wicklowvoice inside: FREE
May 28, 2015, 01 901 5556/7, December 14, t:2021 wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie
.ie
20,000 copies
FREE
Killarney Road, Bray, Co Wicklow
02
December 14, 2021
| 03
August 3, 2021
wicklowvoice inside: FREE
May 28, 2015, 01 901 5556/7, December 14, t:2021 wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie
.ie
20,000 copies
Why we should all shop local this year Comment
AS we count down the days, hours and minutes to Christmas, we at Wicklow Voice would like to make one appeal before the festivities get into full swing. Shop here at home in County Wicklow. Local retailers play a massive part in making Christmas such a special time so they really deserve our support given that many of them have been closed
for the majority of this year. For every €1 you spend with a local independent business, between 50c-70c circulates back into the locality, while shopping online or out of town sees only 5c trickle back. Local businesses not only keep the economy humming, but they also add to the quality of life in our community in other ways. Seeing local businesses thrive also gives you the feeling
that you’re living in a vibrant community, a desirable place to live, work and raise a family. Local businesses are owned and operated by local people, while even the chain stores are managed and run by people who live in our community. They work here, coach the local sports teams, eat in local restaurants and live just down the street – so when you buy in local shops, you’re supporting your neighbours.
Customer service of the kind you thought had disappeared can still be found in the smallest of local businesses. And while all the indications are that the country is beginning to re-emerge after the worst of the pandemic, we must remember one thing - we are more than just an economy. We are a society of vibrant people, and we deserve each others’ support.
FREE
Killarney Road, Bray, Co Wicklow
Archie (4) and Alfie (5) Canavan at the Iarnród Éireann Team Wellbeing Charity Challenge in aid of Arklow RNLI. Pic: Jason Clarke
04| news in brief Business Awards open for voting THE Wicklow and District Chamber of Commerce has launched the Wicklow Business Awards 2021, which recognises excellence in business in Wicklow town and surrounding districts. Members of the public can caste votes in four different categories: Best New Business Award; Best SME Award; Best Eating/Hospitality/Pub Award; and Best Retail Award. You can get your entries in online to www.wicklowchamber.ie by sending an email to susana@wicklowchamber.ie or by texting your nominated business to 086 0897702 before 9am on Monday, January 10th, 2022.
Greystones wins international gong GREYSTONES has won a highly prestigious International Liveable Communities award. The award was launched in 1997 and is the only global competition focusing on international best practice for the management of the local environment and improving the quality of life for its citizens. Greystones was in the Gold A category for towns of up to 20,000 in population.
December 14, 2021
Worth the weight as Lisa is body beautiful
proving age is never a barrier, 44-year-old Lisa Duggan, from Greystones, has gone from being the winner in the ‘Miss Swimwear Goddess’ in the Miss Bikini Ireland competition to winning gold in Bucharest, Romania as a bodybuilder – all in just four years. Lisa, a single mum of two — Ethan and Ocean Sky — works in Go Gym in Greystones as a fitness instructor and personal trainer. She saw the Miss Bikini Ireland competition online in 2017, filled out a form and sent it off. “I didn’t think twice about it. A couple of weeks later I got an email telling me I was selected to participate,’ she said. Lisa then went back to college to study sports and fitness in Bray Institute of Further Education. She said she has always been fit and healthy and did kickboxing for 12 years in Bray, with Massan Ghorbani, before training with the Greystones gym. Lisa says that when she
is prepping for competition she makes sure to get an early start in the gym, with an emphasis on cardio and a session on abs. “I get a dayis work in and in the evening its another weight training session followed by more cardio, all on a strict diet of low calories and low carbs,” she says, adding she is blessed to have trainers who “push me and do my diet and posing”. @lisaduggan1
Lisa Duggan, from Greystones, who became World Champion in Bucharest, Romania.
Squirrel Scramble to reopen
THERE was good news for all young adventurers across Wicklow and beyond recently, when Squirrel’s Scramble, the popular Co Wicklow outdoor tree adventure park which closed in September after the cost of its insurance more than trebled, reported it had found suitable cover and is to reopen next year. The business was forced to close after its renewal premium jumped from €26,000 to €88,000. Both of the company’s last two insurers left the Irish insurance market and the new quote was “completely unrealistic”. Management subsequently held a series of meetings with public representatives and its case was highlighted in the Dail. It has now secured cover and plans to reopen in March. “With that said, the lower premium secured is still excruciatingly high,” Squirrel’s Scramble said. “Our business can only take a hit like that once in it’s lifetime. We still need to keep the pressure on the government to change the landscape of insurance in Ireland.”
Plans to build 179 new homes on old school site
permission is being sought to build 179 apartments on the site of the former Presentation College ‘Bray Head House, on Putland Road, in Bray. Denver Valley Developments Limited is making the application, which is at pre-validation stage, to An Bord Pleanala. The developer is seeking permission to demolish the non-original shed and outbuildings to the rear of Bray Head House, as well as the 1950s two-three storey redbrick secondary school extension to Bray Head House and other sheds and outbuildings to the rear of the site. The proposal includes the refurbishment of Bray Head House, which is a protected structure, including internal reconfiguration and change of use from school to apartments. The development would include the construction of three residential apartment buildings. The 179 residential apartments would be developed across four buildings, including Bray Head House, arranged around a central landscaped area. The 179 apartments would be comprised of 38 one-bed apartments, 125 two-beds and 16 three-bed units. The basement level would accommodate 142 car park-
ing spaces and bicycle parking. The plans also include the construction of a creche on the ground floor of one of the buildings, which would entail the widening of existing vechicular access from Putland Road to Newcourt Road, adjustments to the existing gates and railings, provision of a cycling link between Putland Road and Newcourt Road, landscaping and other associated site works. As part of the process to apply for a strategic housing development, the prospective applicant must consult with the relevant planning authority and An Bord Pleanala, who will form and issue an opinion as to whether documents submitted constitute a reasonable basis for an application. An Bord Pleanala issued its opinion that the documents submitted on the prospective development of apartments at Bray Head House constituted a reasonable basis for an application back in January 2021. Presentation College was established at Bray Head House in 1921. The building was most recently used as temporary accommodation by North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School.
Penneys quiet on Bray Central plans
PENNEYS’ plans for a €250m investment in the Irish market made no mention of being a tenant at Bray Central Shopping Centre. Although not confirmed by the fashion retailer or Wicklow County Council, Penneys was tipped to be an anchor tenant for the new shopping centre. In October, Enda Donohoe of Oakmount confirmed that the developer was in talks
with a number of interested parties, which included Penneys and other retailers. He said the anchor tenancy was “at the latter part of negotiations with parties who are interested, and going through legals”. Penneys announced recently that it would create 700 jobs as part of a major capital investment to include its stores in Carlow and Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght.
December 14, 2021
| 05
06 |
December 14, 2021
Gardai highlight deaths Switch to an electric car for in road safety campaign that 22-reg DO not drink and drive over the festive period — is the warning from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochana as this year’s Christmas and New Year road safety appeal was launched. The focus of this year’s campaign is on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, with research over the last five years showing 83 fatalities and 709 serious injuries over the Christmas and New Year period. This equates to an average of 17 people dead and 142 are seriously injured each year at this time. The statistics also show that almost seven out of 10 deaths were male, while almost two-thirds of serious injuries were male. The time period 4pm to 8pm was highlighted as the highest risk for fatalities on the roads. “While the majority of drivers don’t drink and drive there are still some who persist in this dangerous behaviour,” Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton said. “To anyone who thinks it’s okay to drive after drinking
Leah Quish (9) at the launch of Round Up for Ronald McDonald House in Crumlin Hospital. Pic: Andres Poveda
alcohol, I say you need to understand that if you commit a drink-driving offence you will face disqualification from driving for a minimum of three months. “Think about how a driving ban would impact your daily life. You will no longer be able to drive to work, drive to the gym or drop the kids off to
school.” Deputy Commissioner, Ann Marie McMahon, An Garda Siochana said that 4,453 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and 3,333 have been arrested for drug driving this year to date. “This Christmas and New Year, we are appealing to motorists to drive safely and under no circumstances drive
under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “One hundred and twenty people have lost their lives on the roads this year and members of An Garda Síochána have had to deliver this devastating news to their families. “We don’t want to have to deliver this news to your family this Christmas,” she added.
MOTORISTS considering trading in their car for a fancy 22-reg have been urged to seriously consider making the change to an electric vehicle (EV). According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), private cars, running on petrol and diesel, account for around a fifth of Ireland’s total energy use and the related carbon dioxide emissions. EVs are fast becoming the preferred choice for many families and businesses, who want to play their part in urgent national climate action. Declan Meally, Director of Business at SEAI said: “When buying a car some people feel an EV is too expensive until they do the maths on exactly how much they will save in running costs and we urge all consumers to take this into consideration.” Electric cars are more affordable to run with a 74% reduction in annual energy costs and new buyers can
benefit from incentives such as grants and lower VRT rates that reduce the purchase price as well discounts on tolls. Michael Coughlan, from Windsor Bray Motors, has seen an increase in the number of people wanting to find out more about electric vehicles, he added: “Due to increased coverage in the media customers are more curious about EVs and are coming into the showroom to find out more about the car and discuss any concerns they might have. “Once we get them to do a test drive, they don’t want to leave the car.” And Noel Griffin, who lives in County Wicklow, has been driving an EV for two years and he said: “The transition to electric has been seamless. I also like a comfortable car and inside my EV is very comfortable on a long trip.” For more information and to book a test drive with your local dealership visit: www.drivingelectric.ie.
| 07
December 14, 2021
70% of adults won’t miss the bar after Covid WHILE so many of us believed we missed hanging out at the bar over the pandemic, it turns out that 70% of Irish adults said they would like pubs and restaurants to continue to offer QR code table ordering technology when Covid-19 restrictions are fully lifted. Almost half of restaurant and takeaway owners have adopted new technologies since the start of the pandemic, according to new research by Irish food ordering software developer Flipdish. And 44% of those businesses invested over €1,500 to keep within the rules. Technology was instrumental for survival during the pandemic as many businesses pivoted online. And the research reveals that consumers are more in favour of restaurants and bars continuing to use such technologies after the pandemic. “After a turbulent few months, the future of the sector is bright and the technology that Flipdish offers will allow restaurant owners to thrive in
a post pandemic world,” said James McCarthy, co-founder of Flipdish. “We are thrilled to see restaurant and takeaway owners implementing QR code table ordering technology which will help combat staff shortages and increase operational efficiency and consumer convenience,” he added. The most popular technology adaptations were website ordering (64%), QR code table ordering technology (57%) and the use of aggregator websites (29%). 79% of restaurant owners will continue to use technology adaptations as they come out the other side of the pandemic. Surprisingly, only 1% of adults aged 18-24 would prefer to order drinks at the bar over Christmas, compared with 9% of those aged 25-34. The most likely age group to order from the bar this Christmas are those aged 35-44 (16%). However, 15% of adults will not go out to socialise at all over the Christmas period.
Rape Crisis Centre has help in 200 languages Survivors of sexual violence who do not speak English as their first language but live in Ireland are now able to seek support and guidance through a multilingual helpline phone service through the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC). The interpretation service is available in over 200 languages including Polish, Lithuanian, Arabic, Farsi and Brazilian Portuguese and will enable people to speak with a counsellor in their native language. While multilingual support was previously available for victims availing of face-to-face counselling and therapy at the centre, it was not on offer to people who called the helpline. Helpline interpreters will come from the UK-based Language Line interpreting company. Callers seeking the help of an interpreter must state the language they speak when they call. They will then be placed on hold while the operator finds an interpreter to facilitate the session. More information on: https://www.drcc.ie or call 1 800 77 8888.
ARE YOU CURRENTLY IN RECEIPT OF
PUP PREPARING TO RETURN TO WORK IN 2022 WOULD LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT OPTIONS FOR FURTHER EDUCATION & TRAINING WITH KILKENNY AND CARLOW ETB? COURSE FULL TIME COURSE PART TIME EMPLOYMENT FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT
WHY NOT CONTACT KILKENNY AND CARLOW ETB’S ADULT GUIDANCE SERVICE! This is a free, confidential and impartial service for adults, where you can make an appointment to meet with an Adult Guidance Counsellor
E TIM T RT MEN A P OY PL EM
E TIM E RT URS A P CO
E IM L T RSE L FU COU
E TIM T LL EN U M F OY PL EM
Further Education and Training with Kilkenny and Carlow ETB can put you on a pathway to wherever you want to go, in education, in work and in life.
LIVING IN CARLOW:
059 913 3123
LIVING IN KILKENNY:
056 776 4448
Check out our social media platforms: KCETBfet
KCETBfet
Có-mhaoinithe ag an European Aontas Eorpach Union Investing inby your Co-funded thefuture European Social Fund European Union
A number of programmes are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union
08 |
€198,000 to save the Cliff Walk
AFTER much conjecture over its future recently, walkers will be pleased to hear that €198,000 has been allocated to the BrayGreystones Cliff Walk project, which will include the introduction of a 2km reroute to protect the section of eroded coastline on the Greystones side of the popular trail. The works will include signage enhancement and the planting of natural habitat. Sections of the cliff walk on the Greystones side were closed to the public earlier in the year following land slippage. Local councillors heard at their October meeting that these closed sections could not re-open due to health and safety concerns. District Manager Michael Nicholson told councillors at their October meeting that “the route as we know it is gone” and closed sections on the Greystones side of the walk will never re-open as they were too dangerous to use. Mr Nicholson said talks took place with landowners to agree an alternative route. Once the new route was established, the closed sections would be seeded to create a wild meadow.
December 14, 2021
Lightbulb moment as Solus Tower gets facelift TOWERING over north Bray (excuse the pun) since 1935, one of the most iconic landmarks in the town, the Solus Tower, finally got the makeover it deserved and has been restored to its former glory. The water tower at the site of the old Solus lightbulb factory looms over the northern side of Bray, close to the Wicklow/ Dublin border, and is a familiar sight to traffic entering the town on that side from the M11 motorway. The Solus factory relocated years ago, but the tower itself remained and has hosted equipment from all the major mobile phone providers. It was acquired in 2018 by Cellnex, Ireland’s largest independent owner of telecommunications infrastructure. The company undertook the tower’s refurbishment to respect both the iconic structure’s past, the visual amenity of its neighbours and the wider community. Cellnex has invested over €300,000 in the improvement works, which mean the famous
Solus logo has been re-painted in the yellow and black, with all telecommunications equipment on the tower kept out of sight.
Solus now operates from the Naas Road in Dublin. Mark Shine, Site Management Director at Cellnex Ireland
said: “We are delighted to have given a major
Wicklow vet wins medal for highest marks at UCD A vet working in Co Wicklow has won a prestigious award for her achievements at university. Ciara Hayes, who is originally from Killaloe, in Co Clare, works with Avondale Vets, in Arklow. She is the proud winner of the Veterinary Ireland Medal for highest marks at UCD Veterinary 2020. She was presented with her award at the 2021 Veterinary Ireland AGM & Conference which took place recently in Trim, Co. Meath. Avondale Vets was founded by Peter Sheehan in Rathdrum, 1968. The business expanded in 1998 to include the branch in Ferrybank, Arklow. The Arklow branch became a certified Veterinary Hospital in 2008 to meet the needs of pet owners in Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford. The team are all pet owners and say they “know just how worrying it can be when they are unwell”. The staff add: “All our patients are treated with love and kindness as we all know
how terrifying it can be for them when visiting us. We will provide your pet in sickness and in health the best care that they deserve with the attention from our experienced staff.” The hospital is equipped with modern facilities and is dedicated to looking after all family pets whether they are small or large. The centre has invested in the latest equipment to provide the best possible patient care such as ultrasound, digital x-rays and blood machines. You can find out more at: www.avondaleveterinary.com
makeover to the tower, and to have done it in a way that respects its past history and responds to local community concerns. Sometimes, buildings that are initially industrial, become part of the landscape. “Over time, they grow to be associated with a certain place, and develop into a distinguishing feature of that area. We think it looks great, and hopefully the people of Bray agree.” And Mark Corrigan, Managing Director at Solus said: “Solus has a longstanding connection to the community and residents of Bray, and while our factory has since relocated, we are proud of the impact it had and that the tower became such a recognisable landmark. “With this refurbishment by Cellnex I hope that the Solus Tower will continue to be as useful for local communities and businesses through improved connectivity, as it was for us during our operations in Bray.”
New deal on Bog Meadow’s future
Wicklow County Council has signed an agreement with local groups in Enniskerry, setting up a management company to run the Bog Meadow facility. The grounds will now be made available for local groups and sporting organisations to use. This agreement will provide an opportunity to apply for funding, such as LargeScale Sports Infrastructure Funding to provide modern sporting and recreational facilities for the local community. Located close to the village of Enniskerry and adjacent to beautiful wooded walks, the Bog Meadow is a wonderful amenity for the local community and the Bog Meadow Management Company (CLG) will be well placed to continue the good work done by previous groups. The group said it is developing a draft plan for the Bog Meadow area and will hold an online meeting to discuss these plans at a later date.
December 14, 2021
| 09
10 |
December 14, 2021
opinion&comment
Barra: The Tempest or just a storm in an RTÉ cup?
R
TÉ’s newsroom loves a good storm. They have all their r e g i o n a l correspondents out, looking at empty streets or wind-blown beaches and trying, like Dickens’s Fat Boy, to make our flesh creep. The station was derided for its hysterical coverage of Storm Lorenzo, two years ago, when its reporters across the land spent 24 hours warning that Armageddon was approaching and the next 24 telling us that, really, nothing much had happened. That experience didn’t chasten the storm petrels of Montrose. They have been in rehearsal with every small weather event since and they put the whole show on the road for Storm Barra. It was a costume drama, with
Michael Wolsey
intrepid reporters out in padded jackets, hats, scarves, gloves and, in one case, goggles. They predicted a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. But Storm Barra was not The Tempest, more Much Ado About Nothing. Yes, there was some flooding,
which was unpleasant for the people caught in it, and powercuts, which caused disruption in several areas. And there were, as always when the weather turns bad, sad stories of individual tragedies. But overall, Storm Barra brought nothing unpredictable for Ireland in December, just a couple of wet and windy days. Even the determined newshounds of RTE had difficulty trying to present it as anything more than a storm in a tea cup. Radio had a reporter on Dun Laoghaire pier whose main revelation was that a rainbow had been seen in the sky over Dublin. Biblical legend has it that a rainbow was shown to Noah as a sign that the Great Flood was over. Even RTE would not go so far as to make that comparison. Its man in Dun Laoghaire confined himself to the cryptic
observation that in one direction he could see dark clouds over Bray and, in the other, blue skies above Malahide - a contrast that could as easily be observed in June as in December. The BBC was much less excited about Storm Barra, confining it to a minor slot on most of its bulletins. But it delivered a discussion in which a dubious link was made between Barra and the wider problems of global warming and climate change. It is tempting to conflate the issues but the link cannot be proven. No matter how bad the weather may be, records nearly always reveal a time when it was worse. And in many cases that time was long before Arctic ice had shown the slightest sign of melting or any problem had been detected with the rain forests. Carbon emissions may have
encouraged Storms Barra and Lorenzo. But were they also to blame for Hurricane Charlie that crashed like a wrecking ball through much of the country in 1986, bringing death and destruction? Maybe they were. But what about Hurricane Debbie, in 1961, which ripped up trees, knocked down walls and killed 18 people in Ireland? Nobody had even heard of global warming back then. Nor is it likely that the burning of fossil fuels contributed to Ireland’s most infamous storm on the Night of the Big Wind. That cyclone, which came blasting in on January 6, 1839, left hundreds dead and thousands homeless. It blew down the chimney of Kilkenny’s new gas works and leveled all the buildings nearby. And it is hard to see how human activity can be blamed
for the savage weather in the 1740s. It was a period when unprecedented amounts of rain were accompanied by storms and extreme frosts. In Ireland it led to a famine that is estimated to have killed almost 40% of the population, a proportionately bigger disaster than the Great Famine a century later. Don’t get me wrong. I think we should stop polluting our planet with plastic. I think we should stop poisoning the atmosphere with carbon fumes. And I think we should reduce our reliance on fossil fuels which, other considerations apart, will eventually be used up. All these actions are very desirable but I am not sure that they will reverse the course of climate change, because the climate has always been changing. They certainly won’t bring an end to storms - or alarmist reporting from RTÉ.
| 11
December 14, 2021
WILDLIFE
ninenottomiss
Mamma Mia!
TV 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.
book of the week
HOROSCOPES
movie of the week
walk the line Virgin Media 1, Sunday December 12, 9.00pm
the pawnbroker’s reward Declan O’Rourke
the power of the dog Netflix
WALK The Line is described as a “brand new high octane musical game show format” that comes from Simon Cowell’s Syco company and Lifted Entertainment, the team behind both I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Love Island. Oh God . . . anyway, hosted by Maya Jama, with judges Gary Barlow, Craig David, Dawn French and Alesha Dixon, in each episode, acts will perform to win the audience vote, but they will then be faced with a tough decision. They can Cash Out of the competition for £10,000 or Walk The Line and compete again against another batch of hopefuls.
DECLAN O’Rourke’s award-winning album, Chronicles of the Great Irish Famine, was released to critical acclaim in 2017. It illuminated an extraordinary series of eyewitness accounts, including the story of Pádraig and Cáit ua Buachalla. Four years on, in Declan’s meticulously researched literary debut, the story of the ua Buachalla family is woven into a powerful, multilayered work showing us the famine as it happened through the lens of a single town – Macroom, Co. Cork – and its environs.
SET in Montana, shot in New Zealandm, this brooding western of sorts focuses on masculinity in crisis. Think a far more intense Brokeback Mountain. Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent as a domineering rancher who responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son, until the unexpected comes to pass. What you thought was merely a haunting movie and a masterpiece of character study, suddenly feels like a thriller, because The Power of the Dog ending comes with a plot twist that will leave you guessing . . . and Googling.
stream of the week
self help of the week
idea of the week
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.
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.
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.
AriesTravel could interfere with personal routines, although new views inspire. Avoid expensive missteps. Consider long-term dreams and ambitions.
wrath of man Amazon Prime
hidden forces Anne Traynor
Just like you campaign www.blossomireland.ie
AFTER an ambush on one of its armoured cars, Los Angeles-based Fortico Securities hires a mysterious new employee, Patrick Hill (Jason Statham), who becomes known simply as “H.” As he learns the ropes from partner Bullet (Holt McCallany), H initially appears to be the quiet type, simply there to do a job and earn a living. But when he and Bullet become the targets of an attempted robbery, H’s formidable skills are revealed. Not only is he an expert marksman who’s equally adept at hand-to-hand combat, H is fearless, ruthless and lethal. Not the best of Guy Richie’s films but a decent caper all the same.
IF you’re looking for a sign, this is it. Hidden Forces is an accessible book that answers the questions we all have about the forces around us that affect us every day of our lives.If you want to learn about the universal forces that connect us all, this book is for you. If you’re interested in chakras and how to work with them to heal yourself, this book is for you. If you want to know how astrology and tarot can help you understand your ‘self’ and your life, this book is for you.Hidden Forces will take you out of dark places into the light of understanding.
‘Just Like You’ is a campaign developed by Blossom Ireland, with the goal of raising awareness around the intellectual disability (ID) community, highlighting the lack of accessibility for people with ID. Blossom Ireland has developed and implemented Ireland’s first fully-accessible e-learning platform for this group and have begun to employ graduates of programmes in the organisation. What has been discovered through the Blossom Ireland programmes is that with tailored supports for people with ID, there is no limit to what can be achieved.
album of the week
day out of the week
watch 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. CapricornFamily comes first. Expect messes, chaos or disruption at your house. Don’t divulge secrets. Keep your objective in mind.
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.
tears of hercules Rod Stewart
to be irish programme 2021 www.tobeIrish.ie
honey boy Netflix
WAIT, is this the same . . . yes, the very same Do ya think I’m sexy lad, Rod the Mod . . . but was he not crooning his way through the American Songbook last we heard from him? Indeed, and very successfully too. But now, on what is his 32nd studio album, he has decided to pick up the pen himself and write his own material, in what one reviewer described as “alternately baffling, absurd, sweet, and endearing” . . . A Herculean effort then? Quite. It would bring you tears. But you got to still love him.
MINISTER Colm Brophy (pictured with Colm Brophy, cellist Patrick Dexter and Delia Ioana Tudor (7)), has announced details of To Be Irish At Christmas 2021. The 16-day programme which runs from December 8-23 celebrates the special connections between the Irish at home and abroad in the run-up to Christmas despite the Covid pandemic. It will feature over 140 in-person, hybrid, and online events from all across the world. Its aim is to engage with our 70 million-strong diaspora and their family and friends.
THERE is so much to this story based actor Shia Laboeuf’s life. As a kid, he lived with his father on the road during the filming of Even Stevens and other roles. His dad was a war veteran who went to bikers’ AA meetings and who had a brief acting career himself. He was so full of anger that Laboeuf suffered from PTSD, but which he was able to perceive in a fascinating way. This is an incredible movie on emotionally abusive parent-child relationships. Starring Laboeuf as his father and Lucas Hedges as current-day Laboeuf.
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.
12 |
December 14, 2021
| 13
December 14, 2021
‘CRUEL AND INHUMANE’
Gardai rescue dogs, cats and exotic pets from two apartments AN operation that involved multiple agencies has led to the rescue of almost 40 animals. Gardai, the Dog Warden and the DSPCA were involved in the recent search of two apartments in Citywest. The DSPCA pound is located in Rathfarnham in south Dublin, and is where many people from Wicklow adopt and rescue animals from. During the course of the search, 38 dogs/puppies and a variety of other animals were found kept in what was described as ‘inhumane living conditions’. Other animals that were rescued during the operation, included cats, parrots, tarantulas, a snake, a scorpion and a millipede. The dogs included dachshunds and a mixture of bulldog breeds. It’s understood some of the animals, including one dog, were dead when found. The animals were removed and were taken by the DSPCA for veterinary treatment. It is believed that the majority of the animals were being bred
for sale, and the premises was not suitable or registered as a dog breeding establishment, making it an illegal puppy farm. As the animals are all part of an ongoing investigation, the DSPCA said they are not seeking homes for them at present. No arrests were made at this time and the investigation is ongoing. Separately, six people, including a vet and the owner of Ashton pound in Dublin, have been sent forward for trial accused of animal cruelty offences. The shelter at River Road, Castleknock, had operated a dog warden service for the greater Dublin area. However, an animal welfare investigation commenced into the treatment and deaths of dogs last year. A vet, the pound owner, manager, and three other staff members at the dog pound were charged and appeared at Dublin District Court. They have not indicated how they will plead. They are due to stand trial on January 28, 2022.
14 |
Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to form a panel from which future temporary / permanent positions may be filled.
• PERMANENT & TEMPORARY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER REF: 52/2021 Salary €51,039 – €70,947 gross per annum (includes 2nd LSI) CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS IS 12 NOON SHARP ON THURSDAY 6TH JANUARY 2022. Application Forms and further details can be obtained from Enterprise & Corporate Services at 0404 20100 or by emailing recruitment@wicklowcoco.ie and on the Wicklow County Council website www.wicklow.ie. Wicklow County Council reserves the right to shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate. Wicklow County Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Lorraine Gallagher, Director of Services, Enterprise & Corporate Services, Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Wicklow Phone: 0404 20159, Fax: 0404 20112 Email: recruitment@wicklowcoco.ie
December 14, 2021
| 15
December 14, 2021
We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by
Irish Press 24/12/1937 Irish Press 22/12/1934
Freemans Jrn 26/12/1846
Sunday Press 10/12/1978
Irish Press 23/12/1936
16 |
wicklowvoice.ie December 14, 2021
opinion&comment
We are still Bray Wanderers!
N
ews of a potential merger between Bray Wanderers and Cabinteely FC started to circulate in the media in the build-up to Bray’s First Division promotion playoff second-leg game against Galway last month. Seemingly what started out as an exploration of a possible ground-share arrangement between the clubs for the Carlisle Grounds took an altogether different turn. Bray won the game in Galway 1-0, to go through 1-0 on aggregate to meet UCD for the right to play the second-bottom team in the Premier Division for a place for 2022. The timing of the merger story couldn’t therefore have been more unwelcome, as Gary Cronin’s men prepared for the UCD clash in Dalymount Park, which Bray lost 2-0, before UCD subsequently won promotion by beating Waterford. Last late month, we finally
Brian Quigley
saw official confirmation from Bray Wanderers that the majority shareholding in the club had indeed been sold to Cabinteely. The statement also said that the merged club would apply to play in the First Division of the SSE Airtricity League for the 2022 season, operating out of the Carlisle Grounds. Tellingly, the statement from Wanderers didn’t clarify what the new club would be called. A further update in early December confirmed that the new club would still play under the Bray Wanderers name, news
Tony Richardson and Pat Devlin speaking to the media at the Carlisle Grounds recently
that will surely bring Wanderers fans along with the merger. Bray and Cabinteely are only a few miles apart, albeit with the former in Wicklow and the latter in south-east Dublin. Bray always drew support
- and players - from southeast Dublin, especially before Cabinteely entered the League of Ireland in 2015. Given that a certain amount of this support stayed with Bray even after Cabinteely’s arrival,
and the presence of UCD AFC even closer to Cabinteely than Bray Wanderers, it has been difficult for Cabinteely to build a significant fan base of their own. Bray, for their part, have
always struggled to get the whole of Wicklow behind them. Comparing and contrasting Bray Wanderers and say, Sligo Rovers, the latter are based in Sligo town but have the advantage of having the same name as the county. Also, being a more remote town than Bray, it is easier for the club to be a focal point for the town and county; Bray is simply too near the many competing attractions Dublin has to offer. Pat Devlin - who managed Bray for many years and guided the club to two FAI Cups - has been manager of Cabinteely in recent seasons, and is set to become Director of Football at the new club. Since Niall O’Driscoll bought the majority shareholding in Wanderers from Gerry Mulvey in 2018, Bray fans have been recovering after the trauma of the preceding years, when the Carlisle Grounds was threatened with being turned into a hotel and apartments. Now there is another new chapter in the club’s history let’s hope it’s a good one!