Wicklow Voice June 26 2014

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Country united behind Glynns as they jet out

By Cianan Brennan

WICKLOw and Ireland are united in sending their best wishes to brave Gavin Glynn as he jets out to America for specialised treatment in his ongoing battle with cancer.

His father John updated Gavin’s blog on Tuesday June 24 to say that Team Gavin have arrived safe and well, if a little tired, in Houston, Texas.

The family will spend six to eight weeks at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where Gavin will undergo a specialist treatment for people with cases such as his.

Medical care in the US is notoriously expensive, and some €350,000 will be required

donate €4 by texting ‘Gavin’ to 50300

for Gavin’s latest bout of treatment. However, an appeal

by Team Gavin for aid has seen €350,000 raised in the last two weeks, with people donating €4 by texting ‘Gavin’ to 50300.

People are also encouraged to take a selfie with their children and post to social media using the hashtag #myboy in order to get Gavin’s cause trending.

While the family have reached their target for treatment people are still being encouraged

to contribute with many fundraisers still to come.

The next event for Team Gavin will see Running For Gavin & The Twisted Monkeys host a Family Fun Day at The Shoreline Sports Centre, Greystones on July 6.

There’ll be Bouncy Castles, Face Painting, Turbo Bikes, a BBQ, Ice Cream Vans and a marathon with a difference with everyone present running one or two laps in order to clock up 26.2 miles.

For anyone who can’t make it on the day, or for more details, check out www. twistedmonkeys.com or www. facebook.com/runningforgavin

SUPER DADDY’S GAVIN GIRLJETS : Craig OFF: Britton Gavinwith and his John daughter Glynn arrive Mollyat(2) Dublin at theAirport opening before of theflying new out to Wood America.

FloorPic Gallery

by Paul @ Matt Dillon Britton Kilcoole. More pictures inside page 22. »»Lots Lotsmore morepictures picturesfrom fromaround aroundthe thecounty countyinside inside

Continued on page 4

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4 | NEWS news in brief Dargle works WORK is due to restart on the the River Dargle flood protection scheme for the first time since it stopped in November 2013 after contractors SIAC entered examinership. Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Bray, John Brady said, “Some very positive work has being taking place to ensure work recommences and also to ensure that the People’s Park is reinstated and given back to the public.”

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

Toby toast of Toymaster

Home to Rome Arklow woman, Marian O’Regan, left for the first stage of a 2, 000km journey from Ireland to Rome. The Home to Rome challenge is in memory of Co. Kerry teenager Donal Walsh. Marian has chosen to donate the money she raises to Breakthrough Cancer Research and Arklow Cancer Support Group.

Price of three-bed semis rises by €100k in six months

By Cianan Brennan

Corner Boy

By Cianan Brennan

Five-piece folk rock band Corner Boy are set to rock the Harbour bar on July 18.

Their EP, True North, was released in March and they are currently doing a 35-date tour of Ireland and the UK.

TV presenter Sybil Mulcahy and little Tom O’Leary (3) are pictured enjoying some puppy love at the launch of the Jack and Jill Foundation’s ‘Toby for Charity’ fundrais-

ing campaign. Thousands of ‘Toby’ puppies are being made available to buy for just €3 at Toymaster stores across the country until the end of August.

Why not visit Hopkins Toymaster in Wicklow Town

to purchase a puppy and help provide home nursing hoursfor six Wicklow-based families with critically ill children?

The Jack & Jill Foundation have supported 36 such families in need in County Wicklow since 1997.

Superhero Gavin flies out to USA

Continues from previous page The amazing Gavin, just four years old, has been battling an extremely rare form of cancer known as rhabdomyosarcoma (a tumour of muscles attached to the bones) for almost three years. Superman-fan Gavin has been defying negative diagnoses from the start, and has undertaken seemingly neverending gruelling therapies with a strength that would do someone ten times his age proud.

In May his parents John and Jayne were told by Irish doctors that Gavin’s tumour wasn’t responding to treatment and that there was nothing more that could be done for him.

As they always have during Gavin’s turbulent journey his parents refused to accept bad news, and scoured treatment facilities in the US for alternative therapies that may save Gavin’s life.

The Kilcoole family shared Gavin’s files and scans with treatment facilities across the States and, having spoken at length with the team at MD Anderson, have elected for a treatment there known as a HIPEC procedure, a form of specialist chemotherapy.

AT least three different housing estates in Bray are seeing enormous hikes in property asking prices.

The price rises have happened relatively suddenly and range between €60,000 and €100,000 in scope from what houses in the relevant developments had been selling for previously.

With property prices rising across the county, as revealed in the last edition of the Wicklow Voice, it seems estate agents are beginning to test the waters aggressively to see what desperate buyers are willing to pay.

One frustrated buyer who is seeking to move to the Bray area told us of her experiences: “Myself and my husband have been monitoring the housing situation in and around Bray very closely for over a year now,” she says.

“We’re renting in the town at present having sold up down the country.”

“We had noticed that prices were inching upwards very gradually. Then, quite recently, prices have just jumped massively in certain areas.”

The three estates in question are Elgin Heights, Ashton Wood, and Cloverhill, all in Bray.

Houses in Elgin Heights had been selling for roughly €220,000 for a three-bed semidetached dwelling since 2012.

However, recently a house in the area has been quoted for an asking price of €320,000, an astonishing jump of €100,000.

Houses in Ashton Wood had seen slightly more variation in price in 2013, with the lowest going for €192,000 and the most expensive priced at €250,000 as recently as last December.

The lady we spoke to had a deflating experience however when tabling an offer for a house there.

“We viewed in Ashton Wood last July, with an asking price of €225,000.”

“The estate agent at the time

told us to bid €233,000 and to see what happened. Now the house is still unsold but is selling for €295,000!”

Prices in Cloverhill have seen a similarly large hike.

Three-bedroom houses there averaged an asking price of €170,000 in 2012.

In February a three-bed semi in Cloverhill sold for €270,000.

“We looked at Cloverhill as well, though the increases seen there aren’t quite so extreme as the others,” says our source.

Current prices listed for houses there stand at €289,000.

The news comes as the price of homes nationwide rose by 2.3% in May, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show. This compares with an increase of 1.4% in April.

The CSO said that in the year to May, residential property prices rose by 10.6%.

Dublin residential property prices increased by 4.2% in May and were 22.4% higher than a year ago - their fastest appreciation since the peak of the property boom in early 2007.

The Wicklow Voice spoke to one estate agent about the enormous increases in asking prices in the Bray area.

We questioned whether the amounts being quoted represented current market value, or if they stood as more of a negotiation tactic.

The response we received suggested that given the crowded marketplace full of buyers looking to get back on the property ladder before being priced out of the market, estate agents are more wary of undervaluing a property than of overvaluing it.

“Some houses are extended, some are in better order than others, mostly those kind of factors influence quoted prices,” said a source.

With the tactic of ‘gazumping’ becoming ever-more prevalent with regard to Irish house-sales it would seem that sellers are controlling the market in Bray at present.

NEWS |5

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

wicklow people in pictures

Scott Smullen of Roberts Dalkey in The Delgany Grocer

Not only must you leave water out for your domestic pet, but also remember the wildlife in your garden. Pictured is Yvette O’Gorman in Arklow (pic Yvette O Beirne)

Dolores O’Neill, Sharon Bolger, Catherine Mullen, Margaret Seely, Pamela Kinlan and Margaret Byrne at Ladies who Lunch in the Martello Hotel, Bray, for the St Andrew’s Bray Parents Association’s fundrasing event

Kait, Cordelia (21 months) and Mark Morrell out and about in Greystones

Lucas Kilkenny (4), Aisling MacNamara, and Amber Kilkenny (6) out and about in Mount Usher

Aisling O’Gorman tries to cool down on the south beach in Arklow (pic Yvette O Beirne)

6| NEWS

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

The Fishman casts his net wider

Alan Hegarty outside his shop in Wicklow Town with one of his catches

By Michelle McGlynn THE Fishman in Wicklow Town is set to create 10 new jobs as he expands his business in the coming months.

The plans will expand the premises and open a restaurant next door.

People will be able to choose their fish from the shop to be prepared and served to them in the adjoining restaurant.

Fishman, Alan Hegarty, is

news in brief Healthy eating class THE Mystic Celt in Wicklow Town have reached their milestone 10,000th child to take their healthy eating class.

They first began the classes in 2004 and they have proved extremely successful. They are looking forward to continuing the classes with primary schools from September.

Children of the Son Wicklow band Children of the Son have reached the top spot in the iTunes download rock chart with their debut single, Do You Really Want Me? The lads managed to land at the top of the chart in less than 24 hours. Expect more big things from them in coming months.

Dog show Ashford Fest will hold its 8th annual dog show, field day and barn dance on Saturday, July 5 at Rathmore Holiday Village, Ashford.

The fantastic programme of events includes a tug of war, clay pigeon shoot, battle of the bands and pony rides.

There will be a range of food and drinks stalls and vans throughout the day.

currently working on a wine bar and an oyster bar to be housed within the shop.

The oyster bar is to be named Sammy’s Oyster bar after their cutest customer, Sammy the Seal who visits daily for an afternoon snack.

For the past few weeks, The Fishman has hosted outdoor cooking demonstrations.

The demonstrations have been drawing a growing crowd as Alan invites chefs

from various restaurants in the area to showcase their best seafood recipes.

“The demonstrations show people just how easy it can be to create beautiful seafood dishes and we give the food out for free,” Alan told the Wicklow Voice. “It is really to create a sense of community.

If we give people a reason to come down then we could have something really special here in a few years.”

COUNTY Wicklow has a brand new app to help tourists and local keep up-to-date with what’s going on in the area.

The Wicklow Voice has teamed with Irish firm Townapps to develop the Wicklow App which can be downloaded from both the Apple and Android app stores (see our ad for further details on page 7).

With smartphones and tablets now being as ubiquitous as wallets, keys, and the sun shining while you’re at work, the app is available for free download for both Android and IOS platforms and will prove an essential tool for all those in the Wicklow area.

Developed by industry experts Townapps of Athlone, the Wicklow app summarises all that’s good to see and do in the Garden County through a userfriendly interface.

The idea is simple, using GPS satellite technology contained within your smartphone, the app matches your location to all sorts of activities, shops and services within the county, or simply acts as a guide to help you locate what you’re looking for.

Categories on the app include Food and Drink, Travel / Stay, Shopping, Things to Do, and Services, and with some 500 businesses and services already on the app all the very best of what Wicklow has to offer is covered.

A recent survey has found that more than 1.6 million people now have a smartphone in Ireland.

It found that the number of people who own a tablet computer has doubled since the last survey six months ago.

The authors estimate that based on people’s buying intentions, there will be 1.2 million tablet owners by the end of this year.

Underlining the diverse range of places that smartphones are used, 71% said they use their smartphone sitting in their car, 51% on public transport, 33% in the bathroom, 78% in the bedroom and 27% while on the toilet.

As communication usage trends shift, three quarters of those aged 16-24 say they now prefer to send text messages rather than have a phone conversation.

Say hello to our new App

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

NEWS |7

8| NEWS

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

Air show to be watched by millions worldwide

By Cianan Brennan

BRAY Summerfest is about to go global with the announcement that key event the Bray Air Display will be broadcast live to audiences around the world.

The Air Display has signed a partnership agreement with Irish streaming service Aertv which will see the event available for viewing online via their streaming portal.

The display, Ireland’s largest free air show, takes off at 3.30pm on Sunday, July 20.

Last year the display attracted a record-breaking 85,000 spectators and with the news that the event will be available online the numbers in attendance are expected to more than double.

Aertv broadcast Flightfest, a display of low-flying aircraft following the path of the River Liffey, from Dublin last year and received more than 100,000

Luke Bradley (13) Aisling Bradley out and about on Bray seafront

Paula Byrne, Alex Byrne (5) on Bray seafront.

unique views for the event.

Philippe Brodeur, director of Aertv, sees the Air Display as a wonderful opportunity for all concerned.

“The display is a world class show. This is a phenomenal op-

Display director Sé Pardy is similarly enthusiastic.

“This will help us reach a whole new audience who aren’t able to travel to Bray. Opening the door to audiences online can only help make the event bigger

and better,” he said.

The Air Display is one of the key events during Summerfest, which runs over five weekends between July 5 and August 4.

Running for 33 years, this year’s festival will showcase

news in brief

July 4. Any interested young musicians can apply for a place by phoning 086 0450375 or emailing evankenny@ wicklowvec.ie.

portunity to get the message out there to more people and showcase a truly fantastic event.”

“We also love getting tweets from people watching our streams from random places around the world!” he added.

Leap visitor card THE new Leap visitor card has recently been launched making travel to Wicklow easier and cheaper for tourists. The new card will offer visitors 72 hours of unlimited travel on DART, Iarnród Éireann’s short-hop zone and Dublin Bus all for €19.50. The new Leap card is available from Dublin Airport Leap card outlets.

Food garden party ENNiSKErrY will host a food festival and garden party on 28 and 29 June. All funds raised will go towards various redevelopment projects for Enniskerry village.

The festival will include food and wine workshops, a street food market, the Mad Hatter’s Garden Party and music on will be provided by East Coast FM’s mobile studio.

Musicians workshop MUSic Generation Wicklow will welcome Scottish musicians Chris Stout and Caitriona McKay for a one day workshop in traditional music. The workshop takes place in Blessington, Friday,

Tell No Foxx EP WicKlOw band Tell No Foxx are set to release their self-titled debut EP on Friday, July 4. Brian Sillery, Luke Lacey and Johnny Flood have created a heartfelt and mysterious sound with echoes of the 80s mixed with contemporary tastes. They play Bray Summerfest on July 13 and Tá Se’s in Wicklow Town on July 19.

Green schools THErE were tiny green fingers at work at St Mary’s Junior NS, Blessington as pupils started work on their vegetable beds. The garden is accommodated by Supervalu near the car park and is part of the Green schools and Tidy Towns schemes.

Canine collection MY Canine Companion is an Irish charity who provide highly trained and skilled assistance dogs for those with disabilities, particularly autism. Come out and meet some of the dogs when they hold street collections in Bray

over 60 events, including the International Street Performers Festival (July 11-13) which makes its debut this year and the Bray Head Slide, a 90m water slide (July 12-13).

The Wicklow Food and Garden Festival will dominate the weekend of July 26-27, while Bray’s iconic seaside bandstand will be the venue for free live music acts over the five weekends.

Festival director, Mick Glynn says Summerfest has something for everyone: “We have every angle covered - live music, family events, food, not to mention the air display,” he said.

For more information on Bray Summerfest logon to www. braysummerfest.com The free live stream of the Bray Air Display on July 20th can be viewed worldwide at www.aertv.ie/live/ bray-air-display-2014

and Greystones on Saturday, June 28.

Charity fire walk THE ultimate fire walking experience will take place at the Martello, Bray on Friday, June 27 at 8pm.

All money raised will go to Rett Syndrome and CDKL 5 Ireland. Watch participants walk over hot coals and enjoy DJ Micky D, fire breathers, brazilian drummers and live bands.

Hozier album It is hard to believe that Wicklow sensation Hozier, who has taken the US by storm, has not yet released his debut album. But fans do not need to wait much longer as it has been announced that the self-titled album will be released on September 22.

Dangerous buildings CONtractOrS have moved on to the old AO Smith’s site on the Boghall Road and the old Haughton’s factory at Adelaide Villas, where two fire fighters tragically lost their lives in 2007. The contractors are securing the buildings and making both sites safe. This move has been welcomed by both communities.

NEWS|9

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

â‚Ź14.99

10 | OPINION

opinion&comment

Some Travellers need to change

I

n the next 800 words I intend to write about Travellers. Specifically, I intend to write about some aspects of Traveller behaviour which annoy the hell out of the settled community. ie, the other 99.4% of us. Since this is a vexed and sensitive subject, let me begin with a caveat.

When I refer to Travellers, I mean some Travellers. I do not think any group of people should be tarred with the one brush or that anyone should be held accountable for the behaviour of their neighbours - unless, of course, they are.

That said, I can think of no identifiable section of Irish society that is as responsible for as much anti-social behaviour as Travellers. Not teenagers, for instance, or pensioners, or immigrants, or vegetarians, or people with red hair, or dog lovers, or Tipperary hurling fans.

All of these people produce occasional offenders but nobody could possibly think their behaviour was typical of the entire group.

Travellers on the other hand (and please remember my caveat) regularly offend in ways which suggest either a total disregard for the rest of society or a completely different perception of what constitutes right and wrong.

What brings this to mind is last week’s sad story of the horse that had to be put down after being raced along the Kilkenny to Waterford road.

The unfortunate animal broke away from the sulky it was pulling and was hit by an oncoming vehicle.

Now, who could possibly believe it is acceptable to race a horse-drawn trap fast along a public road? A couple of youngsters, you might think, who did not realise the error of their ways - exceptional miscreants.

But this was no one-off. A horse died in very similar circumstances near Tipperary town recently and last year a video of sulkies being raced side by side down a public road in the west caused amazement around the YouTube world.

Harness racing on the Cork to Mallow road last month drew a rebuke f rom Pavee Point, the Traveller support group which rarely has a bad word to say about even their worst behaviour.

In October last year, on another stretch of the Dublin to Cork road, motorists were faced with the distressing sight of a horse bleeding to death having, again, been crashed in the course of a sulky race.

So do these boy racers not know such behaviour is wrong - or do they just not care?

The same question might be asked of Travellers who turn up at weddings and funerals armed with clubs and slash hooks in preparation for a battle with other Travellers. And it can be asked again of those who lay siege to peaceful towns while they indulge in these battles.

It is not that they come to celebrate or mourn, and then a fight breaks out, bad though that may be. These extended fami-

lies come tooled up and ready for battle.

This is ‘faction fighting’ which was a common problem in 19th century Ireland. It was regarded as a menace even then. What sort of people regard it as acceptable behaviour in the 21st century?

And what sort of people think it is acceptable to move caravans and trailers onto public land, camp there for a few weeks free of charge, and leave it looking like a municipal dump that has been hit by a bomb?

When I put these matters to advocates of the Traveller cause they sometimes blame the behaviour on society having passed the Traveller by. As the Ewan McColl songs says “winds of change of change are blowing, old ways are going”. There are no places to halt and no demand for Traveller trades such as tinsmithing.

I can understand the argument, although I don’t think faction fighting or trashing up the countryside was a great idea even in the heyday of these free born men of the travelling people. But, in any case, lots of people have found their ways of life destroyed by changes in how things are done and they learn to accept them.

I grew up in a newspaper industry full of printers and compositers, skilled in the production and assembly of lead type. It’s no longer needed and they don’t go around insisting they have a right to produce it anyway.

Coopers don’t make wooden barrels, stokers don’t fire the engines of trains, and jarveys don’t drive stage coaches.

Times change and we all must change with them. Only Travellers believe they have a God-given right to continue to behave as their grandparents and great-grandparents did.

I have always been puzzled by the desire of Travellers to be regarded as an ethnic group when it is quite clear from their names and backgrounds that they are Irish.

But when I read about something as strange and horrible as last week’s death of the horse, I feel they may have a point. Perhaps Travellers - some Travellers - really are not part of our society. Perhaps Travellers -some Travellers - don’t want to be part of our society.

“

When the Taoiseach overturned the outcome of the vote on the Banking Inquiry, he rendered the votes of Members of the Oireachtas meaningless.

And if the votes of our elected representatives are meaningless, then we are not really living in a Parliamentary Democracy in Ireland.

have you got something to say? if you would ‘lots of people like to write have found on this page, their ways of then contact us

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.

life destroyed by changes in how things are done’

e: info@ wicklowvoice.ie w: www. wicklowvoice.ie

with Michael Wolsey with Stephen Donnelly

Why I had to say no to the bank inquiry

T

HE very behaviour seen in setting up the banking inquiry is exactly the behaviour that caused the crisis in the first place. The Inquiry Committee will probe the technical reasons for the banking collapse.

But to prevent another crisis in Ireland, the single most important change required is for the Oireachtas to start fulfilling the role it was created for – to hold the Taoiseach and Cabinet to account.

The technical reasons for the banking collapse are important.

But most of them can be traced back to a culture where dissent was not tolerated, and where authority figures were allowed do what they wanted. This was true for the banks, the Central Bank and the Department of Finance.

It was also true for the Oireachtas. Rather than doing its job, the Oireachtas sleepwalked through the bubble. It voted through the bank guarantee. It gave the Finance Minister unlimited powers to pour money into the banks.

Then it watched as two successive Ministers paid tens of billions of Euro of our money to foreign investors to whom we owed not one cent. To avoid sleep-walking in the future, to protect the citizens of the State, the Oireachtas must be strong, independent and active.

So, is the Oireachtas waking up? The Taoiseach overturned a decision of the Oireachtas ratified by a vote. His own people didn’t show up for the vote, so the Government ended up with four, rather than five of the nine seats on the Inquiry Committee.

So he simply added two more, and said he was doing so to control the Inquiry.

Some have dismissed this as a technicality – it is anything but.

Several candidates in the Local Elections in Wicklow missed out on seats by less than ten

votes. Had a few more of their people turned up, they would have been elected. Maybe some supporters were on holiday, or helping their kids with exams, which is what the two missing Labour Senators were doing.

Now imagine Enda Kenny decided he was adding a few more Fine Gael and Labour Councillors, so that Wicklow County Council had a Government majority. And then stated publically that did it to control what the Council got up to. The entire concept of local democracy would collapse, as the people would see that their votes were meaningless.

But that’s exactly what just happened in our national parliament. When the Taoiseach overturned the outcome of the vote on the Banking Inquiry, he rendered the votes of Members of the Oireachtas meaningless.

And if the votes of our elected representatives are meaningless, then we are not really living in a Parliamentary Democracy in Ireland. As a Member of the Oireachtas for Wicklow and East Carlow, that is not something I could be complicit in.

It was exactly this sort of weak and submissive parliament that allowed the economic collapse to happen. We must demand more. The single greatest security Ireland has against future crises is a well-functioning parliament that holds the executive to account. To create this, the Oireachtas must start to take itself seriously. And the first step is for it to insist its decisions are upheld, even when they don’t suit the agenda of the Taoiseach.

Stephen Donnelly is the Independent TD for Wicklow and East Carlow, and a member of the Dáil Technical Group. He quit the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry, saying the Taoiseach had subverted the will of the Oireachtas by ensuring a Government majority on it.

OPINION | 11

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

anyotherbusiness

Have you got a story?

Then email thecaptain@wicklowvoice.ie

By Captain Louis

Relief for Pat Kenny Well that’s a relief ... The Captain was concerned that the wealthy investors who lost millions buying suites at the former Ritz-Carlton, which opened on October 1, 2008 at a cost of €212m, would lose their lucrative tax breaks following the sale of the hotel. But never fear, due to a creative accounting mechanism, The Captain hears the hard-pressed likes of broadcaster Pat Kenny and concert supremo Denis Desmond will be able to write off between 100% and 75% of the cost. Under EU rules, the investors should have been liable for the full amount if sold within seven years. But under the scheme, Brehon Capital Partners and Midwest Ventures, who bought the hotel last year and rebranded it The Powerscourt Hotel, will not take onwership of the suites for another few years to take advantage of the “first use” rule. Just shows that it pays to have a good accountant, particularly when you’re loaded ...

The good, the bad and the vegans

Diane Sheridan and Eddie Sheehy at the launch of the Round of Ireland Sailfest 2014 in Ulster Bank, Wicklow Town

Support your local festival - they bring a lot of joy

T

he recent good weather has been very welcome and has helped draw a line in the sand under the first segment of the year while transitioning us into summer. The sun shining puts people in better form at any time of the year but especially in summer. I’m sure there is a scientific reason for this related to vitamin D or serotonin levels. With the World Cup going on and temperatures soaring into the 20’s it’s as if a little piece of Brazil has come to Ireland. Long may it last!

Certainly there is a feel-good factor around and this can only get better in County Wicklow with lots of festivals taking place over the next while, Arklow’s Seabreeze, Kilcoole’s Gun-running Centenary, Wicklow’s Sailfest and Bray’s Summerfest to name but a few.

This is a time of the year to be enjoyed. Metaphorically, arriving at summer is like having climbed to the top of a high hill. It’s time to stop and take in the view after the hard work of the climb, before you have to descend back to the return of routine that will come with autumn. I always enjoy climbing Bray Head in the summer and looking out at the sea changing its hue like a chameleon from grey to emerald green to molten

Brian Quigley blue with just the odd ship inching along the horizon as if in a novelty pen; then turning the other way and looking out at the fields patched like quilts onto the Wicklow hills. The ascent is hard and the climb down will be a return to reality, but the moment is no less enjoyable.

Obviously good weather can make a summer. ‘Heat wave 1976’ is still fondly remembered by all who experienced it, especially the children who were able to stay out all day every day re-enacting that year’s Wimbledon, Montreal Olympics or European soccer championships from Yugoslavia. I was there – that summer really was as good as legend has it! Sometimes you look at where you grew up as it is now and it’s hard to believe that the paths and gardens were Olympic tracks and battlegrounds where world wars were won or lost, and the cars the cupfinal goals were scored between

have long-since disappeared, upgraded many times over. And the crew you hung around with have spread their wings and departed Wicklow for the four corners of the earth.

Festivals have been going on around the county for a long time. Bray’s summer festival, for example, dates back over 30 years to the early 1980’s. Historically, a festival was an event staged by a community that centred on and celebrated some unique aspect of that community. They were linked to commemoration of specific events in the community’s past or else were tied in with seasonal religious or agricultural celebrations. Strangely enough festivals in the past were just put on by and for the local community – there was no element of tourism or visitors attached to them.

We have moved on thankfully with the advent of mass transport and now the tourism aspect and the revenue it generates is an essential part of putting on festivals. They have become a vital part of the county’s economy, especially in the summer months.

Bray’s summerfest can expect to attract 130,000 attendees and furnish an €8m-plus revenue injection for the local community.

Visitors seem to be attracted to specific sporting, artistic or cultural events when it comes to festivals, something that makes

what your town or county is offering stand out from other places. Bray’s spectacular air display, The Groove festival in Kilruddery and Wicklow’s Food and Garden Festival are good examples. And once visitors are brought in they might decide to visit Glendalough or take in a Bray Wanderers match – everyone benefits. Wanderers having a Manchester United XI visit the Carlisle Grounds on the day of the air show is a masterstroke for the town and county.

When we are lucky enough to get visitors in large numbers we need to be grateful and focus on the positive.

Revenue has been generated locally; our county has been seen in a good light.

If there is a lot of cleaning up to do after big events this shouldn’t be harped on about in a negative way.

A messy seafront in Bray after the Air Display is not news; it is nit-picking negativity. Imagine what the clean-up was like after Woodstock, or the Papal visit to the Phoenix Park in 1979!

We should all try to support our county’s festivals by attending as many events as possible this summer.

Festivals will always remain a celebration of the community and for the community even if the net is widened to bring in as many visitors as possible.

Speaking of The Powerscourt Hotel, The Captain had to unfortunately cry-off from attending the third wedding (but first marriage) of the former Miss World Rosanna Davison to beau Wesley Quirke. Worn out from keeping up with the Kardashian-Wests, The Captain missed out on the star-studded bash that saw her parents Chris de Burgh and Diane Davison welcome ‘celebrities’ Roz Purcell, Suzanne McCabe, Brian Ormond, Pippa O’Connor, Claudine Keane, Hayley Rock and hairdresser Michael Doyle, while Wickla’s very own superstar Hozier entertained the troops. On June 1, the high profile pair got married at the Atzaro hotel and Spa in Ibiza after making it official at the Merrion Hotel. Approximately 200 guests descended on the hotel in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow for the exclusive bash which included a special vegan option on the menu. It’s always nice to look after the vegetables, sorry vegetarians, at these things ...

Red dawn for cows of Wickla Former James Bond Timothy Dalton in Bray for Penny Dreadful, The Vikings in Ashford, whatever next? What’s that you say? The second most powerful communist in China on a farm in Newtownmountkennedy? That’ll be the day thought The Captain but that day has been and gone. First secretary of the Communist Party of China Liu Yunshan accompanied Irish junior agriculture minister Tom Hayes to the beef and lamb farm of Wickla’s own Tom and Geraldine Short recently. The visit was geared towards a showcase of Ireland’s beef industry, with discussions ongoing between the two countries with regard to Ireland securing access to the Chinese market. With this June marking the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre of protesting students in Beijing, hosting the former head of propaganda for the Chinese politburo (for Yunshan is he) could be perceived as not being in the best possible taste. But who cares so long as the beef tastes good - and the Chinese buy it ...

Harris back in the saddle

No-one enjoys a good mixed metaphor more than The Captain, so he noted with pleasure Simon Harris TD jumping straight back on the horse and motoring full steam ahead following his recent great efforts in the European Elections.

Harris’ press release encouraging Wickla’s citizens to participate in National Bike Week shows that the 27-year-old has no intention of, ahem, slowing down following his defeat in the Europeans, his first ever loss at the hands of the electorate. Having just missed out to fellow Fine Gaeler Deirdre Clune in the race for the final Ireland South MEP seat, Europe’s loss is hopefully Wickla’s future gain, as a juicy junior ministry in the imminent cabinet reshuffle will be more than enough to put Simon back in the saddle…

No justice for Seanie Fitz There’s just no justice for Sean ‘Seanie Fitz’ Fitzpatrick after Judge Martin Nolan ruled that the State does not have to pay the legal costs of the former Anglo chief. Judge Nolan said that it might seem unfair to the layman that an acquitted man should be left with the legal bill but because the prosecution was conducted properly, he was rejecting the application. In this case, The Captain doubts too many laymen will think it’s unfair ...

12 | NEWS wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

Lions spotted roaming in Wicklow

By Cianan Brennan

LiOns aren’t normally that common a sight around the Wicklow Mountains, but that all changed recently as a different sort of Lion pride made its way through the county.

The ‘Ride of the Lions’, a charity cycle with a difference, called into Wicklow RFC en route from Wexford to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, home of Irish rugby.

The ride features rugby superstars of the past, particularly former representatives of the British and Irish Lions, as they cycle a gruelling route for a good cause.

About 50 riders and support crew sat down for a welldeserved lunch after the latest 70-mile stage of their mammoth cycle, while afterwards there was an opportunity for people to meet their heroes and take some photos.

Present were Lions legends such as Roger Uttley (part of the legendary “Invincibles” Lions team that toured New Zealand undefeated in 1974) and Ireland’s Paul Wallace (a member of the famous Lions side that defeated South Africa during their memorable tour in 1997).

Other former players present included Rob Henderson, Craig Chalmers, and ‘Iron’ Mike Teague, aka the toughest man to

ever play rugby.

Wicklow RFC President Colin Kingston could not hide his pride at welcoming the rugby legends to his club.

“I’d like to wish the cyclists the very best of luck for the rest of their journey,” he said.

“I’d also like to remind those here that one of the most famous Lions of them all, the late Cliff Morgan, once donned the Wicklow rugby jersey whilst working in the town in the

early 1950s.” The cycle had already taken the legends from Twickenham in London to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and from there onto Wexford.

After the Aviva the Lions set out again, this time with a destination of Murrayfield in Edinburgh, via Belfast.

The Ride of the Lions was first staged in 2013 during the last Lions tour of Australia.

On that occasion the riders cycled with the match ball for

the Lions’ final test, covering 600 miles of Australian wilderness between Melbourne and Sydney, arriving on match day to witness a superb victory for the tourists.

This year’s cycle is being run with donations going to such causes as the UK military charity Walking With The Wounded, and also to the Lions Charitable Trust.

For more information see www.rideofthelions.co.uk

down the decades Michael Collins and Wicklow

Orla Bolger and Ciaran Doyle outside The Café Latte in Ashford.

THE famous Irish leader Michael Collins spent a lot of his spare time with Dr.Brendan Leigh-Doyle and his family in Greystones.

The Leigh-Doyles had been very supportive of Collins and his colleagues during the War of Independence. In August 1921 while visiting he insisted that they take him for a picnic in the Devil’s Glen near Rathdrum.

Now Collins was always a man for a bit of horseplay which resulted in both himself and Dr. Leigh-Doyle’s four-year-old son falling into the river. Young Brendan’s clothes were hung to dry. Collins more constrained by the conventions of his time spent the rest of the day with the Sunday papers stuffed inside his wet trousers.

Prophetically 4 days before he was shot Collins visited the Leigh-Doyles and asked them to take care of his fiancée Kitty Kiernan who was staying at the time in the Grand Hotel.

Michael Collins sister Mary once asked him after his travels

all over Ireland which people he like the best. “The people in Co.Wicklow” he answered without hesitation.

That is why, in 1965, a 110-ton granite boulder was transported from West Wicklow to Collins’s birthplace. The stone stands, rugged sturdy and unyielding, like Collins himself as a lasting memory to the “Big Fellow.” .

Philip Byrne is a Storyteller who under the title of Positive Outcomes is available for storytelling events for children and adults including special needs groups. He can be contacted on 087 2627806.

David and Patrick Hayes (nearly 3) in Greystones

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June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

summerweddings Druids Glen Resort Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow, 01 2870800 THE wedding team at Druids Glen Resort are absolutely dedicated to your special day and will create a memorable wedding which is distinctive and uniquely yours.

Create a bespoke dining experience from the a la carte menu or choose one of our inclusive wedding packages which includes wine, flowers, chair covers, fairy light backdrop and those little magical touches we do so well. Whether an extravagant celebration in the chandelier lit ballroom, an intimate gathering with friends, a civil ceremony or partnership, there is something to suit every budget and taste. Celebrate your wedding in luxurious style at Druids Glen Resort.

Treacy’s hotel Enniscorthy, Wexford, 053 9237798 Treacy’s Hotel is renowned for great activity weekends.

You will never be short of entertainment as the hotel

Left, Treacy’s Hotel, and right, Nessa Kearney (seated), wedding coordinator and Bijoy John and Anne-Marie Hayden, of the Druid’s Glen Resort has three venues all under one roof: Temple Bar, Dbar and Benedicts nightclub.

The hotel can offer an array of activities to suit everyone from clay pigeon shooting,

quad biking, murder mystery in the castle, cocktail making master class, dance parties,

hen on the farm and so much more. Parties of 15 people or more staying for 2 nights the

Hen or Stag will go free, the hotel also gives the organiser a free bottle of Prosecco.

14 | SUMMER WEDDINGS

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

Glenview hotel and leisure club Glen O the Downs, Delgany, 01 2740000 NESTLED in the stunning and majestic surroundings of the Glen O’ the Downs, the four star Glenview Hotel overlooks the rolling hills of the famous Wicklow Mountains. Set amongst 30 acres of woodland walks and beautiful landscaped gardens the Glenview Hotel is a classic hotel. A stunning location combined with experience, dedication, exquisite cuisine and sophisticated ambience, creates a truly magical setting for your special day.

With just one wedding per day, bar extension included and no room hire for civil ceremonies, our dedicated wedding team are on hand to ensure your day is perfect. Email sayido@glenviewhotel.com for more details.

Whites of Wexford Abbey Street, Wexford, 053 9122311 Let Whites of Wexford roll out the red carpet for you on your wedding day and give you a day to remember forever.

When you choose this four star wedding hotel, you are guaranteed first class service and attention.

The hotel is built surrounding a courtyard garden, a beautiful venue for pre-dinner drinks or as a backdrop for photographs. Whites of

Wexford can cater for weddings from 80 to 400 people with ease.

Choosing a wedding venue is one of the most important decisions that you can make, Whites of Wexford would be happy to have the opportunity of hosting your wedding.

Summerhill House Hotel Enniskerry, Wicklow, 01 2867928 ThE picturesque Summerhill House Hotel is the ideal venue for your wedding reception.

The Avondale suite can accommodate up to 250 guests.

This country house is one of the leading wedding specialists in the region. Concentrating on one wedding reception per day affords them the opportunity to provide you with an intimate service. A fantastic selection of packages can be customised to suit your requirements. The experienced and dedicated wedding team are on hand to guide you through your preparations.

Every wedding receives over 12 complimentary extras. Every Sunday is a Wedding Open Day. For further information email weddings@summerhillhousehotel.com.

Royal Marine hotel and spa Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, 01 2300030 WHEtHER your wedding is large or intimate, formal or

pickin the perfe venu casual, a marquee, a luncheon or a civil ceremony, the Royal Marine hotel can cater for all your needs. Set on four acres of gardens with direct access to Dun Laoghaire promenade and pier, members of your wedding party will feel spoilt by the grandeur of this Victorian setting. There are 15 suites to choose from, a large banqueting hall and a large Victorian staircase with high ceilings and natural light.

The Royal Marine is ideal for photos both inside and out.

The staff would be delighted to host your big day.

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June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

ng

to 450 guests with ease. The 4 star deluxe venue offers each couple a personal service, support, advice and guidance.

Our wedding coordinator and banqueting manager will be on hand to assist you taking decisions. You will receive €1,000 worth of vendo vouchers. Contact Jenny Hesse at jennyevents@whitesofwexford.ie.

ect ue Royal hotel Main Street, Bray, 01 2862935 The Royal hotel want to make your dream wedding a reality.

As Wicklow’s premier wedding venue they pride themselves on working with each couple to to ensure that every aspect of their wedding is attended to. The Royal hotel are distinguished for their superb food, terrific atmosphere and strong emphasis on client care. The experienced team offers a genuine warmth and hospitality and goes the extra mile in an effort to add sentiment to your special day. The Royal hotel will leave no stone

unturned to ensure that your day is exceeds your expectations and lives long in your memory.

Whites of Wexford Abbey Street, Wexford, 053 9174215 Picture your perfect day, the contemporary elegance of newly built hotel, drinks reception in our courtyard garden, back drop views of Wexford bay. Your role is to enjoy your special day, our job is to ensure it happens effortlessly.

Whites of Wexford has hosted generations of wedding receptions and can cater from 80

Ashdown Park Hotel The Coach Road, Gorey, Wexford, 053 9480500 The Ashdown Park Hotel know your wedding or civil ceremony is the most important day for both partners, it is their wish to make it perfect for you.

Packages are tailored to your budget. Our wedding coordinators would be delighted to meet with you at your convenience to discuss planning of your special day.

Amber Springs hotel Wexford Road, Gorey, Wexford, 053 9484000 The Amber Springs hotel is designed for weddings and civil ceremonies. Tailored packages are on offer with an exclusive €5, 500 for 100 guests which includes four course meal, wine, DJ, photographer and lots more.

The Amber Springs is situated in a picturesque setting which guarantees guests a uniquely memorable experience.

16 | SUMMER WEDDINGS

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

WEDDINGS| 17

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

my favourite things Red Herring, top €39, coat €83, shorts €42

WEDDING fashion

WHAT’s HOT

with Michelle McGlynn info@wicklowvoice.ie Suit jacket, Debenhams, €199

Suit trousers, Marks & Spencers, €65

Paul Costelloe shirt, Dunnes, €50 Dress, Missguided, €40

Pocket square, Debenhams, €22 Shoes, Burton Menswear, €55

Dress, Monsoon, €290

Dress, Miss Selfridge, €65

Shoes, Office, €85

Bracelet, Dorothy Perkins, €10

Hairband, Glitzysecrets. com, €32

18 | SUMMER WEDDINGS

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

food

Peter Byrne

Head Chef at Sika Restaurant in The Powerscourt Hotel

GAZPACHO

Ingredients

preparation

• 1kg Box overripe tomatoes • 3 red peppers • 1 cucumbers • 2 banana shallots • 1 cloves garlic • 1 litres tomato juice • 1 sticks lemongrass • ½ bunch basil • Few sprigs coriander • 1 tablespoons tomato puree • Salt • Sherry vinegar • Cabernet Sauvignon vinegar

Sweat off peppers and shallots until soft, then add puree and cook out for a couple of minutes.

Peel and chop the garlic and cucumbers, chop the rest of the ingredients and mix together. Add the pepper mix, season well with salt and the 2 vinegars. Marinade overnight.

Remove lemongrass before blitzing and pass at least twice.

Adjust seasoning and ensure it is well chilled.watercress salad

wine choice La Rosca Cava A very modern, fruit driven Cava; zesty, lively and with loads of fresh apple and lemon fruit. Soft and rounded, no sharpness here, making it a very easy to drink sparkler. Just been awarded Silver at the 2011 International Wine.

Available for €14.99 from O’Brien’s county-wide.

PROPERTY| 19

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

Looming Water Charges

hothouse

– Wise Up or you’ll pay up!

BY carefully cutting this column and placing it on your fridge for all to see - you may save money! Now is the time to mindfully change our water usage habits in a bid to beat those water meters.

Rumour has it that the average customer bill could be in the region of at least €240 per annum but nothing has been set in stone as yet. If you do get metered what you actually pay will be based on your usage.

Kitchen and bathrooms are the main culprits but also beware of your outdoor water activities.

Top tips for conserving water in your home Carry out a full check for any leaks, running overflows, dripping taps, cisterns or pipes.

A dripping tap can waste 15 litres of water per day or 5,500 litres of water a year.

Don’t let the tap run when brushing your teeth or shaving.

Also avoid running water when cleaning fruit and vegetables use a basin instead. Have a jug of cold water in the fridge to avoid having to run the tap cold before a drink.

Avoid boiling a full kettle only fill as much as you need, this will also save on electricity.

Insulate hot water pipes where

Install a water butt to your drainpipe, water collected can be used to water your garden, clean your car or wash your windows.

Getting water smart now will not only help reduce your energy use but will avoid shocking water bills, saving you money.

To get the children on board, check out www.taptips.ie for more information.

Homes

with Clodagh Doyle (info@wicklowvoice.ie)

possible to avoid long delays and wasted water while waiting for the water to run hot.

Showering instead of baths will halve the amount of water consumed. Quicker showers can save between 2 – 5 gallons per minute. Installing a lowflow showerhead can save about 2 gallons per minute.

Flushing toilets can account for a whopping 26% of water usage. Replace older larger use toilets with newer higher efficiency toilets saving .5 to 5 gallons per flush.

Place a cistern displacement device in your toilet cistern to reduce the volume of water used in each flush.

When investing in new

appliances and other household products for example showerheads, taps, toilets look for water efficient features. You can also install flow restrictors in your kitchen and bathroom for a little as €7, check out www.watersave.ie Only use dishwashers and washing machines when they are full loaded.

Washing machines can account for up to 20% of water usage in the home.

Before you let, sell or dwell, make sure your place looks swell!

Selling? Letting? Moving?

Improving?

Let the Professional House Doctors Take Care of It! Get in touch on 086 8159431, 01 2548070 or e-mail us info@placelift.ie

Sebring, Ballyguile Mór, €695,000 O’GoRmAN Properties are delighted to present ‘Sebring’ to the open market, an exceptional architect designed split level detached house set on a mature private elevated site with amazing views of the east coast.

The house was built in 1993 by the present owners to maximise the spectacular vista and views out over Wicklow Town and Harbour, The Irish Sea, Wicklow Mountains and along the east coast to Howth Head.

On a very clear day the distant coastline of Wales is visible.

The property is situated in the exclusive enclave of Ballyguile Mor, which is a cul de sac of approximately 20 detached private, individual homes on a elevated site at

the southern end of Wicklow Town. The house itself is approximately 275sq.m / 3,000sq ft and was constructed to a high specification and a unique architect design.

Built into the hillside this split level home is cleverly designed to provide spacious light filled accommodation.

Outside the property is accessed down a sweeping driveway to a large parking area.

The well maintained garden and grounds have mature planting and are integrated into the landscape to provide a private enclosed setting.

There is also two terrace patio areas, a separate boiler house and carport.

Strictly by appointment please contact O’Gorman Properties on 01-2871144

1 2 3 4 5

topten

20 | WHAT’S HOT

with Michelle McGlynn info@wicklowvoice.ie

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

ART IDEA of the fortnight Stained glass making workshops The Schoolhouse for Art, Enniskerry Village, Sat 28Sun 29 June, Sunday July 20, 10am-4pm Learn the craft of stained glass making at this unique workshop. There is a two-day workshop suitable for both beginners and continuing students in June.

Here, you will learn stained glass making using the ‘Tiffany’ method of cutting glass, copper foiling and soldering. Tutor Kathleen will discuss the types of glass and design/patterns while guiding you through the process of building a colourful glass piece. The one-day workshop in July is suited to beginners or those who are unavailable for the weekend course. Places should be booked soon at www.schoolhouseofart.com or by calling 01 2869594. The two-day workshop is €125 while the one-day is €70, prices include most supplies.

PARTY idea of the fortnight Co. Wicklow lawn tennis club open day Vevay Road, Bray, July 5, 1pm-3.30pm On July 5 the Co Wicklow Lawn Tennis Club will host their Annual Open Day as part of AIG National Tennis Day. Now in its third year, this very popular event sees the club open its doors to families to come along and enjoy a few hours of fun tennis. You can experience

the wonderful facilities the club has to offer such as the vibrant juniors section featuring specially designed mini courts, the friendly bar, and state of the art courts.

Drop in and meet some of the coaches and existing members, enjoy some fun tennis followed by delicious Wicklow strawberries and cream and maybe even a glass of Pimms. For more information see www. cowicklowltc.com

Book of the fortnight This is Wicklow Michael Delahunty This is Wicklow encapsulates all aspects of living in and visiting Wicklow. The book comprises over 200 photographs which were taken over a five-year period. The photographs celebrate the towns, the plantlife, the mountains, romantic lakes, rivers and waterfalls. From Blessington in the northwest

to Arklow in the southeast, this truly is the Garden of Ireland at its best. Many of the activities available in the county are presented, including golf, canoeing, hill-walking, horse-riding and fishing. This collection of stunning photography clearly shows why Wicklow is one of Ireland’s premier tourist destinations as it captures the county’s spirit, colour and diversity.

TV SHOW of the fortnight Glee

Sky 1, Thursdays Get ready, Gleeks because Glee season five returns to our screens from July 3. This season will feature the 100th episode of the popular series.

In this episode, there will be more than a few surprises as old members return to McKinley to say farewell to someone special. As always, there will

fitNESS IDEA of the fortnight CPT Bootcamps Presentation College, Bray, begins Sat, June 28, 11am CPT Bootcamps offer a range of classes to suit everyone in both indoor and outdoor settings. Classes are designed to challenge you and help you to get in the best shape of your life. You can choose from bootcamps, strongman, strength and conditioning as well as yummy mummy classes. Classes will

incorporate all the latest fitness equipment including TRX, kettlebells, sandbags, sleds and more. Damian and Marcus are highly qualified, friendly fitness professionals who will provide you with an enjoyable fitness experience.

You will recieve a free class when booked with Twitter @ cptbootcamps or Facebook. com/cptbootcamps. Drop in fee is €10. Contact Damian on 086 4080952 or Marcus on 085 2700577.

be numerous cameos from big name stars. Gwyneth Paltrow, Kristin Chenoweth reprise their roles. Meanwhile, Jim Rash, Kristen Schaal, June Squibb and Shirley MacLaine will all pay a visit to our favourite glee club.

Relationships and friendships are as complicated as ever with ambition, insecurities and egos all causing issues. The seniors deal with graduation and all that goes with it.

6 7 8 9 10

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June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

MOVIE of the fortnight How to train your dragon 2 Gaiety Cinema, Arklow Everyone’s favourite dragon, Toothless returns along with pal, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) in this adventure-filled sequel.

Since we last visited the island of Berk, dragons and Vikings have learned to happily co-exist. Hiccup and Toothless still soar through the skies going on adventures to explore uncharted territory. When their exploration leads them to discover an ice cave filled with hundreds of wild dragons, they may have uncovered more than they had bargained for. They encounter the evil and mysterious Drago Bludvist (Djimon Hounsou) and now the two must fight to keep the peace. Our favourite characters return, voiced by America Ferrera, Kristen Wiig and Jonah Hill who will be joined by Cate Blanchett and Game of Thrones star Kit Harington.

HOROSCOPES with Siobhan Moore Whelan

Aries- 2,5,9,15,27,33 Aries the planet of good luck, adventures, and joy moves into the area of your chart that governs happiness and playtime activities.

FUNdRAISER of the fortnight Gavin Glynn appeal Four year-old Gavin Glynn was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when he was just 17 months old.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant cancerous tumour of the muscles attached to the bone. Unfortunately, Gavin’s family were recently told that there were no more treatment options available to them in Ireland.

Now their only option is to travel to Texas for lastchance treatment. This is going to cost a considerable amount of money and the Glynn family are asking you to help them to save Gavin.

To donate €4, text ‘GAVIN’ to 50300 or visit www. teamgavinglynn.ie. You can also raise awareness by sharing a selfie of yourself and your boy to social media with the hashtag #MyBoy

Greenan Farm is a working farm and is packed with loads of attractions including a garden maze, an old farmhouse, a farm museum, bottle museum, sculptures, nature trail, craft shop and tea rooms.

There are lots of farmyard animals to visit including

pigs, chicks, horses, donkeys and sheep. Their tricky Celtic maze stands on a half acre of land. A stream flows through it to the pond in the middle and a viewing tower overlooks the excitement below. Doesn’t that just sound a-maze-ing?

The old farmhouse dates back to the 16th century and was a safe-house for Irish rebels in the 1798 rebellion. The tea rooms are the perfect place to relax after your day of fun.

Libra- 6,9,18,29,31,35 July brings planets moving through the area of your chart that governs success and leadership. Busy July for you so rest up.

Groove Festival Killruddery Estate, Bray, Sat 5 and Sun 6 July The Groove Festival is back and bigger than ever in 2014. Headliners this year are acoustic favourite, David Gray and the inimitable Paloma Faith. Alongside these two huge acts are a range of talented acts such as Cathy Davey, James, Booka Brass Band featuring Jerry Fish

and Big September. The Harbour Bar have a stage this year with some of the best local acts on the scene. There is no better festival to enjoy as a family as there is so much to do. The Irish Rocketry Society will be putting on a display on both days. There will be a climbing wall, Tag Archery and water zorbs on the lake. For more information see www. groovefestival.ie.

Scorpio- 7,9,15,23,27,37 A well deserved break is coming your way. If you don’t go on vacation just yet, then make sure to weave plenty of playtime and fun.

Sagittarius- 7,10,12,26,29,34 There is a lot of chaos in the romantic or financial areas of your life. The good news is that July focuses on inner peace and renewed energy.

Capricorn- 1,14,18,29,34,38 July is about working things out.

The planets will provide you with a lot of progress towards luck, love, finance and happiness.

Aquarius- 11,14,18,26,35,41 Lots of positive energy surrounds you this month so take every opportunity that comes your way.

Don’t overthink Aquarius.

‘Pullquote here– In the Mafia, those who go against the wishes of the Dons can have a short life’

ACTIVITY of the fortnight

To celebrate 40 years of Turlough Hill, Ireland’s only pumped Hydroelectric storage system, public walking tours will take place over the summer. The station is set in the exquisite surroundings of the Wicklow mountains. Tour guides will bring visitors

Cancer- 2,6,18,36,37,41 Good fortune enters the area of your chart that governs wealth and self-worth. Confidence soars and you just cant lose- Enjoy!

Virgo- 8,12,24,38,40,42 You are ready for a new attitude and are ready to give yourself permission to feel good about who you are and how you are living your life.

GIG of the fortnight

Turlough hill walking tour Wicklow, TueFri, June-Sep

Gemini- 4,15,23,31,27,40 Finance and luck for you Gemini as you are entering into a month of lucky commercial, business, bargain hunting opportunities.

Leo- 1,14,18,21,26,43 Reinvent yourself! Adventure and advanced intelligence just entered into Leo and launches you into a very lucky and special year.

Family fun of the fortnight Greenan Farm museum and maze Greenan, Rathdrum, MonSun 10am-6pm for July & August

Taurus- 3,6,21,24,31,36, July brings drama, dysfunction, and secrets. An ideal time for getting your point across and a lot of social activity this month.

through the exhibition centre, describing the history behind the generation of electricity in an environmentally conscious manner. You will then walk through the 1.5km tunnel to view the generating plant and Hydro Control Centre which is housed in a cavern deep in the mountains.

See www.esb.ie/ turloughhill for more information.

Pisces- 6,14,18,26,28,34 New horizons Pisces. The planet in charge of passion and personal power is here encouraging you to broaden your horizons.

Live Psychic Angel-Tarot-Medium 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.

22 | MOTORS

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

New cars sales jump by 24% SaLEs of new cars rose just 5.8% in May, but purchases for the year to date are still 24% ahead of the corresponding period in 2013.

Latest figures from SIMI show that 6,291 new cars were registered in May compared with 5,946 for the same month last year.

So far this year, 64,031 new cars have been bought – an increase of 12,481 on the first five months of 2013.

Volkswagen remains the bestselling brand on the market, followed by Toyota and Ford.

The best-selling models so far this year are the VW Golf, Nissan Qashqai and Ford Focus.

SIMI chief Alan Nolan told said that dealers expected May to have slowed down.

“We are moving into the shadow of the 142-reg yet sales are well ahead of last year,” he said.

He said there was a “confidence out there” but most people in the industry recognised it remained ‘fragile’ and the May sales figures showed a degree of that.

“We expect June to be quieter but it is part of the build-up to July.”

That forecast follows on from a plunge in sales in June last year when only 1,674 new cars were registered – a huge fall on June 2012 when 6,352 were sold.

Sales then rocketed to 10,247 last July with the arrival of the first mid-year registration period. This compares to 3,570 which were sold in July 2012.

•Stats in brief • New car sales up 24% on 2013 • 64,031 cars were sold v 51,556 in 2013 (Jan-May) • New car sales in May up 6% on last year • Top three selling car brands so far this year Volkswagen, Toyota & Ford • Top three selling models so far this year the VW Golf, Nissan Qashqai & Ford Focus

THE Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid looks to offer a smart way of combining petrol and electric power.

Hybrid cars have a problem and it’s all about efficiency. The basic issue is this. If you want to recharge the batteries on your hybrid, as you will need to do each time you drive it, you’re relying on the relatively primitive concept of suck, squeeze, bang and blow of your internal combustion engine. As any physicist will tell you, such engines tend to have an efficiency of between 18 and 20 per cent.

In other words you wouldn’t design a power station around one.

The average efficiency of an average electric motor is around 85 per cent. So the key to making the electric aspect of a hybrid car cost-effective is not to use the expensive and inefficient petrol motor to charge the batteries. Plug the car into a mains outlet and let a power station do the job instead. Audi certainly thinks so in any case, which is why it claims its A3 etron plug-in hybrid will manage 188mpg.

Driving Experience The A3 e-tron is powered by a 148bhp 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine and a 99bhp electric motor that’s tucked between the gearbox and power unit, driving front wheels. Rather cleverly, Audi has designed the electric motor to replace a conventional

Audi takes the lead starter motor. Power is then directed through a six-speed sequential twin-clutch transmission which is quick-witted enough to handle the rapid spooling of the electric motor.

There’s actually another clutch in this adapted gearbox which allows the motors to decouple, permitting the car to coast with less friction which, Audi claims, is a more efficient than trying to scavenge energy back through recuperation.

The result of this is a car that

defaults to electric power on start up and will drive up to 31miles on electric power alone.

Summary Although the headline numbers of 188mpg, 35g/km of CO2 and a 0-62mph time of just 7.6 seconds make the Audi A3 e-tron appear an instant gamechanger, look behind the numbers and you’ll find things not quite so clear cut.

Of course, the e-tron has other benefits. It can run in a pure EV

mode, it offers better weight distribution and it feels a far more special piece of kit than a diesel hatch. Can you put a price on that? You can perhaps if you measure the savings you’ll make in company car tax.

And this model certainly scores as a car you can drive as an EV on short commutes to work, but which is capable of long weekend trips. As a technical showpiece, it’s an intriguing thing.

As a sales proposition though, you might need to scour the

MOTORS | 23

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

All Rosie at Volkswagen

small print quite carefully.

Audi Enniscorthy Audi Enniscorthy is one of the newest Audi Dealers among the Audi Network in Ireland. Conveniently located off the N11 on the Old Dublin Road just north of Enniscorthy Town. They are the Authorised Audi Dealer for Counties Wexford, Carlow and Wicklow. As well as stocking the full 2014 New Audi Range they also have a large selection of Audi Approved Plus Pre-

mium Used Cars and our own in-house finance expert to assist with financing your car.

They are a fully accredited Audi Service and Bodyshop Centre and genuine Audi parts retailer.

If you are living in Co. Wicklow and are thinking about buying a new or used Audi or just having your Audi Serviced, please give us a call.

We offer that personal touch & that little bit extra for our valued customers.

To celebrate the launch of the 142 registration plate Volkswagen ambassador Rosanna Davison was on hand to launch Volkswagen’s range of July sales offers.

For the month of July all Volkswagen models will come with celebration bonuses of up to €1,500 from Volkswagen Ireland. The Volkswagen Golf, Beetle and Scirocco will come with a bonus of €1,000 and the Tiguan, Passat, CC and Touran will come with a bonus of €1,500.

As the Celebration Bonus is completely separate to any deals/discounts offered

by Volkswagen dealers, the money can be used as a contribution towards deposit, a boost to the trade in value offered or as cash back.

Commenting on the offer, Paul O’Sullivan, Head of Marketing, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said: “Volkswagen has had a really strong start to the year and we have a lot to celebrate with the Volkswagen Golf, Ireland’s favourite car, turning 40 this year. We’d like to thank our customers by making it even easier to get into a new Volkswagen by offering even better value in the form of celebration bonuses or very special

offers.” As the 142 plate approaches Volkswagen remains the number one car brand in Ireland year to date and the Golf retains its title as the bestselling car. As of the end of May Volkswagen hold a 12.9% market share with the Golf accounting for almost 5% of new car sales.

Acquiring a new Volkswagen is easier thanks to hugely competitive finance rates from Volkswagen Bank.

Volkswagen bank offers 3.9% APR as well as great offers on PCP with 0% PCP on the new Polo, Golf SV and up!

This means motorists can get into an up! for as little as €99 per month and a new Polo for just €142 a month.At MSL Volkswagen the heritage is unparalleled, covering more than 60 years and with two premium showrooms in Dublin. MSL Grange Volkswagen is the Group’s South Dublin dealership located in Deansgrange, Co. Dublin. It is Volkswagen’s largest dealership in Dublin and the surrounding areas and is consistently among Volkswagen’s top performers.

If you are interested in a new 142 Volkswagen or an approved Das WeltAuto used vehicle please call in to MSL Grange Volkswagen today.

24 | SERVICES

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

services

Buying? Selling? Contact one of our team today

e: info@wicklowvoice.ie w: www.wicklowvoice.ie

NEWS| 25

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

Get into the swing this summer

Mark Twain famously called it a good walk spoiled, but for millions golf is a way of life. Our beginners guide tells you what you need to know to get started in wicklow What you need to know about clubs No doubt, the right equipment always helps, but it’s not as if you’ll need to empty your savings account to get started.

Instead, focus on finding the sort of equipment that will allow you to develop your imperfect skills with minimal expense.

There’ll be plenty of time to go after the latest, hot products on the market but at the beginning, make learning – and not buying – your priority.

You’re allowed to carry as many as 14 clubs in your bag, but you won’t need nearly that many when you’re first learning.

Instead, start with a driver, a putter, a sand wedge (it’s the club that has an “S” on the sole or a loft of 54 to 56 degrees) and supplement those with a 6-iron, an 8-iron, a pitching wedge, and a fairway wood or hybrid with 18-21 degrees of loft.

These are the clubs that are the most forgiving and easiest to get airborne.

Learning To Play The hardest part about golf can be getting started. Ask yourself a few questions.

First, why do you want to play? Is it for work or social reasons? Maybe then you need only some basic instruction and patient friends.

Perhaps you’re looking to jump in headfirst in hopes of getting better fast. If so, there’s plenty of top-level instruction out there.

Next, how much are you willing to put into it? That goes for time and the money. Point is, there’s a huge difference be-

tween wanting to ride around and have some laughs and being a serious player.

Do some soul-searching, and start to develop your plan.

The bad news when you’re just starting out is you don’t know much about golf. The good news? You don’t know much about golf.

You probably haven’t ingrained many bad habits, and you have tons of questions about what to do.

Nothing beats starting out with some positive direction.

And don’t just seek instruction when you’re struggling.

It’s just as important to know what you’re doing right as what you’re doing wrong.

Your golf buddies might sometimes have a good tip for you, but it’s better to seek out a professional since they’re the ones trained to teach the game to someone like yourself.

Basic Shots You Should Know There are parts of golf that will elude you your entire life, but

Old Conna Golf Club

certain fundamentals are essential. You have to be able to hit a driver off the tee with a fair amount of confidence.

You have to be able to hit an iron off the ground, and get out of a greenside bunker. You have to know a few basic short shots around the green, and be able to keep your cool when things get ugly.

Etiquette Congratulations! You’ve been invited out for a round of golf by a friend or a family member or (gulp) maybe even your boss.

You’re excited, but you’re also petrified you might embarrass yourself because you’re not quite sure of the protocol either on or off the course.

Golf etiquette may seem complicated, and in truth, there’s plenty you’ll learn the more you play. But it’s important to brush up on the fundamentals before you go.

Those Pesky Rules Yes, it’s true, the Rules of Golf

is 182 pages long and understanding many of the game’s 34 rules is important.

But don’t worry. Most golfers, including those guys who

turned their noses up at playing with a newcomer like you, have very little knowledge of how to play the game correctly.

You’d be surprised by how

many golfers just make rules up as they go, so don’t fret if you’re not sure about what’s OK and what’s a violation, the rules will come to you the more you play.

26 |SPORT sport in brief Rugby 7s festival

wicklowvoice.ie June 26 2014

your local camp at gaa.ie/ kelloggsculcamps.

Recycling drive

THE Greystones Rugby 7s festival returns for a second year on Saturday, July 12. Team registrations are now open for Irish teams and from overseas. The day will be packed full of exhilarating rugby, music, a tasty food and drinks market, an entertainment area for children and much more.

BrAY Emmets are running a recycling day on June 28 from 10am-12pm at the clubhouse.

Donations of clothes, mobiles and laptops can also be made after each team’s training sessions in the days leading up to the collection. Please leave donations in the green container beside the 3G in any standard plastic bag/bin liner.

U- 14s make history

County finals

BrAY Emmets under-14s hurlers made history recently when they won their first ever Féile na nGael title.

The team faced some tough competition in the semi-final against Easkey, Co. Sligo but went on to the final at the Tyrone Centre of Excellence where the won out over Clann na nGael, Co. Meath.

The hurling Allianz county finals took place in Ballinakill recently. Taking part were St. Kevin’s, Talbotstown, Aughrim, St. Cronan’s and Rathdrum BNS. St. Cronan’s were runners-up and Rathdrum BNS came out in top position. Congratulations to all who took part.

GAA Cúl Camps The Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps are a great way for children aged 6-13 to learn GAA skills in a fun environment. The five-day camps will run during July and August.

Each child attending the camp will get a free kit and backpack in their county colours. You can register for

Special Olympians The Wicklow Special Olympics Ireland athletes were welcomed home following the Ireland Games 2014 which were held in Limerick recently.

The athletes were clapped onto the pitch at half time during the match between Wicklow and Offaly. Congratulations to all of the athletes who took part in the Games.

head over heels: tips for your feet PLANTAR fasciitis, or more commonly known as heel pain, is a common annoyance among many patients.

If heel pain is a problem, Energise Therapy Clinic provides many tips and treatment for their patients.

Plantar fasciitis, or heel pain, occurs when the plantar fascia is strained over time beyond its normal extension. This causes the soft tissue fibers of the fascia to tear or stretch at points along its length, leading to inflammation, pain and possibly the growth of a bone spur where it attaches to the heel bone.

Inflammation may become irritated by shoes that lack appropriate support, mainly in the arch area and by the constant irritation associated with an athletic lifestyle. Resting may provide temporary relief, but when you resume walking you may experience a sudden elongation of the fascia band, which stretches and pulls on the heel. As you walk the pain may lessen or even disappear, but that may just be a false sense of relief as the pain often will

Jehvarno (11), Rafael (3), Roy (3) and Orlando Ewen out and about on Bray seafront return after prolonged rest or extensive walking.

You can take steps now to avoid heel pain, including: • Wear shoes that fit well • Wear proper shoes for each activity • Do not wear shoes with excessive wear on heels or soles • Prepare properly before exercising by stretching and warming up • Pace yourself when you participate in athletic activities • Don’t underestimate your body’s need for rest and good

nutrition • Lose excess weight • Call Energise Therapy Clinic for a full gait analysis The pain is usually worse: • In the morning when you take your first steps • After standing or sitting for a while • When climbing stairs • After intense activity The pain may develop slowly over time, or suddenly after intense activity.

Treat Chronic Heel Pain with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT).

Energise

Therapy, orthotic and injury clinic can perform (ESWT) on an outpatient basis . The treatment for heel pain is a safe and effective medical treatment and results can be seen in 3-4 sessions. Clinical studies show that there is a 87 percent success rate for treatment or plantar fasciitis using Shockwave Therapy. The procedure lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Strong sound waves are directed at and penetrate the heel area to stimulate a healing response by the body.

The sound waves break up the tissue, creating small tunnels through which new blood vessels can grow, and the increased blood supply allows the tissue to heal.

The result is a reduction in inflammation and pain from the affected ligament.

It is usually advised to investigate the reasons why the heel spur has manifested, prescription orthotics may also be advise.

Any further advice call 0404 80005 or www.energisetherapy. ie

Sport| 27

June 26 2014 wicklowvoice.ie

insideback

with Cianan Brennan

Bright summer ahead as Offaly dispatched with Aughrim win WICKLOw’S senior football season continues and has a very decent shout at stretching a little further into the summer.

The county welcomed fellow Division 4 denizens Offaly to Aughrim for their first round qualifier and eked out a fine win thanks in large part to the goal-scoring heroics of Seanie Furlong.

The big full-forward’s opening goal in the 14th minute helped Harry Murphy’s men to a 1-8 to 0-9 half-time lead and he struck another major just five minutes into the second half as the Garden County held the Faithful at arm’s length for the duration of the contest.

A third goal by half-forward Darren Hayden finally killed off Offaly just three minutes from time.

It was a victory born out of hard graft against a willing Offaly, who, on the back of a rather forlorn season which culminated in relegation from Division Three without a win, gave as good as they got for the duration of the contest.

The hosts started brightly with the excellent Aaron Murphy opening the scoring.

The game ebbed and flowed before Wicklow moved four points clear in the 14th minute.

Leighton Glynn hammered a shot against the crossbar and Furlong reacted quickest to the rebound to send the ball to the net.

Wicklow had star wing back Dean Healy black-carded late in the half, but still led by two points at the break.

Wicklow moved into the driving seat shortly after the restart with Furlong’s second goal making it 2-10 to 0-10 in Wicklow’s favour.

From there the home side took their foot off the pedal, a dangerous game as a concerted period of Offaly dominance left them just two points behind with time running out.

With the tie in the balance the home side produced a moment of real quality, an intricate passing move that led to Hayden finding himself free in front of goals, and his clinical strike finally settled an enthralling fixture.

McNamee, Offaly’s talisman for many years now, was in scintillating form and finished

with a 10-point haul.

While Furlong top-scored for the winners with 2-2, Leighton Glynn, a late addition to the starting lineup, was also very influential and finished with 0-4 in what was the first championship meeting of the two Leinster counties since 1997.

The victory represents a massive boost for Wicklow after a below-standard performance in their loss to Laois in the Leinster first round where to a man the team failed to do itself justice after a strong league campaign.

Next up is a date with one of the four losing provincial semifinalists from the ‘A’ group as designated by the GAA. This year’s qualifiers are cut from a different cloth with the new format being designed to eliminate the need for provincial losers to play again within six days for example.

So Wicklow already know the pool of teams from which their next opponent will be drawn (though not where the fixture will be played) for the next round on Saturday, July 5th.

They are Antrim, Sligo, Tipperary, and either Wexford or Dublin.

Realistically, while perhaps none of those teams will be quaking at the prospect of playing Wicklow, likewise there is nothing for the Garden men to fear in any of those fixtures, particularly if they are drawn at home.

Tipperary may well be spent after coming so close to beating Cork, Sligo looked very blunt indeed in exiting to Galway, and Antrim are fresh from a hammering from Donegal.

Assuming Wexford have a chastening experience against the Dubs, the time looks very ripe for Wicklow to play any of these teams.

This long summer could yet prove to be longer still for the warriors of the Garden County.

Wanderers take on United IT will be a tale of two revolutions on Sunday July 20th at the Carlisle Grounds The new-look, communityowned Bray Wanderers Community Football Club take on the great Manchester United

Dublin City University student and Wicklow native Conor McGraynor (centre), a member of the Wicklow senior football side as well as the DCU Sigerson Cup side, has been selected as a recipient of a DCU Sport Scholarship. Pictured from left to right are: Kevin O’Brien, DCU GAA Academy and former Wicklow footballer, Bernadette Linnane, Branch Manager DCU, Bank of Ireland, Michael Kennedy, GAA Academy Director, DCU, Hugh Kenny, Games Manager, Wicklow and former Wicklow footballer, Jonny Cooper, GAA Academy, DCU and Dublin footballer. as Louis van Gaal’s tenure kicks off in earnest.

The Old Trafford club are sending their reserves to face the Seagulls with fans encouraged to come and maybe see the next David Beckham to emerge from the United ranks.

The day is shaping up to be one of the best of the summer for the town with the match taking place during Bray SummerFest .

Football fans will be able to watch the match and also see the immensely popular Bray Air Display on the same day.

“We’re thrilled to welcome United to Wicklow. There’s sure to be a real party atmosphere in the town,” said Bray chairman Eddie Cox. “We’ll be testing ourselves against the best youngsters from one of the world’s biggest clubs, all that and Summerfest too.”

“It’s the perfect day for families to come and see the progress we’re making – and also to see the town at its best,” he added Bray manager Alan Mathews is looking forward to his young squad showing what they can do against such highly-rated opposition.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for our players to go out and play against opposition of this calibre.

“It’ll be a fantastic occasion for the fans to come and see a top class club side play in Bray,” he said.

28| ADVERTISING

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