Wicklow Voice December 2013

wicklowvoice SAY HELLO TO THE GARDEN COUNTY’S FREE, POSITIVE PAPER!

.ie

December 2013

FREE

FREE

FREE

E: wicklowvoice@gmail.com

FREE

81 Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow ORDER ONLINE AT: WWW.APACHE.IE (01) 2116388

ts

dien

re l ing

ura

Nat

%I

100

d

wne

O rish

Greystones: (01) 2878000 - Wicklow Town: (0404) 20599 - Arklow: (040) 241400

wicklowvoice SAY HELLO TO THE GARDEN COUNTY’S FREE, POSITIVE PAPER!

.ie

December 2013

FREE

FREE

FREE

FREE

E: wicklowvoice@gmail.com

The €7m school mystery

Speculation mounts over location of new building The new €7m Educate Together School announced for north Wicklow will be located in Bray, the Wicklow Voice can exclusively reveal.

However, mystery surrounds its exact location in the town with Department of Education officials refusing to confirm that it will be built on the former Bray Golf Club.

Other sites being considered for the 1000-pupil school are the AO Smith and Dell sites on the Boghall Road, and areas along the Southern Cross route.

If the Bray Golf Club site is chosen, it is likely to cause considerable controversy as this is already the location of the new Colaiste Raithin Secondary School and St Philomena’s National School Ravenswell, both of which are due to open in September 2016.

Locals have already raised concerns about traffic congestion at the new schools and adding Educate Together to

the campus is likely to escalate those worries.

Jessica Bird, Chair of the North Wicklow Educate Together Second-level Action Group, said the new school would open in 2016 but a site was yet to be selected.

“We have a lot of time to start looking around but we hope to have a site confirmed over the coming weeks,” she said. “We would be happy with anywhere with good transport links and plenty of room for facilities.”

When the Wicklow Voice contacted the Department, we received the following reply: “The location for the new North Wicklow post-primary school has not been determined yet but a number of possible locations are currently being considered by the Department.”

However, sources close to the Government have confirmed that the 1000-pupil school will be built in Bray and that the site on the former Golf Club was

seriously being considered.

Greystones has been ruled out as there is no land in the area zoned for educational purposes.

Educate Together had applied for the patronage of the new school in Templecarrig, Greystones, which is also due to open in Septmber 2014, but that ultimately went to the Church Of Ireland. The new Educate Together school is estimated to cost €7m based on the cost of the last secondary school built in the town, Presentation College Bray, in 2011.

“This new school will give the people of North Wicklow more choice in the ethos in which they want their children to be educated,” said Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Simon Harris.

“Regardless of where this new school is located, this is great news for north Wicklow and Educate Together,” says Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council, Cllr Tracy O’Brien (Lab).

Pull the other one: Elf Andrew Hanlon from Wicklow Town pulls on Santa’s beard to make sure it’s the real thing in Killruddery, where the Christmas market is running on Saturdays and Sundays for the month of December. » Lots of pictures from around the county inside

4 | NEWS

wicklowvoice.ie December 2013

Almost 50 new jobs created in retail and food sectors

news in brief Win a market stand at Wicklow Gaol Wicklow Gaol is inviting traders to be in with a chance of winning a free stall at their mini artisan Christmas market for two weekends in December.

The competition is open to craftspeople, artists and creative individuals or anyone who has suitable products to showcase to visitors.

The winner will join a small number of other traders already located on the main floor of Wicklow’s Historic Gaol for the two weekends commencing Friday 13 and Friday 20 of December.

Eligible entrants must be available to run their stall from 4-7pm on the Fridays and 11am-6pm on the Saturdays and Sundays.

Gaol staff and market organisers will select the winner based on the suitability of the product. To enter, email info@wicklowshistoricgaol. com with details of your product and a brief explanation as to why both you and your product would be best suited to joining the artisan market. Closing date for entries: Close of Business (5.30pm) Tuesday, December 10 2013.

Gavin Glynn at the Twisted Monkeys MoAthlon 2013 to help support Team Gavin Glynn in Willow Grove. Kilcoole lad Gavin has rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumour of the muscles.

Merry Christmas from the Positive Paper!

The Wicklow Voice – the Positive Paper – would like to say thank to everyone for their support since we launched in September – the reaction from readers, retailers and advertisers has been phenomenal.

The Wicklow Voice is committed to highlighting all the great things that are happening in our county as our team of top quality writers cover local politics, property, fashion, fitness, gardening, food, children’s activities and much more. The Wicklow Voice will be coming through your letterbox near or available from our many distribution points.

You can contact us at wicklowvoice@gmail.com or write to us at 93 Giltspur Brook, Bray, Co Wicklow.

Calling all candidates!

Are you planning on running in next year’s local elections?

Do you want to be portrayed in a positive light by the Positive Paper?

Contact is now by emailing wicklowvoice@gmail.com with Local Elections in the subject line to register with our database for 2014 and help us to help you with your election campaign.

Shaman St. Clair-miller, Maud Gibney, Oliver Marcus outside 3 Amigos on Bray’s Albert Walk.

Almost 50 jobs have been created in the food and retail sectors in County Wicklow.

Fifteen jobs have been created with the opening of Apache Pizza on Bray Main Street while 10 more have come online with the opening of 3 Amigos Mexican takeaway on the Albert Walk (see their ad on page 3).

Meanwhile a new Polish shop in Wicklow Town will create six jobs in addition to the three created by Handy Horse in Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy (see their ad on page 3).

Robert Pendleton, CEO of Apache, says they are delighted with the opening of the Bray store. “We have been trying for a number of years to re-enter the Bray market but have not until now found the right location.”

Apache Pizza, which already has stores in Greystones, Wicklow Town and Arklow, is a 100pc Irish-owned and currently has xx outlets throughout the country and employs xxx people nationwide.

The company, which started off with just two branches on Dublin’s northside in 1996, is now Ireland’s largest pizza chain.

The new store in Bray will be operated by franchisee Jackie He who also runs Apache in Greystones as well as Lam’s Chinese takeaway. Lam’s food will also be available from the

same premises as Apache in Bray.

Oliver Marcus, the owner of 3 Amigos, said he decided to open the store after spotting a “gap in the market” for Mexican food and has been delighted with the reaction so far to.

“The feedback from customers has been fantastic,” he says.

“We’re delighted to provide 10 new jobs in the area and demonstrates our commitment to creating jobs in the local community.”

Beauty destination Anna Schu has created a further 10 jobs with the opening of the second store in Stillorgan, Co Dublin with a spin-off in job creation for the Bray store.

“We have already filled some of the positions, but we are recruiting four more immediately and interested candidates should visit our website annaschu.ie.

“When opening in 2010 it was a risk but an investor believed in me and helped me fulfil my dream. Subsequently, the motto for ANNA SCHU has become “Believing in U” “Thankfully the demand has been there and grown primarily by word of mouth and satisfied clientele.”

The jobs boost comes in the wake of the popular Arklow clothing store A|Wear closing its doors after the company was placed in receivership.

NEWS |5

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

wicklow people in pictures

Santa left the sleigh behind and opted to be brought into Arklow by the RNLI (Pic. Yvette O Beirne)

Kim Hayden at the Check Me Out campaign in The Martello, Bray. Check Me Out is a new campaign in association with Bray Cancer Support Centre aiming to raise awareness through the younger generation of the importance in checking your body for any abnormalities or other warning signs. Pic: Joe Keogh

Ben Murphy (12) and Robbie O’Toole (9) at the switching on of the lights in Bray.

Mick Glynn and Tracy O’Brien at the Bray Chamber of Commerce Presidents’ dinner. Pic: Joe Keogh

Eddie Sheehy, Chairman Wicklow County Enterprise Board; Minister of State for Small Business John Perry TD; Sheelagh Daly, CEO, Wicklow County Enterprise Board at the launch of the Wicklow County Enterprise Board’s publication that celebrates - 20 years of supporting Enterprise in County Wicklow - in the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy.

Pic: Joe Keogh.

Alfie Doyle gives Jingle Cells in Wicklow Gaol as Christmas launches in Wicklow Town.

6 | NEWS

wicklowvoice.ie November 2013

The €30m contract killing

The contracts of two major projects in the county worth almost €30m were left dead in the water recently when work stopped abruptly.

In the south of the county, Arklow’s proposed new sewerage scheme at South Green and the Harbour Road was thrown into doubt after Conwell Contracts, stopped working on the job at short notice.

It remains unknown exactly why Cornwell Contracts downed tools on the €1m project, but unofficial reports emerged that work on pipes below the sea may have led at additional outlay for the contractor.

Meanwhile, in the north of the county, the Flood Protection works on the River Dargle flood defences were abandoned after a dispute between contractors SIAC and Bray Town Council

and the Office of Public Works was finalised.

The €28m project was supposed to include the widening and deepening of the river and the construction of walls and embankments along 3.3kms from the N11 to t Bray Harbour.

At the December meeting of Bray Town Council, Cllr Mick Glynn, said: “The officials did a great jobs on extricating themselves from the contract. This company (SIAC) has treated this town deplorably by trying to bankrupt the town with ridiculous claims off the contract.

Their behaviour has been disgraceful by pricing a job so low that they could not delivered it.”

Cllr John Brady of Sinn Fein also pointed out that many subcontractors had been left out of pocket and asked if anything could be done to reimburse them.

David Brereton, owner of Brereton’s Carpets, Greystones, presents Teresa Bradshaw with her €1150 worth of carpet after she guessed that1278 pieces of carpet were in Brereton’s glass display.

There’s tourism gold in them thar hills There could be tourism gold in them thar hills, according to Stephen Donnelly, Independent TD for Wicklow and East Carlow.

Mr Donnelly recently met with members of the

Ask the expert with Stephen Tully

Is it possible to take out a life assurance policy and claim tax relief?

Yes you can.

That is a question that not a lot of people would know the answer too, individuals with Life cover could be missing out on potential savings of up to 41% on their annual life cover premiums.

If you fall into one of the following categories you can start a life insurance policy that qualifies for tax relief · self employed.

· employed whereby the only pension arrangement is a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA).

· employed but not a member of a pension scheme.

Here at Kidd Insurances we are in a position to offer you some expert advice and guide you through the process easily.

If you are interested in finding out more we have experts who will be able to answer any of your questions.”

Vale of Avoca Development Association Subcommittee and local tour operators to discuss the massive potential for local tourism and job creation at the Avoca Mines site, which was recently used to

film scenes from the TV show, The Vikings. “Avoca has a unique industrial heritage.

The copper mines brought prosperity, migrant workers and dotted the landscape with chimneys and engine houses,”

he said. “Tourism is one of Wicklow’s’ greatest untapped opportunities. The Avoca mines could become a real draw, like the Arigna Mines in Roscommon or the Geevor tin mine in Cornwall.”

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

NEWS |7

8| HISTORY

wicklowvoice.ie December 2013

Gateways, Gardens, the bottle and the cross down the decades

tion was required.

Christy was a local builder while his pal Wally was in the haulage business. They wracked their brains for a suitable contribution they could make to the year. Now in Bray at that time was Canon Moriarty, the quintessential ‘Darling Priest’ - elderly, jolly, rotund and a man who genuinely cared for his flock.

The Canon originally came from Wicklow town and as a student priest had studied at Clonliffe College. On the odd weekend when he was allowed to return home he had to cycle as there was little in the way of public transport and sure wasn’t he young and strong anyway.

He did however admit that he found the journey hard as his ‘high Nellie’ bicycle had no gears and Clonliffe is a long way from Wicklow town.

He had often told Wally of his journeys from College to home and said that when he reached Shankill he would look and pause at the wonderful sight of Bray Head dominating the skyline ahead. He always said that when he saw the ‘Head that he felt his journey was nearly over, even though he had another 20 miles to pedal.

He would comment that the hill

Wicklow is widely known as the ‘Garden County’. And if Wicklow be the garden then Bray must surely be one of its most important gateways.

Anyone who comes to Bray or even approaches the town can’t fail to recognise the iconic image Bray Head with its cross.

While many will be familiar with it, what about its history?

Recently I was storytelling and guiding the ‘Talk the Walk’ event around the Cliff Walk as part of Bray’s Yarn storytelling festival. Naturally people asked about ‘The Cross’ and how and why it came to be there. Well here as they say is the story…

In 1950 (the year I was born) The Pope had declared ‘a Holy Year’. Why he did this I’m not sure but I’m certain it had little if anything to do with my arrival! The year was marked throughout the county by many additional ceremonies in the Catholic churches. All very spiritual but not particularly practical you might say. However in Bray at the time were two very practical men, Christy Dodd and Wally Byrne who decided that positive practical ac-

The late Jim Lambert and late Bernard Riley of Arklow (courtesy of Danny Kearon) would make an ideal location for a cross. It was just this practical project that fired Christy and Wally. Application was made to Bray Urban Council for approval and Lord Meath gave access through his lands for getting materials to the site. A local engineer, a Mr Clarke designed the cross claiming it would stand firm for centuries.

LIVE LOUNGE AT THE HARBOUR BAR DECEMBER

FRI 6

B & THE HONEY BOY

SAT 21

THE ESKIES

[AMERICAN FOLK]

[FOLK/ ROCKABILLY]

SAT 7

BRIAN MEAKIN BAND

CODDLE IN THE BAR

HARD CHARGERS [BLUES] SUN 8

ANN MAIRE O’GRADY [ACOUSTIC SINGER] FRI 13

SOULD’OUT [COVER BAND] SAT 14

THE SHOOS [ORIGINAL ROCK] SUN 15

UFO

[BEATLES TRIBUTE SGT PEPPER’S] THUR 19

COMEDY CLUB [ACOUSTIC SINGER] FRI 20

BETTY SWING MACHINE [ SWING/SOUL]

SUN 22

[BLUES/ ROCK] MON 23

GYPSY REBEL RABBLE [BLUEGRASS] THUR 26

BREE HARRIS [ BLUES] FRI 27

SOUTHERN EXPRESS [BLUES/ ROCK] SAT 28

SILVER LOCK [COVER BAND] SUN 29

MILO MCMAHON [ORIGINAL ROCK N’ROLL] MON 30

THE BANG BANG BAND [COVER BAND] TUE 31

THE CRAVINGZ [ROCKABILLY]

Boutique Christmas Market The Harbour Bar Bray Saturday 7th, 14th, 21st 12.30-5.30pm Free Entry Food Craft Drink Gifts

/theharbour_bar

/theharbourbarbray

So far so good.

Sunday, September 10, was set for the actual erection of the structure. However, when Canon Moriarty learned that Wally would be on his honeymoon proceedings were delayed until the following Sunday, September 17, when Wally could attend. Now September 10 had been a glorious sunny day but

news in brief Get ready for the M Factor final!

The M Factor final takes place on Thursday, December 5 in the Martello Hotel on Bray’s Seafront.

The finalists Lauren Webb, White City, Mary Porter and Eoin Dixon Murphy will battle it out for the €1000 prize money.

The winner will also get a year’s management contract with EML and a place on the Bray Summerfest 2014 line up.

Local Event company Event Technology will be providing the sound system and engineer as sponsorship for the final night.

sadly the following Sunday was cold, wet and windy.

Wally Byrne used one of his lorries to bring the sand, cement, water, scaffolding, steel reinforcement etc up through Lord Meath’s road to the designated site, which by the way, is not the highest point on Bray Head. The summit of Bray Head is the trigonometric point west

Prelude Arts fundraiser

WSE ltd is fundraising through fundit.ie to finish off its hybrid art gallery and artists’ work studios on the Albert Walk in Bray.

They are 50% complete and could be open within weeks with your help.

Prelude Art hopes to help support sustainable employment while creating opportunities for new up and coming artists.

If you would like to find out more please drop into them at 10b Albert Walk, Bray, like them on Facebook.com/ wicklowse and visit Fundit. ie and search the art section to find us (www.fundit.ie/ project/prelude-artsworkand-gallery-space ) to find out more information.

of the cross’ location. Work commenced and Francy Dodd the foreman supervised the digging on the site down to the bedrock.

They prepared concrete in the mixer Wally had brought along and poured it into the hole, but not before Francy had written down the names of all those involved and placed them into a bottle. The bottle was then sealed and placed into the foundations. There were about 100 hardy souls who braved the elements that day. When construction was finished the Canon unveiled and blessed the finished Cross. The onlookers then beat a hasty retreat no doubt for a warming cuppa.

So next time you look up at Bray Head take a moment to think of the people and work they did over 60 years ago.

Look at the Cross and think of the little bottle with their names preserved in a time capsule hopefully as Mr Clarke said for centuries to come.

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

Properties go under hammer

A Christmas tree farm, a petrol station and an entire block of flats are just some of the properties in Wicklow available at Allsop property auctions.

Other items include vacant apartments, retail units and other on-street premises.

The auction starts at 11am on Tuesday, December 10 at the RDS. Those present at the auction can snap up a twobedroom apartment in Bray for €60,000 while the popular Ashford service station has a reserve price of €250,000.

An apartment block of 11 units in the village of Delgany is the most expensive item on the list and auctioneers are hoping to fetch in excess of €750,000 for the property.

NEWS |9

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

Hounds accused of killing pet

Exclusive: Pictures that show Bray Harriers as they go about hunt in Wicklow This is the hunt whose hounds have been accused of killing a family pet in Ashford, Co Wicklow.

The pictures show members of Bray Harriers as they go about a hunt on November 9 in the Newcaslte area of County Wicklow.

A family from Ashford have been devastated after their pet dog Isabelle was killed by a pack of hunting hounds when a hunt by the Bray Harriers club was taking place in the area on November 30.

According The Journal. ie, Club Secretary with Bray Harriers, David Power, confirmed that the incident happened, but said he had no further details and wasn’t at the scene himself. However, when the Wicklow Voice attempted to contact Mr Power, he did not return our phonecalls or texts.

The people of Wicklow have reacted with fury over the incident and a Facebook pages called “Justice For Isabelle” has more than 7000 likes.

“The dogs came in in two packs, one on either side of the house,” Isabelle’s owner

Kayleigh said. “They were totally out of control. They chased her until they caught her and basically savaged her.”

Kayleigh said that her brother and her father, who is in his 50s, tried to separate the animals, along with members of the hunting party.

Once the hounds were called off, the wounded dog ran into a nearby field. She was brought back to the house by one of the hunters. A vet who was with the hunting party briefly tended to her, but she died from from her injuries inside the family home.

Kayleigh said that two of the riders had spoken to the family in the aftermath of the incident, apologised, and offered compensation for what had happened. According to its website, Bray Harriers have around 100 members who are “mostly from the south Dublin and north Wicklow areas” and they carry out hunts from October until March.

The image (right) shows Bray Harriers in action on November 9 - this picture was not taken on the day that Isabelle was killed in Ashford, November 30.

Main picture, hounds from Bray Harriers race across a Wicklow field; inset, Isabelle.

10 | OPINION

opinion&comment Revolution gives us food for thought

T

his time of year is full of end of year reviews, with people looking forward to the future with positivity and hope for the New Year.

Of course, the restaurant and hospitality industry is one that doesn’t take a break for Christmas and restart on January 3. Standing still for too long can cause you to become left behind.

However, the dark evenings and catching up with old friends at Christmas does add up to a certain amount of reflection of the year just gone.

Over the past six years, the hospitality industry has been hit hard. Often, in adverse times, Irish culture, spirit and attitude shines through.

In more recent times Ireland has undergone somewhat of a food revolution. Farmers, bakers, artisan producers all play a significant part in the food that you now eat in a restaurant, gastro pub or café.

Food is bringing communities together. Wicklow Food and Garden festival at Bray Summerfest earlier this year drew 1,000’s to Chef demo’s, artisan supplier stands and ‘grow it your own workshops’, to show that food plays a very imporatant part in our lives.

The Taste Of Wicklow Town was another great success.

Consumer demands are at an all-time high, another challenge that some restaurateurs are struggling to meet. Consumers want a high quality, low-cost product, coupled with excellent customer service.

They want to know where their food is coming from, and want low-cost alcohol with their high quality meal.

Add to that the desire for restaurants and pubs to go mobile and be available at their fingertips 24/7, and it seems a tough task for any business to undertake.

However, it can be done. The restaurant industry in Dublin is bucking the trend and seeing new openings, while outside Dublin tells a different story.

It is encouraging to see that Irish consumers care about where restaurateurs source their produce from.

Many restaurants across the country now do a 10km, 12km or 20km menu, where everything on the menu is sourced within a certain range of the restaurant.

While the price of food has soared by 18% in the last year, it is good to see that in the wake of the beef scandal that rocked the Irish agri-food business in early 2013, consumers really think about where the food they are eating comes from.

There is a matured sense of appreciation for the food we eat and the drink we drink.

Irish Craft breweries are popping up all around the country brining new tastes as well as new jobs.

It’s also adding a new dimension to the Irish food scene. The Gastro Pub is a welcome addition to the Irish food and drink scene.

People no longer want to sit in a pub and drink all night.

People don’t go out every weekend anymore and when they do they go out for a treat.

Spending their hard earned money means they want good food and good drink to match.

The traditional Irish pub with its snugs, speakeasies and lack of intrusive flat screen TVs will always be an institution in this country.

It is also one of our biggest exports, walk down any street from Carcasonne to Cincinnati, you will find the Irish Pub. People go to Irish pubs because they know they will be greeted with a warm welcome, a comfortable atmosphere and will always find someone to chat to.

The reality of the recession has brought to the forefront that we no longer need six pubs in a village with a population of 1,000 people.

Excise duty and VAT increases have not helped the industry either.

Buying a round of drinks has gone from expensive to costing a fortune. The Irish psyche always makes us feel that we have to partiipcate, the fear of offending, the difficulties of saying “no thanks” – we all know that leads to a whole other debate.

Anyway, I’m buying, what are you having?

Kim Leonard is Membership Services Manager with the Restaurants Association of Ireland and lives in Co Wicklow.

Buying a round of drinks has gone from expensive to costing a fortune. The Irish psyche always makes us feel that we have to partiipcate, the fear of offending, the difficulties of saying “no thanks”

with Kim Leonard

“I

“The smoking ban and tighter drink-driving laws have hurt the trade.

But pubs have also inflicted damage on themselves by trying to compete with restaurants, and indeed coffee shops, to the detriment of what used to be their core business.”

with Michael Wolsey

Drinks all round for organisers of proposed ban see a campaign is underway to end the practice of buying rounds in pubs. It started on John Murray’s RTE radio show where a text poll showed 96 per cent of people in favour of ending this odd custom. Since then it has gathered pace on social media sites as we head into the season when the rounds get longer and more cost costly.

Good luck to the campaigners, I say. If they succeed, I’ll buy them a drink. For surely there is no more illogical, wasteful, woodenheaded convention than this one.

The practice is unique, I think, to Ireland, Britain and misguided places where the Irish and Brits have spread their drinking habits, such as Australia. And it is confined to the consumption of alcohol.

If two people are in a café together, one does not pay for the coffee and say to the other: “That’s my round. How about you getting the doughnuts?’’

In a restaurant, bills are either split equally or paid entirely by the host. Waiters would not be happy (or speedy) if one customer paid for the soup, a second called them back to order and fork out for the main course, a third paid for the puddings and a fourth coughed up for the coffees.

No would this be a fair distribution of expense. The main course could well cost as much as the other three put together.

This is also true of buying rounds in pubs, since it is virtually impossible to assemble a company of three or more who drink at the same speed and favour tipples of equal price.

This is purgatory for a fast drinker who can get through several glasses of Sauvignon Something or Cabernet Whatsit before a more thoughtful companion is halfway down the first pint of stout. Speedy then has to resort to such demeaning behaviour as glaring into the empty glass or rattling it on the counter to bring the contemplative pint-sipper to a realisation of his responsibilities.

Conversely, the slow imbiber is forced to ship far more liquor than desired to keep up with the others. Even then the books won’t balance because half the world has taken to drinking imported designer beers that cost twice as much as Guinness, or cocktails that are dearer still.

All this assumes, of course, that those in the round will pay up when their time comes. But we know that’s not true. There are people who have devoted their lives to becoming parts of rounds to which they hope not to contribute. They are specially to be watched about an hour from closing time, in a big company, because they always buy last and pray the law will intervene to save them.

So good luck, again, to the antiround crusaders. They’ll better move fast, though, while there are pubs left to drink in.

For I am looking at another survey which suggests that, if not quite an endangered species, traditional pubs are vanishing at an alarming rate and being replaced by coffee shops. It finds that twice as many people visit a coffee shop every day now as did in 2009.

The smoking ban and tighter drink-driving laws have hurt the trade. But pubs have also inflicted damage on themselves by trying to compete with restaurants, and indeed coffee shops, to the detriment of what used to be their core business.

You can’t stand at some bars now because most of the space is designated as a serving area or filled with knives, forks, napkins and other dining implements. They are on the bar because the tables are crowded with similar equipment.

All pubs serve coffee but very few serve good coffee and I can’t think of any that can match the variety available at any decent coffee shop. The same goes for their efforts at food. Some pubs have, in effect, become restaurants and are excellent at it. Most are not. And in trying to be something they are not, they have sacrificed the style and ambiance that have made Irish pubs a major export.

When I raise this gripe with publicans, they tell me it would be impossible to run a bar nowadays without a serious food menu. Really? Have they tried? It’s not food that has people flocking to Irish pubs all over the world. So why do our bars choose to compete in this over-crowded market?

Michael Wolsey is a former deputy editor of the Irish Independent, features editor of the Irish Press and managing director of the Drogheda Independent group. Michael sits on the judging panel for the National Newspaper of Ireland Journalism Awards.

OPINION | 11

December wicklowvoice.ie

focus on faces

This month we speak to John Sinnott, who is the President of Wicklow Town Chamber of Commerce and well-known proprietor of Sinnott Autos

In the Chamber driving seat ...

How’s life?

Life is very busy but its calming down just a bit now that the Christmas Lights are up and turned on. That’s one job off my list for the Chamber and with a few meetings over the next week or so.

What is the role of Chamber President like?

Chamber President is a very interesting role.

There are many aspects to the position, some of them which are very public and some which are not so public. I am very fortunate to have had some very hard working predecessors with a wealth of knowledge that are very willing to assist wherever they can.

The role of Chamber President is to promote local businesses and offer relevant information to them which will assist in the development of new and existing businesses.

What are the biggest challenges?

As with everything at present the biggest challenge is the economy. Nothing works or runs without financial input

and without huge investment of time. This investment is not just made by myself but by all members of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is there to support businesses in whatever way it can. Be that with networking opportunities or by giving the businesses access to information that may be of benefit to them.

Next week we are running a Seminar/Information evening in partnership with the department of Social Protection where business owners will be given information regarding the Job Bridge scheme and how this may help them employ another person and get help to the sum of €10,000. Now that’s information that can really help!!

Is it tough to run your own business at the same time?

It is a very good exercise in time management but I am very fortunate to have a fantastic business partner in my brother Paul Sinnott and also a great team behind me at Sinnott Autos who afford me time when the position of Chamber President calls.

‘I like to keep in touch with customers as building a relationship with them is important to me’

How is business?

The motor business has been affected as have all businesses but we are working hard to maintain our share of the markets. We now have two dealerships, Volkswagen which we have had for almost 27 years and more recently we have taken over the Skoda brand.

Both brands have a fantastic reputation and we are working hard to promote both sales of new and second hand cars as well as my own department which is aftersales – this looks after all repairs including crash repairs, servicing and warranty work.

coming on required.

What is the key to success in business?

The biggest key to success in business is listening to your customers and above all maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.

Working closely with your business partner and building a solid team within your business is key and being able to adapt to new and rising markets is important. Keeping up to date with all the new technological improvements which are

Is it tough to stay positive during recession?

There have been times when yes it can be difficult to stay positive but you must keep looking forward and meeting all challenges head on. It is important not to adopt the ostrich principle and bury your head in the sand, this achieves very little.

Seeking advice from your peers and from professionals at key times can ease the stresses of business today.

board

is

also

Describe a typical day for you running both the Chamber and Sinnott Autos...

First thing I would do is meet my customers when they bring their cars into the garage and discuss their needs while working out the best options for them. I like to keep in touch with customers as much as I can as building a relationship with them is important to me.

Next it’s into my office to catch up on all emails and post and check in with the chamber office and see if any new items require attention.

Then I transfer to our

other garage and repeat the process. Throughout the day I will have meetings with the Aftersales teams in both sites i.e. service department and parts department. Throw in a few assessors from Insurance Companies into the mix along with VWGI in Dublin and that just about brings me to lunchtime.. the rest of my day is just as hectic but that’s just the job.

I would have two or three chamber related meetings in the week and also try and fit in at least one tennis match per week.

Water, water everywhere ... but not to sell

I

ts 40 years since Ireland joined the EU, or EEC as it was back in 1973. Since then we have received billions in funding from the Structural and Cohesion Funds, and had a market of hundreds of millions readily available to our exporters. It would be fair to say that for the vast majority of these years Ireland has been a net recipient from the overall EU pool, receiving funds for road-building and infrastructure development. There was a time during the Celtic Tiger years when we crossed over to being a net contributor, putting in more than we were giving out, especially with a lot of newer countries joining.

In more recent times, with the bailout and the vast amounts we received to keep our country afloat, we have definitely gone back to being a ‘net receiver’.

Whether you put in more to something than you get back, or

Brian Quigley on the other hand receive more than you put in, is relevant to Wicklow when we consider the property and water taxes.

Of course, this is related to the bailout mentioned above as these taxes are part of the raft of austerity measures needed to correct our finances.

It has been commented in the county recently that not all of the property-tax take from

Wicklow’s residents will actually be spent on Wicklow projects and services, despite an initial promise from the government that the take from this tax would be spent in the source county.

Promises like this should always be taken with a pinch of salt. With our relatively high property prices in Wicklow we were always going to be net contributors to the property tax pool, not net recipients.

Our high placing in the property-price league table, due to our proximity to the capital, has us cast as a wealthy county. We have to accept this. We don’t give out when we receive more revenue than other counties from tourism, or when it is less of an expense on us for our children to commute to college in Dublin compared to students from more rural counties who have to pay for away-fromhome accommodation.

This change in property-tax spend policy reminds us that

governments often make changes to a previously-stated strategy. Often this is born out of necessity and the u-turn shouldn’t be viewed as a piece of dishonesty. The National Lottery was originally conceived to provide money for sport. It was pitched as such to the then-Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald by Eamon Dunphy in the early Eighties but by the time it was up-andrunning in 1987 the government of the day decided to spend the money that came in on a wider-range of causes than sport.

Hence a wider range of deserving projects in the arts and nonsport related community causes benefited. Who can argue with this, even if it was straying from the original promise?

We all know that a significant tranche of the take from the property tax has been and is being spent on installing water meters so that the water tax can be implemented. Water is something Wicklow has in

abundance. In an ideal world, if a county could benefit to the full amount from its resources, we would make a fortune off exporting Vartry water. An example of this ideal coming true can be seen in Scotland where Shetland Island Council, effectively a county council in the UK, unilaterally imposed a charge per-barrel on the North Sea oil being processed through its Sullum Voe terminal on Mainland (Shetland’s largest island). The Council’s coffers filled and the islands were transformed into one of the most prosperous parts of the UK. If you look at water as also being a lucrative commodity, what if Wicklow County Council pointed to the fact that Vartry reservoir is in our jurisdiction yet supplies water to most of south Dublin up to the city centre, and charged accordingly for the massive export? The county’s coffers would fill like Shetland’s! Obviously this won’t happen. The

Shetland situation was unique and a lot more complicated than I have set out here. The reality is that we are a county within a country and have to play the net contributor / net recipient game, whether it is with water or property tax.

People should be focusing on whether they are getting value for their money. Is the tax that is collected off them put to good use or wasted? People should get annoyed at profligacy. On the water – tax situation, questions should be asked and lobbying done to ensure a significant part of this take is put back into fixing leaks in the piping system - which amount to a huge amount of waste – rather than all going to help pay back the cost of the bailout. Likewise with the money, whatever percentage, from the property tax that we get back for in-county spends. Is it being spent wisely should be the concern, not are we getting back all we put in.

1 2 3 4 5

topten

12 | WHAT’S HOT

wicklowvoice.ie December 2013

Activity of the month Killruddery Christmas Farm Markets

December 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th and 21st, from 10am to 4pm.

Fast becoming one of the finest markets in the country, Killruddery market will be running over two weekend daysfor Christmas. Stock up with produce and gifts from local businesses, meet the makers and enjoy some Christmas cheer. The market

boasts a wide range of artisan producers, awardwinning cheese, a selection of cakes and breads, fresh fish and meat, including Christmas Turkeys and Hams or Killruddery Lamb to order, vegetables, hand-crafted jewellery and knitware, decorations, books and other unique gifts. Admission and parking are free.

Pictured are Cathal, Isabelle Byrne (1) and Emma Byrne visiting the farm market.

party idea of the month the bear paw deli Delgany village If you haven’t tried the Bear Paw Deli yet, I’d get there quick before the queues get any longer! Opened by the Ballymaloe-trained Claire O’Brien in November, the Bear Paw Deli has seen a raft of rave reviews by all who have tried it.

Whether you just want to get a quick sambo to takeaway or are planning a party over the festive period, you should defo get up to Delgany. Specialising in catering for functions of all sizes, prices are great value at €2-€6 per head. Check out their ad on page two for more details or call them on 01 2016006. Pictured are Shannon Lawless, Claire o’Brien and Claire Cullen outside the Bear Paw Deli.

Book of the month GREYSTONES ITS BUILDINGS AND HISTORY PART 2 LAUNCHED Greystones Archaeological and Historical Society Volume 2 of Greystones: Its buildings and History took place last month in Charlesland Golf and Country is again published by the La Touche Legacy in collaboration with the Greystones Archaeological and Historical Society. The Chairman of the La Touche Legacy Cllr George Jones said “we are all delighted

with success of the first book”. Over 100 residential, commercial, public buildings and sporting facilities are included in this edition. Chairperson of GAHS Rosemary Raughter said “This edition is once more lavishly illustrated and features articles on Greystones’s significance for the women suffrage movement and on its role in the War of Independence.“ Books are available at €10 each in the Village Bookshop, Bridie Mooney’s, Brady’s Homecare and Leo Ireton

Grey

stones

IT S BU IL DI

�art

NG S AN D HI ST OR

2

Y

Pat Da

rgan

TV SHOW of the month Division

6.30pm, RTÉ One What Anne did next ... After much speculation, Anne Doyle returns to our TV screens as the host of this new quiz show, Division. As one of Ireland’s favourite personalities and former newsreaders, audiences will no doubt tune in. And this

banging idea of the month Drumming for Fun

Luisne, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, 01 2010001; 086 0517575; info@luisne.ie; www.luisne.ie Dec 7, Jan18, Feb 15, Mar 22, Apr 12 and May 17 Drumming is an enjoyable, relaxing activity suitable for all. Learn to play upbeat and uplifting rhythms from West Africa. The workshops will include instruction in basic drumming technique and an introduction to traditional rhythms. No experience necessary, brums will be provided. Facilitated by Neil Dowling (drummer with 28 years of experience with schools, corporate and community groups). Cost €45 for four sessions, €90 for nine sessions.

isn’t just any old quiz show – the format here is refreshingly different. Starting off with 32 contestants, they are divided into two groups, either the red or blue team, before choosing a leader to answer questions on behalf of their new team. However, and here’s the catch, one wrong answer can eliminate the whole team.

MOVIE of the month SAving Mr banks Gaiety Cinema, Arklow When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins” he made them a promise one that he didn’t realise would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer

who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine. But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly agrees to go to Los Angeles to hear Disney’s plans for the adaptation. Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Colin Farrell.

FAMILY Fun of the month Jingle Cells

Wicklow Gaol, weekends until December 23 It’s Jingle Cells as Santa returns to Wicklow’s Historic Gaol. Fast becoming a must at Christmas, visiting Santa at Wicklow Gaol until Decmber 23. Each child will meet the man in red himself for a Christmas chat and a very special gift. Marvel at the spectacular lighting that the Gaol is now famous for and get into the festive spirit from the moment you enter the grounds. At weekends take a browse through the cosy mini Christmas craft market with a selection of unusual and interesting gems. The Gaol cafe is open throughout the festive period with a mouth-watering selection of Christmas treats for all the family.

FUNDRAISER of the month Sing for merryn December 12 The Koo, Martello, Bray Robbie Doyle is hosting a fundraiser for Merryn Lacy. Merryn is the four-year-old daughter of Mick and Jenny Lacy and has stage 4 Neuroblastoma Cancer an aggressive childhood cancer of the nervous system. Merryn has just finished her second bout

of chemo.

Mick and Jenny are hoping to send her to the USA for further treatment as the disease can be beaten, but has a high rate of relapse(70%).

Rattle and Hum will headline with Robbie and many other acts plus special guests. There will be a massive raffle on the night also. It will be €10 euro pay at the door policy. Please support.

topten

6 7 8 9 10

WHAT’S HOT | 13

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

Gig of the month Betty Swing Machine The Harbour Bar, Bray, December 20 , 9.30pm

Betty Swing Machine, is a vocal swing project, started by French singer, Lucie Azconaga and joined

by Holly Pereira (singer), Caoimhe Barry (singer), Tom Mulrooney (doublebass) and Stephen Daly (gypsy guitar).

Together they offer a musical and visual performance, mixing old and modern arrangements, with beautiful vocal harmonies flowing on the sparkling rhythm of the doublebass and guitar’s swing style.

event of the Month

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

The Great Christmas Cake Bake-Off Shoreline Leisure Centre on Sunday 8th December at 3pm DAG:T ‘Disability Action Greystones - Together’ is a new community group of disabled people and non-disabled people coming together to ‘build an inclusive community’.

DAG:T is calling on all home bakers to enter their ‘Great Christmas Bake Off’ . Great prizes, trophies, medals, certificates and a grand raffle also. There are four baking Categories ; ‘Most delicious’ (will be cut for judging) , ‘most Beautiful’ - judged on decoration, and ‘Most Quirky’. The children’s category is for baking a cake, or cookies, or muffins. MacLean Burke of Fair City fame will judge in the Happy Pear, Shoreline Leisure Centre on Sunday 8th December at 3pm. Entry forms can be obtained from Happy Pear, Greystones, or just come on the day with your cake. Everyone is welcome. For more information please email Taragh Hanley on DAGTogether@gmail.com. Pictured are Ciaran Banahan, Ann Kennedy, Margaret Kennedy, Taragh Hanley, Catherine Dollard.

14 | LIVING

wicklowvoice.ie December 2013

my favourite things

WHAT’s HOT

with Audrey Vance wicklowvoice@gmail.com

Christmas crackers…

outfit this season. Price €30

Christmas is in the air and it’s time to think about those little stocking fillers for the ladies in our lives. I’ve handpicked a few Wicklow delights you might like to consider!

Night Away

With a great selection of beautiful hotels on our doorstep why not treat your other half to a romantic night away without the travel time? Hard to choose just one but I’d love to find a gift voucher for the Tulfarris Hotel under my tree. They’re offering a Deluxe Room, 3-course dinner in the Lime Tree restaurant and Irish Breakfast from €79pps.

Pamper Hamper

Looking for some gorgeous pampering gifts? Lady G salon in Greystones has the shelves filled with Yon-Ka hampers starting from €35 and a list of pamper packages too.

I love the sound of the ‘Express Pamper Package’ for my Christmas stocking, 90 minutes of relaxation for €75. For lots more details visit www.

LadyG.ie or call owner, Orla Rellis on (01) 2872311

Candlelight

Beautifully scented and hand-poured locally in Co. Wicklow these Brooke and Shoals candles are naturally fragrant and totally luxurious. Visit the shop in Greystones or www. brookeandshoals.ie €18.95

Party Girl Henry and Rory Vance enjoy the Kilruddery Christmas Farm Market

‘Salubria’ is the family game we’ll be trying this festive season. It’s a cardbased question and answer game that challenges your competitive nature and knowledge of four categories: Nutrition, Fitness, Healthy Living and General Knowledge. Designed for 2/4 players or team it was developed by a Co. Wicklow husband and wife team. Buy online for €24.99 www.SalubriaTheHealthGame.com

busy lady allowing her to switch handbags in a flash bringing everything she needs. Pouchee

Winter Warmer

Picture Perfect

Ireland, based in Greystones, offers the ultimate handbag organiser in a wide variety of colours and in two finishes - canvas €22 or faux leather €25. Order via www.facebook.com/ PoucheeIreland

Stocked with lots of accessories, fashion and jewellery it was difficult to only pick one item from Shadore Boutique in Greystones. These beautifully coloured scarves will add a splash of colour and texture to any

Audrey Vance , fashion illustrator and owner of Wedding Dress Ink, has a home studio in Co. Wicklow.

Gift Vouchers available ‘til Dec 20th www.WeddingDressInk.com

Extravagant Delights

Nothing says romance like diamonds.

Amoc Jewellery in Greystones fuses age old Scandinavian techniques with Irish-made contemporary design. These 18 caret gold heart stud earrings are textured with a scratched finish and punched with diamonds €590. www.amoc.ie

Bag Chic

This stocking-filler is perfect for a

Women in Wicklow Name and business?

Ruth Martin, owner /manager of R&R Hair Salon What does your business offer?

Affordable hair cutting, styling and colouring from our staff who up-skill every year.

We also provide specialised wedding party services in and out of the salon. Our special offer this December - full head mesh cut and treatment €75.

Where are you?

We’re in Wicklow town. Find us in Unit 3, Market Square.

How did you come to set up your business?

Having worked for a leading

hairdressing company for many years I wanted to put all that experience into my own salon along with my sister Roisin, our top stylist.

We wanted to offer a more personal service, work closer

to home and be more flexible around our family’s needs.

The last three years have been very rewarding for both of us.

community and buy my work wear in Wicklow shops like Jenny’s Gladrags and Wardrobe

Plans for the future?

We have successfully run some short term evening ‘up styling courses’ aimed at people who have an interest in combining it with beautician work. We’re also planning to offer affordable local hairdressing courses in the future.

Best part about your job?

Making people feel on top of the world when they have had the hair done.

Must have beauty product?

Orofluido Elixir Hair Oil - it’s magic!

Tip for any budding entrepreneurs looking to start their own business?

Do a Start Your Own Business Course.

Go-to fashion label for workwear?

I try to support our local

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Believe you can achieve anything if you’re willing to work for it.

Interview by Audrey Vance

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

PARENTING | 15

give children time for christmas up for the disappointment of not being able to find everything they asked for.

Children

Dr Katherine O’Hanlon Christmas is fast approaching and despite the joy felt by many of sharing this time with their families, it is often a time fraught with anxiety over what needs to be bought and paid for over the next few weeks.

It’s easy to get caught up in the commercialisation of Christmas, but excessive focus on spending and material gain is not good for children’s social or emotional wellbeing. The good news is that with a bit of thought and forward planning you can enjoy a fun-filled festive season.

Prepare early If you shop around you are more likely to find bargains and interesting bits and bobs which

Children from junior infants in St Kevin’s National School Greystones show off the eight edition of the school calendar. The calendar costs €8 and all funds raised go directly to the school. From left, Bronwyn Corcoran, Kayla Connolly Doyle, Ellen Cochlan, Fay Deegan, Ruby Lawlor, Ruby Held and Robbie Watchorn. don’t cost the earth. Visit one sacrifice everything in order unable to distinguish between of Wicklow’s Christmas craft to provide their children with money and affection, and begin fairs to find unique gifts which their hearts desire, as if this losing interest in those who have the novelty factor that will really make them happy. don’t show their care this way. children (and adults!) love. On It won’t. In reality, it is often Facebook, pages like ‘Wicklow parents that feel guilty for not Manage expectations Buy and Sell Children’s Toys’ spending as much time as they If your child’s longed-for gifts offer great choice at reduced would like with their child, or are proving too expensive or rates (GFS = Good for Santa!). who don’t know how to spend difficult to find, break this to quality time with their child, them in advance. Tell them that Don’t go overboard who feel better for the provision while Santa might not be able With all the advertising these of lavish presents. The truth is, to get everything on their list, days it’s easy to start believing children want your presence, he’ll do his best to get at least that children need everything not your presents! If children one thing they want. Let them they ask for to enjoy Christmas. start believing that big gifts know that Santa’s talent is in Parents often feel they “should” equate to love they can become finding great surprises to make

Make Christmas magic Work out which family traditions you really enjoy - and ditch the ones that cause you stress or worry!

Repeating the same rituals every year will add to the sense of Christmas as a special time and will be what your children will really remember - and cherish - as adults. Spending time together engaging in festive activities will foster belief in the real meaning of Christmas: generosity of spirit and spending time with loved ones. Most children love making homemade gifts (there’s great inspiration online), icing cakes, dressing trees and wrapping presents (all to the soundtrack of a Christmas CD!) and doing so will help them learn to gain as much (if not more) enjoyment from the preparation and giving of gifts as the receiving.

Try donating some of these gifts to charity, and getting involved in community celebrations too. This will all contribute to a sense of closeness and belonging which will build your child’s selfesteem and generosity.

Don’t make presents conditional If you’re struggling to find ways of getting your children to behave, it is tempting to make Christmas presents dependent on “good” behaviour.

As time spent together as families is a precious commodity these days Christmas should be a celebration of this, regardless of what else is going on.

Making presents conditional on behaviour can lead to stress in the lead up to Christmas and end up spoiling things for everyone.

Remember, children don’t need a “perfect” Christmas which results from you running around stressing yourself out and under financial pressure.

They’ll benefit more from spending time with parents who are tuned in, and relaxed - so take a deep breath, and start planning for a happy and family-focused Christmas!

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

16 | FOOD & WINE wicklowvoice.ie December 2013

recipe of month wine choice Errazuriz Max Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (€15-€17); Aconcagua Valley, Chile This Sauvignon Blanc presents tremendous aromatic intensity and features lime and grapefruit character along with herbaceous notes, all framed by a veil of minerality that is characteristic of the vineyard terroir.

The palate has body and softness with refreshing acidity and a fresh sensation.

Available: Holland’s of Bray, Brady’s Shankill and independent Wicklow off licences.

Stuffing and red cabbage

Peter Byrne

Head Chef at Sika Restaurant in The Powerscourt Hotel TURKEY STUFFING RECIPE 500 grams sausage meat 250 grams cooked chestnuts 1 onions 1 cloves garlic 60 grams bread crumbs 1 eggs Zest of 1 orange 1 tablespoon Chopped tarragon 1 tablespoon Chopped marjoram 1 Allspice Pinch Salt and pepper

Directions

• Finely chop the onions and garlic.

• Cook down slowly with a little brown sugar, salt and butter to a marmalade and remove from heat and cool.

• Mix all the ingredients together and season with the salt, pepper and allspice.

500 mls port and red wine 1 star anise 3 juniper berries 1 cinnamon stick 3 apples

Directions

Sweat the red onions in butter until soft. Add the juice and zest of orange and the vinegar. Reduce. Add the cabbage, salt and spices and sweat again. Add the alcohol and bring to a boil. Put into a deep tray and grate the apples on top. Cover in tin foil. Cook at 140 for approx 1 and a half hours. Strain the juice and reduce. Mix back with the cabbage.

Red cabbage: 1 red cabbage sliced 100grms red onion 1 orange zest and juice 5 grams salt 50 grams red wine vinegar Peter Byrne is Chef de Cuisine at Sika (fomerly Gordon Ramsay) at the Powerscourt Hotel, Enniskerry. Previously, he worked in Chapter One, The Morrison Hotel, Roly @ The Pavilion and the Killiney Court Hotel.

wine choice Masi Campofiorin 2010 (€16-€19); Rosso del Veronese IGT, Italy This is Masi’s original supervenetian from 1964 - recognised as the creator of a new category from the Veneto inspired by Amarone.

Ripe, fresh fruit and raisins equally prominent on the nose combined with sweet spices, especially vanilla and cinnamon.

Ample and complex on the palate but well rounded and very easy to drink. Available From: O’Brien’s Fine Wines, Holland’s of Bray and independent Wicklow off licences.

deer to my heart restaurant review The missus and I had the great pleasure recently of being guests of the Wicklow Voice’s food writer Peter Byrne in the Sika Restaurant at the recently rebranded Powerscourt Hotel (formerly the RitzCarlton).

For those of you who don’t know, Peter became head chef of Sika after Gordon Ramsay left in October, having previously worked under the TV star as Chef De Cuisine.

Peter’s experience speaks for itself (see above) and seeing as Chapter One is my favourite restaurant ever, we couldn’t wait to get to Sika.

Living in Shankill but schooled in Wicklow, Peter prides himself on the use of local excellence and seasonality, and is now offering the best of Irish contemporary cooking against a spectacular backdrop of Wicklow’s hills and mountains.

Settling on TJ Crowes Pork Belly with black pudding, pickled onion, apple and horseradish Pommery mustard (€14) and Pan Fried Scallops jerusalem artichoke, pancetta, apple balsamic jus (€16), our delicious starters arrived without delay along with two glasses of Viognier (€8).

A robin red-breast sits in a tree in xxxxx. Pic: Oisin McFarland-Smith The boss opted for Wicklow Venison Loin with crushed pumpkin, roast cauliflower, shin ragout, vadouvan jus (€32).

Normally I find venison too strong tasting for my liking but this was so delicate and tasty, and I was almost sorry I didn’t opt for it myself.

Instead, I opted for the Fillet of Hereford Beef with watercress puree, short rib, girolles and smoked bacon, jus gras (€34) – perfectly cooked, this dish

was truly excellent and great advertisement for the best Irish cooking has to offer. Washed down with some pinot noir, this one of the finest meals I’ve had in Ireland and it was all the more satisfying knowing that it was sourced locally and cooked by a local chef.

Sika Restaurant, Powerscourt Hotel, Co. Wicklow, +353 1 274 8888, info@powerscourthotel. com.

GO’N

OUTDOOR LIFE | 17

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

for the birds tips for wildlife Winter Cake for the Birds As Winter is fast approaching, you may not want to be out in your garden in the cold and wet, so why not give the birds in your garden a winter treat by making them something to eat.

This is a great way to get the children in the house involved.

that the knot is on the inside and the loop in on the outside of the pot.

5. Put the mixture into the yoghurt pot or make into balls.

6. Put the bird cake into the fridge to set and then put into your garden for the birds to enjoy.

7. Don’t forget the fresh water for the birds to drink.

(Warning: bird seed often has nuts included so take care if you have a nut allergy)

What you will need.

• Fat - use suet or lard 85g • Good quality wild bird seed • A handful of raisins • A handful of peanuts • Some grated cheese • Bowl and wooden spoon •Yoghurt pots with holes in the bottom threaded with string What to do 1. Put the fat into a bowl and leave in a warm place to soften, near a radiator will work 2. Place all the other ingredients into a big bowl 3. Chop up the fat into small pieces and add to the other ingredients. You can mix them together using a wooden spoon or your fingers 4. Make a hole in the bottom of a clean yoghurt pot, double the string, tie a knot at the end and thread through the hole so

The following is a list of jobs you could be doing in your garden if you are brave and hardy: • Protect your plants and crops.

Non-woven fleece products provide superior protection by creating a microclimate under which plants and seedlings thrive and are protected from the winter elements. Ensure that any fleece placed over your plants and crops is fixed securely. Handy packs of fleece can be bought at garden centres.

• Collect all of your empty plant pots and seed trays and wash them ready for next year, any broken plastic pots can be recycled at your local recycling centre.

• Clean all your tools and put away safely for the winter.

Gardening

with All Seasons Garden Centre

temperature will slow the drying process.

• Use of lights that produce low heat, will reduce drying of the tree.

• Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.

• Do not overload electrical circuits.

• Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.

• Monitor the tree for freshness.

After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.

A robin red-breast sits in a tree in xxxxx. Pic: Oisin McFarland-Smith • Now that lawn growth is dormant take out your lawnmower for a final clean removing all loose grass and dirt. Give it a service so it is ready for next year.

• Remove all dead plants from greenhouse and compost.

• On beds that have been dug already spread compost and well rotted manure, rake to spread evenly and remove any weeds that appear. By doing this the winter wet and frost will condition and improve soil quality and the vegetable plot will be in top condition for Spring planting.

• Plant the last of your Spring flowering bulbs in the ground or containers.

Great value in bulbs can be had in garden centres at the moment.

• Plant bare rooted trees, hedging and fruit bushes.

• Check ties on climbing plants and renew where necessary.

• Browse through seed catalogues for next year and make your selection for Spring.

• And last but not least, sit back, relax and have a happy Christmas.

Here are some Tips and safety advice on Christmas trees

• When you bring home your tree, cut to remove about a 1/2inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree standing water for four to six hours. This will help to freshen your tree.

• Keep trees away from major sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room

Mr. & Mrs. Clause will be with us from 7Th December to 22nd December from 1pm to 5pm. We will have a wide range of Christmas Plants, Christmas Trees and Wreaths on display along with a variety of christmas girts. Order early and have your Christmas Tree delivered to your door!! Call 01-2040697 We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our customers a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year!!

All Seasons Garden Centre

18 | TECHNOLOGY/PROPERTY

The tech gift guide for him Acer Liquid Z3 Acer has a stellar track record as a master in the inexpensive electronics branch, originally starting off with PCs and laptops, and more recently – tablets and smartphones. With that in mind, the Acer Liquid Z3 falls right into the very field of expertise of the Taiwanese company – at €99 you can’t go wrong.

Avaiable from Wicklow PC Repair at Unit 3-4 Rosebank, Herbert Road, Bray, Co Wicklow. (01 286 1800).

Sonos Play:1 Sonos has been leading the charge into wireless music for a while now, but its prices have been a barrier for potential customers. The new Sonos Play:1 makes the system significantly more affordable without compromising on sound quality or convenience.

The Play:1 comes with a 3.5inch mid-woofer and a tweeter packed into a dense cylindrical design.

The sound it produces is simply amazing, and should be loud enough for most rooms.

At 4.69 inches wide and 6.36 inches tall, the speaker’s roughly the size of tissue box holder or a flour canister.

Cloney Audio, which has been servicing the home entertainment market since 1966, is pushing into the digital sphere to meet the demand for streaming devices such as the iPads and smartphones. €199.00 inc free zone bridge worth €49.00. Offer valid until the end of December.

Sennheiser Momentum headphones (€299.00) Superb sounding, comfortable and lightweight headphones featuring supple leather headband and ear cups from the masters of headphone design.

The Momentum is a closed design for improved bass response and more effective isolation from ambient noise. A simply Sennsational combination of performance and value.

For further information contact Cloney Audio on (01) 288-8477 at 55 Main Street, Blackrock, Co Dublin or visit wwwcloneyaudio.com.

wicklowvoice.ie December 2013

Council edges closer to deal on Florentine Centre

Bray Town Council is believed to be close to buying the proposed site of the Florentine Shopping Centre on Quinsboro Road.

A multi-million euro deal is expected to be signed with receivers Grant Thornton before Christmas after it was delayed by technical reasons over the last few weeks.

The Florentine Centre was valued at €100m during the boom and was expected to open its doors its doors to the public in the autumn of 2006.

The plans for almost 100 apartments, 25 retail outlets and 600 parking spaces fell through as the country faced economic collapse.

Although Sean Mulryan’s Ballymore is a NAMA Top 10 developer, the deal is not with NAMA but with the Bank of Scotland (Ireland (BoSI)).

On January 25 of this year, BoSI had Stephen Tennent and Paul McCann of Grant Thornton appointed as receivers of certain assets owned by Florentine Properties Limited,

Susan Skelton (sewing teacher), Isabella O’Hagan, Layla Ziane (6) at the craft fair in Ravenswell School in Bray, where parents made everything on display on the sewing stand where Sean Mulryan (57) is a director, and a company owned

by Ballymore Ireland Group Limited.

The project was beset by problems from the start and the site has been regarded as a hole in the centre of the town for almost 10 years. It was originally slated for opening in Christmas 2005.

Works began on the Florentine

Centre in May 2004 but stalled following the threat of legal action from a local business in relation to sewer works.

At the time, a review of the entire project was undertaken and following feedback from a number of possible tenants it was agreed by the group that the scale of the project should be extended to suit the needs of the retailers if at all possible.

Meanwhile, a number of properties adjacent to the site of the proposed Florentine Centre became available and were snapped up by the developers at the time.

Having settled the threat of legal action, Florentine Properties made the decision not to proceed with the centre as had been agreed upon in the planning permission.

hothouse No 10 Thornbury, Delgany, €725,000 Summary

Ask the expert with Brian Cullen

My husband and I are starting to look for a mortgage - what will we need to have?

This is a question I get asked almost every day.

There are many different things that you will need to get in order I will go through what I feel are the most important and time consuming.

If we start with your deposit you will need a minimum of 8-10% saved up.

The larger the deposit you have the lower the LTV (Loan to Value) will be and the lower the interest rate we will

be able to get you.

In relation to your employment status you will need to be out of your probationary period in your job.

If you are on a contract it will need to be a long running secure contract.

You will need to have three month’s payslips and your most recent P60 as well as having your accounts department complete a Salary Cert for you.

Your bank accounts will need to be clean with no unpaid Direct Debits or Standing Orders.

You will be required to

supply six months Original bank statements for all of your accounts.

If you have any loans or credit cards you will need six months statements for theses as well.

If you are renting currently you need to make sure your rent is going through your account to your landlord so the bank can see and you are not just handing over cash each month.

These are just a couple to the areas that need to be covered. Please feel free to contact me and I will make this process as easy as possible for you.

No 10 Thornbury is a stunning detached fivebedroom home set over three levels. Comprising approximately 2,113 sq/ft, not including the converted attic space, this unique design features all the comforts one would expect from a modern built family home. As the house is set over three levels it comes with the benefits of two driveways for extra private parking. The front door brings you in to the first floor area which provides the main living accommodation for the property, as you enter this floor you have a large family sitting room with sandstone fireplace and

gas fire on your right and to the left is a generously proportioned office/playroom . the Entrance Hall brings you towards the rear of the house which consists of a utility room, WC and very large open plan Kitchen/ Living area.

Thornbury is situated on the periphery of Delgany Village in a cul-de-sac development of just 12 houses. The culde-sac is a quiet and safe area and contains a secure green play area. Viewing is highly recommended of this stunning family home.

Contact Dooley Auctioneers, Delgany, 01 2010300, email: info@dooley.ie.

Asking price: €725,000 Two driveways Fully alarmed Custom finished bathrooms Jacuzzi bath Utility Room Fitted Wardrobes throughout Gas fired central heating Wired for surround sound Ample TV, Telephone and Double sockets throughout all levels Quiet cul-de-sac location Main Living Area Reception Room: 18’7” x 11’10” Playroom/Study: 11’11” x 7’9” Kitchen: 16’8” x 11’ Living Area: 27’ x 11’2” Utility: 8’8” x 3’6” First Floor Bedroom 1: 19’5” x 12’9” Ensuite: 8’2” x 3’7” Bedroom 2: 11’6” x 11’1” Bedroom 3: 11’1” x 7’5” Family Bathroom: 8’1” x 7’6” Ground Floor Bedroom 4: 11’5” x 11’2” Bedroom 5: 11’5” x 10’1”

PROPERTY | 19

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

hothouse Hillside, Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, €895,000 On approaching Hillside, you know you have come upon something really special. Dating back to the early 19th century it manages to blend original period features throughout with modern conveniences without losing any of its charm and character. On a site of approx. 1.5 acres and accessed via electric gates, well set back from the road up a long tarmac driveway to a gravel parking area, Hillside is completely private and enjoys stunning views of the Sugar Loaf.

There are two double bedrooms off the hallway, one having an en suite bathroom off and boasting a lovely dual aspect to the front and side and the other having a period fireplace. The inner hallway gives access to the rest of the downstairs accommodation.

There is a study to the rear and a dining room to the

front with wood burning stove. The magnificent drawing room has a beautiful large bay window overlooking the front of the house and is an ideal room for entertaining on a grand scale. The ‘heart’ of Hillside has to be the country style kitchen which hosts a large Aga cooker and has a homely feel to it. Upstairs you will find two further bedrooms, both en suite. The master bedroom suite has a lovely window seat overlooking the gardens, it has an en suite bathroom and walk in wardrobe corridor with a large study off.

Approached by electric entrance gates and surrounded by granite stone wall with tarmac driveway up to graveled parking area.

Five interlinking ponds, and an array of plants and bushes to include rose bushes, Laurel, Fermium

and Rhododendrons when in full bloom are a joy to behold. Courtyard area to the side accessed through black iron gates and old stone wall enclosing one side, this area is a haven for sun worshippers as it has an idyllic sunny southerly aspect and is very private, there are steps up from here to a large lawn area with a beautiful array of plants, shrubs and flowerbeds. The location of this property offers an ease of access to all essential amenities with the N11 at your doorstep. For further information contact Sherry Fitzgerald (Bray) on 01 2866630.

a Landlord’s Work is never done

Property

with Clodagh Doyle

(wicklowvoice@gmail.com) A baby boom is nothing to unusual, however over the last decade Ireland experienced a different type of boom - a “landlord boom”, as a direct result of the buy-to-let rush.

While many have experienced some tough times over the last few years, some are struggling on despite being in negative equity while others have unfortunately had to sell or hand back their properties at a severe personal loss.

The idea of becoming a landlord was very appealing to most, simply obtain a bank loan, purchase a decent property, include a budget fitout and “hey presto” just hand it over to your local letting agent. With tenant(s) in situ, happy days, you were officially a landlord who could sit back and watch that rental income hit your bank account every month - magic, the property would pay for itself.

Like most things in life, you have to find out the hard way as

many Irish landlords will agree.

Many of the buy-to-lets were not ventures of greed, but were merely normal working-class people trying to secure a better future.

Being a responsible landlord comes with its own price.

Whether you are managing your own rental property or availing of the services of a letting agent, you have certain duties and obligations. In recent times the Department of the Environment have tightened up on regulations surrounding rental accommodation. Also Threshold, which is one of the biggest housing charities in the state, recently announced they are calling for plans to introduce the legally binding deposit protection scheme along with other plans to improve standards.

Although landlord budgets may be extremely tight, overlooking or skimping on safety and maintenance issues should not be an option. Landlords should aim at maximising the potential of their rental property by doing everything they can to enhance the overall appeal of the property. Instead of cheap and nasty miss-match furniture, they should consider placing quality furniture and inventory items which will last longer, attract a better tenant and get more for their property.

Choosing a good reputable letting agent and ensuring that they make thorough reference checks on any prospective tenants is crucial. Landlords

should insist on having their property inspected on a regular basis by the letting agent.

Taking the time to complete a quality inventory of contents is a well worthwhile task. Taking photographs of each room and the contents within along with retaining all related receipts will act as proof of purchase.

On a very positive note the rental market throughout Wicklow is thriving, with agents reporting shortfalls.

With the demand far out weighing supply, rental prices are sure to increase.

In the meantime, to make landlord life easier, look no further than a fantastic Irish landlord website www.

Irishlandlords.com.

This highly informative website with open forums offers great tips and advice, helping you to be a top class landlord!

Are you thinking about selling or letting your property?

Placelift specialise in getting property ready for the market.

Our aim is to help you sell or let you property in the fastest possible time for the most amount of money. 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

20 | CLASSIFIEDS

wicklowvoice.ie December 5 2013

services

Buying? Selling? Contact one of our team today

e: wicklowvoice@gmail.com w: www.wicklowvoice.ie

Wicklow County Council Alphaplan Design (Tel: 0404-64123 / 086-2461269) Seeks planning permission for proposed side window to dwelling, retention of two velux windows to roof, and removal of planning condition no. 2 of originally granted permission ref. no. 00/2569 at Ballygannon, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow for B. Cullen.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Season’s greatings from your local representatives

NOW OPEN SaturdayS 10am to 4pm Free advice from Our Interior designer

Curtains Blinds Free Sateen Lining 25% Off roller Blinds 20% Off Eijffinger Wallpapers 25% Off Wooden Venetians COME dIrECt tO tHE FaCtOry FaCtOry CLEaraNCE SaLE 50% off Stock Fabrics, roller & Verticals

Irish Dancing Feis A6 Ad 10-12_Layout 1 08/10/2012 10:20 Page 1

Cllr

David Grant PC Wishing Raising everyone the Raising aIssues, very happy the Standards.

Christmas Follow David’s activities, have your say on local issues and receive the latest local news and important updates first.

www.davidgrant.ie

Cllr Tracy O’Brien, Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council

TRAVEL| 21

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

CitySlickers

Travel with Dee Evans Living on an Island as we do, we have ample opportunity to sample the delights of many European Cities.

With numerous direct flights we can be transported to the Italian Delights of Rome, Milan or Venice. We can enjoy the Christmas Markets

in Prague or Germany (pictured) or enjoy a Spring break in Amsterdam or Berlin.

The beauty of Paris or Bruges is only a short hop away and a city break is a holiday like no other. You can immerse yourself in a brand new country and culture for a few days and see how our European neighbours live.

The low cost airlines

have added new routes for Summer 2014 like Hanover and Pula on the Istrian Peninsula of Croatia, Almeria in Spain, Marrakesh in Morocco, Bucharest, Basel, Bari and Comiso in Sicily to name just a few.

Two or three nights in city centre hotel allows you to explore at ease and most offer a Continental style breakfast to set you up for a

day exploring.

In Budapest, a city which is divided in two halves, you can enjoy a dinner cruise down the Danube or wander around Castle Hill. A swim in the heated outdoor thermal baths is a must as is a trip to their lovely Zoo. Barcelona is one of Europes best loved cities and in just over two hours you can be enjoying this cosmopolitan city full of

architecture, imagination, tradition and style.

Stroll along Las Rambla and enjoy plates of traditional tapas and soak up the lazy Spanish atmosphere. Visit some of Barcelona’s many quirky museums such as those devoted to Shoes, Perfume, Sewers and Funeral carriages or the more conventional Picasso Musuem. Sports lovers can

enjoy a trip to the popular Camp Nou football ground.

Wherever you decide to try I am sure you will have an amazing experience.

You can check out my journal on the wonderful cities of Prague and Istanbul on www. travelcounsellors.com/dee. evans Dee Evans is a Wicklownative and lives in Kilcoole.

22 | EXERCISE

wicklowvoice.ie December 2013

festive Food for thought

Training

Daniel Hatton of Shoreline Leisure We are at that time of year when we indulge in the festive glut around us.

We all know that in January we plan to hit the gym and sign up to this and that… but I’m recommending that we enjoy this time of year in moderation and keep active where possible.

If you can manage the seasonal bad habits now, then that New Year’s fitness resolution will yield far better results.

Watch out for late night snacking, excess alcohol consumption, selection boxes and my personal favourite, sweet tins.

On average we can consume up to 30% more calories in December than in any other

Conor, Gavin and John Glynn, and brother Phelim, John Alan and Stephen Lynch at the Twisted Monkeys MoAthlon 2013 to help support Team Gavin Glynn in Willow Grove. Kilcoole lad Gavin has rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumour of the muscles. month. That means up to 3,250 enjoy the season, after all this What to do now: Beaches and woodlands to be calories for men and up to 2,600 is my favourite time of year There are pay-as-you-go walked and hills to be hiked for women per day. and you’ll see me enjoying the fitness classes everywhere at join in, dive in, wrap up and get Anyone who’s tried before lot like evryone else. I propose the moment, astro-turf football out. will tell you that it takes a lot of we take positive steps to avoid pitches, beginners running clubs time and effort to overcome that ‘feeling like a fatty’ in late and swimming pools all over the Merry Christmas everyone kind of increase.

December panic and have a county - so you’ve no excuses and I wish you a very Happy I’m not saying we shouldn’t mountain to climb in January. for not doing something.

New Year!

news in brief Katie still a knockout OLYMPIC gold medallist Katie Taylor made it two wins in two nights with a unanimous decision victory over Finland’s Mira Potkonen in Bray recently.

Just 24-hours after her triumphant return to action in the historic Round Room of the Mansion House, the Wicklow native never looked threatened as she wowed a partisan crowd in the Ballywaltrim Community Centre in what was a billed as her ‘true’ home-coming fight after her Olympic triumph last year.

Showing little of the rust that impacted her bout with Caroline Veyre on November 29, Taylor’s class was obvious from the opening exchanges as she looked to win her 101st fight in the last 103 attempts.

The win also brings the 27year olds overall record to 140 wins in 147 fights throughout her career.

The sold-out bout was a repeat of the EU Championships semi-finals which Taylor also won on a unanimous decision before going on to win gold in June of this year.

Don’t ‘weight’ for January Training

David Heffernan of Glenview Leisure Club December is a traditional “pigout” month and many of us face the new year feeling ahem, slightly bloated and with fresh New Year’s resolutions not to do the same next year. There are two guilty pleasures responsible for this, alcohol and rich textured foods (box of Milktray anyone?).

Unfortunately, alcohol lowers your metabolic rate and you will also crave sugary foods to bring your depleted blood sugars back to normal. Throw this in with less time to exercise (except for rushing around the shops) and a supermodel would have trouble keeping in shape!

For the saavy, there is an obvious solution, “Time saver” workouts. Basically work-outs that can be completed in 2030 minutes. These programs are designed to kick up your metabolic rate, so you actually burn the bulk of your calories when resting afterwards.

Xmas Damage Control Workout!

By Aine O’Gorman PT Warm up: five minutes brisk

Katie Taylor and Lora Kavanagh from Arklow at Katie Taylor’s home coming fight at the Ballywaltrim Community Centre in Bray. Pic: Yvette O’Beirne walking seconds, Ab crunch 15, Back Extension two Exercise set: 10 Squats, 10 Lunges, 10 Press ups (off knees) Repeat two times.

Repeat three times!

For more information see Five minutes cross-trainer or www.glenviewhealthclub.com/ walking. weighting-for-january/ Enjoy Your X-MAS! Exercise set: Plank hold for 30

Sport| 23

December 2013 wicklowvoice.ie

insideback

with Brian Quigley

Top honours for our athletes

Well done Fionnuala!

The Dunphy files

Kilcoole AC’s Fionnuala Britton won the National Senior Women’s title at the Woodie’s DIY Inter County Cross Country Championships in Santry Demense last month with a brilliant performance that bodes well for her prospects in the rest of the cross-country season. It was a pleasure to witness Fionnuala happily signing autographs for children after the race, a real sporting role model.

If you are looking for a good sports book to read over Christmas, or as a present for someone, you won’t go wrong with Eamon Dunphy’s ‘The Rocky Road’, the first volume of his two-part autobiography.

Few autobiographies by exfootballers come anywhere close to this intelligent, informative and engaging book.

The book takes us from Dunphy’s humble early days in Drumcondra on Dublin’s northside in the post-war years through to the 1990 World Cup, by which time he was of course a pundit on RTE polarising the soccer community with his criticism of Jack Charlton’s Republic of Ireland team’s long-ball style. In between, Dunphy was a Manchester United apprentice under Matt Busby; a journeyman pro in the lower leagues with Millwall, Charlton Athletic, York City and Reading; author of ‘Only a Game’ which was a diary of his last season at Millwall [1973-74]; an Ireland international in a team that featured John Giles and a journalist who cut his teeth writing about soccer for newspapers and magazines.

Overall Dunphy’s opinions, insights and observations on all things football throughout his playing days and beyond are refreshing in their honesty and originality.

Top honours in Cricket Awards for Wicklow pair Ed Joyce, from Bray, won Ireland’s highest individual cricket honour, when he was named Ireland’s International Men’s player of the year for 2013 at the RSA Cricket Awards last month. Ed, who plays county cricket for Sussex and has switched his international allegiance back to Ireland in recent years after representing England for a period of time, is currently part of Ireland’s squad at the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 qualifying tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Ed’s sister Isobel won the International Women’s player of the year for 2013.

This year Isobel became the first Irish woman to achieve 100 caps at cricket, and played a huge part in helping Ireland qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 finals, where Ireland will be in Group A alongside such cricket

Craig Britton takes on some refreshment during his 12-hour treadmill non-stop run in aid of Johnny Hayden in Matt Britton Carpets, Kilcoole. Johnny was left paralysed after a routine disc operation in September 2012. heavyweights as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan. The tournament will take place in March 2014.

Isobel’s twin sister Cecelia is also part of the current Irish squad.

Soccer Scene.

On the soccer front Bray Wanderers wrapped up their season with the annual awards night recently in the Royal Hotel. Local lad Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters was voted Player of the Season for the 2nd successive year, while Ismahil Akinade won the Young Player award.

Jason Byrne was Bray’s top scorer for the season. Hopefully Pat Devlin can keep the 2013 squad together as this team looks like it could push on next year.

No doubt Pat will be keeping an eye on the U19’s [who play through the winter] with a view to maybe taking some of them up to the senior squad for the 2014 campaign. Bray’s U19’s progressed to the 3rd round of the FAI U19 Cup when they defeated Wexford Youths U19’s in Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday 16th November. They will face Cork City U19’s in the 3rd

round, which will be at home in early December. This won’t be an easy tie as Cork are the current Cup holders. If Bray can win this competition they will emulate the 2005 U21 team who won the now-defunct U21 version of this competition.

Bray’s U19’s had league wins over Cork U19’s and Cobh Ramblers U19 ‘s at the Carlisle Grounds in the Elite Division of the U19 league in November and these wins keep Bray out of the relegation places to the U19 League’s regionalised feeder divisions.

A Wicklow team is also in

the draw for the 3rd round of the FAI Intermediate Cup. Greystones United will travel to Cork to play Mayfield, no easy task. We wish them the best of luck.

November 2013 saw Roy Keane back in the Ireland set-up, as assistant to Martin O’Neill. It was also 24 years this month since Keane made his debut in senior football, in the Carlisle Grounds where he lined out for Cobh Ramblers against Bray Wanderers. Later that season he was signed by Brian Clough for Nottingham Forest and the rest is history!

24|

wicklowvoice.ie December 2013