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Eirgrid now planning to bury cables underground By Cianan Brennan
Plans for a controversial new underground north-south energy highway may see the western parts of County Wicklow affected. State energy company Eirgrid is to evaluate all possibilities for the underground powerlines and will announce their findings later in the year the Wicklow Voice has learned. Until now the plans for the new energy links between Cork and Kildare, otherwise known as the Grid Link project, had been based around a series of overhead pylons which had garnered much criticism across the country. These planned routes would see parts of Wicklow affected, in particular Baltinglass but also Blessington and Tinahely. However Eirgrid has announced that, in common with the Grid West initiative
between Mayo and Leitrim, underground solutions are now on the table. An Eirgrid spokesman confirmed to the Wicklow Voice that the mooted underground lines will not necessarily affect the same areas as the overhead pylons. “An underground route has many different factors that need to be considered when evaluating its viability,” he said. “Things that would affect the construction of overhead lines do not necessarily apply to underground pipelines, and vice versa, so really you’re talking about a whole new ball game,” he added. However, he did confirm that such underground pipelines may well follow the network of roads that are already in place, as is the case with the Grid West Mayo pipeline. “That is certainly a factor, and we will be consulting in
depth with the National Roads Authority (NRA) in relation to this,” he said. In January the power operator, which took charge of the country’s energy concerns in 2006, announced potential routes for the series of pylons that would be erected as part of their revamp of Ireland’s energy networks. In April of this year almost 7,000 people marched through Dublin city centre to Leinster House in protest at the states’s energy policies. The demonstrators, who included volunteers from Wicklow organisation Wicklow Against Pylons, accused the Government of failing to listen and engage sincerely with the communities affected by “flawed energy policies” which, they said, had the potential to damage both the tourist economy as well as people’s health.
DADDY’S ICE COOL:GIRL A reveller : Craigenjoys Brittonthe with sunny his daughter weather and Molly an(2) icecream at the opening during the of the Groove new Wood Festival Floor in Killruddery Gallery @ Matt House Britton and Gardens. Kilcoole.Pic More bypictures Lorna O’Brien inside page 22. »»Lots Lotsmore morepictures picturesfrom fromaround aroundthe thecounty countyinside inside
2 | NEWS news in brief Garden exhibition Gormley’s Fine Art, in conjunction with Russborough House will host a major garden sculpture exhibition in the magnificent Palladian mansion and parklands of Russborough, Blessington. Over 100 sculptures will be on display from leading Irish and international sculptors ranging from lifesize installations to smaller intimate pieces. The exhibition will run from July 19 until August 10.
wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
Good news for Gavin
Open Door success The Open Door mid-summer lunch was hugely successful this year and raised €3, 293. They hope to raise even more funds and awareness on July 12 with The Big Push, a wheelchair push that will begin on Bray Main Street at 12pm. Contact Suzanne Cox on 01 2867123 for details.
Journal launch
The latest Journal of the Wicklow Historical Society has been launched and the 2014 edition is once again a bumper package filled with articles on the heritage of Wicklow and district and contains some very interesting old photographs.
Gavin and his parents are presented with a certificate by the Houston Police Department who paid the toddler a surprise visit By Cianan Brennan
remove the malignant tumors from Gavin’s pelvis and peform the innovative HIPEC chemotherapy treatment as planned. It had been expected that Gavin’s bladder and colon would have to be removed but the surgical team were able to avoid doing so in getting at the tumors. Gavin’s father John posted the happy news on his T eam Gavin Glynn blog immediately after the surgery. “We really believe what has happened today is a miracle
It has been a long hard jour ney for the Glynn family, but now there is finally some good news for them to savour. Their son Gavin, who has been battling a rare form of cancer for the past three years, underwent a very specialised form of surgery in Houston, T exas, and afterwards the 11-hour operation was declared a resounding success. Surgeon Dr. Hayes Jordan was able to successfully
JULY EVENTS AT THE HARBOUR BAR Thur 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Thur 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Thur 31 Fri 1 Sat 2 Sun 3 Mon 4
JEMSON GREEN/WHITE CHALK CORNER BOY [Folk/Americana] THE ESKIES [Folk] DERMOT BYRNE [Country Blues]
[AMA Emerging Artists]
BETTY SWING MACHINE [Swing] LAND OF THE GIANTS [Rock reggae ska blues] THE ROCKETS [Vintage 50s Rock and Roll] THE SQUARE PEGS [Chicago, New Orleans blues, 50s R&B] SWEENEY’S JAZZMEN [Dixieland Jazz] THE BURNING EFFIGIES [Funk] TBC THE BANG BANG BAND [Covers] MONGOOSE [Jazz Folk]
and it is down to everyone’s prayers and positive thoughts being answered for Gavin and the medical team involved, for that we cannot thank everyone enough,” he said. When it became clear that an operation in T exas was his final option over €400,000 was raised in charitable donations across Ireland in less than a week in order to fund his care. From everyone at the Wicklow Voice we wish him a speedy recovery.
news in brief Stop Making Sense to be screened Thirty years after its initial release when it screened for an incredible 20 weeks in Dublin’s Ambassador cinema, live concert movie Stop Making Sense is showing at the Mermaid Arts Centre for one night only. T alking Heads fans will be delighted to know that the furniture will be pushed back to make room for more dancing when the film screens on July 12. Book now to avoid disappointment.
Arklow McDonald’s scoops top prize Wasantha Samarakkodi, Business Manager of the McDonald’s Restaurant in Arklow, has won a Ray Kroc Award, an accolade that recognises the top performing McDonald’s managers in Europe. Wasantha, who has been working at McDonald’s Arklow for 2 and a half years, was awarded his prize on June 25 at the Ray Kroc Awards gala event in Barcelona hosted by Doug Goare, President of McDonald’s Europe.
Wicklow clubs get €1.2m in sports funding By Cianan Brennan
WICKlOw sporting institutions received a bumper windfall as the Department of arts, sport and Tourism announced their sporting fund allocations for 2014. The grant, which returns after skipping a year in 2013, is designed to help sporting clubs and associations of all hues in their running or in funding specific projects. In all, Wicklow clubs received a total of €1.2 million from the department to aid in the progress and development of sport within the county. at 4% of the overall fund of €34 million, the grants are generally in line with Wicklow’s population and size in general overall. Top of the pile was the Loreto Bray Community Sports Project (incorporating Bray Hockey Club) which received funding of €133,000, the vast majority of which will go towards regenerating the school’s hockey pitch. seven different Gaa clubs throughout the county received funding totalling €570,000, almost half of the total fund, with arklow Geraldines and Bray Emmets receiving the largest mounts of €100,000 each. Four soccer clubs (including Wicklow Rovers and ashford Rovers) were granted €112,000. Rugby was sparsely represented, with the €61,000 granted to arklow RFC the sole payment made to any club. Indeed, the most notable changes from the funding provided two years ago is the lesser amount of grants for rugby teams, with three teams across the county receiving €90,000 in total in 2012. Bray Bowling Club maintained its large grant from
2012 (when it was allocated €77,000) in receiving €60,000. Cobra, Rathdrum and sugarloaf gymnastics clubs received a total of €67,000 between them. Blessington sailing Club and Kildare Water safety received some €36,000, while Bray sailing and Three Castles Rowing Club were given €18,000 and €17,000 respectively. arklow Lawn Tennis Club were granted €40,000, one of the largest grants for a sport with more marginal interest from the population. Wicklow Cricket Club and Enniskerry and Grangecon Boxing Clubs all received small grants of less than €10,000. Community projects other than Loreto Bray were well represented, with the Wolfe Tone Community Centre in Bray receiving €50,000, while Ballinacor Community Project and the People’s Park User’s Committee were granted €42,000 and €17,000 respectively. The smallest amount granted was to County Wicklow Tennis Club which received just €1,000. All grants were allocated following an application by the institution in question, with funding allocated after consideration by the Department. applications were submitted between January and May of this year. The sporting Capital Programme is designed to assist and aid in the development of voluntary and community organisations, and particularly prioritises the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sporting facilities. County Wicklow’s funding has jumped by almost €300,000 from the €929,000 received the last time the sports Capital Programme was run in 2012.
NEWS |3
July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
wicklow people in pictures
Morgane Lemarie and Pawel Kozlowski in Platform Pizza in Bray, which has just been extended.
Louise Rumgay and Margaret Hallihan out and about in Mount Usher.
Santiago Balbontin and Elizabeth Balbontin selling homemade jam and chili on the pier of Wicklow Harbour.
Itsy Bitsy Crab Spider pictured in Arklow! Crab spiders don’t build webs to catch their prey. Instead, they rely on camouflage and ambush. Some species can even change colour to match the flower they are on. (pic: Yvette O Beirne)
Wayne Kelly of Kelly’s fresh fruit and veg in Newtown.
Dick McGahon and Ann McCormack out and about in Bray.
4| NEWS
wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
NEWS |5
July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
You Ripper ... rockers to play Summerfest TOP rockers The Riptide Movement have been added to Bray’s summerfest line-up. Fresh from their set at the epic Glastonbury Festival, the Dublin band are gearing up for some fun in the sun at Ireland’s largest free summer festival on July 18. summerfest director Mick Glynn said “The Bray summerfest pride ourselves on our music selections, dedicated to providing entertainment to our vast and varied audience from Trad to Tribute, Rock, Pop and classical or country-by booking established acts as well as supporting artists to who are only at the beginning of promising careers. “The Riptide Movement are no strangers to Bray summerfest as we noted their potential which saw them performing in previous years. We are delighted to see their return after such success and welcome them back with a very warm reception.”
news in brief Wicklow CoderDojo PUBlIC meetings are being held to establish if there is a demand and support for additional coding clubs in the county. CoderDojo is an open source, volunteer led movement orientated around running free not-for-profit coding clubs for young people. meetings will be held in St. John’s Hall in Hacketstown on July 14, Powerscourt Arms Hotel in Enniskerry on July 15 and Enterprise Centre in Carnew on July 17.
Kim is Out of Control Wicklow singer/songwriter Kim Hayden is best known for her impressive stint on the Voice of Ireland in 2012. Now she is releasing a single with none other than Paddy Casey. out of Control is available to pre-order on itunes now. Christine O’Callaghan, Millie (4) and Katie Farrell This is just a sensational start to a breath-taking weekend, which features the Bray air spectacular on sunday July 20 including a practice run on saturday July 19 and the International Food and Craft Market over both days. Further free music will take place over the weekend on Brays beautiful bandstand including Raglans with their new
wave guitars, gritty pop melodies and uplifting indie folk as well as tribute act Coldplace, who cover the tracks of Coldplay-currently the biggest band in the world. This year promises to be another great summer for fami lies and Individuals of all ages with five weekends of over 60 events encompassing music acts and artists, new addition of the
Lexie (9 months), Emma, Addie (3), Jeff Cole and Theo relax on Bray Seafront ahead of Bray Summerfest International street Performers Festival, Bray Head slide, Family Fiesta and the Wicklow Food and Garden Festival. You can also find the summerfest Fun Fair and a summer Bay style kids area every day from July 12 until Bray summerfest comes to a close on august 4. Thousands of people applied
for 700 tickets to get the chance to fly down a water slide on Bray Head as part of the summerfest. The slide will be made from hay bales and tarpaulin and will have free-flowing water with some suds thrown in. The participants will use li-los to slide the 90 metres down the hill - reaching speeds of up to 25km per hour.
Summer sounds Enjoy strawberries and cream while you listen to the Garda band play some easy listening and summer jazz on July 15 at Newcastle hospital, Greystones. the aim of the event is to promote awareness of the importance of good mental health and to highlight the significant changes that have been made in the area of mental health services.
6| NEWS
wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
New York, Paris ... Wicklow?
Garden County named among top 10 most romantic movie locations
WHaT has Wicklow got in common with new York, Rome and Paris, you might ask yourself? Well according to a new survey it’s among the top 10 most romantic film locations in the world in celebration of International Kissing Day. Ranked in first place, Kenya’s ngong Hills have been described as the best place on earth for couples to pucker up – thanks to the Robert Redfordstarring Out Of Africa film. In second place of the dreamiest destinations inspired by movies is Paris, thanks to Before sunset, with lead Ethan Hawke; followed by new York where some of sleepless in Seattle was filmed. new York was voted third of the best places in the world for couples to pucker up while Rome featured fourth – thanks to Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn – while the Wicklow Mountains, featured in PS I Love You, fills out the top five. The list, put together by Travelzoo, celebrates International Kissing Day on sunday, and ranks Halona Cove, Hawaii in sixth place –
news in brief €193k for Arklow FINE Gael tD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed the news that funding of €193,500 is to be allocated for Arklow piers and harbours. the money will be used to boost marine and leisure tourism and for the ongoing maintenance and development of piers and harbours. this is very welcomes news for the local communities of the areas involved.
Sharks encounter
Groovy crowd: Some of the faces from the Groove concert which took place in Killruddery Estate due to the film From Here To Eternity, starring Burt lancaster and Deborah Kerr. Gone With The Wind location Atlanta features in seventh place, followed by Tokyo with scarlett Johansson’s lost In Translation, then Bakewell in England with Pride & Prejudice, and Chocolat destination Burgundy in France rounding out the top 10. Maire Bonheim, a spokesman for Travelzoo, said: “lovers and singletons can travel around the world and back in time with our
selection of favourite romantic flicks of all time. “The 10 destinations each reflect a memorable love story to inspire those looking for a smooch!” Ps I love You was released in 2007 and was generally panned by critics. The film, which starred Hillary swank and Gerard Butler, was based on the novel by Cecilia Ahern. The film was shot on locations in new York City and throughout Wicklow.
For 2014, SEA lIFE invites you to experience the Shark reef Encounter. Discover Ireland’s largest collection of sharks, and marvel at these amazing creatures up close. With hourly feeds, the opportunity to touch a starfish, and a play area for toddlers, there’s a summer full of activity in SEA lIFE
Hot Spot’s new home Popular Greystones music venue Hot Spot has found a new home. they remain tight-lipped about their new location but the news that it has found a new home is sure to make music lovers very happy.
July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
NEWS|7
8 | NEWS wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
Pensioners to battle for free travel passes OlDEr people in Wicklow have reacted with fury over rumours that the Government is planning to make changes to the awarding of the free travel pass. “This is a scheme which is working well and is highly valued by older people as a key support which enables them to live independently and with dignity,” age action spokesman Eamon Timmins told the Wicklow Voice. “any attempt to meddle with, or water-down, the scheme would create a whole new set of problems for Ireland’s ageing population.” The comments came at the launch of the older people’s charity’s “Hands Off Our Travel Passes” campaign, which aims to rally support against any negative changes to the scheme. The Government is currently reviewing the travel pass scheme
and a decision is expected in the near future. It is considering one of three changes: • To introduce an annual charge for the travel pass; • To limit the times at which it can be used; • To restrict the forms of transport on which it can be used. Age Action has surveyed 500 members across Ireland who highlighted how important their travel passes were for carrying out everyday tasks such as getting their shopping, collecting
their pensions, attending medical appointments, visiting family and friends, social activities. Significantly, without their travel passes they said they would not be able to attend medical/health appointments (57%), shop (55%), carry out personal journeys (eg to the bank or post office, 43%) or visit family or friends (61%). It is also important for the domestic tourism industry with 60% of older people using their pass to go on a holiday or short break.
Pat Doyle, Ellen Reddin and Phyllis Talbot were at the launch of Age Action’s “Hands Off Our Travel Passes” campaign which aims to rally support against proposed changes to the travel scheme for older people.
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www.hiddenhearing.ie
HIDDEn Hearing Bray is part of the Hidden Hearing network which has operated in Ireland for the past 26 years, and is committed to promoting better hearing health using state-ofthe-art audiological equipment and the very latest and advanced hearing devices. Run by senior Hearing aid audiologists, Graham Holmes (Branch Manager), and Keith Ross, they bring Hidden Hearing’s recognised international healthcare standards, technology, training and expertise plus a friendly and efficient customer service to the locality. The Bray clinic offer a suite of unique benefits to include: • Free Hearing Screenings • Free Wax removal • 4 Year Warranty • State-of-the-art Digital Hearing aids • Complimentary aftercare • Free batteries for life • 90 day no quibble money back guarantee Over the past five years Hidden Hearing at 55 Main street, Bray have provided thousands of free hearing tests for Co Wicklow residents, and are promoting better hearing healthcare by developing even
closer links with all the GP’s across the county. senior Hearing aid audiologist Keith Ross says “with even a mild hearing loss people can feel very frustrated and even isolated in normal social gatherings, and now with the major advances in Hearing aid technology available to us
in Hidden Hearing, every day we are helping more and more people lead fuller, more active and happier lives conversing with their family and friends”. Call 01 286 3971 now to make an appointment for a Free Hearing Test or visit www. hiddenhearing.ie for more information.
July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
NEWS| 09
10 | OPINION
opinion&comment
Have we learned property lessons?
O
n listening to Joan Burton’s victory speech at the weekend I noticed her say the labour party would govern more “by the heart than by the head”. In the same speech she named housing as a priority. The two, combined, really made my
ears prick up. If our experience of housing policy is anything to go by we should now - post economic crisis - realise that housing decisions need more ‘using the head’, not less. Before hearing the new Tanaiste’s remarks I had been reading the CsO’s latest report on residential property prices. House prices in Dublin rose by 22%. 22%. stands out doesn’t it? For those look ing to buy or sell property in Wicklow the figures show a 9% rise in prices. Less sensational than Dublin, but remarkable all the same. Especially so if you’re looking to buy. The question I asked myself was are incomes rising by 9%? Unlikely, I thought. A quick check online confirmed the obvious: incomes have remained pretty much stagnant . so how can people afford to buy when house prices leap ahead of their income? The short answer is that they can’t. Well they can but perhaps not where they first had in mind. For me it’s about travelling to work, for others the deciding factor could be schools or health facilities. Perhaps the most remarkable trend arising from the Wicklow figures is the rise in prices in newtownmountkennedy, Rathnew and Wicklow town. Prices in north Wicklow have consistently been high - reflecting access to Dublin. What’s significant about the latest figures is that commuters are bidding for properties further south where housing is traditionally more affordable. Prices rise and prices fall: That’s what happens in most markets. normally ‘You win some, then you lose some’; yet with housing it’s more a case of ‘some win, some lose’. Why is this? surely it’s a straightforward case of ‘supply and demand’? If residential construction in Ireland was straightforward builders would enter the market and simply build more houses. Annual price rises of 9% would be a fantasy. So why not build? lets get out there with brick and bravado. What are we waiting for? sadly it’s not that simple. On the supply side building regulations, planning laws and development levies constrain construction. These phenomena are neither negative nor new. What is standing out like a sore thumb however is the lack of bank finance to builders. not that we want to see a return to the reck less developer lending of the boom years. news that Irish banks are requiring builders to put in 40% of the funds themselves suggests that lessons have been learned. However while conservative lending might be welcome in the sense that it steers the state (and you and I as taxpayers) clear of another bank bailout; it hampers construction activ-
ity and exacerbates the rise in house prices. The EsRI say 25,000 new housing units are needed nationwide annually to meet current demand levels; due to supply side difficulties only 8,000 were built last year. That’s why houses prices in Wicklow are up 9%. But if the builders’ hands are tied and the banks won’t lend who’s going to start the ball rolling? Well that’s where the government can - and should - play a part. The question is how they go about it: Supply or Demand? Head or Heart? In the boom years Fianna Fail and the PDs preferred pushing the demand buttons: mortgage interest relief for first time buyers, section 23 schemes for investors. These demand-side measures, and others like them, supported a flawed economic ‘success story’ for the public finances. For house hunters easy access to 100% mortgages and ridiculous ‘loan To Income’ ratios made fantasies an apparent reality. We believed we were winners. We voted for our love of property - the Government’s ‘heart’ was in housing. This crucially is the point that Joan and Enda need to remember. Housing is - if Burton is to be believed - a top priority. As the two sit down this week to plan the remainder of their term in office they need to think long term with the head regardless of where their hearts may pull them come election time. The early signs are not good. The Minister for Finance favours the idea of assisting first time buyers by guaranteeing a portion of their mortgages. That’s a mirror image of mortgage interest and stamp duty exemptions which lured buyers before. It sounds great on first impressions and many first time buyers will welcome it - and thank Fine Gael at the polls perhaps. In the long run it will only push prices up. Here’s how: As each buyer avails of this state guarantee (yes, you and I, on the hook once again) and secures a mortgage another house leaves the market; unfortunately construction can’t react to fill the gap. Fewer houses than buyers means only one thing - an upshot in prices. noonan’s plan may well win votes, but it will not solve our housing crisis. Government ministers should be using their heads to protect our future interests; election ‘goodies’ will only spell disaster. Action must be taken on the supply side. Either the state steps in and begins to build or the regulations and levies on building and planning need careful yet determined review. Has Joan got what it takes to reverse the course of Irish political history and do the right thing? Whether it’s by Head or by Heart, I hope - like many Wicklow house hunters that someone in the cabinet cockpit sees 9% price increases for what they are and pushes the buttons necessary to steer us clear of housing crisis and economic catastrophe. James Doyle was a Greystones candidate for election to Wicklow County Council. James is a qualified solicitor and a smallscale sheep farmer.
“I
Most all smokers are addicts and there comes a point where addicts will break the law if that’s what it takes to obtain their drug of choice ... I am not suggesting, for instance, that heroin should be legalised
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 James Doyle with Michael Wolsey
Time for a fresh look at e-cigs
n virtually his last declaration as Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly revealed that he would like to see the price of cigarettes go up to €20 a packet - €1 per cigarette. “That would make people think,” he said. Indeed it would. And the first thing it would make them think would be how to avoid this penal charge. If they live anywhere near the Border they would buy them in newry or Derry, Enniskillen or strabane. And if none of those outlets are available they would do what tens of thousands of Irish people do every week: they would get their cigarettes from that shifty-looking fellow who calls round the doors on Friday nights or the old woman with the wheelie bag who lurks about the lanes. They might do that anyway, because cigarettes in the UK are much the same price as here - between €9 and €10 a packet. These dodgy dealers can supply them for a third of the price. Their packets carry the names of popular brands and some may even be the real thing, imported from a country such as spain that taxes ciga rettes at a lower rate. It is more likely that they will be counterfeits, made somewhere in Asia and packed with even more toxicity that than the legal originals. And so a campaign to curb smoking and improve health ends up inflicting greater damage on the health of smokers. The state is denied millions in tax revenue and organised crime gets a shot in the arm - an appropriate phrase since smugglers and sellers of illegal cigarettes are very often the same people who smuggle and push harder drugs. At this point I should make my own position clear. I was once a very heavy smoker. I gave them up 13 years ago and haven’t touched one since. I’m very glad I don’t smoke and if I could wave a wand and pass that gift to everyone I would certainly do so. But I know that in the real world there are no magic wands. Most smokers are addicts and there comes a point where addicts will break the law if that’s what it takes to obtain their drug of choice. That fact is not, in itself, sufficient reason for a softer approach. I am not suggesting, for instance, that heroin should be legalised just because some people are prepared to buy it from criminal dealers. But the number of people smoking tobacco is vastly greater than the number of people using heroin and it is unrealistic to think they can be priced out of the habit. Dr Reilly, whose father and brother died from smoking-related illnesses, says he wants a tobacco-free Ireland
by 2025. I admire his zeal - but that’s just not an achievable target and, in trying to meet it, the Government has put itself in the same position as those in the United States who tried to ban alcohol in the 1930s. Prohibition led to a rash of speakeasies. It made fortunes for bootleggers and smugglers but it did not stop drinking, or even curb it. In Waterford there is a company which is doing something to curb the smoking of tobacco. It is called Healthier smoker and it makes elec tronic cigarettes, from which the smoker absorbs nicotine but none of the tars and other harmful substances contained in regular cigarettes. The company is exporting its products all over the world. It is recruiting 80 new staff and hopes to have many more on its payroll by the end of the year.. All the evidence shows that these e-cigarettes really do help smokers kick the tobacco habit. Yet the company is receiving no encouragement. Its product is banned from all Health service Executive premises, not just the buildings but their grounds. It is being treated pretty much like tobacco in terms of where it can be smoked. The principal argument against theses e-cigarettes is that nicotine is harmful and its use should not be encouraged. But in this case it can only be harming the e-smoker. What rises from these devices is a vapour, as inoffensive as steam. It spreads no illness, carries no smell and it won’t put diners off their food. Passive damage was the reason for banning smoking in public places. We banned it in pubs to protect bar staff, from hospitals to protect fellow patients and from restaurants to protect those at neighbouring tables. E-cigarettes threaten none of these people, so why are they restricted? One reason given is that e-cigarettes might encourage young people to take up real cigarettes. But a British YouGov survey disproves that theory. It found that one third of e-cigarette smokers had substituted them for tobacco cigarettes and almost two thirds were smoking both, but hoping to give up the tobacco. An insignificant figure, less than one per cent, had tried e-cigarettes having never smoked any other sort. It is time for a re-think on e-cigarettes and on our general approach to smoking. A new policy from the new minister would be welcome.
Michael Wolsey is a former deputy editor of the Irish Independent, and sits on the judging panel for the National Newspaper of Ireland Journalism Awards.
OPINION | 11
July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
anyotherbusiness
Have you got a story? Then email thecaptain@wicklowvoice.ie
Revellers enjoy themselves at the Groove Festival in Killruddery House and Gardens. (The Captain is away and will return next edition)
Why our local heroes are just so important to us all
T
HE Pepsi advertisement featuring Janelle Monae’s Brazilianinflected cover of David Bowie’s ‘’Heroes’’ has been an excellent accompaniment to the 2014 FIFa World Cup. It’s part of Pepsi’s Global Futbol campaign and the American psychedelic soul star is joined in the video by Robin van Persie, lionel Messi, sergio aguero and sergio Ramos to name but a few. Certainly a few heroes there. Traditionally sportspersons feature prominently on lists of heroes and role models. A recent survey in the Us by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that sportspersons featured prominently in 73% of respondents’ lists of heroes. The ability of the sporting hero to get across that being a good sport and playing fair were just as important as winning was one of the interesting findings of the same survey. It shows that people are more
Brian Quigley likely to have a sportsperson with good all-round character attributes as a hero rather than just someone who excels on the field of play. luis suarez probably slipped down the hero charts a few places after his biting incident at the World Cup, or moved up the antihero charts if you look at it inversely. It is not the first time the Uruguayan has taken a bite out of an opposing player. These incidents overshadow his superb football talents and he probably falls into the same category as Eric Cantona, that of a troubled genius. Lance Armstrong’s hero sta-
tus went from treble a to junk after he confessed on the Oprah show to drug cheating during his cycling career. Is this fair? We wouldn’t feel the same way about a rock band who made a great album, or a novelist who wrote a memorable work of literature if it later transpired they had been on drugs at the time. I suppose there is a big difference between these two situations in that sporting achievement is irrelevant if chemically enhanced, whereas other forms of art are judged more on the end-product and not how that end-product was crafted. Bob Dylan would be one of my favourite rock artists and is well known to have dabbled with narcotics in the 60’s. It doesn’t take away from the quality of the body of work he produced at that time, even though it obviously calls into question his judgement as a person. Plagiarism would be the equivalent sin for musicians or writers to drug-cheating in sports. I’m often asked who my alltime Irish sporting hero is. Being a soccer fan and keen runner
someone of my age might pick Roy Keane or Sonia O’Sullivan but I never hesitate to nominate Joey Dunlop. Growing up in the 1970’s/80’s his exploits on all-manner of motorcycles at the Isle Of Man TT Races and beyond was the stuff of legend. For me a great hero, sporting or otherwise is someone who also has personal virtues and values that go beyond their sporting life. Joey Dunlop always epitomized this for me. He worked tirelessly for charity and personally brought truck-loads of aid to Romania for orphans and their care staff. Joey’s time at the peak of his sport coincided with the troubles in the north yet he remained apolitical and anti-sectarian, and was adored by sports fans of all religious persuasions. A documentary film has been made about Joey Dunlop’s life and is out now in the cinema. ‘’Road’’ premiered at the Belfast Film Festival this year and is narrated by Joey’s fellow antrim native liam neeson. Well worth a look.
sometimes the best heroes are local ones. Wicklow has always produced talented people and at the moment we are spoilt for choice with Katie Taylor, Fionnuala Britton, Elaine Cassidy and Hozier excelling in boxing, athletics, acting and music respectively. Big september aren’t doing too badly either. someone from your local area who maybe went to your school or knew your parents or brother or sister making it big will always be up there as role models and heroes. They don’t necessarily have to be people who use their status and celebrity to do charitable works or fight noble causes like Bono although this kind of thing feeds into the overall character of the person. Different people look for different things in a hero. I always admired longevity. Ryan Giggs played for Manchester United into his 40’s. The same is true of Colm Tresson at Bray Wanderers. Joey Dunlop was still winning motorcycle races in his late 40’s.
Sir John Gielgud was still acting in films in his late 90’s. Bob Dylan is 73 and still making albums and touring the world. These people didn’t sit back and rest on their laurels; they kept and keep challenging themselves which is a very heroic attribute. some people have a lot of time for antiheroes, figures who don’t embody the traditional heroic templates of idealism, courage, loyalty or altruism. Instead, the antihero is usually a rebel type who challenges officialdom. Eamon Dunphy springs to mind or the aforementioned Luis Suarez or Eric Cantona. The antihero wouldn’t be my hero no more than I’d choose a superhero as a hero or a fictional hero as a hero. some peo ple would though, and would nominate Batman or Sherlock Holmes as their hero. In truth though the greatest heroes in life will always be the unsung heroes, the ordinary people who do their best with the hand they have been dealt. Long may their kind continue.
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12 | WHAT’S HOT
with Michelle McGlynn info@wicklowvoice.ie
wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
EXHIBITION of the fortnight How to be a child - Carmel Benson Mermaid Arts Centre, Main Street, Bray, July 17 Carmel Benson, who lives in Roundwood, is an artist who works in the medium of print and painting. Since the beginning of her career, Carmel has used childhood as a dominant theme. She views childhood as an inexhaustible territory of struggle for comprehension, integration and identity where a sense of grievance and oppression alternate with hope and a joyful escape into nature. For many who, like the artist, were children in 1950s and 1960s Ireland, childhood involved knowledge of early infant death, child abuse and acquaintance with church and state institutions. Carmel’s paintings, drawings and prints deal with these difficult themes with understanding and a unique sensitivity. The exhibition runs until September 7.
TREAT of the fortnight Café Latte Ashford, County Wicklow, 0404 42923 Café Latte is a delightful deli and coffee shop in Ashford. You won’t find a more relaxing and welcoming atmosphere around. They serve a delicious range of teas and coffees for when you might need a little pick-me-up. Start your day off right with one of their tasty muffins. Or pop in for lunch and try one of their scrumptious ciabattas. Sit back and catch up with friends while you savour every bite of one of their seriously tempting homemade cakes. Freshly baked and utterly divine, one look and you won’t be able to deny yourself the pleasure of a Café Latte cake. Go on, you deserve a treat.
Book of the fortnight The Bend for Home Dermot Healy One of Ireland’s great writers, Dermot Healy, passed away recently at the age of 66. The Westmeath-born poet and novelist counted fellow writers Roddy Doyle and Seamus Heaney among his fans with Heaney once stating that Healy was “the heir of Patrick Kavanagh”. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Healy’s works then perhaps start with his memoir, The Bend for Home. Winner of numerous literary awards, Healy provides readers with a unique perspective of the Irish experience. His talents are showcased wonderfully as he recounts his life through vivid desciptions, often self-deprecating humour and beautiful characterisations. A unique figure who will surely be missed, his works remain among the greatest ever produced in this country.
TV SHOW of the fortnight Silicon Valley
Sky Atlantic, Wednesdays It has been called “Entourage for geeks” but this new comedy has created quite a buzz since airing in the US recently. Silicon Valley is an eight-part comedy set in the high-tech rush of the modern Silicon Valley, where the people who are most qualified to succeed are the least capable
SALE of the fortnight Notionz Quinsborough Road, Bray, 01 2764698 Whatever the occasion you will not be disappointed with the selection that you will find in Notionz. Buying gifts for people can be a tricky business but Notionz have a varied range with something to suit everybody and every occasion. They currently have a 20% off sale so you had better get in quickly before you miss out. Notionz is an Irish family run business and they provide great customer service. They stock all the leading brands such as: Newgrange Living, Galway Crystal, Stephen Pearce, Yankee Candles, Newbridge Silver, Hot Diamonds and many more. Gifts for him, for her or for the home, Notionz has it all.
of dealing with success. The series is the product of a collaboration between Mike Judge (Beavis and Butthead) and Alec Berg (Seinfeld). Three best friends live under the watchful eye of a dotcom billionaire who allows them to live in his house in exchange for a 10% stake in their projects. This witty comedy has already been renewed for a second season.
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MOVIE of the fortnight Transformers: Age of Extinction Gaiety Cinema, Arklow The first in a new trilogy for the Transformers franchise will see Wicklow man Jack Reynor bursting on to the Hollywood scene in his first major role since making the move to LA in 2012. The film is set four years after the battle in Chicago when Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) uncovers none other than Optimus Prime who has been given a sword-wielding makeover. This film will see the introduction of the incredible Dinobots, led by Grimlock who transforms into a mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex. Reynor’s character, race car driver Shane, will be the love interest for Cade’s daughter, played by Nicola Peltz. Reynor has signed on to appear in the complete trilogy.
HOROSCOPES with Siobhan Moore Whelan
Aries-1,14,18,21,43,50 Profitable period ahead; excellent for intellectual work, discussions or negotiations. Mercury & Venus highlight love.
PREGNANCY IDEA of the fortnight Baby Scan Orwell Clinic, Rathgar, 01 4923544, babyscan.ie.
from 24 – 32 weeks (€180). For those who do not want to know the gender of their baby, or may just want a sneak peek tocheck baby’s position, fluid around baby and heartbeat, the Reassurance scan (€100) available from 14 weeks offers tremendous peace of mind. Paula Tunney DCR (D) DMU founded Baby Scan in 2006 and now has four clinics, Dublin South in Rathgar, Dublin North in Swords, Cork, and Derry. NB If you bring along this article you will get a 10% discount!
Babyscan.ie is the scanning service of choice for parents all over Ireland because it offers an affordable private service regardless of whether mum is a public or private patient. Baby Scan’s most popular services are early pregnancy scans 8 – 14 weeks (€99), gender scans from 18 weeks (€99),and 3D4D scans
Family fun of the fortnight Friends of Merlin are holding a fun dog show in aid of Dogs Trust. The show will feature special classes for golden oldies over eight years old and best dog led by a child under the age of 14. There will be lots of other fun classes including the always entertaining and popular agility round. Classes at the dog show will cost €4 per class or three for €10. There will be prizes for winners and runners-up that have been generously supplied by Pedigree. Entry forms can be completed by arriving any time from 1pm until 2pm or a form can be obtained in advance by emailing fundogshow@gmail.com.
Cancer-7,9,13,26,39,44 Mercury arrives in Cancer on July 13th;Venus July 18th - No stress, better health & you regain your equilibrium.
Virgo-10,15,18,25,38,44 July 26 New Moon & Venus enters Virgo and you will be alive!!! A social butterfly; everyone wants a part of you. Libra-1,11,19,21,37,43 Let all the dramas go! July 26 New Moon falls in your house of friends- this is your house of dreams, live and have fun.
GIG of the fortnight SunSets Glendalough House, Annamoe, Saturday, July 26, 3.30pm SunSets brings together a collaboration of musicians and performers in the mystical surroundings of Glendalough House. The one day festival lasts 12 hours and boasts an impressive line-up including: Sleep Thieves, Brian Deady, Carried by Waves, Emmet Condon, No Monster Club and many more. All of the proceeds from
Dr. Coy’s health foods County-wide, www.drcoys.ie
Gemini- 2,9,28,36,40,46 Venus, the planet of love, finds its way to you and the universe will conspire to fill your heart with joy bringing fresh optimism.
Leo-14,24,28,36,39,46 July 16th a sufficient event will occur; Jupiter, enters Leo bringing joy, love, & new accomplishments.
Fun dog show People’s park, Bray, Sunday, July 13, 2pm
Food of the fortnight
Taurus-7,19,25,23,27,47 Very lively and effervescent month & you will be busy all the time. Mars leaves Taurus’ house of diseases - health & vitality awaits.
this event will go towards the charity, Soar. Soar creates and delivers early intervention preventative programmes for young people from all backgrounds, where within a safe and supportive environment they are given the opportunity to be themselves, to build emotional awareness, selfbelief and resilience. They do this using positive life-skills workshops. Tickets range from €49-€60 which includes a return bus ticket.
Scorpio-16,24,28,36,38,59 Mars is powerful and hotblooded in its own sign, which is YOU! How damn exciting can it get for Scorpio? Hang in & enjoy the ride. Sagittarius-1,15,16,29,32,40 Good News, end of bad luck! In financial matters you will be successful with lots of new opportunities ahead. Capricorn-3,6,13,22,26,39 A beautiful, harmonious new start is waiting for you! Reunite with old friends & you will be met with thanks. Aquarius-5,19,21,35,38,42 New beginnings: something new enters your life. Let old grievances go and fortune will smile on you.
‘Pullquote here– In the Mafia, those who go against the wishes of the Dons can have a short life’
The guys at Dr. Coy’s really love food and you’ll love them when you try their delicious health-giving natural foods. They believe that cooking and eating the finest natural foods goes hand in hand with a healthy, happy life. With this in mind they set to work, and lucky for us they started with chocolate. Dr. Coy’s have produced a collection of utterly divine chocolate bars and other chocolate goodies. The chocolate is made with low-glycaemic, tooth friendly sugars which don’t spike your blood sugar levels. You can pick up their products online or in Avoca, The Happy Pear, The Delgany Grocer, Killruddery House or The Steak Shop.
Pisces-2,4,26,36,37,38 Great month for you, embrace the world! Health improves dramatically & you will be bursting with new found enthusiasm. Live Psychic Angel-TarotMedium Siobhan Tel 1580997207- 18+ Bill payers permission-Calls cost €2.44 per minute; calls from other networks may vary. Calls are for entertainment purposes and may be recorded.
14 | WHAT’S HOT
wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
my favourite things “Race Day Glory”
When summer comes around it’s such a busy time for festivals, weddings, BBQ’s and picnics but don’t forget to pencil in a fun day at the races. To find out when and where the next race meetings are being held simply visit www. GoRacing.ie and start planning! For racing fans and celebs alike, it’s such a great excuse to glam up with bold coloured dresses, statement jewellery and of course lets not forget about the all important headpiece. It’s fair to say for the competitive ladies among us, it’s less about horses and more about strutting the fashion. However, the experts will say it’s not always about splashing the cash but how you put your outfit together. Here are some ideas and good luck with your bets...
Hats off Rent or commission a hat to go with your gorgeous race-day outfit from our own local Co. Wicklow milliner Sarah McGahon, based in the Bray Design Centre. Worn by a host of celebrities sarah’s hand-stitched hats and headpieces rent from €60 or oneoff commissioning starts from €125. www. mcgahonmillinery.ie
Sex in the City
WHAT’s HOT
with Audrey Vance wicklowvoice@gmail.com
nadia Forde to front the new line, it’s a really appealing range with prices starting from €20 €100. eShe offers striking and dramatic pieces that are both feminine and gladiatorial in style. They’ve aimed at a younger, funkier market with strong designs and attention to detail that can be expected from Newbridge. Loving it and can’t wait to see what they do next! www. newbridgesilverwear.com/eShe
Shoes At some point or other we’ve all admired screen icon, Carrie Bradshaw’s shoe collection. and now actress/ designer sarah Jessica Parker has just launched her very own shoe collection. although known for high high heels, choose carefully for a day out, you’ll be standing for long spells. sJP is available from €150 at shop.nordstrom. com and they ship to Ireland!
Bold and Beautiful
All That Sparkles
It’s exciting to share this new range of fashion forward statement jewellery recently launched by newbridge silverwear. Choosing the fresh face of model/singer
This striking striped midi dress from Oasis would be wonderfully easy to wear with maximum impact. Dress-up with an eye-catching necklace, layered bracelets, boldcoloured shoes and a hat, just stunning. €69 from Oasis.
umbrella (comes in a variety of colours) from well-known designer Lisbeth Dahl. Functional, yes but also luxurious and distinctive in shape with the focal point being the roof style tip and crooked handle. From €29, www.fabfillies.com
Hands Off
Add a dash of Art Deco to your outfit with this fabulous 1930’s inspired clutch bag. The back has a metal work diamond design to the front of the 6” x 4” clutch. The opening of the clutch also has a large diamond inside the clasp opening. This bag would be perfect for so many occasions. £38 from www. itsvintagedarling.com
Picture Perfect
Under Cover With unpredictable weather, each lady should be prepared for the odd shower. What could be better than having matching accessories? Take a look at this Danish designed pagoda
audrey Vance, fashion illustrator and owner of Wedding Dress Ink has her design studio in Co. Wicklow. www. weddingdressink. com
Women in Wicklow Name? sarah McGahon, Milliner Your business? I’ve been offering bespoke headwear design for the last five years and I’m based in the Bray Design Centre, opposite the Royal Hotel. www.mcgahonmillinery.ie Where did you study and train? A mix of Dublin and London. In Dublin, I started with aileen Keogh, at the Grafton Academy and then Jacinta Fahy. I followed this with did a textile degree through nCaD, then a postgrad in Millinery through KCC in London. Where do you get your inspiration? Everywhere! I love architecture and nature. another one of the things I love is Haute Couture runway shows, especially from designers Alexander McQueen and Holly Fulton. My ‘Hat Hero’ is the very generous stephen Jones. Plans for the future? I have other design aspirations along with hats, I’m just
waiting for the right moment. Best part about your job? The flexibility and diversity of my work, and the lovely people I meet. Best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Oh from Stephen Jones, when I was working with him in London. I was in his workroom one day, working on a hat for Kylie, when I started giving out about how few fabric shops there were in Dublin and he said to me, that if I was a good designer, that wouldn’t or shouldn’t stop me from producing my best effort. Great advice!
Tip for any budding entrepreneurs looking to start their own business? The screen saver on my phone says “I’m going to succeed because I’m crazy enough to think I can” Go-to fashion label for workwear? When I can afford it Lennon Courtney, but at the moment I’m loving doing up clothes I get in Charity shops. Most inspiring read? The History of Love, but I can’t remember who wrote it. Interview by Audrey Vance. Picture by Patrick o’leary
food| 15
July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
recipes Pistachio crème brulee
Peter Byrne
Head Chef at Sika Restaurant in The Powerscourt Hotel wine choice Jacobs Creek Sparkling The aromas of this incredible value fizz are comprised of the citrus and toasted cashew nut flavours of Chardonnay, married to the fresh attractive bread-crust characters of Pinot Noir. Brilliant value for a bottle fermented fizz!my yeast autolysis providing depth and flavour. €18.49 from O’Brien’s
Seaside coffee shop creates six new jobs
Aaron Higgs, Robin O’Sullivan and owner Alex O’Sullivan at Dockyard No 8 By Michelle McGlynn
Ingredients • 250 grs egg yolks • 140 grs sugar • 400 grs milk • 750 grs double cream • 80 grs pistachio paste
A NEW coffee shop at Bray’s Harbour has created six new jobs. Dockyard No. 8 opened its doors for the first time on July 2 and is located near Olympic medalist Katie Taylor’s gym and it was near impossible to get a seat on the opening weekend. The coffee shop is open seven days a week from 9-to-5 with plans to open into the evening shortly. Owner Alex O’Sullivan is delighted with the success so far and all the support he’s received, especially from his
preparation
• Bring the cream to boil. • Mix the sugar & the yolks together, add the paste & then pour the hot cream on it. • Finish by adding the milk to the 1st mix. • Pour in the moulds & bake at 88-90°C for 30-40 minutes
Invasion! Giant jellyfish stalk the coast of Wicklow Wildlife
with Justin Ivory
(info@wicklowvoice.ie) REPOrTs have been flooding in of giant jellyfish washing up on the beaches of the Wicklow coastline in the last week. One such specimen from Brittas Bay can be seen in the picture sent in by Eliza Kane with a size four foot for comparison! Similar reports have being coming in from all around the country as well as the UK. The jellyfish in question are Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma octopus). While it is normal to see Barrel Jellyfish in Iow numbers in a few restricted locations, the current swarm or ‘smack’ (as jellyfish are sometimes collectively known), is unprecedented in Irish waters. The reasons for this particular influx are not entirely clear. This species can survive multiple seasons so the current large numbers could be a result of a lot of adults surviving a mild winter. It has also been a really good Basking Shark season, which also feed on plankton, so it could be a result of really
Barrel Jellyfish at Brittas Bay (Picture: Eliza Kane) productive seas this year. The Barrel Jellyfish has a huge white dome with purple lobes around the margin. Eight mouth-arms that resemble a cauliflower in shape dangle from the centre. Unlike other jellyfish, they do not have long stinging tentacles but prolonged exposure can cause an allergic reaction so it is best to avoid touching them. Some individuals can be really impressive measuring up to 1m in diameter and weighing 35kg!
Barrel Jellyfish are a favourite food of the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) so we might see some of them along our coastline too. If you come across any of these jellyfish while down at the beach in this current spate of glorious weather then please report your sightings and send your pictures to ‘Ecojel’, the Irish Sea Jellyfish Project at either their website www. jellyfish.ie or their Facebook page, The Big Jellyfish Hunt.
girlfriend and his family who have all given a helping hand. “I had a feeling it would go well but it’s gone viral, I think is the best way to describe it,” Alex told the Wicklow Voice. “A wet Monday afternoon and we are nearly sold out of food. The support has been fantastic.” A third generation Bray man, Alex saw an opening for a place with a bit of fun and banter, a relaxed vibe and a healthier option for people. “The area is changing and I think people are becoming more aware of what they’re eating and looking to go for a healthier
choice. “All the ingredients are top quality and locally sourced. Our eggs come from Kilcoole, our coffee from Ashbourne. “Our menu isn’t extravaggant but if you do something simple and do it well that’s what people appreciate.” The Harbour and Seafront area of Bray is going through a mini boom at the moment, with both Pizza Platform and Finnbees expanding their operations, Italian eatery Carpe Diem opening and the Harbour Bar going through a renaissance since being taken over by the Duggan family.
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wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
PROPERTY| 17
July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
Incomplete housing estate for sale at €1m a partially built housing development in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, is to be offered for sale at €1 million on the instructions of a receiver. Knight Frank is handling the sale of 32 houses in varying stages of completion within the established ardglass residential development. according to the agents, 14 of the houses are substantially completed; a four-bedroom detached showhouse is available; four houses have
been brought to the shell and core stage; three houses have been completed to roof level; seven houses have block work up to first floor level and three sites have footings in place. Finín O’Driscoll of Knight Frank says whoever buys the development should be able to offer houses for sale in a relatively short timeframe. additionally, the availability of a showhouse would be a substantial selling aid for the finished units.
AS an approved master Installer of the Surface Power HoNE Daylight thermal Energy System, Ecoflex Energy recognises the importance you place on heating your home, efficiently, costeffectively with a timely and professional installation’. Ecoflex Energy is a division of Ecoflex Limited which is based in roscommon, has a trading history of more than
20 years in contracting and building works throughout Ireland. Ecoflex Energy operate from roscommon, roscrae and a Customer Service Centre in Kildare. All of our installers are proficient tradesmen in their own right and then further undergo additional technical and product training overseen by Surface Power the developer and
Save up to 78% on heating bills manufacturer of the HoNE Daylight thermal Energy Systems. With available Government Grants and the new HrI (Home renovation Scheme) there never has been a better time to protect yourself and family from the possibility of future fuel poverty. Surface Power HoNE a system that looks like Solar, Acts like Solar, but operates on Natural Daylight and has
no requirement for direct sunlight. Case Studies have shown that this ground breaking technology can actually save you as much as 50% to 78% on your energy costs. this advanced technology was developed in County mayo, for the Irish weather conditions. For more information, you can visit ecoflexenergy.ie on how to save.
hothouse Bushfield House, Greystones, €825,000
Bushfield House is a two storey period property of an approximate floor area of 194 sqm (2088sq.ft). the property is situated on a large corner site on the corner of Church Road and La Touche Place with the benefit of being zoned t1 for town centre use on the existing Greystones/ Delgany LAP. ‘’Bushfield’’ as already mentioned is an elegant period property built in c. 1875 by the Doyle family. the property provides spacious accommodation with 3 large reception rooms, 4 well proportioned bedrooms with stunning views from the master bedroom, a kitchen, utility, pantry and family bathroom. this property retains all the charm and beauty of a period property with original sash windows, decorative coving and magnificent ceiling height, all features which are
synonymous with a property built in this period. this unique property located in the heart of Greystones provides a potential purchaser with a multitude of options both residential and commercial subject to planning permission. this property is also fortunate in having a separate detached retail unit with road frontage onto Church road. this retail unit was once an Auctioneers office with Rochfort Doyle Auctioneers operating from this unit many years ago. Bushfield represents an opportunity to acquire a property in the centre of Greystones with magnificent potential as a commercial unit or as a private residence. For further information contact mcGovern Estates, B urnaby Downs, Delgany road, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, tel: 01 2877088
18 | NEWS/CASTLE STREET PROFILE
Seabreeze blows into town with huge outdoor Céilí By Peter Murphy
THE annual Arklow Seabreeze Festival, which takes place from July 18 to 20, will stage a massive outdoor Céilí and Set Dancing night on the town’s main street. The energetic and well-known Abbey Céilí band from Cork, will provide the music. The three-day family friendly street festival has events to suit all tastes including the ever popular Pig Derby, American Wrestling, Arts, Crafts and Food Fair, Busking and Pipe Band competitions. Top class music is always a feature of the festival where bands and singers will perform from three different stages along the main street. Among the many performers is Meteor A ward winning singer/ songwriter luan Parle who will take to the top stage at 9pm on July 19. She is eagerly looking forward to the gig as she has been coming to the festival since she was a child. Meanwhile, Arklow band Feel the Pinch will play on the middle stage while Children of
Chris Earls from the Arklow Pipeband who came in 3rd place in the Grade Two section at the All Ireland Championships the Son, who are hotly tipped to be the next U2, will perform on the Lower stage. Other acts taking part over the weekend are Black Cherry, Elvis (Cathal Byrne) and China White. The town’s Main Street will close to traffic on Saturday 19th at 6pm and reopen at midnight, while the street will close at 1pm on July 20 till midnight. Beth Murphy from Arklow was crowned Seabreeze
WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL COMHAIRLE CHONTAE CHILL MHANTÁIN
Princess 2014 at a gala night in the Arklow Bay Hotel, last Sunday. The runner-up was Megan O’ Reilly. The carnival atmosphere will come to a close on Sunday with a spectacular fireworks display at 11pm. Further details are available online and from the very colourful festival brochure, which is widely available in shops and bars in the town. All events are free of charge.
news in brief Reported cuts
BRAY SUMMERFEST TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES Pursuant to the provisions of Section 75 of the Roads Act, 1993, notice is hereby given that Wicklow County Council will close the following roads to public traffic
ROAD TO BE CLOSED Strand Road, Bray from the DART Station to the Junction of Victoria Avenue on Bray Seafront from 3.00pm until 6.00pm on Sunday 20th July 2014 to facilitate Bray Air Display. To include the Junctions of: • • • •
Quinsborough Road and Strand Road Albert Avenue and Strand Road Sidmonton Road and Strand Road Victoria Avenue and Strand Road
Traffic restrictions will apply at various locations throughout the town for the duration of the Summerfest. Wicklow County Council regrets any inconvenience this may cause. Wicklow Local Authorities are committed to Access for All. This document is available in alternative format on request. Please contact Vibeke Dijkman, Access Officer, Wicklow County Council should you have any specific access requirements. David Forde District Administrator Municipal District of Bray Civic Offices Main Street Bray Email: BrayMD@wicklowcoco.ie Co. Wicklow Website: www.braytowncouncil.ie
tHere have been reports that the Government will cut local authority funding to Wicklow County Council from 2015. Independent councillor Jennifer Whitmore has said, “this is particularly worrying as Wicklow County Council has one of the lowest spends per person in the country. “the full impact of this remains unclear as it seems the Government will not announce funding to Wicklow County Council until after councillors make a decision on whether to reduce local property taxes.”
Homes upgrade WicKlow County Council has been allocated almost €500,00 for the upgrade of 136 homes across the county. Included in the allocation is €280,000 to bring 13 vacant units into use and a further €204,000 which will be spent on improving insulation and heating in 123 homes at Sycamore Drive and mountain View Drive in Newtownmountkennedy.
wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
By Michelle McGlynn Ladies Workout Express 4 Castle Street, 1st floor, Bray, 01 2828707 laDIEs Workout Express are the only gym in Bray who cater exclusively to women of all ages and fitness levels. They have a complete range of fitness and exercise equipment designed exclusively for women. The people at lWE 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 offer a variety of classes and due to demand they will be running another Biggest loser Express from July 21. With a hairdresser and salon in-house what more could a woman want? Four Star Pizza Dargle Centre, Castle Street, 01 2865755 FoUr Star Pizza bring a truly authentic NyC experience straight to your door. their dough is freshly made every day and they ensure that only the very best ingredients are used in their pizzas. they’ve been around the block a few times, so they know what they’re doing. And you can taste it in every bite. Check out the East Coast Fm website to see how you can win a Free Pizza Friday in your office. There’s no better way to kick start your weekend than with a delicious Four Star Pizza. The Window & Door Centre No.4, Superquinn Centre, Castle Street, 01 2768533 MaKE your home better with The Window and Door Centre. Choose from over 50 triple glazed composite doors. Whether you’re looking for a modern design or more of a traditional look, they have something to suit you. All of their windows are A rated energy efficient. Interior doors are professionally fitted by qualified carpenters. They offer repair services including door handles and locks, replacing ‘fogged’ double-glazed windows, door handles and locks as well as general service work for windows and doors. The Window and Door Centre also offer CCTV systems and monitored alarms fitted by accredited and insured fitters.
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Focus on Castle Street We are also licensed to mince any of the above and make our own burgers which are also tested by Foodtech Laboratories. We supply pubs, restaurants,
Ann O’Neill, Joan Vickers, Megan Robinson, Veronica O’Leary and Carmel Robinson out and about in Bray. Perfect Body Centre Unit 4, Everest Centre, Castle Street, 01 2813363 tHE Perfect Body Centre in Bray is Ireland’s largest supplier of sports nutrition, weight loss and fitness supplements. they offer a wide range of bodybuilding supplements including protein shakes, weight
gainers, performance and recovery supplements. they offer the best prices to their customers and always have great deals and special offers. you can also benefit from massive savings with their customer loyalty scheme. Enjoy their luxury tanning beds to get a sunkissed glow or maybe
to get swimsuit ready before you jet off to the beach. like them on Facebook to get the latest offers facebook.com/ perfectbody.ie Courtney Food Service Unit 2, Belton House, Castle Street, Bray, 01 282 9822 TEl: 01 282 9822 a t Courtney Food Service you will find
a large range of fresh and frozen products all packed in our approved and HaCCP compliant factory eliminating the risk of contamination. Our fresh food products are all tested in Foodtech Laboratories on a regular basis. We are licensed to cut beef, lamb, pork, bacon, poultry and game.
hotels, nursing homes and schools around the Dublin area. This enables us to buy by the pallet, making savings and passing them on to our valued shop customers.
20 | NEWS
wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
Kilcoole to mark gun centenary with big weekend of festivities WITH the Decade of Centenaries well underway the community of Kilcoole is set to make its own contribution to events. Mention the Howth gun-running, everyone knows about it, the asgard, most do, and Childers, still a lot of people. Talk about the Kilcoole gunrunning and very few people know about it and yet when the two landings are combined and told as a full story it is dramatic, daring and dangerous. The Kilcoole landing of the
2nd august 1914 occurred a week after the guns brought 900 rifles and ammunition into Howth on the iconic asgard had been spirited away under the very nose of the British army and the RIC. This landing was a propaganda stunt aimed at responding to the Unionist’s own landing of arms at larne a few months before and to demonstrate that the IRB possessed the ability to breach the British arms prohibition and embargo and arm the Volunteers.
Best of luck to all involved in The Kilcoole Gunrunning Centenary
Kilcoole was the opposite, few knew about the plan and the landing took place of 600 rifles and ammunition under the cover of darkness, transported on Conor O’Brien’s ‘Kelpie but landed by sir Thomas Myles’, ‘The Chotah’. Yet it is the full story from Casement’s original meeting with other conspirators in london, mostly of Protestant nationalists, together with Darrell Figgis that both raised funds and, with Mary spring Rice, planned to transport the guns on small sailing boat. The diversity of individual men and women from all walks of life if such a part of this great historical story. as a local community the village of Kilcoole wanted to highlight and publicise this ’forgotten history’ and bring Kilcoole’s role out of the dark an into the light. at the 50th anniversary of the landing at Kilcoole in 1966, attended by deValera and Childers son, Erskine, historian FX Martin lamented “the rigorous secrecy which surrounded the
Brendan and Phil Harmon enjoy a walk on Kilcoole Beach recently Kilcoole gun-running meant that most of the information about it has remained hidden and some of it has unfortunately been lost”. The Kilcoole Heritage group are running a two day living his-
tory weekend on July 26 and 27 complete with a re-enactment for the landing, parade with the army Colours, market stalls, trade and craft demonstrations, photo exhibition and lectures and it promises to be an action packed family weekend. The group have also produced historical account drawing together the details of the whole history the gun-running operation in an attractive 32-page book. Dr. Ruan O’Donnell, lecturer in History at limerick University and who himself lived in Kilcoole for a while said “this account of the Kilcoole gun-running provides a fresh perspective on an important epi-
sode in Irish history. The arming of the Irish Volunteers transformed the quest for Independence”. Ruan O’Donnell is author of the introduction of the new version of FX Martin’s ‘The Howth Gun-running and the Kilcoole Gun-running’ due of publication at the end of this month. The Kilcoole Heritage Weekend we are holding and the booklet ‘Forgotten History: The Kilcoole Gunrunning’ was launched on July 10 at the asgard Exhibition in the national Museum, Collins Barracks and followed that evening by a launch in Kilcoole Golf Course Club House.
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July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
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wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014
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NEWS| 23
July 10 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
insideback
with Brian Quigley
Seagulls well-placed for league survival despite financial woes DEsPITE their recent defeat to Drogheda 3-1 at the Carlisle Grounds following the resumption of the league of Ireland Premier Division after he mid-season break, Bray Wanderers are well-positioned for survival with the season half completed. However, the Seagulls are facing an even greater challenge off the field, according to the Irish Times newspaper. Wanderers made a loss of €83,946 for the year to november 30, according to accounts just filed. Bray Wanderers ltd closed the year with net liabilities of €202,898 and had accumulated losses of just under €1.1 million. Its auditors stated there was a “material uncertainty” that cast “significant doubt” on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. a note in the accounts described the outlook as presenting “significant challenges in terms of gate receipts and other fundraising activities”, which create “material uncertainties over future trading results and cash flows”. On a positive note, club shareholders Eddie and Frank Slevin agreed last year to waive loans amounting to €165,689 and expenses of €3,302 that had been paid on behalf of the club. It is understood the club is operating on a budget of about €2,000 a week, well below that of most of its rivals in the league. The club is hoping that friendly games this month against a Manchester United XI and Queens Park Rangers will draw large crowds to the Carlisle Grounds to boost coffers. at the time of writing Wanderers have 17 points from 18 games and sit in tenth position. They also have a better goal difference than the two teams below them. There isn’t much between them and the team in sixth place, meaning a top-half finish is a real possibility if Bray can get on a bit of a run. Coupled with the success of the off-pitch restructuring of the club to a communityowned football club, things will hopefully spark positive developments at the Carlisle
Grounds despite the financial woes. as well as boosting the finances, the high-profile friendly against the Manchester United XI should inspire Wanderers for the remainder of the season. The bottom-line objective for Bray is to stay in the Premier Division. This means not finishing last, which incurs automatic relegation. and preferably not finishing second last which puts the occupant of that spot into a nervous twolegged play-off against the winners of the First Division play-off. Bray had to come through that route last term and it was very tight in the end to squeeze by longford Town. a look at the margin of survival across most European leagues conducted by this column suggests you need a points-per-game ratio of 1.0 in order to survive and preserve your divisional status. This is most commonly achieved with your win : draw : loss ratio at 1 : 1 : 2. at present Bray are right on the money with 17 points from 17 games (giving a points per game ratio of 1.0) achieved by winning four games, drawing five and losing eight which is essentially a win : draw : loss ratio at 1 : 1 : 2. Mirroring this level of performance in the second half of the season should see Wanderers safe. The Manchester United XI that will be visiting the Carlisle Grounds on July 20 may not contain any of their squad who featured in the World Cup but there will be plenty of upand-coming talent on display from the U21/Reserve setup. United’s youth set up is something special. It always has been, historically. There was
“
Its auditors stated there was a “material uncertainty”
David Cassidy of Bray Wanderers battles Peter Higgins and Eric Molloy of Wexford Youths recently the Busby Babes and legendary coach Jimmy Murphy in the 1950’s and 60’s. Then more recently there was the Class of ‘92 under Eric Harrison’s coaching during Sir alex’s reign. now Warren Joyce is in charge of the U21/Reserve side and is effectively charged with continuing the fine tradition United have of nurturing young talent through from academy to the finished product. Keep an eye out for the likes of Ben Amos, Will Keane, Tom lawrence and James Wilson all of whom have featured for the first team at some point last season. Bray have taken a leaf out of United’s book with several players from the U19 squad (including goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness, who was Player of the Month for April for the first team] making the Wanderers first team this term. Young players progress better if they can see a direct route to the first team and this is true regardless of whether it is Bray Wanderers or Manchester United. The old-style of reserve team, with senior players out of form going through the motions, is no longer in use and this is a good thing. at United the U21 side doubles as the reserve team and only three overage players are allowed in the match-day squad, ensuring the team is mostly made up of young talent hungry to impress.
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wicklowvoice.ie July 10 2014