Wicklow Voice 19-10-21

wicklowvoice inside: FREE

May 28, 2015, t: 01 901 5556/7, October 19, 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

October 19, 2021

| 03

August 3, 2021

wicklowvoice inside: FREE

May 28, 2015, t: 01 901 5556/7, October 19 2021 wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie

.ie

20,000 copies

Fresh hope in search for missing women

FREE

Killarney Road, Bray, Co Wicklow

Remote woods could be linked to murders, Gardai believe

GARDAI believe a search on the Wicklow border may hold the answer to a decades old mystery.

The wooded area is just 10 minutes’ away from where JoJo Dullard went missing in November, 1995 and where “unusual activity” was reported on the evening Deirdre Jacob was last seen on July 28, 1998.

The two women are among eight who disappeared in mysterious circumstances in

the 1990s, including Annie McCarrick (pictured), who vanished from Johnnie Foxes Pub on March 26, 1993 after travelling to Enniskerry that day.

The dig is taking place in Taggartstown, Kildare, on the west Wicklow border, and is part of investigations into the murders of Ms Jacob and Ms Dullard.

Detectives are focusing on reports a man was seen dragging something from the boot of a car on the evening that Ms Jacob disappeared.

The search is expected to last for at least three weeks and will cover an area of around four acres.

“The woodland was identified as an area of interest which may

be relevant to the investigation,” Inspector John Fitzgerald said.

“For that purpose we have commenced a search of that woodland on foot of a search warrant we obtained from the District Court.”

He added that, while the search was related to Ms Jacob’s disappearance, gardai are aware that Jo Jo Dullard was last seen in the nearby town of Moone.

Continued on page 16

Two of the alomost 200 runners who took part in the Wicklow Hospice Full and half marathon which took place recently, the county’s first marathon running event of 2021

04|

Children’s concern for climate

A new survey has found that 91% of Wicklow school chidren say that climate change is something they worry about and two out of every three want to see climate change taught as a separate subject in school.

The survey was conducted by the Climate and Nature Summit, Ireland’s first climate change summit bringing together school-aged children, teachers, educators and activists, which will run from November 1-5.

“I would love to see climate change introduced as a separate school subject in the Irish school curriculum,” Poppy MacAndrew (13) from Temple Carraig says.

“I really think it could help make a difference to the way other young people approach the topic.”

The summit will coincide with COP26 in Glasgow and is a new initiative developed in partnership with Fifty Shades Greener, The Irish Schools Sustainability Network (ISSN) and Education for Sustainability and is supported by Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

October 19, 2021

New primary health care centre opens in county

Wicklow TD and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly (pictured above) officially opened Rathdrum Primary Care Centre earlier this month. ““I am delighted to have been in a position to assist in delivering this essential healthcare service for the Wicklow community.” Mr Donnelly said.

“We’re building capacity for Universal Healthcare

so people have the right pathway for treatments and not always going to hospitals.

“The network of primary care centres in community is important.”

Rathdrum Primary Care Centre opened to the public two weeks ago and will initially offer a range of Primary Care services all under one roof including a GP Practice, Public Health Nursing, Paediatric

Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Psychology, Mental Health and Social Work services.

Services will also expand to include Dietetics and Podiatry in the future.

The Centre will provide approximately 6,500 people within the Rathdrum area, (including Ballinaclash, Roundwood, Laragh, Glenealy and Greenane).

Run the Line back on track

IN THE MARQUEE

THE Run the Line fundraising event for Dublin/Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team returns again this November.

The event consists of two separate races, 13km and 26km, across the Dublin Mountains, starting and finishing in Glencullen Adventure Park.

The races will take in many spectacular locations along the way, offering breathtaking views.

This year’s fundraising efforts will focus on supporting continued efforts to have a purpose-built home in order to meet the needs of the busy rescue team.

In 2016 the inaugural ‘Run the Line’ event took place, beginning and ending at Lamb Doyle’s pub in Sandyford, Co Dublin.

Since then, the event has gone from strength to strength, and the decision was made in 2017 to move the start/finish line to Glencullen Adventure Park. The team will be out in full force in Glencullen Adventure Park, and along the route. Run the Line takes place on Saturday, November 20, 10am. More: www.runtheline.ie/

No Garda probe of crowd fight at GAA U15 final WICKLOW GAA has said they will investigate alleged violent conduct which occurred at a football match recently.

Gardai confirmed that they were not called to the match at Ballinakill and there was no investigation into the violence – which means it is solely a GAA matter.

A video circulating widely on social media shows a number of people who attended the match engaged in the fighting, which broke out before the game was finished.

It is believed the incident took place at the Under-15 D final between Carnew and Kilcoole.

This match was played at the Centre of Excellence at Ballinakill.

In a statement on their website, Wicklow GAA said they aware of reports of “totally unacceptable behaviour” from a number of people at a game.

“Wicklow GAA strongly condemns all such behaviour, the [Competitions Control Committee] will be investigating the incident fully and strong disciplinary action taken.”

The footage which was shared widely on social media showed dozens of men and women fighting as tempers flared.

People can be seen throwing punches while others can be heard swearing as officials and spectators try to restore calm to the proceedings.

There is no suggestion that any of the players were involved in the altercation during the match.

The Wicklow County Board have condemned last Saturday’s row and said its Competitions Control Committee would meet to review the referee’s written report on the scenes.

Gardai confirmed that they were not called to the match at Ballinakill and there was no investigation into the violence – which means it is solely a GAA matter.

The brawl erupted during the game and video footage of the row went viral – and showed players, coaches and adults involved in confrontations.

The row broke out near the end of the game after a Carnew player was sent off.

Injured woman is rescued from Djouce

A WOMAN was rescued after injuring her ankle while hiking on a Wicklow mountain, last Sunday.

The hiker was walking along the col between War Hill and Djouce Mountain with a group when she got into difficulty.

Her ankle injury was causing her “significant pain” and she was “unable to bear weight” on it.

The Dublin-Wicklow Mountain rescue team were

called out at about 4.00pm.

The hiker and her group were located using SARLOC technology and once their location was confirmed, rescuers treated the woman.

Separately, at Turlough Hill, a walker was evacuated in a stretcher after becoming “exhausted” while out hiking with their partner. The pair were hiking last Monday when the individual “could no longer continue on their journey”.

October 19, 2021

| 05

06 |

Search on for Ireland’s fittest school

A call has gone out to schools in Wicklow from sprinter Phil Healy and fellow athlete, David Gillick, who have joined forces with Fyffes in a quest to find ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’.

Together, the Irish Olympians have recorded a series of workouts which they say are ‘fit for even the least active’ — exercise routines they hope schools will adopt as part of their PE curriculum.

In this latest fitness initiative, Fyffes has introduced a strong competitive element.

Coupled with monthly and spot prize rewards, one successful school will have the distinction of being chosen as ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’, the prize for which will be a visit from the Fit Squad ambassadors Phil and David and €5,000 worth of sports equipment.

Building on its campaign to promote fitness and healthy eating amongst young people, the Fit Squad programme has been introduced to 20,000 plus pupils in a countrywide series of live school visits.

Registration for the competition, which runs from November until April, can now be made online at: www.fyffesfitsquad.ie.

October 19, 2021

Pension and allowance for fuel to increase by €5

WITH Energy prices having jumped by almost 50% this year, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath announced a €5 increase in weekly pension payments in the Budget.

The Minister also said he would raise the living alone allowance by €3, to ensure the well-being of many thousands of the country’s older citizens are protected in the year ahead.

Overall, the Minister announced a social welfare package worth €558m.

This sees an increase of €5 for weekly payments for working age, while young jobseekers will also be paid another €5.

Mr McGrath said that he was acutely aware of the impact on households of increasing energy costs.

To directly address this, the weekly rate of the Fuel Allowance has now increased by €5.

With energy prices surging, the fuel allowance was in the spotlight for the Budget.

The allowance is a weekly payment made to help defray winter heating bills for older people or those on limited financial means.

It is paid for 28 weeks, or just

Olympians Phil Healy and David Gillick with Casey (6), Jerry (8), and Juneau Conroy (10), have joined forces with Fyffes in the quest to find ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’, which runs from November until April, Find out more www.fyffesfitsquad.ie over half the year. This autumn, the payment kicked in on September 27th and will run to April 10th, 2022.

At the new €33 rate, that’s €924 in financial support to ease the pressure from heating bills.

The allowance is paid either weekly, or in two lump sums – one in September and the other in January.

To be eligible, you must be in receipt of certain specific welfare payments and meet an income, or means, test.

While the means-tested amount you can earn over and above welfare payments has been increased by 20% to €120 a week.

However, this measure will only kick in in January so, if you are looking for the allowance this autumn, the income threshold is still €100.

Separately, people in receipt of Jobseekers’ Allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance may qualify for fuel allowance after 12 months, instead of 15 at present.

But this will only really benefit people next winter as it does not come into force until next September.

Meanwhile, the pension and core social welfare payments are to increase by €5 per week from January.

This will bring the full State pension to €253.30 per week and the maximum personal rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit with no dependents to €208 per week.

The increase will be applied

WITH schools back full swing, all pupils have been asked to consider the environment — the coast in particular. for all Waterford pupils — and Think Before You Flush!

Only the 3 P’s (Pee, Poo and Paper) should be flushed down the toilet and everything else should go in the bin.

If the wrong things, like wipes, dental floss and sanitary items get flushed down the toilet they can lead to blockages, wastewater overflows and discharges to our marine environment, where they can, in turn, harm wildlife or wash up on our shores.

All national schools in Wicklow are receiving information and resources about the Think Before You Flush campaign.

Approximately 2,000 blockages occur in the Irish Water wastewater network every month, 75% of which are caused by wipes.

Think Before You Flush is

a public awareness campaign about the problems these items can cause in our marine environment and our wastewater systems if they are flushed. The campaign is operated by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme and is supported by Irish Water.

Every day thousands of wet wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products and other unsuitable items are flushed down toilets in Ireland instead of being put in the bin.

This causes costly blockages in our homes, businesses and wastewater systems, ultimately leading to sewer overflows in our communities and plastic pollution in rivers, on beaches and in the ocean.

Raising awareness of this issue particularly with schools will help get this important message out to a wider — and a younger — audience.

Join the campaign at www.thinkbeforeyouflush.org and follow @CleanCoasts.

proportionately to lower rates and for qualified adults.

For Jobseekers’ payments, there will be an increase for a dependent under 12 of €2 or €3 for those over 12. To support families, the Minister said he would increase the duration of Parent’s Benefit by two weeks to seven weeks from July next year.

And from June next year, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will also rise by €10, while the income threshold for the Working Family Payment will also increase by €10 for all families.

To support carers and people with disabilities, from January next year the Domiciliary Care Allowance has been increased from three to six months and the rate of Wage Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities will rise by €1 an hour.

From June next year, the income disregard for Carer’s Allowance will rise from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for a couple.

The Capital Disregard for Carer’s Allowance is rising from €20,000 to €50,000, while the earnings limit on Disability Allowance will increase from €350 to €375.

Think about our Break the fast Looking for a tutor? environment School Is Easy is before you flush in aid of

here to help you

Advertorial As we battle to cope with the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 regulations, home-based learning has taken on a new importance.

Many parents who want their children to enjoy the benefits of one-to-one tuition are, nevertheless, nervous about having a stranger in their home or sending young students to a tuition centre.

School is Easy (SIE) can solve that problem.

We can offer one-to-one or group grinds for Primary, Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate school students at a time that works for you and your family.

We offer the following subjects, from Primary to Secondary to Specialist Third Level courses: Irish/Gaelige, English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, German, Spanish, History, Geography, Business Studies, Economics, Design and Technology, Music, and Physical Education .

Going to university and dreading the college exams? No problem, we have skilled and experienced tutors to help every student.

We provide safe, online tutorials that are recorded so that your child can future reference any topic covered.

When you work with SIE, you will get nothing but the best.

All of our tutors have formal education, classroom experience and a passion for teaching.

For senior subjects we use college and university instructors with a Masters degree.

The choice is yours when it comes to the style of tutoring and our range of subjects is broad.

We don’t use generic tutoring lessons. We customise each programme based on the student’s needs, goals and capacity and we take care to match students with the right tutors.

We are easy to work with. We screen tutors for you. We identify learning deficiencies and we get results .

Our certified tutors will provide an initial assessment, if you need it, to ascertain your child’s requirements.

Call us today on 01 556 3553 to book a consulation.

We will be delighted to match you with a tutor.

see our ad on page 2

ISPCC

THE ISPCC Childline is calling on communities, clubs, creches and businesses in the county to breakfast together this month and help raise vital funds for the children’s charity as we approach another winter.

Childline Breakfast is a highlight of the annual fundraising calendar for Childline and, in recent years, has seen individuals in Waterford come together for the most important meal of the day and help raise funds for Ireland’s national listening service for children.

This year, Childline Breakfast Week will run from October 18th to 25th. By gathering with friends, colleagues, neighbours or clubmates to enjoy breakfast together, you can help keep Childline listening.

The service operates 24 hours a day, every day, but relies heavily on public and corporate support to make this possible. To register your breakfast see ispcc. ie/breakfast-2021 or contact the Childline fundraising team on 1850 50 40 50.

October 19, 2021

| 07

08 |

October 19, 2021

opinion&comment

Sláintecare is not the cure for all our health service ills

O

NE good thing about Sláintecare is that it got all the big political parties to agree on a health policy that would survive a change of government.

Unfortunately the policy is a bad one. It is aimed at providing a hospital service similar to that operated in the UK. But the British system does not work well; its health service is far from healthy.

If you want proof, just look north of the border. Northern Ireland’s hospitals have lengthy waiting lists. They have coped badly with the Covid crisis, often shutting wards and sometimes entire hospitals, and calling in the British army to assist overworked medical staff.

I could counter this with a list of deficiencies from the Irish

Michael Wolsey

system but I am not playing king of the castle. My point is simply that the UK’s National Health Service, once the envy of the world, is no longer a good model to follow.

It was set up after World War Two, by the Labour government of Clement Attlee, at a time when people in Britain paid for all their own health care. The rich got the best treatment and

the poor had to rely on charity.

Atlee’s dynamic health minister, Aneurin Bevan, swept in a system based on the socialist principle of ‘from each according to his means, to each according to his needs’. It was paid for only by taxation and free to all users, even the very wealthy.

From the outset this proved impractical. A row over the imposition of token prescription charges split the Labour Party and brought down Atlee’s government. The re-elected Conservatives did not dare abandon the hugely popular NHS, but the service would never again be entirely free. Funding has not kept pace with population growth or the huge cost of marvellous, modern medical technology. Taxpayers are just not prepared to foot the bill.

When Bevan gave birth to the NHS, Ireland’s health system was much like Britain’s. Since

then we have gone on our own rather shambolic way, extending free medicine here and bolting on private insurance there.

We have medical cards for some people and everyone is entitled to free treatment in public hospitals, if they wait long enough.

They can shorten the wait by paying for private treatment.

Their payments subsidise the public hospitals but their health care is, in turn, subsidised by allowing doctors who practise private medicine to operate from those hospitals.

For better or worse, our system is now nothing like the British one and we should not try to turn it into the NHS, which itself is no longer working well.

If we want to copy another country, we should look at Germany. Its system delivers better results than ours but its broad structures are not so very different. It, too, mixes private and

public health care, using the same staff and, in most cases, the same hospitals and clinics.

The big difference is that all German residents must have health insurance. It is provided by ‘insurance funds’ set up for that purpose alone, strictly regulated and price-controlled.

For people earning less than €63,000 (not a bad annual salary, even by German standards) the insurance is paid for by employers, employees and the government, via tax concessions.

If you earn more, you can top up your benefit with insurance bought from a private company.

This will get hospital patients a private ward, probably a nicer ward, and sometimes their choice of doctor.

Germans can also opt for entirely private treatment in facilities built and financed by private companies, but this is so expensive only the very

wealthy choose to do it.

Everyone else is in the same boat, although some are travelling first-class.

Everyone ends up getting the same level of care in the same hospital. If you can afford it, and choose to spend your money that way , you can have the deluxe package, but the difference won’t be huge.

Since the money spent on the German hospital system comes from insurance funds, not taxation, it is ring-fenced and does not go up or down with the economy or at the whim of governments.

This could be a German solution to an Irish problem, a more workable model for Sláintecare and one that could be introduced in stages. The present model has hit problems. Before pushing on down the rocky road we should at least consider a different route.

| 09

October 19, 2021

opinion&comment

Exploring fathers and their children’s disability services Well-known Bray Emmets footballer Ronan Cunningham, a graduate of UCD and Trinity College at primary and masters degree level, is completing a doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

He is focusing his doctoral research on the perceptions and experiences of fathers of children with an intellectual disabilityFamilies of children with an intellectual disability face any number of challenges and hurdles on a daily basis, with some more routine and expected than others.

G

enerally speaking, children who are diagnosed with an intellectual disability have a high level of need and require support from

Ronan Cunningham

beyond the family system in the form of an external disability service.

Such services offer specialist support in the form of psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy etc. and any parent will attest to the trials and tribulations associated with the inevitable advocating that they will undertake to ensure that their child receives the support and services that they require.

In many instances, this is a lifelong battle for parents.

Children with an intellectual disability will often require support across the lifespan and with this in mind, the involvement and on-going engagement of both parents in this process of support giving and support seeking is a huge advantage.

Having one parent who is not so involved or who feels underappreciated is not only a disad-

vantage, but a lesser discussed hurdle that these families must try to overcome.

Previous research would suggest that fathers of children with an intellectual disability can feel disengaged and overlooked by services.

They are often cast in a secondary role and are not seen as the primary parent.

When services want to get in touch with the family, it is the mother that they call. If the mother does not pick up, then they will try her again later rather than calling the dad.

From the services perspective, research would also show that fathers are a challenging population to engage and that they are often not as willing as mothers to attend appointments and engage with the day-to-day work required when raising a child with an intellectual disability.

This is an alarming trend to consider in light of the wellsupported finding that increased father involvement with their children brings many social and developmental benefits.

In Ireland, the interaction between fathers of children with an intellectual disability and disability services has not previously been explored, and this is the research gap that an exciting new study is trying to fill.

The study is looking at the wider ecology of this complex relationship – what is hindering father engagement with services in a wider, systemic sense and how can we explore this to try and improve father engagement with services.

Ultimately, the research is looking to improve services so that they live up to the fam-

ily centred practice model to which they subscribe, an approach to service delivery that is considered international best practice.

Furthermore, as Progressing Disability Services rolls out nationwide, services are currently undergoing structural change.

This study is therefore timely in that it will shed light on some areas where services can make a concerted effort to improve in order to create a brighter future for families who avail of such services.

Fathers of children with an intellectual disability and are interested in taking part are asked to complete a short survey at the following link: https:// micquality.qualtrics.com/jfe/ form/SV_2gDycITbllaRZFc or scan the QR code on the flyer to access the survey.

womeninbusiness2021

10 |

October 19, 2021

ruth donnelly Alpha CC Units 3-4, Rosebank, Herbert Road, Bray, www.alphacc.ie 01 2861800 Ruth Donnelly is the Co-Managing Director at Alpha CC and has been with the company for over 16 years being an integral part of its growth strategy and driving it on to become one of the most successful businesses in its sector. Ruth was recently appointed the Fianna Fail Local Area representative for Bray a role which she is very excited about as she has a passion for making her hometown the best place to live and do business in. This was evident from her role as President of Bray Chamber of Commerce over the last two years. Speaking on what she sees as her key priorities for the role Ruth said “Being a mother to a young son I want to make sure that the town he grows up in is a safe and vibrate one with a strong sense of community. I will listen to anyone who feels they have an idea to make the town better and will work with anyone who feels they have an issue needing to be addressed and I look forward to meeting residents to discuss these”. If you would like to contact Ruth, please email her on ruth@alphacc.ie

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.

Julie Davis Semi Permanent Eyebrows 26 Willowbrook, Cooldross Upper, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, A63 E128, (01) 201 1545 With over 20 years experience in the Beauty industry, Julie is co-owner of Studio LR Hair and Beauty Salon in Kilcoole where she specialises in personalised Semi Permanent Eyebrows.

Cosmetic microblading and tattooing gives you long lasting, low maintenance natural looking eyebrows. Pigment is matched to your hair colour and skin tone and your ideal shape is essentially created by techniques such as feathered hair strokes, ombre powder brows and microblading. Julie enhances existing brows to give a fuller more defined look and is well known for creating natural looking brows, that look good during the day when you’ve no make up on. For more information, please see www.studioLR.ie

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.

womenin

| 11

October 19, 2021

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 Northside News, Southside News or Carlow People then contact us today on 01 9015565 or email info@ wicklowvoice.ie.

Deborah Coughlan National learning network Beechwood Close, Boghall Road, Bray, (01) 282 9643 Deborah Coughlan is the Area Manager for National Learning Network. With centres in Bray and Arklow they provide education and training for people who need extra support to get qualifications or return to the workplace.

Deborah says “Our students come from a range of backgrounds, those suffering from depression or anxiety, those who have had an accident or illness that has set them back or have a learning disability. Early school leavers or those unable to cope with the pressures of mainstream education are also supported. National Learning Network is funded by KWETB and HSE who recognise some people need a little more support than others to achieve their goals.

Michelle Lynch Power The Hearing Clinic Courtyard at Fishers,Newtownmountkennedy,Co.Wicklow, A63 HW54. 085 111 6164/ thehearingclinic.ie/info@ thehearingclinic.ie The Hearing Clinic established in 2014 by Michelle Lynch Power using her 20 years experience in NHS, irish health care and private sectors. The clinic is fully independent, providing 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. Services provided: Hearing Tests; Tympanometry; Hearing Aids; Custom swim/surf moulds; Custom Hearing Protection and Ear Wax Removal.

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 for its 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 Businesswoman 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 Kilcoole office and the Greystones shop and are dedicated to growing the brand. Call into the team in the shop 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.

business

womeninbusiness2021

The Wicklow Voice is delighted to bring you our latest profile of female entrepreneurs, small business owners and professionals who work extremely hard every day to make Wicklow a thriving business location for everyone.

Without the contribution

12 |

October 19, 2021

S ’ D N A L E IR E N O R E NUMB MATTRESS RE SUPERSTO

COOLOCK NAAS RD DROGHEDA WATERFORD CARLOW TIPPERARY ATHLONE

UNIT 3 MALAHIDE ROAD IND PARK. 01 - 677 2485 10 IRISH 0% MATTR MADE ESSES

(NEXT TO WOODIES) DUBLIN 12. 01- 4604722

THE MELL, DROGHEDA, 041 9803879

WESTGATE RETAIL PARK, TRAMORE ROAD (051) 317 574

FOUR LAKES RETAIL PARK 059 9133388

DUBLIN ROAD ROSCREA 050 524549

BLYRY BUSINESS PARK BALLYMAHON ROAD ATHLONE

October 19, 2021

| 13

14 |

October 19, 2021

| 15

October 19, 2021

WILDLIFE

ninenottomiss

Babewatch!

book of the week

with Justin Ivory

Grey Seal pup (Pic: Justin Ivory) It’s that time of year when myself and many other trained Marine Rescue Volunteers with Seal Rescue Ireland are getting constant call outs. Yes we are right in the midst of Grey Seal pupping season, which runs from early August right upto the end of December, and even into January. I have written about this topic before but is worth repeating again given the increase in encounters between humans and seals.

Here is the advice from the Seal Rescue Ireland website.

What to do if you have found a seal?

• Keep at least 100m distance (and preferably out of sight) – disturbance may lead to mothers abandoning pups • Don’t put the seal in the water they are on land for a reason • Don’t touch seals – they are wild animals and will bite • Keep dogs on a leash – they may injure or pass diseases to each other How to tell if a seal needs help?

• A healthy seal is plump and barrel shaped. Seals with loose skin rolls, protruding hip bones, ribs and a visible neck may be under-weight and need help.

• Seals with swollen limbs, cuts, bites or visible injuries including entanglement in netting, may need help • Healthy seals eyes are wide open with no cloudiness or marks. Wet patches around their eyes shows good hydration. Dry, squinting, cloudy eyes with discharge may indicate illness.

• Healthy seals have clear, deep breaths and no wheezing, sneezing or discharge from their nose. Dry coughing, rapid or erratic breathing, discharge or blood from the nose, may indicate illness.

If you think a seal needs help…

• Call SRI’s 24/7 Rescue Hotline at 0871955393 • Provide your name and number • Send you location pin • Give a detailed description of size and condition of the pup or seal • Send photos and/or videos

TV of the week

HOROSCOPES

stream of the week

Independence Memories Valerie Cox

Neven’s Spanish Food Trails RTE1, Wed 20th October, 8.30 pm

guilty Netflix

THIS is a fascinating social history, from living and inherited memory, of the period surrounding Irish Independence and the Civil War, written by journalist Valerie Cox, author of Growing Up With Ireland. In a similar vein, a wonderful compendium of stories and memories are told by Ireland’s oldest citizens; from Galwayman Michael Feerick, who rode his white horse through the streets of Dunmore, shouting ‘blackguards’ at the Black and Tans. We meet the two Mollys, Dublin street traders and runners for Michael Collins, who sewed bullets into the hems of their long skirts.

IF you’ve missed the great chef traverse the Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Menorca, then this is your last chance to do so with the series finale this evening. This episode sees Neven head off for a spot of lobster fishing, and then meets a food historian to learn more about mayonnaise, which Menorcans claim to have invented. But don’t fret if you have missed out, to bring a taste of the Balearic islands to Ireland, Neven has been sharing mouthwatering recipes throughout the series for viewers to try at home. You can find them all on RTE.ie/Food.

A troubled police detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) is demoted to 911 operator duty and one evening scrambles to save a distressed caller.

Some viewers may have already seen the original 2018 Danish version of this nailbiter, but this remake, from a screenplay by Nic Pizzolatto (True Detective) dials up the thrills a notch as LAPD officer Joe Baylor answers a call from a woman who reveals she has been abducted. Joe learns that she and her abductor are travelling in a white van, but Emily is forced to hang up before she can provide more details. Riveting drama.

recipe of the week

movie of the week

charity of the week

AriesEngage in a professional challenge. Work closely with your partner now.

Collaboration gets more fun and valuable.

TaurusAdventure calls. Pour energy into work and fitness.

Work faster to produce better results, including better financial results.

GeminiDiscuss shared finances.

Passions awakens. Savor family, fun and games. Love and romance flower with playfulness.

CancerDomestic renovation benefits from physical effort. Energize a homeimprovement project to nurture your family.

LeoPhysical effort energizes you. You’re intent on getting the whole story.

Get multiple sources before breaking a scoop.

hearty pumpkin soup bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/creamy-pumpkinlentil-soup NOW the pumpkins are being flogged and you’re getting some pratice in carving them up and making a total disaster of that scary face, why not put the sorry mess you’ve made to good use by cooking up some hearty soup and redeem yourself? This recipe is easy peasy, and can be made using stock from stock cubes (low salt, if you can!) and ingredients that can be found in any supermarket. It does mention thyme as the herb of choice — but this is not everyone’s herb of choice as it is something of a bully, so use sparingly, if at all.

album of the week

no sudden move Cinemas nationwide Detroit, 1954. A trio of criminals (Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Kieran Culkin) are sent to the family home of an accountant for GM (David Harbour) with the plan to force him to visit his office in order to retrieve certain documents.

While the plan initially begins simple enough, things spiral out of control and what you get is a Steven Soderbergh at the top of his game.

‘Ocean’s Eleven, Out of Sight and the hilarious Logan Lucky . . . ‘No Sudden Move’ sits very comfortably alongside some of his best work.

event of the week

smithfield tower halloween abseil rmhc.ie/fundraising-events/ Towering above the skyline at 190 feet, this iconic Dublin landmark will see 100 of you abseil into Smithfield Square this Halloween for Ronald McDonald House.. This challenge is only for the bravest, by the way. Participants must be over 16 and no abseiling experience is required. Insurance and training will be provided for the day — Courage, however, will have to be supplied by you! 244 winding steps await you before you take the plunge so please be sure you are fit. To register for this once in a lifetime challenge there is a payment of €100 to cover the cost of your abseil. Takes place on Friday, October 29th.

cause of the week

VirgoFollow your heart. Energize your moneymaking efforts over the next six weeks.

You’ve got the moves to make it happen.

LibraPour love into your home. Focus on personal development. Get energized to contribute to a bigger cause.

ScorpioReview papers, photos and possessions. Clean closets, garages and attics. Purge the past to clear space for new adventures.

Sagittarius-

Team projects and community efforts get farther than solo work.

Pull together and share resources.

coldplay Music of the Spheres Do we really need another . . . well, that’s, as always, a moot point. We’re getting one, like it or not. But did they not just have a new album . . . no, it does feel like that though, because they never seem to go away. But their last album was Everyday Life, that was back in 2019. So is this any good then . . . Do you really think Coldplay is on the Waterford Today office playlist?! Let’s just say this. The band, this time out, have turned to Swedish producer, Max Martin, who has churned out hits for Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears . . .

dublin brick show Red Cow Moran Hotel, October 30/31

one million tress selfhelpafrica.org/onemilliontrees/schools

THE Dublin Brick Show has lined up some amazing original models for LEGO fans, including: Ireland and UK’s biggest LEGO Death Star; Avengers tower; Zombie attack and Kirwan castle. Kids can also enjoy a free LEGO play area, free face painting, free speed build competition, treasure hunt, master builder competition, chill out area, colouring table for younger kids, and a sensory area.

Tickets are priced €9 per child, €13.50 per adult and €38 per family. Go to: eventbrite.ie/e/dublin-brick-show-31st-oct10am-1pm-tickets-89067775113

PRIMARY school children are being urged to sign up to support a nationwide campaign aiming to plant tens of thousands of trees in a single day. Schools that support the initiative will receive a native Irish tree sapling per classroom, and get the chance to support communities across sub-Saharan Africa, who are seeking to plant 100,000 trees. Pictured: Pupils Amber Heneghan, Nicole Connolly and Sienna Heneghan at the site of Ireland’s oldest tree, at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

CapricornEnjoy yourself and have fun. Advance professionally with Mars in Libra. Move forward boldly and grab passing opportunities.

AquariusMake plans and dreams.

Venture farther for six weeks with Mars in Libra.

Travels, education and exploration delight you.

PiscesTeam projects come together. Make financial plans for the future with Mars in Libra. Collaborate for shared financial gain. It could become profitable.

16 |

October 19, 2021

The ex-Garda who spent 13 years searching

Alan Bailey spent 13 years as National Coordinator for the specialist Garda taskforce Operation Trace which was created following the disappearances of six Irish women.

These women — aged between 18 and 38 — went missing between 1993 and 1998. Subsequently, the search was expanded to include two more women (see graphic).

To date none of these women have been located and there have been no convictions made.

Operation Trace was set up in the hope of finding some connection between the six cases, something detectives were unable to do.

After some years, the taskforce established that there was no serial killer involved, as some had suspected.

“In the end we could name viable, independent suspects in five of the cases,” said Mr Bailey.

Mr Bailey described the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob as “most unusual” because she was seen standing outside the front gate of her home.

On Morning Ireland recently, he said: “She was seen standing at the gate and waved to a number of neighbors and friends that passed by on the road, a busy road leading into Newbridge, but no trace has been found ever since.”

Convicted rapist Larry Murphy has been reported to be a person of interest in more than one case.

When the Wicklow Voice asked Mr Bailey about this, he said: “It is dangerous to name him as a ‘suspect’.

“If we say that Larry Murphy did this or that then people tend to exclude other possibilities.

“We cannot afford to take a narrowminded view like that. We have to think that maybe he is a person of interest in an investigation but that’s not to say that he is the guilty person.”

When discussing recent speculation that Murphy may return to the country, Mr Bailey recalled that Operation Trace found “palpable fear in communities” when Murphy was released from Arbour Hill prison in 2010.

Mr Bailey noted that the notoriety of the crime he was convicted of has singled him out as a person to fear.

Although there have been no convictions at this time, Mr Bailey — now retired — has not lost hope that the cases can be solved.

“The problem is that we don’t have the normal crime scene that we can depend on and we have alibi evidence for these suspects.”

Mr Bailey explained the fates of the missing women are “undoubtedly, known to persons other than the culprits but who, through either their evidence or their silence, to this day continue to hamper the investigations.” But Mr Bailey believes those who do often do so out of either fear or love and knows that these are emotions that can change over time.

“The influence exerted on another, either through fear or love can wane over the years.

“What seemed so right years earlier can, in the cool light of day, not stand up to scrutiny,” explained Mr Bailey.

New information surfaced in relation to two missing women – teenager Ciara Breen (17) who disappeared in February 1997 and Offaly woman Fiona Pender (25) who went missing in August 1996.

A fresh appeal in Fiona’s case was just made in September, 25 years after her disappearance. Fiona was last seen by her mother, Josephine, and her brother, John, on August 22, 1996, when she was 25 years old and seven-and-ahalf months’ pregnant. They were in Tullamore together shopping for baby clothes.

Former Detective Sergeant Bailey has dedicated a chapter to each disappeared woman’s story in his book, Missing, Presumed.

Each chapter details the timeline of events leading to that woman’s disappearance, beginning on the day she went missing through to the ensuing investigation.

‘Beast of Baltinglass’ in spotlight a Continued from page 1

Detectives are not saying that the cases are directly linked but are part of several incidents where women went missing in the 1990s.

Notorious rapist Larry Murphy — dubbed the ‘Beast of Baltinglass’ remains the chief suspect in the murder of Ms Jacob and the area being searched is close to where Mr Murphy lived at the time of her disappearance.

The DPP is awaiting the review of a file on whether charges will be made against Murphy, who was previously convicted of the kidnap, rape and attempted murder of a woman in the Wicklow Mountains on February

11, 2000. Ms Jacob was last seen about 1.5km outside her home in Newbridge on July 28, 1998. The last sighting of her was from CCTV footage at an Irish Permanent office on the town’s Main Street at around 3 p.m.

Ms Dullard disappeared on November 9, 1995. She was in a phone box, in Moone, when a car was said to have pulled up for her.

Murphy (55) who is now living in the UK, has always denied any involvement.

He was released from Arbour Hill prison in 2010 after serving 10 years of a 15-year jail sentence for the brutal sex attack of the woman in the Wicklow mountains.

He repeatedly raped the young victim, beat her, then tried to smother her with a plastic bag.

Murphy had stalked the 28-yearold for a month and was only put off killing her when he was scared away by two hunters, who recognised him and later identified him to gardai.

During questioning about the woman’s injuries, it was reported that Murphy commented: “Well, she’s alive isn’t she?”, calmly stated that “she was lucky”, and showed no sign of remorse or guilt.

Since his release from prison, Murphy has spent time in Barcelona, Amsterdam, northern France and London.

He had been picking up transient

| 17

October 19, 2021

Why Wicklow woods may hold answer to disappearances

mid search for missing women work as a carpenter.

However, despite the fact he has not been living in Ireland since shortly after getting out of prison, social networking sites are repeatedly awash with rumours of sightings of him in particular towns or localities throughout Ireland.

The Wicklow native has been at the centre of the Operation Trace investigation probing the disappearance of a number of women in the Leinster area throughout the 1990s.

Murphy has refused to talk to gardai about the missing women, but is a suspect in the disappearance of six women — although the disappearance of two other women

have since been added to Ireland’s so-called ‘Vanishing Triangle’.

They are Eva Brennan (40) who disappeared in 1993 in Dublin, and Imelda Keenan who disappeared on January 3, 1994 in County Waterford.

And while gardai also have other suspects for three of the original women, Murphy remains the chief suspect in the disappearance of Ms Dollard (21) and Ms Jacob (18).

The other three missing women are Ciara Breen (18), who went missing in 1998 from the Dundalk area; Fiona Pender (25), who went missing from her flat at Church Street in Tullamore in August 1996; and Fiona Sinnott, who was last seen leaving a pub in Broadway, County Wexford, in 1998.

Wicklow’s woods and lakes might hold the key to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob in 1998.

Searches took place in 2012 and 2013 around the Wicklow countryside and in an isolated lake in an effort to locate the missing teen’s body.

The searches were prompted when a convicted murderer informed gardaí that Larry Murphy had confessed to killing the then 18-year-old.

Murphy is alleged to have confessed to his fellow inmate during a drinking session in Arbour Hill prison.

The prisoner, who is serving a life sentence for murder, claimed that Murphy admitted to killing Deirdre before dumping her body in a lake.

The confession is said to have taken place in 2010, shortly before Murphy finished serving 10 of his 15-year sentence for the rape and attempted murder of a businesswoman in 2000.

According to the inmate, Murphy spoke of how he had scattered toys on the backseat of his car in order to make his victim feel more comfortable talking to him.

The prisoner also claimed that Murphy knocked Deirdre out and dragged her into the vehicle after he had asked her for directions.

He then purportedly drove up into the Wicklow mountains and when she put up a struggle, he reached for a hammer and killed her before dumping her body in a lake. The claims made by Murphy’s fellow inmate were taken extremely seriously by investigating gardaí.

Search teams, Garda divers and detectives from the Garda Cold Case Unit scoured areas, including a lake, in the west of the county over the course of several weeks in 2012 and 2013.

Murphy has been a person of interest in the disappearance of Deirdre for some time. Deirdre was last seen on the afternoon of July 28, 1998 as she walked towards her home in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

She had walked into the town from her home in Roseberry and gone to the post office, the bank and to visit her grandmother before heading home again.

Murphy, a professional carpenter, had been doing work for Deirdre’s grandmother in her sweetshop.

Deirdre visited the shop, where Murphy was working, just hours before she went missing. Murphy was also very familiar with the area when Deirdre lived and disappeared.

He had worked in the stables just a half a mile from Deirdre’s home. He had also visited Newbridge in the weeks before her disappearance planning to do some work on a local pub. He returned to the village two months after her disappear-

ance to carry out this work. In 2018, on the 20th anniversary of Deirdre’s disappearance, her father renewed the family’s appeal for information.

“We are always hopeful that anyone who might have any information, even after all these years, might let gardaí know about it so we can find Deirdre,” said Michael Jacob.

“Nobody need fear getting into trouble if they held onto information or didn’t pass it on earlier. Information can also be passed on anonymously.”

When asked whether he believes his daughter is alive or not, he replied, “You always have hope.”

Deirdre is not the only woman whose disappearance that has been linked to Murphy.

Josephine Dullard, known as Jo Jo, has been missing since 11.30pm on November 9, 1995.

Jo Jo, who was 21 when she disappeared, had phoned her friend from a phonebox in Moone, Co Kildare and told her that she was hitching a lift to her home in Callan, Co Kilkenny. This was the last anybody heard from her and when she did not reach her home, her parents reported Jo Jo as missing.

Gardaí received reports from the first two drivers who gave Jo Jo a lift that night — one from Naas to Kilcullen and the next from Kilcullen to Moone.

When Murphy kidnapped the young businesswoman in 2000, he drove her to a field near the spot where Jo Jo was last seen.

Jo Jo’s older sister, Mary Phelan, is reported to have said that she does not believe Murphy was involved in her sister’s disappearance.

However, she was quoted as saying his early release was a “disgrace” adding that “he should never have seen the daylight again”.

Murphy has also been linked with missing American student Annie McCarrick, who has not been seen since she left Johnnie Fox’s pub in Glencullen, Co Dublin in March 1993. Although, it has since emerged that a member of the Provisional IRA, whom she reportedly met at the pub, became a person of interest in the ongoing case.

Retired detective sergeant Alan Bailey said the IRA member was part of an active service unit at the time, responsible for shootings and punishment beatings in west Belfast.

He was believed to be in a safe house in the Rathfarnham/Tallaght area. Murphy insists that he knows nothing about the disappearance of any of these women.

If you have any information that may assist in locating any missing persons, contact your local Garda station or the National Helpline on 1890 442 552.

18 |

October 19, 2021

| 19

October 19, 2021

We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by

Freemans Jrn 10/10/1823

Irish Press 23/10/1963

Freemans Jrn 19/10/1911

Freemans Jrn 29/10/1847

Irish Press 13/10/1961

Freemans Jrn 19/10/1839

20 |

wicklowvoice.ie October 19, 2021