Wicklow Voice 18-02-2020

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TDs must work together for the good of everyone The campaigns are done and the votes have been counted and now the real work begins.

Wicklow’s’s five seats have been filled with representatives from across the political spectrum.

The five TDs elected have their political differences but now is the time to do what they have been elected to do - put the needs of the voters first and work towards a common goal of improving our county and country.

The result of General Election 2020 has seen former Fine Gael’s Junior Minister Andrew

Doyle and Fianna Fail’s Pat Casey lose their seats in a gruelling 15-count battle that ran late into the night of February 10, two days after the election.

The county’s first two seats went to the left as Sinn Fein’s John Brady Donnelly was the only person to be elected on the first count, receiving 17,297 first preferences, more than 5,000 more than the quota. Then came the Social Democrats’ Jennifer Whitemore who finished with 13,405 on Count 14.

Then to the right and centre we have two returning TDs -

Fibe Gael’s Simon Harris who received 11,838 votes along with Fianna fail’s Stephen Donnelly who got 11,018.

Then came the first Green Party TD for the county, Steven Matthews who was elected with 9,622.

The latter three were all elelcted on the 15th count and failed to surpass the quota.

The results in the constituency indicate a shift in political leanings as only two of the five seats remain with what were the two main parties.

It is up to our newly elected TDs to find a way to merge

these ideologies and bridge whatever divides there may be between them. The electorate need representatives who will fight for them, not against each other. It is time to stop going in circles and look to a new path.

The general election outcome was described as “something of a revolution in the ballot box”

by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

With all first preferences counted, the left-wing republican party has taken 24.5% of the vote, compared to 22% for Fianna Fáil and 21% for Fine Gael.

Vibeke Delahunt and Linda Healy at the Wicklow County Council Business Breakfast Briefing in the Druids Glen Hotel

04| NEWS news in brief Ukelele for beginners Pat Byrne, the creative force behind The Harbour Ukuleles, and promoter of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, has announced new beginners’ ukulele course for the Harbour Bar, Bray on Tuesday evenings at 7pm and the Hot Spot Music Club, Greystones on Saturday mornings at 11am.

The increasingly popular, Harbour Ukuleles’ have quite a repertoire including a recording they made of ‘Rainy Night in Soho’ - this has received over 20,000 hits on You Tube watch it here The Harbour Ukuleles also played to standing ovations in Christchurch, Bray, recently for The Caroline Foundation and will be giving several live performances over the summer at various charity events in Bray and beyond.

Bray Cualann Historical Society

Anthony Jordan will be the guest speaker for the February 20th 8pm meeting of the Bray Cualann Historical Society in the Royal Hotel, Bray, when he will speak on ‘James Joyce Unlocked’ - all welcome, admission €6 for non-members/ visitors.

wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

US bloggers given food for thought with visit here

The many wonders of Wicklow will feature in an innovative new digital campaign targeting American visitors to the Garden County.

Tourism Ireland in the United States is partnering with premier kitchen and home furnishings retailer Williams Sonoma for the campaign, which is called ‘Authentic Ireland’.

As part of the campaign, which is being rolled out in conjunction with Bake from

Scratch magazine, five food and lifestyle bloggers have been visiting Wicklow along with a videographer, photographer and team of editors.

Their action-packed itinerary saw them visit Powerscourt House & Gardens (above), where they enjoyed a guided tour of the grounds.

The bloggers – who have a combined audience of around 600,000 followers – have been capturing and sharing content of their time in Wicklow via their social platforms. The

content will also be used to produce a special ‘Authentic Ireland’ edition of the popular Bake from Scratch magazine, which has a print circulation of 150,000 and a digital monthly reach of 30 million readers.

The campaign includes a dedicated page on the Williams Sonoma website, whic features ‘Authentic Ireland’ recipes, “to inspire Americans to discover some of our culinary offerings and traditional recipes”.

Green light for new 109 homes

The local authority has given the green light for a new development of 109 new homes in Rathdrum.

The new estate at Viewmount, Knockadosan, is being developed by Oakway Homes, a county-Kildare based company.

The development on 2.6 hectares of land aournd 1.5km from Rathdrum town centre will create living accommodation for up to 600 people.

The new estate will consist of three two-bed homes, 57 threebed homes and 49-four bed homes.

Oakway Homes received permission to build the development after they made a request to the council to build three extra homes on the site, they managed this by reducing the number of three-bed homes by three and taking a fourbed home detached home of the plans. They then replaced these with seven four-bed semidetached units.

Permission for the new development off the Greenane Road in Rathdrum were approved this week.

Heartbreak as leading hockey star Nikki passes away hockey Well-known player Nicola (Nikki) Dignam, who ran the Woodpecker Bar & Restaurant in Ashford, has passed away aged 43.

The Limerick sportswoman, who previously played international hockey for Ireland, died last weekend after fighting a long illness in recent years.

The mother of three, who was originally from Castletroy, was due to celebrate her 44th birthday in the coming days.

She captained Dublin hockey side Loreto for two seasons in Europe and also represented Munster in the sport, and at one stage played for Bray Hockey Club.

Nikki was also a PE teacher in the Teresian School in Donnybrook after attending Crescent Comprehensive College growing up.

A huge crowd turned out for her funeral and crema tion.

Her death notice reads as follows: Nicola (Nikki) Dignam (née Lyons) Nunscross, Ashford, Co. Wicklow and formerly Castletroy, Limerick, 9th February 2020 peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Sadly missed by her loving husband Alan, children

Anna, Kian and Nial, mother Renza, father Ken, sisters Jennifer and Karen, brother Keith, mother-in-law Tussie, father-in-law Bobby, brothersin-law Tom, Owen, Robert, Richard, Peter and Charles, sisters-in-law Alex, Jane, Joanne, Amanda and Emma, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends.

Rest In Peace.

Nikki will be reposing at McCrea’s Funeral Home, Dublin Road, Wicklow Town (A67 E003) Tuesday evening from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm.

Funeral arriving to Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Ashford Wednesday for 12.00 noon Funeral Mass followed by interment in Rathnew cemetery.

Burglaries in Wicklow are more likely to go unsolved than anywhere else in the country, according to figures from the CSO. Similar crimes like robberies and thefts in the county, and in the greater Dublin, also have the worst detection rates in the country for those offences.

One of the six Garda divisions in Dublin had the lowest detection rates for the majority of crime categories, while Gardaí in the capital’s commuter belt of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow also tended to have below-average detection rates

for a range of offences.

The CSO figures show that nationally that just 33% of thefts, on average, were solved - however in Wicklow and five of the Dublin divisions the detection rate was below this figure.

Across all types of crime, Garda divisions with aboveaverage detection rates included Kerry, Cork West, Westmeath, Cork North, Cavan/Monaghan, Kilkenny/Carlow and Tipperary.

The CSO figures, based on data extracted from the Garda Pulse system, tracked Garda investigations in 2018.

We’re bottom of burglaries table

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wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

Dart upgrade plans to now cost €2.6bn

news in brief Callan’s Kicks comes to town Loved by the public and loathed by the great and the good, satirist Oliver Callan is bringing his award-winning Callan’s Kicks comedy show to The Whale Theatre on March 6 at 8pm.

For the first time in five years, the comedian puts his awardwinning show on stage and the good people of Wicklow will get a chance to see a special “live rehearsal” when he plays the Greystones venue.

This is an over 18s night and tickets cost €15 from www. whaletheatre.ie or call the booking office on 01 2010550.

Plan for 99 homes A new development of 99 homes - which will provide housing for more than 450 people - is being planned for Wicklow Town.

Plans have been lodged with Wicklow County Council for the development of 83 houses and 16 apartments, along with a crèche, on the Malton Road at Ballynerrin, on the outskirts of the town.

Wicklow County Council are accepting submissions until March 9. A decision on the development is due by March 30.

CEO of Wicklow County Council Frank Curran, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Irene Winters and Mike Seaton of SSE Renewables at the Wicklow County Council Business Breakfast Briefing held in the Druids Glen Hotel

Remember the bees, please!

Wicklow County Council is to host a biodiversity workshop later this month as a new international report shows that bee populations have plummeted by 33% since the 1970s.

Anyone with an interest in biodiversity and climate action is invited to the one-day ‘Let’s get Buzzing’ workshop on February 22 in Ashford Community and Heritage Centre. The four workshop themes are:

• The County Wicklow Swift Recording Project • The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan • Biodiversity and Climate Change • Exploring (and recording) your local river

The event is free, but booking is required to secure a place - to book email jcallery@wicklowcoco.ie or dburns@wicklowcoco. ie or for further information and to access the full pro-

gramme see www.wicklow.ie latest news.

Meanwhile, a new international report released earlier this week claims that ‘climate chaos’ has caused widespread losses of bumblebees across continents, according to scientists.

A new analysis shows the likelihood of a bee being found in any given place in Europe, including Ireland, and North America has declined by a third since the 1970s.

The plan to upgrade the Dart, including improving the line between Bray and Greystones, is set to cost €600m more than expected.

The works, which are due to be completed by 2027, were originally estimated to cost €2bn under the National Development Plan.

However, according to reports in the Irish Times, Irish Rail now believes that the total cost will be more than €2.6bn.

One of the main concerns is the cost of expanding the frequency of rail services between Bray and Greystones as the engineering work needed to re-enforce the line, which runs along the side of Bray Head, will be extensive.

The expansion programme will also see the electrified rail services expanded from Drogheda, Maynooth and Celbridge to the city centre as well as upgraded signalling systems and junctions.

There are also risks that the cost could rise higher with con-

cerns that relocating the existing Docklands rail station to Spencer Dock, which is under consideration by the National Transport Authority, could add at least €100m to the final bill.

The Dart expansion programme is still largely at the planning and design stage but the projected costs have risen by more than €200 million since last summer.

It is understood the projected cost was estimated at €2.38 billion last May. Meanwhle, Irish Rail plans to replace and upgrade lifts at all Dart and commuter rail stations over the next five years.

A tender issued by the company this week outlines plans to install 28 new lifts and upgrade a further 112 lifts across Irish Rail’s network between 2020 and 2024.

In recent years, disability activists and commuters have accused Irish Rail of not caring about accessibility, with lifts repeatedly out of service for long periods of time.

• 494 in Navan, Co Meath • 539 in Drogheda, Co Louth

fordability’ and ‘space’, resulting in long commutes, road congestion, long childcare hours, lack of amenities, remoteness from family/friends and bigger carbon footprint for life,” she wrote.

Ms Hegarty added that while buyers can afford the new houses, they come at a massive cost to the State through new infrastructure, schools, services, public transport.

Just 909 housing units - just 5% - were constructed in Dublin city last year and that most of that is small apartments which is sold to build-to-rent investors who are charging up to €2,000 a month for two-bed units.

Last month, it was reported how Cairn Homes planned to build 426 houses in the Greystones area, while 46 more homes, by a different builder, are to be constructed in Wicklow Town.

Over 900 homes built ‘without proper services’ More than 900 houses built in Wicklow last year were constructed without enough schools, water, transport and drainage, a leading housing expert from UCD has said.

Architect Orla Hegarty says 30pc of all new estates - more than 3,800 houses - built in 2019 are located in seven Dublin commuter towns forcing people into long commutes into the city.

As a result, this is creating immediate and future social, economic and environmental costs that are not being taken into account.

The towns Ms Hegarty refers to are: • 451 houses in Wicklow Town • 465 in Greystones • 829 in Naas, Co Kildare • 429 in Dunsaughlin, Co Meath • 659 in Celbridge, Co Kildare

“So 3,866 new homes, over 10,000 people, are going into areas without adequate infrastructure, schools, water, drainage, transport,” she said.

And objectors to these massive estates should not be branded as Nimbys (not in my back yard) objectors, she added.

“People in these towns who raise legitimate concerns about this are not Nimbys. These are real issues for existing communities, impacting on quality of life, access to services, congestion etc.

“This is why ‘planning’ is so important,” she claims.

Ms Hegarty was responding to figures released by the Central Statistics Office which reveal that that 21,000 homes were built last year.

“People are moving for ‘af-

wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

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08 | news in brief East Coast FM is top of the pops Local station East Coast FM is celebrating after after new figures confirmed its remains the top choice for Wicklow people with 57,000 listening every week.

The broadcaster continues to increase its daily reach and market share, according to the latest JNLR (Joint National Listenership Research) results from Ipsos/MRBI for the period January-December 2019.

“The figures also show that East Coast FM continues its growth in the county, with 57,000 tuning in each week,” a statement on East Coast FM said. “We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for listening!”

Smart Storage’s new design award A leading county Wicklow company thas launched a new design award with €5,000 prize money for students who can come up with “the next storage solution for Irish homes”.

Smarth Storage Ltd, based Newtownmountkennedy, in and TU Dublin today unveiled details of the first Smart Storage Design Innovation Award.

The competition is looking for students to design the next storage solution for Irish homes.

wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

27 speed new camera sites to be rolled out

Twenty-seven new speed zones are to be introduced into Wicklow this month.

The Gardai are changing the locations of where their speed vans have usually been located on Wicklow’s roads, taking effect from 6am on Monday.

The vans are being moved to areas that have seen a significant number of road accidents over the last number of years and are being placed there in an effort to change driver’s habits, get them to slow down and to abide by the speed limits.

Gardaí insist speed vans save lives and the purpose of the cameras is to reduce speed-related collisions and lessen injuries. Road deaths have dropped from 415 in 2000 to 148 in 2019.

The gardaí want to make motorists aware that although the speed zones may have changed in many areas, the gardai and the road division units will still be out on our road enforcing dangerous driving laws.

Safety cameras operate in areas where there is a history of

Road Name

Location Road Type

Collisions

Road Name

Location Road Type

Collisions

M11

Arklow to Scarnagh Motorway

5

M11

Barndarrig Motorway

3

M11

Junction 15, M11 Motorway

2

N11

Kilmacanoge/ Moorepark National 5

R772

Newtown Mount Kennedy Regional 2

R755

Djouce Regional

R115

Glencree Regional

2

R747

Kilcarra /Arklow Regional

6

R747

Aughrim/ Woodenbridge Regional

5

R748

Hillbrook Regional

2

R750

Bollarney Regional

4

R752

Wicklow Town Regional

6

R755

Larragh Regional

3

R759 R759 R760 R761 R761 R762 R767 L1013 L1020 L2190 L5050 L1007 Abbey Street Boghall Road

Lugalla Regional Manor Kilbride Regional Enniskerry Regional Three Trouts Bridge Regional Kilruddery Regional Greystones Regional Bray Regional Ballybawn Local Kilcrone to Enniskerry Local Ballyruane, Arklow Local Rockingham Local Monastery Road, Enniskerry Local Arklow Urban Bray Urban

2 3 2 2 6 12 7 2 2 4 2 2 2 6

speed-related collisions, known as speed enforcement zones, using a fleet of marked vehicles.

The 27 sites in Wicklow are part of 903 new speed zones are being introduced nationwide.

Penalty points for speeding

6

and dangerous driving look set to double on Bank Holiday weekends on Wicklow roads under new gardai plans.

The new rules could be implemented under a set of new road safety plans by gardai targeting

periods when traffic volumes are at their heaviest.

Gardai have consistently urged drivers to slow down and drive with care and consideration when travelling on bank holiday weekends, a time which

has shown a trend towards increased numbers of accidents.

The latest plan, dubbed the “Double Trouble system,” would see anyone caught driving dangerously over these weekends would receive double penalty points, similar to an operation used in parts of Australia.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast earlier today, Conor Faughnan from AA Roadwatch said he believes the laws in place are adequate, it is the enforcement of them is the issue.

“In all honesty, it’s not a measure we truly need.

“I would be much more in favour of doubling garda resources than laws.

“I don’t think you need to be a top analyst to conclude we just don’t have enough gardaí.

“I have no objection to it, but I would be concerned it would just be another distraction, it would be something else to prevent you from sticking to the knitting and enforcing the laws we’ve got,” Mr Faughnan concluded.

Pushy roofers alert

Billy O’Reilly and Robin Bradley at the Wicklow County Council Business Breakfast Briefing held in the Druids Glen Hotel

Windfarm stake sold for €100m A French energy giant has bought 50% of a massive wind farm off the coast of Wicklow for €100m.

EDF Renewables has taken a stake in the Codling offshore wind project, which is 13kms off the Garden County coast, from Hazel Shore, which is linked to developer Johnny Ronan.

EDF did not disclose the figures involved but Hazel Shore’s 50% stake in the project had been on the market with a

price tag of €100m.

EDF will team up with Fred Olsen Renewables, which owns the other half of the project, and it’s believed the project will have a capacity of 1 Gigawatt when completed with a value of more than €2.5bn when finished.

“We are committed to contributing to the Irish government’s renewables goals,” Bruno Bensasson, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Renewables said.

Wicklow residents have been warned to be on the lookout for ‘pushy cold callers’ ‘in a 08 WD reg red Toyota Hiace offering roof cleaning services.

It is believed several men have called to houses in the Ballinaclash and Rathdrum areas in an effort to get the residents to employ them to clean or fix roofs and gutters.

Meanwhile, reports have also been received of ‘cold callers’ offering tree pruning and other garden maintenance services in Wicklow Town.

Garda advice is not to deal with cold callers and to establish the full identity of any callers before you consider employing them. If you feel pressurised you can tell the caller that you never employ trades people ‘cold calling’ to your door.

Ask for a sales brochure or other documentation that you can subsequently investigate and verify as credible.

This should have a contact telephone number, a known address and a VAT registered number.

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wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

SHERRY FITZGERALD BRAY RESIDENTIAL BRANCH OF THE YEAR WINNER

2019

Barbara Spollen Branch Manager

Conor Donnelly Senior Negotiator

Darren O’Neill Senior Negotiator

Gordon Lennox Director

Janet Phillips Sales Support

Michele Freely Branch Admin

A SELECTION OF OUR RECENT SALES IN THE AREA

12 Rathmore Terrace, Upper Dargle Rd, Bray SOLD €395,000

17 Library Rd, Shankill, Dublin 18 SOLD €430,000

Donaman, Putland Rd, Bray SOLD €785,000

Manzil, Kilgarron Hill, Enniskerry SOLD €645,000

Sans Souci, Meath Rd, Bray SOLD €820,000

Thinking of Selling? Contact us today on Tel: 01 286 6630 mySherryFitz.ie

1 TOWN HALL CENTRE, BRAY, CO. WICKLOW A98 F9C6. TEL: 01 286 6630

PSRA No. 002183

womeninbusiness2020

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wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

Rachael Davis BSc (Hons) Remedy Pilates and Physiotherapy www.remedypilates.ie 01 2829837 Rachael, who won Wicklow Business Woman of the Year, and her team are recognised for their unique nurturing style that intertwines body and mind.

Rachael learned some of her own resilience from working with Katie Taylor for 10 years. As health educators they help people achieve goals in rehabilitation, fitness and performance and have the resources needed to optimise wellbeing, regardless of age or ability. They help individuals with pain, injury or illness, or those postsurgery to achieve optimal function and fitness. They provide the education, advice, support and guidance needed in a caring private setting. They specialise in improving lifestyles with Physical Therapy, Pilates and Yoga as well Exercise Therapy, Deep Tissue and Holistic Massage. They run Falls Prevention & Balance programs, specific Pilates classes for Parkinson’s, and are specialised therapists for Greystones Cancer Support being Pink Ribbon practitioners. Remedy are all about small changes making big improvements.

Kathleen Kinsella Kinsella Leadership Development Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford, 087 2646628, www.kmstraining.ie Kinsella Leadership Development was founded by Kathleen Kinsella. A Registered nurse and UCD Smurfit MBA graduate, Kathleen has over 30 years’ experience in both private and public sectors of the Healthcare industry in Ireland. She also works as Honorary Senior lecturer (School of Nursing) at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Kathleen has a keen interest in training from both corporate and healthcare perspectives. She is a firm believer in developing the skills of leadership, resilience and team building. She works with her clients to obtain these skills through training and facilitating interventions that ensure that the clients develop into highly effective and productive individuals who can achieve excellent results in difficult times.KLD also offer Women in Leadership courses to include topics such as Power and Politics, Negotiation Skills, Using Emotional Intelligence to enhance performance, delivering effective feedback, self-Management, as well as Menopause in the Workplace seminars.

Susan & Rachel McQuaid little dinners Rathdrum Enterprise Centre, Unit 2, Corballis Upper, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, 087 623 0060/www.littledinners.ie/ Mother and daughter duo Susan and Rachel McQuaid make up 2/3 of the management running Little Dinners in Co. Wicklow. The company was born out of a desire to address serious concern about the effect of diet on children’s health, while also offering a solution to the challenges facing childcare providers when providing hot meals. Since its launch in Spring 2000, the brainchild of Susan and her husband remains the country’s only HSE/ FSAI approved and registered producer and distributor dedicated solely to the production of children’s meals within the childcare sector. The company’s positive experience over the past 20 years has affirmed Susan’s belief that the earlier a child is introduced to good eating practices the easier it is to keep foods high in sugar and salt out of their diet.

Sinéad McKeever Little Lingua Languages South Dublin & North Wicklow, 0868640322, www.littlelingua.com Little Lingua was founded by Sinéad McKeever in 2014.

With over 15 years teaching experience in France and Germany and 10 years as European Operations Manager at Worth data inc, Sinéad set up Little Lingua after the birth of her daughter when she discovered there was no opportunity to impart her love of languages to her daughter. Little Lingua’s Method is all about speaking languages. We throw away the books and have FUN from a young age 2-12yrs. Our Method is all about speaking, and we do this through games, roleplay and interactive games. In 2020 we launched our exciting Penpal Program.

Come along and join our Easter Camp 2020.

louisa meehan woodview hrm HR Director and Owner, Woodview HRM; PT Lecturer, UCD & Smurfit louisa@woodviewhrm.com Louisa is the President of Network Ireland and the owner of Woodview HRM, a HR consultancy firm specialising in providing expert Human Resource and Workplace Mediation Solutions to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Woodview HRM cover all HR needs during the employee lifecycle including policies / handbooks, performance management, managerial development and disciplinary issues. In addition she lecturers in the field of HR and Organisational Behaviour in UCD / Smurfit on a part-time basis. As a strong supporter of women in business Louisa was a founding member of the Network Ireland Wicklow Branch.

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wicklowvoice.ie Febarury 18, 2020

Michelle Lynch Power The Hearing Clinic Delgany, Greystones, Wicklow, A63 AP23 085 111 6164/ thehearingclinic.ie/info@thehearingclinic.ie The Hearing Clinic established in Delgany 2014 by Michelle Lynch Power using her 20 years experience in NHS, irish health care and private sectors. The clinic provides a full diagnostic Audiology service for both children and adults with an exceptional adult hearing aid service, which comes with a tailored counselling and aftercare programme for the life of the hearing aid.

Hearing tests, Tympanometry, Hearing Aids, Hearing protection (musician,shooting,motor bike, industrial) Swim Plugs. The Hearing Clinic now has a second clinic opened in Sheeran Purcell GP practice,Wicklow Primary Care centre January 2020.

Christina Clarkson The Marketing Lounge Units 5 & 6 Ballywaltrim Business Park, Boghall Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow. A98 EH97, 0 15654263/ themarketinglounge.ie/ After a successful career as Head of Marketing for a wellknown IT Managed Services company, Christina established The Marketing Lounge in 2016 to offer clients her expertise in marketing strategy and implementation. Christina is a qualified marketing professional with a wealth of experience in a diverse range of industries including IT, Education, Graphic Arts, Home Improvement, Beauty and Logistics, to name a few. She has worked alongside various international partners including; Apple and Microsoft In 2018, Christina was awarded Network Ireland Wicklow Businesswoman of the Year in the Emerging New Business Owner category.

CEO Killruddery Estate Enterprises Ltd. Southern Cross, Bray, Co. Wicklow, (0)1 2863405, www.killruddery.com At Killruddery we host exquisite private events; company days out, gala dinners and weddings. We run a membership for our 17th Century Garden, in which we host creative and fun family days, botanical workshops and concerts. We hold a Farm Market each Saturday showcasing local food producers and craftspeople.

Our Farm Shop opens daily from 9am – 6pm and is supplied with chemical free vegetables grown in our Walled Garden, free range eggs and meat, our own cut flowers and a carefully curated selection of gifts and home ware. For me as CEO I feel a huge responsibility to preserve this Historic House & Gardens, my husbands family’s home for over 400 years for future generations.

We were thrilled to win the Event Industry Awards, ‘Best Unique Wedding Venue’ this year.

Alison Banton Brooke & Shoals Fragrances Church Road, Greystones, www.brookeandshoals.ie, 01 2874199 Brooke & Shoals is renowned for its award-winning fragrance products sold nationwide and also for its pretty gift boutique on the main street in Greystones. Owner and founder Alison Banton is passionate about creating high quality products that are made in Ireland. Alison was recently awarded a Business Woman of the Year accolade and she knows well the hard work and dedication required to drive a business. A strong team is also part of the magic formula and the Brooke & Shoals team both in the Greystones shop and in the Kilcoole office are dedicated to growing the brand. Call into Kay, Rita or Clara in Greystones to pick up a lovely candle, fragrance diffuser, or body products. They also have a range of stylish accessories, jewellery and gifts for that special occasion.

Emma Mckernan McKernan & Co. Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors Unit C20/C21, Wicklow Enterprise Centre, The Murrough. www.mckernanandco.ie, 0404 70122 Emma McKernan runs an independent accountancy firm based in Wicklow Town. The firm offers a wide range of services to both start-up businesses and established companies, and they pride themselves on working with clients from varying industries. Their wealth of knowledge in accounting, audit and taxation help clients make informed and productive business decisions. The firm is also experienced in specialised audits, and are happy to guide clients through this complex processes. McKernan & Co combine the efficiency and technical expertise you would expect from a large firm with the personal skills required to build close, successful client relationships.

womeninbusiness

Fionnuala ardee

The Wicklow Voice is delighted to bring you our latest profile of female entrepreneurs ahead of Intern ation al Women’s Day on March 8, small business owners and professionals who work extremely hard every day to make Wicklow a thriving business location for everyone.

Without the contribution these women make to our business community and local economy, the county would be a much poorer place - in more ways than one.

The women profiled below are equal parts intelligent, innovative, creative, brave and inspiring.

Each of them have put their all into their work and this is evident in their success stories.

Despite tough times in recent years, these businesses continue to thrive and can look forward to a bright future.

We congratulate these women on their success and celebrate women all around the county.

If you would like to be featured in the next Women in Business feature in the Wicklow Voice, Wexford Chronicle, Waterford Today Dublin Voice, Kilkenny Today or Carlow People then contact us today on 01 9015565 or email info@wicklowvoice.ie.

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wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

Days of death with the jolly old Ra

U

Up the Ra’ sounds like a jolly sort of cry, the sort of thing you might playfully shout in support of your favourite football team.

A good friend of mine had her life destroyed by the jolly old Ra. She was shopping in Belfast when a bomb they had planted blew her across the street.

Nine people died on that day, 21 July 1972, victims of 19 bombs unleashed on my native city by the playful blokes in the Ra. My friend was one of the 130 injured.

She lived but was scarred both mentally and physically. She became a virtual recluse at the age of 25. She married but it didn’t last and she never held down a proper job. She died young.

My friend never did any harm to the jolly old Ra. She supported, broadly speaking, their aims for Northern Ireland, though not their means of achieving them.

I agreed with her then and I guess I still do. But I cringe every time I hear someone utter that cry.

The jolly old Ra planted their 19 bombs that day in full knowledge that they would slaughter civilians. They placed them at a bus station, a train station, near shops and offices. There could have been no other consequence.

David Cullinane had not been born in 1972 when the chaps in the Ra unleashed this terror on Belfast, so maybe he doesn’t understand how much offence he caused with his ‘Up the Ra’ rallying call to supporters celebrating his election victory.

It was, he says, an emotional moment and he was recalling events from the past.

He appears puzzled by the uproar and does not seem to grasp the hurtful extent of his outburst.

It might help Mr Cullinane’s understanding if he put the shoe on the other foot.

Imagine if Arlene Foster, in an emotional moment, decided to regale her supporters with a verse of the Billy Boys: “We’re up to our knees in Fenian blood - surrender or you’ll die”. Or if one of her MPs decided to celebrate an election victory with that jolly old loyalist gesture of holding up five fingers to mock the five Catholics murdered in an attack on a bookmaker’s shop in Belfast.

Would Mr Cullinane be reassured if they told him they were only recalling events from the past?

The TD’s outburst has detracted from a magnificent election performance. He swept the board in Waterford, breaking all records. More than 20,000 people gave him their first preference votes. I don’t think many of them were voting for the jolly old Ra. This Ra rumpus has added to a concern I have about how Sinn Fein in government might affect relations in the North.

Michael Wolsey The Irish and British governments are joint custodians of the Good Friday Agreement and the Executive and other institutions that flow from it. They are meant to be honest brokers. But if Sinn Féin is in power in Dublin can it really be expected to impartially police the activities of Sinn Féin sharing power in Belfast?

The northern agreement was put under similar pressure when the DUP went into an alliance with Britain’s Conservative Party but the Executive was suspended at the time and so the issue was never really tested.

I hope Sinn Fein’s double grip on power does not cause problems but it is easy to see how it might shake unionist confidence. Shouts of ‘Up the Ra’ will not help.

“O

What we missed from all this though was the opportunity to have a proper campaign debate about drugs.

In Ireland in 2020 people openly smoke cannabis on the streets, without fear of arrest or censure, even though it is supposedly still illegal, which is a nonsense

“

opinion&comment

Cullinane’s outburst has detracted from a magnificent election performance. He swept the board in Waterford, breaking all records. More than 20,000 people gave him their first preference votes

No more token gestures, it’s time to legalise drugs

ne of the main topics of conversation in relation to the first leaders’ debate with MaryLou McDonald before the election was the admission by Leo Varadkar that he had taken illegal drugs in the days before he was elected to political office.

Micheal Martin, on the other hand, has never smoked, snorted, swallowed, injected or otherwise imbibed an illicit substance.

Oh, and Pat Kenny himself – who sprung the surprise question on the duo, causing Leo to look like a rabbit caught in the headlights – lived in the USA during Woodstock, so we are to make up our own minds as to whether we think he toked or took anything else.

What a load of nonsense. Who cares what people did in the past?

Everyone has a drug story, even if they don’t – I’m like Michael Martin in that I’ve never had any interest in narcotics, but I’ve never let anyone else’s drug history colour my present opinion of them.

Leo may have lost some older voters by his admission but gain some younger ones. Vice versa for Michael Martin.

So, it makes no difference either way to the likely outcome of the election.

What we missed from all this though was the opportunity to have a proper campaign debate about drugs.

In Ireland in 2020 people openly smoke cannabis on the streets, without fear of arrest or censure, even though it is supposedly still illegal, which is a nonsense.

The country is awash with cocaine.

Criminal gangs pocket all the profits and supply all the merchandise.

It would seem a no-brainer to me that if people want to take drugs that you would legalise everything, and properly control its supply, distribution and consumption, not to mention having proper structures in place to assist with over-indulgence, addiction and the other downsides.

Too many people are dying to get drugs to people who want them.

There is too much hypocrisy in this as a status-quo. Make it all legal, but with strict rules.

Allow employers to drug-test their employees at the start of the working day (if you’re high, you’re fired), allow the police to arrest us for drug-driving (if you’re high, you’re going to jail).

Let drugs be like drink or cigarettes, which they are anyway – alcohol and nicotine are probably more addictive than lots of stuff that is illegal currently.

Then there’s gambling, which is probably the most addictive thing on the planet, again all perfectly legal despite the devastation it wreaks on individuals and families.

Adopting this attitude would shut the

Brian Quigley gangs down, generate revenue for the government and demystify drugs.

You take responsibility for yourself and when and where you take drugs.

You know you can’t drive or work unless there is nothing in your system.

Most importantly, the product you are taking has been manufactured in a controlled way, not made in a basement somewhere with an unknown potency and unknown other ingredients.

I still wouldn’t take drugs even if they were legal. I’ll stick with my pint of Guinness to relax. But if people are hell-bent on trying cocaine, cannabis or whatever, let’s control it and manage it.

Make it all legal.

wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

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wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

COMHAIRLE CHONTAE CHILL MHANTÁIN WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to form a panel from which future temporary/permanent positions may be filled.

• EXECUTIVE ENGINEER REF: 10/2020 Salary €49,543 to €68,868 gross per annum (includes 2nd LSI) Application Forms and further details may be obtained from Enterprise & Corporate Services at 0404 20159 or by emailing recruitment@wicklowcoco.ie and on the Wicklow County Council website www.wicklow.ie CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS IS 12 NOON ON THURSDAY 5TH MARCH 2020 SHARP. Wicklow County Council reserves the right to shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate Wicklow County Council Is an Equal Opportunities Employer Thomas Murphy, Director Of Services Enterprise & Corporate Services Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Wicklow Phone: 0404 20159, Fax: 0404 20112 e-mail: recruitment@wicklowcoco.ie

Buying?

Selling?

Contact us today

Buying?

Selling?

Contact us today

t: 01 901 5565

t: 01 901 5565

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wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

WILDLIFE

with Justin Ivory

Welcome to Frog-bruary!

ninenottomiss book of the week

tv show of the week

film of the week

HOROSCOPES

RUNNING FROM THE SHADOWS

The Importance of Being Oscar Thursday 20 February, RTE1 @ 10.15pm

Stephanie Hickey tells, in her own words, how she survived abuse at the hands of a trusted family member and of how running, a simple physical activity helped her achieve mindfulness, but also to rediscover love and faith in her body - to reclaim it. Charting her life growing up in the rolling countryside of Waterford in the safety of her beloved family to the moment her childhood was shattered, to the court case where she waived her anonymity, to how she was able to reclaim a sense of herself through the sport which became like a therapy, Running from the Shadows is told with humour, strength and incredible courage.

A star-studded documentary drama providing an account of Oscar Wilde’s glittering career before his trial for homosexual crimes and his tragic fall from grace. Wilde enthusiasts and experts such Stephen Fry and Wilde’s grandson Merlin Holland provide revelatory accounts of how the writer’s own life informed his work, intercut with adaptations of his comedies and books performed by a cast including Freddie Fox, Claire Skinner, Anna Chancellor and James Fleet.

by Stephanie Hickey

Common Frogs ( Photo Justin Ivory)

Love is in the air!

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we humans will be getting “all loved up”. But this is also the month for amorous amphibians – in particular the Common Frog.

Frogs, being cold-blooded (ectothermic), become inactive and hibernate during winter.

During February (sometimes in mild years as early as January), Common Frogs (Rana temporaria) begin to emerge from hibernation to hop, skip and jump their frenzied way towards traditional breeding sites of ponds, pools, ditches etc.

The males are usually first to arrive and begin a chorus of low croaking to serenade the females.

The males literally grab the females as they arrive at the spawning sites (no time for shrinking violets here!). A male will jump on the females back and wrap its front legs around her body, clinging on with specially adapted ‘nuptial pads’ on each of its “thumbs”.

A female can attract a whole host of suitors who will all try to jump and cling onto her together, so much so that some females end up drowning from this over-zealous attention.

musical of the week

podcast of the week

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Running Time: 1hr 49min.

Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.

comedy of the week

TaurusExpect travel and communication delays.

Monitor conditions and focus on short-term objectives.

GeminiFocus on practical financial priorities. A barrier blocks the way toward a long-term goal. Build and strengthen your house, one brick at a time.

CancerFollow a spontaneous personal passion as long as you don’t neglect responsibilities. Talk about what you love.

LeoEnvision and dream. You can see what’s blocking the way to a long-term goal.

Consider different options for navigating around it.

Kinky Boots The Musical Saturday 22nd February 8pm, doors open 7pm.

Whale Theatre, Greystones, Wicklow

Do we really need another Guru?

Thursday 27th February 8pm. €15 Whale Theatre, Greystones, Wicklow

stand up comedy Friday, February 21, 2020 at 7:30 PM – 1:30 AM Brass Fox, 14 Leitrim Place, Wicklow

Kinky Boots The Musical, filmed live at the Adelphi Theatre in the heart of London’s West End, is strutting onto the big screen! Inspired by true events, this huge-hearted hit tells the story of two people with nothing in common – or so they think. Charlie (Killian Donnelly) is a factory owner struggling to save his family business, and Lola (Matt Henry) is a fabulous entertainer with a wildly exciting idea. With a little compassion and a lot of understanding, this unexpected pair learn to embrace their differences and create a line of sturdy stilettos unlike any the world has ever seen!

Conversations with people about their passion and interaction with their community. In this podcast we will be exploring why we are constantly in search of a guru, how social media is creating a need for external gratification and what do we really need to do to have a pleasant and peaceful life. The panel of speakers include Niamh Daly (actress/yoga teacher) Petra Fulham (Nutritionist) Fiona English (Positive Psychologist) Niall O’Murchu (Wim Hof Method instructor). An all inclusive event to explore what makes people think.

Stand Up Comedy @ The Fox! Clear your calendars and Get the gals & the lads together for one night of #Stand-Up #Comedy ! Our favourite #Comedians will be in The Brass Fox doing what they do best for one night only! WARNING: This is going to be a night of ABSOLUTE LOLS. Tickets are already flying out for this one folks! Call 0404 64432 to book today! Tickets €10 It’s going to be a cracker of a night.

camp of the week

hike of the week

foodie of the week Frog spawn (Photo Justin Ivory)

While the male is attached, the female starts to lay her eggs which the male simultaneously fertilises.

Each egg is covered by jelly which swells and offers some protection to the developing embryo.

All these jelly covered eggs stick together to form the familiar masses of frogspawn.

Two to three weeks later the tiny tadpoles will emerge.

Get out in the next few weeks and you could be treated to a great spectacle!

Just remember not to disturb the frogs and that it is illegal to remove frog spawn without a licence.

So what are you waiting for – hop to it!

AriesAvoid domestic controversy and fuss. Follow your heart.

Share dreams and ambitions with family. Initiate actions later. Make plans together.

VirgoTalk with friends about potential dreams, visions and goals. Wait for better conditions to take action.

Coordinate a team solution.

LibraReview your professional plans for possible alternatives to a blocked route. Edit outbound communications before sending.

ScorpioTalk about where you’d love to go. Plot an adventure with someone you’d love to share it. Speculate, dream and imagine.

Sagittarius-

Financial challenges could make a long-term goal seem distant. Don’t give up. Keep taking small steps forward.

Contribute what you can.

CapricornFocus on the here and now with your partner. Don’t worry about the future.

Wait for better conditions to pursue a shared dream.

Wicklow Holistic Centre Open Day Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 10 AM – 6 PM Wicklow Holistic Centre, 57 Main Street.

Mid Term Pony Camps Feb 19 at 1 PM – Feb 21 at 4 PM Ballyhara Livery, Two-mile water, Wicklow.

Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 10 AM – 3:30 PM Glendalough Visitor Centre, Wicklow. €20 pp

Lots to see and do on the day, including some free mini treatments available for you to try.

There will be a fabulous FREE guided Angelic meditation with Vivienne Cardin. We are delighted to be welcoming Abby Wynne and Regina Ni Dinn who will be facilitating the official opening ceremony/blessing which will take place at 2.22pm. At 4pm we will have a FREE mediumship demonstration facilitated

by Vivienne. In between all of this there will be the opportunity to experience FREE massages, and readings and to chat to our team.

Are you looking for an activity for your children over spring mid term? Well look no further. We are offering spaces for our mid term camps to children aged 6yrs to 8yrs & 9yrs to 12yrs.What will they do? Grooming ponies; Learn to handle ponies safely; Getting the horses beds ready; Feeding; Preparing to ride; Riding; Pony games; Confidence building games; Refreshments. Our assurance is to send your little ones home with a smile on their faces. The cost is €50 per child per day.

Siblings will be discounted.

We will meet at Glendalough Visitors Centre at 10am. From here we will take a section of the Wicklow Way to the Polunass Waterfall . The name Poulanass is taken from the Irish ‘Poll an Eas‘ which means ‘hole of the waterfall’.

Continuing on the Wicklow Way from here on our way up on to Lugduff. Once at Lugduff Summit there are great views of both sides of the valley. From here we will take a small section of the new Miners Way Trail on our way down to the Spinc and continue on forest trails on our return to Glendalough.

Lugduff Mountain & Spinc Guided Hike

AquariusNurture your health and wellness. Physical performance could face a barrier. Get enough rest.

Take your medicine when needed.

PiscesAn obstacle prevents a romantic objective. Don’t get frustrated about longterm dreams. Enjoy simple pleasures with friends.

Focus on the here and now.

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wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

insideback

Farrell’s reign is off to a flyer

T

he Andy Farrell era has begun, and begun with a brace of Aviva wins. If the 19-12 victory over Scotland on February 1 could be considered fortunate, the 24-14 win over Six Nations holders Wales on February 8 was a much-improved performance and one that went a long way towards banishing the lingering memories of our poor World Cup in Japan last autumn.

The defeat of Scotland had seen new captain Johnny Sexton score all Ireland’s points, with a try, a conversion and four penalties.

The win was unimpressive though, with Scotland dominating large parts of the game. They lacked cutting edge and made some defensive errors that worked to our advantage.

A much-improved performance was going to be needed against Wales and this is what was delivered.

Four tries were run in by Ireland, with Larmour and Furlong going over in the first

period and Van der Flier and Conway going over in the second.

It certainly wasn’t a day for place kicking, thanks to Storm Ciara, but Sexton still managed to convert a try in each half.

Having annihilated Italy 42-0 on the opening weekend Wales will be disappointed with the result against Ireland.

In fact, it was a first Six Nations defeat in nine tests for the reigning champions, who hadn’t lost in the competition since their previous Six Nations visit to Dublin in 2018.

So it’s onwards and hopefully upwards for Andy Farrell’s men.

There is a two-week respite until the next test against England in Twickenham on February 23, followed by another fortnight interlude before Italy visit the Aviva on March 7.

The last act in this year’s tournament will be played out when we face France in Paris on March 14.

Joe Schmidt is gone and Rory Best too. This is a new era and one that we won’t be able to definitively comment on it until the end of this Six Nations.

Garret Dempsey and Paul Lynch at the Wicklow County Council Business Breakfast Briefing held in the Druids Glen Hotel

We are placing our trust in Andy Farrell and he deserves to be given the five tests to settle in and prove our trust was well placed. Schmidt is a tough act to follow but Andy has made a solid start.

It’s good to have the rugby back. Its arrival means it is well and truly spring, and the Six Nations showcases the elite of European rugby battling for honours. Sit back and enjoy the next few weeks!

wicklowvoice.ie February 18, 2020

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