Wicklow Voice 1-8 May 2020

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Callum (5) forced to take pain killers

A five-year-old Wicklow boy is being treated with painkillers because his physiotherapy has been cancelled for the past six weeks due to Covid-19.

On top of that, Callum Watson is on a two-year waiting list for an MRI scan he needs to tackle the painful juvenile arthritis h e suffers from.

Callum’s plight was raised

by Fianna Fáil’s Health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly in the Dail who asked Health Minister Simon Harris if

diagnostic equipment in private hospitals can be used for an MRI scan that the boy needs.

Callum has Down Syndrome and his mother Gillian Pitt told Deputy Donnelly that Callum only started walking in 2019 and was referred to the Rheumatology Department in Crumlin Hospital.

She said that Callum is in pain but is pre-verbal so can’t

explain where it is.

His doctors need to get an MRI scan done so they can limit the damage caused to his body but it’s not scheduled until next year, “two years from when his doctors said he needed it”.

Callum’s arthritis recently flared up and he can’t walk as much anymore.

Doctors in Crumlin are to start treatment without the MRI. He also needs physiotherapy

twice-a-week but has not had any for six weeks.

Mr Donnelly has called for the targeted resumption of community-based care, included physiotherapy, for urgent patients such as Callum.

He has also called for the resources of the 19 private hospitals, which the State is currently paying for, to be deployed to get Callum, and children like him, the diagnostics and other treatment they need.

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COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

May 1-8, 2020

Enable Ireland in emergency appeal as it closes 21 shops

Volunteer Tracy Cullen visits a respite house

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

Enable Ireland is appealing to the people in the county to help them raise funds after they were forced to temporarily close their 21 charity shops due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The charity is now facing a potential loss of €1.5 million income in 2020 and is asking members of the public who are at home during the outbreak, to take some time

to de-clutter their wardrobes and homes and get ready to donate their unwanted items to Enable Ireland once their shops re-open.

You can support Enable Ireland by shopping on their online charity shop www. enableireland.ie/shoponline or donate online at www. enableireland.ie/donate.

Enable Ireland employs 1,200 staff and provides ser-

vices to over 8,500 children and adults with disabilities in 15 counties.

Like many frontline healthcare workers, Enable Ireland are continuing to support people with disabilities during the Covid-19 epidemic.

Dedicated Enable Ireland staff are providing essential residential, respite, community living and family support, in a way that is safe for all.

SVP: We’re expecting more calls

The Society of St Vincent de Paul has launched an urgent fundraising appeal, as it expects calls for help to increase in the coming weeks.

It said many families were struggling to pay food and energy bills due to loss of income from the coronavirus outbreak.

St Vincent de Paul has been helping families in need for more than 175 years and last year gave support to more than 160,000 people in Ireland.

Now, during the coronavirus outbreak, it says things are as difficult as they have been for 20 years, with thousands struggling financially.

The society is seeking public support with an urgent appeal for funds - saying its income is drastically reduced from the closure of its 234 shops and the cancellation of collections.

National President Kieran Stafford said low income families have become “no income families” overnight, as they wait for State supports to come through. And calls to their helpline are at their highest level since the crash in 2008, with people seeking help paying food and energy bills.

Test rules extended as cancer referrals decrease The rules on who can be tested for Coronavirus testing in the county are once again being extended.

People who now contact their GPs outside of the high-risk groups and who find they are suffering from a new cough, a recently acquired fever, or shortness of breath will now be eligible for testing.

Once again, people are being asked to contact their GP first before attempting to attend a Coronavirus testing centre.

Over the past week, close to 9,000 tests a day were carried out nationwide (61,707) by the HSE, a massive jump on the weeks previously.

This brings the number of people in the country tested for Covid-19 up to 214,761 since testing began.

The Government expects we will be in a position to test up to 100,000 people per week by next week around the country.

People who must use the service will be directed to existing permanent HSE centres around the county.

It is understood that the HPSC has made contingency plans with the GAA in case of the need for a drive-through testing facility, however, that eventuality has not been arrived at just yet.

The new testing parameters

are all part of the plan to flatten the curve through testing and community tracing and part of the phased easing of restrictions plan laid out by the Government.

Meanwhile, the HSE has said the number of patients being referred to cancer diagnostic services has decreased since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Cancer Control programme said it is concerned that people with symptoms of cancer are delaying seeking medical advice and has encouraged people with symptoms to contact their GP. The HSE has also encouraged anyone who is worried they might have symptoms of cancer to contact their GP. In a statement, it said the average number of patients with suspected breast, lung, prostate and skin cancer being referred to hospital clinics is now less than half the number being referred prior to Covid-19 public health measures and it urged people not to delay seeking medical advice.

It said all GP and hospital diagnostic cancer services are continuing to operate, and that precautionary measures are being taken to ensure surgeries and hospitals are safe for patients.

Covid-19 €350 pay to continue beyond June

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil that the €350 payment to people who have lost jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic will be extended beyond mid-June.

He said there had been no decision regarding a new rate or a timeline and that a decision may have to be taken by a new government, otherwise it would be taken by the current administration.

Responding to questions from

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Mr Varadkar said while the payment “could not continue forever”, it would be extended beyond its current cut off date of mid-June.

Earlier, Ms McDonald said that the €350 was the bare minimum to “keep the show on the road” for families.

“The reality is we will have an unemployment crisis well beyond the summer,” she said.

wicklowvoice.ie May 1-8, 2020

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May 1-8, 2020

Online mental health services see sharp rise

Apply for student grants now

Students are being advised to apply for SUSI grants now that its online application system for academic year 2020-21 is open.

SUSI, the national grant awarding authority, expects to receive a high number of applications over the coming months and is advising people to submit this applications online at www.susi.ie as soon as possible.

Students do not need to have their Leaving Cert results, or to have accepted a course in order to apply.

They can simply supply the details of the course they hope to study and update their course choice online at a later date.

Before making an application, students are encouraged to use SUSI’s online eligibility calculator to give them an indication of their eligibility for student grant funding.

New applicants must create an online SUSI account before completing and submitting the application. The priority processing date for new applications is July 9 2020.

New applicants who submit their applications on or before this date will receive priority assessment.

Summer flies set to invade

Just as we get our road map out of the Covid-19 pandemic along comes a warning to be on the lookout for a plague of flies this summer!

Rentokil is warning the public of expected increased levels of fly infestations during the coming the summer months as populations are expected to multiply at a faster rate due to the warm weather and the reduction in pollution due to less human activity.

The company is warning home and business owners to be aware of the health risk

presented by the insects as flies can spread bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, and campylobacter, which can lead to a range of illnesses in humans, one of the most common being diarrhoea.

The insects can spread these bacteria to humans when they land on our food.

The company believes that empty buildings belonging to businesses that have been shut down temporarily during the lockdown could also be particularly susceptible to fly infestations, as any organic waste or pools of water

that have not been cleaned or disposed of will attract the insects.

“Flies are one of the most dangerous pests in terms of spreading bacteria and disease,” Richard Faulkner, Technical Field Consultant for Rentokil said.

“The insects will become much more common during the coming months, so we would encourage people to be on the lookout for the presence of flies in or near their homes or businesses, and to take action to guard against them.”

There has been an unprecedented burst in people seeking online mental health support in the county since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, with stress over exams and loneliness being the main areas of concern.

One service for young people has seen nearly a 100% increase in calls to its service, while there has been a 1,000% explosion on the amount of the elderly looking for online counselling support.

Minister for Health Simon Harris confirmed the Government will provide an additional €1.1millioeuro investment in online mental health supports.

The funding is aimed at the young, the old and the health services staff who they hope will assist them in managing their mental health during and following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister Harris said: “The pandemic has cause hurt, pain, tragedy for many people. It has also left many people feeling alone, isolated, anxious and

stressed. The additional funding announced today will allow us to increase our reach and help more people.

“We know also that our frontline staff need our help more than ever. Every day, they go to work and place themselves in harm’s way to protect us.

“The HSE has begun some work with staff helping them to manage stress, to take some rest and how to build resilience. In the past two weeks the site was accessed by 1,200 professionals. This funding will allow us to help more frontline staff.

“We know staying at home is difficult. This is why we have out together a range of supports through gov.ie/together to help you through these difficult times.

“But we also know many people will need greater help and that is why YourMentalHealth is there to offer you assistance and guidance at a time when people need it the most.

“This funding is an initial step but will allow us to offer some support when you need it the most.”

We might find ourselves eating a lot more al fresco in the coming months and one TD is calling on the council to allow restaurants and cafes to be able to use public footpaths without incurring extra charges.

Green Party spokesperson for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Steven Matthews TD has called on Local Authorities to consider allowing businesses access to the public footpath in some areas of town centres free of charge this summer to help with social distancing.

He also suggests making some urban areas car free following trial runs in Dublin City Centre and elsewhere.

“First and foremost this is still a public health crisis and any new measures must be taken in light of medical advice,” he says. “However, whenever businesses are able to begin to

reopen, they will need as much support as possible to adapt to social distancing measures which will likely be a part of our lives till at least the end of the summer.

“We need to start examining possible solutions and one could be to make some streets in towns and cities across the country car-free during business hours this summer.

“This will allow sufficient access for pedestrians and cyclists but also give business owners and patrons enough space to operate safely. Any changes in the planning process would require significant examination of accessibility and safety but it is possible.

“We have seen the benefits that car free zones had in trials in different urban areas including increasing footfall and improved air quality.

“The additional requirement

for more pedestrian space brought about by Covid-19 means that our local authorities need to act on this now, before lockdown measures are eased more.

“This wouldn’t need to be every street or even every town, but these are the sort of solutions local authorities need to look at to keep businesses going. I hope this is something that each local authority can examine.”

Michael Pidgeon, Green Party Councillor for Dublin’s South West Inner City, added: “We’ve already seen some clever uses of road space to improve social distancing and make space for walking and cycling.

“As people spend more time closer to home, it’s going to be really important to make streets as customer friendly as possible.”

TD tables idea that sees us dining outside

May 1-8, 2020

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May 1-8, 2020

opinion&comment

The (very) long and winding road

W

hen I was a child of five, maybe six, my father hired a caravan and the family went touring in Wicklow. It was a scary experience.

My da drove a hefty car that was well capable of pulling the load. But the caravan was a rickety affair with a mind of its own. It wobbled behind us and seemed likely to break loose at any moment, turning the Vale of Avoca’s winding roads into a hair-raising slalom course.

That drive, from Belfast, was the longest I ever took with my father. But all car journeys were long back then, because of the decrepit state of the roads and the fact that they never went from A to Z without passing through 24 other places .

Things hadn’t improved much by the late 1960s when I first got a car of my own. A journey from Belfast to Dublin was pretty much a day trip.

Among the obstacles to be

Michael Wolsey

faced was The Border, where I had to stop, show insurance documents and receive a little triangular device called a triptyque, which I was required to stick on the inside of the windscreen.

By this stage I had already been in the towns of Lisburn, Banbridge and Newry. Before reaching Dublin, I would go through Dundalk, Drogheda, Balbriggan, Swords and several smaller places.

The concept of a bypass seemed unknown in 1960s Ireland, so when I say ‘go through’ I mean just that: down past rows of houses, along the main street

and out again, skirting market stalls, local monuments, large churches and small schools.

I’m not sure how many hours were actually spent on the road but it was a trip which required stops. Since drink-driving was almost as foreign a concept as the bypass, these stops were often spent in pubs, which did nothing to speed the voyage.

Cautious folk would bring tea

and sandwiches “for the journey”.

Cars were unreliable - my early cars, in particular - and breakdowns frequent, turning what is now a two-hour drive into an unpredictable adventure.

I recall developing a puncture somewhere in Co Louth. The wheel bolts had seized and I couldn’t loosen them. A sturdy

little man appeared, like magic it seemed, and offered to help.

He put the wheel brace in place and jumped on it. This tactic loosened the bolt but it also broke the brace and, since the brace operated the jack, changing the wheel now seemed impossible.

My knight of the road was undaunted. He put both hands under the chassis, lifted one side of the car and held it there while I made the necessary change.

He then tightened the bolts by hand as firmly as I could have managed with the brace.

Motorways put a stop to such adventures. And a good thing too. It was fun but nobody in their right mind wants to spend half a day travelling between Dublin and Belfast.

Unfortunately, in a variant of Parkinson’s Law, the volume of traffic has expanded to fill the roads available, so modern driving is often unpleasant and, at the wrong time of day, journeys can take almost as long as they did 50 years ago.

When I look at near empty roads on recent news bulletins, I think “if only ...”

Well, no, they can’t be like that all the time. But some of the lessons we are learning from this crisis may improve, not just driving, but life in general.

It’s crazy that half the country spends hours commuting to work in central locations and I feel sure that, when this is over, more people will chose to work from home, at least for some days each week.

That would take some of the burden off public transport.

The few people I know still using it to get to work, tell me how good it is to be on trains and trams that are not packed, where people can sit with a degree of comfort. We can achieve that, or something like it, by investing in public transport; more trains with more carriages and more frequent buses.

That would take some of the burden off the roads.

We don’t need to keep building new roads but we will always need the ones we have and it would be nice if they became a bit more user-friendly.

I don’t want driving to be an adventure but it could be a lot more pleasant.

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May 1-8, 2020

insideback

We’re going in the right direction

T

he roadmap for reopening the country announced by the Government on is to be welcomed. It seems sensible and measured.

Doing things in phases will allow us to gradually get back up and running while minimising the risk of a surge of COVID-19 cases overwhelming our health system; the dreaded ‘second wave’.

From a mental health point of view, the roadmap is important because it gives people the element of ‘perceived control’ - it allows them to see light at the end of the tunnel even if that light is still some way off.

Having a date to work towards is a giant step forward from simply not knowing.

Whilst I am happy to make the points above, I would not be entirely happy to say that our Government deserve huge praise for their handling of the pandemic.

The ordinary citizens deserve the praise, whether they have continued to work or stayed at home, not the politicians.

People deserve praise for complying with what they have been asked to do. We have saved many lives.

As a country though we have not done as well as we think, if you look at per-capita deaths due to COVID-19.

Considering the country has been locked down in a draconian way for six weeks, too many people have died.

When all this is over we will all just want to get back to normal, which goes without saying.

But there will be some takeaways from our time living in lockdown that we may wish to keep, going forward.

The future will be a mixture of the past and a bit of the present.

Lockdown has taught me many things, and I have been humble enough to learn them.

I can work from home a lot more than I would have thought before COVID-19.

My children can home-school for an extended period of time without their education being negatively impacted.

I can shop online more, use my car less, and get my exercise by walking briskly rather

daily two kilometre (up to five from this week!) walk, but the paths are crowded with runners and the roads with cyclists.

Many don’t observe social distancing. Perhaps they think that they are immune from complying while they exercise.

than sweating in a gym.

The list goes on. I can survive without cash. I can survive without pubs. I don’t need to shake hands with people as a way of greeting them.

I can keep in touch with friends electronically and still have meaningful interactions with them.

More than anything else the lockdown has allowed me to focus on my immediate family as the most important thing in my life.

I think we all took that for granted a bit before COVID-19, whether we are prepared to admit it or not.

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I

t seems to me there has been a surge in the numbers running and cycling during lockdown.

Either that or the circumstances we are living in has contrived to make it look that, even if it’s not the case.

Everyone is staying at home.

People are allowed out to get their exercise. The weather has been good.

People who used to go farther afield from the neighbourhood for their run or cycle are now staying local, joining those who always did.

It all adds up to a hazard though for me. I just want my

Still, it could be worse. Whilst I might feel like I’m walking through the London Marathon course or a Tour de France stage route, breathing in unwelcome droplets potentially contaminated with COVID-19, at least I’m not walking through a pseudo Wimbledon or Isle of Man TT. No, there has been no flying tennis balls or discernible increase in motorbikes.

Have you been able to visit your local during lockdown?

Not your local pub, mind you, but your local League of Ireland club (I guess walking by either brings a similar feeling of longing to get back inside).

If you’ve been walking more than the allotted distance to pass by your favourite ground then I understand (and won’t tell the gardai!).

Living in Drumcondra, roughly half-way between Home

Farm’s Whitehall Stadium (a former League of Ireland ground) and Tolka Park (a current one), my two kilometre walk has allowed me take in either, depending on which direction I turn when I come out the door.

Now that we can go five kilometres I’ll be able to do a route that can take in both.

Perhaps if I set off in the direction of Phibsborough I could even get to Dalymount Park - or at least close enough to it to see the floodlights – before I’d have to turn back.

By the time July comes around and we can go 20kms I might just be able to get to the Carlisle Grounds in Bray - but certainly not Waterford FC or Wexford Youth!

With no football on the horizon until maybe August or September, walking by the stadiums is as close to any action as we are likely to get.

Clubs should open the stadiums for an hour or two each day so that fans can come in and savour the atmosphere, or at least savour the imagined atmosphere!

- Brian Quigley

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May 1-8, 2020

WILDLIFE

with Justin Ivory

Alpines, Avocets...

Awesome!

Avocet Pic: Wikicommons The annual avian spring migration continues unabated with favourable easterly winds bringing some fantastic birds to the East coast from Dublin to Wexford.

In Wicklow, rising star of the Irish birding scene and Greystones native Cian Cardiff found an Alpine Swift (Apus melba) at Five Mile Point. This fantastic, rare but regular spring vagrant is a larger cousin of our Common Swift. It has a slower more stiff-winged flight and sports a white belly and throat. The bird was last seen (by myself) heading south.

Interestingly the next day there was a report of one from Wexford, possibly the same bird.

A Cattle Egret (Bubulcous ibis) was seen again at ECNR (East Coast Nature Reserve), possibly the same bird that was at Killoughter two weeks ago, with another 12 spotted at Tacumshin, Co. Wexford.

With more and more sightings of this lovely bird in Ireland in recent years it is only a matter of time before they colonise here, if they haven’t already done so.

Alpine Swift. Pic: Rudraksha Chodankar at Wikicommons Meanwhile Dublin and Wexford have been playing host to Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) – these beautiful and elegant waders with their unmistakable crisp black and white plumage and outrageously upturned bill are well known as the symbol of the RSPB across the water.

Avocets are scarce in Ireland but with 5 having been sighted at Tacumshin in Wexford since the 20th April just as they are coming into breeding season wouldn’t it be wonderful if they were to breed here this year.

Two pairs of Avocets nested here back in 1938, so it is perfectly possible.

Along with the rarities and scarcities, our regular migrants are still arriving in, with Sedge and Reed Warblers, Cuckoos and Little Terns all arriving back in Wicklow last week.

There is never a dull moment in the natural world!

ninenottomiss book of the week

tv show of the week

HOROSCOPES

film of the week

Small Gods

By Terry Pratchett

normal people RTÉ One, Tuesdays 10.15pm

sea fever Prime Video UK, iTunes, Microsoft Store

If you never quite got around to reading one of Terry Pratchett’s works, of which there are over 70, what better time to begin than now? Of course, you can start anywhere but here we recommend one from the global bestselling Discworld series. In Small Gods, Pratchett balances his religious satire with epic storytelling. The story takes place in the city of Omnia where their chief god, Om, has been reduced to the form of a turtle and despite an organised religion centred around his worship, no one really believes in him anymore.

The furore on Joe Duffy last week over the sex scenes will make sure that Normal People is a bonafide hit for RTÉ. If you haven’t seen it or read the book, this is the highly-anticipated 12-part adaptation of Sally Rooney’s acclaimed novel. Starring Kildare newcomer 24-year-old Paul Mescal in his first television role as Connell, and British actress Daisy Edgar Jones (War of the Worlds, Cold Feet) in the role of Marianne. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, the reviews have been mostly gushing, with many saying it should be shown in schools as an education in consent.

The crew of a west-Ireland fishing trawler struggle for their lives against a deadly parasite in their water supply while hopelessly marooned at sea. The movie centres on marine biology student Siobhan (Hermione Corfield) who reluctantly joins a trawler crew for a research excursion. They’re not happy about it either as Siobhan has got red hair and that’s a bad omen for them. Their fears appear to be founded when something latches onto the vessel and a mysterious parasite infects their water supply.

charity of the week

game of the week

kids film of the week

Aries- This week is a 7 Do the groundwork to realize a vision. Strategize and review priorities.

Postpone travels, and take care of business behind the scenes.

Taurus- This week is an 8 Friends help out.

Collaborate on the structural and logistical details. Make sure you’ve handled the basics before elaborating.

Gemini- This week is an 8 Navigate a professional challenge by focusing on organization, discipline and coordinated action. Work completed now can have long-term benefit.

Cancer- This week is an 8 You can get what you need to take a trip. An older person makes an interesting proposition. Don’t overlook what loved ones need.

Leo- This week is an 8 Investments made now can have long-term benefit.

Strengthen by reinforcing foundations and supports.

Pieta House www.pieta.ie

monopoly www.monopoly.hasbro.com

JOJO Rabbit Amazon, Sky, Virgin

Pieta House has seen a “dramatic change in the volume of calls and texts” since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis. The charity, which provides free therapy to those engaging in selfharm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide, has seen a 49% increase in calls to their helpline and a 46% increase in text messages compared to this time last year. However, it has said it is “very vulnerable” as it receives 80% of its funding from donations and had to postpone Darkness Into Light fundraiser, which 250,0000 people were expected to take part and normally brings in approximately €6m.

Monopoly is the classic fast-dealing property trading board game. Players roll two six-sided dice to move around the game board, buying and trading properties, and developing them with houses and hotels. Players collect rent from their opponents, with the goal being to drive them into bankruptcy. No game is likely to bring a family together and to rip them apart than Monopoly - play at your own risk!

Ostensibly a children’s film about the loss of innocence, JoJo Rabbit is much more. A biting satire that’s hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure, it deals with the thorny subject of the dying days of Germany’s Nazi regime and how to laugh at it. Criticised for its ‘cuddly’ portrayal of Hitler, played by the film’s director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok of all things) its anti-hate, anti-war message is perfect for the fractured times we live in. Not only is it a very good movie, it’s a very important one that should be shown in schools and seen by everyone over the age of 10.

replay of the week

podcast of the week

documentary of the week

Virgo- This week is an 8 Collaborate with your partner to realize a shared dream. Strengthen infrastructure. Find an inspiration that sings for both of you.

Libra- This week is an 8 Keep your fitness goals.

Disciplined action builds long-term strength and health. Demands for your attention abound.

Scorpio- This week is an 8 Keep practicing to improve your game. Focus on technique, and learn through repetition. Get coaching from a trusted expert.

Sagittarius- This week is an 8

Make repairs and renovations. Coordinate with your family for shared priorities. Get creative.

killinaskully RTÉ One, Sunday 8.30pm and RTÉ Player

The Blindboy Podcast https://play.acast.com/s/blindboy

katie Sky Store, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon

Whist, lads! Since the introduction of the new Covid-19 government restrictions, many people have been calling out for RTE to repeat hit TV shows from days gone by in a bid to help replace those social distancing blues with some nostalgia. Step up Pat Shortt’s Killinaskully. The comedy details the bizarre goings-on in a fictitious Irish village located in the hills of Ireland and features some hilarious characters such as Cllr Willie Connors and Sgt Dick O’Toole.

Hosted by Blindboy, of the Rubberbandits.

An eclectic podcast containing short fiction, interviews and comedy. Blindboy is due a lot of credit for tackling tough issues like toxic masculinity and mental health on his hugely successful podcast. It is above all, however, a comedy podcast, and on that front it delivers in spades. Surreal, irreverent and strangely comforting.

The film follows Katie Taylor as she attempts to rebuild her career after a year of turmoil.

As an amateur Taylor won everything there was to win including Olympic Gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She turned professional after a disastrous campaign at the 2016 Olympics.The film unravels the deeply personal reasons behind this career low and shows the champions grit to start over as a professional. Directed by Ross Whitaker, whose previous work includes Between Land & Sea and Unbreakable: The Mark Pollock Story.

Capricorn- This week is an 8 Capture brilliant ideas as they inspire you. Intellectual discovery provides a thrill.

What you uncover now has long-term implications.

Aquarius-This week is a 9 Abundance is available.

Gather up more than you spend for a positive balance.

Make agreements, and sign contracts.

Pisces- This week is a 9 Take ground with a personal project. What you do now can have long-term benefit.

Provide the leadership to take it to a new level.

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Air Display to return in 20201

Organisers of Bray’s Air Display have bowed to the inevitable and cancelled this year’s event which was due to take place on July 25 and 26.

“It’s a big disappointment to announce that the #BrayAirDisplay 2020, which was originally due to take place on July 25 and 26, is cancelled,” a statement said.

“After very careful consideration, the unprecedented impact of the global #COVID19 pandemic has forced this decision in the interests of the health and safety of spectators, participants and the organising team.

“We will focus our energies on creating a spectacular event for 2021 when we hope to celebrate happier, safer times.”

Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly has said the cancellation of the Bray Air Show is a major blow to the town.

Meanwhile, Arklow Seabreeze Festival which was scheduled to take place from July 4 to July 19 has also fallen foul of the Covid-19 crisis and will not now go ahead this year as planned.

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

wicklowvoice.ie May 1-8, 2020

Wicklow wildfires have wiped out species - expert ‘Wicklow is an absolute disgrace’ - that’s the view of a leading wildlife conservationist who has hit out at people who light wildfires in the mountains.

Pádraic Fogarty, a spokesperson for Irish Wildlife Trust, has tracked the fires over several years and believes the area would be perfect to restore habitats and develop woodland.

But he believes that the destruction has been too great, meaning that species such as curlews have vanished from the landscape.

“The birds are long gone,” he told the Irish Times.

“We’ve got reports of all kinds of stuff going on because people think no one is watching (because of Covid-19),” says Fogarty, who is also the author of Whittled Away – Ireland’s Vanishing Nature.

“The big problem is that rangers are not really out and about,” he added. “They can only go out if a crime has been reported.”

“The repeated burning has greatly reduced the diversity of vegetation with knock-on impacts on invertebrates,” says

A tender worth €500,000 has been launched by Fáilte Ireland to help solve the traffic flow at Glendalough.

The tourism body is asking for a “masterplan” on how to visitor experience around the tourist attractions, which is one of the country’s most popular, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the car parks in the area were closed “due to the sheer volume of traffic” as too many people were visiting the area.

In the tender, Fáilte Ireland says it is working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Office of Public Works, Wicklow County Council and others on the project.

The closing date for response to this tender is May 29, with the project expected to last 26 weeks.

€500k tender to solve traffic flow around glendalough Fogarty. In previous decades, a wide variety of bird life existed in the area but this is now almost disappeared, with only

a few species remaining. “You see a lot of ravens because they eat the dead sheep,” he added.

The Irish Wildlife Trust wrote

to farming bodies last months after the most recent fires, with suggestions on how to preserve special areas of conservation.

Fogarty added that a rewilding plan over the next 20 years would transform the landscape in a very short period of time.

May 1-8, 2020

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wicklowvoice.ie May 1-8, 2020