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Air Display faces axe
‘Summerfest will be pulled unless vote reversed’ By Michelle McGlynn
the Bray Air Display will not go-ahead this year unless councillors reverse a vote taken earlier this week to reduce the number of days that the seafront funfair can run during the summer, organisers say. Festival director Mick Glynn told the Wicklow Voice that “while the vote taken by the councillors relates to the funfair, the nett effect is a vote against the Summerfest and the Air Display.” Bray Municipal District councillors voted on Monday to reduce the days that the funfair will run during Bray Summerfest from 28 days to 15. These changes are not due to come into effect until 2016 but organisers have said that there will be wide-ranging ramifications this year for the air display, which attracted 88,000 people in 2014, and not just the funfair itself. The Bray Air Display is due to take place on Sunday, July 19 in association with the Irish Aviation Authority who have lined up the Austrian Air Force
Olympic Champion Katie Taylor at the Bank of Ireland ‘Enterprise Town’ initiative in Shoreline Greystones last week, which was organised with the local community to drive business momentum for SMEs and the agri sector and the wider sports and social community » Lots more pictures from around the county inside as one of the acts. “Prior to voting on the matter, members of the council had no information on how the festival
operates, from applying for licences to organising traffic control. We were not consulted at any point in the process,” Mr
Glynn said. The Summerfest committee will meet in the near future to make the decision of whether to proceed with events for Summerfest 2015 and the organisers, who are all volunteers, have said that while they respect the decision they would have appreciated being consulted beforehand. Cllr Steven Matthews released the following statement to the Wicklow Voice when he was contacted: “At a recent Bray Municipal District Meeting Cllr Steven Matthews proposed a number of amendments to the Seafront policy. These amendments included upgrades to wrought iron lamp-posts and seat backs, continued maintenance of the playground and a ban on casual trading of alcohol on the promenade area during the festival. An amendment was also agreed to reduce the duration of the funfair to two weeks and a bank holiday. The proposal was supported by Cllr Behan, Cllr Brady, Cllr Thornhill and Cllr O’Brien. Continued on page 6
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04| NEWS
wicklowvoice.ie March 26 2015
news in brief Spring forward
Don’t forget that summer officially starts on March 28 so put your clocks one hour ahead before you hop into bed.
Young ambassadors
If you are over 16 and are looking for a way to give back to your community then why not check out the Purple House Young Ambassadors programme. Head to their social night on March 30 at 7pm in the Bray Bowling Alley. Email conor.oleary@ purplehouse.ie for details.
Life of Brian
Wanted: hairy folk for career in pillaging By Michelle McGlynn
Are you hairy and look slightly medieval? Do you enjoy a bit of pillage and plunder? Would you like to earn some extra cash? The Vikings TV show has put out a call for over 8,000 extras as the History Channel series is set to begin filming its fourth season in Ashford Studios in late April. If you think you have what it takes, there will be an open
ANDS
Greystones Film Club will be screening Monty Python’s Life of Brian upstairs in The Happy Pear on April 1 at 8pm and costs €2. What better way to celebrate April Fools Day than with Monty Python, the patron saints of being silly.
James Conlon, Niamh Leonard, Cora Shannon, Róisín O’Connor from Lacken School warm up for the performance of ‘The Wicklow Ways’ at the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray
casting in The Grand Hotel, Wicklow Town on April 7 from 10am-6pm. The casting call is for men and women - over 18 - who look as if they could have worked in certain professions such as fishermen, metal workers, axe men/women, skilled swords people, calligraphers, hunters, nurses, musicians and lumber jacks to name a few. Full details about the roles can be found online on the
THE HARBOUR BAR
EVENTS GUIDE THURSDAY 26TH — DIXIELAND JAZZ
DES HOPKINS JAZZ BAND FRIDAY 27 — ACOUSTIC, VOCAL TRACK DOGS SATURDAY 28 — 90’S PARTY MASH-UPS ATTENTION BÉBÉ SUNDAY 29 — RHYTHM, TRAD, WORLD MUSIC RÓNÁN Ó SNODAIGH WITH ROBBIE PERRY TH
TH
TH
f: /theharbourbarbray t: @theharbour_bar
Vikings Extras Facebook page. The work will be temporary and casual but with such large numbers required it is likely that if you attend the casting you will receive a call between April and December when filming will wrap. Season four will consist of 16 episodes and will hit our screens next year. The show has been a roaring success since it first hit screens in 2013.
news in brief Sea swim The Bray Charities Sea Swim on New Year’s Day has raised €8,684 for several charities. Sharing the money are Bray Carers for Carers, Bray Stroke Club, Bray Poor Relief Fund, Enable Ireland and Bray Lions’ Senior Citizens’ Fund.
Wicklow X Factor Do you like to sing? Would you like to win €500 and a recording session? If the answer is yes and you are over 16 then get involved with The Wicklow X Factor by visiting www. arkloweventmanagement. com/x-factor-2015.
Fashion fair Greystones Vintage Fashion and Antiques Fair will take place on May 10 from noon at The Hot Spot Music Club, Greystones. If you are interested in trading something elegant, retro or kitsch - such as collectables, home wares, vintage fashion, upcycles, antique furnishings - then get in touch on 087 2917519 or email hotspotmusiclubg@ gmail.com
Students in Wicklow experience more cyber bullying By Michelle McGlynn
Wicklow students experience the highest rate of cyber bullying in the country a new report has found. A recent survey found that 38% of students have experienced at least one case of cyber bullying in the last year. This is in comparison to the national average of 24% saying the same. Wicklow and Westmeath reported the highest rates of cyber bullying while Roscommon has the lowest with 17%. Studyclix.ie, Ireland’s largest study website, conducted their first annual Student Sentiment Index polling 4,822 students nationwide. Speaking about these worrying results, co-founder of Studyclix Luke Saunders said, “As a secondary school teacher, it is very clear to me in my day-to-day teaching that the use of phones in school has increased and is very hard to monitor or safeguard. “There are positives and negatives to this activity, however the rates of cyber bullying were high, and perhaps unusually seemed to increase outside of the urban centres to counties like Wicklow. “It suggests to me that we have a long battle ahead when it comes to tackling this issue.” Students are spending a large proportion of their time online and this seems to increase the older the get. Overall, 55% of students
considered themselves ‘addicted’ to their phone. Half of students admitted to checking their phones in class, this number increases incrementally from 26% in first year, to 40% in third year and then 60% in sixth year. Facebook remains the most popular social media platform among students as 81% are active on the site. Picture sharing apps Snapchat and Instagram follow close behind but surprisingly only half of students are currently active on Twitter. Dating apps are growing in popularity in Ireland and this is no different when it comes to students. Among 12-15 year olds, 6% admitted to having a Tinder profile with that figure increasing to 24% of sixth year males and 15% of sixth year females. Students also revealed that school is the main cause of stress in their lives while appearance, family and romantic relationships polled much lower. The survey also focused on student’s attitudes to social issues facing the country today. The majority of students (80%) support the upcoming marriage referendum, with a slight gender bias of 93% females voting yes compared to 86% of males, according to the survey. In terms of their future in Ireland, half of all students surveyed feel that they will probably emigrate at some point in the future.
Citizens Info bus tour
By Michelle McGlynn
The Citizens Information Bus will be travelling to local communities in Wicklow from March 21 as part of Entitlements Awareness Week. Anybody can get on board to avail of free information and advice on their rights and entitlements from skilled staff from Bray Citizens Information Centre, Bray Area Partnership’s Local Employment Service and Co. Wicklow Partnership.
The idea is to reach out to people who may not normally have easy access to information services. This is a completely confidential service. The fully accessible bus will park up over the week at various venues including such as Bray Social Welfare Office on signing on days, Kilcoole, Greystones, Rathdrum village and Tinahely. For more information about exact times and locations visit www.brayareapartnership.ie.
NEWS |05
March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
wicklow people in pictures
“Hoppy” the Easter Bunny and members of Ardmore Rovers FC, Blue Cubs (aged between 3.5 and 4.5 years old) helped launch the first ever “Martello Annual Easter Treasure Hunt” to help raise much-needed funds for the club. The treasure hunt will take place on April 3 from 1pm to 5pm at The Martello and along Bray Promenade. Pic: Joe Keogh
It’s definitely Spring when you see daisy chains being made and happy with her results is Sheena White from Arklow (pic Yvette O Beirne)
Annette Burke and Catherine Lowe (4) out and about in Greystones.
Emily and Sophie Tebbitt are all smiles in Wicklow Town
Teresa Masterson and Hilda Adams on Bray Main Street
Mary, Fionn (10), Síofra (8) and Brian Graham out and about in Mount Usher
The whole country celebrated Ireland’s win in the Six Nations including Rian Bollard Troy from Arklow (pic Yvette O Beirne)
Mi Mellows and Karina McCaul in Greystones
06| NEWS news in brief Great bear chain The Caroline Foundation is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the longest line of teddy bears at Greystones seafront on May 17 at noon. They will need 8,000 teddy bears with a donation of €10 per bear.
wicklowvoice.ie March 26 2015
Open Door to welcome top US musicians Megan on way home
Triple A Alliance The Wicklow Triple A Alliance will hold their AGM in the Wilton Hotel, Bray on March 30 at 7.30pm. Speaker Lorraine Dempsey will outline entitlements to parents of children with special needs.
configurations of strings, winds, percussion and vocals. Among the pieces to be performed will be Colonel Bogey March, Lord of the Dance, Jump, Jive and Wail and a Disney medley. Speaking ahead of the concert, Janet MacKay Galbraith, one of the directors of the ensemble said, “The students are excited not only to be
performing in Bray, but also to learn about Irish music and heritage. “We chose Ireland as their premier international destination because of the beauty of the country and the love of music.” Tickets for the concert are €5 and can be bought by contacting Suzanne at Open Door on 087 6250823 or 01 2867123.
Missing Bray teenager Megan Larkin (17) was believed to be making her way home at the time this paper went to press. Megan was missing for over a week before word came through social media that she was intending to return home. She had been reported missing having last been seen on Newcourt Road on March 15. The teenager is in care in Bray, gardai confirmed, and had been in contact with carers at the premises in which she was staying during the time she was absent. After gardai appealed for information about the girl’s whereabouts, there was a huge response from locals and beyond. Her photo and a description of what she was wearing when last seen was widely shared on social media platforms and in the media.
Continued from front page.
a public representative it is my responsibility to listen to the public and also to ensure that council public lands are used in a fair and transparent way. “The changes to policy will not affect this year’s festival and there is no impact to Summerfest 2015. “In future, I would welcome better engagement from the Summerfest organiser and details of the financial arrangements with the funfair operator. I would also encourage Summerfest to be inclusive of traders and business in other areas of the town,” the statement ends. Under the new plan, the funfair has been reduced from 10 days to seven during the St Patrick’s Festival. There is also concern for private funding of the 1916 Centenary Commemorations next year as a result. Cllr John Ryan and Cllr Pat Vance voted against the proposal while Cllr Christopher Fox was not present at the meeting. The Wicklow Voice also tried
to contact the Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Bray, Cllr John Brady but received no response at the time of going to press. Last year’s festival saw record numbers flock to the seafront for the air show and there were over 200,000 visitors to Summerfest overall in 2014. It is believed that the cost to run Summerfest exceeds €100,000 and the funfair contributes a substantial amount of money to the running of Summerfest. “The money provided by the funfair for use of the seafront for the 28 days accounts for 60-70% of the Summerfest funding,” Mr Glynn told the Wicklow Voice. “Therefore if the number of days the funfair is open is reduced by half, then the money they contribute will also be reduced by 50%. “This would limit our ability to run the festival to the high standard that people have come to expect. It is just not sustainable without the funfair running for 24 days.”
Craft workshop There will be a free arts and crafts workshop in the Assembly Hall, Wicklow Town on Easter Monday, April 6 from 10am until 1pm to create flags as part of the Wicklow Arts Festival’s medieval bunting art installation.
Flower club Greystones Flower Club are having a flower demonstration on March 31 at 8pm in the Evangelical Church, Greystones. It costs €7 including tea/coffee and biscuits.
Bray will be playing host to some top US talent when the Musicians of Canterbury from Fort Wayne, Indiana perform. The ensemble will be joined by local singer Mary Fogarty as they give a concert at the Open Door Rehabilitation Centre. It is hoped that the event will raise much needed funds for the Centre which provides
activities and facilities for adults with physical disabilities in North Wicklow and South County Dublin. Musicians of Canterbury combines students from the instrumental and vocal music ensembles of Canterbury school. The music performed on the night will range from classical to contemporary and will present various
Axe could fall on Air Display “The change to the duration of the funfair is to reflect a fair usage policy for all seafront users; it allows sufficient time for the funfair operator to make a profit and also frees up the green open space for longer for families to enjoy throughout the summer festival. This prime piece of land is given over to the funfair free of charge by Bray Council and there is no financial reward for the town. As we have plans before the council to upgrade and enhance this portion of the promenade I look forward to an improved amenity area for all seafront users to enjoy. “There is widespread public support for reduction of the duration of the funfair as evidenced by the large petition gathered in the past and the public participation observations during the event licence applications from residents throughout the town and visitors to the seafront. As
March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
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08| NEWS news in brief
wicklowvoice.ie March 26 2015
Wicklow Student Enterprise Awards
Coffee morning My Canine Companion will hold a coffee morning in The Martello, Bray at 10am on April 2 which is World Autism Day. They are a charity that provide service dogs to children with autism and other disabilities.
Bus Éireann Bus Éireann have announced new and reconfigured services will be put in place to meet the travel needs of Route 5 users in West Wicklow. This route provides a vital service for residents of Rathvilly, Baltinglass, Annalecky and Blessington.
Draft flood maps
Pictured at the Wicklow Student Enterprise Awards Final 2015 in Wicklow County Campus, Rathnew were Chloe Kinsella, Emma Jane Leggitt, Sheelagh Daly (Head of Local Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Wicklow) Tara Barrett all students from Dominican College Wicklow who set up Bubbalicious Soaps. Pix: Joe Keogh
Draft Flood Maps have been produced for Avoca and can be viewed on www. eastcframstudy.ie. There is a public consultation day on March 31 from 3pm7pm in Avoca Community Hall. Draft Flood Maps have also been prepared for Baltinglass. The public consultation day will take place on March 30 from 3pm-7pm in Germaines of Baltinglass, Main Street. The Baltinglass maps can also be viewed online.
Winners of this year’s Junior Category were The Write Choice set up by Mark Britchfield and Adam Henry from Colaiste Chill Mhantain
Winners of this year’s Wicklow Student Enterprise Awards (Senior Category) were Exerdice. Set up by Eimear Jordan and Rachel Kennedy from Colaiste Craobh Abhann
Gaelcholaiste Na Mara students from Sugradh agus Spraoi; Aoibhe Skerritt, Sheelagh Daly (LEO) Kayleigh Earls and Ellie Skerritt.
Dominican College Wicklow Students from Make My Milseog Sarah Bloor and Kate Lally
Toxic landfill and waste ‘at risk of falling into sea’ By Michelle McGlynn
Tonnes of rubbish and toxic waste is at risk of polluting the Irish Sea in Bray. A disused landfill north of Bray which holds 200,000 tonnes of waste is being washed into the sea. A recent report on the dangers of erosion has identified the Bray dump as a serious risk. Environmental group Coastwatch have revealed that approximately 200m of the face of the tip has been exposed. This has resulted in decades of materials including rusted metal, heavy plastics, bricks and bags being washed away with the tide. The problem was initially identified by a student back in 1993 and Coastwatch subsequently reported on it in 2005 and 2006. Despite this, no efforts were made to find a permanent solution to prevent the situation from deteriorating further and
repair the damage that had already occurred. Writing in the Wicklow Voice, Karin Dubsky, International Coordinator of Coastwatch Europe said, “Coastwatchers demanded and were promised action to address dump erosion in 2005 and again three years ago. “If the dump stretches back to the edge of the railway line as locals believe, then over 30m depth of dump is still waiting for the sea to take. “At current loss of about 1.5m per annum, that means another 15 to 20 years of pollution and health risk ahead.” No doubt the storms that battered the coast in January and February of last year caused further damage to the site. Waste that has already been swept away is visible at the foot of the eroded cliffs. The dump stopped taking in rubbish at least 25 years ago and the land is now privately
owned.Coastwatch say that it was left unclear who was actually responsible for the dump and the problems that have resulted from erosion. Enquiries made by the Wicklow Voice found that Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have responsibility for the disused dump. When contacted a representative for the Council said that they were unable to comment on the matter at this time. Last year the Government set aside €70m to deal with repairs to eroded coasts. According to the report erosion is not only the most widespread threat to 7,000km of coast around Ireland but is at its highest on record for 26 years. Coastwatch are calling for disused dumps to be marked on county development plans and for council reports on them to be made public. What Lies Beneath Karin Dubsky, page 11
March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
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10 | OPINION
opinion&comment
Renua Ireland’s core aim is to respect everyone
R
enua Ireland was launched last week and its core aim is to improve the quality of life for all people in the country. We must respect all people. Five key values will underpin its policies. It will be transformative, consensus challenging, entrepreneurial, compassionate and economically responsible. Policy must seek to address frailties, weaknesses or ineffectiveness through proposals that can transform the service in question. It must challenge prevailing norms and the established way of thinking and doing things – not for the sake of doing so – but as part of a process that seeks to challenge and improve the systems and structures our policy reviews and seeks to address. Policy must be creative, hopeful and inspiring and seek to maximise the art of the possible. It must harness Ireland’s progressive spirit across the social, public and private sectors and empower the people to be agents of their own change. Humility and compassion are attributes that are at the heart of our political thinking. Politics exists to serve the people and we intend to demonstrate compassion by showing how our ideas can, over the long term, keep their needs front of mind in everything we do. Policy must work with a long term vision and work towards achieving this vision within existing budgets. Our policy will focus on achieving objectives not whether the vehicle that achieves them is the state. Our proposals must, where possible, be cost neutral and affordable over the long term. No programme will be funded running a current account deficit. Renua will build policy on four pillars based on the aforementioned values. These four pillars will be: Build an economy that works across the social, public and private sectors:
ments could be deducted at source from a Social Protection payment. Hopefully this would assist in consigning the moneylender to the history books. We want to see performance in the public sector being rewarded and inefficiencies dealt with. Members of the public must be seen and treated as customers. We realise that the hardest reform of all is reforming ourselves. We have a unique Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics based on a principle of ‘Respect for Others’. We believe that single seat constituencies and a list system will create greater efficiency and diversification in politics. Work on developing the party started almost twelve months ago and many hundreds of volunteer hours have been spent bringing the concept to fruition. We are aware that there are many challenges ahead, we look forward to these with relish. It is only natural that we will have our detractors, however I am sure that over time they will come to realise that we wish only to make a positive contribution. Change is difficult. I was expelled from Fine Gael and taking the decision to join a new party did not come easy. I am acutely aware of the many ties and friendships that I have been involved with over the years and I hope that these can continue. I trust in the Irish people and I am confident that they will trust in us. Our word is our bond and our actions will tell far more about us than our rhetoric. We intend to run at least one candidate in each of the forty constituencies. We are in the process of setting up a National Organisation. Any support or assistance that you can give would be greatly welcomed. Work on the major policies of Health, Education, The Economy, Agriculture, Environment and other areas will now take place. There are big challenges but it is also an exciting time. Together we can make a difference and improve the lives of all. Come and join us.
• Make the public sector public • Renew politics for the people • Measuring Government’s progress with a clear social target As part of the launch we outlined 16 different policies. Some of these were to enhance credit availability to small businesses through a Credit Network which permits the use, by businesses, of unpaid invoices as security to pay other creditors. For example, if a hotel is owed €10,000 in payment from the Local Authority it can use that income bill to pay revenue or another trader. Banking for the unbanked was one which really caught my eye and would give access to small bank loans for all and repay-
Billy Timmins is a TD for Wicklow –East Carlow and the deputy leader of renua ireland. First elected in 1997, he has been returned to Dáil Eireann in each subsequent election. He has held opposition front bench roles on agriculture, defence and foreign affairs. He has also been a member of Wicklow County Council. A former Army Officer, Billy served with the United Nations in Lebanon and Cyprus.
“B
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 Billy Timmins with Michael Wolsey
If it tastes so good it must be bad for us
ack in the day when television was low on quantity and high on quality, the BBC’s Panorama programme conducted an interesting experiment. It filled a supermarket trolley with all the popular food on the shelves, then threw out anything that had ever been branded as “bad for you” by doctors or scientists. It was left with a tub of margarine and a bottle of whiskey. If the same experiment were conducted today, I doubt if those two would make the cut. But hang around a bit and you never know. The so-called experts have been having a rethink about all sorts of stuff they used to call unhealthy. Coffee, once blamed for many ills, now turns out to have a wonderful affect on clogged arteries and the like. Three cups a day can cut the risk of heart attack, according to a study published in the medical journal ‘Heart’. Even as many as five cups will do you more good than harm. Another medical journal has discovered that drinking alcohol not only makes members of the opposite sex look more attractive, it also makes the drinker look more attractive to them - even if they haven’t been drinking at all. Don’t get carried away with this one. You won’t look attractive if you’re incoherent, falling over and trying to sing Nobody’s Child to the tune of Danny Boy. That’s when you think you are attractive, which is a different story altogether. But according to researchers at ‘Alcohol and Alcoholism’, the faces of a representative group of students looked better to members of the opposite sex after the students had each taken one drink. How they got a group of students to stop at one drink is worth a study in itself. But I’ll leave that for another day. Fatty food, once demonised as a heart attack on a plate, has now been deemed necessary for good health - albeit in small quantities. In larger measures it might lead to gout. But, incredibly, even that painful affliction has been found to have an upside. A study published in ‘The Annals of Rheumatic Diseases’ (check it out - I’m not making up these titles) has found that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease drops by 24 per cent in those with a history of gout. As an unrepentant lover of a rasher sandwich with a glass of red wine followed by several cups of strong coffee, I find all this news most reassuring. But then, like most of us, I’m inclined to believe what suits me.
So I say three cheers for the scientists who found no link between saturated fat and heart disease. The same research found that the so-called ‘healthy’ polyunsaturated fats did nothing to alter risk levels one way or the other. The scientists looked at 72 studies involving 600,000 people. In particular, they looked at different types of fat consumed and their affects on the heart. Their conclusion, published in the ‘Annals of Internal Medicine’ (still not making them up - honestly!) was that “the pattern of evidence did not yield clearly supportive evidence of current cardiovascular guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of saturated fats ... guidelines may require reappraisal’’. Translated into English that means: We suspect all the food rules we gave you in the past are a load of codswallop but if you ignore them and get a heart attack, don’t blame us. And more to the point, don’t sue us. For every scientific thumbs-up there’s a boffin waiting to slap on a health warning; for every prophet of doom there’s a man in a white coat preparing to hail the greatest thing since sliced bread. Talking of which, most people think they’re doing themselves a favour when they opt for wheaten bread for their sandwiches, or pick up a multi-grain loaf at the supermarket. Brown Is Best has long been the health mantra for bread eaters. In fact most popular brown brands are no better than plain old white bread. They’re made with refined grains, which means you’re not getting the full nutritional benefit of the whole grain. Red wine, in small quantities, is good, it seems. But the latest research suggests it may not be better than any other form of alcohol. Whatever its label, content or colour, alcohol can help lower cholesterol and prevent blood clots. And that’s not to mention the amazing pulling power that comes with just one glass. Too much will give you a thumping headache, of course – but you don’t need a scientist to tell you that. Or anything else, maybe. I’m waiting for the survey which shows that reading too much research does your head in. Who will publish that? The Annals of the Bleeding Obvious? (And I did make up that one). 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
March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
anyotherbusiness
Have you got a story? Then email info@wicklowvoice.ie
What lies beneath?
D
Karin Dubsky
uring spring high tides and in stormy weather the sea licks Bray dump like an ice-cream. Only instead of seeing nut and chocolate pieces in the last lick line, there is miscellaneous waste exposed on over 200 meter of dump cliff north of Bray harbour. The sea eats the base of the dump and spits bits out again as the currents drive northwards to Shanganagh and Killiney. Here shore walkers complain of the never ending rubbish load. This dump was known to shed rubbish since the early 1990s. Yet it is not marked in the DunLaoghaire-Rathdown five-year development plan and we were given an almighty run around as to whose responsibility the dump actually is – Wicklow? Bray? DLR? Forty years ago those depositing waste would not log what they deposit and dump fires were frequent which may explain the burnt look in some veins If you look at the dump face today. There is old machinery, nylons, household furnishings, NET fertiliser sacks, road asphalt, veins of demolition waste with what looks like asbestos roofing, red and black burnt layers and lots of glass cullet.
terim protection placed on the dump cliff for health and safety reasons . The dump front needs to be made inaccessible for the curious public who were seen to pick out old pieces from the fresh view eroding dump cliff on one of our visits. It is reasonable for a full solution to take time, but short term netting and removal of potential hazards, as they emerge is the least we should expect. • An informed open discussion of solutions to the present problem of a dump falling into the sea and potential airborne hazard risk containment. Then swift implementation of the best cost effective solution. • Marking of the dump on the draft five-year development plan which is now open to consultation.
the debris on bray’s north shore If the dump stretches back to the edge of the railway line as locals believe, then over 30m depth of dump is still waiting for the sea to take. At current loss of about 1.5 m per annum, that means another 15 to 20 years of pollution and health risk ahead. Coastwatch was pleased to learn that a thorough site investigation had been carried out some years ago and that Bray and/or Wicklow coco who commissioned the study were happy that the content was nonhazardous inert material. Sadly the good news report is neither on the council’s website, nor made available so far despite of
behind it. We want to see measures put in place to control this long highly visible source of marine litter.
repeated requests. A turquoise vein which we sampled was analysed in TCD on March 19, 2015 with geologist Dr Robbie Goodgue identifying it as an industrial mineral complex - with calcite, cristobalite and vaterite from unknown source, possibly from a kiln. Further sampling and
testing is planned. Coastwatchers demanded and were promised action to address dump erosion in 2005 and again three years ago, but that only translated into little clean ups at the dump cliff face. Today’s push to address the dump problem has the weight of the new Marine Directive ( MSFD)
constituency in the run-up to the next general election, and so in theory everyone in the country is being given a platform to have their say about the issues which they think should be on the agenda for the 2016 election campaign. This is the kind of politics I like, where people essentially are telling the politicians and prospective politicians that they want items X, Y and Z on the menu for discussion – as opposed to allowing politicians set the agenda themselves, usually top-heavy with their own pet policies. At the debate I attended (it wasn’t Wicklow, it was one of the Dublin constituencies) none
of the area’s government TD’s showed up, as in Wicklow back in January. What an insult to their electorate, and what a missed opportunity. The opposition TD’s were only too happy to capitalise (David Cameron is making a similar mistake in England by prevaricating over what debates he will attend). People spoke eloquetly and with conviction on a wide range of topics, showing that they are engaged with the right mix of local and national issues and looking for proper action on the same, not posturing, hollow promises and lame excuses. The audience were, despite having been through a horrible
Coastwatch is calling for •An independent methodical check of the dump face, where sediment and material samples are taken and analysed to gain knowledge as to what is now blowing in the wind.
The dispersal of the content of an old dump via sea and wind is environmental abuse and has to stop. Bray is a beautiful town and north of the harbour there is a very rich intertidal biota. People should be able to go down and marvel at the drowned forest exposed on peat deposits after scouring tides. It is just perfect for discovering sea life between rocks, on sandy mudflats and in kelp beds fringing the low water mark. Bray has the luxury of marine expertise right there on the promenade in the SEALIFE aquarium to further research and lead fieldtrips.
• Weekly clean ups with removal of asbestos like roof sheeting pieces at the toe of the dump cliff to avoid any fibres causing lung damage to people especially children drawn to this site Netting or other suitable in-
Karin Dubsky is an environmental scientist, Trinity College Dublin. Research by Coastwatch group including Roselyn Shaw, Ashley Shak, Sean Mc Kee and Rory Keatinge and TCD staff Robbie Goodhue and Paul Johnston.
recession, looking forward and putting up solutions to problems, rather than (and it would be understandable) simply being negative and venting pentup anger. For example, as the country comes out of recession, people wanted to know if there is joined-up thinking in Kildare Street that will see us able to produce enough trained workers for the areas that will drive economic growth. Failure here will stop the recovery in its tracks. On the evidence of the debate I was at people aren’t going to be conned by the usual auction-politics that accompanies an election campaign. The demographic of the au-
dience encompassed all ages, from young first-time voters to the elderly, and all ages in between. In an election when they are likely to have Independents coming at them from left, right and centre (politically as well as physically) they are looking for something bigger this time out. Like a vision for the kind of Republic we want going forward. This is fitting given that the next election will be in 2016. Putting together some of the excellent speeches the audience members made, that Republic will be one where we aim to value everybody equally and give everyone the opportunity to reach their potential.
The country is in safe hands … the people’s
T
he People’s D e b a t e television series that Vincent Browne is running on his television programme is a pioneering initiative, and a breath of fresh air for political broadcasting in general. I recently attended one as an audience member and was very impressed with the format and presentation of the show, as well as the forum it offers the attending members of the constituency being visited. People are allowed make a speech on air and set the agenda for the politicians in attendance
Brian Quigley - far different from the usual scenario of letting politicians showboat on a stage (perhaps in response to a token audience question) while those in attendance look on as if spectating at a sporting event. Browne intends visiting every
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12 | WHAT’S HOT
Irish Hare (Photo courtesy of John Fox)
WILDLIFE
with Justin Ivory
Mad March Hares Few wildlife spectacles are as widely know and celebrated down through the ages as the seemingly random, erratic, eccentric and downright bizarre behaviour of hares in springtime! This strangest of sights has captured our imaginations so much as to give rise to that familiar expression “mad as a march hare” and was the basis for Lewis Carroll’s character the March hare in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Yet, despite its place in common folklore, few people witness this weird and wonderful behaviour and even less understand the real reasons for it. Male and female hares are known as Jack and Jill. The Jacks become ready to mate in early January but it is usually March before the majority of Jills are receptive (ready to mate). As a Jill comes into “heat” she can often end up being relentlessly pursued by a posse of Jack suitors. The Jacks, full of the joys of spring, so to speak, will tear around in frenzied circles, pawing at the Jill. For a long time the boxing behaviour of hares was erroneously attributed to the Jacks fighting over the females. The truth is that the Jills when fed-up of the advances of an over-zealous jack, will stand up on her hind legs and “box” the Jack with her forepaws. The male usually reciprocates, resulting in the “mad March hare” boxing bout behaviour. While hares breed from March to September, the peak activity is in March and April. Hares, which are normally mainly nocturnal, are more active at dawn and dusk now. Dawn is not too early at this time of year. These factors along with the fact that a lot of the fields where the action takes place are newly ploughed and still bare, means the hares are more visible to us in March, giving rise to the all ready mentioned familiar expression.
wicklowvoice.ie March 26 2015
pilates idea of the week Remedy Pilates Suite 16, Parklands Office Park, Southern Cross Road, Bray, 01 2829837 Remedy Pilates offers Pilates for everyone. They provide a strategic approach to better health, intertwining Pilates with Chartered Physiotherapy to meet the rehabilitation and fitness needs of the client. This ensures a fresh approach to looking after your health and wellbeing. They offer mat and reformer Pilates classes and cater for clients seeking to improve general health, sports performance, or in need of rehabilitation after illness or injury. A vital part of Remedy is our Chartered Physiotherapy service which takes a proactive approach to client care.
Home improvement idea of the week House of Tiles Unit 6, Southern Cross Retail Park, Bray, 01 2765775, www.houseoftiles. ie House of Tiles have over 30 years experience helping people to achieve their dream home. They have firmly established themselves as Ireland’s leading provider of quality tiles, wood floors and bathroom furniture. Drop in to their superior showroom in Bray and one of their staff will be happy to talk you through your options to ensure that you get just what you’re looking for. Showrooms are constantly upgraded to provide an extensive range all of which are competitively priced. They understand how challenging a renovation can be, but they are there to help you to make the best decision so that your home will look its very best. Keep an eye on their website for their latest special offers.
book of the week Here I Am: Challenging perceptions of Down syndrome in Ireland By Dan Murphy (available at www.downsyndrome.ie) Dan Murphy is a photographer who has been putting together a collection that celebrates the unique personalities of children with Down syndrome in Ireland. The book, which perfectly captures each individual’s personality and shows that these kids are children first and foremost, has been a labour of love for photographer Dan Murphy over the past two years. The book was launched just in time for World Down Syndrome Day. All of the proceeds from the book will go to Down Syndrome Ireland. Speaking about the book Dan said, “I have experienced first hand how every child has quite simply enhanced the lives of their families, in spite of the challenges that accompany life with a child who has this condition.”
TV SHOW of the week Irish Pictorial Weekly
RTÉ 1, Sundays, 9.30
Irish Pictorial Weekly has returned to ease your Sunday night blues. The satirical sketch show includes sketches and media manipulation featuring characters like Angela Merkel, Enda Kenny, Michael Noonan, Anne Doyle, Gerry Adams and RTÉ presenters. They will all return in this latest series as well as an array
Family fun of the week Easter egg hunt The Grand Hotel, Wicklow Town, April 4, 11am This year’s Easter egg hunt, held by Wicklow Town & District Chamber of Commerce, will be the best yet. All of the proceeds from the event will go towards The Foróige Way Project Wicklow Town. Be sure to arrive early as there is a huge crowd expected and Easter Eggs will be handed out on a first come first served basis. Children and their parents are invited to registerat the Friar’s Suite in The Grand Hotel at 11am. Here you will receive your colour coded trail. Each trail features 10-15 stops taking you from the hotel to Wicklow’s Historic Gaol. When you have finished it’s time to scurry on back to the hotel where you will receive your reward from the Easter Bunny himself.
of new characters including cavemen, Phil Hogan and people who press buttons. Irish Pictorial Weekly boast a hilarious writing team with talents such as Eleanor Tiernan, Paul Howard and Barry Murphy. There’s no better way to spend your Sunday evening than curling up with a cup of tea and having a laugh before you have to get up and face another work week.
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WHAT’S HOT| 13
March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
MOVIE of the week cinderella Gaiety Cinema, Arklow Disney’s sparkling live-action version of this popular fairy tale about an ordinary girl who wins the heart of a prince - with a little help from her fairy godmother of course. Downton Abbey star Lily James takes on the title role in Disney’s first live-action take on this iconic tale. Thor director and Shakespearean supremo Kenneth Branagh is behind the camera. The superlative cast includes Cate Blanchett, Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. And if you thought there was any hope that your children might Let It Gooo any time soon, this will burst your bubble: the animated short film Frozen Fever will be screened before the film as a special treat.
HOROSCOPES with Siobhan Moore Whelan
Energy saving idea of the week Viking Energy Glass Viking Business Park, Whitemill Industrial Estate, Wexford, 053 9144111 Thermal glazing solutions are now playing an ever important role in improving the energy efficiency and insulation in homes. Viking Energy Glass can provide home owners the opportunity to upgrade their existing glass to the best heat retaining glass available on the market today – all without replacing their window
frames! Installing low emissitity (low-e) glass can help to reduce your heating bills by up to €400.00 each year. Their effective and efficient glazing system can be completed in one day with no fuss and no costly redecoration expense. With over 30 years experience in upgrading windows across Ireland they have thousands of referrals from satisfied customers so call today for a free no obligation survey and let them show you how Viking Energy Glass can work for you.
Mental health idea of the week Upbeat on Air, Ireland’s top pop-up radio station, has returned and will be saturating the airwaves with positivity for one week only. Top presenters have volunteered their time to present the week’s programming for the station run by St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. Presenters include Ruth Scott, Aidan Power, Shay Bynre, Alan Shortt and many others. Special guests, musicians entertainers and great upbeat music choices will be the mainstay of Ireland’s first radio station dedicated to promoting positive mental health. Upbeat on Air’s objective is to promote positive mental health on the airwaves, conveying the importance of early intervention, seeking support and professional advice and managing mental health. They will be on air every day between 7am and 9pm. Pictured are Ruth Scott and Theresa Lowe. Pic: Marc O’Sullivan
Literary event of the week Yeats and his Long Legacy Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, March 27-29 Now in it’s second year, the Literary Weekend at the Courthouse Arts Centre has chosen the theme Yeats and his Long Legacy to celebrate 150 years since his birth. The weekend is jam packed full of events so don’t miss out. On Friday from 9pm classical violinist Christopher Quaide, poet Paul Byrne and singer/guitarist Christian Collins will appear at the Courthouse Cafe. Saturday morning there will be a free reading by the Courthouse Writer’s Group at 11am. From 12.15pm there will be a panel discussion and exchange as the group explore the man, his work and his legacy. Actor Tom Hickey will also read from Yeats’ works. That evening audiences will be treated to a theatre double-bill with Joyced! by Katie O’Kelly and Hairy Jaysus by Donal O’Kelly. The weekend will close out with another free event - the launch of Hugh Maxton’s book, Happen. The Wicklow author will launch his second novel from 4pm..
Gemini- 1,11,23,39,40,45 A fabulous trend that boosts your self-confidence and brings personal opportunities to advance into your life. Cancer-3,6,7,16,36,37 Spirituality is strong and your innate compassion is highlighted. You are recognised for helping others.
Virgo-12,18,26,28,30,43 New beginnings that will boost your professional life, and your reputation, to new heights. Extra income. Libra-9,14,17,27,31,39 Opportunity to expand your personal horizons are likely to present themselves, don’t overthink Libra.
GIG of the week
A founding member of Ireland’s most celebrated world music band Kíla, Rónán Ó Snodaigh is recognised as one of Ireland’s best and most innovative bodhrán players and a highly original singer songwriter. Described by Hot Press as ‘the living embodiment of Turlough O’Carolan and Bob Marley’,
Taurus-5,9,15,21,27,33 A significant gift or bonus may come your way. Perfect time to work with financial institutions, go for a raise, or apply for a loan.
Leo-7,20,25,33,36,41 Wonderful opportunities can arise for new friendships and through current friends and connections; perhaps even love.
Upbeat on Air 99.5MHz, March 23-27, 085 2299028
Rónán Ó Snodaigh with Robbie Perry The Harbour Bar, Strand Road, Bray, March 29
Aries-4,13,20,25,29,34 Career shifts can be sudden also new interests, projects, and learning endeavors are featured Aries.
and by a fans as ‘The Jimi Hendrix of Bodhrán’, Rónán mixes the Irish language, which is his first language of song writing , bluesy grooves and wild percussion to create his unique organic sound. Rónán’s contribution to the Irish language, bodhrán playing and Ireland’s music scene is being realised and he will go down in history for his boundless energy on and off stage. See him live for yourself with Robbie Perry at The Harbour Bar.
Scorpio- 2,4,6,16,36,40 Your schedule will be hectic, particularly on a social level, and there can be some challenges organizing your finances. Sagittarius-7,15,35,36,40,43 Beginning of a trend that brings great energy for forming or enhancing warm close relationships and partnerships. Capricorn-10,12,18,22,26,41 Work tends to be very available to you, and possibly too available at times, so that you may have to choose-finance flows. Aquarius- 1,13,23,31,37,42 Be strict with yourself and others when it comes to your money. Romantic week ahead. Pisces-7,10,13,26,30,37 Beginning of a new cycle in which your home life is set to improve considerably. Not a time to invest in property.
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 |ADVERTISEMENT
wicklowvoice.ie March 26 2015
SPECIAL REPORT| 15
March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
We’re there when you need us Life throws up many unexpected events ... but planning a funeral should be as painless as possible
The purpose of a funeral is to give meaning to a person’s life. It’s an opportunity for family and friends to gather and remember the deceased while offering support and comfort to one another. Planning a funeral can be an emotional process with several legal and financial matters to consider. Taking these steps can help you as you plan, whether you are planning your own funeral or that of a loved one. Plan Ahead If you are the type of person who likes to plan ahead or if you know you have a life-limiting illness, planning your own funeral may be the right thing for you. You can plan your own funeral, and even pay for it, well in advance of your death.If you are caring for a loved one who is dying, you, also, can plan the
funeral in advance. Planning ahead is a good idea, as it’s more difficult to make decisions when you’re already grieving their death.
Cover the Cost Paying for the funeral in advance may appeal to those individuals who prefer not to burden their families with difficult decisions and funeral costs.You don’t necessarily need to pay for services in advance but can still set money aside, so as not to burden family members financially, by setting up a payable-on-death (POD) account at your bank. When you set up this type of account, you name the person you want to handle you arrangements as the beneficiary. These accounts don’t have to go through probate and the money goes directly to the beneficiary at
the time of death.
Make Your Wishes Known If you’re planning your own, talk with your family about your funeral wishes to make sure they know what you want. Having a verbal conversation about your wishes will paint a better picture for your loved ones than written requests. Consult with your attorney before you finalize anything. Keep a written record of your funeral arrangements close at hand, perhaps in a file cabinet at home, rather than in a safe deposit box. You’ll want you family to have timely access to your records when they need them. Contact Funeral Directors Contact several funeral directors in your area to compare prices and available options. You
can request written information about the cost of the merchandise, services, and professional fees before finalizing any plans. The funeral home staff will assist you in obtaining death certificates and in preparing and submitting the obituary.Discuss any religious or cultural preferences that you would like honored with the funeral director. The director can help you contact the clergy member you’ve chosen to perform the memorial service or you help you locate one. Flowers vs. Donations Most guests at a funeral will bring flowers or have them sent unless they are instructed otherwise. If you would rather your guest donate money to a charity in lieu of flowers, you can make that request in the obituary and by word of mouth. Be sure to
include instructions on where to send donations. Choose Your Disposition The final plans for the deceased’s remains include: Burial – Burial requires purchasing a cemetery plot, casket, grave liner or vault, and grave marker or monument. Entombment – A patient or family may choose to have the body entombed above ground in a casket placed in a tomb or mausoleum. Cremation – Cremation is a heat process which reduces the remains to ashes. The ashes can be stored in a urn and buried, placed in a niche at a cemetery, kept at home, or scattered. If the wish is for the ashes to be scattered, you should consult with the funeral director regarding legal restrictions.
16 | LIFESTYLE
wicklowvoice.ie March 26 2015
my favourite things With Spring-time climes slowly kicking in and coming to life, now is the ideal time to simplify and refresh your new season style accordingly. Getting rid of worn, tired and ill-fitting items is an essential step in the Spring cleaning process, and as we move out of the dark Winter months and into a brighter period, it’s best to store those heavy duty items away, and make space for the updated Spring/Summer pieces that will take pride of place in our wardrobes for the next few months. Even if the weather doesn’t fully reflect the fashion just yet, the shops are full of fresh new collections and you’ll need to have plenty of great goto outfit options for cooler, rainy days and equally for when the sun comes out to play. Once your new look is sorted, you should cast a critical eye over stuffed dressers, drawers and anything else that may also need the Spring Clean treatment. Here I’ve put together a few suggestions for a fun, bright and bold SS15…
Trench Talk
Light-weight, versatile, contemporary yet classic, this powder blue duster coat is everything you’d expect from a Spring outerwear hero piece and more. Perfectly suitable for those in between, bit of everything days, this trans-seasonal trenchstyle coat in the shade of the moment has zero bulk, looks fabulous and flatters workwear, dresses and casual looks alike, score! Duster coat Penneys €28
Footloose
WHAT’s HOT
with Mairead Vickers info@wicklowvoice.ie
and backless mules, when choosing a new season shoe, why not make a sassy statement and a strong impact with cool graphics, artsy prints and powerful patterns? Essie flat ballerina Moda in Pelle €82 Available at Azur Greystones 01 2557826
Bright Eyes
Upgrade your Spring makeup kit with an injection of some much needed colour. These fun, cheeky shimmer cubes are the perfect palette of four vibrant shades designed to mix and match for high impact. Use dry for a blend of popping colours or wet for a dramatic colour statement. Yellow Poppy Shimmer Cube The Body Shop €22
Mellow Yellow
Another hot shade for SS15, nothing gives more of a Spring-Summer vibe than this season’s custard yellow. Used alone for maximum impact or in smaller doses as an accent colour, choosing soft furnishings to channel the trend is an effective way to experiment minus the fashion risk! Hello Sunshine cushion Tesco €13
Stacks of Style
With unlimited Spring footwear styles now readily available, it’s probably fair to say that your tootsies have never been so spoiled for choice. From loafers and brogues to peep-toe booties
Keep track of inspiring images, articles and essential reading material while jazzing up your work/home space at the same time by storing your vast collection of glossies in this playful raindrop print magazine holder. Magazine Holder Tiger Stores €3
Mairead Vickers Styling
Covering a wide range of fashion styling and image consulting services; including customised style advice and personal shopping services at home or on the go, Mairéad Vickers Styling offers a unique gift experience and a one-stop shop for your complete wardrobe needs. Email enquiries to info@maireadvickers.com
HOORAY FOR hugo’s restaurant review The boss and I had the great pleasure last week of being guests of the Wicklow Voice’s good friends at Druids Glen as they opened their new restaurant, Hugo’s. The five-star resort has just undergone a spectacular €3m revamp and has appointed Malek Hamidouche as its Executive Head Chef in recent months. Hailing from Paris, Malek has Michelin experience coming out of his ears having spent time in La Ferme Saint Simon at the Hyatt Regency in Paris and at Mint Restaurant Dublin. And going by the fare on offer last week, it won’t be too long before Hugo’s is being mentioned in the same breath. Marrying French flair with modern Irish ingredients, Malek has put together a fantastic offering that will rival any restaurant in the country. Malek prides himself on the use of local excellence and seasonality, and is now offering the best of Irish contemporary cooking against a spectacular backdrop of Wicklow’s hills and mountains.
On the night, we were treated to a tasting menu that kicked off with some Amuse Bouche followed by ‘Study of Organic Salmon’ which included a delightful mixture of Confit, Lime Cured, Rillette, Brulée, Orange & Avocado Espuma and Cucumber Caviar. Then came the fabulous Foie Gras and Duck Terrine, Croquette, Smoked Liquid Sphere Pear Textures, Liquor Cherry and Ginger Bread Crisp before our palettes were cleansed with a delightful Fennel and Basil Sorbet with Soya Sauce Pearls. Then came the main event of the velvet-like Black Angus Beef Fillet, Brisket Terrine and Cheeks Beignet with Wild
Mushroom Gratin (particularly amazing) and Claret Sauce. Finished off Fondant, Mille Feuilles, Mousse, Cocoa Jelly, Chocolate Temptation and Pistachio Ice Cream there was barely room for the Petit Fours. Washed down with Caves de la Tourangelle Touraine Sauvignon Blanc (Loire) and Chateau Ducla Rouge (Bordeaux) this was one of the finest meals I’ve had in Ireland and it was all the more satisfying knowing that it was sourced and cooked locally. Book a table now before you can’t get one. Hugo’s, Druids Glen Resort, Co. Wicklow, 01 287 0847. CL
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March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
recipes
Peter Byrne
Head Chef at Sika Restaurant in The Powerscourt Hotel
SALAD OF SMOKED SALMON WITH BLOOD ORANGES AND CORRIANDER
US food giant to target Avoca with multi-million bid By Michelle McGlynn
Ingredients Serves 4 3 blood oranges 1 bulb fennel Sliced side of smoked salmon 1 bunch of coriander 100ml olive oil
Method: Thinly slice the salmon with a sharp knife and fan out on plates. Segment two off the oranges, zest and juice the third. Thinly slice the fennel on a mandolin and submerge into iced water for a few minutes.
Make a dressing with the oil juice zest and some chopped coriander. Strain off the fennel mix with the orange segments and chopped coriander arrange on the plate with the smoked salmon and drizzle with the dressing season with cracked black pepper and sea salt
One of Wicklow’s great business success stories is set for a multimillion euro takeover. Avoca has emerged as a target for American food giant, Aramark Corporation, after it became apparent at the end of 2014 that the business was up for sale. The Avoca handmill dates back to 1723 and was acquired by solictor Donald Pratt in 1974 when it had fallen into disrepair. Avoca now employs 800 people with annual revenues of more than €57m a year and in the year to January 2014 the company made profits of €1.5m. In addition to their headquarters in Kilmacanogue and the branch in Mount Usher Gardens, Ashford, Avoca has seven other outlets throughout the country. Avoca have positioned themselves within the Irish
market as a destination store with many of the branches focused around a cafe or restaurant. The Wicklow brand is one of the most distinctive and successful brands in Irish retail. Aramark is currently one of the largest multinational employers in the country and first entered the Irish market through the purchase of a stake in Campbell Catering in 2007. They have since expanded into facilities management through the €50m acquisition of Veris two years later. Aramark employs 4,000 people in Ireland in food services, facilities management and environmental services. Although they are not yet involved in the retail arena, the company would see synergies with it food services division which is headed by Frank Gleeson, former retail director of Topaz. The decision to sell Avoca comes as the Pratt family
look forward to a future outside of the business. The largest stakeholders are Simon, Amanda and Ivan Pratt, Donald’s children, while the recent expansion of the business has been spearheaded by Simon and Amanda. Simon Pratt, the Avoca chief executive, said in an interview last year that it would be “unlikely” that the company would be passed on to the next generation. His sister Amanda, who ran the fashion and design side of the company, left Avoca in December of last year and has since been linked with a revamp of Bewley’s Cafe on Dublin’s Grafton Street. Avoca has an international reputation for excellence and featured as one of the 100 most inspirational stores in the world in the international trade magazine Retail Week. In 2013, the business was voted Ireland’s store of the year.
18 | LIFESTYLE wicklowvoice.ie March 26 2015
top tips FOR insulation
• Insulate your attic well and save up to 20% on your home heating bill. If your attic insulation is currently less than 200 mm, then you should add further layers. There are a variety of suitable materials including mineral wool, rock wool, sheeps wool, polystyrene, cellulose fibre and multi-layered foil. • Wall insulation can be increased in a number of ways. The pay-back period is dependent on a number of factors including type, thickness and quality of existing insulation. The most popular types of insulation systems are, (i) insulated dry lining, (ii) blown mineral or cellulose fibre or polystyrene beads into the cavity, or (iii) rigid external insulation with render or brick finish. Specialist advice should be sought in all cases. • Choose double glazed units
when replacing windows. Much of the heat loss from a house occurs through the windows particularly if they are single glazed. • If replacing the hot water cylinder, a cylinder with factory applied insulation should be considered. Such insulation is more effective at retaining heat than a lagging jacket, is less easily damaged and cannot be pulled out of place. • A lagging jacket on your hot water cylinder will keep water hotter for longer and pay for itself in 2-3 months • Keep curtains closed at night and ensure that the curtains don’t hang over the radiators. • A reflective foil, backed by insulation if space permits should be fixed behind radiators mounted on external walls
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LIFESTYLE| 19
March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
Cracking things to do with kids this Easter The Forest Train Avondale Forest Park, Rathdrum, April 3-6, 11am4.30pm
Take your family on an adventure through the magical forest to begin a fun, fact-finding nature trail. Every child will have a booklet filled with interesting things to look out for and fun facts. Ned, the resident Woodsman, is a great storyteller and will tell tales of the forest. There will be a wooden Easter egg hunt in the forest meadow. Then it will be back to The Barn House for some fun egg decorating. There will be a springtime market in The Barn House and an Electric Zoo. Tickets for the train are €12 per child and €6 per adult. (See ad on page 16) Tara’s Palace Museum of Childhood Powerscourt House, Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, 01 2748090 A unique day out for all the family and one that you will always remember. Tara’s Palace is a great way to spend a family day out this Easter. You can meet their Easter
chicken and why not give their Easter quiz a try while you’re there? The magical miniature world found within Tara’s Palace Museum of Childhood is yours to explore. The museum is home to Ireland’s largest period doll house, Tara’s Palace. All donations received by Tara’s Palace during the busy Easter period will be donated to the Down Syndrome Centre. Amber Springs Easter Train Wexford Road, Gorey, Co Wexford, March 28-April 6
Amber Springs are celebrating Easter with Alice in Wonderland. You can follow Alice on an adventure as you take the train to Wonderland. You and Alice will meet the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and the Easter bunny. Help the white rabbit to find all the Easter eggs that are hidden around Wonderland. The train will then take you to the giant Easter Village where you can paint eggs, visit the Mad Hatter’s house, hold court with the Queen and join in the
maddest tea party in town. Tickets are €8 and can be booked at www.eastertrainexperience.ie. Spongehunt at Sea Life Bray Strand Road, Bray, March 27-April 19 To coincide with the release of the hugely anticipated new SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water on March 27, the famous SquarePantswearing sponge will be making a guest appearance in miniature at the Sea Life Bray for two weeks only – bringing with him the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom. Guests at the Bray aquarium will follow a fun trail with a free ‘Spongehunt’ map and stickers, helping SpongeBob by spotting miniature models of the underwater star’s friends as they go - from Sandy Squirrel to Squidward Tentacles, Mr Krabs and Patrick Star, they’re all hiding somewhere! There’s also an entire marine world to explore including rays, sharks and the brand new Jewels of the Irish Sea.
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Noel Dodd and Brian Flannery waiting for the kickoff at the Carlisle Grounds when Bray Wanderers took on Bohemians last week
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March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
SIX APPEAL
Ladies Workout Express are the only gym in Bray who cater exclusively to women of all ages and fitness levels. They are currently celebrating their sixth birthday and they want you to join them. The gym provides women with professional equipment and classes to help them to achieve their desired goals in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. The team at Ladies Workout Express Bray know that the time you spend in the gym is your time and they seek to ensure that every member gets the individual attention they need and that everything runs smoothly. They have a complete range of fitness and exercise equipment designed exclusively for women. They offer a variety of classes and there is something to suit everybody of all fitness capabilities. There are early morning workouts for the early birds who want to get in a workout before they head to work or for busy mothers hoping to pop in after dropping the kids off at school. If you’re not one for early mornings then you could avail of their lunchtime workout
ladies workout express celebrates its birthday
Brenda Hempenstall (manager) and Diane Flanagan (owner) instead. Some women are looking to focus on toning rather than a full cardio workout and Ladies Workout Express have got you covered with their Body Tone class. At Ladies Workout Express they make sure that you will look forward to going to the gym rather than viewing it as a chore. Their instructors are so upbeat and enthusiastic that you cannot help but get swept up in it yourself. The Zumba class will get your blood pumping and leave you grinning from
ear to ear, there is no workout quite like it. There are kettlebell classes and boxercise classes as well as ones that focus on specific areas that women may wish to target such as the core, abs and legs. Perhaps their most popular class is The Biggest Loser Express, this is a six week fitness and nutritional programme. The course is only â‚Ź79 and you are provided with weekly food plans as well as the choice of over 40 free members classes per week. Most importantly you
will receive the support and encouragement that is vital to achieving success. Stress free, fun filled ,health and fitness all under the one roof. With all of this on offer plus free parking and a hair and beauty salon in-house what more could a woman want? Diane Flanagan (owner), Breda Hempenstall (manager) and all the team would like to thank their members, friends and colleagues for their support over the past six years and wish a happy and healthy Easter to all.
22 | SPORT sport in brief Enniskerry FC Enniskerry FC Girls under 14 football team returned from Galway as FAI Umbro Women’s U14 Cup Champions following a 2-0 victory over local girls from Cregmore, Claregalway. The girls’ success makes this a double victory, coming just a week after them winning the Leinster Under 14’s Cup Victory over Dublin club, Shelbourne FC. This was Enniskerry FC’s first appearance in a national final since the formation of the girls section of the club and will hopefully be the first of many going forward.
Bray Emmets The lotto number drawn were 17, 23, 5, 3. There was no winner, the next jackpot will be €12,300. Don’t forget that Bray Emmets Easter Camp will be running from March 30-April 3. Contact Willie Braine 086 0266506 or Dave Barry 086 1208083 for details. The Hurling Feile will take place in Ballinakill on March 28 and 29. Throw in as at 2pm and all support is greatly appreciated by the team. The annual club dinner
wicklowvoice.ie March 26 2015 dance takes place on April 24 in the Royal Hotel, Bray. Put the date in your diary now as it will be a great night to celebrate the club. The St Patrick’s day parade was a huge success, congratulations to everyone who was involved.
Arklow Geraldines Well done to all who took part in the St Patrick’s day parade, especially Jimmy Dunne who was Grand Marshall. The Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney float won the Best Cultural and Irish Traditional Float. Best of luck to the AGB Scór Sinsear Ballad group who will travel to Ballymore, Co Westmeath to compete in the Leinster finals of the Sinsear competition on March 29.
An Tóchar Men’s Intermediate team will get the competitive season underway with an away game against Rathnew at 4pm. Membership subscriptions are due before March 31 to ensure insurance cover. Memberships should be paid to Registrar Paul Brady or any member of the committee.
Shankill GAA The Juvenile Academy returns to Shanganagh Castle
from this Saturday. The Academy caters for children aged 4-8 at only €2 per week. There is no annual subscription fee and it covers gaelic football, hurling and camogie. There will be no Academy, training or games on the Easter weekend. There was no winner of the Chase the Ace Sunday night draw, the jackpot is currently €2,050. Training for the men’s adult football team in Rathmichael School on Thursday night at 9pm.
Allianz Cumann na mBunscol
Finals day for the Girls Allianz Football Blitz has been provisionally set for the week of April 20. This is when we link up with south and west Wicklow. Thanks to everyone who participated in day two of the Boys Allianz football league and to those who helped to organise it. It was a fine occasion for all involved.
Garden County Academy
U13 boys are reminded to get a sponsorship card filled for the upcoming 5K run on April 11. There will be no training on this day to allow participation in the fun run.
Div 1 Winners St. Kevin’s and Div 3 Winners St Laurences in Boys Football Allianz League at Bray Emmets
sport| 23
March 26 2015 wicklowvoice.ie
insideback
with Brian Quigley
How Wicklow won the Six Nations It was a fabulous day to be an Irish rugby supporter last Saturday and Wicklow played no small part in Ireland’s Six Nations triumph. Local man Richie Murphy, a former Presentation College Bray student and outhalf for Greystones, is part of the Ireland and Leinster coaching structure – currently he is the kicking coach having previously worked with Joe Schmidt at Leinster. Luke Fitzgerald won his first cap in four years against Scotland at the weekend following a series of careerthreatening injuries. Luke is a local to Enniskerry after his family moved there when he was a child and attended school in Blackrock College - although we won’t hold that against him this time! It’s hard to recall a more absorbing, entertaining and ultimately rewarding day’s sport. Going into the final day of the 2015 RBS Six Nations Championship, any one of four teams (Ireland, England, France
or Wales) could have won the title. The decision to sequence the games so that they ran one-after-the-other rather than concurrently was a masterstroke. The thrills, spills and tension went right down to the wire, culminating in an Ireland Championship win that will live long in the memory of all who witnessed this fantastic day’s sport. Wales were first up and knew they had to put a hefty points total up on the board away to Italy if they were going to keep their Championship hopes alive beyond the end of their own game. Despite some first-half resistance from Italy, the Welsh stepped it up in the second period and ran out 20-61 victors, meaning that Ireland had to win by a 21 point margin over Scotland in Edinburgh if they were to retain the title. Ireland rose to the challenge and ran out 10-40 winners, a superb effort when it mattered
that morning. Unfortunately the Stones ladies lost out to a strong Balbriggan side. Staying with Greystones, the men’s first XV take on Bruff in their final home game of the 2014-2015 All Ireland Rugby League Division 2B campaign this Saturday March 28 at half two in Dr Hickey Park.
Enniskerry FC Girls Under 14 Football Team, sponsored by Hunters Estate Agent, who returned from Galway this weekend as FAI Umbro Women’s U14 Cup Champions (see story on page 22) most. Having lost to Wales the week before Ireland answered their critics (incredibly their were some) in style. This Ireland win threw down the gauntlet to England, who needed to beat France in Twickenham by a whopping 26 points to overhaul Joe Schmidt’s warriors. Incredibly, they nearly did
it. In a thrilling game of rugby Stuart Lancaster’s men broke all sorts of records, beating France by 55-35 and coming within a converted try of winning the title. Ireland must be one of the favourites going into this year’s Rugby World Cup, and deservedly so. They have a world-class management team
and coaching structure and it is paying dividends. Greystones RFC Believe it or not last Saturday’s marathon rugby day had started even earlier for some in the county, with Greystones RFC involved in the Leinster Women’s League Division Four decider at Donnybrook at 11am
Bray Wanderers I watched the closing stages of last Saturday’s rugby on the seafront in Bray in advance of the Wanderers versus Bohemians soccer clash and it was a pleasure to see Bray and Bohemians fans enjoying the rugby together, united in their support for Ireland. A nice sporting moment to make the day even more special. Sadly, Wanderers lost out to Bohs by the only goal of the game but are at home again this Saturday, March 28 against Cork. Come and support the Seagulls and help them get some points up on the board.
local rivals kick off league
EASTERN AND SOUTH EASTERN
Public Consultation Days DRAFT FLOOD MAPS BALTINGLASS, Co Wicklow Date
Monday 30th March 2015
Time
3.00pm - 7.00pm
Venue
Germaines of Baltinglass, Main St, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow
AVOCA, Co Wicklow
AGB kicked off the Junior League with a home game against Tinahely Junior Ladies. This was a very competitive encounter with the Arklow side leading at the break 1-4 to 0-3. Sarah Kendrick, Vicky O’Brien, and Róisín O’Reilly were all on target for AGB, helped by the welcome return of Aisling Appleby to the Arklow forward line. Marsha McKay stepped into the goal in place of the regular keeper and had a fine save towards the end of the half. In the second half Tinahely had the upper hand scoring 2-3 for the half despite the valiant efforts of Becky Condren in the goal for this period. Condren stopped a penalty to keep Arklow in the game to the final whistle. A further point from Róisín O’Reilly and two from Angelika Pyciak left the closing balance 1-7 to Arklow and 2-6 to Tinahely. This was a fast and sporting contest and sets the scene for an interesting Junior Ladies season ahead.
Date
Tuesday 31st March 2015
Time
3.00pm - 7.00pm
Venue
Avoca Community Hall, Avoca, Co Wicklow
Are you at risk of flooding? A public consultation is being held on draft flood maps which show the extent of flood risk in Baltinglass and Avoca. Your comments on the draft maps and your experiences of flooding in these areas would be most welcome. The draft maps will be on display on the above dates and will also be accessible through the project websites: www.eastcframstudy.ie and www.southeastcframstudy.ie
In partnership with:
WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL COMHAIRLE CHONTAE CHILL MHANTÁIN
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