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‘Thank you from the bottom of our hearts’ The family of tragic Nadine Lott, who died after she was brutally beaten to death at her county Wicklow home, have expressed their “heartfelt appreciation” for the support shown to them since her death almost a month ago.

The 30-year-old mother was rushed to hospital after the assault at her home in Arklow late last month, but she later died from her injuries.

This weekend Nadine’s family warmly thanked friends and members of the public for

the “enormous outpouring of support shown to us in recent weeks”.

In an emotional message ahead of Nadine’s month’s mind mass next Sunday, the family said: “Nadine’s beloved daughter Kya, her adoring mother Claire and father David, her sisters Tanith and Phoebe and her brother Kyle, along with all of her extended family, wish to express their heartfelt appreciation for the enormous outpouring of support shown to us in recent weeks.

“We would like to thank those who visited our home to offer support and condolences, who took the time to phone, write or send messages of sympathy, support and prayers for Nadine, Kya and our family. We wish to extend a warm thank you to the huge numbers of people who attended the candle light vigil for Nadine and who came to share in Nadine’s funeral Mass and accompany her on her final journey.”

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A swimmer in fancy dress during the Bray Lion’s Club New Year’s Day Swim Lots more pix inside

04| NEWS

wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

Continued from previous page

Our Aoife to show off her work in Paris

The family said they will always be thankful to Nadine’s friends, colleagues “and all whose lives Nadine touched, to our family, friends and loved ones” for the “kindness and support shown to us over this very difficult time”.

The statement adds: “To Fr Michael Murtagh, Fr Pádraig Ó’Cochláin, Fr David Brough and Rev Kevin Conroy, we thank you for your comforting prayers, guidance & beautiful funeral Mass.

To Karla Tracey and Conor McCarthy, we thank you for your fabulous music.

“A very special thank you to An Gardaí Siochana, the Arklow Ambulance Service and the wonderful medical teams in both ICU and Emergency Departments of St Vincent’s Hospital, we are forever grateful to you all for the care and attention you provided to Nadine.”

Nadine’s month’s mind mass will be celebrated next Sunday, January 19, at 8.30am in St Mary & Peter’s Church in Arklow.

Textile and fashion designer Aoife Mullane, from Wicklow Town, will have her latest work showcased at a prestigious exhibition in Paris.

Aoife along with four other Irish design and craft businesses will be part of the Design Ireland stand in the Today: Signature area at

Nadine family’s thank you

MAISON&OBJET (M&O) Paris which takes place from January 17-21 2020.

Aoife studied printed textiles at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin and set up her business in January 2016.

She specialises in creating luxury fabrics for homewares and wearable

pieces and is inspired by the ever-changing colours and patterns of nature in her designs.

This is Aoife’s first time to exhibit at M&O Paris.

Building on the success of Design Ireland® at M&O Paris in previous years, these five exciting Irish brands will present their latest creations to an estimated 85,000 international buyers, press and influencers at this key home and gift trade show.

general election 2020

Contact us today to advertise in the county’s favourite award winning newspaper 01 901 5565

New road at Kilmac to ease gridlock on N11 Colm Lavery, Deirdre Ford, Daire O’Riagain, Martin Maher, Pearse Ferguson, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Irene Winters, Michael Flynn and CEO of Wicklow County Council Frank Curran at the signing of the N11 parallel service road at Kilmacanogue A contract for the construction of a new service road off one of the busiest stretches of the N11 was signed today.

The contract for the Parallel Service Road at Kilmacanogue was signed by Wicklow County Council and SIAC Construction Ltd. The contract provides for the construction of a parallel service road to segregate traffic entering and exiting the residential and commercial properties on the southbound carriageway at Kilmacanogue as well as traffic exiting the mainline traffic at Junction 8.

The scheme seeks to enhance traffic safety on this section of the N11 by providing for safer traffic movements to and from the mainline traffic at Kilmacanogue. The service road will have a speed limit of 50kph.

The proposed scheme is ap-

proximately 1.6 km in length between southbound Junctions 7 and 8. The parallel service road will commence approximately 600 metres north of the Junction 8 diverge and will incorporate the existing exit ramp for Junction 8.

Construction of the service road will require widening of the carriageway into the central reserve.

The council confirmed site works will commence “in the coming weeks”. It is understood the works will take between six and nine months to complete.

A council spokesperson said is anticipated two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both directions during construction, apart from “isolated night-time closures”.

The scheme is being funded

by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

We’re bottom of IDA list

Wicklow recieved the lowest number of visits from the IDA, the State development agency, in the latest recorded 12 month period.

New figures reveal there was just a single IDA visit to the county in 2018, although there were six more visits from the agency to Wicklow in the first nine months of last year.

Of 1,148 site inspections carried out across the country in

2018 and the first three quarters of last year, 485, or 42% were in Dublin.

Wicklow, Wexford, Longford and Monaghan each received just seven site visits by IDA teams in the same period, amounting to just 0.6%.

Local councillor Paul O’Brien reacted angrily to the figures, adding: “We should be collectively demanding that the IDA get down here.”

wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

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06 | news in brief Go ahead for 30 new apartments A new 30-apartment development just off Bray’s Promenade has been given the green light by Wicklow County Council.

The council have given the green light to the ambitious plans which will see the demolition of an existing warehouse and the construction of the new apartments and a café/restaurant.

The site at 5 Albert Avenue beside popular Italian eaterie Carpe Diem - is a prime location close to the centre of Bray, beside the Dart station and just metres from Bray’s Promenade up from at the SeaLife junction.

The development will comprise of eight one-bed apartments and 22 two-bedroom apartments, as well as a retail space for a café / restaurant.

ICA meeting Next meeting of Irish Countrywomens Association (Delgany Guild) will be Monday January 13 2020 @ 8pm, St Patricks Church & Recreation Centre, Church Road, Greystones.

Guest Speaker Spot: David Loren, V de P. “. Many thanks. Beth Holmes. ICA, Delgany Guild.

0872373503

wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

Countdown to It’s back : One act theatre festival returns opening of

new Wicklow Hospice begins

Bray One Act Drama Festival Committee members Alan Mulligan, Joan Greg, Dorothy O’Brien, Jenny Lynch, William Mansfield, Andrew McCleane, Ros Lane and Peter Harrison at the launch The Bray One Act Drama Festival will return for the 43rd time later this month when it runs from January 28 until February 1 in the Mermaid Theatre.

Actors from the participating groups, patrons and supporters of the festival, and committee members were out

in force earlier this week as the line up was announced at the launch in The Mermaid.

Representatives from the charities which will benefit from the festival this year w ere also on hand - both Tommy Gordon (WH 5 Loaves) and Jimmy Fearon (Deborah Ireland) told the

crowd how the funds will make such a difference to their charities.

Festival Director William Mansfield launched what promises to be another great week so get your tickets ASAP from The Mermaid at 012724030 or online at www. mermaidartscentre.ie

Wicklow Hospice has come under the management of Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services (OLH&CS) ahead of its official opening later this month.

Wicklow Hospice will be the first specialist palliative care facility in the county.

Coming under the governance of OLH&CS, it will join the 200-bed facility in Harold’s Cross and the 12-bed facility at Blackrock in Dublin as part of the largest provider of specialist palliative care in the country.

Wicklow Hospice will provide 15 in-patient public beds and specialist Community Palliative Care services across the county, excluding West Wicklow, which comes under St. Brigid’s Hospice in Kildare.

The facility at Magheramore has been developed as a result of the work undertaken by the Wicklow Fundraising

Foundation over the last 10 year.

The 3.5 acre site was donated by the Columban sisters.

OLH&CS chief executive Audrey Houlihan said: “We are delighted to welcome Wicklow Hospice into the OLH&CS family. As the facility comes under our management, I would like to pay heartfelt tribute to the people of Wicklow and the Wicklow Hospice Foundation, for getting the facility to this point. It is a testament to every person who took part in the many fundraising projects that Wicklow now has a facility of this calibre, which will be used by generations to come.”

Wicklow Hospice Foundation chair Sean Dorgan added: “After many years, and loyal support from the people of Wicklow, the doors of the Wicklow Hospice

Charity wants seal beach closed for nine months Wicklow County Council is considering keeping Bride’s Head Beach south of Wicklow Town closed until April to protect a colony of grey seals based there.

Seal Rescue Ireland has called for public access to the area to be restricted for nine months of the year after it flagged concerns about dogs potentially attacking the animals at the beauty spot.

“The council is keen to ensure that the grey seals at Bride’s Head beach are protected from disturbance and is amenable to the proposal by Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) to extend the restrictions on public access to the beach until the end of April,” a spokesman for the council said.

In 2019, for the first time, the council agreed to prevent entry to the beach between August and December, the period during which the animals mate.

“The beach is a really valuable haul-out site for grey seals. A

haul-out site is an area of coastlinethat is accessible to seals but is protected from terrestrial predators or threats, basically humans,” Melanie Croce, executive director of SRI said.

“In Ireland the only predators to seals are humans and dogs.

“This particular beach is very valuable and seals have historically gone there. It was open to the public, but it would take just one person to walk out on the beach and scare away all of the seals. It might then taken hours for them to come back,” she added.

“The seals have a safe place to haul-out and people are able to observe them closely from the cliff above and learn about them.

“Another important stage in the life cycle is molting season, which goes until April.It would be very beneficial to keep this beach as a safe place for them to rest on during this stage,

without the threat of being approached humans,” Ms Croce said.

“There are fewer grey seals in the world than African elephants, so the seals that we have here are globally important.

“We get seals every year in Seal Rescue Ireland that have been attacked by dogs. Sometimes their injuries are very bad and they don’t survive.”

Grey seals are the larger of the two seal species found in Irish waters, and there is thought to be between 4,000 and 12,000 living here.

Ms Croce added that two different species of Artic seals were spotted on Irish beaches recently which suggests that climate change is pushing them further south.

The first hooded seal was discovered on a beach in Cork while a young ringed seal, also known as pusa hispida, and was found on a beach in Kerry.

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wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

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08 | news in brief AGM of historical society

The AGM of the Bray Cualann Historical Society, will take place at 8pm on Thursday January 16th in the Royal Hotel, Bray, and all members are requested to attend. There is a change to the post AGM presentation as due to the indisposition of Felix Larkin, his pereviously announced lecture on’ The Dublin Opinion Magazine (1922-1958)’ has been put back to next April and instead James Scannell will give presentation recalling ‘The Great Northern Railway (Ireland), 1876 to 1958’ and all are welcome to attend this lecture admission €6.

wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

Sale of the century Contents of Luggala house to be auctioned off in London

Mental health talk

On January 17 Ballywaltrim Library, Boghall Road, Bray, will host a Mental Health Ireland ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing Workshop’ at 11am which is intended to help people care for their own mental health and well being and will define what mental health and wellbeing is; help participants understand how to look after the own well-being; help participants analyse how often they engage on a daily basis in the ways to look after their mental health.

Free but booking required call Ballywaltrim Library on 01-2862600.

Some of the contents of Garech Browne’s Luggala are to go under the hammer includeding the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick and Claddagh rings First the house itself was sold and now the contents of Luggala are to go under hammer at a major auction in London on January 21.

Sotheby’s has said it will offer a collection of items belonging to the late Guinness heir, Garech Browne, who died in March 2018 and lived on the 2,000 hectare estate in the Wicklow mountains.

Among the items are a jewelled breast star representing the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, which has a guide price of €8,240-€10,600, which was awarded to Browne’s father, the 3rd Baron Oranmore and Browne, Geoffrey Henry Browne, in June 1918.

A cameo of a young woman believed to be Mary Queen of Scots which is believed to be a 16th-century Italian piece, is guiding at €5,000-€7,000,

while six Claddagh rings, some the work of late 18th-century Galway goldsmiths, are valued at between €200 and €5,000.

Browne was an avid art collector died at the age of 78 before Luggala was sold last year for €20m.

A member of the extended Guinness family, Browne lived most of his life at Luggala and played host to many leading lights from the worlds of acting, publishing and music, including Mick Jagger and Sean O’Riada, while Michael Jackson also rented the property for some time, shortly before his death.

He was also a friend and patron of Dublin-born artist Francis Bacon and in 2017 appeared in the BBC documentary Francis Bacon: A Brush with Violence.

London socialite Tara Browne, who died in 1966, was one of

his younger brothers and his death is often cited as an inspiration for The Beatles’ song A Day in the Life.

Tara Browne is buried on the shore of Lough Tay. Garech also played a pivotal role in the formation of The Chieftains in 1962, after he asked his friend Paddy Moloney to form a group for a one-off album on Claddagh Records, the traditional Irish music label de Brún founded with Ivor Browne in 1959.

The eldest of the three sons of Dominick Browne - the 4th Lord Oranmore and Browne and his second wife, Oonagh Guinness, he lived most of his life at Luggala, a house made famous by his parties, which were attended by many musical luminaries of the 1960s, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

The number of children in Wicklow drinking, smoking, having sex or taking drugs is declining, according to a new report.

The Health Behaviours in School-aged Children 2018 Study by researchers at NUI Galway is part of a wider World Health Organisation study into the health of children across the globe.

The report found however that there has been a drop in

satisfaction and happiness, particularly among girls, while there has been a rise in the proportion of children who say they are being bullied.

A survey of 15,500 children was taken a cross the country during 2018 from over 250 primary and secondary schools.

It found that 64% that they have never had an alcoholic drink and of those who had

alcohol, just over half say they got it from a parent, guardian, sibling or took it from the family home, while another 30% sourced it from friends.

The study also claims 11% of children aged 10 to 17 have smoked while 22% said they had tried e-cigarettes.

There is also a reduction in the number of 15-17-yearolds who reported having sexual intercourse.

Wicklow kids ‘drinking less’

wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

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wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

opinion&comment

Some good news, just for a change

Y

ou would never guess from the Irish media in general, but we have a lot to be happy about this new year.

For one thing, we are living longer. On average, an Irish man can now hope to live until he is a little over 80 and a woman until she is 84. That’s an increase of two and half years since 2007 when the Department of Health last published its Key Trends survey.

One reason for this extended life span may be a dramatic decrease in the number of people smoking. Our alcohol consumption is also down, according to figures from the World Health Organisation.

And more of us are taking exercise - running, in particular.

A survey by World Athletics found that Ireland has more runners, as a percentage of its population, than any other country, crossing the line just ahead of the Netherlands.

So we are living longer, healthier lives. And we have a good country to live longer

Michael Wolsey

in. The very best in the world, according the Good Country Index which ranks nations by their overall contribution to humanity, using 35 separate indicators supplied by the United Nations, the World Bank and other international institutions.

It puts Ireland in first place, a little ahead of Finland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands; comfortably in front of New Zealand, Sweden and the UK and a mile in advance of the USA and China.

The criteria for success include “prosperity and equality” and “health and well-being”.

Ireland does well in both

Krystina Olsen Byrne (11), Kilcommon National School, Co Wicklow at the Primary Science Fair, part of the 56th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition at the RDS. Pic: Peter Houlihan/Fennells categories, and that view is supported by another survey, the United Nations’ Human Development Index, which ranks 189 countries for their general quality of living.

Ireland is placed third behind Norway and Switzerland.

The World Economic Forum, meanwhile, has found that Ireland is the seventh best

country in the world for gender equality. So, all in all, it’s hardly surprising that Ireland is regarded as a very good country to head for in retirement.

The Global Retirement Index places us at number four, with a score of 87 (out of 100) for health, 83 for quality of life and 71 for material wellbeing. Comparable figures for

the winner, Iceland , were 85, 86 and 91. At the other end of the age scale, the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment has found that Irish students are among the best readers in the developed world which may explain, in part, why a survey of global reputations gave Ireland an “excellent” rating, showing us

to be the tenth most respected country in the world.

At the start of a new year, many organizations publish surveys of this sort.

Trawling through them, and I was amazed at how much good news they reveal about Ireland.

Amazed, because we don’t seem to like good news any more. Our media and many of our politicians concentrate almost exclusively on what is bad, stressing the negative, ignoring the positive.

I am no Pollyanna. I am well aware that this country is far from wonderful if you are trying to raise your family in one room of a hotel or if you are waiting for days on a trolley in a hospital emergency department.

Our society is leaving too many people behind.

We need to do better. But that does not alter the fact that Ireland - which has seen terrible times in its history - is doing well.

We are extremely lucky to live at such a good time in such a good country, knowing that, whatever clouds may be on the horizon, most of us can look forward to a happy new year.

wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

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wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

WILDLIFE

with Justin Ivory

Go wild in 2020 – Part 2

ninenottomiss book of the week

tv show of the week

film of the week

Welcome to part 2 of our Go Wild in 2020 series, listing simple actions you can take to make your garden a wilder and more environmentally friendly place in 2020.

4.

Take Up Boxing No we’re not talking about becoming the next Katie Taylor!

Putting up bird boxes, bat boxes and providing hedgehog homes is a great way of adding artificial shelters to your garden.

Bird boxes and bat boxes give wildlife places to shelter and breed (Photo Justin Ivory) 5. Don’t forget the mammals Hedgehogs, foxes and badgers can all be garden visitors and will benefit from the correct food being left out for them.

Foods such as dog or cat food, mealworms, peanuts, raw or cooked meats, crushed dog biscuits are all good.

Please do not put out milk for hedgehogs as they are lactose intolerant. Also, in general, feeding bread to wildlife is not a good idea. It is too loaded in salt and sugar. It bloats the animal making it feel full but at the same time offering very little of value to sustain the animal or meet its energy needs.

Urban fox (Photo Justin Ivory) 6.

Save the Slugs Don’t use slug pellets to kill snails and slugs. This introduces harmful toxins into the food chain which has devastating consequences on other creatures that feed on slugs and snails such as birds and mammals. Slugs and snails are an important food source for many animals as well as having other important roles to play in the ecosystem. So, leave them be. If you really can’t tolerate them, then pick them up at night, put them in a bucket and transfer them to the nearest hedgerow.

Slugs sheltering in an upturned dish in the garden (Photo Justin Ivory)

HOROSCOPES

by Neal Shusterman

Thursday 15 January Virgin Media One 10pm

Death Row: Countdown to Execution

Little Women Released 2nd January 2020

The explosive conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Arc of a Scythe series. Shusterman paints a world where death has been vanquished, nanotechnolgy means nobody has to feel pain and every perons’s needs are met by the controlling artificial intelligence known as The Thunderhead. But there’s a catch. To ensure the world doesn’t return to overpopulation, official executioenrs know as ‘scythes’ must kill a certain number of people every month. In this pulse-pounding finale to Neal Shusterman’s internationally bestselling trilogy, constitutions are tested and old friends are brought back from the dead.

Episode 2: Susanna Reid travels to Texas to meet convicted killer Billie Wayne Coble in the days leading up to his scheduled execution.

In 1989 he pleaded guilty to triple murder and has been on death row ever since. Now 70, he is fighting for a last-minute stay of execution. If it fails, he will be the oldest man put to death in Texas for more than 100 years.

Susannah asks Billie to relive the night of the crime and tries to find out how it has affected him and also speaks to his relatives and others involved in the case.

Writer-director Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) has crafted a Little Women that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig’s take, the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on her own terms -- is both timeless and timely. Portraying Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth March, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbor Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.

the toll

gig of the week

play of the week

podcast of the week

AriesStay focused. A hidden danger could arise. If a proposal goes against your grain, turn it down. Avoid controversy or rumors.

TaurusNews requires an adjustment to plans. Organize and strategize. Keep or change your word. Meditate for peace of mind.

GeminiBusiness could interfere with pleasure. Stay in communication with unexpected delays or misunderstandings.

CancerSupport a community effort.

Misunderstandings come easily. Postpone financial discussions for better conditions.

LeoFind ways to expand boundaries without risk or expense. Don’t push yourself beyond your limits.

Wait for developments.

Jack Lukeman Friday, 24 January 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm €26/€24 Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinaheely

Slightly LESS Ado about Nothing Friday 17th January 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm) Whale Theatre (01) 2010550. Tickets 10.00

Is sea swimming the new kale?

Thursday 30th January Whale Theatre Theatre Lane, Greystones

Jack Lukeman is a singer-songwriter, performer, raconteur and a whole lot more besides. He is a platinum-selling, a critically acclaimed artist who continues to win a worldwide fan base with his unique multi-octave voice. Jack has toured as a special guest with artists such as Sting, Imelda May, Jools Holland & The Proclaimers.

Tonight’s show will draw material from his back catalogue of albums including Metropolis Blue, Magic Days, Northern Lights, the 27 Club.

‘Incorporating the theatrical and romantic sensibilities of the likes of Jacques Brel, Jim Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits but with his own genuine melodic appeal.’

Slightly LESS Ado about Nothing is an abridged version of one of Shakespeare’s favourite comedies. The town of Messina in Italy is thrown into a state of wild excitement with the visit of the Prince, Don Pedro, and his army on the way back from the war. Love is in the air, but not for local girl Beatrice and one of the Prince’s officers, Benedick, who despise each other with a passion that surely can’t be quenched?

Sea Swimming, is it really that good? Join Andrea Splendori in conversation with Susan Steele, Ruth Fitzmaurice, The Happy Pear & more to be announced for an evening of stories, music and much more. Conversations with people about their passion and interaction with their community. We cover a number of topics to help rebuild the Fabric of Society. An all inclusive event to explore what makes people think. Q & A at the end. Music throughout.

tour of the week

workshop of the week

event of the week

VirgoHandle financial matters without fuss or controversy.

Keep cash flowing in a positive direction. Avoid miscommunications.

LibraTake extra care with your partner today. Don’t blurt out anything you’d later regret. Prioritize family and nurture someone through a change. Lay low.

ScorpioDon’t try to force anything, especially physically, or risk accidents. Slow down to avoid misunderstandings, delays and breakdowns. Get extra rest.

Sagittarius-

Relax and take it easy.

Avoid controversy, expense or misunderstandings. Enjoy peaceful hobbies, books and connections.

Annual Charity Mountain Bike Ride Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 9:45 AM – 12:45 PM Ballinastoe Mountain Bike Trails, Ballinastoe A mountain bike ride to celebrate the lives of those who have battled Cancer takes place on January 26th 2020. The 11th Annual Charity bike ride at Ballinastoe Mountain Bike Trails in Roundwood, County Wicklow will begin when we assemble at the Biking.ie cabin at 09.45, where we will depart at 10am. There will be groups to suit all levels of fitness and ability. After the spin we will return to The Coachhouse Roundwood for complementary tea, coffee and sandwiches. No need to pre register, just turn up and ride with us.

Mindfulness Self care & Compassion

Wicklow Gaol Night Time Tour Friday, January 31, 2020 at 7 PM – 8:30 PM Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, Kilmantin Hill, Wicklow.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 7 PM – 8:30 PM www.melissashealing.ie

WicklowGaol was, for many years, a place of horrendous atrocities in which prisoners were subjected to torture, starvation and death.Join this special night tour to see the site for yourself. Led by professional actors in period costume, youll be lucky to escape!

Night Tours require a minimum number to operate and are subject to change at any time.

In circumstanceswhere minimum numbers areNOT reached an alternative date or full refund will be offered.

This 4 week mindfulness course is for anyone interested in exploring the benefits of mindfulness from complete beginners to advanced. Most of our worry and anxiety is about living in the past or worrying about the future so in this course you will receive techniques to re-train yourself to live more in the moment with simply mindful exercises.

Meditations will be seated. Compassion and self-care will be a highlight of this course .

We will look at self care and see how to include more self care for healthier life.

CapricornFocus on home and family.

Nurture your crew. Wait for better conditions to sign agreements. Postpone large expenses or decisions. Share treats and rest.

AquariusYou may have a million questions and no answers.

Withhold harsh words and consider what’s best longterm. Consider the big picture.

PiscesFocus on taking care of business. Avoid risk or expense. Wait on large purchases for better terms and conditions.

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wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

insideback

Rovers return: Killers Bs are back

T

he SSE Airtricity League First Division fixtures for the 2020 season were finally released on Friday last.

My club Bray Wanderers kick off away to Cabinteely on Friday February, 21 in the first ‘El DARTico’ of 2020.

We follow that up on February 28 with our first home game of the new term, with Wexford the visitors to the Carlisle Grounds.

It is not until seven matches in though that we meet the new addition to the division, Shamrock Rovers B; they visit the Carlisle on April 3.

That’s a game I’m really looking forward to, although I seem to be in the minority in terms of welcoming Rovers B back to the division they previously played in during 2014.

We are a small league and many clubs have gone to the wall in recent times.

If we have to start including reserve sides in our pyramid to make it viable then let’s bite the bullet.

If Dundalk, Bohemians, Cork or anyone else wants to include

Minister of State Andrew Doyle and Martin Flynn BT Ireland meet Megan Byrne Holt from St David’s Secondary School at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2020. Pic: Karl Hussey a reserve side for 2021 then let’s plan for it now.

Depending on how many reserve sides might be interested and how many other sides

might want to move their first team onto a national stage, our options are either an expanded First Division or a third tier.

We had a League of Ireland

B Division for many years and it included a mix of reserve sides of Premier / First division clubs, as well as the first teams of sides like Dublin University.

It was a third tier in all but name but there was no direct promotion to the First Division; if the division was to be brought back then it should be with

promotion available.

You have to have rules.

Players can’t move between a first-team panel and a reserve team panel; you’re in one or the other for the season.

No reserve side can play in the same division as their first-team counterparts; if a reserve side wins promotion then they can’t go up if their first team is in the higher division – the promotion would go to the next eligible team.

Similarly, if a first-team gets relegated to a division that the reserve team is in then the reserve team would have to automatically move to the league below, with the next eligible team gaining the additional promotion place this would entail.

Reserve sides make sense for bigger clubs who can afford to run them and who are looking to bridge the gap between their U19 sides and their first teams.

Their young and fringe players get to play in their club colours rather than going out on loan.

For clubs who can’t afford to – or just don’t want to - run a reserve side, there should be no obligation.

- Brian Quigley

wicklowvoice.ie January 14, 2020

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