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Wicklow GAA stop Bray Emmets from playing in Dublin league over fixtures row WICKLOW GAA has withdrawn permission for Bray Emmets to play in the Dublin Senior Hurling league in a row over a football fixture. The Wicklow County Board made the move after Emmets failed to fulfil a football league match in Coolkenno on June 13. Bray Emmets chairman Paul Cunningham described the penalty to the Wicklow Voice as “disproportionate” given that the decision to withdraw from
the fixture was made because of Covid-19. Since 2015, Emmets have been permitted to play in Dublin leagues to help strengthen hurling in Bray - but only as long as they fulfill their obligation in Wicklow. “Currently, many of our senior footballers are unavailable for club selection as they are representing Wicklow county teams in national competitions. “Subsequently we are drawing
from a pool of players that are younger, some of whom are sitting their Leaving Certs,” Mr Cunningham told the Wicklow Voice. “Others are self-isolating due to Covid-19. This left us in a situation where we had no choice but to ask for a postponement of the game in the interests of safety. “To get the team to Coolkenno by observing Covid guidelines of travelling in separate cars, we
would have to put demands on some young players to get their parents to make a journey that is an hour and 20 minutes away.” However, the county’s Competition Controls Committee awarded the game to Coolkenno, fined Bray €200 and deducted a further two points as well as ending the hurling team’s participation in Dublin. Continued on page 8
FOR THE NEXT STAGE WE’RE READY Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2: Operations and Maintenance Facility, South Dock, Arklow Harbour Public Consultation now open until 25 June, 2021 We’re unveiling plans for our proposed Operations and Maintenance Facility, which will be the base for 80 full time employees working on Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2. We want to know what you think To find out more and offer feedback visit sserenewables.com/arklowbank Visit our self-guided exhibition at Bridgewater Centre, Arklow and information point at Main Street Courtown.* To request a postal pack contact deborah.coleman2@sse.com or 087 1457603
The image shown is a computer-generated illustration of what our proposed Operations and Maintenance Facility will look like. *Exhibitions are self-guided due to Covid-19 restrictions and are subject to change. Exhibitions will run in line with venue opening hours. See sserenewables.com/arklowbank for updates.
Maura and Peter Caviston celebrate Blooms Day at Powerscourt Distillery. Pic: Mark Boland
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Work life balance key for workers, survey finds
WORK life balance is now the standout reason candidates will be attracted to a potential new employer, according to a report by recruitment firm HRM. Of the 1,882 people surveyed, nine in ten (97%) say work life balance is influential in their decision. When deciding on whether to engage in an interview process, seven in ten (72%) said a better work life balance would be top of their agenda. Six in ten (67%) said they would accept an offer if the workplace allowed flexibility and over half (54%) of respondents would like to commute less. Only one in ten (10%) respondents want to return to their offices or sites full time. The experience candidates have with an organisation during the hiring process, is the number one factor determining whether they continue with a process with nine in ten (96%) describing it as influential. In terms of reasons for refusing an offer, six in ten (67%) citied ‘lack of flexibility offered’. Four in ten (44%) would refuse a job if the company didn’t offer remote working.
June 11-25, 2021
Are we living in the best place in Ireland?
IS this the best place to live in Ireland? If you think so, you could win the title for the county by sharing your views with a national newspaper. Any city, town, village, or island could be the ‘Best Place to Live in Ireland’. To claim the title for your homeplace all you have to do is to write a short submission explaining what makes it so special and send it to the Irish Times. The countrywide competition last took place in 2012, in the midst of the financial crisis and Westport in Co. Mayo was eventually selected as the overall winner. The Irish Times has relaunched the competition and the initiative will see each nominated location judged on specific criteria, including community spirit, local services, diversity and vibrancy of the local economy. “Our panel of judges and researchers will scour Ireland for
Eleanor Hurn (age 9) at the launch of The Irish Times Best Place to Live 2021. Pic: Conor McCabe Photography
its hidden gems and known paradises,” said Conor Goodman, chair of the juding panel. Joining Conor Goodman on the judging panel will be Mayo County Architect, Simon Wall, Dr Illona Duffy, Monaghan
trict and five suburbs or urban villages. The villages were: Ardara, Co Donegal; Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary; Eyeries, Co Cork; Fourmilehouse, Co Roscommon, and Portballintrae, Co Antrim. The towns: Skerries, Co Dublin; Clonakilty, Co Cork; Killarney, Co Kerry; Westport, Co Mayo; Greystones, Co Wicklow; Birr, Co Offaly; Carrick-onShannon, Co Leitrim; Abbeyleix, Co Laois, and Athlone, Co Westmeath and Sligo town. There were five Dublin suburbs: Rathmines, the Glenbeigh Road area in Cabra, Clondalkin, Sandymount and Ranelagh. The four cities were: Cork, Derry, Galway and Waterford, while the Dingle peninsula also features on the list of the final 25. Anyone can enter by writing a short pitch about their place details at www.irishtimes.com/ bestplace. The closing date for entries is July 25.
based GP and public health commentator, RTE Nationwide presenter Zainab Boladalea and Irish Times journalist and author of ‘A Secret Map of Ireland’ Rosita Boland. Lynsey Adams, Head of
Marketing for sponsor Randox, said the company was delighted to support ‘Best Places to Live 2021’ The last list in 2012, included five villages, 10 towns, four regional cities, one rural dis-
Hot dogs: don’t let your pets overheat
SeaLife marks world ocean day
With the rise in dog ownership over the past year and with temperatures expected to remain high across the county, Dogs Trust is warning owners of the dangers hotter weather can have for dogs. Sunny weather is such a treat for most in the country, and due to ongoing travel restrictions, many will be making the most of the glorious sunshine with visits to their local park, beach or enjoying a backyard barbeque. However, dogs cannot cool themselves down the same way as humans, so the charity is asking dog owners, especially those with young puppies, older dogs, overweight dogs or dogs with flatter faces, to be extra cautious as they are more prone to heatstroke. Common signs of heatstroke to watch out for include uncoordinated movements or collapse, altered or loss of consciousness, loss of vision, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, coma or bleeding. If heatstroke is suspected, seek veterinary attention immediately.
To mark World Ocean Day on June 8, SEA LIFE Bray Aquariumfilled an empty habitat with plastic waste to demonstrate the reality of what lies within our waters. World Ocean Day is an international day that aims to increase public interest and awareness in the protection of the ocean and the sustainable management of its resources. With more than eight million metric tons of plastic dumped into our oceans each year, it is predicted that by 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all the fish in the ocean. The plastic pollution display
means visitors can get a first-hand glimpse of the full extent of the issue. “Ocean pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues in the world right now,” General Manager of SEA LIFE Bray Aquarium Pat Ó Súilleabháin (above) said. “The amount of plastic waste in our waters is constantly rising and there needs to be more awareness of the damage we are doing to our planet. The constant flow of rubbish filling our oceans becomes life threatening and risks damaging the creatures’ habitats.”
June 11-25, 2021
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June 11-25, 2021
ANDY WARHOL
KEITH HARING
PATRICK O’REILLY
BOB QUINN
STEPHEN FORBES
The Holywood International Art & Sculpture Fair
Sat 26 June — Sun 18 July, 2021 At the Culloden Estate & Spa in conjunction with Gormleys Fine Art Let your imagination soar among works by over 150 of the art world’s brightest stars this summer on the shores of Belfast Lough.
SANDRA BELL
Explore the Culloden’s Estate, adorned with extraordinary original artwork from Irish masters and international giants. Indulge in a glass of bubbly from the Bollinger Champagne Bus, linger over lunch in Cultra Inn or enjoy a Bridgerton Inspired afternoon tea. Visit hastingshotels.com/artandsoul for more details, or call us on 028 9042 1066
FREE ENTRY
June 11-25, 2021
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June 11-25, 2021
opinion&comment
Let’s raise a glass of fine Burgundy to Mr Bloom
M
Michael Wolsey
It was thoughtless of the Government not to have arranged the return of indoor dining a little earlier, to accommodate Bloomsday. Now anyone planning to go on the June 16 food trail will need to map an outdoor route. I don’t think that would have pleased Mr Bloom. He was not a man for the great outdoors
and was quite fastidious in his eating habits. He dined well, though. Nowadays we have a wide
r Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart, liver slices fried with crustcrumbs, fried hencod’s roes. Most of all, he liked grilled mutton kidneys which gave his palate a fine tang of faintly scented urine.
selection of restaurants and food stores throughout Ireland, which we think of as a modern development and, certainly, it is a great improvement on the situation I remember from 50 years ago. But at some stage there must have been a regression, for Leopold Bloom ate very well and his menu, even by modern standards, was both varied and exotic. He plans a breakfast of ham and eggs for Molly but has no eggs, so his thoughts turn to a mutton kidney, fried with butter and a shake of pepper. Better still, he thinks, a pork kidney, from Dlugacz’s, the Polish butcher, in Dorset Street. For his own lunch, in Davy Byrne’s moral pub, he enjoys a Gorgonzola cheese sandwich and a glass of fine Burgundy. He reflects that he might also “like a few olives too if they
had them. Italian I prefer. Good glass of burgundy (and a) nice salad, cool as a cucumber, Tom Kernan can dress. Pure olive oil. Milly served me that cutlet with a sprig of parsley. Take one Spanish onion. God made food, the devil the cooks. Devilled crab.” Bloom is an advertising canvasser, who is paid a commission for placing ads in newspapers. He maintains a middleclass lifestyle on a low income , yet he can afford to drink Burgundy, enjoys devilled crab, and is fussy about his choice of olives. Since no-one seems to find his eating habits extraordinary, we must assume they were normal enough for Dublin, early in the last century. “Mr Bloom ate his strips of sandwich, fresh clean bread, with relish of disgust, pungent mustard, the feety savour of green cheese. Sips of
his wine soothed his palate. Not logwood that. Tastes fuller this weather with the chill off. “ Later, in the Ormond Hotel, Bloom enjoys slices of liver with mashed potatoes in gravy . Gerty MacDowell, who excites Bloom with a flash of her knickers, believes the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. If Bloom were her husband, she would treat him to “griddle cakes done to a golden brown hue and Queen Ann’s pudding of delightful creaminess”. Molly worries about her husband ordering “eggs and tea, Findon haddy and hot buttered toast”. Findon haddy is a kipper from Scotland. Molly had bought some “lovely fresh plaice” that day and thinks she’ll get a bit more fish tomorrow along with some blancmange and black currant jam but not “those 2lb
pots of mixed plum and apple.” The range of the food on offer is impressive. Molly hates eels and thinks she might go for cod. She is sick of “loin chops and leg beef and rib steak and scrag of mutton and calfs pluck” and is planning to join her lover on a picnic where they will have “cold veal and ham mixed sandwiches”. She fantasises about a course of sardines and bream. She has a fondness for oysters washed down with stout and likes the “fine salty taste of port and potted meat”. Having thought about food for much of the day, Bloom ends it in bed with his wife, admiring her breasts, like pears, and the “plump mellow yellow smellow melons of her rump”. Ah yes, there’s eating and drinking in Bloomsday. And maybe next year we’ll get to do it all indoors again.
Looking for a tutor? School Is Easy is here to help you Advertorial 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 (SIE) 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. We offer the following subjects, from Primary to Secondary to Specialist Third Level courses: Irish/Gaelige, English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, German, Spanish, History, Geography, Business Studies, Economics, Design and Technology, Music, and Physical Education . Going to university and dreading the college exams? No problem, we have skilled and experienced tutors to help every student.
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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June 11-25, 2021
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June 11-25, 2021
Pitch battle over GAA fixture
Shane Dunne of Giltspur Gas who kindly sponsored the jersys of Ardmore Rovers under 14 Saturday team
Continued from front page
Bray have risen from Division 8 to 4 in Dublin and were due to begin their campaign the weekend of June 18. “Hurling in Bray and Wicklow benefits from our club playing in Dublin,” Mr Cunningham added. “We have a right of appeal through Leinster GAA and we are considering that.” Bray underage football, hurling, ladies football and camogie teams also compete in Dublin. Meanwhile, according to the Irish Independent, the county board has defended its decision saying “any permission granted by Wicklow CCC for a Wicklow club to take part in an outside county league or competition is always given on the clear understanding/condition that the said club would fulfil all of their fixtures in Wicklow. “The CCC spent considerable time planning and putting a fixture structure in place for the year that it is to try and maximise games for football and hurling within the county. ... Clubs are not permitted to pick and choose what fixtures they participate in. All clubs ... must be treated with the basic respect of a club turning out.”
Lights, cameras, lots of film action
Wicklow, it would appear, is awash with movie crews this weather as at least four big budget productions film in the county. The well-flagged Disenchanted is currently shooting in Enniskerry where Hollywood stars Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey are reprising their roles from the hit Disny movie, Enchanted. Modern Family star Sarah Hyland is also believed to be filming a fairytale drama in the county.
The anthology series, titled ‘Epic’, is from the creators of Once Upon a Time, Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis. Meanwhile, onlookers in Bray were stunned to see former Bond Girl Jane Seymour strolling around the town where she is filming detective series Harry Wild. “I play a retired English professor, who, using her knowledge of English literature, finds herself helping her son, who’s a guard, solve murders,” the
Live and Let Die and Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman told RTE recently. “which he’s not very happy about because I keep finding out... She’s always right and she’s quite a character. So, I’m going to be here until mid-August.” Meanwhile, Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla, a brand new show is being filmed in Ashford Studios. Vikings: Valhalla is a spinoff of the popular series, Vikings, which also filmed here.
news in brief Spend a penny in Greystones for free! Greystones Municipal District has provided temporary toilet facilities at South Beach car park in order to support outdoor activities for the summer months. The new units are in addition to the two existing automatic public conveniences at either end of Greystones Blue Flag South Beach and the recently refurbished toilet block at Greystones Harbour. The new toilets have been provided to complement the outdoor seating and planters provided on Church Road in 2020 and ensure that Greystones remains a safe and welcoming place for outdoor living, businesses, socialising and recreation. Cllr Derek Mitchell, Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District, welcomed the additional facilities which he said would reduce the queues at the existing toilets.
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Most of us in Wicklow back ‘no vaccine no job’ rule
A MAJORITY of workers in Wicklow say employers should be able to insist that their staff are vaccinated against Covid 19. A survey has found that 58% of Wicklow people are in favour of employers being required to check vaccine certification before admitting staff to their place of work. The annual FRS Recruitment Employment Insights Survey also found that more than seven out of every ten people (74%) in Wicklow would take a job that required them to be vaccinated. As the country emerges from lockdown, 44% of Wicklow workers admitted to being fearful for their job security, lower than the national average (58%). FRS Recruitment says 50% of Wicklow employees are now remote working some or all of the time. Nationally, 85% of employees want to be able to work remotely and 83% of all employers plan on offering more remote working . Three out of every five Wicklow employees (63%) expect to receive a pay rise in the next 12 months.
Almost half of people in Wicklow (48%) believe the reopening of the economy has been too slow in 2021. A total of 3,192 people participated in the survey nationally which was conducted over 12 days in April. “What comes across in the survey this year is that optimism is returning to the jobs market in Wicklow and all around the country,” said Colin Donnery, General Manager of FRS Recruitment. “People in Wicklow have adopted to the change of circumstances created by the pandemic and as we emerge from lockdown they are ready to move forward. “After a year of lockdown and an understandable reluctance to consider change, we are seeing that both candidates and employers are now keen to see what the market offers. “With 9 out of 10 employers nationally either currently hiring or planning to start hiring in the next 3 months it shows that confidence is returning to the economy, which is likely to drive extensive job market activity through the remainder of 2021.”
12,000 people sign rewilding petition Almost 12,000 people have signed a petition calling for the rewilding of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Green Party TD Steven Matthews met with the Alvey family from Wicklow recently at Leinster House along with Minister Malcolm Noonan to hand over the massive petition. The group has been looking at a range of ideas on restoration and regeneration of the vast expanse of natural habitats in Wicklow’s national park. “Minister Noonan recently launched an ambitious bog rewetting initiative at the Liffey Head Bog in the Wicklow Mountains and visited the scene of devastation after wildfires last month,” Deputy Matthews
said. “The National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS has a vital role in managing our national upland areas and I also met with the review team recently on how we can strengthen the Service to carry out their work. “The NPWS this year received significant increase in their budget and resources to ensure we protect our biodiversity and habitats in Wicklow. “The recent public consultation on the role of the NPWS generated huge public engagement and I look forward to the publication of the review report. “There is a huge challenge to reverse the biodiversity crisis and ecological damage of the past decades.”
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June 11-25, 2021
Loreto Bray students scoop top environmental award
Aoife Blount, Erica Brierton, and Katrina Smyth from Loreto Secondary School in Bray celebrate their big win for their project Seedling Swap. Pic: Leon Farrell Young environmentalists from Bray have been named winners at this year’s Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA). The students from Loreto Secondary School have been named the Overall Senior Category Winners for their project Seedling Swap. Katrina Smyth, Erica Brierton, and Aoife Blount were recognised for setting up a ‘seed library’ in their school community with the aim of promoting biodiversity. Initially they collected seeds to start off the library and provide information on how
to grow them. Young people were then encouraged to bring their own seeds into school to swap with the ones in the library. To reduce the risk of spread of Covid-19, seeds were deposited for three days in an inbox before being ready for collection in an outbox. Also from Loreto Secondary School were The Rainswater Rescuers who won the Senior Water Category. In its 22nd year, the Young Environmentalist Awards programme recognises and rewards young people aged 10-18 who have taken envi-
Lions help raise $66k for India
Bray Lions Club has helped raise $66,000 for the Indian healthcare system during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is among Lions Clubs throughout Ireland who have responded to the crisis as part of a campaign by the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Lions in Ireland have a long history of providing support when a major disaster strikes. The recent upsurge of Covid-19 cases in India and an increasing death rate, threatened to overwhelm its health system. Lions Clubs International has responded by providing funds, which are enabling Lions Clubs throughout India to purchase
and distribute critical medical equipment and supplies for local hospitals and clinics. This has been determined to be the greatest need, as community healthcare systems are being overrun. Lions Clubs in Ireland and the communities that support our work , have been very generous in responding to this appeal. Pictured: The Ambassador of India to Ireland, HE Sandeep Kumar with Des Ryan, District Governor of the Irish Lions. Ambassador Kumar expressed his personal appreciation for the support and generosity to the people of Ireland, in supporting India.
ronmental action to benefit their community, created awareness of climate change and come up with creative solutions to solve environmental issues. “We are delighted to be able to host such a programme that encourages and supports young people’s passion for positive environmental change,” Elaine Nevin, Director of ECO-UNESCO said. “These young people are our future generation of leaders and it’s truly inspiring to see them so active in their schools and communities.”
€58,000 in waste fines handed out
Wicklow County Council’s continued war on waste resulted in several successful prosecutions of waste offenders in the Courts. Fines, clean-up costs and legal fees added up to significant penalties for those caught. Between 2019 and2020, circa 80 cases were taken to court. The total figure imposed was over €58,000, while nearly 1,000 litter fines were issued in the same period. Highlighted cases include a covert operation carried out by the Council’s Enforcement Officers in collaboration with An Garda Siochana where an individual with no Waste Collection Permit was caught red-handed and faces imprisonment if they do not pay the fine imposed by the Court, and a Bottle Bank dumping case, resulting in fines of €9,500 Evidence retrieved from illegal dumping in Blessington, Arklow, Aughrim, Ashford and Glencree led to successful prosecutions also with significant fines being imposed. Illegal burning of waste proved costly for one offender legal proceedings resulted in a court fine of €1,150.
No place like home if you seek the sun WICKLOW is one of the most sunny places in Ireland and the county is tenth in the sunshine league, being beaten to first place by our sunny neighbour, Wexford. The Sunny South East really lives up to its name, for Carlow comes third in the league, compiled by Legacy Communications, an independent brand marketing agency. It shows Wexford with 1,600 hours of sunshine in a year, 160 more than Wicklow and 40 more than Carlow. Less predicatably, fourth and fith places go to Longford (1,520 hours) and Cavan (1,440 hours). The research paints a gloomy picture of the west. Mayo gets the least sunshine (1,059 hours), just ahead of Roscommon,
Leitrim and Galway. Wicklow enjoys more sunshine than most of our neighbours in Britain. Our 1,440 hours compare with 1,400 for London, Brmingham and Manchester but loses to Blackpool (1,567), while
Brighton is a long way ahead on 1,900 hours. Glasgow is on a gloomy 1,203 hours. The Legacy Communications research shows that southern Europe is in a league of its own. Rome sees an annual 2,500 hours of sunshine, Lisbon 2,799, Madrid 2,910 and Valetta in Malta tops them all with 2,957 hours. But the good news for Wicklow’s tourist industry is that, for a sunny staycation, there’s no place like home. “Whether you fancy a relaxing staycation, an al fresco meal or a cheeky outdoor gin/ pint, it’s clear that heading to Wicklow will increase your chances of getting some Vitamin D,” says Micheál Brennan, Head of Search at Legacy Communications.
10 | WILDLIFE
with Justin Ivory
A Good Year for the Roses
Rose-coloured Starling on June 3 (Photo Justin Ivory) We are not talking flowers here but birds that are even more stunning than the bloom. Over the last two weeks Ireland has seen an invasion of Rose-coloured Starlings (Pastor roseus) with sightings of birds in 11 counties so far. I was delighted to catch up with a group of three at my local patch in Kilcoole on June 3. The same size and shape as our Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Rose-coloured Starlings have a pink body with glossy black head, wings and tail, pinkish beak, and pale orange legs. These birds breed in easternmost Europe and south Asia, and winter in India and tropical Asia. They are prone to periodic irruptions where relatively large numbers migrate well beyond their normal range and end-up in western Europe, the UK and Ireland. It is believed these irruptions are linked to changes in the populations of their favourite food-source locusts and grasshoppers. These irruptions are happening more regularly and appear to be linked with warmer, calmer, more settled late-spring conditions across the continent, conditions that are become more regular because of climate change. There were irruptions in 2018 and again in 2020 and now 2021 is seeing another such irruption. The other change that is being seen is that typically these birds usually show up singly, but there are more occurrences of multi-individual sightings starting to come through such as the three birds seen at Kilcoole, Wicklow and Donegal this June, and several sightings of two birds together. The record number of Rose-coloured Starlings seen together in Ireland was five back in 2002. The species has also slowly been expanding its range and has started colonising parts of Bulgaria and Romania since 2000. In 2020 Rose-coloured Starlings bred in France for the first time after 20 pairs settled in a colony in the Alpes-deHaute-Provence region, with 15 pairs having active nests. Maybe in the future if they start visiting Ireland in larger groups the same could happen here.
June 11-25, 2021
ninenottomiss book of the week
TV of the week
HOROSCOPES
film of the week
someone has to die for this Derek Molyneux and Darren Kelly
tracks and trails Friday June 18, 7.00pm (RTE 1)
The blair witch project Netflix now
AUTHORS Derek Molyneux and Darren Kelly have created vivid accounts of violence that parts of this book are not for the faint-hearted, with graphic depictions to convey the brutal ferocity of these tumultuous times. The book draws the reader into the final frenetic months of Dublin’s War of Independence. The events of Bloody Sunday are written in uncompromising, unflinching, and unprecedented detail. The authors retrace the footsteps of IRA assassination units through the streets of Dublin, describing in gory detail the horrors inflicted on the homes they invaded. You have been warned.
TRACKS & Trails is back for a 9th series and is bursting with beautiful hikes, walks and cycles on newly developed and lesser travelled routes on the island of Ireland. In this new series the presenters are challenged to cover a lot of ground on foot or by bike and in some cases scale some steep yet very rewarding trails on hills and mountains, meandering peaceful paths getting away from it all. This week, Pól O Conghaile explores Co Wexford, beginning in Ferrycarrig and tracing a route that is full of stories spanning more than 10,000 years of Ireland’s history.
WHEN this first came out back in 1999, it was a revolutionary movie which spawned myriad projects based on ‘found footage’. But it’s still hard to beat the original which is now available on Netflix. It’s October 21, 1994, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams hike into Maryland’s Black Hills Forest to shoot a documentary film on a local legend, The Blair Witch. They were never heard from again. One year later, their footage was found. The Blair Witch Project is their legacy. Try showing this to your kids who weren’t even born when it first came out and see if they get scared. Nah.
wine of the week
buy of the week
doc of the week
AriesAnother can get through where you can’t. Connect and ask around. Take advantage of a romantic lucky twist. TaurusPool resources to improve your family’s living conditions. Prioritize practicalities. You can get what you need. GeminiFind solutions in your networks. Connect to exchange ideas. Edit a fantasy down to a realistic plan. CancerCosts may be higher than expected; income could rise too. Set a juicy goal, and go for it. You’re creative and efficient. Track the results. LeoAs you gain strength, you gain options. Stay on solid ground. Illusions or fantasies could distract from the job at hand.
breaking boundaries Netflix now
Delheim Pinotage RosE O’Briens, €13.95
faux stone fire pit aldi.ie
WITH staycations the best that most of us can hope for this summer, it’s essential to stock up on some warm weather wine and chilled rosé is unbeatable. It’s not all about France either. The rest of the wine world also produces, fresh, fruit-filled roses in all sorts of different styles. We have gone for this beautifully scented rose with fresh, juicy, ripe fruits, good acidity and a finish that is dry but never bitter. if anyone knows about sipping wine outdoors, it has to be the South Africans, so off you go and throw a bottle in with the ribs and chicken wings . . . just joking. Tender chicken breasts and fine steaks only.
WITH Father’s Day nearing, we have scoured the shelves for the best items that fall outside the usual wine, beer and socks gift bracket and have come up with this: the perennial father pleaser, the (Faux) Stone Fire Pit from Aldi. This is back on sale this year for €59.99 so he can enjoy the warmth of a real wood fire (with the beer). It is light, durable and simple to assemble and has a fire bowl and chrome plated cooking grill, so you can keep out there all day. Only snag is it goes on sale on Sunday June 20th, so make sure he’s still asleep while you sneak out early to get it.
BREAKING Boundaries follows the scientific journey of world-renowned scientist Professor Johan Rockstrom. It tells the story of the most important scientific discovery of our time — that humanity has pushed Earth beyond the boundaries that have kept our planet stable for 10,000 years, since the dawn of civilisation. You may have had enough doom and gloom to last a lifetime, but lifetime might be a lot shorter than it used to be if we keep going the way we are going, is the take-home message from this latest lecture on Netflix. Once you’ve had your vaccine, take to the couch and hope for the best . . .
album of the week
charity of the week
podcast of the week
VirgoKeep a low profile. Postpone travel or overstimulating environments. Review recent events, and make practical plans for what’s ahead. LibraBenefits arise through teamwork and cooperation. You can always include another into your circle of friends. ScorpioWork takes priority. You’re unraveling a challenge. Gather information, and tap into hidden assets. Get support from your team. Sagittarius-
Make plans to get away. You’re especially inventive and creative. Get inspired by another’s adventure. Get outside to feel the wind and sun. CapricornBrainstorm with your partner or team for lucrative ideas. Ask questions. Relax and listen. A brilliant insight shatters an illusion.
crowded house Dreamers are Waiting IT’S been over a decade since we last heard from the beloved band, but that time hasn’t dulled their infectious spirit or keen ear for melodies, courtesy of Neil Finn, who is now aged 63. His son Elroy is now with him on drums, his other son Liam is on guitar and backing vocals, so it’s a family affair. . . without brother Tim, obviously. You won’t find anything approaching Don’t Dream It’s Over here, or anything that sounds much like the Crowded House Generation X grew up with. But then, we all have to grow up.
focus ireland: carrauntoohill focusireland.ie/get-involved/fundraisingevents/carrauntoohil/ IF climbing Ireland’s highest peak has always been on the wishlist but never got the guts to try, then your moment has come — with the help of Kerry’s finest guides. You can also help raise funds for the staff at Focus Ireland, who do so much good work for the homeless. The event takes place on August 29 and the target for fundraising is €400, with a €50 registration fee. There is an option to stay overnight, but that won’t be round for long.
brexit republic www.rte.ie/news/brexit-republic WE didn’t want it in the first place and we never wanted to hear about it again. But it’s back, like it or not. On the latest instalment, Europe Editor Tony Connelly, London Correspondent Sean Whelan and Deputy Foreign Editor Colm Ó Mongáin discuss Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney’s meeting with UK Chief Negotiator David Frost and DUP leader Edwin Poots’s meeting in Dublin with Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Chances of reaching a breakthrough are not high . . . oh dear.
AquariusGet creative with your partner. Make plans for the future. Romance is a distinct possibility. Collaborate and have fun. PiscesPrioritize your health, work and fitness. Physical action gets results. Discover solutions in conversation. Get support from a coach, trainer or doctor.
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June 11-25, 2021
IT CARLOW WEXFORD CAMPUS: WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME…
Located in the heart of Wexford town, IT Carlow Wexford Campus provides accessible, affordable, third-level education, resulting in a pool of talented graduates.
T
he campus was established in 1995 with a mission to respond to the academic, economic and cultural needs of the region, and has grown through collaboration, innovation and connectivity to become an integral part of the fabric of County Wexford. IT Carlow Wexford Campus currently offers 15 full-time CAO courses, from higher certificate to honours degree levels. Its suite of course offerings reflects the importance of tourism, the arts, agriculture, business and the growing tech sector in Wexford. The quality of courses offered and the positive student experience are what continue to attract learners to IT Carlow Wexford Campus. The teaching and administrative staff know the students by name and the campus is renowned among students and alumni for its family-like atmosphere. The various campus clubs and
societies also offer opportunities for students to make new friends and settle into college life, alongside a dedicated Student Services team, supported by the Access Officer and Centre for Teaching and Learning. Reflecting on her experience of studying at IT Carlow Wexford Campus, Fani Gal, a second year BSc in Tourism and Event Management student, said, “All our lecturers know us by name. I feel the lecturers provide more attention and help for each individual. They care about you. You are part of a big family in a calm and friendly environment, but you can also enjoy college life”. Billy Jean Doheny, a recent BA (Hons) Visual Communications and Design graduate commented, “The design studios are state-of-the-art and have all the latest software and equipment we need. I love the diversity of the course modules too; aside from the core de-
sign learning, there’s a strong emphasis on business and web technologies”. While students benefit from the positive atmosphere on the Wexford Campus, and access to the latest technology, they also have excellent opportunities to build connections through work experience and networking with industry. Every year, IT Carlow Wexford Campus engages with over 100 organisations, including community groups, voluntary agencies, youth groups, businesses, statutory organisations and the health, cultural and arts sectors. More than 3,700 students have graduated from IT Carlow Wexford Campus since it opened its doors in 1995. A welcomed and consistent compliment from graduands on graduation day is how they could not have achieved their dream of a degree without IT Carlow Wexford Campus.
Level 8 CW078 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sustainable Farm Management and Agribusiness CW028 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care CW068 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care CW018 Bachelor of Business (Honours) CW058 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Tourism and Event Management CW048 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Creative Computing and Digital Innovation CW088 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Visual Communications and Design CW038 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Art Level 6/7 CW027 Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Farm Management and Agribusiness CW037 Bachelor of Business CW006 Higher Certificate in Business CW077 Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Event Management CW087 Bachelor of Science in Creative Computing and Digital Innovation CW047 Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications and Design CW057 Bachelor of Arts in Art
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June 11-25, 2021
opinion&comment
Address player welfare now
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he horrific scenes on June 12 in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen involving Christian Eriksen were probably the last moments of his elite soccer career; thankfully they were not the last moments of his life. Fabrice Muamba survived a similar brush with death, but Marc-Vivien Foe and others didn’t. The Eriksen incident brings into sharp focus the issue of player welfare in soccer. There are parallels to be drawn with stars of other professional sports. Yes, players earn vast sums of money. But what good is being rich if you haven’t got your health, which is your real wealth. There was a brief clip in some of the footage from Saturday of Kasper Schmeichel, the Leicester City and Denmark goalkeeper, consoling Eriksen’s partner. Presumably at that moment they feared the worst. You can see some traumatic
stuff as an elite soccer player. I remember Schmeichel running to the scene of the helicopter crash at the King Power Stadium in 2018 which claimed the lives of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the Leicester City owner, and his entourage. Schmeichel’s dad Peter vomited on the pitch during a game between Manchester United and Coventry City in 1996 on seeing the injury to Coventry’s Dave Busst; the compound fracture to both the tibia and fibula of his right leg remains the worst injury in Premier League history. Should the game between Finland and Denmark have been concluded on Saturday? No, it certainly should not have. The game should have been abandoned and slotted in elsewhere in the schedule. What pressure was there from the ‘powers that be’ and sponsors to have the game concluded? We will find out in time, but it is the same kind of pressure that saw Brazil players forced to play the 1998 World Cup final against France after wit-
nessing Ronaldo (the first one) suffer a convulsive fit in the dressing room (not surprisingly,
Brazil lost). Euro 2020 is being played in 2021 because rather than write off the tournament
the ‘powers that be’ insisted it must be staged. The players had to conclude
the 2019-20 season in difficult circumstances, go straight through a full 2020-21 programme and now rock up for Euro 2020 (2021). Then it will be back into the 2021-22 season, then the 2022 World Cup. It’s too much. The issue of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (the heart condition that causes the heart to stop suddenly during intense physical exercise) isn’t the only one for soccer to address. Add in the issue of a higher incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s amongst retired players from years of heading the football, not to mention the gambling and other addiction issues. Soccer players only have a short career. The riches they earn are no good to them if they can’t live a full and healthy life after the game. As for the fans, I’m guess I’m not alone in saying I could live with less football if it meant healthier and safer players. - Brian Quigley
June 11-25, 2021
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June 11-25, 2021
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June 11-25, 2021
We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by
Evening Her 2/06/1939
Irish Press 20/06/1986
Irish Ind, 15/06/1935
Freemans Jrn 01/06/1867
Irish Press 12/06/1935
Freemans Jrn 19/06/1841
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wicklowvoice.ie June 11-25, 2021