wicklowvoice inside: FREE
May 28, 2015, 01 901 5556/7, September 07,t:2020 wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie
.ie
20,000 copies
FREE
Unit 5, Idea House, Killarney Road Business Park, Bray
September 07, 2020
wicklowvoice inside: FREE
May 28, 2015, 01 901 5556/7, September 07,t:2020 wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie
.ie
20,000 copies
‘Open our pubs’
FREE
Unit 5, Idea House, Killarney Road Business Park, Bray
Owners step up calls to allow ‘wet’ houses serve pints Owners of pubs in Wicklow are set to ramp up their activities in an effort to get their businesses back open again. Pub owners across the county this week received an email from the Chief Executive of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), Padraig Cribben, informing them of an intensified efforts to convince the Government to allow them reopen their doors. In the email - seen by Wicklow Voice - Mr Cribben described the support package offered by
the Government to publicans last Friday as “pathetic”, adding: “It was a slap in the face for members who are closed almost six months.” Mr Cribben told members the National Executive of the VFI has agreed upon a new direction, which they hope will lead to their businesses reopening. The six-point plan put forward by the VFI
includes protests outside Ministers and Government members constituency offices, which will begin next Monday. Over the coming weeks, VFI members from different counties will descend on Dáil Éireann to demonstrate. The idea of using county groups is to maintain a
constant presence in protest at Leinster House. The VFI is also calling for a national day of protest in which members will open their doors to the public, but only to sell teas and coffees. The VFI said it make a large donation to the Irish Hospice Coffee Morning from the proceeds. The VFI will continue their #SupportNot Sympathy social media campaign, while also issuing members with campaign posters to display outside their premises.
Wicklow’s Catherine Fulvio at the launch of the fifth series of the TV series, Tastes Like Home which will air Mondays at 8.30pm on RTE ONE. Pic: Andres Poveda
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COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands
COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands
September 07, 2020
Locals warned to be on the lookout for invasive moth
The Department of Agriculture has issued an alert to the public to be on the look out for the oak processionary moth tree pest. The first nest of caterpillars in Ireland was identified in June after it was spotted on an oak tree by a member of the public in a small park in south Dublin. The department said that after the single nest was identified through contact with
its Horticulture and Plant Health Division, “swift action was taken to eradicate the pest traced to a recent import of oak trees from Belgium”. It said this included “the removal and destruction of the single nest found on the solitary tree as well as all associated trees linked to the imported consignment”. A wider intensified survey has not yielded any additional findings of the pest in Ireland.
Information posters have been put in the park to alert the public and a trader notice has been issued to the horticulture industry. Speaking to RTÉ’s, Declan Kealy, a spokesperson from the Department of Agriculturesaid that the caterpillar can cause a nasty rash and irritate the eyes and throat. He urged the public not to touch any sightings of the caterpillar.
Eat out and get tax back
I’ll drink to that ... a new scheme encouraging consumers to holiday at home during the off-season has been launched. The Stay and Spend scheme will provide a maximum of €125 in income tax credits to tax-payers who spend up to €625 in restaurants, pubs, hotels, B&Bs and other qualifying businesses. It will operate from autumn of this year to spring of next year, and includes the Christmas period. The Minister for Finance said there will be “some people who will not have enough of an income tax liability at the end of this year or next year to make it worth their while” availing of the new Stay and Spend scheme. But he highlighted that the scheme will be available to 2.7 million people. Speaking on RTÉ, Paschal Donohoe said the Government’s focus was on “doing this quickly” to give immediate support to business owners the hospitality sector.
Business onwers can now apply for salary supports Small business owners can apply for the new employment wage subsidy scheme (EWSS), after the Revenue Commissioners clarified the rules. The new support, announced as part of the July stimulus package, replaces the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), introduced earlier this year to help companies struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Government initially barred proprietary directors – people who own more than 15% of a business – from being able to access it. The U-turn came after small business owners expressed anger, saying that excluding them from the scheme would leave many of them without any income. Now the Revenue has outlined the conditions under which proprietary directors will be eligible to participate in the scheme, which pays a flat weekly sum of €151.50 or €203 depending on the normal earnings of the person. The Revenue says that for small business owners to be eligible for the scheme, proprietary directors must be on the company payroll and must have been paid wages over the year to the end of June. In addition, their company must meet the necessary criteria, which includes having a
tax clearance certificate and be facing a 30% slide in business compared to last year. Also, where a person is a proprietary director of two or more businesses, they can make a claim under only one of them. And, once accepted, they cannot change the election of the company under which they apply for the duration of the scheme. This could arise where the initial business does better than expected and has to drop out of the scheme but other businesses in which the person is a proprietary director remain eligible. “Eligible employers who wish to claim EWSS need to register for the scheme in advance of making their submission through Revenue’s Online Service, ROS. Such employers must have an active PAYE/PRSI registration, a bank account linked to that registration and they must also have tax clearance,” Revenue said. More than 16,000 employers have registered for the scheme, with more than 15,000 applications for tax clearance also made. Revenue reminded employers that making an application for tax clearance and registering for the EWSS are separate processes. Both need to be completed before an employer can access the new support.
September 07, 2020
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September 07, 2020
HSE warns of tough winter ahead of us
Cervical backlog ‘to be cleared by spring’
The Chief Clinical Officer with the Health Service Executive has said the backlog of cervical cancer screening tests by will be cleared by spring of next year. Speaking on RTÉ, Dr Colm Henry said the HSE is confident the people whose appointments were paused during the lockdown will be picked up by the end of October or November this year. He said they are planning to reopen BreastCheck either later this month or next month, following the resumption of CervicalCheck in July and BowelCheck in August. Dr Henry said each cancer screening programme is different. He said the CervicalCheck, is now the HPV screening test, which is considerably more sensitive than the original CervicalCheck and the HSE is hopeful that will produce a more efficient screening programme. Dr Henry said when it resumed in July, the HSE prioritised those who were already on recall.
and June 30 and you intend to retain employees on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme you can apply through the council’s website where there are more details of the scheme. The application process is quite straight forward. Businesses need to submit their council rates account number, some bank account details, and indication of reduction in turnover.
Health Service Executive boss Paul Reid has warned that the coming winter “will be more difficult than ever before” as it manages Covid-19 and scales up services that had been stalled due to the virus. Mr Reid said he has “confidence and hope” about the coming months, but also “apprehension” and urged people not to “drop their guard” in their adherence to public health measures, as they still remain 80% of the defence against the spread of Covid-19. Speaking on RTÉ, he said: “There is apprehension because we are normally operating at 95% bed capacity, and at over 100% in winter. So we will need to do things very differently.” Mr Reid explained that the “worst day for Covid-19” was at the end of April, when there were 936 cases, with 879 people in hospital, and 160 in ICU. He said the current seven-day average of 115 cases “shows that we are in a much better, much stronger place, and we can’t drop our guard”. Mr Reid said the free flu vac-
cine will be available for almost two million people from midSeptember, when older people and vulnerable groups will be prioritised for vaccination. He said he expects that the nasal spray vaccination for children, from ages 2-12 years, will be available free-of-charge from October. Community assessment hubs will be used during the coming months, Mr Reid said, to try and “filter out” the number of people visiting their GP, in order to relieve pressure on practices during the vaccination season. “We envisage using those hubs being used to assess people for respiratory illnesses and to filter out what is Covid and what is not,” he said. Mr Reid said he hoped to see greater uptake of the flu vaccine in healthcare workers, as the national average is 60%. While he does not envisage mandatory vaccination in healthcare workers, he said risk-based assessments will be carried out to determine settings in which it is required.
Gardaí are appealing for smartphone owners to be ‘Streetwise’ by downloading a trusted “find my phone” app and adding an emergency contact number to their phone as of the €5m worth of mobile phones stolen, only 10% are recovered. The appeal follows the release of figures by the Garda Síochána Analysis Service which show that 11,488 mobile phones have been stolen since the beginning of 2019. Of those, only 1,176 have been recovered. Speaking the campaign launch Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Dean Kerins said, “The price of mobile phones makes them a clear target for criminals, so let’s try and deter them by increasing phone security. If you a have a smartphone, we recommend downloading a trusted location finder app so if it is lost or
stolen, you have a better chance of getting it back. Some phones already have a feature like this already so have a look in the security settings on your phone. “We also highly recommend that you add a family member or friend as an emergency contact in your phone. If we receive a lost or stolen phone, we will be able to contact that person. “Our property stores throughout the country receive a lot of stolen and lost phones that we cannot trace the owners for. Adding the emergency contact will help solve this problem. “Other preventative measures you can take include enabling the PIN Security feature, keeping your phone locked at all times, and property-mark it with unique personal letters or numbers.” The most common place for
phones to be stolen is out in public or in a licensed premises, so Gardaí are also advising the following:
Cody Kennedy (7) and Bóinn (11) at the launch of Culture Night which takes place on September 18. Pic: Julien Behal
Under restarters orders THE business restart grant has been doubled and your local council is urging local companies to take advantage of the funding. If your business has been hit by the Covid-19 crisis, it will help you get going again and may pay for new health and safety measures you need. €300m has been added to the €250m previously committed.
The funding is available for businesses with a turnover of less than €25m and fewer than 250 employees. The Restart Grant Plus is the equivalent to the commercial rates bill of the business in 2019. The minimum grant is €4,000 and the maximum is €25,000. If your business suffered at least a 25% reduction in turnover between April 1
Gardai issue smartphone theft warning
· Be wary of your surroundings and mind your property. · Plan your night out, how are you getting there and how are you getting back? · Avoid walking alone in dark places. · Keep your phone out of public view. · Don’t leave your phone on display in a vehicle. · Dial *#06# and save a screenshot of your IMEI number. Email the image to yourself. · Keep your phone locked and enable as much security features as you can. · Download or activate a trusted find my phone app. · Add a relative or friend as an emergency contact in your
September 07, 2020
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September 07, 2020
Education2020
When to send kids to school and when to keep them home
Parents have been warned not to send their children to school if they have a temperature of 38C or more. But if kids have only nasal symptoms like a sneeze or a runny nose, it should be “usually okay” to send them to class. As schools reopen and the winter season of Covid-19 lies ahead, the government has confirmed the measures for parents on when they can or can’t send their children to school or childcare amid the pandemic. Parents are told to keep children at home if they have a temperature, or if they have any other common symptoms of coronavirus such as a new cough, loss or changed sense of taste or smell, or shortness of breath. Kids should be kept at home if they have been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 or been living with someone who’s not well and could have coronavirus. If they are affected by any of the above, parents must isolate
pharmacist instead.”
Do not send your child to school or childcare if any of the following is true. Your child has: • a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more • any other common symptoms of coronavirus such as a new cough, loss or changed sense oftaste or smell, or shortness of breath been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus been living with someone who is unwell and may have coronavirus.
Charlie Casey Carney (15) at the 2020 Top Security Frank Maher Classical Music Awards launch for secondary schools which has a €5,000 prize for the winner. Pic: Peter Houlihan
their child phone their GP. They’re told the child should only leave home if you have a
test or to see your GP. The latest advice states: “Most of the time, you do not need to
phone your GP if a runny nose or sneezing are your child’s only symptoms. Talk to your
What to do: Isolate your child. This means keeping them at home and completely avoiding contact with other people, as much as possible. Your child should only leave your home to have a test or to see your GP. Phone your GP. They will advise you if your child needs a coronavirus test.
Everyone that your child lives with should also restrict their movements, at least until your child gets a diagnosis from their GP or a coronavirus test result. This means not going to school, childcare or work. Treat your child at home for their symptoms. When to send kids to school: • only have nasal symptoms, such as a runny nose or a sneeze • do not have a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more (as long as their temperature • has not been lowered by taking any form of paracetamol or ibuprofen) • do not have a cough • have not been in contact with anyone who has coronavirus • do not live with anyone who is unwell and may have coronavirus • have been told by a GP that their illness is caused by something else, that is not coronavirus. Your GP will tell you when they can return to school or
September 07, 2020
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September 07, 2020
opinion&comment
A pint and a pizza from next door
I
recently went with some friends for a drink and a bite to eat in a small village pub. I don’t think it normally serves food. I’m not sure it even has a kitchen. But it had no trouble complying with the law because the village, like just about every little place in Ireland, has a Chinese takeaway and a takeaway pizza restaurant. This particular village also has a Centra that serves readymeals (including sushi - now there’s posh!) in plastic containers. It was a pleasant evening - a rare event of late - so we sat at a table outside, where the waiter handed us menus for all three establishments. He brought our orders to the takeaways and their staff delivered the food to our table. The price (nothing less than €9, I swear) was added to our final bill from the pub which, I presume, has its own arrangements for paying. Food was being delivered this way to punters inside the pub as well as us outdoor types. I’m not sure if all this was in strict accordance with the letter of the law but it certainly met
Michael Wolsey the spirit of it and I can’t understand why the system isn’t adopted by more of the small pubs that are complaining about being locked down. I know there are a few backof-beyond pubs, like the San José bar in the Guinness ad, that don’t have a food place near them, but many of those that are now shut could easily place their orders with the shop or café up the road, boosting local trade as well as their own business. Any of the so-called wet bars in Dublin could do the same most have a wide variety of menus on their doorsteps. Maybe some pubs think the financial return from this sort of arrangement would not justify
Attendees at the Orientation Day for RCSI medical students at the new Croke Park campus which ensures medical students can continue their education in a safe environment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pic: Maxwells the trouble of organising and operating it. Maybe their customers would not be prepared to pay a €9 food surcharge for the pleasure of supping a couple of pints. Or maybe I’m missing something . But it seems to me that, with a little bit of initiative, a good few of the bars now closed would be able to open their doors and enjoy at least a limited trade.
I have never really thought of the pub as a place to eat and, before Covid, I would have regarded the idea of booking a table at one as odd. But, I have to admit, it works well and is an idea that might be worth preserving when this crisis is over. I’m not suggesting pubs should keep their entire premises functioning by appointment only. The bar itself and
the floor space could operate as usual but it would be nice to be able to reserve a quiet, comfortable table to meet with a few friends or family, even if no food was involved. There are some other lessons that might be learned from this phase of partial restriction. Like nearly all Irish men I have never, until recently, made an appointment with a hair-
dresser, or a barber as I would quaintly say. I have to admit, it works very well. I arrive and there is someone either waiting to cut my hair or ready to do so in a few minutes. It beats the hit-and-miss arrangements which would leave me, with hardly a hair to cut, waiting while someone with more locks than sense got styled in a cross between Jedward and the guys out of The Young Offenders. Booking swimming slots at my local gym also cuts out a lot of hassle and I like the new degree of order that has come to supermarkets where checkout queues are being controlled and most people are paying quickly by card, instead of searching through purses and wallet and counting up loose change. And although I don’t like wearing a mask, I like the idea that people are prepared to wear them, not for their own good but to protect others. In many Asian countries, wearing a mask is a common act of courtesy extended by anyone who has a cold or some such infection. That’s an idea we would do well to copy.
September 07, 2020
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September 07, 2020
opinion&comment
Golfgate a real bogey for coalition
T
he fallout from the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner continued last week, and succeeded in felling Big Phil. Unlike Dara Calleary - who had done the right thing by resigning immediately – Big Phil had to dragged kicking and screaming from office. Public anger did for Hogan; if a politician incurs the public’s anger then he or she loses the public’s support. The idea was being put around during the week that Hogan should be spared because he was crucial to the trade negotiations surrounding Brexit. This was an attempt to scaremonger an already-angry public and it wasn’t going to wash. Brexit negotiations will be settled by experts behind the scene, not self-styled experts like Phil Hogan. I would not try to defend anyone who was at that golf event. It should hardly have been priority – either to go ahead in the first place, or for anyone to attend. Invitees had the perfect excuse in Covid-19. The numbers seated for dinner should have been an obvious
problem to anyone with a brain and functioning intellect. They should have just walked out, not tucked in. It serves anyone who stayed right that the charge of ‘the rule-makers not wanting to follow the rules’ was levelled at them. The optics of the situation were terrible for the government. The anger of people is entirely understandable. People have lost their jobs because of Covid-19, have postponed weddings, been unable to play sport, attend artistic events, attend funerals of loved ones and otherwise had their lives turned inside out and upside down. They have followed the advice and guidance diligently. To see people putting all that hard work at risk is enough to anger a saint. As a country we won’t survive a second lockdown. Our economy will collapse. We have to keep going and the only way we can do that while minimizing the risk Covid-19 will continue to present is by following the rules strictly and without exception. Calleary and Hogan were in a position at that event where they needed to show leadership and they failed the test abysmally. People badly need some hope
at this moment, some positivity to cling onto and firm up the ground underneath us. They don’t want to be looking at politicians showing themselves to be unworthy of high office. Where is such hope come from? The science community, in the form of a vaccine for coronavirus? Maybe so. In the meantime it will have to come from us ourselves if our leaders aren’t up to it.
******** Saturdays have always been special to me, and the reason has always been soccer. Specifically, cross-channel soccer. All those games in all those divisions going on all at once. All those fans in all those stadiums. All those teams moving up and down the tables, in and out of promotion and relegation and European spots.
All those managers furiously chewing Wrigley’s and living on their nerves. Saturdays for me always started with Football Focus on BBC at midday. In the old days you could follow it with On The Ball (later Saint & Greavsie) on ITV. Back to BBC and there’d be an ‘around the grounds’ segment as kick-off time of three o’clock approached. You could sense the excitement building through the screen almost as much as if you were filing through the turnstiles yourself. Half-time would see updates on all the scores and how they impacted the tables. Reports from selected grounds would feature the dulcet tones of Tony Gubba, John Motson and their ilk. Full time was an adrenaline rush of vidiprinter text and excited voices. Grandstand and World Of Sport were the platforms that delivered all this functionality, not Android or Apple or Google. Over time the internet did away with the need for a lot of the above, but most of it remains intact for the diehards. If the internet was a gamechanger in terms of breaking the patterns of my childhood, Sky Soccer Saturday was a
game-changer in terms of being the glue that held past habits together. For those not in the know, for over two decades Jeff Stelling and his team (Paul Merson, Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier) have pulled a six-hour shift between twelve and six on Saturdays during the soccer season. They just sit there and talk about the games, some of which are being watched on their monitors. They talk about a lot more besides, and it is all football related. For me, it’s six hours of heaven. It’s mindfulness time, a chance to unpack the stresses of the week. Unfortunately all this has come to an end. Not because of COVID-19, but because the demographics of the panel is no longer considered politically correct. Forget about the fact that they were all experts at what they did and ere enjoyed religiously by millions. You can’t buy chemistry like that. Merson and Stelling will remain but I will no longer be tuning in. The new panel may tick the right boxes for Sky but it won’t tick mine – nobody should lose their job in this fashion. - Brian Quigley
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September 07, 2020
WILDLIFE
ninenottomiss
Blue Planet
book of the week
with Justin Ivory
His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham
©2020 Vincent Hyland/ derrynane.ie Just over a week ago social, print and TV media was awash (forgive the pun) with reports of an extraordinary and spectacular natural phenomenon that saw parts of the Cork coastline lit up in sparkling blue like some 80s or 90s Ibiza nightclub. This is known as bioluminescence. So, what’s it all about? Well some animals that live in the dark are bioluminescent. Say again? Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. It turns out that up to 80% of marine creatures may emit light. From the ocean surface to the seabed, everything from plankton and bacteria to algae, jellyfish, and some species of fish. Why do they do this? For many different reasons including to lure food, attract a mate, avoid predators or just group together. The bioluminescence that was witnessed off the Cork coast last week is also commonly known as sea sparkle. This is caused by single-celled Mesokaryotes, dinoflagellate, a type of plankton. Bioluminescence occurs in plankton when chemical reactions within them produce light in response to a threat or to the water being disturbed. Dinoflagellate bioluminescence flashes cause a startle response in their predators which results in a decrease in the number of dinoflagellates consumed. The disturbance of the water by the paddle of a kayak or sup, the crashing of the waves on the shore, or the movement of people swimming and wading in the water causes an increased flash response from the plankton enhancing the sparkling light show for those lucky enough to witness it. While not an everyday occurrence, this spectacle happens reasonably regularly off our south-west coast. One of the best locations to experience it is at the wonderful Lough Hyne in Co. Cork, a marine nature reserve and the only saltwater lake in Europe.
This book is about American congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, who led the first of three Selma marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and paid the price when he came under attack by state troopers. Meacham explores Lewis’s personal life and how it was intertwined in the civil rights struggle, showing us Lewis the religious and peaceful man and how he shaped Twentieth Century America as much as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Samual Adams. A good read, which gives valuable insight into the beginnings of the American civil rights movement.
tv show of the week
THE test RTE ONE 7.30pm, Mondays
HOROSCOPES
film of the week
project power Netflix
Project Power is an American superhero film The premise of this show is very straightforward: it follows the ups and downs but does not follow the usual superhero format — it’s a much more gritty, violent of various people taking a driving test, all action piece. The story concerns a drug known for drastically different reasons. In the most as ‘power’ that gives you your superpower for recent instalment, we follow Lisa, (pictured) five minutes: everyone has a different power an Alabama native in her 60s who badly and a different reaction to the drug. Some needs to learn how to drive; a Polish truck driver who has had a lifelong dream of driving people however, will die in a very gruesome a motorcycle; and an eighteen-year-old male way. Jamie Foxx, in the lead role, plays a student, who might be a little too laid back to veteran soldier who is trying to get something to pass. It’s a fun watch and might bring back back from the people who have created the drug; while Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a fond memories for those who have already policeman who uses the drug to fight criminals passed, while giving others an odd insight. who also use it. Directed by Henry Joost.
STAYCATION of the week schoolkids of the week family film of the week
AriesYour work energy rises. Improve your health and physical performance over three weeks. A coach, doctor or friend supports. TaurusExpress your affection. Make bold declarations. Its easier to put your feelings into words now. Communicate your love. GeminiDecorate, beautify and add ambiance. Music and lighting work wonders. Put your creativity into your home over the next three weeks. CancerTalk about subjects near to your heart. You’re especially brilliant now. Creative communications flower. Get your network buzzing. LeoCommunication and creativity gets profitable. Get persuasive with sales and marketing. Bargain, wheel and deal.
wexford www.visitwexford.ie
GAMIFY SCHOOL SUPPLIES www.parents.com
THE call of the wild Streaming on Disney +
Wexford has been voted in the top three of places to visit for a staycation and it makes a lot of sense why. It has a 250km-long coastline with many blue flags and green coast-awarded beaches, with pretty much every possible water activity available, from surfing to windsurfing and many more. Castles and Victorian houses abound, many with gardens free to explore or for family walks. Wexford city itself is well known for its narrow medieval streets, with many beautiful buildings and places to eat out. A great choice for families which will cater to everyone’s interests.
Smaller kids can be nervous about going back to school and it might not compare to the excitement and fun of the summer holidays! So instead of bringing your child to a shop and buying stationery and supplies, you could organise a scavenger hunt for them. Simply get all the school supplies and lay them around the house, then get them to run around and find them. You could talk to them about how great all the items are and what they are used for.
The Call of the Wild is a thrilling adventure film based on the Jack London novel of the same name and directed by Chris Sanders, in his first live action film. Starring Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens and Omar Sy, the movie follows a dog who is stolen from his home in California and sent to Yukon, in Canada, where he meets many colourful characters before embarking on a fascinating adventure at the height of the Gold Rush. This is a fun watch — who doesn’t love a movie about a dog and an old man who also happens to be Harrison Ford? An adventure movie the whole family can enjoy.
school idea of the week family idea of the week documentary of the week
VirgoYou’re especially good with words over the next three weeks. Speak out powerfully and persuasively. Make important connections. LibraIntrospection, writing and organization satisfy. Create peaceful rituals for meditation and spiritual or philosophical consideration. Savor poetry, music and arts. ScorpioYour team grows stronger. Friends help you advance. Get greater results, faster and easier. Share information and resources. Sagittarius-
Stick to tested work techniques. Assume new professional responsibilities. Advance your career through networking. CapricornDiscuss an exploration. Make vacation or travel plans. Expand your territory over the next three weeks. school is easy schooliseasy.com/ 01 556 3553
ROCK FARM SLANE www.rockfarmslane.ie
they shall not grow old Streaming on demand
As we battle to cope with the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 regulations, home-based learning has taken on a new importance. Many parents who want their children to enjoy the benefits of one-to-one tuition are, nevertheless, nervous about having a stranger in their home or sending young students to a tuition centre. School is Easy can solve that problem. We can offer one-to-one or group grinds for Primary, Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate school students at a time that works for you and your family.
Rock farm is a beautiful plot of land sitting on the River Boyne and just across from Slane Castle. They have eight electric bikes for hire all year round, which you can take for a selfguided trip around the Boyne Valley, opt for some kayaking and rafting on the river, or just take some tours around the farm. They also have a tree-climbing area, and if you fancy a stay on the farm, you can, in their eco-friendly “glamping” facilities, which is really camping in style. The perfect day out — or weekend away for the family.
This documentary was made using original World War One footage taken from the Imperial War Museums archives, seen here for the first time. The audio was added by the BBC and is mainly interviews from soldiers who fought in the war. The director, Peter Jackson, wanted it to be an intimate experience of what it was like to be a soldier, rather than just a story of events. Jackson’s grandfather fought in the war and this is dedicated to him. Most of the footage is colourised, which is an incredible and intriguing feature. Well worth a watch.
AquariusNetwork and collaborate. Communication gets lucrative. Financial discussions, inquiries and requests can get fruitful. PiscesCollaborate with someone attractive. Partnership flowers over three weeks, with Mercury in Virgo. Compromise and negotiate for mutually beneficial solutions. Romance arises in conversation.
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Katie Taylor bursary
Applications are now open for the Katie Taylor Bursary sponsored by Wicklow County Council. The Bursary was established to honour one of County Wicklow’s greatest ever sports persons, who added to her astonishing list of achievements at the weekend when she retained her lightweight world champion title. The aim of this Bursary is to support a sports person who is entering college to continue playing the sport/sports they love, while in third level education, and is worth €1,500 per year for up to four years. In order to apply: • You must be a resident of county Wicklow • You DO NOT have to be studying a sports related course • You must be entering 1st year of college • You can be playing at a high level in ANY sport • The bursary is open to Male and Female applicants Closing date for applications is Friday, 2 October 2020. For further information and an application, please contact Wicklow Sports & Recreation Partnership on 0404 - 20100.
wicklowvoice.ie September 07, 2020
Pure class: Funds confirms for environmental scheme Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed the Pure Project has secured funding for 2020. Since 2006 the PURE Project (Protecting Upland and Rural Environments) which has successfully tackled illegal dumping in the Wicklow and Dublin Uplands. The group have been behind highly successful projects such as The Pure Mile initiative which encourages communities to adopt a mile of road and keep it litter free. Minister Donnelly confirmed he had received notification from the Department for Communications, Climate Action and Environment that the Pure Project was being allocated €115,000 euro. It secures the future of the project which was the first of its kind to record all incidents of illegal dumping by GPS. “I’m absolutely delighted to see the PURE project get the funding they need to continue their invaluable work in keeping our environment litter free.
Tilly and Nadia from Direct Provison Donations
“We live in one of the most beautiful counties in Ireland but it has suffered from the blight of fly tipping in the past. “In recent months we have seen horrendous examples of
rubbish being left behind by groups wild camping in the county. “The work PURE do by providing a 24-hour lo-call phoneline to report dumping as well as installing CCTV cameras in re-
mote areas has never been more vital”. The Minister added: “If you spot any incidents of illegal dumping or you know of anyone involved in such activities you can contact PURE on 1850 365 121”.
Yoga for charity
A local Bray yoga business has come up with a unique way of supporting direct provision centres - by donating 50% of their fees for a week. SOZEN Lifestyle, which is run by Sorcha Ni Craith, will begin online classes on September 6, for €10, half of which will be donated to the charity Direct Provison Donations. “I decided to run two weeks of donation based classes called to help those who have very little, specifically those in direct provision” Sorcha said. SOZEN Lifestyle classes will consist of Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Pilates, Fitness, Injury Prevention, Strength and Flexibility. For more information on SOZEN, you can contact Sorcha @sozenlifestyle on Facebook.
WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL COMHAIRLE CHONTAE CHILL MHANTÁIN
PART-TIME RETAINED FIRE FIGHTERS Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to form panels from which vacancies may be filled on the following Fire Brigades:
• DUNLAVIN FIRE BRIGADE
REF: 18/2020
• BRAY FIRE BRIGADE
REF: 19/2020
• CARNEW FIRE BRIGADE
REF: 20/2020
• BLESSINGTON FIRE BRIGADE
REF: 21/2020
• GREYSTONES FIRE BRIGADE
REF: 22/2020
• ARKLOW FIRE BRIGADE
REF: 23/2020
Candidates should not be more than 55 years of age on the latest date for receipt of applications. Candidates should reside and work within a maximum of 5 minutes distance to the Fire Station as there are strict requirements regarding availability to attend fire calls. Remuneration: Retainer starting at €8,033.00 per annum gross (paid on a quarterly basis) plus hourly rates for attendance at fires. Candidates will be subject to Garda Vetting. Application Forms and further details can be obtained from Enterprise & Corporate Services at 0404 20100 or by emailing recruitment@wicklowcoco.ie and on the Wicklow County Council website www.wicklow.ie
The Franchise Department would love to hear from anyone who will be 18 on or before 15th February 2021 who are looking to register to vote by contacting 0404 20161 or franchise@wicklowcoco.ie and we will issue a form to register them to vote
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS IS 12 NOON ON THURSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2020 Wicklow County Council reserves the right to shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate. Wicklow County Council Is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Lorraine Gallagher A/Director Of Services Enterprise & Corporate Services Phone: 0404 20100 Wicklow County Council Fax: 0404 67792 County Buildings, Wicklow e-mail: recruitment@wicklowcoco.ie
September 07, 2020
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wicklowvoice.ie September 07, 2020
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