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May 28, 2015, 01 901 5556/7, November 05,t:2020 wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie
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November 06, 2020
wicklowvoice INSIDE: FREE
May 28, 2015, 01 901 5556/7, November 05,t:2020 wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie
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Pensioners set for medical card boost THOUSANDS of pensioners in Wicklow could be set to benefit from changes in the way medical cards are assessed. Earlier this week the Government announced an increase in the over 70s medical card income limits. They also introduced a reduction in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold by €10 to €114 per month and a €0.50c reduction in prescription charges for all medical card holders. It is estimated there are just over 12,000 over 70’s living in the county of which it is
estimated just over 10,000 are currently eligible for a medical card. It means under the new criteria a further 2,000 Wicklow pensioners will now be able to apply to see if they are eligible for a medical card. “Making healthcare more affordable is a key priority for this Government,” Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said (inset). “These measures will ease the financial burden on over one
million people across the country as well as a large number of Wicklow residents.” Under the new measures the over 70s medical card income limits have increased to €550 per week for a single person (currently €500 per week) and to €1050 for a couple (currently €900 per week). This will benefit up to 56,000 people. There has also been a 50 cent reduction in prescription charges for all medical card holders,
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which will benefit over 1.58 million people nationally with medical card eligibility. Eligible people under 70 will now only pay a maximum of €15 per month for prescribed medicines. Those over 70 will only pay a maximum of €10 per month for prescribed medicines. When introduced in 2012, the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold was set at €144 per month. The reduction to €114 per month has now the potential to benefit all 1.38 million people eligible under the scheme.
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Tara and Miriam Hogan at the opening of a new Aldi store in Rathnew
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COVID-19 OUTBREAK DON’#T FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS
COVID-19 OUTBREAK DON’#T FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS
November 06, 2020
Heart of the matter: New video teaches us CPR
The Irish Heart Foundation has launched an animated video campaign to help the public learn the life-saving steps of CPR, which can triple a person’s chances of survival from cardiac arrest. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, for this year’s national Restart a Heart Day on October 16, animated character Manny Quinn teamed up with the Irish Heart Foundation to deliver his important message online. With CPR classes for the
public on hold because of Covid restrictions, Manny, a former training manikin and CPR expert turned Broadway singer, sings about the two essential steps when performing CPR on a person who has experienced a cardiac arrest. The first step is to call 112 or 999 and the second is to push hard and fast on the centre of the chest. While the video has an element of fun, the message is very serious explains
Brigid Sinnott, Resuscitation Manager at the Irish Heart Foundation. “Thousands of people die every year in Ireland from cardiac arrest and approximately 70% of those happen at home in front of a loved one,” she said. “If someone who knows CPR can start performing compressions quickly they can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival.” To find out more go to www. irishheart.ie
Drivers over 70 get licence to post
DRIVERS over the age of 70 are to be allowed to renew their licence by post. The facility had been available for people who must renew their licence every year but not for the majority of 70-plus drivers who renew every three years. “In recent weeks, I have received many calls and emails from older people in the 70plus category, who would be required to present to an NDLS centre in person,” explained TD Mary Butler, the Minister of State with responsibility for older people. “There was a huge level of concern and apprehension among over-70s at the potential risks associated with having to present in person, especially with Covid-19 numbers on the rise.” People over 70 are to be contacted directly by the National Driver Licence Service and invited to renew their licence or permit by post. The temporary measure was very welcome, said Ms Butler.
‘We need to keep going in the fight against Covid-19’
“WE need to keep going in the fight against Covid-19.” That is the stark message from the Chief Medical Officer who has urged the public to keep on going with Level 5 coronavirus restrictions, which have been in effect for two weeks. Dr Tony Holohan said some progress is clearly being made, but it is far too early to say the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) was satisfied with where we are and where we are heading. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 over the past seven days is down by 33% compared with the previous seven days. GPs are also noticing a downward trend in the numbers coming forward requesting referrals for Covid-19 testing. However, there is still have a long way to go to suppress the virus and Dr Holohan is urging the public to keep going while also highlighting two key concerns. Firstly, although the 14-day disease incidence rate in Dublin is below the national average, it is not falling as sharply as he would like. Secondly, he highlighted the rising disease incidence in the over-65 age group. The number of Covid-19
deaths tripled to 109 in October compared with September. The HSE has reiterated that it is too early to say recent positive signs are an ongoing trend and GPs have warned people not to let their guard down. The Irish College of GPs’ lead adviser on Covid-19, Dr Nuala O’Connor, emphasised that the best way of stopping the virus from spreading was for people with symptoms to stay at home. Health authorities remain concerned that the virus may flare up again as happened in Dublin, not long after Level 3 restrictions were introduced and it is not yet clear, what specific measures have led to the drop in cases. It appears to be due to the introduction of the ban on household visits, as well as Level 3 restrictions, along with moving some border counties to Level 4. It is also possible that NPHET’s advice to Government in early October, that a move to Level 5 was necessary, may have influenced people’s behaviour, even though it was not immediately acted on. As schools reopened after the mid-term break, HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid again reassured parents, teachers and principals that there is a low rate of incidence in schools.
Holohan: Too early to discuss travel risk CHIEF Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said that its too early to give advice to people on travelling home to Ireladn for Christmas. Speaking at the Oireachtas Transport Committee he said that NPHET has to ensure that the country is not put at risk with arrangements that could lead to the importation of the disease in December. Dr Holohan said that international travel will represent an area of risk as Covid-19 comes under control nationally. He told the committee that once the virus is brought back under control in this country the risks of importation will have to
be carefully managed. In his written opening statement to the committee, Dr Holohan said that when there are low levels of domestic transmission, the impact of imported cases is all the greater. He said this was seen at times during the summer when travel-related cases at times accounted for around a quarter of Covid-19 cases. He said that should testing of asymptomatic passengers be introduced, a five- to seven-day period of restricted movement, with a symptom check and test on day five, is the most efficient method to contain importation of the virus.
November 06, 2020
FOR SETTING STANDARDS AND LOCAL BENEFITS WE’RE READY Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2 Public consultation open until 11 November 2020 Our investment in Arklow Bank Wind Park can kickstart our green recovery and support local jobs, the economy and the environment. We want to know what you think. To see more and give feedback visit sserenewables.com/arklowbank
Or, visit our exhibitions: • Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Arklow • Arklow Library • Town Hall, Wicklow Town Exhibitions are unmanned due to Covid-19 restrictions and are subject to changes. Opening times match venue’s hours. See sserenewables.com/arklowbank for updates.
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Students do not think they’ll see campus
THE majority of Third Level students here expect to spend no time on campus this year but many have paid in advance for accommodation and have been unable to get a refund. A survey has found that 64% of students in the South East - at Waterford Institute of Technology and IT Carlow, which also has campuses in Wicklow and Wexford - do not believe they will personally attend either college. It found that seven per cent of students in the South East believed they would spend less than five hours a week on campus and a further seven per cent thought they would spend between six and 10 hours there. Some students thought their courses would require them to attend college. In the South East, 21% of those surveyed expected to be spending more than 10 hours a week on campus. The survey was conducted for Sinn Féin among more than 300 students at eight locations. It found that in the South East, most students (89%) rented private accommodation and 11% of them had paid up to €500 in advance.
November 06, 2020
Just a wee drop: Sales of alcohol fall in pandemic
NEW figures from the Revenue has shown that overall alcohol consumption so far this year has fallen due to the impact of Covid-19. Consumption of beer, cider and spirits have all fallen, however consumption of wine has risen. They said alcohol consumption fell by 4.5% between January and September compared to the same period last year. The figures show that beer sales were hit the hardest “due to the fact that the majority of beer is usually consumed in the on-trade” or in pubs and restaurants. Revenue said that between January and September, consumption fell by almost 15% compared to 2019. Between July and September (Q3), it was down by 17.2%. Revenue said that in 2019, 62.7% of beer was consumed in pubs and restaurants, with 37.3% consumed from the off-trade. Revenue said that there was also a dramatic drop in cider
A truck carrying the new ‘Guinness 0.0’, a new nonalcoholic beer from the brewers at St James’s Gate. Pic: Aerial Photography Ireland via Andres Poveda
consumption for the same reasons. They said it was down by 9.6% between January and September 2020, and by 14.1% in Q3. Sales of spirits fell less dramatically, recording a drop of 4.4% between JulySeptember 2020.
Wine was the only category that saw an increase in consumption. Revenue said that this did not offset the overall fall in alcohol consumption as generally, more than 80% of wine is consumed in the off-trade. “The drinks sector and wider
hospitality industry have been significantly impacted by Covid-19, which has hit beer and cider sales particularly hard,” said Patricia Callan, Director of Drinks Ireland. “The new Revenue data confirms that alcohol consumption fell between Q1
and Q3 as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, despite some suggestions to the contrary. “This was as a result of pubs, restaurants and hotels being closed for periods of time, or having to operate when they were open with restrictions in place.”
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November 06, 2020
Serving up breakfast online
CHILDLINE Breakfast is a highlight of the annual fundraising calendar for Childline and, in recent years, has seen people in the county come together to raise funds for Ireland’s national listening service for children. Until November 15, you are being asked to gather virtually with friends, colleagues, neighbours or clubmates to enjoy breakfast and help keep Childline listening.
To register your breakfast today, or find out more, contact the ISPCC Childline fundraising team on 1850 50 40 50 or breakfast@ispcc.ie. VOLUNTEERS: Oxfam Ireland is looking for people of all ages to join its team of dedicated shop volunteers. There is a growing need for volunteers to help with their global mission to beat poverty. “Sadly, not all of our
volunteers are in a position to return just yet, this, coupled with the incredibly generous volume of donations and support from our customers, means we need more people power to keep our shops operating at full capacity,” a spokeperson said. If you feel you can help by volunteering, drop into any Oxfam shop in your area, call 01 6727662 or visit www. oxfamireland.org.
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November 06, 2020
opinion&comment
No Covid claus in Santa’s contract
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said “Christmas will not be cancelled” and that “Santa will still arrive and leave presents under the tree”.
W
Luke and Katie Kirwan (11) at the launch of the MS Ireland’s MS READaTHON, which this year is going virtual. www.msreadathon.ie Pic: Marc O’Sullivan
-RTE NEWS REPORT e’ll need to make a start soon,” said Nick. “We can’t just sit around things will
here hoping improve.” His wife could see no reason to hurry. Lots of time yet , she said, but he just brushed her opinion aside with that ridiculous laugh he had. “No! No! No! We need to make a move. We should be logging the orders at least and starting on the delivery schedule. Sure you never know what problems will crop up in these uncertain times.” His wife gave a crooked little smile. If she had a euro for every time her husband mentioned ‘these uncertain times’ she would be a rich woman
Michael Wolsey and could give up this seasonal work. “Is the production team ready for an early start?” she wondered. “Aren’t they just back from their holidays?” “No holidays this year,” explained Nick. “Sure the only place left on the Green List is Saudi Arabia and we’re not allowed to land there. The production guys are all bored stiff and rarin’ to go. We’ve all got to do our bit in these uncertain times.” His wife gave that smile again and added another euro to her virtual bank balance. She hardly liked to raise a problem about the delivery team, but she had noticed Ruddy sniffling around the dispatch department
that morning and she thought he didn’t look well. Nicholas gave that stupid laugh again. “No! No! No! He’ll be right as rein. We’re all in this together, you know.” She did know. He had told her often enough. She added two euro to her bank balance for that one. All the same, she wondered if Ruddy should maybe get tested, but Nick was having none of it. “No! No! No! He always looks
like that - it’s that ridiculous nose of his. If he gets tested they could all end up in isolation and then where would we be? We’ve all got to stick together in these uncertain times.” Nick went off to talk to the production team and his wife added another euro to her account. She hadn’t time for this early planning malarky. She had important things to do. She had banana bread to make and she was learning Welsh from an on-
line platform. And if that wasn’t enough, she was in training for a marathon in her living room to raise money for Tibetan llamas. She was worried about Ruddy, though. Nicholas looked worried too when he returned from the production floor. “Trouble? she asked. “Trouble!” he said. “It’s that bloody Legolas. Sneaked off to Rivendell to visit his uncle Elrond and, if that wasn’t bad enough, they went
to a football match together.” His wife couldn’t see a problem there. Hadn’t the GAA said football was perfectly safe? “The GAA!” exploded Nick. “I wouldn’t trust the Gnome Athletic Association to run a piss-up in a brewery!” “Oh, I don’t know about that,” said his wife, and Nick had to concede she might have a point. But whatever about breweries, they had made a hopeless job of running the Covid restrictions at Rivendell Robert Emmet’s . Half the team had tested positive and now most of the supporters had been ordered into isolation, Legolas included. “If he’s a superspreader we’ll have to shut up shop,” said Nicholas. “Oh! Woe! Woe! We’ll never get the job finished on time. And then what will we do? You know I have to deliver - there’s no Covid claus in my contract.” “Uncertain times,” said his wife, beating Nicholas to it. “But you can’t say you weren’t warned. I remember them telling you way back in March ... if the virus gets in here, your elf system just won’t be able to cope.”
November 06, 2020
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November 06, 2020
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November 06, 2020
southdublin@schooliseasy.com wicklow@schooliseasy.com
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November 06, 2020
opinion&comment
Why it’s ok to be not ok
I
f you met me last month chances are you’ll have noticed that I was wearing a green ribbon with the white wording ‘seechange.ie’ on my jacket. OK, chances are you didn’t see me last month, because we are all in a form of lockdown; good job then that the Sea Change green ribbon October campaign was a virtual one, where supporters could attach the campaign banner to their e-mail and / or social media pages. The campaign is annual and is a mental health one, specifically one aimed at ending the stigma attached to those who suffer with their mental health. This year’s campaign was part-focused on mental health at work, something that has an added significance as we continue to live under the dark cloud of COVID-19. The aim is to create an environment in the workplace where not only is the stigma attached to mental health ended, but where people are encouraged to be more open about their mental health. This is the way forward in terms of promoting greater
understanding and acceptance of mental health issues, and it will help ensure sufferers are not discriminated against when it comes to career advancement. The most recent data – garnered before COVID-19 – estimated that one in four of us will experience mental health issues at some point in our lives. ‘At some point’ means at any time – maybe sooner rather than later. You never know what’s around the corner. It would be nice to think that the necessary supports to help you stabilize and recover are in place if you hit a rough patch. Improved mental health at work can be effected in a number of ways. Don’t bottle things up. Take your breaks and enjoy the social interaction with your colleagues, even if it is from a two meter distance! Help create an environment where people are more open and accepting. Celebrate your achievements. Avail of any in-house supports that are available. Pay attention to your work-life balance. This campaign is important to me because I struggle with my own mental health, something I have written openly about
Abigail McDonnell at the launch of the Annual Green Ribbon Campaign in association with See Change, Ireland’s organisation dedicated to ending mental health stigma. Pic: Andres Poveda
before (it wasn’t an easy thing to decide to do, to come out and actually say ‘I have depression’). Depression has been a companion all my adult life, possibly even since adolescence. I say a companion because it is just a part of who I am, not
something that defines me. It’s something that I manage in the same way that a diabetic manages their condition, for example. My own experience of depression has led me to conclude that the condition is quite a complex one. It isn’t simply low mood,
varying mood or mood swings that can be managed with medications, diet and a healthy lifestyle. There’s more to it than that. There’s the anxiety. There’s the excessive worrying. There’s the catastrophizing and warped thought processes. There’s the paranoia. There’s the debilitating stress levels. There’s the loss of interest in hobbies and the impact on family life when the sufferer ‘is not really there’. Lots of things have and continue to help me stay on a relatively even keel, even in the face of a significant negative event. Medication. Relaxation techniques and counselling. Learning how to filter out negativity, including the occasional ‘media fast’. Learning how to recognise when you have been ‘triggered’ into an adverse state of mind and how to pull yourself out of
the nosedive sooner. Different things work for different people. I think you can only really start to improve and live with depression and its associated effects when you start to be open and honest about what you are going through, and accessing help. I explain to people that I work closely with that I have depression. If I look or seem particularly anxious then that colleague simply asking me if I’d like to go for coffee and chat can make all the difference. The consequences of not opening up are frightening. People can drown their situation in drink or drugs and develop addiction issues to compound the mental health issues they already have. Sufferers can take their own lives if they feel overwhelmed by their situation. Would knowing that there is help available make a difference to people who are contemplating taking their own lives? I believe it would in a lot of cases. That’s why I was wearing my green ribbon this October. It shows I’m there for anyone who needs to talk. Stay safe. - Brian Quigley
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We provide safe, online tutorials that are recorded so that your child can future reference any topic covered. When you work with SIE, you will get nothing but the best. All of our tutors have formal education, classroom experience and a passion for teaching. For senior subjects we use college and university instructors with a Masters degree. The choice is yours when it comes to the style of tutoring and our range of subjects is broad. We don’t use generic tutoring lessons. We customise each programme based on the student’s needs, goals and capacity and we take care to match students with the right tutors. We are easy to work with. We screen tutors for you. We identify learning deficiencies and we get results . Our certified tutors will provide an initial assessment, if you need it, to ascertain your child’s requirements. Call us today on 01 556 3553 to book a consulation. We will be delighted to match you with a tutor.
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November 06, 2020
WILDLIFE
ninenottomiss
Feed the Birds
BOOK of the week
with Justin Ivory
Blue Tit on a peanut feeder (Photo Justin Ivory) WITH Autumn rapidly drawing to a close, and the colder, shorter days of winter looming ever nearer, now is a good time to start feeding birds in your garden if you have not already being doing so. Although the weather has been unseasonably mild and warm to date, and there are still quite a few insects on the wing and wild fruits, nuts and berries to be found, these food sources will soon be running out. Also, the shorter days give less daylight hours for birds to look for food and in lower temperatures it takes more energy to search and find less readily available food sources. In wintertime every little bit of extra energy expenditure can ultimately spell doom for an individual bird. So that’s where we come in. Putting out food for birds gives them an easy and reliable source of food. It can literally mean the difference between life and death for them. While birds obviously benefit from supplementary feeding in winter, food shortages can occur at any time of year. Feeding all year round gives birds a better chance of surviving food shortages whenever they may occur. So, what foods should you feed birds? Below is a list of the best options: Nyjer Seed – tiny black seeds which need a special feeder, they have a high oil content and are rich in fat. Sunflower Hearts – the most popular food in my garden, I literally can’t keep the feeders topped up with the stuff. Peanuts – the traditional favourite but make sure to get from a reliable source as they can contain a natural toxin, aflatoxin, which can kill birds. As well as they above, seed mixes, fatballs, mealworms and specialist mixes for Robins are all great choices. Remember to clean your feeders about every 2 weeks with warm soapy water to avoid the spread of disease.
HOROSCOPES
TV SHOW of the week FILM of the week
THE LIGHT OF DAY Tony O’Shea
DON’T ROCK THE BOAT Virgin One, 9.00pm, ends Friday
ON THE ROCKS Streaming from October 23
Colm Tóibín was first introduced to the photographs of Tony O’Shea when he was an editor at a magazine called In Dublin back in the late 1970s. O’Shea is 73 now and this is basically a retrospective book of his life’s work to date. The Light of Day, is full of vignettes, moments, little stories in themselves, the rituals and recreation of his city that he went out to explore and capture like the Cartier-Bresson of Dublin. The Light of Day is published next month by RRB Photobooks and the Gallery of Photography Ireland. An exhibition is planned at the Gallery of Photography, Dublin, in 2021.
If you’ve missed the first few instalments of this latest reality caper, don’t worry, you’ve still time to dip your oars in. From British politicians to Olympians, this motley crew of semi-celebs like Fleur East (?) and Joe Weller (?) have to row the Irish Sea the full length of Britain, without getting pelted by rocks from the Irish along the east coast. Well, forget that last bit. Wishful thinking. This episode sees them reach Northern Ireland and the Scottish islands and ‘tensions emerge on board as the famous faces deal with rough waters’. Poor souls. Any room down there, Davy Jones?
Who can forget the great Bill Murray in Lost in Translation? While this reunion doesn’t quite reach the heights of Murray and Coppola’s previous collaboration, Lost in Translation, any film that features Murray’s wry, deadpan talents is a winner in most homes. This romcom of sorts, follows a father and daughter (Bill Murray and Rashida Jones) as they tail her suspicious husband (Marlon Wayans) to see if he is having an affair with a co-worker. Life, love, parenthood, ageing drinking, anyone? One for the couch, in the PJs, with the partner.
WINE of the week
FOOD of the week
FAMILY FILM of the week
ARIESClarify communications. Rest and review the data before making a decision. Find efficiencies and ways to save. TAURUSCheck orders for changes. Handle financial obligations and keep up the momentum with income, sales and marketing. GEMINIPersonal dreams could seem distant. Consider what you want and take simple steps in that direction. Teach as you learn. CANCERGet productives. You can accomplish more than expected. Don’t waste money, time or energy. Conserve resources and rest. LEOWork together to avoid coming unstuck. Communicate with team members who can see your blind spots.
19 CRIMES www.supervalu.ie
BEEF AND GUINNESS STEW goodfoodireland.ie
A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM BOB Out November 6
It’s November, the cruellest month of the year, so time for something suitably angry. A liquid ode to our past, 19 Crimes is said to be inspired by those who, beginning in 1788, were transported to Australia for a life of hard labour. Many did not survive the journey: for those that did a new world awaited. The rest is a chequered history and this wine honours the history they wrote and the culture they built. Criminally good and with a heady whack of 13.5% ABV, you can settle into winter in good company. Available now for special price of €9.84.
This winter warmer from Guinness Storehouse Executive Head Chef Justin O’Connor is a true winner and, as with al stews, gets better once its left to, well, stew for a day or two. With a prep time of just 70 minutes, this is a relatively easy dish to prepare and you can always cheat by buying the mash instead of making it yourself. Just don’t cheat on the Guinness, otherwise you’re left with just Beef Stew. Not the same thing. Full recipe here: www.goodfoodireland.ie/recipe/signaturebeef-guinness-stew-guinness-storehouseexecutive-head-chef-justin-oconnor
This is the much-anticipated sequel to A Gift from Bob, lazily cut and pasted to cash in on the Christmas market. In the first outing, we met the busker who met the cat that saved him from a life on the streets. Here, we meet them both again only it’s Christmas. Actually, there’s a bit more to it, in that it looks like the inseparable pair are about to be separated forever. Who will save the day? Look, if you like feelgood tales with animals then this is a harmless treat for the family and a novel take on the recycled Christmas theme. You can also buy the book . . .
ALBUM of the week
EVENT of the week
PODCAST of the week
VIRGOImagine your next destination and indulge a fantasy. Research options before committing. You’re learning valuable new tricks. LIBRADon’t invest time or money in a half-baked plan. Nurture existing plans, accounts and manage financial priorities accordingly. SCORPIOWait for a better time to discuss dreams. Manage shared financial obligations and paperwork. Take care of practical business. SAGITTARIUS-
Make sure you know what’s required before agreeing to a request. Choose privacy over publicity. Remain open to shifting circumstances. CAPRICORNWatch your step. Get answers to your health or physical performance questions. Follow expert advice.
HEY CLOCKFACE Elvis Costello
WATERFORD CREATEFEST waterfordculturalquarter.ie/createfest/ wcom
THE STAND WITH EAMON DUNPHY Spotify, Soundcloud and Apple
Hey Clockface opens with an unusual, spokenword track Revolution #49” which may well discombobulate regular Elvis listeners. Track Two, ’No Flag’ sounds like Tom Waits is back with his loop machine, as Elvis sings: “I got no religion, I got no philosophy / got a head full of ideas and words that don’t seem to belong to me.” So if this sounds a bit all over the place, it’s probably because it is: recorded in Helsinki, Paris, Vancouver and New York and featuring the guitar icons Bill Frisell and Nels Cline, this will make your head spin very nicely.
CreateFest, Waterford’s Festival of Creativity comes to a laptop near you this November. Following on from the huge success of its inaugural year, the festival brings the people of Waterford the opportunity to engage with professionals and practitioners working in various careers in the creative industries while providing a platform for discussion, networking and learning. CreateFest is for professionals and amateurs, all you have to do is log in and join the forum. Runs from November 5-7.
In the week that will decide the fate of the planet, newshounds the world over will be frothing at the mouth to get a new angle on whatever is going down Stateside. Our own Eamon Dunphy will probably be frothing at the mouth too, or maybe not depending on the outcome of the US election. But you can bet on one thing: he will have some clear and levelheaded guests on so by the end of the week, we will all know where we stand. Get it? One of the more essential podcasts out there. thestandwitheamondunphy.com
AQUARIUSRomantic fantasies dissolve under harsh lighting. Illusions fall away. Once you see how things are, the path to follow becomes clear. PISCESYou can see exactly what doesn’t work. Make domestic repairs and upgrades. Clean and scrub. Organize drawers and cabinets. Clear cobwebs and brighten your space.
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11 firms sign up to ‘Repair’ website
ELEVEN businesses in Carlow have been included in an initiative that encourages people to reduce the amount of goods that they discard. RepairMyStuff.ie is an online directory of over 800 authorised repair professionals who can repair everything from watches to washing machines, mowers to mobile phones. The directory aims to make the whole process of repair and reuse easier by connecting consumers with repair businesses. People can search the website by category to find repair businesses in their area, as well as the business’s contact details. WEEE Ireland, in conjunction with the White Goods Association, is supporting the initiative with a new 2020 drive to register more authorised repair engineers for popular electrical brands used every day. “For many of us it has, unfortunately, become the norm to replace a broken product with a new one without considering our repair options,” said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland.
wicklowvoice.ie November 06, 2020
Covid gives pair food for thought in new business A COUPLE have come up with a new business with Covid 19 playing a role in creating the exciting new food venture for the two hospitality professionals. Damian Corr and Jenny Campbell established ‘Vera foods’ after their restaurant management jobs fell victim to the pandemic. The couple are now offering a range of specialist fine foods from Spain both on-line and through the Farm Markets at Whelehan’s Wines in Loughlinstown and Killruddery House & Gardens Saturday Farmer’s Market. It all began with a chance meeting on Bray Promenade with Carlos and Bernie Martin. Damian and Jenny chatted about their favourite subject- good food and discovered that they had met kindred spirits. That chat led to further meetings and eventually to Carlos revealing that he is stepping back from his food importing business and planning to live in Spain. ‘The news came as we were at a cross-roads in our careers’ says Damian. ‘Our jobs had fallen victim to the pandemic
and we were searching for a new business opportunity. It was a perfect match. We negotiated with Carlos to take over his business and to expand its scale and reach.’ Jenny adds: ‘It was something if a dream come true, as I had always wanted to bring restaurant-quality products to Irish dining tables’ Vera foods is now offering the Irish public a range of Spanish food products of the highest
quality – Alberto’s Gold organic, cold first press extra virgin olive oil, award-winning cheeses from Andalucia, chorizo and hams from Salamanca, Serrano and Iberica, very special ‘Ugly Delicious’ olives- and much more. These products are available through the Vera Foods website (www.verafoods.ie) and every Friday at Whelehan’s Wines in Loughlinstown and also every Saturday at the Farmer’s
Market in Killruddery House & Gardens, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Damian Corr graduated in hospitality management from DIT College at Cathal Brugha Street. He worked for leading restaurants and bars in many parts of Ireland before returning to Dublin in 2003 and spent the next decade as a professional sommelier, restaurant and bar manager at the five-star Merrion Hotel. Jenny Campbell is also a Dubliner and has held management posts in many high-quality establishments including Dalis’s of Blackrock and, most recently, Whelehan’s Wines award-winning restaurant in Cabinteely. Damian and Jenny share a love of good food and wine and their dream has always been to share an appreciation of the finest products with Irish foodlovers. Vera foods has created a unique opportunity for the couple to fulfil that dream. For more information contact: www.verafoods.ie; verafoods2020@gmail.com; #verafoodsdeliciousthings or Damian Corr 0872460167
Windfarm feedback wanted
MEMBERS of the public in County Wicklow and North County Wexford are being encouraged to have their say on the proposed Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2 as public consultation on the project gets underway. Located 6km to 13km off the Wicklow coastline, to the east of Arklow, the proposed wind park is being developed by leading renewable energy developer, owner and operator SSE Renewables and will be Ireland’s first large-scale offshore wind farm with an export capacity of 520MW. The proposed Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2 will comprise up to 76 offshore wind turbines. When completed the offshore wind farm will have the potential to power almost 450,000 homes annually and reduce Ireland’s annual carbon emissions by around 1%, offsetting over half a million tonnes of harmful CO2^. Public consultation remains open until November 11, 2020. For further information contact Community Engagement Manager Deborah Coleman at Deborah.coleman2@sse.com
Record-breakers named as sailors of the month
THE new Round Ireland Two-handed Record Holders, Pamela Lee of Greystones SC and Catherine Hunt, have been named as October’s “Sailors of the Month”. Their time of 3 days 19 hours and 45 minutes in the Figaro 3 Iarracht Maigeantata was hours clear of previous comparable circuits by any crews of twohanded sailors. Finishing at Kish lighthouse at 4am on Saturday, October 17, morning after 92 hours
and 30 minutes, they beat the record for men as well which was 102 hours. They sailed a total of 761 nautical miles after leaving Wicklow Sailing Club in the early hours of October 13 for the start line at Kish lighthouse before heading south for a clockwise circumnavigation. They followed the classic 700nm route of the bi-annual Round Ireland Race, keeping Ireland and all its islands and rocks to starboard.
After rounding the Fastnet Rock, the sailors were exposed to the Atlantic Ocean and its harsh weather, along the west coast. Once around the northern tip of the island, they had to content with the strong tides around Ratlan, where the speed of the water can often exceed the speed of the boat in the opposite direction. The final stretch involved navigating the fickle winds and tidal currents of the Irish Sea to the finish.
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November 06, 2020
We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by
Freemans Jrn 21/11/1846
Freemans Jrn 15/11/1828
Irish Press 28/11/1970
Irish Press 11/11/1971
Irish Press 8/11/1969
Freemans Jrn 07/11/1853
Irish Ind 13/11/1934
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wicklowvoice.ie November 06, 2020