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Bray Station at centre of Garda phone tapes scandal Bray Garda Station is one of the 26 Divisional Headquarters which had been recording telephone calls over the past 30 years. The Wicklow Voice has learned that the force’s centre of operations in Wicklow was definitely amongst those recording and monitoring phone conversations. Bray was not included in a Garda Siochana upgrade to a digital system in 2008, however the station was using an oldergeneration system to record and store conversations. The country has been
engulfed by the scandal over the practice of taping telephone conversations in Garda stations throughout the State and has led to the resignation of Garda Commissioner Martin Callihan. The revelation has raised questions about possible legal implications regarding certain crimes and prosecutions processed at Wicklow’s largest and main urban Garda station. It is unknown if other highprofile cases in the county will be affected. Chief among the cases that may become subject to scrutiny is the conviction of businesswoman Catherine
Nevin who is serving a life sentence for ordering the murder of her husband Tom at Jack White’s in 1996. Nevin was initially arrested in 1997 prior to her conviction in 2000 after an investigation by a team of Wicklow-based detectives. And her legal representatives have confirmed they will ‘definitely’ be examining her case files to see if any inappropriate or otherwise prejudicial recordings of talks between her and her lawyers took place while she was in custody.
Continued on Page 2
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FOOD DUDES: Dylan (9) and Darcy Potts (12) with Louise Lennox of The Restaurant at the launch of Gourmet Greystones.» Five-page special inside, pages 15-19.
Pupils excluded from new school
Bray is the only town in Wicklow that the new Educate Together school will serve. December’s Wicklow Voice exclusively revealed Bray as the location for the new school. However the new information regarding the school’s catchment area has led local
Independent TD Stephen Donnelly to call on the Minister for Education to reexamine the issue regarding its catchment area. “School patronage was awarded to Educate Together in Bray on the back of the needs of parents and children in Wicklow,” he says. “1,066 families in Wicklow
expressed interest while only 133 families from outside of Wicklow expressed any interest in the school, yet the main feeder schools will be in Bray, Ballybrack and Kilternan. “This is completely unacceptable given the demand for access to second level Educate Together schools in Wicklow,” Mr Donnelly adds.
4 | NEWS
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
Jobs boost as 100 new positions created in Wicklow
news in brief Test your knowledge at Tesco Table Quiz FaNCy yourself a general knowledge whiz? Test your skills at Tesco Bray’s table quiz in aid of A ware. The quiz takes place on Saturday, April 12 at Jim Doyle’s at 7:30pm. Entry for a table of four is €20 and all proceeds go directly to A ware. There will be some great spot prizes on the night. For more information go to www. aware.ie or www.tesco.ie
As I Am has official launch As I Am, Autism Spectrum Information Advice and Meeting Point, had their official launch Monday, March 31. Nineteen year old Adam Harris from Greystones founded As I Am. Harris hopes to educate people about Autism, empower people with Autism, advocate on behalf of those with Autism and provide a safe, pleasant space for people with Autism and their families. Go to www.asiam.ie for more information.
By Michelle McGlynn
Maura Frankland and Patricia Frankland Murphy relax in Tinakilly House recently.
APRIL BAND LISTINGS THE LIVE LOUNGE AT
THE HARBOUR BAR
00 353 1 286 2274 facebook.com/theharbourbarbray twitter.com @theharbour_bar
EVENTS Thur 3 Fri 4 Sat 5 Sun 6 Thur 10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Thur 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Thur 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27
Ω THE SQUARE PEGS [Blues, 50’s R&B] Ω 9 BAR BLUES BAND [Blue Grass] Ω THE BIONIC RATS [Reggae/ska originals & covers] Ω DERMOT BYRNE [Country/delta blues] Ω LOVE MINUS ZERO [Bob Dylan] Ω BLOOD RED MOUNTAIN BAND Ω VINYL ONLY [Disco-Funk-Rock-Pop Covers] Ω JAMIE DUFF [Singer Songwriter]
[ Bluegrass/folk]
Ω BUNOSCIONN [Alt Trad Irish] Ω ZZZ [Good Friday ] Ω DEARLY BELOVED [Stoner Rock/ Post Punk] Ω SAINT JOHN THE GAMBLER [Alt Gypsy Swing/Jazz] Ω PAVEMENT KINGS [Rockabilly] Ω COMEDY NIGHT [Comedy Upstairs] Ω BRIAN MEAKIN BAND [Blues Rock] Ω VIKING PROJECT [Blues/folk/harmonies] Ω UFO [Bruce Springsteen cover]
Bray Garda Station taping Continued on Page 2 Former chief executive of anglo Irish Bank Seán Fitzpatrick, currently on trial for numerous charges relating to the anglo Maple Ten sharebuying case, was held at Bray Garda station on multiple occasions after his initial arrest in 2010. Over 2,400 separate tapes exist from before 2008 when the Gardaí went to public tender with regard to installing new, state of the art recording facilities in selected stations across the country. The attorney General, Máire Whelan, has taken emergency action to ensure that these tapes are preserved after it emerged that plans were in place to destroy them. News of the bugging first came to light after Taoiseach Enda Kenny briefed the Dáil after being informed of a “serious issue you need to be made aware of” by the attorney General. The system of recording was officially ended in November 2013 by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan upon being informed of the practice. Callinan resigned amid suggestions that he was informed by the Department of Justice that his position would be untenable on foot of the recordings revelations.
The Wicklow business community has received a boost in the form of job creation. Over one hundred new jobs have been created as new businesses arrive and existing ones expand. Las Tapas have opened a new restaurant in Greystones in addition to their successfully Cabinteely restaurant. Matt Britton Flooring will create 10 new jobs as they open a second store in Deansgrange, Dun Laoghaire (see page 32). KFC are opening a drivethrough in arklow which will create up to 70 jobs for the community. This will be the second restaurant of the KFC franchise to open in Wicklow alongside the Bray establishment. a spokesperson for KFC said “We are delighted to be opening a new drive-thru in Wicklow towards the end of the year and we look forward to welcoming residents into the store. “The restaurant will be creating up to 70 career opportunities in the local community, and soon we will be advertising for full and part time
staff, on our website, www.kfc. co.uk/join-us." The new drive-through restaurant will be located in the Tesco car park on the Wexford road. Courtney Meats are to create a number of jobs when they open on Castle Street, Bray. as a wholesale butchers, they guarantee you top quality meats without the supermarket markup. O’Briens will also be opening in Bray on Main Street and this will create a further 10 jobs in the community. The Irish sandwich bar has over 100 stores in Ireland and includes the Bagel Factory brand and rachel allen’s Signature Sandwich range. The news of this job boost is certainly welcome and is just the latest in a line of job announcements for the county. It has taken some time for Greystones based owner, Sinan Osan, to find his place in the Greystones market. Sinan is delighted to be a part of the Greystones business community. The opening of Las Tapas on Church road will see twelve new jobs created for the area.
Bigger, better, brighter ... from the Wicklow Voice
FrOm May 1 the people of Wicklow can enjoy twice as much positivity as the Wicklow Voice goes fortnightly. We are Wicklow’s positive paper and we are dedicated to bringing our readers all the news with a positive outlook. We would like to thank all of our readers and advertisers for their support over the past few months. We would not be a success if not for you. We currently circulate 20,000 copies of the Wicklow Voice per month with over 20 distribution points around the area. The Wicklow Voice is a lo-
cal, start-up company and we are delighted to be a part of the Wicklow community and to be able to create jobs. We hope we will have the support of the political parties and their advertising budgets during the upcoming local and European elections. We hope our readers will enjoy being able to read the Wicklow Voice twice as often and we appreciate your continued support. And if twice a month doesn’t satisfy your appetite for positive news then don’t forget to check out our website www.wicklowvoice.ie which is updated daily.
NEWS |5
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
wicklow people in pictures
FJ Fallon and Margaret Conway in Kilmantin Art Gallery in Wicklow Town
Jennifer O’Brien, Claire Fagan and Valerie Byrne in Mount Usher Gardens
Stephanie Russell from Arklow proudly showing us her winning poster “Peace and Love” which she entered in the school Yellow Flag Poster competition. (Pic: Yvette O Beirne)
Marie and John Gildea in Mount Usher Gardens
Rosie Blackmore and Nick McCarthy from Wicklow Town
Karima Dillon El-Toukhy and Oona McFarland at Common Ground Bray music event
6 | NEWS
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
New €60 screening service to tackle heart health By Michelle McGlynn
a NEW Heart Health Screening is being brought to Wicklow in association with Shoreline Leisure. Heart Health Screenings provide an on location screening clinic where those who are interested in or have a concern about their cardiovascular health can be tested. “along with this we are rolling out a nationwide cardiovascular screening program with the Contract Bridge association of Ireland to screen members of their 500 clubs which comprises 30,000+ members. We also provide our services to corporate clients,” says Vincent Scully of Heart Health Screenings. “The next 12 months will see out service provided through a nationwide network of regional clinics and it is our intention to use the data collected to analyse cardiovascular patterns and create risk profiles for the population of Ireland.
Ashley Creegan is tested by Vincent Scully of Heart Health Screenings in Shoreline Leisure Bray “This will be the first of its kind in Ireland as it will also take in factors such as diet, exercise, nutritional supplements etc and it is our intention to use this data to increase awareness of natural ways that people can manage cardiovascular health.”
The assessment and consultation takes 30 minutes and is a fraction of the cost of the equivalent tests performed in a hospital at €60. Clients will be provided with a valuable insight into their cardiovascular health with a re-
port and recommendations on changes they can make to improve their heart health. recommendations on ways to reduce Central Blood Pressure include diet modifications, exercise programs and nutritional supplementation.
news in brief Thumbs up for speed lobbying Stephen Donnelly TD praised Bray area Partnership and all who participated in its spee lobbying event in the Esplanade Hotel, March 31. “Many of the concerns raised reflect my own criticisms of Government policy in areas like the Local Property Tax and mealy-mouthed cuts to community based healthcare services. “Bray area Partnership did an outstanding job and deserve credit for giving people a forum to talk to their TDs.”
Farmers to benefit from legislation
The Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014 will benefit Wicklow farmers according to Fine Gael European Election candidate for Ireland South, Simon Harris. “This legislation creates a fairer playing field between suppliers and retailers. I want
These changes are assessed to ensure they are positively addressing the issues identified when clients are re-screened after three months. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in Ireland, accounting for 33% of all deaths. Each year, approximately 10,000 Irish people have a stroke and around 2,000 die – more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer combined. Heart Health Screening hope to identify people who are to all intents well but have underlying issues. They wish to address these issues and reduce people’s risk. They also work with people who have identified cardiovascular issues to verify that medications and treatments are working effectively. They also intend to use the data collected to analyse cardiovascular patterns and create risk profiles for the population of
Ireland. This will be the first of its kind in Ireland as it will also take in factors such as diet, exercise, nutritional supplements etc and use this data to increase awareness of natural ways that people can manage cardiovascular health. The screening assesses six areas, including arterial hardening, vascular age and heart rhythm. Heart rhythm can be useful in identifying the medical condition arrhythmia which can be associated with Sudden adult Death Syndrome. Heart Health Screening will be running a monthly clinic is association with Shoreline Leisure Bray and Greystones that is open both to member and the general public. If you would like more information on these screenings go to www.hearthealthscreenings. com. To book your appointment go to http://hearthealthscreenings. com/appointments/
to make it clear that this is not price fixing but, instead, re-balancing the relationship between suppliers and retailers.”
would cost about €950 a month and the couple only receive €550 in rent allowance. Their search for a house has been unsuccessful and they have not heard from the landlord since the letter in November.
Greystones Rugby 7’s Festival
The second annual Greystones 7’s festival will take place on Saturday July 12, 2014 in Greystones RFC. There will be 24 teams entered in four categories of sevens rugby as well as bouncy castles, face painting, a BBQ and craft and food stalls.
Wicklow couple face eviction
Four months ago, Rachael Kelly and Wayne Fitzgerald from Rose Hill estate, Wicklow Town received a letter informing them that the landlord had gone into receivership and their house would be sold. The couple have three daughters. The eldest, Leah (9), has special needs including serious spinal and heart conditions. Fitzgerald said that a three bedroom house in Wicklow
Bray Main St Shopfront Grants
Bray Town Council invites existing independent retailers situated on Main Street, Bray to apply for the Shopfront Grant Scheme. Applications should be submitted by May 2. application details can be downloaded from www. braytowncouncil.ie
Councillor John Byrne Retires
Bray Town Council held their final meeting last night where tributes were paid to Cllr. John Byrne who has retired following forty years on the council for Labour. Byrne, who succeeded his father and his grandfather before him, thanked his colleagues and spoke fondly of his time with the Council.
Want to give your business a voice? Place an ad with the Wicklow Voice by contacting info@wicklowvoice.ie
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
NEWS |7
8| HISTORY
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
Is ghost of Michael Jackson haunting Luggala Lodge? By Cianan Brennan
IT’S Ireland’s most exclusive (and expensive) week in the country, but could Wicklow’s magnificent Luggala Lodge be harbouring a spectral guest, one Michael Jackson esquire? The late King of Pop stayed at Luggala, near Roundwood, for three months in 2006 with his children, though his presence in the Garden County only became public knowledge some time after he had left. However, since the singer’s death in 2009 there have been numerous sightings of his ghost, most infamously at his fabled Neverland ranch, and also haunting the person of his sister LaToya at the Jackson family home. Meanwhile, pop star Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas has ceased recording in his home studio after it hosted spooky visits from the Thriller legend. Perhaps the ghostly singer’s, famous for his slightly macabre
Luggala Lodge and, inset, Michael Jackson personal life, most bizarre visitation is his repeated hauntings of the stage of the Cirque de Soleil show in Las Vegas. With the number of alleged ghostly sightings increasing all the time, the crown jewel of Wicklow’s private estates seems
an obvious resting point should Jackson’s ghost fancy a transatlantic trip. Documenting the presence or otherwise of the singer’s ghost will prove a tricky task however given the watertight privacy agreements in place between
Luggala’s famous clients and its management. Within the last 12 months two separate television production companies, one from both the US and the UK, have made contact with regard to hunting Jackson’s ghostly essence.
In both cases the estate’s management felt any such programme would be disrespectful to a former client and turned the productions down. It was not the estate’s first brush with film cameras however. The popular television series ‘The Vikings’ turned Luggala’s beach into a Viking port in recent years, while the feature film version of the classic French comic strip ‘asterix’ was also filmed there. Luggala has long been a luxury getaway for the rich and powerful. The property’s owner, Garech Browne (whose mother, Oonagh Guinness, was gifted the lodge as a wedding present in 1937), has been renting the house and grounds far from the media’s glare for the past eight years. It relies on word of mouth spreading among its exclusive clientele to maintain its rental. The estate’s website contains testimonials as to its splendour
from people as diverse as Bono and the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia to British interior designer David Mlinaric. The refusal given to the tv companies looking to hunt Jackson’s ghost is not likely to dent the estate’s coffers however. at €20,000 per week non-negotiable, renting the lodge is a luxury the average person simply can not afford. The estate comprises 6,000 acres between Lough Dan and Lough Tay, and stands as Ireland’s largest private country estate with an estimated value of close to €20 million. The huge rental price includes the services of a private kitchen serving the best of Irish cuisine, along with the use of both a Rolls Royce and a Mercedes with complimentary chauffeur. The estate also comprises a smaller lodge, a gate house and a cottage, all of which can be rented separately to the main lodge and for significantly less.
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
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NEWS |9
10 | OPINION
opinion&comment Society relies on the State to protect us
R
ecent revelations surrounding an Garda Siochana and the Office of the Minister for Justice cast serious doubt over our democratic assumptions. When we hear of regime purges in North Korea or witness Putin’s tanks roll into Crimea we somehow take comfort from our belief that such behaviour “would never happen here”. In a western democracy such as ours freedom of speech, personal privacy and public accountability are, to a large extent, assumed, if not wholly taken for granted. as a society we rely on the state to protect and uphold these democratic fundamentals. Where human nature and malpractice occurs we gravitate somewhere between expecting that these ‘blips’ will be corrected or resigning ourselves to the idea that some level of corruption and incompetence is inevitable. Personally I stand somewhere nearer the ‘account and correct’ end of the spectrum. Questions arising from the whistleblower and phone recording disclosures are simply too serious to be tolerated. I suspect that others share my concern. Take phone recording for example. It is fair to say that we are all subject to some surveillance. ‘Surveillance’ sounds a little scary doesn’t it? Here’s a few familiar examples - bank transactions, phone calls and video footage of our daily commute to the office. Arguably there’s nothing sinister about these daily invasions - banks and mobile phone operators have data protection laws to abide by, CCTV footage deters criminal activity and assists our security and safety. Surely the same ‘security of society’ logic supports the now confirmed taping of phone conversations in and out of certain Garda stations. No self respecting citizen wants the potentially fatal consequences of a delayed response to a 999 call; who can argue against police recording bomb threats and other terrorist communications? Emergency calls and bomb threats. The two explanations offered in recent days to justify the practice of recording phone calls. The Gra, being the body representing or dinary members of the force, has confirmed that it was aware of the practice and stated its belief that recordings by senior Garda management were made to get “clarity of what was said and for accountability”. accountability to whom? and for what? Senior Garda Management need to answer these questions. as I said above society expects some de viation from the so called fundamental principles of democracy. Our common law is littered with instances where an individual’s constitutional rights have been recognised by the courts yet displaced by the need to uphold and protect the ‘common good’. accountability and the Common Good. Sounds like a healthy mix of principle and
pragmatism. The difficulty arises when we hear allegations of malpractice at the upper echelons of the accountability tree. If tape recordings displace notions of privacy and personal freedom then these exceptions need to be genuinely justified and limited in remit. We know that as early as June of last year the Garda Ombudsman reported on a specific case where recordings at Garda stations were held to be in breach of statutory law. The report called on the Commissioner to “re-evaluate his practices” in that regard. From what we are told Commissioner Callinan terminated these practices and informed the attorney General of their prior occurrence last November. From what we are told he also wrote a letter to the Department of Justice on 10 March setting out his concerns. In this letter, we are told he advised that his concerns be relayed to the Minister. Finally we are told that the Minister did not read this letter until the 25th of March, the day before the Commissioner’s resignation. We have been told, but do we know? Hopefully the commission of inquiry will uncover who exactly knew about the extent of illegal (as opposed to justified) phone recordings. Hopefully then we will know the extent of these malpractices and also when certain accountable persons were aware of them. Then, one would hope, true accountability will be delivered. Today the Minister remains in his office. Who knows whether he will still be there after the commission of inquiry reports. Who knows what action, if any, will be taken: to remove whoever is found to have acted improperly or with incompetence; and to correct and reform the practices, remit and reporting lines of an Garda Siochana. accountability and reform. as a society we have a duty to engage with the revelations and hold those in (temporary) charge to account. This state is ours to uphold, this democracy is ours to protect. What we have is not shared by all on this planet. Let’s not take it for granted. James Doyle is a Greystones candidate for election to Wicklow County Council. James is a qualified solicitor and a smallscale sheep farmer.
‘As a society we rely on the state to protect and uphold these democratic fundamentals’
“I
“There needs to be a behavioural shift in our attitude to littering. There are fines for littering, including not cleaning up after your dog; however people seem to think it’s alright to walk away from their animal’s faeces”
with James Doyle with Sarah Wray
It’s time to clean up our litter act t’s that time of the year – april when the topic of littering is brought into the public’s focus again with the upcoming an Taisce National Spring Clean and Tidy Towns Competition fast approaching. Volunteers are being sought daily to enhance the community they live in. Sadly littering is now an unacceptable regular occurrence that has an impact on the environment, we work, live and play in, but it can be prevented. The county of Wicklow is renowned as the Garden County - like many places it too suffers from the problem of litter. Whether it’s in the scenic upland areas or in the bustling towns throughout the county, littering is a problem for residents and visitors. Making Wicklow a cleaner, greener and more beautiful place to live and work in is not an easy task as litter takes many forms. The every day types of litter like sweet papers, crisp bags and fast food wrappers are dropped like confetti on pavements, adding to the many other forms litter presents itself such as illegal dumping of domestic refuge, graffiti, and dog fouling but it still comes down to the same questions why it happens? How is it to be removed and by whom? Town councils and Wicklow County Council have acknowledged the great work carried out in the county by community and voluntary groups such as Tidy Towns Committees, Coastcare, Chambers of Commerce, and Gardai in the continued work to decrease litter pollution in Wicklow. Programs such as the “Pure Mile” assist communities in rural and upland areas, working to ensure our environment is litter free enabling communities to enhance their tourism products for visitors. Local authorities con tinue to work with policy groups such as ‘The Litter Task Force’ as well as being hands on in the daily work carried out by Litter Wardens and staff to prevent littering and have achieved recognition in the Irish Business against Litter League. The Environmental Protection agency recently announced that Ireland now recovers more municipal waste than it sends to landfill – the message of reduce, reuse and recycle seems to be working! Educational Green School Programmes are implemented yearly in primary and secondary schools throughout the county, in conjunction with the environmental awareness officers from the local authority, schools are partaking in campaigns with the Gum litter Task force and the anti dog fouling scheme “Green Dog Walkers” to get the message out to families and the wider community encouraging all to be responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. Biodiversity is all happening all around us as we seek to save money and reduce waste so why is then that litter still exists? Even with all the education and cam-
paign initiatives large amount of funds allocated by local authorities in annual budgets for street cleaning and litter prevention we still seem to be a society complacent and not responsible for our actions when it comes to littering? The drink driving campaign comes to mind – people are very aware of the consequences of enforcement if you do drink alcohol and drive. Subsequently peoples attitudes and behaviour has changed, designated drivers, Taxi’s and just not drinking on a night out are a norm now for those who abide by the law. There needs to be a behavioural shift in our attitude to littering. There are fines for littering, including not cleaning up after your dog; however people seem to think it’s alright to walk away from their animal’s faeces, creating a situation that potentially could have a negative impact on the health of individuals. Our County invites tourists to its many heritage sites and outdoor activities, families walk, run to keep healthy and all are regularly exposed to dog faeces on the paths and grassy areas in playgrounds. Bins for dog waste are provided by local authorities yet some owners don’t clean up after their pets. It’s a must that people change their behaviour and bin litter or bring it home for disposal in their own domestic bins. Only last week the Government announced the provision of €22,000 for Wicklow under the anti- Litter and anti – Graffiti Awareness Grant, this is on top of a grant of €90.000 to Wicklow County for area Enhancement. again these schemes are to enable lo cal authorities to provide education and public awareness programs, with particular focus on voluntary initiatives involving schools young people and community groups in relation to both litter and graffiti to create a better environment to live and work in. The appearance of our towns and villages in Wicklow, whether in our rural or coastal environments is crucial to both the social and economic activity which contributes significantly to our tourism industry by creating jobs and generally improving everyday lives. Going forward I would encourage and urge incoming councillors on the County Council to continue to raise the awareness of the litter issue within their area and work with officials in finding a way to encourage local participation in antilitter efforts, as its is in everyone’ s interest to nurture and protect the environment we share together. For further information please contact Cllr. Sarah Wray on 087 2069327. Cllr Wray is a member of Bray Town Council and will run for Wicklow County Council on the Fine Gael ticket on May 23.
OPINION | 11
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
focus on faces
This month we speak to Annette Kennedy, Chair of the Bray Homeless Forum
Fighting against homelessness How‘s life? Life is good! I retired as Director of Professional Development with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation last year and felt I wanted to do some voluntary work. as a very recent” blow in” to Bray I decided to talk to the people in the Partnership Office in Bray to find out how I could contribute. There was a vacancy for Chair of the Bray Homeless Forum and I was asked if I would take this on. However, since I had no great knowledge of homelessness I hesitated, I attended one meeting and I was so impressed by the wonderful group of people who were trying to make a difference that I was hooked.
What is your role? My role as chair of the forum is to co - ordinate activities; to advise and assist in the formulation of a strategy and action plan and to assist in strengthening working relationships between relevant agencies and services. a key aspect of our
work is to inform local, regional and national homeless related policies. Chairing is the easy part , dealing with the gaps and blocks in the system and working to alleviate these is the difficult part. Nevertheless, as I work with a very dynamic and unique group of individuals from statutory, community and voluntary organisations all concerned about the issue homelessness I am confident that we can change the system. Our motto is “we have two hands, one to help ourselves and the other to help someone else”. What are the challenges? My experience in chairing the Homeless Forum has made me appreciate what I have. I feel so lucky, living in Bray beside the sea and I thank God every day that I have a roof over my head. I think of the people who are not so lucky; cold and miserable on the street; fighting demons like alcohol and drugs;
women suffering domestic violence seeking refuge; men and women who have lost their jobs and consequently their home; people who are sleeping on someone’s couch or floor and people who cannot live with their families because of mental health and other issues. These are the people who make up our homeless community and it could be you or me. Of course there are challenges, accommodation and housing is a major issue not only in Bray but in the whole county. Many of the homeless also have mental and physical health and intellectual disability issues and require a lot of support to get back to independent living. However; I believe that the challenges are not insurmountable if the whole community works together.
‘I thank God every day that I have a roof over my head’
can support our work.
Why are you having a Seminar? The Bray Homeless Forum is holding a Seminar in the Mermaid on Thursday, april
10 with a host of very impressive speakers, including Senator aideen Hayden, Chair of Threshold, Fr Peter Mc Verry, well known for his work with homeless children and John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy to name but a few. The reason for the Seminar is to let the Wicklow Community know about the work of the Forum and how the community
feast of Beltane [usually celebrated on either the last day of April or first day of May, equating to halfway between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice] is one example. I have a ritual I carry out each april. I get a small skip and sort out any unnecessary clutter in the house and shed. Especially the shed, to which I show no mercy. On ramshackle shelves, in tea chest and stack, chattels and jumble and faded bric-abrac lurk, lying shrouded in cobwebs and dust. anything that can be recycled gets recycled, anything somebody else might have use for goes to the charity shop and the rest meets its end in the skip. Making space physically helps focus on things that need to be decided upon to fill the year metaphorically. Holiday plans are usually firmed up and finalised round about April. you’ve probably also seen the folly of New year resolutions that couldn’t be maintained by the time april comes around so why not take a different tack and only set yourself these kind
of ambitious plans in april? Most workplaces don’t hit their employees with objectives and stretch goals until a little bit into the year, which makes sense as far as I’m concerned, so we should think of adopting the same approach for personal goals. What would I like to do for myself this year? What can I do to give something back to the community this year? What books do I want to read? What DVD box sets do I want to watch? What do we want to do together as a family? april is also a good time to look at where the current year fits in historically. 2014 is 100 years on from The Great War in which lots of Wicklow people lost their lives in places like the Somme and ypres [my own great-grandfather among them]. It would make a good project for schoolchildren in the county to research what the county was like 100 years ago as WWI kicked in. Various buildings around the county had an involvement in the War, such as St Patrick’s National school in Bray which was a hospital for
wounded soldiers, and Fáilte Park Bowling Green in Bray was built by Belgian refugees during this time. One of my daughters was doing some history homework recently, reading about the Christmas during World War I when hostilities in the trenches stopped for a day. I was able to show her the ‘’Pipes of Peace’’ video by Paul McCartney on youTube about this and it really brought the futility of war home to her. Going back a bit further in time and a lot closer to Wicklow than the WWI battlefields, the Battle of Clontarf took place exactly 1000 years ago this april on the sands of Clontarf and in the surrounding woods and fields. The Norse army was defeated but Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, was killed in the battle. Hard to imagine that Dublin City was little more than a huddle of thatched cottages at the time. as a county, Wicklow has a good deal to take stock of and look forward to this year. and some important decisions to
How do you relax? Good question, I thought when I retired that I could take up lots of new hobbies, however, I was recently elected Vice President of the International Council of Nurses,(ICN) an organisation representing the interests of nurses and patient care in 140 countries world-
wide, this together with being chair of the Bray Homeless Forum keeps me out of trouble. I like to go to shows, travel, walk on the sea front and enjoy entertaining family and friends. Relaxation - some day soon!! For further information about the Seminar log on to; info@brayareapartnership.ie or Tel 2868266.
Self-reflection blooms in springtime
A
pril has always seemed to me to be a more logical time to take stock and make plans than January. The latter has the advantage of seeing in the New year but is too caught up for my money in the Christmas and New year celebrations, and more particularly bad winter weather, to be a truly objective and reflective time for the coming year. Maybe it can be those things for the year that has just finished. You are still thinking in terms of the year that has been completed and are at the end of the road looking back at that year’s journey, either with satisfaction or disappointment or more probably a blend of both. January, like the rest of the winter, is all about getting through the short days, storms and the snow unscathed. No wonder some animals hibernate at this time of year! By april, on the other hand, the New year is well and truly in its stride. Seeded with the
Brian Quigley first warm days and the return of birdsong, spring has crashed out in grass bursts and scents of fresh bloom. The light at the end of the tunnel has come into view. The clocks have gone forward and Easter is on the horizon. you can look the rest of the year in the face with confidence and start to think about what you want from it personally, professionally, for your family and otherwise. Lots of ancient festivals and customs were centred on the april / May timeframe. The
make. We are doing well economically in comparison to other counties and have the opportunity this year to build on our tourism potential. We need to put our best foot forward. and we need the right people in positions of power to help us do this. The Local and European elections will be taking place on May 23 and april will see homes in the county receiving calls from canvassers of all different political persuasions. Given the big change that is taking place with the abolition of town councils we really need to engage with the candidates positively and try to evaluate them in terms of this new reality at local level. For the European candidates their opinion on the russia / Crimea situation, to name one hot issue, should be sounded out. I personally could never see the sense in either not talking to politicians who canvass my house, or in using the opportunity to abuse them. Far better to be constructive and try to get a measure of them that way.
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12 | WHAT’S HOT wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
with Michelle McGlynn info@wicklowvoice.ie
Business Idea of the month Cloud Technology Seminar The Martello Hotel, Thursday, April 10, 7:30am – 9:30am Bray Chamber of Commerce in association with Alpha CC and Microsoft Office 365 invite all Bray Chamber members to a free seminar about cloud. This unique opportunity will help you to learn more about powering your business with the bestin-class tools and services. Enter cloud computing – an exciting new way to work with programs and data, and be more productive. The morning consists of registration, full Irish breakfast, Introduction to Cloud followed by Microsoft Office 365 Explained. This simple product will transform your business. Places are limited to book early to avoid disappointment: www.eventbrite.ie
Sports Idea of the month Greystones Cricket Women’s Team Greystones Rugby Club, every Monday from April 7 Ladies have you ever thought about trying your hand at cricket? The Greystones Cricket Women’s team start their outdoor training Monday April 7 in the grounds of the Greystones Rugby Club. As an up-andcoming team we are seeking new members of all levels. A
fantastic team game for all ages and abilities with a great sense of team support, the all-inclusive nature of cricket helps create the wonderful atmosphere at Greystones Cricket Club. Come along to learn new skills, meet really great people, get fit and be part of a winning team! Full details contact Priscilla Pegman Priscilla-Pegman@ greystonescricket.com or go to www.greystonescricket. com
Book of the month The Walk Home Rachel Seiffert Displaced from Ireland during the Troubles, Stevie’s family have been living in Glasgow for decades. His mother fled Ireland only to find her new home plagued by the same religious divisions. His father is keen to build a good life for his wife and family. He plays in the annual Protestant Orange Walk through Glasgow but when his bandmates reveal links
to loyalist paramilitaries from Belfast, his marriage and home are threatened. Now Stevie, who had left for London, is working as a labourer near his childhood home. But he hasn’t told his family. Rachel Saiffert, who previously wrote the Booker-nominated The Dark Room, explores the push and pull of family and the ties that bind you to your past. Available through all good book stores around the county
TV SHOW of the month Game of Thrones
Sky Atlantic, Mondays, 9pm
One of the most hotly anticipated tv premieres is finally here. Game of Thrones season 4 is about to hit our screens. A series of trailers and promos have successfully whet our appetite. Carrying the tagline Valar Morghulis, meaning All Men Must Die, they have teased the
Activity of the month Special Ops PainTball Knockraheen Wood, Roundwood, Paintball at Special Ops is the perfect action-packed activity for any group. Thet cater for birthdays, stag/ hen parties, school trips or just a fun day out with friends. Special Ops have a combined twenty years experience and offer the very best experience at great value. Twenty-five acres of forest, complete with open
clearings, dense jungle-style trails and strategic defensive structures is the perfect setting. Every mission requires your team to work together to complete the required objectives, defend each other and wipe out the enemy. Special Ops is available for all groups big or small, the minimum age is 12. Find out more at www. special ops.ie or call 01 2813845.
Purple Wedding between King Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell and introduced us to Prince Oberyn Martell. It was revealed at the London premiere that the new series will be broadcast at the same time in the US and the UK. Sky Atlantic will air the first episode on Monday, April 6 at 2am. It will then be repeated at its usual time of 9pm on Monday night.
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MOVIE of the month Calvary Gaiety Cinema, Arklow Brendan Gleeson stars in John Michael McDonagh’s black comedy, Calvary. Gleeson plays Father James Lavelle, a good priest who is faced with sinister circumstances when his life is threatened by a mysterious member of his parish. As he continues to reach out and help members of his church with their various scurrilous moral problems, he feels troubling forces closing in. Will he have the courage to face his own personal Calvary? Gleeson is joined by a host of other Irish favourites like Chris O’Dowd, Dylan Moran, Aidan Gillen and Domhnall Gleeson. Calvary was met with critical praise when it had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
HOROSCOPES with Siobhan Moore Whelan
ARIES-1,6,9,11,29,36 Launch a “whole new you” the opportunity is here so enjoy your new found confidence.
FUNdRAISER of the month East Coast FM Wicklow Wide Coffee Morning County-wide, Friday, April 4, 10am – 12pm (donations can be made all month) East Coast FM’s 6th annual coffee morning in aid of Wicklow Cancer Support Services and Wicklow Hospice Foundation takes place Friday, April 4. Coffee mornings will take place simultaneously in eleven different venues. There will be lots of performers such as Paddy Casey
and appearances by former rugby international Shane Byrne among others. There are opportunities to win some fantastic prizes such as overnight breaks. Take some time out of your morning and help support a great cause. Bag packs and a table quiz will also take place over the weekend. Every cent donated goes to the charities as people’s time, venues, prizes, refreshments have all been donated. For more information on venues and how to donate go to www. eastcoast.fm/coffeemorning
Family Fun of the month The Martello Easter Egg Trail Bray Seafront, April 14 – 27 If you’re looking for something fun to do with your family this Easter then look no further than The Martello Easter Egg Trail. Visit reception in The Martello to collect your entry form and then you can begin the fun of the trail from one end of the beach to the other. Once you have completed
Easter
the trail, bring your completed form back to The Martello where every participating child with a completed form can enjoy a delicious complimentary hot chocolate. Completed forms will be entered into a draw to win a festive Easter Hamper full of goodies. Enjoy a free family day out on Bray seafront this Easter. Contact The Martello for more information on 01 286 8000.
at the Martello
SINGLE of the month Big September The Righteous Way, April 25.
Scotty O’Neill is joined by soulful Dave Butler on guitar and vocals, bluesy Wicklow rockers Big Cillian Duane on lead September have stamped guitar, pounding drummer their name firmly into Dan Smith and lyricist people’s minds since Graham “Naylor” O’Neill on bursting onto the scene in bass. The five school friends 2013. They are poised to have undeniable chemistry EASTER BUNNY TRAIL cement their popularity which permeates every 14th -this 27th APRIL year with their brand song and performance. new single The Righteous Tickets for their album 10 amWay to 5set pm to be released April launch in The Academy, will be followed May 17 are sure to FREE25. OFThis CHARGE by their debut album disappear fast. Check out Ballroom Addicts on May www.bigseptember.com/ 9. Charismatic frontman, gigs for more. facebook.com/themartellobray twitter.com/martellobray
Charlesland Park Montessori along with Charlesland Grove Montessori, Charlesland Park Nursery and Orahova Montessori will provide fun filled camps that your children are sure to love this Easter. Their busy programme includes sports days, arts and crafts, teddy bears picnics,
GEMINI-4,15,18,26,33,41 Solar Eclipse brings your mind racing with new ideas. New activity or ventures arise-go for it! CANCER-2,4,8,19,28,29 How many times have you asked yourself ‘I wish I had the chance’-act now as you are in the driving seat. LEO-11,14,25,27,36 Everything evolves in some way and its your turn Leo. Lunar Eclipse on 15th leaves behind all drama. VIRGO-1,5,13,16,29,33 Major shift at Solar eclipse as your past plays an integral part in your future. Have Faith and believe. LIBRA-9,14,17,29,34,38 Are you wading through treacle. The Lunar eclipse shakes this off and provides a strong position to change your life. SCORPIO-6,15,23,25,31,35 The Solar eclipse brings fresh optimistic results and releases you from a tense situation that has been hanging over you lately. TAURUS-3,9,27,31,34,40 Lunar eclipse brings big changes. an unbelievable level of cosmic support will resolve issues you’ve long wanted resolved. CAPRICORN-2,18,20,22,28,42 This month is about relationships with the New Moon Solar Eclipse on the 29th, seize at least one opportunity you thought had disappeared. AQUARIUS-4,11,16,28,31,38 Lunar eclipse on the 15th let all mundane or anything overshadowing you go. Watch out for something small and subtle and holds the key to your contentment.
‘Pullquote here– In the Mafia, those who go against the wishes of the Dons can have a short life’
Children’s Activity of the Month Charlesland Montessori Easter Camps
TAURUS-5,11,18,26,33,39 With two eclipses this month is ideal for creating a dynamic team to help you bring peace and balance into all areas of your life.
fancy dress and outings so there is something to suit every child. They cater for children from 6 months to 13 years all year round. All premises are HSE approved and fully insured. The friendly staff are all fully trained and have full Garda clearance. They are also currently taking bookings for their popular summer camps, places are limited. Contact Rita Byrne on 01 287 0719 or 086 8644145.
PISCES-2,4,6,26,36,37 your intuitive abilities cannot be ignored. You are blessed with insight that many wish they possessed and you are given a chance to make full use of your ability. 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 | NEWS
wicklowvoice.ie January 2014
Arklow rent is 70% cheaper By Cianan Brennan
THE dual nature of property prices in County Wicklow has been demonstrated once more as levels of rent charged in the county remained broadly unchanged during 2013. a Wicklow Voice investigation into an official rent index compiled by the Private residential Tenancy Board (PrTB) shows that, despite property values being on the rise across Wicklow, rental prices remained steady throughout the county during 2013. The average rent per month for all properties in the county in the final quarter of 2013 was €822, up €11 from the same period in 2012, an increase of just one per cent. However, as is the case with the county’s property market, it is very much a tale of two counties with Bray and Greystones in the north featuring by far the highest rental figures, while arklow in the south displays easily the best value for renters. This trend is attributable to the dormitory-community nature of the northern urban centres, with many people living there working in Dublin and happy to take advantage of the cheaper
rents in Wicklow’s commuter territory. rents have been increasing steadily in the capital over the past three years pricing many young professionals out of the market and making nearby Bray
and its environs very attractive for rental, particularly given the high standard of transport infrastructure. With rents remaining static in Wicklow a clear indication is given, proof if proof were need-
ed, that Wicklow is currently more of a buyers’ market than a renters’ one. There is an intuitive nature to such trends as with more people buying as the recession eases the lack of supply within the
rental market is gradually eased with long term renters instead moving back onto the property ladder. The rental figures are produced by the PrTB on foot of information they receive from all registered landlords
across the country regarding the terms of lease and rental figures of their properties. While rents have remained broadly unchanged overall, the only urban centre in Wicklow where they are decreasing, albeit slightly, across all property types is arklow. The most compelling feature of the sums provided is just how much cheaper it is to rent in the south of the county compared to close to the border with Dublin. rents charged in Bray, Greystones and Delgany are consistently more than 50 per cent greater than those charged in arklow. Detached houses in Greystones are being rented for 77 per cent more (€1,244 per month) than their counterparts in Wicklow’s southernmost town (€704 per month). Meanwhile, semi-detached houses in fashionable Delgany are renting for an enormous 86 per cent (€1,253 per month) more than similar dwellings in arklow (€674 per month). The trend diminishes moving south along the N11; regardless rents in Wicklow Town, just 20 minutes south of Bray, are still about 25 per cent greater than what is being charged in arklow.
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April 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
Gourmet Greystones is back!
Don’t miss this great celebration of local restaurants, cafes and food outlets
IT’S BaCK! Wicklow’s foodie festival Gourmet Greystones returns on Sunday May 4 to Church road and Meridian Point. Gourmet Greystones is now approaching its third birthday, and following the huge success of the previous events, the festival has established itself as a must attend premier food and drink event in Wicklow. A celebration of the restaurants, cafes and gourmet food outlets in the award winning coastal town, Gourmet Greystones is promising to serve up another fabulous menu of delights. Featuring a collection of local chefs who are passionate about sourcing seasonal and quality food locally, the participants insist on and using only the finest ingredients. So give your palate a truly enjoyable education by experiencing the best of Irish and international food in the local restaurants and cafes of Greystones. running between 12pm and 6pm on the Sunday of the May Bank Holiday, Gourmet Greystones includes a Wicklow Food Market, cooking demonstrations from some of Ireland’s best chefs, wine, beer and cocktail tasting, artisan
inside: The best places to eat during Gourmet Greystones workshops, entertainment, a young Masterchef competition, National Curry Championship and much more. This year, Gourmet Greystones will have more exhibitors than before and anyone interested in taking part can log onto www.gourmetgreystones.com where they can download the application forms. As always, Greystones will showcase the quality, locally produced food and extend a warm welcome offered to those who choose to visit. The town is renowned for its restaurants and Gourmet Greystones’ popularity has grown steadily in popularity and is regarded as a food lover’s dream. More than 20 outlets are expected to take part in locations that vary from pubs and galleries
Dylan (9) and Darcy Potts (12) at the launch enjoy some tasty fare in Las Tapas of Gourmet Greystones, which kicks off at 12pm on Sunday, May 4 to shop and restaurants. The festival is one of the best opportunities for the many local producers and chefs to showcase their wares to people passionate about food. Gourmet Greystones
understands how important local food is to our economy and with our wealth of artisan food producers, supportive retailers and markets, talented chefs and award winning restaurants this should be a year to remember.
The 2014 festival is set to be bigger and better and will include the much loved traditional open air street food and craft market, food demonstrations and tastings and cookery competitions.
Gourmet Greystones will provide a tasty schedule of mouth-watering events for adults and children plus lots of entertainment, music and fun for all the family. Don’t miss it!
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wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
Mrs. Robinson’s Kitchen Church Road, (01) 905 9900 Full Bar T–F: 5-10pm, Sa11am-10pm, Su11am–5pm Mrs. Robinson sure has a lot of style. If you’re looking for some delicious food in a fabulous atmosphere then Mrs. Robinson’s Kitchen might be just what you’re looking for. Enjoy a meal from the varied menu while admiring their quirky old school decor. You will be treated to top quality food for a reasonable price. You will be dreaming about their chicken wing starter for weeks. The poutines, a Canadian favourite, are definitely worth a try too. Then, you can always pop in to the adjoining bar for a wee drink or two. All inclusive packages start from €50.00 per person. Pictured are Dan Byrne and Brian Reynolds with some of the fine fare on offer from Mrs. Robinson’s Kitchen
A. Caviston No. 1 Westview, Church Road (01) 287 7637 Fish lovers will find themselves in heaven when they walk through the doors of A. Caviston. The fish counter offers an outstanding array of the freshest fish which is then used in the café next door in their scrumptious dishes. There is also the clever option where you can choose your fish from the counter and it will then be cooked for you. The blackboard specials change daily and reflect fish catches and seasonal ingredients. Half portions are available for children and those who don’t care for fish are well catered for too. The café also offers tempting homemade cakes and desserts all day.
Aunty Nellie’s Church Street 087 120 6846. Aunty Nellie’s Sweet Shop will take you on a yummy trip down memory lane. The shop is full of nostalgia and your favourite sweets. Their handpicked range of sweets will bring you back to your childhood and give you the opportunity to share your happy memories and favourite sweets with your own children. Aunty Nellie’s specializes in local Irish Artisan confectionary. They support local sweet producers and chocolatiers across the country. The shelves are stocked with Bon Bons, Boiled Sweets, Liquorice Toffees, Chocolates Nougat and sugar-free sweets. And if you can’t find your favourite childhood sweets you can let them know and they’ll try to source it for you.
Chakra by Jaipur Meridian Point Centre (01) 201 7222. Full Bar M–Sun 5.30pm–11pm, Su lunch: 1pm-5pm Chakra is sister to the successful Jaipur restaurants in Dalkey, Dublin and Malahide. The warm-toned décor gives the place a welcoming atmosphere. The delectable food maintains Jaipur’s modern take on traditional Indian food. The colourful and wellseasoned dishes are a treat for the eyes as well as the stomach. There are plenty of vegetarian options. Seafood like Dingle Bay crab and vegetables from the Wicklow region feature in stand alone dishes showcasing the marriage of two very different cultures. The wine list has been carefully selected to compliment the Indian food. It is well worth leaving room for dessert too.
Homans Tea Rooms Church Road, Greystones, (01) 287 4463 M-Su: 09:00 – 17:30 Homans is a bustling café in the heart of Greystones. The cosy atmosphere is so inviting, it’s impossible to resist. Relax and enjoy some of their fantastic genuinely home baked cakes, brown bread, famous scones and their fresh soups, while the little ones enjoy the lunch boxes with a surprise. Breakfast and gourmet paninis are served all day. You always get a warm welcome and even some customers are known by name - De-caf, extra hot, half shot soy latte! They are happy to make your coffee just how you like it. Homans will be celebrating their 17th birthday this month so be sure to drop in for the celebrations.
The Hungry Monk
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Vino’s Restaurant & Café Church Road, (01) 287 4807. M-F: 7am–10pm, Sa-Su 9:30am–10pm Vino’s Restaurant & Cafe, ideally located beside the dart in Greystones, has been serving great food with great passion for over 7 years! The Café is now open for breakfast from 7am daily, where you can savour the divine freshly baked cakes with a cup of Illy Coffee. This familyrun, family-friendly restaurant & cafe is a great place to enjoy a quiet dinner or celebrate any occasion. Experience first-hand the dedication put into the dishes served, with an early bird set menu and mouthwatering fish specials prepared each day! Choose between casual or formal dining, sit in, sit out or take away, with a full licence and wine list to compliment every dish. Plenty of the dishes are suitable for Coeliac and Vegetarian diets. Check out facebook/vinosrest to see new special offers every month, like April’s Burger and Beer Deal.Pictured are Brothers Jeff Behan and Dave Behan of Vinos.
Three Q’s Gweedore, Church Rd, (01) 287 5477. T-F 9.30am-11.30pm; T-F 12pm-4pm; T-T 5.30-10pm; F-Sa 6-10pm; Su 5-9pm; Sa- Su 9am-3pm The three Quinn brothers Paul, Brian and Colin opened this stylish restaurant on the very street where their family home once was. Their aim was to have a small neighbourhood restaurant that people would enjoy and this they have achieved very well, bringing together local foods and international inspiration to create innovative menus with real style. The brothers carefully source their ingredients and make as many things as possible from scratch such as jams, ketchup and stocks. The dinner menu has a smart edge while the lunch and brunch menus are more relaxed. All dishes are wonderfully executed with style and quality. Pictured are Natasha Murtagh and Paul Quinn of Three Qs
Las Tapas 3 Church Road (01) 201 6990. M-T 5-10pm, F–S 12–10.30pm, Su 12pm–9.30pm Las Tapas is a Spanish tapas restaurant that has been delighting customers who are looking for a little piece of the mediterranean since it opened in 2010 in Cabinteely and it has just recently opened it’s doors in Greystones. The Las Tapas team promise appetising starters, mouth-watering tapas including some of the very best Spanish cured meats. The restaurant also has an extensive Spanish wine list. The menu, with over 50 authentic tapas dishes, meets expectations, delivering flavour-packed favourites in all their rustic simplicity. The wine list boasts 23 Spanish wines and there is also a nice beer menu. Of course, you can try some Sangria instead. Pictured are Kaidi Niit, Sophie Power and Massimo Sechi of Las Tapas.
Mango Tree Meridian Point, (01) 287 4488 www.mangotree.ie The Mango Tree is a truly authentic Thai food takeaway. Head Chef Nipaporn was trained from a young age by her mother, a succesful Thai chef in Thailand and Sweden. After working in busy Thai restaurants throughout the world, Nipaporn acquired the skills required to run a truely authentic kitchen. Download their new app on iTunes & Google Play stores. Special discounts available for app users only! Great food now online! Delivery & Collection. 1hr free parking with Mango Tree purchases. Pictured are Siobhán Kennerk and Anna Kennerk showing off the new Mango Tree app.
Glenview Hotel Delgany, Glen of the Downs, Wicklow, (01) 287 3399 Monday through Saturday and Sunday Lunch The AA Rosette winning Woodlands Restaurant is situated on the first floor and has breathtaking views of the beautiful gardens and the Glen of The Downs. Dining in The Woodlands is truly an experience. With Head Chef Sandeep Pandey and his team, the restaurant has won a number of accolades over the years. The restaurant specialises in using locally sourced ingredients, and the delicious meals are presented with modern style. An extensive wine list is available to accompany the meal at great prices. The tempting dessert menu features all your classic favourites so make sure that you save some room.
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wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
tEN SIGNS OF a good restaurant
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and waiting and waiting and waiting for someone to come over.
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you can hear the other people at your table. Sound design is actually something that restaurateurs consider as they plan a room. Some even spend money on sound proofing to help with
The bathroom is clean - it’s such a useful way to judge a restaurant’s attention to detail. also how clean they’re cooking in the kitchen. Sure, there are divey restaurants with wonderful food that are still worth going to that have filthy bathrooms… but that’s a different thing altogether. I’m talking about special occasion restaurants and if you’re coughing up big money for a special night out and the restaurant has a dirty bathroom? a server comes over quickly. Nothing more annoying than sitting down at a nice restaurant, excited to begin the meal, and then waiting
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The items on the menu are in season. If it’s winter and they’re offering up strawberries then you should worry. Same with fresh corn. and asparagus. If you see asparagus on a restaurant menu and it’s not spring? you’re not in a good restaurant.
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acoustics. a big part of this has to do with how many tables are crammed in there: the higher the prices on the menu, the less tables they have to turn a night, the more space they can put between them, the quieter the room. So it’s fair for you to judge a restaurant based on sound – if you’re spending a fortune and you can’t hear anyone, you’re being stung!
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The servers are knowledgable and authentic. you can tell pretty quickly when you ask a server a question about an item on the menu if they’re genuinely excited about the food at this particular restaurant or if they’re delivering a speech.
Bernie Mulligan, Jennifer Maguire and Kay King enjoy a stroll in Greystones
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The restaurant is accommodating, within reason. This is a thorny subject, because chefs hate it when customers ask for sauce on the side or a salad with no dressing (there was an uproar when Gjelina in L.a. refused to accommodate Victoria Beckham’s request for a dressingless salad). I think restaurants should be accommodating within reason. If you’re allergic to nuts, they should agree not to put nuts in your salad. If you’re a vegetarian and you want to know what your options are, that’s entirely fair. I think it comes down to tone: if you thoughtfully make a special request, the restaurant should be thoughtful in return.
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The bread and butter are good. Ireland has the best butter in the world and nowadays, there’s so much good bread available, there’s no excuse for that part of the meal not to
be wonderful. at the very best restaurants, bread service is a significant part of the meal.
the clearing of plates, and how that’s handled, is a good way to judge a restaurant.
The food all comes out at once. Has this happened to you: you’re out to dinner with a group, everyone gets their plate except for one person. and that person’s waiting and waiting and he or she is telling everyone “just eat” but nobody wants to start eating because they feel bad? That shouldn’t happen at a good restaurant.
The little details add up. at the Gramercy Tavern (New york), they used to send you home with a muffin for you to eat for breakfast the next day. (Maybe they still do!) at El Bulli (Spain), before your meal, you were toured through the kitchen and introduced to the chef (who happened to be the best chef in the world, at the time: Ferran adria). These little gestures add up to a complete picture that often separates the truly wonderful restaurants from the just OK restaurants. So if a restaurant sends over a little plate of chocolate truffles or even a Sambuca at the end of a meal, even after dessert, you know you’re being taken care of … and that this is a restaurant you’ll want to come back to again and again.
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The plates are cleared quickly but not too quickly. again, another delicate subject. I don’t like it when servers take away one person’s plate while someone else is still eating. That makes the person who’s still eating feel bad. also, it makes you feel like you’re being rushed out the door. On the flip side, when you’re sitting there with dirty plates in front of you for a long while, you can start to feel neglected. So
Are you a Wicklow socialite? Let the Wicklow Voice know about the best events by contacting info@wicklowvoice.ie
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Paddy and Angela McCarthy out ang about in Greystones.
Betty Stuart, Dan Byrne, Louise Lennox and Grainne McLaughlin in Mrs Robinson’s during the Gourmet Greystones launch.
Alyse Mitchener, Laura Anderson and Lisa Wyett in the Meridian Point Centre Greystones
20 | TRAVEL
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
10 Restaurants worth
Barcelona
Sydney APONIENTE EL PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA, Spain In the exclusive world of america’s and Europe’s top chefs, Ángel León has been getting some hard-won respect. His 22-seat restaurant, aponiente, which opened in 2005 in a small port village in southern Spain, specializes in sustainable seafood; it was awarded a Michelin star last year. Mr. León, 33, is an insatiably inventive and curious chef who is always trying to invent techniques with traditional products — using unusual (to say the least) ingredients like fish eyeballs (as a sauce thickener) and plankton. BENU SAN FRANCISCO Not long after Corey Lee, Thomas Keller’s wunderkind chef de cuisine at the French Laundry, left to open his own place, San Francisco’s food critics were waiting hungrily for the debut of Benu, which finally opened in August. Despite the high-altitude expectations and prices (the 12-course menu is $160), the response has been impressive. Michael Bauer, food critic at The San Francisco Chronicle, recently awarded the chef three and a half stars and noted a “beautifully crafted menu that looks eastward for inspiration.”
DINNER BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL LONDON The highly respected British chef Heston Blumenthal, winner of three Michelin stars at his Fat Duck restaurant, has been researching British recipes that date as far back as the 14th century. They will serve as inspiration for his new, much anticipated outpost, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, which is scheduled to open in London’s Mandarin Oriental hotel at the end of this month. While dining on dishes like hay-smoked mackerel with a lemon salad and gentleman’s relish, guests will be able to see into the kitchen through a floorto-ceiling glass wall and watch its modern stainless steel pulley system, modeled on a 16thcentury design for the royal British Court’s kitchens. M. WELLS LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. If there happens to be an uptick in passengers on the 7 train to Queens, it might be thanks to the word-of-mouth engendered by this retrofitted diner, overseen by Hugue Dufour, formerly chef at au Pied de Cochon in Montreal, and his wife, Sarah Obraitis. When it opened in July, M. Wells served only breakfast; it is now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the intention of opening for dinner once a liquor license is obtained. For now, the menu
is a glutinous celebration of Montreal and american dishes and ingredients like pickled pig’s tongue, escargots and bone marrow, and a muchloved breakfast sandwich. MIRAZUR MENTON, FRANCE Last spring the popular and well-respected food blogger Pim Techamuanvivit, following a friend’s recommendation, tracked down this restaurant in a village in the French riviera. Mauro Colagreco, the argentine chef at Mirazur, paid his dues at the acclaimed, vegetable-friendly L’arpège in Paris, so it’s no surprise that he grows some of the restaurant’s produce on the premises. In 2009, he was named Chef of the year by Gault-Millau, becoming the first non-French chef to be given that title. Ms. Techamuanvivit raved in her blog entry about her meal there: “I still dream of the impossibly sweet red prawn, enrobed by ribbons of fresh young asparagus, borage and wild garlic blossoms and a drizzle of buttery Ligurian olive oil.” MOMOFUKU SYDNEY In just a few years, the chef David Chang has come to be a major force on the New york scene, as he’s expanded his Momofuku empire to include five restaurants. So the foodie gossip mills started churning
TRAVEL| 21
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
taking a flight for
San Francisco when he recently announced that he will be opening his first restaurant outside New york: a Momofuku outlet in Sydney’s Star City casino. It will develop its own menu, limited to “the abundance of australia,” he wrote in an e-mail. “We will try not to import anything except some wine and Japanese products like shoyu,” he added, referring to a type of soy sauce. Mr. Chang will trade kitchen duties with Peter Serpico, the chef at Ko, the high-end Momofuku branch in downtown Manhattan. RESTAURANT ANDRÉ SINGAPORE Only a few weeks after the October opening of restaurant andre, in Singapore’s lively Chinatown district, the chef andre Chiang is wowing even the city’s most critical gourmands with Frenchinspired dishes like braised eggplant with cockscombs and duck tongue. Having spent 14 years training in France at some of the country’s most revered destination restaurants, Mr. Chiang has finally found a place to come into his own.
RESTAURANTE GARZON GARZON, URUGUAY If you happen to be as obsessed with grilling meat — and have as powerful a personality — as the argentine chef Francis Mallmann, you can manage to pioneer a remote spot like the Uruguayan village of Garzon on your own. a few years ago he left the resort of José Ignacio, bought a chunk of Garzon and built a five-room hotel and restaurant that debuted in 2004 and has attracted the jet set to that dusty town ever since. TICKETS BARCELONA, SPAIN Ferran adrià has not abandoned his cultish fans. Not long after he announced that he would close El Bulli, his wildly acclaimed restaurant, in 2012, he and his brother, albert, signed on with the chefs who own the landmark Spanish seafood restaurant rías de Galicia. This month, the team plans to open a contemporary tapas bar called Tickets, as well as a cocktail bar, in the Parallel neighborhood. Tickets will be far less formal than El Bulli, though its food and space will embrace a sense of the
theatrical, with “stages” set up throughout the restaurant. at one, classic seafood tapas, like red shrimps from Costa Brava and razor shells from Galicia, will be showcased; at another, more-experimental small plates will star, like artichokes with smoked Idiazábal cheese serum. WILLOWS INN LUMMI ISLAND, WASH. Willows Inn, on the tiny San Juan island of Lummi, is about two hours from Seattle by car and ferry. yet it is about to become a destination restaurant, thanks to its new chef, Blaine Wetzel. The 24-year-old, formerly the protégé of rene redzepi at Noma, the Copenhagen restaurant that was ranked the “best restaurant in the world” for 2010 by S. Pellegrino, took over the kitchen at Willows last year. The restaurant itself reopens in February; expect a menu with an obsessive focus on local ingredients, in the style of Noma. Since he was hired, Mr. Wetzel has been working with a farmer and an urchin diver who work solely for him.
Nail biter of a match? Let the Wicklow Voice know how your team played by contacting info@wicklowvoice.ie
22 | FOOD & WINE
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
recipes of the month
Peter Byrne
Head Chef at Sika Restaurant in The Powerscourt Hotel
Haddock and Clam Chowder
Joanna Zlotowicz, Mirella Daly and Katie Mooney in Halpins Bridge Cafe in Wicklow Town
Ingredients
Robert Cullen of Cullens Quality Butchers in Wicklow Town showcasing one of his famous cuts of meat.
1 fillet undyed smoked haddock (400-500g) 500ml milk 500g clams (washed thoroughly) 2 large rooster potatoes 2 tblsp. Olive oil 1 large shallot 100ml dry white wine 500ml fish stock 900ml double cream 1 tblsp. Grain mustard sea salt and pepper
Preparation method
• Bring the cream to the boil and simmer, add the smoked haddock and poach until 2/3 cooked. • Take out, flake and leave for garnish. • In a hot pan, add the clams and then the white wine, cover with a lid and cook the clams for a couple of minutes. • Strain the clams and pass the juice through a sieve. Pick the clams and leave for garnish.
• Sweat down the shallots and thinly sliced potatoes, then add the wine from the clams and reduce right down. • Pour in the stock and the cream and cook out for about 15 minutes. • Puree, then pass through a sieve and season if you need to do so. • Serve with the flaked haddock, clams and maybe some poached quail eggs if you like.
wine choice Toro Loco Rose Nothing says Spring like rosé and this fruity Spanish wine with elegant aromas of raspberry and cherry together with hints of citrus, is great value for those (hopefully!) sunny evenings. Deliciously fresh and lively, this is a well balanced wine full of character. Made from 100% Bobal grapes grown in UtielRequena D.O. Bobal is renowned for its attractive, deep, and juicy rosés. For €5.99 in selected Aldi stores.
MOTORS | 23
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
Volkswagen Golf Turns 40
THE country’s favourite car celebrated its 40th birthday last month. The Volkswagen Golf was first introduced on March 29, 1974. It was intended to be a replacement for the tried-and-true, but aging, VW Beetle. The Golf never replaced the Beetle but instead became an icon in its own right. The masses quickly embraced the “People’s Car” with over one million Mark-1 Golfs sold worldwide. The most popular Golf model in the Mark-1 line-up, and possibly of all time, is the GTI which was launched in 1976. With 109 hp on tap from its fuel-injected 1.8 litre l-4 the original Golf GTI was great to drive. Especially with a curb weight of just under 1800 pounds. The car gave birth to the hot hatch formula and many of today’s hatchbacks owe their existence to the original GTI. Over the next few generations, the Golf gained six-cylinder, diesel, forced induction and allwheel drive options.
The model gradually grew in size with each model. Today, the Mark-7 Golf is bigger still but lighter compared to the outgoing car with fuel efficiency up as much as 23% according to Volkswagen. Today’s Golf sees the return of the 1.8T designation, with a new turbocharged 1.8 litre l-4 with 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque serving as the base engine in the US. Here is Europe we get the high-performance diesel powered GTD and plug-in hybrid GTE. The GTE will likely remain Euro-market exclusive.
Have you got a nose for news? Share your story with the Wicklow Voice by contacting info@wicklowvoice.ie
The 30 millionth Golf model rolled off the assembly line last summer, beating the Beetle’s production run of 21.5 million models. as the Golf approached its milestone it added an all important electric model to the line-up. Unlikely to sell by the bucket load the e-Golf is impressive for the technology it features and the fact that it manages to wrap it all up in a familiar shape. With 40 years under the Golf’s belt, you can bet the hatch will be around for the foreseeable future.
24 | WHAT’S HOT
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
my favourite things Easter Delights Spring is in the air and Easter lands on april 20th this year. It’s getting me thinking of sunnier weather, longer days, a fun family lunch and a buying some new key items for the wardrobe.
Lusting It Designed by Wicklow designer, Lorna Burton, this beautifully oversized, black n’ navy fold down clutch named ‘Simone’ would take you anywhere. Lorna gets all her bags made with artisan makers just outside Venice using only vegan leathers. Classic designs with lasting appeal - I want one! €275 from www. corallei.com
of Wicklow and Carlow is The Chocolate Garden of Ireland, a haven and mecca for young and old who enjoy anything made from the cocoa bean? So indulge your senses by signing up for a chocolate workshop this Easter season at €12.50pp and learn all about chocolate making, cocoa growing, how Easter eggs are made and have a go at making and decorating your own chocolate product (which you get to take home). Sounds like delicious fun to me. www. chocolategarden.ie or Tel: (059) 648 1999
Spring Style
Calling Chocaholics When you think of Easter you probably think of chocolate and chocolate eggs in particular. Well, did you know that sitting on the border
This fitted floral dress from Next could take you from beautiful Easter lunch to a glamorous wedding this Spring with the right accessories. From their Demi Couture range this elegant dress has a sheer outer with embroidered flowers throughout. €110 and you can get that online from www.NextDirect.com or check out the Next store in arklow’s Bridgewater Shopping Centre.
WHAT’s HOT
with Audrey Vance wicklowvoice@gmail.com
Baring All
Stepping Out
Fingers crossed the weather is going to be beautiful in april and with that thought in mind... it’s definitely time for a little skin glow. Started by Dublin entrepreneur Karen Brown, Karora self-tanning products are promising to bring you a bronzed and beautiful, streak-free glow from head to foot with a range of tinting, tanning and wash off products to suit everyone. This organic Instant Tan Wash-Off is found is pharmacies all round the country from €17.99.
Is it too early to dream of open toe sandals? I’m loving the new season colour block heels of coral and stone from New Look. The high block heel and the two-tone colours are mixed with two contrasting finishes of faux swede and patent leather to add extra interest. Will be lovely to get warm weather to wear with skinny jeans and a white shirt or seasonal pastel dresses. €34.99 from www.newlook.com or visit the nearest shop in the Bridgewater Centre, arklow.
Spirit of Spring Looking to match your fragrance with the time of year? Then maybe you should take a look at Ghost, The Fragrance. Understated lightness with fresh floral notes of ambrette and rose, mixed with essence of Jasmine and Hibiscus, it combines to give a wonderfully light floral bouquet. a lovely daytime scent for Spring, €32 for 30ml in pharmacies around the county.
Picture Perfect audrey Vance, fashion illustrator and owner of Wedding Dress Ink has her design studio in Co. Wicklow. www. wedding dressink. com
Women in Wicklow Name? Fiona O Fóghlú set up Beautiful Bunting in February 2013.
NEW MORNING GROUP NOW ON The Wilton Hotel, Southern Cross, Bray. Tuesdays 9.30 Call Gráinne 086 466 1566 Tuesday Greystones Lawn tennis club, 5.30 & 7.30pm Call Lesley on 086 2337984 Wednesday The Wilton Hotel, Southern Cross, Bray 3.30pm; 5.30pm; 7.30pm Call Grainne on 086 466 1566 Thursday Marino School, Church rd, Bray 7.30 pm Call Lesley on 0862337984
Contact details? To get in touch call 086 0781262 or visit my website www.beautifulbunting.ie What does your business offer? Handmade personalised bunting. There’s a readymade range to choose from and I also specialise in custom designs perfect for children’s bedroom, parties, weddings, christenings and any occasion you can think of. as this is Ireland, I’ve also got rainproof outdoor bunting to suit our changeable weather. How did you come to set up your business? I simply made Christmas bunting for family and friends in 2012. Because of the lovely reactions received I decided to explore bunting designs that could be used all through the year and set up my own website and Facebook page to start selling. Word-ofmouth has become my most effective advertising tool.
Who are your typical customers? My typical customer female.
is
Plans for the future? I love making all sorts of clothes for my little girl Fiadh and as a result I’m considering setting up a children’s clothing range. another market I’m exploring is in bedlinen and mini duvets for kid’s beds and cots. What has been the toughest moment? Luckily the business has had a steady stream of orders since I set it up. Best part about your job? Its flexibility. I work at home
and so can spend the day with my little girl and sew in the evenings when she is asleep. Best piece of advice you’ve ever received? My mum always told me to do my very best at whatever I try. I’ve taken that advice into my sewing. Tip for any budding entrepreneurs? Do something you really enjoy. I absolutely love sewing - time flies when I am making something. If you are happy doing what you do then you won’t resent the long hours you will need to put into your start-up business. Interview by audrey Vance.
PARENTING| 25
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
things change and so do kids
Children
Dr Katherine O’Hanlon HOW best to manage the many changes that crop up for families is something I’m asked about a lot. All transitions can be difficult for families to negotiate, even positive ones. It is normal for both children and parents to experience a degree of anxiety caused by change and difficulties can also arise when children have had previous negative experiences of change as current transitions may remind them of these times. Parents’ worries about how they, or their child, will cope with upcoming transitions can often make the situation worse as their anxiety can make it difficult to really tune into their child’s feelings, which is
essential in helping children to express and manage them. Change is an inevitable part of life, but the fact that we can’t avoid it doesn’t mean we can’t work to minimise the impact on children. Children often don’t use words to express how they’re feeling and show how they are feeling through their behaviour. For example, being clingier than usual, disturbed sleep (eg difficulty settling, nightmares, early waking), temporary regression (eg wetting or wanting to be ‘babied’), mild aggression (eg hitting or kicking more often), mild hostility (eg coldness towards or ignoring of parent/siblings), being quieter than usual, having trouble concentrating, and/or complaining of tummy aches or headaches. These feelings and reactions don’t usually last long and often resolve once the family has adjusted to the new situation. Like adults, children can also have mixed feelings about change. They may feel pleased about a new house, but sad about leaving the neighbourhood. They can also be scared of something unfamiliar. Parents’ own feelings about
Colm Greene and Sam Greene (8) enjoy watching a match recently in Nel Keenan’s in Wicklow Town the transition will also influence how their child feels about it. For example, if parents’ fears are shared with the child, the child will feel more nervous. Try to put on a brave face for your child - your child will be better able to negotiate the change if they do not have to worry about you. Think about the positive side of the change, for you and your child (eg More space, new friends, new opportunities). Where changes can be anticipated:
Plenty to keep the kids active during Easter hols
By Michelle McGlynn
THErE is so much on offer in Wicklow this Easter there is no reason why your children should be bored during the Easter holidays. as well as giving the kids a reason to take a break from their Xbox and the television, and giving mammies and daddies a little break, Easter camps are a fantastic way for children to socialise and make new friends outside of school. Easter camps are also a fantastic way to encourage children to spend time outdoors and get active. They will take part in lots of fun activities and learn new skills. Who knows your child might find a new interest that lasts far beyond the Easter holidays. No matter whether your child is interested in sports or more creative activities, Easter camps cater to all children with a host of activities to suit everybody. There are other things you can do to keep the little ones entertained aside from camps. a fun idea would be to
Portia (6), Eva Pearse and Kyle (8) on Bray Main Street take a trip to Greenan Farm and Maze. From april 12 until april 27 there are free treasure hunts and nature trails daily. There are free egg hunts taking place in the maze on Easter Sunday and on Easter Monday there is free face painting and arts and crafts. you might even catch a glimpse of a baby chick hatching. There’s nothing better than just going for a walk as a family and there are no
shortage of beautiful places to choose from. Go to Glendalough and take in the beautiful scenes and let the children enjoy the animals and wildlife. Take a trip to the top of Bray Head and enjoy the view from the top. With so much choice right on your doorstep it will be easy to keep your children occupied, active and most importantly entertained this Easter.
• Be aware of your own feelings about the change. Talk them through with someone. • Expect the transition to be successful - if you are positive and confident it will help your child to be too. But remember that adjustments take time. • Try to be extra available to your child during the transition period. • Let your child know it is normal to feel nervous or to have negative/mixed feelings. Listen and take them seriously even if they sound minor to you.
• Talk to your child about what is going to happen. Try and find a story book which involves a similar change. • Avoid too many changes at the same time. • Think about previous changes that have gone well. What did you do to prepare? What could you do again this time? • Remind your child of positive memories of changes and share childhood memories of when you experienced something new and it was ok.
Supporting your child through unexpected changes can be more difficult: • Do your best to maintain a normal routine so that life feels predictable and safe. Keep things as familiar as possible. • Inform your child’s teacher or other carers about the change • Let your child express their feelings. Listen, take them seriously, suggest coping strategies. • Talk to your child about what has happened and what life will be like now. If possible, look at photos (e.g. your old and new home) • Give your child extra time with you. Play with them, praise them. • Managing your child is likely to be harder if you are upset or angry about what has happened. In these situations you may need someone to support you with your feelings. Dr Katherine O’Hanlon is a clinical psychologist at the Novara Centre in Bray and lives in Co Wicklow. Katherine offers child and adolescent psychology and parenting support sessions on an individual and group basis. www.katherineohanlon. com
26 | PROPERTY
House prices are slowly on the rise By Cianan Brennan HOUsE prices are on the rise across the country, with prices in Dublin in particular subject to massive increases over the last 12 months. The news comes as the findings of three separate reports on the property market were announced, by estate agents Douglas Newman Good (DNG), and property websites myhome.ie and daft.ie. all three reports are in agreement that house prices are very much on the increase in the capital, with a rise in the average value of 15% over the course of the last year. Meanwhile, according to daft. ie, values increased by 2.3% outside Dublin over the first quarter of 2014 to an average of €177,000, the first time prices have risen quarter on quarter since before the housing bubble burst in 2007. The news is an endorsement of the findings of the Wicklow
Voice’s investigation into the local property market last month in which Wicklow’s prices were found to have increased by 5% in 2013. However, while daft.ie reports that property values outside Dublin are also on the increase, myhome.ie is speculating that average prices outside Dublin fell by 0.7% over the first quarter of 2014. This however would represent the lowest fall in values nationally in over six years, with the average asking price nationally now standing at €188,000. The Daft.ie report’s author said the increase in property prices outside Dublin is significant for those in negative equity. assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College Dublin Ronan Lyons, speaking to RTÉ, said the average was still down, but it was the first time that prices outside the capital had risen quarter on quarter since mid-2007.
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
hothouse 141 Wheatfield, Bray, asking price €345,000 THIS well presented 4-bed family home in a choice location with a large private south-west facing rear garden for sale by private treaty This attractive property is in a class of its own and boasts plenty of kerbside appeal. Number 141’s slightly elevated location ensures the front of the property enjoys wonderful mountain views. The accommodation extends to circa 103 square metres and features a bright stylish interior in a natural palette. Number 141 enjoys the benefit of a lovely south-west facing rear garden ideal for outdoor entertaining. The town centre is readily accessible as are local amenities on the Boghall road. Equally accessible is the N11/M50. This is a well presented comfortable family home, a must view for those seeking a truly choice, ready-to-occupy home. Visit hjbyrne.com or contact the agent at 01-2862113 for more information.
Summary • Spacious family kitchen sports an excellent range of country style pine wall and floor units and incorporates a built-in Belling double oven, hob and extractor fan plus counter dividing the kitchen from dining area • Landing area with excellent natural light via a large window, hotpress and access to attic • 4 double bedrooms with ensuite master bedroom boasting feature bay window commanding superb views of the surrounding mountains and countryside • Family bathroom with three piece suite and telephone shower, tiled floor and part tiled walls plus velux window • Fully cobblelocked front garden provides off street parking for up to five cars • A spacious south-west facing rear garden with good sized cobblelocked patio area ideal for outdoor entertaining • Double glazed throughout with gas fired central heating
New regulations will make life difficult Homes
with Clodagh Doyle (info@wicklowvoice.ie)
THE self-build accounts for a major proportion of all the houses built in Ireland. Planning permission was perhaps your biggest hurdle when it came to building your own home – not anymore! The new building control regulations were introduced on March 1 and are a likely response to the unsatisfactory and poorly constructed dwellings of the boom era as with the Priory Hall development. This new code of practice specifies that along with the standard commencement notice, self-builders will have to employ a certified professional (architect, Building Surveyor or Chartered Engineer) who must act as an assigned certifier carrying out inspections at various stages throughout the construction. These new rules will apply to the construction of any new dwelling house, extension of a dwelling house more than 400sq ft. and works requiring a fire safety certificate.
While we should welcome the tighter regulations and controls of the construction industry, these new rules will have serious implications for the self-builder. as a selfbuilder you will not be able to participate in the construction of your own project unless you fit the Departments criteria of a “competent person” – have at least three years relevant contracting experience and be the principle of a building firm. The implication of this is that no project requiring planning permission can be completed by the use of direct labour. Every project will have to be thoroughly detailed, tendered and assigned to a building contractor in advance of any work commencing on site. For successful planning applicants, these regulations will make the building of one-off houses increasingly more difficult with significant additional costs. Until a completion certificate is received, a building will not be opened, used or occupied which will have implications on the insurance and finance of the project. The quality and standard of workmanship in most self-build is far superior to that carried out by the major developers. Building on your own land is not just about building a house it is about constructing a wellbuilt “home”. The people of Wicklow who have invested in their future with hopes and dreams of building their own
home may have no alternative but to abandon their plans. Slowly but surely word is starting to filter that the selfbuild is in serious jeopardy and there have been a number of well attended public meetings held recently throughout Wicklow. Local draughtsmen, couples planning on self-building along with many small builders and trades people aired their individual concerns. Most felt that the number of certifiers should be widened so has to reduce the cost of certification and that it was vital that a simplified version be applied to the once-off and extension projects. The rural stone cottages of yesterday’s Ireland may not have complied with today’s planning and building control regulations but at least it was a given right that a person could self-build on their land.
Thinking of selling or letting your property or perhaps making some improvements to your home? Our one-stop range of affordable services will save you time, stress, energy and money! Get in touch on 086 815953, 01 25480701 or e-mail us at info@placelift.ie or visit www. placelift.ie
OUTDOOR LIFE| 27
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
HERE COMES the sun Gardening
with All Seasons Garden Centre GraDUaLLy the late Winter sun rises higher in the sky each day, and its rays are warmer, more intense, even through the brisk March wind. after all the rain the ground the ground has dried out and the soil is very workable, dig some well rotted manure into beds or add a general purpose fertiliser, to prepare for the growing season, the secret of raising healthy, carefree vegetables and flowers is great soil early Spring preparation will yield rewards throughout the growing season. Raised Beds: The sight of a raised bed topped up with rich soil, moist and crumbly, free of weeds and ready to plant is a moment of perfection, full of promise, a blank canvas awaiting the gardener’s vision. When raised beds are well prepared, the hardest part of the work is done. The better the preparation the less work there will be during the growing
season. When preparing the beds don’t walk on the prepared soil it will compact it and make it hard for planting, if making new beds don’t make them too wide or leave a path on each side for easy access to the middle. Trees and Shrubs: If you need to move badly placed trees and shrubs now is the time to do it whilst they are dormant provided the soil is not waterlogged, when digging them up take as much of a root ball as possible for the quickest establishment in its new location, when planting shrubs in their new position place them at the same level they were previously in the soil and remember to water them well afterwards. Feed trees and shrubs with a slow release fertiliser by slightly working it into the soil. Mulching is a very simple way of feeding trees it also helps to suppress weeds. Hunting down garden pests: Take a close look at the crowns of your perennial plants, you may find slugs, snails, and aphid colonies sheltering from the winter.
are ideal for jams and jellies, remember to water well after planting and continue to do so until they adjust to their new surroundings. Top Fruit Family fruit trees are ideal for the smaller gardens where space is limited, a partner tree is not required, therefore you only need to plant one tree to produce fruit, some recommended varieties, Twin apple trees: Elstar and Golden Delicious, Twin Plum Trees: Blue de Belgique and Golden Gage, Trio pear trees: Beuree Hardy, Charneux and Williams. It is now possible to buy fruit bushes and fruit trees bare rooted in your local garden centre and they are cheaper than potted ones.
Felim Sheridan from All Seasons Garden Centre If you still haven’t cleared last year’s pots of summer bedding then do so now be on the lookout for the white vine weevil larvae which live in the compost and feed on the plant roots, destroy any you may find
Get out the rubber gloves for Spring Clean week
By Michelle McGlynn
GET out the rubber gloves and start cleaning because april is National Spring Clean Month. The National Spring Clean is Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative organised by an Taisce and funded by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Cleaning events are taking place in towns and communities across the country and there are plently of events in Wicklow that you can get involved in. ashford T idy Towns is holding a clean-up on Saturday, april 12. For information contact Bernard Denver on 087 9188298. St. Kilian’s CS will be cleaning up in Bray on Thursday, 4th april. Beechcourt and Corrig Drive residents’ association is holding a clean-up in Kilcoole on Saturday, april 5. For more information contact Helen Crimes on 086 3241117. Or you can organise a clean-up in your community. It can take place any time during the month of april.
Anne-Marie Walsh, Shu Rong Walsh and Catherine Lyons out and about in Mount Usher gardens you can register your event online or by phone - details found below. When you have registered you will receive a free clean-up kit from an Taisce which contains tips on how to hold your event, posters to advertise the event, plastic bags in which to collect your litter and recyclable materials, tabards to keep your clothes clean and gloves to keep your hands safe and clean. To celebrate the 16th year of the campaign, an Taisce is holding a photo competition on Instagram. Entrants are asked to share images of the most beautiful places in their area
Vegetable Plants: It will be necessary to protect young cabbage sprouts and other brassica from pigeons with netting.
tagging National Spring Clean and using the hashtag #LoveWhereyouLive. The best pictures will be posted to the campaign’s Facebook page and the winner will receive a weekend away in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel. Let’s show that we love where we live and get cleaning. To register an event or to find more information on the National Spring Clean call 01 4002219 or go to www.nationalspringclean.org. It’s time to be tidy- Sarah Wray page 10
and replace the compost. Soft Fruit Bushes: There’s nothing complicated about planting or maintaining bushes and, once established you’ll be harvesting plenty of soft fruit that would cost
a small fortune in the shops. There are loads of varieties to try from traditional favourites like raspberry, strawberry and gooseberry to modern hybrids such as tayberry and goji berry blackcurrants and redcurrants
Order your Hanging Baskets, Containers and Window Boxes now, or, bring your own in and we will refill - call 01-2040697 or drop into us at the back of Lidl in Bray.
28 | SERVICES
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
services
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HISTORY/NEWS| 29
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
Day the fire station burned down down the decades
THE morning of February 10, 1966 broke frosty and freezing. Little did the denizens of Dunlavin realise that their village was about to make international headlines. It might seem surprising that this sleepy hamlet in West Wicklow should create such interest. The cause of all the media attention was a fire. The reported fire involved a motor vehicle, registration number NI 4022 and a building. The problem was that NI 4022 was the village’s fire engine and the building was the fire station! The conflagration engulfed and destroyed the station, the engine and all the firefighting equipment. The fire station was located in the granite stone Market House. On the day in question, it would seem that one of the firemen had been detailed to top up the engine’s petrol tank. This was a routine task done from the hand operated petrol pump located beside the fire station. For convenience on such a cold day, it was decided to bring the petrol to the engine rather than vice versa.
Caroline Foundation IN the March edition of the Wicklow Voice there was an article on The Caroline Foundation’s fundraising bid to break the World record for the Longest awareness ribbon Chain. The Wicklow Voice would like to clarify that the event will take place on Sunday, May 11 at 12pm and not May 25 as previously stated. The Caroline Foundation was established in June 2013 in memory of Caroline DwyerHickey who passed away on 25 March 2013 at the age of 35 after a nine-year battle with cancer.
Broomhall Crescent Members of Bray Choral Society at the recent Come and Sing performance in St Peter’s Church. In other words the hose from the petrol pump was passed in through the window and the petrol was then pumped by hand from the petrol pump into the fire engine’s petrol tank. Unknown to the person involved however another fireman had left a small oil burner under the pump to stop it freezing in the icy weather. as the vapour from the petrol
filled the enclosed space of the station it hit the naked flame of the lamp. There was a terrific ‘Whoosh’ and the inferno began. The Wicklow People of the time wryly observed that the plan for filling the petrol tank had “back-fired”. The embarrassed Dunlavin Crew had the task of calling the two neighbouring brigades to
€2.2m contract to dredge Arklow Harbour signed
By Michelle McGlynn
ThE contract for the dredging of arklow Harbour worth €2.2m was signed in County Buildings on Tuesday, april 1. The last dredging works were carried out in 1998. The arklow Harbour has suffered from silting for a number of years and the dredging will be a major improvement for users of the Harbour. Siltation has become a major concern for users of arklow Port as the river is not a self-scouring channel. Silt and gravel carried downstream from the upper regions of the avoca river causes siltation in the Turning Basin, the Dock and the Lower Channel resulting in reduced drafts available to ships, fishing boats and the lifeboat. The dredging works will provide the drafts available in the port area similar to the best drafts at Mean Low Spring Tides experienced at any time in the past. The works will eliminate the necessity to do further dredging in the port for at least 15
news in brief
Jimmy Tyrell from Arklow who after 46 years working voluntarily for the RNLI has decided to hang up his yellow wellies (Pic: Yvette O Beirne) years. In order for the works to go ahead the Council had to obtain a permit from the Environmental Protection agency (EPa) to dump dredged soil at sea and also to secure a Foreshore Licence from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The permit from the EPa allows for dredging of 60,000 tonnes of material from the Turning Basin, Dock and river Channel subject to a
large number of conditions which the dredging contractor must comply with. Mitigation measures against possible pollution must be incorporated into the dredging system and daily monitoring, sampling and testing are a requirement. The €2.2m contract was awarded to L & M Keating, a major civil engineering firm based in County Clare. Work on the disposal pit will commence in May and dredging the Harbour will begin in early June when the pit excavation has been approved by the EPa. a condition of the Licence is that dredging be completed by September 30, 2014. Wicklow County Manager, Mr. Eddie Sheehy, said “The commencement of this Contract demonstrates Wicklow County Council and the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport’s commitment to the future of arklow Port. “One important aspect of the work is that it will allow arklow Lifeboat to perform its duties more safely and effectively”.
extinguish their fire station. The Market House has since been restored and today serves as the Town Library. Today the incident is but a distant memory. The Village and surrounding area are protected by a two-bay station in which there is one ‘normal fire engine’ - a water tender and one of the County’s Emergency Tenders. The retained Crews are very
well trained, experienced and provide a highly professional resource for the safety of all in the community. 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.
IN the property supplement contained in March’s edition of the Wicklow Voice the sale of a number of houses at Broomhall Crescent, rathnew, was briefly mentioned. The Wicklow Voice would like to clarify that these sales related to a number of individual sites only, not houses. Broomhall Crescent is not a ghost estate, and all future house sales in the development will be conducted to market value.
30 | HEALTH
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
Digestive Problems Kill Weight Loss! NOTHInG is as devastating for your energy, health and weight loss as digestive problems. Bloating, heartburn, indigestion, trapped wind and the much more serious conditions like constipation, irritable bowel and diverticulitis can slow down or stop your weight loss no matter how much you diet or exercise. your digestive system is the master of everything! It is the king of your whole metabolism. Everything you are is made from the nutrients that you absorb or lose during digestion. This includes all mental and physical function, energy, hormone balance and your very thoughts. your ability to lose weight depends entirely on your metabolism and digestive problems kill your metabolism! Digestive problems sap your energy and motivation, create severe cravings and slow your thyroid, your master metabolism gland. How are you ever going to succeed at weight loss? Constipation is one of the worst digestive disorders of all. It can totally stop your weight loss. It turns you into a toxic tank of re-circulating poisons. No matter what it takes, you need to keep working to solve it and not mask it over with medications
Footballers back to winning ways
Pictured are Dean Byrne from Barndarrig NS Wicklow, and Cahill Byrne from Gaelscoil in Arklow, the two primary school students whick took part in the Leinster School Rugby Blitz in Arklow (Pic: Yvette O Beirne) and laxatives or you will pay a heavy price in the future. your digestive system can be transformed through metabolism correction. Getting to the root cause of your digestive problems, means your
cravings subside, you energy level soars, mentally you feel great and then great weight loss follows. Eating the correct foods and a balance of exercise and toning are crucial to the repair
process. The right exercise done the right away is not just about burning calories but improving the health and function of internal organs and systems like digestion and so giving you a powerful metabolism and easier
and better weight loss. If you think your Digestive System is killing your weight loss, call System 10 Bray and arklow Today on 085 212 8509 or 01 20 40333
WIcKLOw’S footballers got back to winning ways on March 16 when they beat Carlow by 1-25 to 1-11 away. This followed defeats to Clare and Leitrim and left the county fourth in Division 4 of the National Football League behind Leitrim, Clare and Tipperary with it all to play for in the promotion stakes as they entered their final games against Waterford and Tipperary. When Waterford were defeated on March 30, Wicklow moved up a place to third in the table on 8 points, behind Clare on 9 points and Tipperary on 11 points. We must win our last game against leaders Tipperary in Semple Stadium on april 6 and hope Clare lose away to antrim at the same time in order to qualify for the Division 4 Final – no easy task. Wicklow’s hurlers completed a marvellous season in Division 2B of the National Hurling League by finishing second and qualifying for a promotion playoff match which will be against Down in early april. It’s a credit to the squad that they peaked at the right time and we wish them luck in the playoff match. - Brian Quigley
Sport| 31
april 2014 wicklowvoice.ie
insideback
with Cianan Brennan
Bray Wanderers - the new Barcelona! They may be known as the Seagulls of Irish football, but a recent announcement by Bray Wanderers may see the famous old club redubbed the Barcelona of the south-east. The club have announced plans to become Ireland’s first community-owned football club, a move that will see them follow in the footsteps of such world-famous outfits as the Catalan giants and current European and German champions Bayern Munich. Both those clubs are amongst the richest in the world, whilst simultaneously featuring a level of input from fans (and low ticket prices) unheard of in the likes of England’s premier league. Wanderers’ stated aim is to ensure the club’s longterm future in a move that will “provide a blueprint for sustainable football in Ireland into the future”, and the club are receiving huge support for their radical new plan. Supporters and business leaders have hailed the initiative as “revolutionary” and a “massive boost” for the whole community – while Bray manager alan Mathews said he believes the move will help make the Seagulls a force to be reckoned with on the pitch. “Bray Wanderers have
Bray Wanderers club president Philip Hannigan with players Jake Kelly (left) and Ismahil Akinade (right) at the launch of the club’s new home and away football strips at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray always had a tremendously Most famously FC United local community at Wanderers’ loyal support and we want to was established by fans in stadium, the Carlisle Grounds. give them and the rest of the Manchester in protest at the It will be operated by community the football club fallout after the Glazer family’s volunteers drawn from the they deserve. This restructuring purchase of Manchester United community, while a majority can help create the conditions in 2005. for the players and club to a new company, Bray thrive,” said Mathews. Wanderers Community Football While the move is the first Club (BWCFC), has already of its kind in Ireland there are been set up to help run the club. have been many similar fan-led It will raise funds for the initiatives in recent years with football team, pay down the regard to other teams across the club’s debt and finance projects globe, particularly in England. to develop amenities for the
Laura Carton, Barry Kiernan and Aoife Lewis of the Martello Hotel who took part in the Dublin Pub Box 2014 on April 3 in Dandelion Bar and Nightclub on Stephen’s Green.
of shareholders have agreed to transfer their stakes in the club to the new company once existing debts are paid off. Wanderers’ radical new direction is being driven by President and prominent Bray businessmen Philip Hannigan together with a think tank of individuals with a proven track record in developing strong businesses. Speaking regarding the club’s plans Hannigan said: “We are confident that by getting the community involved we can secure a sustainable future.” “The old way of running the football club wasn’t working. a new business model was needed – and we believe this is it.” Fund-raising by the new company is already underway – with prominent local businessmen and community leaders being asked to help kick-start the move towards community-owned football. Wanderers are forming closer ties with schools and football clubs in their 250,000-strong
target area of Wicklow and South County Dublin. The club is also pursuing a naming sponsor for the Carlisle Grounds, which is prominently placed next to Bray Dart station near the seafront, and will seek planning permission for a gym, meeting rooms and an all-weather training pitch at the stadium. Supporters club chairman Terry O’Neill is optimistic about the venture. “This is a revolutionary new way of running an airtricity Premier League club and over time it could prove to be the template for clubs like ours to thrive in the future,” he said. “It will be a massive boost for the whole community.” “Bray Wanderers will be run for the benefit of the whole community,” agrees Hannigan. “The reception we’ve received has been tremendous – there’s a palpable sense of excitement about the club’s future,” he added.
32| ADVERTISING FEATURE
Matt Britton opens new outlet and creates 10 jobs LEaDING carpet and timber company Matt Britton Carpets has created 10 jobs following the opening of its third store at 10 Clonkeen road, Deansgrange (Tel 01 289 7113). Matt Britton Carpets, which opened its first store in Kilcoole beside Druid’s Glen in Co Wicklow in 1996, is recruiting immediately for the full and part-time positions. The family-run company already employs 25 between Kilcoole and its other outlet in Dundrum Village. “It’s the next logical step for us as we have seen a significant rise in demand for our services,” says Matt Britton. “We are delighted to have expanded and to open our third store in Deansgrane. “Thankfully the demand is there and grown primarily by word of mouth. “There has been a particular demand for our range of
flooring in the Dublin area and this expansion demonstrates our commitment to creating jobs in local communities,” Matt adds. “Going forward, we want to develop the brand further and while this expansion will initially cover the Dublin area, by the end of the year we hope to be servicing other parts of the country,” says Matt. The company was originally founded by former League Of Ireland footballer, Matt Britton, who played for Dundalk, ards, Shamrock rovers, Bray Wanderers and Kildare. “We have built our reputation in the domestic market, by not alone supplying quality carpets, but also by being one of the first and leading purveyors of premium wood flooring,” says Matt. “To do this, the company has put in place exclusive international lines of supply for both wood and carpet.”
wicklowvoice.ie april 2014
MAssive clearance JILL SCOOPS OUR €1000 PRIZE
Jill O’Herlihy-Ryan with her son Bill (3) and daughter Martha (6) accepts her €1,000 prize from Karl O’Connor of Matt Britton
Carpets. Thank you to everyone who entered through the Wicklow Voice - we had thousands of entries!
New Design Centre announced for Kilcoole MaTT Britton Carpets is to open a new state-of-the-art flooring Design Centre in its flagship store in Kilcoole. To make way for the Design Centre, Matt Britton Carpets has announced a massive clearout of all current stock with specific emphasis on couches and home furnishings, with many items being sold at cost-price. “Our new cutting-edge Design Centre will officially open later this year with a grand opening for customers,” says Matt. “But you don’t have to wait until then – please come in and meet the staff and check out our beautiful carpets and floors as have hundreds to choose from. We have a vast collection of the most up-to-date styles in carpet, tile, stone, hardwood, laminates, vinyl, and many more. And we’re not just for consumers as we cater for contractors, designers, and architects also.”