Wicklow Voice 13-12-2019

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Doubts over Purple House move after HSE letter Purple House Cancer Support “are extremely disappointed” with the news that funding for their new base cannot be guaranteed.

The HSE wrote to the charity this week with the news despite Purple House having already identified a suitable premises for their need.

Health Minister Simon Harris has been urged not to break a promise he made to help move Bray’s Purple House Cancer Support Centre into a new home.

Fianna Fáil health spokesperson and Wicklow TD Stephen Donnelly today said the local charity is “in dire need of our help”.

Veronica O’Leary, Director it Services at Purple House, told Wicklow Voice.

“Purple House are extremely disappointed with this news.

“However we will not let it stop us with our plans to create a permanent Cancer Support Centre that will serve the needs of thousands of Cancer patients today and for future generations.

“This will be a Community facility created by the Community, for the Community.

“We are delighted to say that we have identified an ideal premises in Bray Co. Wicklow, that meets all of our needs today and will allow us to grow into the future.

“We hope to give you the exact details shorty but until it’s confirmed we need the support of the community and the support of our Government and TD’s to make our vision a reality.”

Purple House added that the

new premises will provide private rooms, a rehabilitation gym and recreational area, a dedicated children’s area, dedicated rooms for cancer survivorship and education programmes, a much bigger drop-in space, a garden where families can spend precious time together making memories.

Mr Donnelly said: “Purple House is an incredible facility that supports patients and their families who’re dealing with Cancer.

Continued on next page

Presentation College Bray’s Jack Murphy in action against Gonzaga in the Lenster Junior League final which Pres won 26-24 to clinch a first title in ten years. Lots more pix inside

04| NEWS news in brief Huge uptake for chilcare support There has been a huge uptake by Wicklow parents for the new state scheme that provides early-learning and childcare support.

A total of 277 Wicklow families have already been approved for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) just three weeks after applications to the scheme opened. A further 207 families are awaiting confirmation on whether their application has been successful or not.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone is encouraging all parents in Wicklow to apply.

Tributes paid to Rosaleen Smith

Tributes have been paid to artist and founding member of the Greystones art group, Rosaleen Smith, who passed away peacefully recently at St Vincent’s University Hospital. Rosaleen’s funeral mass will take place in Kilcoole tomorrow morning, followed by burial at St Peter’s Cemetery in Bray.

The artist’s death notice said she will be “sadly missed by her niece Darina and family and by her lifelong friend Noemi Mackey along with her nieces, nephews, their families and friends”.

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

Gardai step up Larry Murphy Funds raised to replace defib probe Matilda Byrne (5) at the launch of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund’s Lollipop Day which takes place February 26-27.

Pic: Jason Clarke.

Locals in Rathnew and Wicklow Town have raised more than enough money through a GoFundMe page to replace the defibrillator destroyed by vandals recently.

Gardai are believed to be making progress in their hunt for the vandals who dumped the now recovered defibrillator stolen from Rathnew.

It is the third defibrillator targeted in County Wicklow in recent months - in October, one was vandalised in the Vevay area of Bray while an-

other was wrecked on Strand Road in June.

The defibrillator taken in Rathnew was snatched from Centra and was recovered from the grounds of the school opposite the supermarket in Merrymeeting.

Gardai are believed to be carrying out finger print analysis in an effort to catch the thugs and anyone with information can call Wicklow Garda station at (0404) 67107.

“It is a piece of equip-

ment that can deliver an electric shock to a patient’s heart if they are in cardiac arrest,” Dr David Menzies, medical director of national Community First Responder network.

“The cheapest defibrillator is just north of €1,000 plus VAT, they need to be kept in a heated cabinet as cold weather will degrade the battery.

“You’re looking at €1500 for that community to replace this.”

Purple House move

Continued from previous page “This centre offers hope to people at their most vulnerable.

“I want to call directly on the Health Minister to stay true to his word. I would ask Minister Harris not to backtrack on his promise to help, as he currently appears to be doing.

“Abandoning Purple House is simply not good enough. It’s not good enough for people with Cancer and it’s not good enough for the families and friends of people with Cancer. What I would like to say to every single person in the Bray area is ‘let’s stand up for Purple House’ and let’s not stand down until its future is safe,” Deputy Donnelly (pictured below) added.

You can help Purple House by supporting our new home fundraising appeal at www.purplehouse.ie/donations/

Contact us today

t: 01 901 5565

Two detectives who secured critical testimony of a prisoner who implicated Larry Murphy in the murder of Deirdre Jacob have been interviewed by gardai.

According to reports that retired sergeants Alan Bailey and Noel Mooney have provided witness statements about their interaction with the prisoner to the garda team investigating the disappearance and murder of Deirdre Jacob.

The prisoner claimed that the Wicklow man confessed to the murder of the 18-year-old Kildare woman while he was serving a jail sentence for rape.

The statements were taken from the retired detectives in recent months.

A file on the murder is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and is thought to be at an advanced stage, sources said.

The now retired detectives believed the prisoner’s account of Murphy’s confession was highly credible and they conducted a number of searches as a result of his information. However, the mystery of Deirdre Jacob’s

disappearance was never solved.

Gardai are understood to have received “significant” new information from other sources since they announced last year that they are treating the 18-yearold student’s disappearance as murder.

Deirdre Jacob vanished in July 1998 from the roadside close to her home outside Newbridge, Co Kildare.

She had been on errands in the town and was seen by neighbours on her way home that afternoon before she seemed to disappear without trace just yards from her home.

The prisoner’s allegations about Murphy led to a number of unsuccessful searches for Deirdre Jacob in and around the Wicklow area.

Murphy, a carpenter and tradesman, travelled throughout the Leinster region for his work. He is currently believed to be living in London.

He previously lived in Amsterdam after he was released from prison, where he served 10 years of a 15-year sentence for rape.

Council fifth for integrity

Wicklow County Council is among just nine councils that publish financial donations given to their councillors.

A National Integrity Index of all 31 local authorities shows Wicklow County Council ranks joint 5th, with a score of 19 out of 30, or 63%.

The Transparency International (TI) Ireland research finds Fingal and South Dublin County Councils are the most transparent, while Kerry and Westmeath Councils are the worst performing.

“It’s encouraging to see local authorities publishing more information than was the case last year but there can’t be any room for complacency,” Dr. Elliott Jordan-Doak from TI Ireland says “While there have been relatively few recent scandals, the incentives and opportunities for abuse are still there.

“Almost €5bn was spent by councils last year and they play a key role in managing land, delivering public services and protecting the environment.”

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

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06 | news in brief Restaurant is shut by HSE An Asian restaurant in Wicklow Town was closed last month by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) under food safety legislation.

Tikka Asian Street Food, Schooner House, South Quay, was served with the closure order on November 19 due to what the report says was contamination due to “raw chicken and raw chicken juices.”

Tikka Asian Street Food has since reopened and is trading as normal.

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

Gold star for Blue Star as Gardai freeze Keith shoots up book charts €190k in bank

after raid on Bray business

Council pays out €2m in claims Wicklow County Council has had to pay out over €2m in insurance claims in the first nine months of 2019.

Figures released by the Irish Public Bodies (IPB), the county council’s insurer, under the Freedom of Information Act reveal a significant increase in claims against Ireland’s local authorities in the first nine months of 2019.

The IPB has paid out more in insurance claims up until the end of September this year, than in the whole of 2018.

The insurer has paid out €2.18m on behalf of Wicklow County Council.

A former Wicklow county footballer and secondary school principal has risen to number three in the Dubray Bray book charts.

Blue Star Rising by Keith Ryan, who hails from Bray originally, is the author’s first novel, with only two children’s books by David Walliams ahead of.

The Wicklow Town resident was previously a teacher in St Brendan’s College, before becoming Principal of Synge

Street CBS in 2002 and the Oatlands College in 2005.

Since retiring in 2013 Keith Ryan has devoted his time to writing, singing and family and is Chairperson of Voices of Bray Community Choir.

His passion for sport and his experiences in education have inspired his first book Blue Star Rising. It is a literary novel set in the autumn of 1993, and tells the story of Richard (Dickie) Boyle, a member of the Dublin

Gaelic Football Team who face Kerry in the All-Ireland Final.

Blue Star Rising is available in Bridge Street Books, Wicklow Town, Dubray Books, Bray and Stillorgan and Reads Stillorgan and online at readsdirect.ie, and Village Books, Greystones, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon. com both as a paperback and as an e-book. It is also available to download in Kindle and Apple.

An Albanian drug dealer and people trafficker is believed to have been the target of a raid by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) on a premises in Bray on recently.

The suspect, who is aged in his 40s and part of a wider criminal network of Albanians, is linked to a car business and restaurant, both of which were searched.

Gardai also searched his home, the offices of an accountant and an estate agent, in the synchronised operation in Blanchardstown and Bray, while a bank account with €190,000 was also frozen.

During the raids, Gardaí discovered €500 worth of cocaine, €10,000 and £12,000 in cash and a Swiss-made Hublot watch.

Two vehicles were also seized on suspicion they were the proceeds of crime - a 131 Audi A5 and a 142 Mercedes C Class.

“The Criminal Assets Bureau with the assistance of local Gardai in Blanchardstown and

Bray conducted a search operation on December 6, 2019,” Gardai said. “Five searches were conducted, one residential dwelling in Dublin 15, two business premises, one in Dublin 15 and one in Co Wicklow, and two professional premises, one in Dublin 15 and one in Dublin 2.”

“The CAB investigation is focussed on an individual who is a suspected member of an Albanian organised crime gang involved in the sale and supply drugs and people smuggling and trafficking,” Gardai said.

The CAB raids follows comments from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that Albanian and Georgian nationals were arriving in Ireland on false documents and applying for international protection.

Last week, eight Albanians men were deported to France after they were discovered found on a cargo ship in Waterford Port, while a further 23 people were deported from Ireland to Albania and Georgia.

Supply Scheme (pictured) by building a new treatment plant, and upgrading the treated water reservoir at Stillorgan.

These upgrades are due to be completed in 2020.

“Irish Water is appealing to the public to conserve water where possible and to only use what they need,” John O Donoghue of Irish Water, said: “We’ve seen demand creeping up in recent weeks and there is currently no headroom in the system. Safe, clean, treated water is not in unlimited supply and we all have to play a part in conserving it.

“During the drought last year,

the conservation measures that people were taking in their homes and businesses helped to significantly reduce demand.

“However, when the urgency of a drought passes, and in the middle of winter, it is easy to lose focus on how precious water is.

“Our priority is to maintain the water supply and to avoid placing restrictions and in order to do this we need the public’s support. ” “With our Local Authority partners, Irish Water is fixing leaks and upgrading the water supply system.

“As part of our leakage reduction programme, Irish Water has replaced almost 90km of water mains in the Greater Dublin Area since 2018, which is the equivalent of two M50s.

“Overall, we have seen a reduction in the leakage rate which now stands at 37% in the Dublin area.”

Irish Water tells us to ease up or face restrictions Wicklow residents are being asked to conserve water over the festive period to reduce the risk of water shortages in the New Year.

According to Irish Water, we are drinking 10 million litres more a day - enough water to fill Liberty Hall - than this time last year.

Irish Water and Local Authorities in the Greater Dublin Area are appealing to customers to reduce their consumption where possible in a bid to reduce usage during the busy Christmas as demand on drinking water reaches record levels.

There has been a steady increase in demand over the past few weeks, as is normally the case prior to Christmas, and conserving water now will reduce the risk of restrictions on the water supply.

Irish Water is currently upgrading Wicklow’s Vartry Water

‘Safe, clean water is not in unlimited supply and we all have to conserve it’

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

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08 |

Champions!

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

Presentation College Bray triump in Leinster Junior League

Having waited 10 years since their last Junior League victory, Presentation College Bray defeated Gonzaga College 26-24 in the sweetest way imaginable - a last minute touchline conversion from the boot of Jack Murphy, son of Ireland Rugby assistant coach Richie and former past pupil himself.Tries from Murphy, Senan Rogan (2) and Finn Treacy saw Pres take the title from a strong Gonzaga side who lead 24-19 going into the final minutes after the game was tied 12-12 at half time.

“Well done to everyone involved,” Principal Pat Gregory told the Wicklow Voice. “This is a fantastic achievement and congratulations to the players, parents, coaches and teachers but specifically Kevin Conroy and Ger Glover who brough many of these through the cubs system in the school.” Pix: Des Owens

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wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

Trevor’s family have no answers after 19 years Gardai have issued a fresh appeal on the 19th anniversary of the last sighting of Trevor Deely as his family have been forced to hit out at the “outrageous” speculation regarding his disappearance.

The 22-year-old IT worker went missing in the early hours of December 8, 2000 following his work Christmas party at the Hilton Hotel in Dublin and before going onto Buck Whaley’s nightclub on Leeson Street.

On his way home, Trevor called into his workplace at the Bank of Ireland in Fitzwilliam Place at around 3.35am and CCTV footage of the rear entrance of the building shows an unknown man talking to the missing man.

Trevor was last spotted on CCTV passing a Bank of

Ireland ATM on Haddington Road at 4.14am before 30 seconds later a male was captured on CCTV walking in the same direction.

Meanwhile, Trevor’s sister Michele said the online speculation about his disappearance as “outrageous” and called for it to be toned down “several notches.”

“We’ve done a huge amount of work, but all that work, in a way, is coming to haunt us - it’s really becoming a very difficult item for the family when we think about speculation,” she said.

“You’d want to read what people write online - it is outrageous. There’s a lot of speculation around Trevor going to Alaska - that was the trip of a lifetime for him.

“He came home a couple of weeks prior to him going missing - it has nothing to do with anything.

“There’s lots of theories - like Trevor went to Alaska, got caught up in something and somebody followed him back and did something to him.

“He was a simple guy. He was an entry level IT worker. And yet people have him caught up in this banking scam or that he was involved in some crazy scheme, and that’s why he was taken. It’s crazy. As difficult as it is to deal with the speculation, we won’t give up. We have to keep fighting through it until we find him.”

Gardaí at Pearse Street are appealing for any information into Trevor’s disappearance and anyone with information can call 01 6669000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

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wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

opinion&comment

Move over Tweedledum, it’s Tweedledee’s turn

W

e don’t have a Conservative Party in Ireland. We don’t need one - all of our major parties and most of our politicians are inherently conservative. And we seem to like it that way, for we keep electing them.

Sometimes we give the big job to Tweedledum and sometimes to Tweedledee. Either way we can relax; in stormy waters this pair won’t rock the boat.

Whether it was rocked or not, Good Ship Ireland almost sank back in 2008 when recession put a hole in the economy.

The austerity measures that followed were hugely unpopular and for a time it looked as if the country might be prepared to abandon its traditional voting patterns. But

Michael Wolsey

we didn’t, not quite, and last week’s by-elections suggest that we have since resiled from any such intention and are returning to the status quo.

That status quo was set in back in 1948 after a string of Fianna Fáil election successes threatened to turn our recently independent country into a oneparty state.

Such an outcome was

prevented by a coalition - a collision, as the bar-stool comedians had it - of Fine Gael and Labour.

It was an unlikely pairing, since they had almost no policies in common and shared very few with Clann na Poblachta and the scattering of independents who helped them form the Government.

Nevertheless, it worked well enough and set a pattern that lasted for the next 30 years or so.

You could have Fianna Fáil in government by itself or a coalition of Fine Gael and Labour, sometimes helped by a third party or independents.

Charles Haughey altered the equation when he took Fianna Fáil into coalition with the Progressive Democrats in 1989.

But the basic formula remained the same until the election of 2011, which was dominated

by recession and smashed Fianna Fáil, and the election of 2016, which was dominated by austerity and almost wiped out the Labour Party.

These elections also saw the rise of Sinn Féin and some small parties on the Left. They changed the Dáil arithmetic and, for a time, it looked as if next year’s general election would finally put an end to the 1948 status quo.

It seemed distinctly possible that Micheál Martin would be the first Fianna Fáil leader not to become Taoiseach and that his party might be pushed towards coalition and eventual amalgamation with Fine Gael.

For Labour, with only seven TDs, there was the grim possibility that further slippage could leave it a party in name only, a flag of convenience for two or three independents.

Neither Fianna Fáil nor

Labour can relax just yet but the trends of the past year and the results of the by-elections would suggest that both parties will survive.

Fianna Fáil will never return to the glory days when it could provide one-party government, but it remains strong enough to be a major force and comfortably ahead of Sinn Féin.

Labour, which had already seen a revival at local government level, looks likely to return enough TDs to at least be a player in any government formation.

So what has changed since 1948?

There is no single dominant party. Sinn Féin, which is now prepared to go into coalition, will take on the role then held by Labour and Labour will play the part of the traditional fourth party, held by the likes of Clann na Poblachta, Clann na Talmhan

and Democratic Left.

The next government will, of course, bring a fresh approach to specific issues such as housing and transport but there will be no radical shift.

That’s how the voters like it.

And they are right. Look at the shambles of British politics, the instability in Spain and Italy, the rise of the Right in Hungary and Poland, and you can only conclude that our dull old parties, governed by pragmatism not ideology, have served us well.

I hesitate to predict the outcome of a general election on the basis of four by-elections with very low turnouts, but I do think Fianna Fáil will be the biggest party next time out.

It’s not that their policies are wonderful, just that their time has come.

Move over Tweedledum, it’s Tweedledee’s turn now.

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

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wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

shoplocalinwicklow

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

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WICKLOW

LOCAL

LOCAL

Times Times

Tuesday 3rd December 2019 XX

GREEN CHRISTMAS

RECYCLING IN DECEMBER/JANUARY

WICKLOW

XX

COUNTY ArklowCOUN WICKLOW WICKLOW RECYCLING C RECYCLING

Monday 23rd Dec Closed Christmas Eve Closed Christmas Day Closed St. Stephens Day Closed Friday 27th Dec Closed Saturday 28th Dec 9am-1.45pm Sunday 29th Dec Closed Monday 30th Dec Closed All centres be open a New Year's Eve willClosed New Year's Day Closed & including Wednesday 23r Thursday 2nd Jan 9am-4.30pm Centres will be closed Friday 3rd Jan 9am-3.30pm Thursday 24th December to Mon Saturday 4th Jan 9am-1.45pm

BRAY, WICKLOW, ARKLOW, RECYCLING CE

CENTRES

Christmas Opening & Closing Times from Re-Open on Tuesday 29th and Wedn Bray Avoca Centres will close again fo

Stop Food Waste this Christmas and for the New Year

Make 2015 a waste free zone in the kitchen!

CHRISTMAS TREE SHREDDING JANUARY 2020 Food waste increases by a massive 80% during the Christmas and most of it ends up in BringAdd your Christmas Treeused to any of thepackage, collection points landfill. to this all the energy to produce, transport and below. deliver the food towill our homes and we have a very, very and wasteful Christmas.

They be shredded, composted used again!

While some food waste is composted most ends up in the bin. About 1/3 of all the food we buy gets thrown out!!

On average, wasted food costs each Irish household €700 a year. For some households this can be over €1,000!

You can save money and the planet all in one go!

No wreaths, plastic trees or decorations please.

For our ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ Cookbook, using leftovers to extend your Christmas Cheer DATE / phone 1890 – check ourLOCATION website: www.wicklow.ie or emailTIME us at eao@wicklowcoco.ie 222276

Arklow

Arklow Recycling Centre, Croghan Industrial Estate

Mon-Thur: 9.00am-4.30pm

Tidy Towns Pavillion

Mon-Sat: 9.00am-4.00pm

3rd -18th January

Fri: 9.00am-3.30pm Go to www.StopFoodWaste.ie check out how to…..

Sat:and 9.30am-1.45pm ✔ Buy Better ✔ Get Savvy with Storage ✔ And Start some Canny Cooking with their Recipes

Aughrim

3rd -18th January

You can also get this information from the Environmental Awareness Office, Wicklow County Council : phone 1890 22 9.00am-4.30pm 22 76.

Avoca Recycling Centre Mon-Thurs: 3rd -18th January Christmas leftover recipes and a clever menu Fri: planner is available on www.lovefoodhate9.00am-3.30pm waste.com Sat: 9.30am-1.30pm

Avoca

Closed for lunch 1.00- 2.00pm

every day.

And why not decide to compost in the new year!………..

And while Rampere you are doing something to saveMon-Thur: on food waste…get going onJanuary composting Baltinglass Landfill & Recycling Centre 8.30am-4.00pm 3rd -18th Fri: 8.30am-3.30pm the kitchen and garden waste as well.

Sat: 8.30am-1.00pm

Monday 23rd Dec 9am-1.45pm Thursday 31st December and F Monday 23rd Dec Closed Christmas Eve Closed Christmas Eve Closed NORMAL OPENING HOURS RESUME Christmas Day Closed Christmas Day Closed St. Stephens Day Closed St. Stephens Day Closed Friday 27th Dec 9am-1.45pm Friday 27thRecycling Dec Closed Centre Arklow Recyc Bray Saturday 28th Dec 9am-1.45pm Saturday 28th Dec Closed Centre Beechwood Close, Sunday 29th Dec Closed Sunday 29th Dec Closed BoghallClosed Road Industrial Monday 30th Croghan Dec 9am-1.45pm Monday 30th Dec Opening Hours: Emoclew Roa New Year's Eve Closed New Year's Eve Closed Mon - Fri 9am–4pm Opening Hours New Year's Day Closed New Year's Day Closed Thursday 2nd Mon-Thurs Jan 9am-4pm 9am–4 9.30am–2pm ThursdaySat 2nd Jan Closed 9am-4pm Friday 3rd Jan 9am-3.30pm Friday 3rd Jan Fri 9am-3.30p 9am-1.45pm (Closed for lunch 1-2pm) Saturday 4th Jan Sat 9am–1.45p Saturday 4th Jan

9am-1.30pm

Rampere Rampere Recycling Cen The Murrough The Murrough, Wicklow Town Baltinglass Baltinglass Opening Hours: Monday 23rd Dec 9am-1.45pm Opening Hours The Murrough Recycling Centre

Mon - Eve Thurs 9am–4.30pm Monday 23rdMon Dec Christmas Closed - 8.30am-4pm Thurs 8.30am Fri 9am–3.30pm Christmas Eve Closed Christmas Day Closed Fri 8.30am–3pm Sat Day 9am–1.45pm Christmas Day Closed St. Stephens Closed Sat 8.30am–1p St. Stephens Day Closed Closed every day Friday 27th for Dec lunch Closed Closed Saturday 28th1pm-2pm Dec 9am-1.45pm Friday 27th Dec Sunday 29th Dec Closed Monday 30th Dec 9am-1.45pm New Year's Eve 9am-1.45pm New Year's Day Closed Thursday 2nd Jan 9am-4.30pm (Closed for lunch 1-1.45pm) Friday 3rd Jan 9am-3.30pm (Closed for lunch 1-1.45pm) Saturday 4th Jan 9am-1.45pm LOCATION

Saturday 28th Dec Sunday 29th Dec Monday 30th Dec New Year's Eve New Year's Day Thursday 2nd Jan Friday 3rd Jan Saturdsy 4th Jan

8.30am-1pm Closed 8.30am-4pm 8.30am-1pm Closed 8.30am-4pm 8.30am-4pm 8.30am-1pm

FOR FURTHER Env INFORMATION: T:

CHRISTMAS TREE SHREDDI

DATE

Arklow

Arklow Recycling Centre, Croghan Industrial Estate

4th to

Composting is easy! Composters and information on composting is available through the Wicklow County Council Recycling or call 1890 76 Blessington County Council Yard, Naas Road Mon toCentres Fri:10.00am-4.00pm 3rd22 -18th22 January

Aughrim

Tidy Towns Pavillion

4th to

Bray

Avoca

Avoca Recycling Centre

6th to

Bray Recycling Centre, Beechwood Close, Boghall Road

Bray

Greystones

Mon-Fri: 9.00am-4.00pm

3rd -18th January

Sat: 9.30am-1pm HOUSEHOLDERS Festina Lente Foundation, 10am-4pm Daily 3rd -18th January MOBILE RECYCLING COLLECTIONS Old Connaught Avenue Donations in aid of FOR Festina Lente PLASTIC BOTTLES, NEWSPAPERS & TEXTILES Carpark in front of the Wicklow County Council This sit is monitored by CCTV 3rd -18th January

Offices on Mill Road oppositePLEASE the bottle banks Only Christmas Trees accepted NOTE CHANGED DATES Please use the Wicklow County Council Recycling Centers as an alternative Hollywood Church Carpark, Hollywood 10.00am -12.00 midday 11th January Donations in aid of Tidy Towns FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH Wicklow The Murrough Recycling Centre, Wicklow Mon-Thur: 9.00am-4.00pm 3rd -18th January Fri: 9.00am-1.00pm Time Location Venue Sat: 9.30am -1pm 10am-12pm Blessington Road adjacent to Blessington Community College Wicklow Green King, Coolbeg (road opp. Beehive) Mon-Fri: 8am-5.30pm.

3rd -18th January Sat: 9am - 1pm SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 10am-12pm

Dunlavin

Stephens Street THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

10am-12pm

Hollywood

Stop Food Waste for Christmas Baltinglass

Rampere Landfill & One third of theRecycling food we buy goes into the bin with twice as Centre much waste over Christmas. Try to plan your shopping better, Blessington County Council Naas Road store the food more carefully, cook Yard, a bit less for the main meal and parties and save the leftovers by freezing.

All help to Bray Bray Recycling Centre, reduce food waste.

Beechwood Close, Boghall Road

4th to

Check Bray

4th to

out the 12 days of Lente Christmas recipe book for leftovers Festina Foundation, on www.wicklow.ie or ask for a copy from Old Connaught Avenue

For further information on reducing household waste contact: The Environmental Education Office, Wicklow County Council.

Phone: 1890 22 22 75, e-mail: eao@wicklowcoco.ie

4th to

eao@wicklowcoco.ie or Locall 1890 222276 Greystones

Carpark in front of the

For more tips on avoiding food waste visit Wicklow County Council Offices

4th to

on Mill Road opposite the bottle www.stopfoodwaste.ie banks

Composting atHorkan’s home is great for the&environment but don't Glen of Garden to ask your bin collector to provide you with a brown theforget Downs Lifestyle Centre

4th to

bin for food waste which will result in lower bin charges.

Hollywood

Church Park, Hollywood

2nd J Dona Tidy T

Wicklow

The Murrough Recycling Centre, Wicklow

4th to

Wicklow

Green King, Coolbeg (road opp. Beehive)

4th to

Opposite School Carpark

Only plastic bottles, newspapers and textiles may be brought to the Households Mobile Recycling collection.

No commercial materials or waste may be brought.

Materials for recycling may not be brought to these locations outside of the stated collection times.

Materials for recycling may only be placed in a designated container or with a service provider.

To leve materials for recycling or mided waste at one of these locations is dumping and offenders will be liable to litter fines or prosecution.

The Mobile Recycling Service is provided by Greenstar under contract to Wicklow County Council

4th to

WHAT GOES IN THE GREEN BIN? Wicklow

Wicklow Rugby Club Girl’s team 8th & will collect trees for shredding from Free talks available from thehouse recycling programme your inambassadors Wicklow Town for by a VOICE. donation E5. Text Forof Details See or phone to www.voiceireland.org/general-news/voice-launches-nationwidebook a collection on 089 4195253

recycling-and-waste-management-workshops/

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wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

Season’s greetings

Cara Callan, Toni Noone, Triona O’Neill in Brooke & Shoals

Aoife Boyle, Ellen King, Lily Davis and Lorraine Martine in Escape Boutique during Ladies Night Greystones

Celina Purcell, Marina Donohoe, Jenny Holland enjoying the Meridian Centre

Aislinn Bowers and Lisa Croke in Brooke & Shoals

CJ Wynn and Deirdre Moriarty in Lorient Gift

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

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wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

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wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

WILDLIFE

ninenottomiss

Mamma Mia!

book of the week

with Justin Ivory

It’s December and officially winter and with it comes an influx of visitors from Scandinavia. Sporting spiky hairdos, heavy eye-makeup and some flashy outer-ware between them, these tourists could well be a raggle-taggle bunch of punks, goths and new romantics!

So, who are they and why are they here? They are wild foragers and they are here to feast on our food. In this case they are wild foragers of the feathered and non-humankind, so have a perfect right to stuff themselves on mother nature’s larder. This mobile marauding club consists of a trio of members – Fieldfare, Redwing and Waxwing.

Redwing (Photo Andreas Trepte www.phot-natur.net) The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) is also a member of the thrush family. Smaller than our Song Thrush, they have a very distinctive creamy stripe above the eye (supercilium) and orange-red flank/underwing markings. They roam across the countryside feeding in fields and hedgerows and only venture into gardens in the coldest of weather.

Waxwing (Photo Justin Ivory) Last, but not least, is the Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulous) who get their name from the bright red tips on some of their secondary feathers that is reminiscent of wax seals used on letters in bygone times. They have a fondness for red berries, particularly those of the Rowan tree, quite a few of which can be found in urban and suburban areas.

film of the week

HOROSCOPES

THE BODY

Sticks and Stones Monday 16 December, 9pm Vigin Media 1

knives out Released 5 December 2019

Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological make up. A wonderful successor to A Short History of Nearly Everything , this new book is an instant classic. It will have you marvelling at the form you occupy, and celebrating the genius of your existence, time and time again. ‘What I learned is that we are infinitely more complex and wondrous, and often more mysterious, than I had ever suspected. There really is no story more amazing than the story of us.’

New series. Episode one. Sales associate Thomas Benson faints during a presentation pitch, meaning his team doesn’t get the contract or the lucrative bonus that would have been coming their way. His life starts to spiral out of control when he feels his colleagues are now out to get him and his work and home life are threatened.

Psychological thriller, starring Ken Nwosu, Ben Miller, Alexandra Roach, Sean Sagar and Susannah Fielding.

A fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate.

From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death. With an all-star ensemble cast KNIVES OUT is a witty and stylish whodunit guaranteed to keep audiences guessing until the very end.

event of the week

walk of the week

by Bill Bryson

concert of the week

Fieldfare (Photo Justin Ivory) The Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a large, colourful thrush, like our Mistle Thrush in size, shape and behavior. They particularly like to feed on Hawthorn berries.

tv show of the week

AriesTravel could interfere with personal routines, although new views inspire.

Avoid expensive missteps.

Consider long-term dreams and ambitions.

TaurusChange is inevitable.

Believe you can prosper. It’s easier to finish old projects now. Generosity looks good on you.

GeminiConnect with neighbors, friends and community groups. Contribute to a team effort. A goal may seem distant or blocked.

CancerKeep your wits about you to handle a mess at work. Take charge for the results you want. The action is behind the scenes.

LeoYour travels and studies could include traffic, obstacles or barriers to advancement. Keep calm and carry on.

A Night Before Christmas: Saturday 14th December Whale Theatre (01) 2010550. E: ask@whaletheatre.ie

Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker Sunday 15th December, Whale Theatre (01) 2010550. E: ask@whaletheatre.ie

Guided Hike Of DerryBawn Ridge Saturday, December 14, 10am – 3:30pm Glendalough National Park, Glendalough

Two of Wicklow’s best-loved singers, Aoife O’Connell and Ross Scanlon return to the Whale theatre following their sold out show earlier in the year. They will be helping get into the holiday spirit with this ‘Night before Christmas’ bringing you classical favourites such as ‘When a Child is born’ and of course the nation’s favourite ‘O Holy Night’. You are guaranteed to have a fantastic evening celebrating the festive season in style.

In this timeless story accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, rising star Soloist Margarita Shrainer perfectly embodies Marie’s innocence and enchantment along with the supremely elegant Principal Dancer Semyon Chudin as The Nutcracker, captivating audiences of all ages and bringing them on an otherworldly journey. Choerography Yuri Grigorovich.

Libretto Yuri Grigorovich. On Christmas Eve, the mysterious Drosselmeyer brings a Nutcracker doll as a gift for his goddaughter Marie. At midnight, the doll comes to life!

Meeting at Glendalough visitors centre to make our way through the woodland trails around Derrybawn mountain before heading up the Derrybawn Ridge looking down into Glendalough Valley. Make our way down through forest trails & the Wicklow Way trails as we make our way towards Glendalough visitors centre. Moderate Hike. Please bring Good Hiking Boots; Waterproof Gear; Warm Clothing; Hat & Gloves; Gaitars & Hiking Poles; Lunch ,Snacks Water. Hot flask is a good idea on cold Days. €20 per person. Booking essential. Tel: 089-4647889.

workshop of the week

show of the week

party of the week

VirgoRely on trusted teammates.

Do the homework behind a financial decision. Consider costs and consequences.

Collaborate and adapt.

LibraSupport your partner and be supported. Resolve a challenge, navigate a change or overcome an obstacle together.

ScorpioSlow down to avoid missteps or accidents. Resist impulsive moves and clean up messes immediately.

Focus on physical health and activities.

Sagittarius-

Romantic ideals and fantasies may not match the current reality. Things don’t go as planned. Prioritize love.

Ugly Christmas Jumper Party Thursday, December 19, 8pm Brass Fox Wicklow 14 Leitrim Place, Wicklow

CHRISTMAS CARD MAKING WORKSHOP 15th December @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Education Centre, Glendalough, Co Wicklow

GINGERBREAD MAN PUPPET SHOW 14th December 2019 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Russborough House, Blessington

Grab your cheesiest Christmas jumper or make your own with tinsel and bobbles, we are hosting our very first Jumper Party on Thursday 19th December from 8pm till late!

Whether you buy a jumper or make it, anyone in a festive jumper will get in on a chance to WIN Our 12 Gins of Christmas Gin Tree! The Ugliest & Wackiest Jumper stands a better chance to win our Christmas Gin Tree! Festive Tunes playing till late; 2 for €12 Cocktails from 8pm; €5 G&Ts; Late Bar Till 12:30am.

Join a National Park Guide and make Christmas cards for the festive season. We will take a stroll around the Upper lake area collecting inspiration from the winter landscape. Then we will bring our ideas together, in the cosy Education Centre and explore methods for creating Christmas cards and make some samples. This event is free of charge. Suitable for all ages over 7 years.

Children need be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bring a packed lunch and raingear.

Please leave your dog at home.

A laugh out loud retelling of The Gingerbread Man by Miriam Lambert Run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbreadman. In this age-old tale Miriam Lambert (of the late lamented Lambert Puppet Theatre in Dublin), using herself as a humanette, bakes the gingerbread. The freshly baked biscuit runs, eluding the hungry grasp of everyone – until he meets a very clever fox!

‘Her unique and creative style of puppetry is a theatrical joy for both child and adult to behold’ – The Irish Theatre Magazine

CapricornFamily comes first. Expect messes, chaos or disruption at your house. Don’t divulge secrets. Keep your objective in mind.

AquariusShare the news and clear up any miscommunications immediately. A controversy could have a silver lining.

Keep your tone polite and respectful.

PiscesDon’t spend your income before you get it. Look for hidden opportunities in a chaotic situation. Monitor cash flow carefully to avoid shortfalls.

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wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

insideback

The FAI is an absolute shambles

T

he publication of the FAI’s financial accounts for 2018 on December 7 sent shockwaves through the media, both news and sporting.

The organisation has been under the microscope for most of the year, since details of John Delaney’s €100k loan to them in 2017 were uncovered; amongst the revelations that came out on Friday was the uncovering of a further 50K payment from the organisation’s former CEO to his employers in December 2018.

The FAI is a shambles, and that’s being polite. Government funding has been cut off, the public and the grassroots soccer community have lost confidence and sponsors are running away.

Money trickling in from UEFA is keeping them on life support. This can’t continue.

At this stage all ties with Delaney have been cut. It took a severance package worth nearly €500k to finally offload him, not a cent of which he deserved, but at least he’s gone. Let’s start again, from scratch.

Shane Ross isn’t going to

Sienna Mapel Murphy (6) in the Kilkenny Shop during Ladies Night Greystones

Nico and Ozolen in Eternity Jewellery during Ladies Night Greystones restore government funding until he sees signs of real change.

I’m hopeful that Paul Cooke, the new executive lead, can start the process of renewal.

His background at the Sunday Business Post and the Irish

Daily Star is impressive and cause for hope.

If he’s seen to be turning things around then sponsors will return, or new ones will come on board.

Personally I find the goings on at the FAI even more

appalling because, as a League of Ireland fan, I have watched our domestic league limp on year after year with negligible support from the organisation.

The phrase ‘Problem Child’ comes to mind; it showed the contempt of the Delaney regime

towards the grassroots.

Repairing this broken trust should be high on the agenda for any process of renewal.

In 2019 it is hard to imagine how such an important and influential body as the FAI could get away with being

run so badly. No proper governance, decision making or review structures. Just a guy at the top with all the power, milking the organisation for all he could get.

People afraid to blow the whistle or cry stop in case they lost their jobs, or missed out on a promotion.

It wouldn’t happen in your business, or mine, yet it was happening with the FAI and a lot of that money was our taxes.

Soccer in this country is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions.

The game already has to compete with rugby and the GAA codes to attract players, sponsors and media coverage.

The FAI should be a help and not a hindrance in this process.

Going forward, people will need and deserve to be given answers. Individuals will need to do jail time, if they are found to have acted in an illegal way.

Structures must be put in place to ensure the organisation is run like a modern professional body and not someone’s personal slush fund.

- Brian Quigley

wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019

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20 | wicklowvoice.ie December 13, 2019