ann reeling and she decided to contact Jean Kelly at Unislim Bray.

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“I was rattling as I stood on the scales,” recalled Carol Ann of her first meeting. “I was afraid they wouldn’t be able to weigh me because I was too heavy.” Carol Ann lost 12lbs in her first week and has now gone from a size 36 in April 2013 to a size 10-12. Now a finalist in the Unislim Slimmer of the Year competition, Carol Ann is feeling positive about the future. At her heaviest, the motherof-four feared that she would die in her sleep as a result of

her weight. “I would go to bed at night and not know if I would see my kids in the morning. That is the truth.” This fear plagued her especially because she had lost her own mother at aged 46 to a heart attack due to high colesterol. Her eldest son, Gavin (28) got married in April 2013 and since her dramatic weight loss Carol Ann along with her Unislim leader Jean can fit into the top she wore to the ceremony.

news in brief THURSDAY 2ND — SOUL, FUNK, DISCO COVERS

UPBEAT GENERATION FRIDAY 3 — CLOSED GOOD FRIDAY (CLOSED) SATURDAY 4 — POST-WESTERN ROCK MONGREL STATE SUNDAY 5 — HOUSE BAND (EASTER SUNDAY) TOASTED SPECIAL MONDAY 6 — VARIED EMERGING TALENT (BANK HOLIDAY) THE SONG ROOM PRESENTS RD

Heartsavers Enniskerry CFR recently held a quiz night in the Powerscourt Arms and with the help of sponsorship from local businesses and people they raised €4,000. Each member of the winning team received a one night stay for two in the Powerscourt Hotel and Spa. The wonderful evening, hosted by question master William Micklem, will enable the group to purchase two defibrillators, heated cabinets and metal cabinets to protect them.

Care centre Wicklow Primary Care Centre in Wicklow Town is expected to be fully operational in the coming weeks. The Centre currently has two GP practices, HSE staff are moving in and it includes accommodation for mental health services.

Damien Dempsey Popular Damien Dempsey will be playing two solo shows in the Mermaid Arts Centre on April 3 and 4. Tickets are €27 or €25 concession.

Murderer Dwyer now linked to missing mum Esra By Michelle McGlynn Gardai are set to re-examine the case of missing mother Esra Uryun whose car was found in Bray in light of Graham Dwyer’s recent murder conviction. Following the unanimous guilty verdict which will see Graham Dwyer serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of Elaine O’Hara, Gardai are seeking to reinvestigate a number of cases. Esra left her home in Clondalkin to go to the shops on February 23, 2011 but failed to return. Her car was located late that night parked at Bray seafront, the keys had been discarded and were located six months later in a Dublin chip shop. Esra’s sister Berna Fidan contacted Gardai to highlight similarities between her sister’s case and that of Elaine O’Hara. Garda sources have expressed caution in linking Dwyer to this case and others. “There’s a lot of speculation at the moment, but as it stands there is nothing specific to connect Dwyer with these cases being mentioned,” the source said. “Having said that, while he is not a suspect, he is a person of interest in some of the cases and

detectives will do a timeline on them to see where Dwyer was at the time they disappeared.” Berna has previously criticised the handling of her sister’s case by the Gardai and has compared it to Elaine’s. Esra’s case had been treated as a suicide much like Elaine’s had been when she initially disappeared. But Berna is adamant that Esra did not take her own life, pointing to the fact that there is no evidence to place her in the Bray area and that no body has ever been recovered. CCTV placed Esra’s vehicle in Bray at 8.40am - an hour and 25 minutes after she left her Clondalkin home. The car entered the car park at the seafront and exits immediately only to return and park in the only blindspot. The last signal picked up from Esra’s phone was picked up by a mast in Greystones at 10pm that night. The phone was never recovered. Gardai, divers, a mountain rescue team and volunteers took part in searches of the area the following day but nothing was recovered. Berna believes that the car was abandoned in an attempt to mislead Gardai.

FitzPatrick trial date set By Michelle McGlynn

Former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick is due to go on trial for the second time on April 13. The Greystones banker is facing 12 counts of failing to disclose the value of loans from Irish Nationwide. He was charged in the District Court with failing to disclose the true value of loans worth at

least €139m given to him, or people connected to him by Irish Nationwide Building Society from 2002 and 2007 while he was an officer of Anglo Irish Bank. Judge Mary Ellen Ring has scheduled the case for April 13 in the hope that any remaining issues in the preparation for the case can be resolved over the Easter break. The trial is expected to last for eight weeks.

NEWS |05

April 2 2015 wicklowvoice.ie

wicklow people in pictures

Claire Neenan, Louise Gaule, Emma Gaule and Ciara Morgan are all smiles in Mount Usher Gardens

Ava Doyle (8) and Gretta from Avoca in Wicklow Town

Marie Fernandez from Arklow, who took part in the South East Solo Competition. The event took place in Arklow and was hosted by the Arklow Pipeband (pic Yvette O Beirne)

The Bray committee for Darkness into Light 2015 at the launch of the event which takes place on May 9 at 4.30am and starts on Bray Seafront. Check out www.bray.ie for further details

Ronan McCabe and Tadhg (2) out and about in Greystones

Rachel Doran, Kate Arthur, Arthur Doran in Wicklow Town

The Easter Holidays have got Amber Bridgeman from Arklow all excited. (pic Yvette O Beirne)

06| NEWS news in brief RNLI fundraiser There will be a nautical themed car boot sale held on April 12 in the Beach House car park, Greystones from 11am to 4pm. Nautical items only. Cars are €10, vans €15, commercial vehicle €25 and commercial stand €75. Entry fee goes to Wicklow RNLI lifeboats.

SSAFA sale The SSAFA are holding a charity sale at Killruddery House, Bray on April 16 from 10.30am until 1pm with kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Meath and Lord and Lady Ardee. Entrance is €2.50 per adult while children and parking are free. There will be tea/coffee in the Grainstore for €2.

Public meeting There will be a public information evening for community, voluntary and charitable organisations in Wicklow on the new Charities Regulator. Minister of State Simon Harris TD will host the event on April 9 at 8pm in the Glenview Hotel, Delgany.

wicklowvoice.ie April 2 2015

I’m all right Jack!

Student named as finalist for top gardening award Jack Ellis from Wicklow has been named as a finalist in the 2015 Kilsaran Student Garden Competition. The presentation took place at Kilsaran’s headquarters in Dunboyne, Co Meath this week with the official award presented by renowned garden designer Diarmuid Gavin (pictured above with

Jack). The brief was to design a garden to fit a 60 - 90 square metre space in the existing Kilsaran Home Display Gardens. The judges were looking for a design that was original, practical and buildable using the company’s hard paving and walling products within a budget of €20,000.

Jack, from Newtownmountkennedy, rose to the challenge and created a stunning design that impressed the judging panel. A second-year student at Bray Institute of Further Education studying Horticulture and Garden Design, Jack was awarded an iPad and Kilsaran products

to help kick-start his design career. The overall winner of the competition was Pat O’Mahoney from Leap in Cork. Speaking about being a finalist Jack said, “I’m delighted to have made it to the final and be a runner-up. Over 100 people entered the competition so to get this kind of recognition is fantastic! “

Speaking at the awards ceremony Diarmuid Gavin said, “Jack integrated Kilsaran’s hard-landscaping products with beautiful flora and soft planting creating a stunning space.” To view the garden designs visit www.kilsaran.ie or on Facebook / twitter @ Kilsaran.

Miami nice: bridge set to be named after Fran O’Toole By Michelle McGlynn

Councillors of Bray Municipal District have voted in favour of naming Bray bridge after Miami Showband frontman, Fran O’Toole. The decision has been made to have a memorial to the late Bray musician ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Miami Showband massacre. On July 31, 1975 Fran and his bandmates were at the height of their fame and were playing a gig in Banbridge, Co. Down. After they performed, Fran and four of his bandmates packed up their van and headed home to Dublin. They were stopped near Newry, Armagh by a fake army patrol and three members, including Fran, were shot dead. Stephen Travers and Des McAlea were seriously injured in the attack but managed to survive. Plans to commemorate the

anniversary of the massacre with a memorial were first proposed to the councillors in early February by Peter Carroll, a family friend of the O’Toole’s. Initially Mr Carroll had hoped to rename Albert Avenue after O’Toole as this was where the family home was located. Despite no objections from residents or businesses of Albert Avenue, Cllr Steven Matthews said that the road is significant to Bray’s history. With the Albert Avenue proposal defeated, it was then agreed that the Bray bridge would be an ideal choice as

it currently has no name and would be more significant. No arrangements are to be finalised until the family have been consulted. A plaque in memory of the late performer will be installed at the former family home. Councillors highlighted the importance of making progress as the anniversary approaches. “This famous son of Bray should be commemorated,” said Cllr Matthews. The Miami Showband, nicknamed the Irish Beatles such was their popularity, often played in the Arcadia Ballroom in Bray. “People right across Ireland were shocked at the murder of Fran O’Toole and his colleagues, Brian McCoy and Tony Geraghty,” said the Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Bray, Cllr John Brady. Fran’s father, Michael, was a member of Bray Town Council in the 1960s.

NEWS |07

April 2 2015 wicklowvoice.ie

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08| NEWS/SPRING CLEAN SPECIAL

€269,500 That’s the average price of houses in the county The average price of a house in Wicklow now stands at €269,500 making it the second most expensive county after Dublin. Wicklow is just €2,000 behind Dublin where the average price is €271,500 - although prices in the county remain 40% behind their peak in 2007. House prices nationwide are continuing to rise but the rate of increase has moderated, according to the latest quarterly house price survey from MyHome.ie. The MyHome.ie survey looks at asking prices and it found that that measure rose by 2.2% in the first three months of the year - in Wicklow prices rose 2% Asking prices rose by 5.7% year-on-year, while in Dublin asking prices were up 2.5% and 12.7% respectively. The latest data also shows a significant increase in the level of transactions in the first two months of the year.

MyHome.ie’s Angela Keegan said the property price register shows there were 6,650 property sales so far in 2015, up 44% on the same time in 2014. Mortgage approvals of €357m in January are also 66% higher than the same month last year. “While these figures are encouraging, transactions still only account for 2% of housing stock per annum, or once every 50 years for the average property. In a normal functioning property market the figure would be around 4%,” she explains. Davy economist Conall MacCoille said the moderation in house price inflation was a positive development and did not mark a period of sustained declines. New Central Bank lending rules is also affecting the housing market, while the end of capital gains tax exemptions may have driven up demand in the middle of the year, which

lead to price falls towards the end of 2014. Meanwhile, the average rent for all dwellings let in County Wicklow in Q4 2014, and which were registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), was €877. That was up €50 when compared to the prevailing average rent in Q4 2013, when the amount was €821. This data comes from the PRTB’s Quarterly Rent Index which is compiled by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) for the Board. In 2014, rents in the private rented sector for the whole country rose by 5.8%, with rent for houses up 4.8% and apartment rents up 6.4%, as compared with Q4, 2013. This annual rate of change reflected different performances by location and by property type. Thinking of selling? Page 21

wicklowvoice.ie April 2 2015

all go for ti d

By Michelle McGlynn

Spring has finally sprung and that means it’s time for the annual SuperValu Tidy Towns competition. The competition was launched on March 26 and the closing date will be May 22 and organisations in Bray, Greystones, Kilcoole, Wicklow Town and Arklow are busy sprucing up for Spring. Wicklow has a great history with the national competition Aughrim won the competition in 2007. In 2014, Aughrim continued their success with a Gold Medal and the County Award

for Wicklow. Meanwhile, Arklow were commended for their efforts in the county and received a Bronze Medal as did Wicklow Town. Eager to continue on the path they have set, Arklow have begun Tidy Tuesdays for this year. If you are interested in joining them in their efforts they meet each Tuesday at the Courthouse, Main Street. You are advised to bring gloves and tools and the clean up runs from 7pm until 8.30pm. “We are lucky in Arklow that we have had a great response

from the community and we have been ranking higher with each year,” Chairman of Arklow Tidy Towns, Tommy Annesley told the Wicklow Voice. He commended the work done by the CE scheme and Gateway Project, the schools, the residential groups and all of the volunteers involved. “It is wonderful to see the difference Tidy Towns has made to Arklow and important to show the children that we take pride in our town,” Mr Annesley added. Wicklow Town have also begun their litter picking in the area and took part in the

April 2 2015 wicklowvoice.ie

dy towns! St Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day parade in the hopes of encouraging others to join them, if only for a couple of hours a month. The group received a much appreciated donation of young Christmas trees which have been planted at Whitegates, Leitrim Place and Barrow Green. Wicklow Tidy Towns will look after the trees and ensure that they will be enjoyed by future generations. They also obtained a tree grant from Wicklow County Council enabling them to plant more trees along the river walk. They will be working at St.

Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road car park in the coming weeks where they will clear the area at the back wall and plant shrubs and plants. Tidy Towns is in its 24th year and it continues to play a vital role in communities across the country. It encourages local areas to come together and work towards the common goal of making your hometown the best it can be. Working together as a group really cements community spirit, especially as people can look around and see the difference their hard work has made.

SPRING CLEAN SPECIAL |09

10 | OPINION

opinion&comment

Thank you and goodbye

As he retires following a career spanning over 43 years in the local authority service, Chief Executive Eddie Sheehy takes a look back at 14 years at the helm of Wicklow County Council

icklow is a fabulous county, the most scenic in Ireland, with its mountains, lakes, rivers and coastline. It has all the benefits of being close to Dublin, yet you have the most amazing natural amenities and facilities on your doorstep. With its great recreational facilities and easy access to an array of educational facilities including third level, it is a great place to bring up a family. It has been my privilege to work with the elected members, management and staff of Wicklow County Council to deliver a wide range of projects and services which will benefit the people of Wicklow, for generations to come. I am proud to have been associated with the delivery of major infrastructural projects such as the completion of the N11/ Euroroute 01 to dual carriageway/motorway standard. Not only does this project serve to enhance our road network and reduce commuting time, it also yields a considerable dividend in terms of road safety. The Wicklow Town Port Access Road and Charlesland/Farankelly Road Schemes have opened up Wicklow and Greystones for future development. Other infrastructural projects delivered include water and wastewater treatment projects, significant progress on the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme, the provision of quality social housing, fire stations, libraries and a new Civil Defence Headquarters. Highlights of my time in Wicklow include: Our success in the LivCom awards: I believe that projects such as the development of world class recreation facilities including Greystones Marina, the 20 acre recreational facilities at Charlesland running, track, skatepark and the Shoreline Leisure Complex , together with the remarkable work carried out by local community groups and organisations in partnership with the Council, resulted in Wicklow achieving first place in the LivCom Awards as the most liveable community in the world with a population of less than 150,000, in the face of fierce competition from communities in the USA, Asia and Europe. The purchase of Clermont College (Wicklow County Campus) and the partnership with IT Carlow which has permitted 350 Wicklow students to pursue their third level learning ambitions within the County. The campus has huge potential, I believe that it will play a key role in the social and economic development of the county.

The establishment the County Wicklow Economic Think Tank,- initiated by Councillor John Ryan. The Think Tank has had considerable support from the business community of County Wicklow, the Local Enterprise Office, and elected members who gave generously of their valuable time to identify projects and initiatives which will result in sustainable employment opportunities in the county. We had very positive engagement from the local community in response to the “What is the Big Idea?” campaign. All of the ideas and proposals were fed back into the Action Plan which was adopted by the members of Wicklow County Council in January of this year. The “Big Idea” is the rebranding of County Wicklow with the following supporting strategies; to send out the clear message that Wicklow is open for Business, to be alert to opportunities on the horizon while sustaining and developing traditional sectors, to maximise and capitalise on our status as the Garden County and the “Hollywood of Ireland” and to maximise economic return for the retail sector. We are now at the implementation phase of this project and I am confident that as it is rolled out, Wicklow will be in an excellent position to seize the opportunities presented by the upturn in the economy for the benefit of all of its citizens. Thankfully we are now over the worst of the recession and I believe that we can begin to look forward to the future with some degree of optimism. As I prepare to leave office, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support of the elected members, and staff of Wicklow County Council and indeed from the general public, I am confident that this county has a bright future and I leave it in safe hands.

A native of County Carlow, Eddie Sheehy has worked for Dun Laoghaire Corporation, Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, Roscommon County Council and Wicklow County Council in a career that has spanned 43 years. Eddie was appointed Roscommon County Manager in 1994 and has been Wicklow County Manager and Chief Executive since 2001. He was Chairman of Wicklow County Enterprise Board for 14 years and a director of Wicklow Enterprise Centre Ltd; Arklow Enterprise Centre; Wicklow Tourism Ltd and Wicklow Gaol Ltd. At national level, he has served as Chairman of the County and City Managers’ Association; the Local Management Government Agency and the Local Government Computer Services Board.

“I

The so-called experts have been having a rethink about all sorts of stuff they used to call unhealthy

have you got something to say? if you would like to write on this page, then contact us e: info@ wicklowvoice.ie w: www. wicklowvoice.ie

with Eddie Sheehy with Michael Wolsey

Keeping your head down and your vote up once attended a meeting with Brian Lenihan Senior and Tim Pat Coogan, who was then my editor at The Irish Press. If memory serves me well, Fianna Fail were in opposition at the time and the informal get together was a briefing on the policies Lenihan hoped would see them back to office. The discussion moved from the economy to exports and food exports in particular. Coogan, who was a passionate advocate for the fishing industry, wanted to know why, as an island nation, we didn’t put more resources into catching fish and less into rearing cattle. Lenihan, a politician from the tips of his toes to the uppermost strand of his wavy hair, gave the editor the sort of look that is usually reserved for deluded children in need of a mild rebuke. “But Tim,” he asked gently, “how many votes are in fish?” And there, in six words, you have the ruling mantra of Irish politics. Every vote counts and nothing counts more than a vote. TDs will talk about principles and ethics, their desire to serve the country and to make a difference. Mostly they mean it - for, by and large, they are not the pantomime villains we in the media sometimes make them out to be. But, principles or not, they all follow the first law of survival in Dáil Eireann: When the chips are down, save your own seat. That is probably the rule in every parliamentary democracy but it’s particularly true in Ireland because of our system of proportional representation and multiseat constituencies. The vote you lose could be a fourth or fifth preference and the candidate it elects could be a usurper from your own party. At fourth preference level, the reason for the switch of loyalty may be little more than a whim - you expressed support for the wrong football team or called for the price of cigarettes to go up when the voter in question had already mortgaged the house to support his habit. So our politicians develop they extraordinary skill of saying almost nothing in a great many words. Speak to them privately and you may find them to be committed and caring people. But from their public utterances you will find out nothing at all. There are exceptions. John McGuinness comes to mind and Leo Varadkar; Alan Kelly perhaps. There are a few others but they do not include the young Turks of the left, such as Paul Murphy and Ruth Coppinger. They appear outspoken but they know their audience. Calls for more spending or higher cor-

poration tax won’t cost them any votes. But when did you last hear one of them declare, without qualification, that the drop in unemployment is a good thing or that the Government deserves a bit of credit for the steering the country through some very choppy waters? Because so few politicians are prepared to offend even a handful of voters, I am not surprised to hear that some TDs and senators will not be canvassing in the marriage equality referendum, even through their parties support the measure, as they may well do themselves. The polls say a substantial majority favours a Yes vote but many do not and a politician in a tight constituency will not risk rousing wrath on the doorsteps when a cute party colleague is sitting at home, saying nothing and annoying no-one. To keep your vote up you keep your head down. That’s how it goes. And, contrary to reports, that sort of behaviour does not apply only to rural constituencies. I hope the politicians who do take a stand - even those who, unlike me, are opposed to same sex marriage - will get some credit for honesty, from those who agree with them at least. But I suspect that this is an issue more likely to cost votes than win them. The moral cowardice of so many elected representatives is why I am doubtful about an idea now gaining traction: that our political system could function without the party whips. It sounds great in theory but I cannot think of one even mildly controversial piece of legislation that would have got through an unwhipped Oireachtas. And that’s why I also worry about large numbers of independents being elected to the next Dáil and why I am sceptical about the idea they might be shaped into a voting block that could play some role in government. Successful independents are even more in thrall to their voters than the party hacks, for they have neither whips nor leaders to blame for their actions. At least a party has to think in national terms whereas an independent rarely looks beyond his own backyard unless he is looking at very similar backyard next door. Some voters will like the idea of TDs doing exactly what their constituents tell them. But if you find that appealing, just remember the six-word mantra that governs Irish politics: “How many votes are in fish?” Michael Wolsey is a former deputy editor of the Irish Independent, and sat on the judging panel for the National Newspaper of Ireland Journalism Awards.

OPINION| 11

April 2 2015 wicklowvoice.ie

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Nobody on Summerfest gets paid

he ‘Bray Seaside Festival’ started 33 years ago by the late Fr Tony Dean alongside a strong local voluntary committee and their goal was to provide a summer festival for the community that could not go overseas on holiday. The festival worked off the same format as those around the country and was funded by Guinness Group Sales (now Diageo). The volunteers that organised the festival did an amazing job year on year but finally by 2005 for numerous reasons Guinness Group Sales decided not to sponsor these types of festivals any more. The committee at the time decided they could no longer deliver a festival on reduced funding and wound up the organisation. In the same year some of the original members of the old

Mick Glynn committee along with new members took over the organisation and rebranded it to ‘Bray Summerfest’. Their goal was similar but felt that they should have a tourism focus by attracting people into the town over the summer months. The early days were really difficult and it was decided to follow the same format of the other larger festivals around the country. A funfair and a market on the promenade were to make the festival financially stable and

fund core activities. The Rose of Tralee and Puck Fair in Killorglin amongst others around Ireland still use this format of funding today. Bray Summerfest is now recognised as one of the most successful community festivals in the country running over four weekends providing an Air Display, Food Festival and up to 60 free events to over 200,000 people. This is not about me, or the thousands of people that attend the festival, or the population of our town, it is about the voluntary committee that as a group organise the festival year-onyear. These amazing individuals give up their time and summer holidays to organise one of the biggest festivals in Ireland to promote the town and give something back to the community. People volunteer for many reasons - to raise money for charity, teach kids to play sport,

save lives and I know it maybe odd but in this case run a community festival for Bray. Anyone can join the committee as long as they are enthusiastic have small amount of experience and are willing to give up your time for frees. Let me be clear, nobody on the festival committee gets paid or receives expenses, and any work done professionally is done for free all you can expect to receive is a T-Shirt and a meal on the festival day. Any accusations of inferences to the contrary are unfair and damaging to the people involved. The festival is run by 12 amazing people that are from all walks of life and live locally. Their day jobs vary from the self employed, senior management consultants, public servants, new working mums, a mental health nurse and we even have an Aussie adopted by Bray. The work rate, enthusiasm,

and attention to detail of the group is inspiring. Every deadline is met with the standard of professionalism you would expect to see at any festival around the world. This is all done out of pride and a sense of responsibility to the community they live in. In most other towns in Ireland including Greystones or Dun Laoghaire these people would be put on top of a hill and praised – but not in Bray. The success has meant that the committees experiences and skill sets has helped other events such as the St Patricks Festival, Darkness in to Light, Christmas in Bray, the switch on of the Christmas lights and not to mention the entire committee taking on and organising the Olympic programme with the Katie Taylor home coming. Over the past years the unbearable pressure on the committee from all angles and has increased dramatically. Their professional, personal

and family lives have suffered. The work load of increased numbers attending the festival has meant committee members have even had to take holidays from their day jobs to cope. Businesses complaining they are not making enough profits, residents demanding a quieter life, local councillors wanting transparency as they use it as a political football have made the job on providing a festival a near impossibility. Moral has hit an all time low and you would have to question is there any value in what they do at all. As a community we need to make a decision once and for all do we want a Summerfest and Funfair or not? If not, it’s fine we can all get our summer holidays back. Mick Glynn is a native of Bray. He is Chairman of Bray Summerfest and Vice President of Bray Chamber of Commerce

‘Contact me if you worked in old factories’

How’s life? Fantastic! I’ve never been busier with projects that I love. However, more importantly I’m blessed with a great family.

and train other Tour Guides for Failte Ireland. I love being involved in lots of activities… it keeps the old brain in shape.

Tell us about your project on Bray’s Factories I’m gathering as much information as I can about the factories and the people of Bray who worked in them. I’m collecting interviews, photos and memorabilia relating to the 20 or so factories that were in Bray’s past

What are your future plans? I’d love to gather all the material from the Bray Factories project and put them into a book that would tell the story in a different way to the exhibition. I’d also love to make a recording of the folklore stories of Crofton Croker who gathered lots of folk tales in the early 19th century. These stories are fantastic and would make great listening. What do you do in your spare time? What spare time!!!

Why did start this project? I’ve always been interested in local history but I’ve become increasingly aware that almost everything done on Bray’s past has been about the coming of the railway and the development of the town as a seaside resort. This was and is a major part of Bray’s past but there is another story, the Story of Bray’s Factories. For generations people lived and worked in the town. For example, at one time Solus employed over 800 people. The town was more prosperous then as the money stayed and circulated. I want to tell their stories so that future generations will know that important part of the town’s

focus on faces Philip Byrne, Storyteller

history. It is a sad reality but the longer this project is NOT done the fewer older workers there will be to interview so ‘now’ is always a good time to start. How are you going to actually tell their stories? I have been given the use of the gallery at the Mermaid Arts Centre for a week in November and I’m putting on an exhibition called ‘Industrial Yarns’ (I couldn’t resist the use of the word ‘Yarns’ in two ways – the factory and the story!). This will have recordings from the interviews I’m doing with as many people who

Some of the staff from Haughtons factory worked in ANY of the factories. In addition I’m being very lucky in being loaned lots of photos and hopefully memorabilia that people have. The County Library Service have agreed to archive the recordings so that there will be a permanent record available to people in the future.

What would help you in this project? I want as many people as possible to contact me if they have any information or if they worked in any of the old factories. I can be contacted on 087 2627806 or brayfactories@ gmail.com.

There is also a Facebook page ‘The Stories of Bray’s Factories’ What else are you involved in? Well storytelling has become a very important part of what I do. I also act as a Tour Guide

Biography Philip has been telling stories and training Irish Tour guides in all aspects of our heritage for many years. He has a great love and respect for the folklore of not only his native Co. Wicklow but of all Ireland. His stories are an eclectic mix of old and new, traditional and modern. He is a member of ‘Storytellers of Ireland’.

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12 | WHAT’S HOT

Photo by J C Ivory

WILDLIFE

with Justin Ivory

The Lent lily With Lent drawing to an end and Easter just around the corner, it is the perfect time to celebrate the beautiful Lent Lily. But first, some poetry.... I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in neverending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed--and gazed--but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. William Wordsworth (1815) Mid-March to mid-April is certainly the peak time for daffodils. While it is mainly cultivated forms we are familiar with nowadays it was the Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) that Wordsworth immortalised. So what’s all this got to do with the Lent Lily? Well, the Wild Daffodil is also known as the Lent Lily. The old English name for spring came from Norse – ‘Lenct’, a term which was borrowed by the Christian churches and changed to ‘Lent’ representing the 40 days preceding Easter. Since this coincided with the peak flowering period of the Wild Daffodil, it became known as the Lenct or Lent Lily. Whatever you choose to call them, go out enjoy them now before they disappear for another year.

wicklowvoice.ie April 2 2015

Fitness tip of the week Discount Supplements D3 Network Business Park, Kilcoole, 01 2819284, www.discountsupplements.ie Discount Supplements are Ireland’s leading supplier supplier of bodybuilding supplements, fitness supplements, sports nutrition and weight loss supplements. They supply top brands at discount prices with next day delivery. They ensure that you receive the best products with the best customer service. They stock brands such as BSN, Maximuscle, Kinetica, Optimum Nutrition, Gaspari Nutrition and Universal Nutrition. If you have any queries or are in need of advice on any of their products, do not hesitate to contact them as their knowledgable staff are happy to help.

Theatre of the week Arsenic and Old Lace Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, April 14-18 Arsenic and Old Lace is a farcical, black comedy revolving around the Brewster family which is comprised of homicidal maniacs. The hero, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic debating whether or not to go through with his wedding to the woman he loves. His family includes two wily spinster aunts, a brother who believes he is President Teddy Roosevelt and a murderous brother who has had plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic surgeon. It’s so funny you may just die laughing. The hilarious play by Joseph Kesselring is presented by Square One Theatre Group and is directed by George Burke.

book of the week Happen By Hugh Maxton Hugh Maxton is the pseudonym of the academic and critic W.J. McCormack. The Aughrim-born writer recently launched his latest novel, Happen. Godwin Happen, intermittent narrator of his memoir-novel, has never come to terms with his father’s untimely death. At inhospitable Calvin College, he nurtures an elaborate fantasy about Happen Senior’s fall into a river. Cunning rather than intelligent, he dedicates his schooldays to cautious displays of rebellion. A visit to Northern Ireland opens new prospects - of independent thinking, underlying violence and the avant-garde art of an enchanting Penelope. The looming crisis bursts on Bloody Sunday when he is caught with other marchers in Derry’s Bogside. The mystery about Charlie Happen’s past is gradually cleared up, involving dark secrets of the 1920s and 1950s. Naturally, the love story ends unhappily, on two separate discordant notes.

TV SHOW of the week Game of Thrones

Sky Atlantic, Mondays, 9pm, April 13 You’ve been counting down for months and now the time is finally here: Game of Thrones season five has arrived. Those of you who have been fretting about spoilers can breathe a sigh of relief as HBO have decided to simulcast the fifth season. This year 170 countries around the world will be able to watch the show at the same

Easter fun of the week Greenan Maze Greenan, Rathdrum, March 28 - April 12, www.greenanmaze.com Greenan Maze have some great activities planned for the whole family this Easter break. Hop along to their Easter egg hunts, treasure hunts, wild nature trails. You can help to feed some of the animals or watch the baby chicks hatch. After that you can enjoy some arts and crafts, get your face painted and go on a fairy tree walk. While the kids are enjoying all of this, parents can take some time out at this tranquil countryside farm in the Wicklow hills. On Easter Sunday you might just find an extra special bunny hopping around from 2pm4pm. There will be egg hunts especially for toddlers at 3pm in the Solstice Maze. On Easter Monday face painting and arts and crafts at the tea rooms from 2pm-4pm. Following the Easter holidays, the maze will be open all weekends and bank holidays for April and May.

time. You might want to have a little nap on Sunday evening because you will need to stay up until 1am to see what the Lannisters and Daenerys Targaryen are getting up to. If the trailers are anything to go by then this season promises to have viewers glued to the screens. The previews have glimpsed the chaos to come and we are promised that “justice has a price”. Deep breaths now...

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WHAT’S HOT| 13

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MOVIE of the week The Duff Gaiety Cinema, Arklow The Duff is a fiesty teen comedy about a girl who changes her image to shake off the label given to her by her classmates. It’s basically She’s All That for a new generation. Biance (Mae Whitman) is a 17-year-old high school student with two beautiful friends. She is shocked when resident jock Wesley (Robbie Amell) informs her that she is a DUFF: designated ugly fat friend. Against her better nature, she enlists Wesley to help her change her image. In doing so, she hopes to attract the attention of her crush Toby (Nick Eversman) and find the confidence to stand up to school bully Madison (Bella Thorne). Based on a popular teen novel by Kody Keplinger, The Duff is a warm and smart comedy with a great cast.

HOROSCOPES with Siobhan Moore Whelan

Fundraiser of the week A Musical Fundraiser for Lakers The Royal Hotel, Bray, April 9, 8pm11pm MC Linda Watters will be presenting A Musical Fundraiser for Lakers. The night will be serious fun so don’t be the one to miss out. Kicking off at 8pm there are a host of musical talents performing. The Lakers Musicians will knock your socks off while Fran Greene will get your toes tapping and John Applehead will

introduce you to his unique brand of “alternative honey rock”. The will be a raffle and prizes on the night and admission is €10. Tickets are available from The Brady Centre, Seapoint Road. The money raised on the night will benefit Lakers who enable children and adults with an intellectual disability to develop their innate skills and self esteem in an environment that is inclusive and supportive.

Lucinda Sly Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, April 18

Virgo-17,20,33,35.41,43 Your sensitive system needs TLC, and practices that are restorative. Time out for you Virgo.

GIG of the week The Cujo Family The Harbour Bar, Strand Road, Bray, April 10 Silence please! It’s on, once again… Dinger! Bray natives The Cujo Family are returning to The Harbour Bar with their own brand of hard edged folk, or Hardfolk! This will be their first gig since they played the Harbour last and

Volunteers at the Greystones Kitty Hostel have been hard at work to humanely address the issue of feral cats in the area. They use a process known as Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). This involves trapping the cats humanely, taking them to the vet to be neutered, get a check up and treated for parasites and then being returned to where they were found. This gives them a better quality of life. Any kittens under 12 weeks are fostered, socialised and re-homed. The volunteers need support from the community to continue their work. They are holding a fundraising event on Easter Sunday, April 5. Walk a Mile Barefoot for the Kitty Hostel will leave Shoreline, Greystones at 12pm. All are welcome to take part, for sponsor cards and raffle tickets contact Louise at louisecardiff@gmail.com.

Gemini- 2,12,20,28,34,44 Stay alert to opportunities that feel portentous. Ask for discerning wisdom, between what’s a flash of genius, and a flash in the pan.

Leo-17,20,33,35.41,43 You yourself are a healing force, when you take time to enjoy yourself fully, laugh, and encourage others to shine.

Mend & Makedo Theatre Co bring to the stage the story of one of the most intriguing, brutal, beautiful and tragic love stories of the last two centuries. In March 1835 Lucinda Sly and John Dempsey were tried at Carlow Court for the murder of Lucinda’s husband, Walter. Lucinda and John were lovers. Lucinda and John were found guilty of the murder – despite evidence that she had regularly been beaten and brutalised by her husband. Ten thousand people thronged the streets of Carlow to see the public hanging and the executions were delayed by three hours to allow for the arrival of onlookers from as far away as Dublin and Kilkenny. The hanging was a botched affair and Lucinda took nine minutes to die. In this new play – Lucinda Sly – writer/director John MacKenna and a cast of eight explore the events that led to the hanging in a powerful, often funny, and ultimately tragic piece of theatre.

Greystones Kitty Hostel Greystones, Co Wicklow, 086 0506126

Taurus-1,2,6,16,22,23 Your confidence only grows, as you dig into reserves, and make the most of your talents.

Cancer-11,21,30,22,37,45 Take heart, in times of dissolution, when you’re feeling lost -- much is being cleared out and transformed. Fortune has turned in your favour.

Event of the week

Animal care idea of the week

Aries-7,10,13,19,21,29 This year’s divine struggle is less of a solo journey, as you form deep attachments for love, business partnerships and collaboration

anyone who was there will know it was a very special night. The energy was outrageous, and they’re still buzzing when they think back on trancing out with you headbangers. Big up! They’re rolling as a foursome, so get yer Ma, yer Da, all and Sundry down to rinse the kip. Peace, love, unity, and respect.

Libra-11,13,21,33,35,39 Look at your natural gifts and sense of mission, and match this with a demand in the market. Scorpio- 3,6,14,22,26,31 Your creative workings, and your presence is as theme of metamorphosis to others. You are a sought-out authority. Sagittarius-1,2,5,15,22,32 Journey’s this year have a mystical flavor, and awakening to hidden dimensions alters the past and future Capricorn-1,17,21,29,32,33 Nip self-destructive tendencies in the bud, and cultivating a compassionate attitude toward yourself and others. Aquarius- 8,9,18,22,37,36,42 Your gift for listening, paired with compassion, deepens your relationships. A time of balance. Pisces-4,12,16,28,29,38 Travel looks favorable, especially to sacred or mystical places, or your ancestral home lands.

Horoscopes with Siobhan Moore Whelan - Live Psychic & Medium ring 1580997207. Over 18’s with bill payers permission - entertainment purposes. Calls cost €2.44 per minute and may vary on other networks.

14 |NEWS/SPECIAL REPORT

wicklowvoice.ie April 2 2015

Tips for starting your own business

news in brief Treasure hunt Ardmore Rovers annual treasure hunt will take place at The Martello, Bray on April 3 from 1pm till 5pm. It is open to all ages and costs €3 per child, adults go free and this includes a complimentary hot chocolate and mini egg for each child. You will need to bring a smartphone or camera to take photos of some of the treasure. The money raised will go to support Ardmore Rovers.

DO you dream of being your own boss? Is your business idea bound for success? Now could be the time to realise those entrepreneur ambitions. America’s leading business magazine, Forbes, recently highlighted that Ireland was the best country in the world to do business, while previously the World Bank said it was the seventh easiest place to start an enterprise. If you have a new business idea, there is a growing help network for you out there. You may qualify for funding and supports

Kiru Kierru Three-piece band Kiru Kierru will be performing at the Hot Spot Music Club, Greystones on April 6 at 3pm. Tickets are €3 per child and €5 for adults. The band sing in English, Swahili, Spanish and French and dance together with the audience.

Greystones Marina Greystones Marina have recently installed 50 new berths. This provides extra space for visitors and tourists. Cllr Derek Mitchell has welcomed this and hopes that it will benefit tourism in the town.

Bray Soroptimists Bray Soroptimists spend each year fundraising for local Bray charities and recently held their annual cheque presentation. This year’s fundraising was to benefit Purple House Cancer Support Centre, Open Door day centre, Marino Community Special School, the Malawi Girls’ Educational Trust. They also supported transition year students’ Habitat for Humanity project in Romania.

All shook up Bray Musical Society will be performing All Shook Up in the Mermaid Arts Centre from April 22-26. All Shook Up is a musical based on Elvis Presley’s life. To book tickets, call 01 2724030. The musical society is sponsored by Bray Credit Union and Anne Ferris TD.

Bray Cliff Run The Bray 10k Cliff Run will take place on April 4 at 6pm. Competitors will run along the cliff path at Bray Head, beginning at Greystones beach and ending on Bray promenade. There will be an after-party in The Martello, Bray.

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from Enterprise Ireland or from your Local Enterprise Office:

Enterprise Ireland Enterprise Ireland (EI) works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales on global markets. The development of start-up businesses is a central part of their development strategy and EI is currently focusing on graduate and women entrepreneurs. Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Wicklow County Campus, Clermont House, Rathnew (0404) 30800 Local Enterprise Office provides advice, information and support to you in starting up or growing your business. With 31 dedicated teams across the Local Authority network in Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices offer a first-stop shop for entrepreneurs. Supports available include: Start-your-own-business training courses. Market research information. Business planning advice and templates. Access to experienced business mentors. Feasibility grants and coinvestment for your plans. Wicklow Enterprise Centre The Murrough, Wicklow Town 0404 66433 It can be extremely daunting setting up your own business for the first time, especially in terms of securing office space and meeting the financial demands from all areas. Often new business start-ups are not aware of what is out there to assist them. Wicklow Enterprise Centre short-circuits this by offering a one-stop shop for businesses.

The Centre offers a range of suitable office space from short term and 1 day ‘hot office’ space and meeting rooms to virtual tenancies and small and large business space at affordable prices. The Centre is fully equipped with high speed broadband, meeting rooms, audio visual facilities and catering facilities provided by the Riverwalk Cafe. By advising on everything from finance and funding opportunities to setting up business training courses, Wicklow Enterprise Centre allows businesses to concentrate on developing their product or service and ensure their business is a success. Successful businesses at Wicklow Enterprise Centre include Chiropractor Vincent Pippet, Emma McKernan Accountants and Premier Captioning and Realtime Ltd., a social enterprise dedicated to providing quality realtime text for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Stomp Keltig, The Duck Walk, Kiladreenan, 085 2860502 I set up my business in 2013 with a lot of support and training from Wicklow Local Enterprise Office and the numerous networks ran locally. With the guidance of more experienced entrepreneurs I honed my business into what it is today and now share their ethos. I target Sole Traders and small business owners and make it possible for small companies to have big service training and strategy consultation for a better price. Find out more on what I can do to support your business by visiting my website at www. stomp.ie and check out my social media pages.

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all grand at the strand Advertorial The Strand Hotel is one of Bray Seafront’s most famous and popular establishments and was recently purchased by Sandra Freney and Gary Cafferkey. They are thrilled to be a part of the seafront community and to have the opportunity to restore one of Bray’s most famous buildings. “We have recently taken over The Strand Hotel and are delighted with the opportunity of restoring one of Bray Seafronts most prominent buildings,” Sandra told the Wicklow Voice. The new team are looking forward to putting their exciting plans into action and to welcoming locals and tourists alike. “We are happy to announce that our Carvery is now running daily and we have an evening menu available from 5pm - 9pm,” said Sandra. After a nice walk along the seafront their enticing menu with a mix of modern dishes and old favourites is impossible to resist. In need of a pick-me-up? Then why not indulge with an Alfredo coffee. If you’re looking for something a wee bit stronger then you’re in luck because they have just launched their

tantalisingly tasty cocktail menu just in time for those sunny summer afternoons. The Strand Hotel is steeped in history and is a beloved part of the town. It was originally the summer home of the Wilde family and was built by Oscar Wilde’s father Sir Willaim circa 1850. The life and works of Oscar Wilde are world renowned and he remains as popular as ever. However each member of the Wilde family were fascinating in their own way, from the brilliant Sir William to Oscar’s flamboyant mother Lady Jane. Many books have been written about Oscar’s time living in The Strand as we learn about the days which shaped his life and helped him to become one of Ireland’s greatest writers. The Strand has always been sought after. So much so that Oscar ended up in court after he had promised to sell his former home to two different people. Luckily, current owners Sandra and Gary had no such difficulties. “We have exciting plans for the Hotel in the future and look forward to sharing the experience with the people of Bray and beyond,” Sandra concluded.

Chef Ciaran Martin who looks after the carvery in The Strand

16 | The strand PROFILE

wicklowvoice.ie April 2 2015

All smiles at The Strand ... two young girls pose for the camera as their family and friends look on. Below, happy locals pose for the camera

Some of the delicious fare on offer at The Strand carvery

The strand PROFILE/NEWS| 17

April 2 2015 wicklowvoice.ie

wishes Sandra, Gary and all at The Strand the best of luck

StrictlyforGavin The Parkview Hotel resembled a scene from Footloose recently when The Gavin Glynn Foundation held Strictly from the Movies. The fundraiser raised a just short of €20,000. Almost 400 people attended the gala event in support of the Foundation which was founded in honour of four year old Gavin Glynn who passed away last year after his brave battle against cancer. The night was a roaring success as 12 couples battled it out to win the

competition. Gavin’s sister, Lucy Glynn joined in the fun when she wowed the audience with her moves during the group dance. “The night was an overwhelming success and I am glad to have been a part of it,” organiser and host of the event, Kamal Ibrahim told the Wicklow Voice. “This is what people can expect from the Foundation’s events. It’s about giving people an unforgettable experience as well as fundraising and

remembering Gavin.” The winners on the night were Brian Kingston and Katy Tanham who were awarded the top prize for their Dirty Dancing. The dazzling choreography was courtesy of Kelly Smith and Vicky Andreanska. Kamal has thanked all those who made the night possible including title sponsors Matt Britton Carpets. Pictured here are Strictly From The Movies dancers. All pictures by Alan Rowlette

Rhonda Mulhall, Lisa Bottaro and Denise Money

Petra Andreanska, Marie Dye and Hanah Bencik

Graham Fox and Tam Finn

Michael Larkin and Aidan O’Toole

Simon Harris T.D. with Caroline Gray

Jessica and Finola Keating

18 | LIFESTYLE wicklowvoice.ie April 2 2015 Mark Twain called it a good walk spoiled, but for millions golf is a way of life. Our beginners guide tells you what you need to know to get started in wicklow Druids Heath Druids Glen Golf Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, 01 2873600, www.druidsglenresort.com Join the fastest growing golf club in Wicklow – Druids Heath. A unique location right on your doorstep, Druids Heath is the perfect course to capture the true spirit of the game of golf. Venue for the 2006 Irish PGA Championship, Druids Heath has designed tailor made membership packages to suit your needs including annual Golf and Health Club Membership for just €1500. Membership runs for a full 12 months from joining date. Talk to Marcus Doyle about membership packages on 01 287 0812 or email golf.membership@druidsglenresort.com Bray Golf Club Greystones Road, Bray, 01 2763200, www.braygolfclub.com Bray Golf Club is a magnificent 18 hole parkland golf course which boasts spectacular views of the Wicklow mountains and unrivalled views of the coast at Bray head . This stunning scenery perfectly frames the golf course and enhances the

What you need to know about clubs

golfer’s experience. The club is one of the leading venues for society golf and there are superb golf deals available. The course was designed by Des Smyth (2006 Ryder Cup Vice-Captain) and Declan Brannigan and it is a striking example of modern design with old style golfing values. Following an afternoon of golf, enjoy an excellent meal with Mossel Bay Catering . The golf club is an ideal location for celebrations, business meetings and can cater for

both big and small functions. Renowned for service excellence the staff will be delighted to welcome you. Ciaran Carroll Bray Golf Club, Greystones Road, Bray, 01 2763202, ciarancarroll@msn.com Ciaran Carroll has been the Head Professional at Bray Golf Club since 2003. One-to-one tuition programmes can be customised to suit each individual’s requirements. Ciaran offers programmes for men and

women and is one of Ireland’s leading Junior coaches. He utilises modern technology as part of the coaching programme including the Gasp Video System. He is a short game specialist and applies the linear approach to this area of the game. Tuition is available six days a week and there are various options available. Ciaran qualified through the PGA in 1989, is a TPI certified coach an NLP Train Your Brain practitioner and a Registered Explanar coach.

No doubt, the right equipment always helps, but it’s not as if you’ll need to empty your savings account to get started. Instead, focus on finding the sort of equipment that will allow you to develop your imperfect skills with minimal expense. There’ll be plenty of time to go after the latest, hot products on the market but at the beginning, make learning – and not buying – your priority. You’re allowed to carry as many as 14 clubs in your bag, but you won’t need nearly

that many when you’re first learning. Instead, start with a driver, a putter, a sand wedge (it’s the club that has an “S” on the sole or a loft of 54 to 56 degrees) and supplement those with a 6-iron, an 8-iron, a pitching wedge, and a fairway wood or hybrid with 1821 degrees of loft. These are the clubs that are the most forgiving and easiest to get airborne. Learning To Play The hardest part about golf can be getting started. Ask yourself a few questions. First, why do you want to play? Is it for work or social reasons? Maybe then you need only some basic instruc-

Join the fastest growing golf club in Wicklow ~ Druids Heath IF SPOT COLOURS ARE NEEDED

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Druids Heath Golf Club Membership €1350 Tailor-Made Membership Packages Available Also: ~ Golf & Health Club Membership €1,500 ~ ~ Under 30’s Membership €850 ~ ~ 5 Day Membership €900 ~ For more information speak to Marcus Doyle on 01 287 0812 or email golf.membership@druidsglenresort.com Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow | www.druidsglenresort.com

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Get into the swing this summer tion and patient friends. Perhaps you’re looking to jump in headfirst in hopes of getting better fast. If so, there’s plenty of top-level instruction out there. Next, how much are you willing to put into it? That goes for time and the money. Point is, there’s a huge difference between wanting to ride around and have some laughs and being a serious player. Do some soul-searching, and start to develop your plan. The bad news when you’re just starting out is you don’t know much about golf. The good news? You don’t know much about golf. You probably haven’t ingrained many bad habits, and

you have tons of questions about what to do. Nothing beats starting out with some positive direction. And don’t just seek instruction when you’re struggling. It’s just as important to know what you’re doing right as what you’re doing wrong. Your golf buddies might sometimes have a good tip for you, but it’s better to seek out a professional since they’re the ones trained to teach the game to someone like yourself. Basic Shots You Should Know There are parts of golf that will elude you your entire life, but certain fundamentals are

essential. You have to be able to hit a driver off the tee with a fair amount of confidence. You have to be able to hit an iron off the ground, and get out of a greenside bunker. You have to know a few basic short shots around the green, and be able to keep your cool when things get ugly. Etiquette Congratulations! You’ve been invited out for a round of golf by a friend or a family member or (gulp) maybe even your boss. You’re excited, but you’re also petrified you might embarrass yourself because you’re not quite sure of the protocol either on or off the course.

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wicklowvoice.ie April 2 2015

my favourite things

WHAT’s HOT

with Michelle McGlynn info@wicklowvoice.ie

Daisy May Spring/Summer 2015 collection consists of new season trends with fashionable touches including stunning vibrant Maxi’s, stylish separates, floral paisley trousers & structured dresses that are sure to make you stand out at your special occasion. The collection is flawless for women wanting the perfect outfit and is available in sizes 8 -18. Established in 2010 by Gerard Burke and Karen Carthy the ‘Daisy May’ label is designed in a contemporary manner using elegant lines and feminine shapes. For stockist information log on to www.ellaboo.ie or contact +353 1 4295709. Pictured is Daisy May bodice dress €175.00

Daisy May bodice dress €175.00

Daisy May maxi €145.00

Daisy May monochrome dress €165.00

CHY 2633

MONDAY 1STJUNE 2015 VHI Women’s Mini Marathon

Participant Party at the Mansion House! Scan Me!

Floral print shift dress €149.00

Mint paisley peplum top €99.00 and trouser €99.00

Soft pink shift dress €149.00

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Peter Byrne

recipes

Head Chef at Sika Restaurant in The Powerscourt Hotel

Grilled Aubergine and Goats Cheese Tian

It’s fare play to Greystones as it wins food awards By Michelle McGlynn

Ingredients

4 aubergines 2 punnets cherry tomatoes (cut in half) 2 banana shallots (finely diced) 1 clove of garlic 2 sprigs thyme Olive oil 1 log ash rolled goats cheese (or similar)

For the dressing:

100ml aged balsamic vinegar 50ml balsamic vinegar de Modena 150ml olive oil

Method

Slices the aubergines into 80ml slices, brush with olive oil, season then grill twice on each side and place them all on a tray.

Once all are grilled, drizzle over a little more olive oil and leave to marinade for about an hour. In a very hot pan fry the shallots and garlic until brown then add the halved cherry tomatoes and thyme. Flash in the pan for a couple of minutes then take out and place on a tray. Once cooled crumble the goats cheese into the tomato and add some julienne basil and chopped chives. To assemble place an aubergine slice at the bottom of a ring and add a little of the cheese and tomato mix and smooth over. Repeat the same step until you have reached the top of the ring and finish with an aubergine on the top. Bake in the oven at 180oc for 20 -25 minutes.

planning to sell? Homes

with Clodagh Doyle (info@wicklowvoice.ie)

IT may be your family home, an investment property or perhaps an executor sale that you have decided to sell. Without a doubt, you are hoping for a smooth process from start to finish. As the quote goes “planning to fail is failing to plan”, so yes you do require a strategy when selling a property. Making the right decisions early and carefully planning can help avoid the obvious pit-falls and hassle later on. Spring has always being regarded as the optimum time to go to market – but has this changed? With the rapid increase in internet users attracting millions to property window shopping online, people are buying all year round! Don’t get hung up on timing, just go to market when you are ready. Needless to say, when selling

you want get the most for your property and avoid leaving money on the table. While preparing to sell your property is about paying close attention to its overall presentation and giving it that ‘wow’ factor there are other aspects you will need to consider. Engage with your Solicitor early on to make sure that everything is in order in relation to your legal documents for example your deeds, property tax or any relevant planning documentation. While you hope to get the absolute most for your property, you need to be realistic of what the market holds and avoid being over optimistic. If overpriced your property could be left lingering on the market for months and you could end up prolonging the agony with a series of price drops. Keeping up to speed with the vast access to up-to-date news and market reports including mortgage rates should really offer you some guidance on asking price prior to getting it professionally valued. Finding a good agent is also crucial. Avoid choosing the one offering the highest valuation or indeed the lowest commission rate. Take the time to do your homework by asking for recommendations and looking

at their reputation – see if they are portrayed in professional manner. By meeting with them will give you a feel for them on a personal level and also allow you to question their experience. Ask about their marketing strategy along with their share of the market for example how many recent sale agreed or sold signs? Once you choose your agent, you should provide them with all the positive facts about your property and be clear that you only want genuine mortgage approved prospective buyers viewing. Be sure to stay in regularly contact asking for feedback from a buyers perspective and be firm about the progress. Finally, it is up to you if you wish to unlock the true potential of your property before handing it over to your agent. You have full control over this aspect and remember this short term investment can offer you a high return, helping you sell quicker and for more. Hope you see the “sold” sign sooner rather than later - good luck! Selling? Letting? Moving? Improving? Let the Professional House Doctors take care of it! Get in touch on 086 8159531, 01 2548070 or e-mail us at info@placelift.ie

Greystones came out tops in Wicklow at the Leinster Regional Final of Irish Restaurant Awards which took place in Clyde Court Hotel, Ballsbridge on Tuesday. Chakra by Jaipur has been named the best resturant in Wicklow at the Irish Restaurant Awards. Chakra beat off some tough competition in the shortlist of 30 restaurants throughout the county to come out on top at the prestigious awards. The restaurant was credited as being of an excellent standard in terms of food, wine, service and atmosphere. Chakra offers gourmet Indian cuisine and food lovers come from all around to enjoy their food. The newly crowned Best Restaurant is located in Greystones but they are not the only restaurant in the town who

are celebrating a victory at the national awards. The Three Q’s were named the best restaurant for casual dining - the neighbourhood restaurant is owned by three brothers and is an ideal spot for a cozy meal or a special occasion. The Hungry Monk, also in Greystones, received an award for there wine selection. The restaurant and wine bar was named the Best Wine Experience in the Garden County and it is no surprise as they offer a vast range of wines from around the world at very reasonable prices. New kid on the block, The Pigeon House Cafe, brought the Best Newcomer award back to Greystones. The popular Delgany restaurant opened its doors last Autumn and have been enjoying great success since. This award will no doubt cement their status as a must visit restaurant in Wicklow.

Aughrim won big at the ceremony which was held in the Clyde Court Hotel, Dublin. The Strawberry Tree at Brooklodge was the only restaurant to come away with multiple awards. Not only was the restaurant given the title of the Best Hotel Restaurant - a mean feat in Wicklow - head chef Tim Daly was named the Best Chef in the county. Aughrim is home to the Best Gastro Pub in Wicklow as Acton’s Pub and The Orchard Cafe brought home the accolade. Campo de Fiori were the only restaurant in Bray to be recognised when they they were given an award for their top quality customer service. Over 500 restaurant owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the Awards, which saw many well-known restaurateurs of Leinster turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

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April 2 2015 wicklowvoice.ie

insideback

with Brian Quigley

Put your best foot forward for Parkrun This column has long been a fan and advocate of the Parkrun phenomenon, and indeed we have written on the subject a number of times, not least to bemoan the continued lack of a Parkrun event in County Wicklow. Last Saturday, March 28, was a significant one in that two new Parkrun events started, not in the county but very close to he north of the county, in Shanganagh and Cabinteely. S hanganagh in particular is only yards from the Wicklow-Dublin border, and its debut event drew over 100 runners, many from North Wicklow athletics clubs such as Bray Runners, Kilcoole AC, Greystones AC and Delgany Running and Fitness Club. Congratulations must go to Gary Condon of Bray Runners who won the inaugural Shanganagh Parkrun in a time of 16 minutes 43 seconds, a superb time for any 5K race not least a Parkrun which is basically a light cross-country surface.

sport in brief Bray Emmets

The lotto numbers drawn were 1, 26, 3, 9. There was no winner and the next jackpot will be €12,400. The Hurling Féile was postponed on March 29 due to bad weather. The new dates have yet to be announced. The Men’s Junior football team are back training on Wednesday evenings at 7.15pm and Sunday mornings at 10am in Old Conna. All are welcome to come to training, contact Ian Smith on 086 85157232 for more. Coiste Chairde Raithin are holding a quiz night on April 16 at 8pm in The Martello, Bray. Tickets are €10 per person or €40 per table. If you would like to join the Adult Camogie team contact camogiebray@gmail.com. Training is every Wednesday at 7.45pm until 9pm on 3G.

Arklow Geraldines The Pettitt’s Supervalu door collection will take place on April 2, 3 and 4. Players should contact Orla on 087 9280338 to book their slots. Thanks to Pettitt’s Supervalu for the opportunity to fundraise. The AGB Scór Sinsear Ballad Group of Sean

Kilcoole AC’s David Kynes was runner up and Darragh Page and Eoghan Mooney, also of Kilcoole AC, were also in the top ten as was Will Foot of Bray Runners. Well done to all from the county who ran! Up to last Saturday the closest Parkrun event for runners in Wicklow was Marlay Park. At least now there is more choice closer to home. Hopefully we will have an event within the Garden County itself before long. Parkrun is officially the fastest growing sporting phenomenon in the world. It didn’t exist before 2004, when it was started in England as a free weekly 5K run in a fun, scenic environment for runners of all abilities. And today, 11 years on and with over 500 events worldwide and weekly participation rates of over 100,000 (an average of about 200 per event per week) it is still all of those things. It is free – you just turn up and run. It is fun – run with

your friends, family, colleagues in a relaxed, non-competitive environment. It is scenic – all the runs are in nice parks. I’ve been doing Parkrun since it started in Ireland at the end of 2012 in Malahide Castle. Malahide is a particularly popular run and draws crowds of over 400 every week – even runners from Wicklow coming up by train! Ireland (including Northern Ireland) now has almost 50 Parkrun events, with about 6000 weekly runners. Like Parkrun around the world, these numbers (events and participants) are growing fast. All Parkruns are on Saturday mornings at half nine. All are 5K. Once you register with Parkrun you can print off your barcode and bring it to any Parkrun event you like, worldwide. Most weeks I see people over from the UK or further afield at Parkrun, clocking up another new event to their tally. A welcome boost for tourism here!

O’Conchuir, Geraldine Hamilton, Kathryn Noone and Mary Graham competed in the Leinster finals of the Sinsear competition recently and came away in second place. Well done to the team on their success. The Junior Ladies will be away to Newtown on April 4 as part of the Junior Ladies League. AGB club gear is available for purchase including some lovely new gear for 2015. Contact Kerry on 087 3287881.

Academy caters for children from 4-8 years of age at only €2 per week. There is no annual subscription and covers Gaelic Football, Hurling and Camogie. Please note there will be no training or games on the Easter weekend for both the girls and boys teams. Training for the men’s adult football team is cancelled this week.

An Tóchar The U12 boys league campaign kicks off on April 6 with a match away to St Pat’s, if attending please be at the pitch before 6.30pm for the 6.45pm kick-off. All support is greatly appreciated so come along and show the boys some encouragement. U18 boys minor training continues on Friday evenings from 8.15pm to 9.15pm. For information contact Chris Brady on 086 0843927.

Shankill GAA The Juvenile Academy is cancelled for the Easter weekend and will return at 10am on April 11 in Shanganagh Castle. The

Seagulls sour over red card

St Kevin’s National School Greystones took the honours in Division 1 County Finals. Some great football was played during the day with great skills and effort shown by all schools. After some great matches it was St Kevin’s who topped the group with victories over Baltinglass N.S , Carnew N.S, Hacketstown N.S and St Pats N.S.

Bray Wanderers manager Alan Mathews labelled referee Jim McKell's decision to send off midfielder Graham Kelly "an absolute disaster" as his team lost their fifth SSE Airtricity League match in a row. Cork City are back up to second place in the Premier Division after Kieran Djilali's 84th minute winner secured the points at the Carlisle Grounds at the weekend. The major talking point came in the 36th minute when Kelly fouled Billy Dennehy in midfield. It was worthy of a yellow card, but referee McKell had the red card out from his back pocket within seconds, shocking everyone in the ground.

Allianz Cumann na mBunscol

The boys county finals were played recently in Ballinakill. St Kevin’s Greystones claimed Division 1, Donard emerged victorious in Division 2 and in Division 3 St Laurence’s were the winners. Well done to all the boys who played. To reach the county finals is a wonderful achievement and hopefully it was a day that will be remembered for years to come. The girls football blitz was also held recently. Gaelscoil Inbhir Mhor took the spoils in Division 1. Abbie Ní hÈilí from Inbhir Mhor was awarded the ‘Imreoir den Scoth’ award in Division 1 as was Taylor Bradon from Kilcoole Primary School in Division 2. Kilmacanogue won Division 2.

For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply email your details to comps@ wicklowvoice.ie or send them by post to Unit 8, Radio Centre, Killarney Road, Bray. The closing date is April 16, 2015. Terms and conditions on www.wicklowvoice.ie.

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April 2 2015 wicklowvoice.ie