Wicklow Voice 21-08-2020

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August 21, 2020

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Bathers warned over weever fish

By Adam Costello

Swimmers in Wicklow have been warned to be vigilant and to be careful of two creatures lurking below the surface - weever fish and the Lion’s Mane jellyfish.

The CEO of Irish Water Safety John Leech issued a warning to swimmers, surfers and all beach users of the little sandy coloured fish that lives in the sea on our beaches.

And Swimmers told to watch out for Lion’s Mane jellyfish

It spends most of the time buried under the sand with its venomous black dorsal fin above the sandy bottom.

It grows to a length of 15 centimetres.

They are found all round the Irish coast but only in sandy areas where the water is warm and shallow.

“We advise the public to avoid swimming approximately one hour to two hours either side of low water to reduce the risk of stepping,” Mr Leech said.

“The public should wear flip flops or sandals when walking on the beach close to Low Water.

“Should a bather step on a weever fish then the pain is excruciating as the spines embed into the human flesh and discharge their poison. The pain is at its most intense for the first two hours when the foot normally goes red and swells up, and then it may feel numb until the following day with irritation and pain that may last for two weeks.

Continued on page 14

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James Kavanagh kicks off the 2020 Volunteer Ireland Awards campaign - nominate a volunteer at volunteer.ie Pic: Mark Stedman

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COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

August 21, 2020

These Boots are made for night walking ...

Calling all strollers ... this year’s Night Walk in aid of the Irish Cancer Society Night Nurses will take place on September 7.

Previously Night Walks have taken place in various locations across the country and participants walked together to raise funds for this important service.

This year, due to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines and to ensure everyone’s safety, things are a little different.

Sponsored by Boots, the 5km walk will take place on September 7 at a location and time of your choice.

Alongside the walk, Honour Tags are now on sale in Boots stores nationwide for €2.

Customers can purchase a tag in honour of someone who has survived or passed away from cancer.

The front of the tag allows for the name of the individual with space on the back for a personal message.

“Having been through cancer, I know how challenging it can be for both the patient and their loved ones,” Ambassador Sile

Sile Seoige at the launch of the Boots Ireland Night Walk

Seoige (pictured) said.

“Support services like the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nurses are vital. These incredible people bring such kindness to the homes of those who need it most.

“They sit through the night with the patient and are a

reassuring presence for all the family. I am proud to support Boots Ireland and the Irish Cancer Society for this campaign and invite everyone to fundraise and get out and walk on 7th September 2020 in aid of this wonderful service.”

School buses to get extra measures

EXTRA measures aimed at combatting Covid-19 “will be put in place for the post-primary school bus transport system”, the Department of Education has said.

It added that there will be “rolling implementation of measures to provide physical distancing as required”.

The statement follows advice from NPHET that secondary school students on school transport should adhere to strict distancing and wear face coverings. The original plan for school students did not enforce strict social distancing on dedicated school bus transport.

The department says that the Government has decided that the arrangements made for primary school transport scheme will proceed as planned when schools reopen.

It said the Minister for Education would continue to work with the Minister for Health to identify and consider the additional resources required to support the rollout of these measures.

Free cash: €1,000 for self employed workers

The county’s self-employed who had to avail of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) but have since signed off it and gone back to work can now avail of a €1,000 government grant.

The grant which is being offered as part of the revised Enterprise Support Grant is designed to help Wicklow’s soletraders who do not pay commercial rates, get their business started again.

Is it expected the grant will greatly assist workers such as plumbers, painters, electricians, carpenters, taxi drivers, hair dressers, beauticians and more.

The scheme has been revamped to specifically provide once-off supports for the selfemployed who have been severely impacted and have had to cease operations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said the grant is crucial in assisting an important part of the state’s economy.

“I’m opening applications to people who need assistance in getting back on their feet and their businesses back up and running.

“Whether it’s paying wages, fuel costs, purchasing PPE or signage this is an important

grant to assist the self-employed to reopen their business and get back doing what they do best: Providing crucial and essential services in their communities.

“So if you’re a plumber, carpenter, beautician, gardener or electrician who is transitioning back to work, or the taxi driver getting your car back on the road, this grant may be of interest to you,” Minister Humphreys concluded.

The grant is available to those people who took themselves off the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and returned into self-employment on or after May 18.

It’s available to any small business owner who employ fewer than ten people, who are not liable for commercial rates and have an annual turnover of less than €1m.

Applications for the Government-backed Restart Grant Plus for Waterford businesses are now open.

Under the €300m scheme, micros, small and medium-sized businesses can apply for grants of between €4,000 and €25,000 to get their businesses up-andrunning again. The scheme is being administered by the County Council and grant applications can be made online through the its website.

August 21, 2020

|05

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August 21, 2020

Theatres Bakers to get slice of action to admit as bread champs goes ahead 50 people to shows

THEATRES in the county are to be allowed admit 50 for performance once physical distancing is in place, authorities have said.

It follows conflicting statements by the departments of Arts and Health on the issue.

The Department of Health said that no more than six people could attend indoor cultural events and no more than 15 can attend outdoor cultural events.

However, the Government then said that museums, cinemas, theatres and art galleries are deemed to be controlled environments once they have appropriate protective measures in place such as physical distancing between people.

It said these venues can continue to operate where appropriate physical distancing and all other protective measures can continue to be maintained.

Individual groupings attending these venues must be limited to six people from no more than three households.

The pandemic may have caused the National Ploughing Championships to be cancelled but the county’s bakers will find crumbs of comfort in the news that the brown bread competition will still go ahead.

Aldi will once again, sponsor The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish

Countrywomen’s Association (ICA).

While still open to all members of the public, all entrants will be asked to drop their freshly baked bread to one of the following Aldi stores on the prescribed date: August 26 10:30- 13:00: Aldi Head Office Naas, Newbridge Road, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 VE40.

September 9 10:30- 13:00: Aldi New Ross, Co.

43% rise in domestic abuse cases

Wexford, Y34 NP48.

If you think you have the recipe for success, log onto www.aldi.ie/brownbread-competition or www. ica.ie for information on how to enter, full terms and conditions and competition rules.

The winner’s brown bread will also be stocked in all Aldi Stores in Ireland for twelve months and they will receive a minimum prize fund of €15,000.

Restrictions brought in to slow the spread of Covid-19 “very seriously exacerbated experiences” for those living with domestic abuse, according to the chief executive of Women’s Aid. There was a 43% increase in responses by the Women’s Aid’s 24-hour helpline between March and June, compared to the same period last year.

Speaking on RTÉ, Sarah Benson said calls reported physical abuse, very acute emotional coercive controlling abuse, economic abuse and sexual abuse.

She said the virus itself was also “weaponised” and women with underlying problems reported their partners coughing on them.

While Women’s Aid always hears of acute distress, she said it escalated enormously during lockdown.

She said there was an increase of calls “in the dead of night” and women were “ingenious” in their efforts to reach out, with many calling from their car or going to the bathroom and turn-

ing on the shower.

She said that although women did reach out, being able to go further - for example accessing the courts or getting out of the house was very difficult - and a lot of women said they would “ride it out” because of these challenges.

Ms Benson said refuges had done extraordinary things to try and be flexible during the lockdown, but many of them are communal living situations and the capacity was reduced by about 25%.

Meanwhile the founder of Stop Domestic Violence Ireland has called for the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, to immediately implement stronger legislation to criminalise domestic violence.

Minister McEntee should bring in an emergency order to give gardaí more powers of arrest and charge, Priscilla Grainger said on RTÉ.

She said that the lockdown had seen men, women and children suffering at the hands of their abusers.

An company is creating 10 new jobs with the launch of desk pads for schools which kill 99.95% of all known viruses.

Specialist print management company RV International, based in Bray, is partnering with a German company which has developed a water-based varnish that can be applied to a wide range of materials following the discovery of an antimicrobial agent at the University Hospital Regensburg.

“We’re delighted to provide 10 new jobs and to help with what most people in the country want - getting children back to school in a safe and healthy way,” says Rory Vance, Managing Director of RV International. “The schools will open, this helps them stay open.”

“We have already filled three of those positions and we plan

to recruit for the other seven over the next 12 months, primarily in sales and logistics.

“We at RV International are delighted to be the first company in Ireland to introduce Lock 3 to its customers.

“We’re very excited by our product which gives long-term protection against pathogens - germs, bacteria and viruses remain active on surfaces for long periods of time and disinfection only helps at the moment of application.

“The Healthy Pad with the clinically tested Lock 3 waterbased varnish is the perfect solution for schools and creches as it is guaranteed for 12 months.

“To close gaps in hygiene, reduce the risk of germ transmission and consequently increase safety for our children and teachers.”

Top class: Pads aim to keep kids safe at school

Pictured: Henry Vance (9) with Daniel Tully (10) at the launch of Healthy Desk Pads

| 07

August 21, 2020

Education2020

Predicted grades fail the test

F

inal year exam results were greeted with dismay and anger in the North, and across Britain, because the marks predicted by teachers for some students had been downgraded.

They had been adjusted in line with computer algorithms which took account of how schools performed in previous years and also favoured girls over boys, because girls usually do better in exams.

So if the predicted grades raised the level of a school, or its boys, it was assumed that, at best, the teachers had been too optimistic and, at worst, blatantly biased in favour of their own students.

The algorithms were designed to counter such bias. So Young Master Einstein, attending Roughboys Comprehensive, was knocked back in favour of Little Miss Average, a student at Poshgirls Academy.

Across the country, this system averaged-out quite fairly. But parents do not

Special Education Minister Josepha Madigan reviews success of Summer Provision programme at Gaelscoil na Fuinseoige with Oisín Ó Nualláin (5). Pic: Maxwells

Michael Wolsey think in terms of national averages; they worry only about their own little geniuses.

When the implications of the system dawned on the public there was an outcry which forced governments in Belfast, Edinburgh and London to scrap the weighted grading and go with the teachers’ predictions.

Our own Government says nothing of the sort can happen here because the method for marking the Leaving Certificate has been more carefully nuanced.

Really? Our system of Calculated Grades also relies on a combination of teacher predictions and past results. In the words of the Government’s

own Citizens Information website: “The Department of Education and Skills has stated that calculated grades will be generated using a systematic statistical model.

This model will use estimates of a student’s expected performance combined with the school’s statistical profiles of achievement in a subject, in line with national performance

standards over time.”

I cannot see how that differs greatly from the British system.

Even if it is more nuanced, I will be amazed if there is not a storm of protest and threats of legal action when the Leaving Cert results come out.

And I have no doubt that among those shouting loudest will be people who regularly tell us how outdated the

Leaving Cert is and call for it to be scrapped.

They should be careful what they wish for.

State exams are a blunt instrument for determining a young person’s future but the current kerfuffle has shown that the alternatives can be worse.

Teacher predictions do open the possibility of bias, particularly in a small country

like ours. How could it be otherwise when a teacher is grading the son of a neighbour or the daughter of a good friend?

Project work is less open to bias and should, perhaps, weigh more heavily in our exam calculations. But projects have their own unfairness, since they favour children whose parents are willing and able to help and schools with better facilities.

The Leaving Cert undoubtedly suits some kids more than others.

It can favour one-off excellence over consistency and sometimes allows flair to trump hard work.

It’s not a perfect system but it has served the country well enough. It is fair and its rules are clear. It is not broken and we should follow the advice of the old cliché, and be in no rush to fix it.

Teacher predictions, with or without adjustments, are the best system available under Covid restrictions but I will be happy to see a return of the Leaving Cert, the exam that has passed the test of time.

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August 21, 2020

Education2020

Childline ready as students go back to school ISPCC Childline has welcomed the announcement of plans for children’s return to school later this month in County Waterford and outlined details of support for parents, carers, children and young people preparing for the transition back to the classroom.

The organisation, which provides a range of services directly to children, young people and families in Ireland, including the Childline listening service, experienced a surge in demand for support when schools across the country first closed in March as a result of restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Childline answered over 72,000 online contacts, calls and texts from children and young people in Waterford and across Ireland between the week in which schools closed in March and the last week in June.

Many of those who contacted

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the service did so to talk about how they were anxious to return to school, missed their friends and daily routines and worried about exams and related issues.

Themes which will be of key importance to families preparing for the return to primary school next month, Childline stated, include building resilience, communicating clearly, seeking and accepting support and enhancing capacity to cope.

The development of these personal resources will be central to free ‘Transition Back to School’ webinars, which the service is set to deliver to parents, carers, children and young people on August 17 and August 18.

The organisation will also extend the hours of its Support Line service for three weeks from August 17 to September 4, making the service available to parents, carers and members of the public from 9am to 5pm each day.

Getting children back to school or college can put households under financial strain, but did you know relief may be available through your local branch of the Society of St Vincent De Paul?

All help comes with an assurance of confidentiality.

This year has been exceptionally difficult for many, with budgets under considerable additional pressure.

Seeking assistance is very easy: simply call (051) 350 725 or email the society via its website svp.ie. Volunteers in the local area will then make contact and do their best to help.

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August 21, 2020

Do your homework on accommodation As the new college year approaches, the search begins for countless students to find accommodation for the coming year - while at all times taking Covid-19 into account.

While students put together criteria for their search, such as location, living space and cost, there is often one important criteria that is overlooked.

For those students engaging with an estate agent in their search for accommodation, it is imperative that they ensure that the agent is licensed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA).

All Property Service Providers (Letting Agents, Auctioneers, Estate Agents and Management Agents) operating in the Republic of Ireland must hold a PSRA licence to provide a property service.

Licensed Property Service Providers are regulated by the PSRA, ensuring that the consumer is protected. The individual licence is a credit card size licence, which contains the licensee name, photographic identification and a unique 6

or 12 digit PSRA licence number, always beginning with a double zero.

In recent years, reports to the PSRA regarding bogus letting agents increase at this time of year as new bogus agents appear, targeting the large number of students seeking accommodation.

These bogus agents often set up online, advertising accommodation and attempting to extract financial payments from prospective tenants. In some instances, these bogus agents will claim to have a valid PSRA licence number.

When using a property service provider, clients should ask to see the property service provider’s licence and note the licence number.

You can then check this number on the PSRA Register of Licensed Property Services Providers to ensure that the licence is not only valid and in date, but that the provider’s details match those on the Register. The Register can be found on the PSRA’s website, www. psr.ie.

Companies to get €3,000 if they take on apprentices

Employers will be entitled to a financial incentive of €3,000 to take on apprentices under a new scheme announced recently.

Minister for Higher Education and Innovation Simon Harris wants to expand the model to include more sectors of the economy as it recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Over 18,000 people are currently undertaking an apprenticeship across a wide range of occupations from electrical, construction and engineering roles to healthcare, information technology and financial services,” he s aid.

“Our ambition is to see that number grow and the Government provided funding for this new incentive for employers in the July stimulus package.”

Minister Harris said it was an exciting option for people of different ages and backgrounds and for career changers, as well as school leavers. The minister wants to see the numbers grow and

the Government provided funding in the July stimulus package for this purpose.

He will announce a €3,000 financial incentive for employers who take on new apprentices between March and the end of the year.

Mr Harris said these apprentices will play a key part in Ireland’s recovery and the country’s future.

“I am pleased to be launching this incentive at the announcement of the winners of the Generation Apprenticeship competition.

“These winning teams demonstrate all that is good about apprenticeship and the key part it is going to play in Ireland’s recovery and our country’s future.

“It is a really exciting option for people of different ages, genders and backgrounds, career changers and school leavers, to forge brilliant careers for themselves.

“I congratulate all the teams and thank them for being part of the campaign to promote this new Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme.”

COMHAIRLE CHONTAE CHILL MHANTÁIN WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL

COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME: 2020 FUND FOR COMMUNITY CENTRES AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGS What is it?

Wicklow Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) invites applications from community and voluntary groups and not-for-profit organisations for small scale capital projects that will enhance community facilities for individuals and communities that are impacted by disadvantage. These grants are funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provides capital grants to community groups with the aim of enhancing facilities in disadvantaged areas. Separate to the €2m CEP launched in June 2020, the Department is now launching a new €5m fund, under the CEP, which will provide capital grants towards the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community centres and community buildings. Similar expenditure on other community facilities will also be allowed. This funding is being made available under the Government’s July stimulus package, and is targeted at measures that stimulate local economies, while enhancing facilities in disadvantaged areas. This €5m fund will be administered in a manner similar to the €2m CEP that was launched in June 2020.

What does it fund?

Capital expenditure on adaptations or equipment needed as a result of COVID-19 may be eligible, depending on the work being completed. Capital projects only that comply with the objectives of County Wicklow’s Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) for the development of community facilities including adaptation or equipment needed as a result of COVID-19 (please see guidelines for further information).

There are two parts to this funding scheme: 1.

Grants up to a maximum of €1,000 for small grassroots community projects that address disadvantage and fulfil the objectives of the LECP.

2.

Larger grants greater than €1,000 for projects that can clearly demonstrate that they address disadvantage and fulfil the objectives of the LECP including adaptation or equipment needed as a result of COVID-19.

How to Apply?

Applications for funding can now be made under this Programme to the relevant LCDC by 5.00 p.m. on Thursday 15th October 2020.

Application Forms are available from: The Council’s website, www.wicklow.ie or from Community, Cultural & Social Development, Wicklow County Council, Whitegates, Wicklow Town, A67 FW96.

Telephone 0404 20208 or Email cep@wicklowcoco.ie

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August 21, 2020

August 21, 2020

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August 21, 2020

insideback

We must talk about mental health

D

u n d a l k lost 2-1 to Bohemians at Dalymount Park on August 7.

In the immediate scheme of things the loss was a setback to their hopes of winning the league.

On another level though it was just a game of football that didn’t go their way.

A more significant loss the club has suffered recently – that of their much-loved groundsman and videographer Harry Taaffe – must be still very raw.

Harry was lost to suicide just as the SSE Airtricity League was about to resume.

I’m removed enough from the situation to not know what had caused Harry to lose hope, but I do know that he had taken the brave step of seeking help.

I’m not here to criticise the mental health services in this country. As a sufferer of depressive illness myself, I have always been grateful for and appreciative of the care I have received from my GP and any counselling I have engaged with.

I do know that medication for depression and the various things it pulls into the mental mix – anxiety, stress, panic attacks, thought process disorder, excessive worry and various others – is not enough in itself.

Even where it is it takes weeks if not months to kick in.

The first medication you are prescribed may not be the right one for you, or even if it is it may not be the appropriate dosage.

Counselling and other help tools need to accompany medication.

Looking back we know now that Harry should have been classed as a suicide risk and admitted for care.

The benefit of hindsight though is no use when it comes to bringing back someone who felt so low that they had entered the departure lounge in their own mind and taken that final, lonely and painful one-way journey through its door.

The tributes to Harry paint a wonderful picture of a man who loved his club and everything about it.

He would do anything for the club, its players, fans and people.

All League of Ireland clubs have people like Harry. Brian Murray comes to mind at Bray Wanderers, a club stalwart who was also a firefighter and sadly died (along with his colleague Mark O’Shaughnessy) when bravely tackling a blaze in Bray in 2007.

When a loss like Harry’s – or Brian’s - happens, the whole club community feels it. A part of the club has died. It’s a deep wound and it takes a long time to heal.

This year has been a brutal year thanks to Covid-19. For many people it has been the worst year in their living memory.

Personal, professional and family challenges have been forced upon us that we never thought we would have to face.

For some people many of these strands of problems have overlapped and dovetailed in a way that has been overwhelming.

The worst thing is that the worst is yet to come.

When the dust settles on Covid-19, whether it is through a vaccine, antibody testing or herd immunity, we will see a surge in mental health issues.

Are we equipped to deal

with them? Harry’s case would suggest the answer is no.

If we are to learn anything from Harry’s passing then we need to petition for the provision of the volume of service in the mental health area that will be required.

Forget how much it will cost – think about the awful cost to families, business, industry and society of people being lost to suicide. In the meantime we can look out for each other.

If it is somebody in your club, your neighbourhood or your workplace that you are concerned for, don’t be afraid to reach out.

If you are correct and they are struggling then you have done the right thing. If they are fine then you have also done the right thing by verifying that.

There are some excellent services there that can be reached out to. The Samaritans.

Pieta House. Aware. SOSAD. Don’t be afraid to engage with them if you are in a dark place and feel you have nobody or nowhere else to turn.

Stay safe. Stay strong. Take care of each other.

- Brian Quigley

| 13

August 21, 2020

WILDLIFE

ninenottomiss

Wild and Free?

book of the week

with Justin Ivory

Drugs 2.0: The Web Revolution That’s Changing how the world gets high

by Mike Power Sign at Kilmacurragh Gardens in Co. Wicklow (Photo Justin Ivory) It is the time of year when Mother Nature opens her larder door to her smorgasbord bounty of fruit, nuts, berries and fungi (mushrooms to you and me!). This natural Autumn harvest gives our wildlife one last chance to fuel and bulk up before hitting the lean times of Winter.

How our wildlife gets to feed this time of year can make the difference between making it through to Spring or not. The difference between life and death.

Drugs 2.0 take a look into how the world of narcotics has changed due to the world wide web and gives insight how it has evolved from backstreet dealings or getting it from a friend of a friend to now a simple click. Producers are now walking on a tightrope of legality, getting labs to alter known drugs to give a similar effect and simultaneously making it legal in most countries. Written by Mike Power a freelance journalist who previously worked in Latin America infetaging things such as the Colombian Cocaine trade if you’re interested in that world it’s a good read.

tv show of the week

HOROSCOPES

film of the week

Big Life Fix RTE One 8pm, Monday

JOKER Streaming on demand

The Big Fix follows a group of experts who try to come up with ideas of helping 15-year-old Erin who was born with no arms with the goal of making making Erin more independent. It also follows John O’Donnell, a game developer who is trying to create a communication system for Josh, a teenager with down syndrome. This heartwarming and eye-opening series takes an interesting look into the life of someone with a disability and how they can be helped through engineering and science.

Last year’s Joker takes a different look into the villain’s backstory and the first time cinematically. It follows the story of Aurther Fleck, a mentally damaged man who is isolated and rejected by society and descends into madness. He then takes on the persona of the Joker after the lower classes in the city see him as a hero after he kills three ‘Wall Street’ guys harassing him on the subway. Joaquin Phoenix picked up the Oscar for best actor while there is also a strong performance from Robert De Niro. Directed and written by Todd Phillips, some say this is a masterpiece - it’s certainly well worth a watch.

STAYCATION of the week match of the week

family film of the week

AriesPatiently navigate a change. Friends come and go with community and group projects. Share appreciations, goodbyes and greetings.

TaurusFinish a project before beginning another professional phase. Focus toward current passions.

Don’t reveal unfinished plans.

GeminiAn exploration changes.

Experiment with concepts.

Travel expands your view.

Learn from a master.

CancerThe stakes could seem high.

Shift directions with shared finances over the few weeks.

Work out the next phase together.

LeoReach a turning point with a partnership. Compromise and collaborate for shared commitments. Adjust to a change in plans.

Blackberries ripening – let’s leave them for our wildlife (Photo Justin Ivory) At the same time in recent years the concepts of Wild Food and Wild Foraging have become popular and trendy.

The appeal is obvious. A chance to get outdoors and connect with nature, gain more knowledge of the natural world and get free food into the bargain. Sounds perfect and harmless. The reality might be very different though.

We are all aware at this stage that planet Earth is in the midst of a human induced Climate Crisis and Biodiversity Crisis.

With our wildlife under so much pressure from loss of habitat, persecution, the effects of pollution and climate change – the last thing it needs is us taking from its everdwindling food sources.

Knowledge of the natural world and the uses of plants is a good thing, but with knowledge comes responsibility.

Some practitioners will advocate sustainable foraging i.e. only picking one in 3 or 1 in 5 plants. That becomes meaningless if you have many people foraging in the same area. It will quickly become depleted even if applying sustainable rules.

So for the sake of our wildlife and our forests (which come under threat if too many mushrooms and fungi are taken) leave the wild food where it belongs - in the wild.

donegal www.govisitdonegal.com

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Donegal is often overlooked but it has many wonders to offer. Known for its rugged coastline, national parks and mountains such as Mount Errigal and Muckish. Donegal has it all and probably has the best beaches in Ireland for surfing. There are plenty of castles many of which you can visit, while you can also hop over the border to Northern Ireland.

Why Visit Donegal? There are a million reasons to visit this wild and wonderful county, from the rich cultural heritage to the breathtaking adventures everyone can enjoy.

After what’s seems like an eternity, rugby is kicking off again in this part of the world for the first time since the pandemic started.

Starting on Friday with Bennetton v Treviso, Saturday sees rivals Munster and Leinster clash heads again behind closed doors in the Aviva, followed by the Connacht and Ulster match on Sunday at 4.35pm in the same venue. Expect fireworks with many fans are over the moon to get back to supporting their province and hopefully the national team later in Autum.

Another Scooby Doo movie that has nothing to do with the previous one, with a new story and voice actors. We see the gang take on the biggest case they ever had (again!), trying to stop the ghost dog Cerberus from creating a dog-pocalypse to end the world. With the gang looking very different, much more styled to modern standards, this one is directed by Tony Cervone, who is behind many Scooby Doo and Tom and Jerry movies while many of the actors are actors such as Zac Efron and Ken Jeong.It’ll gives kids a new fresh Scooby Doo, fun ... and nostalgic for all.

TV IDEA of the week

family idea of the week documentary of the week

VirgoBegin a new physical health and fitness phase after reaching a barrier or obstacle. Review and revamp skills and practices.

LibraChange directions with a romance, passion or creative endeavor. Express your heart, imagination and artistry.

ScorpioMake repairs. Renovate, remodel and tend your garden. Domestic changes require adaptation. Begin a new home and family phase.

Sagittarius-

A new two-week phase in communications, connection and intellectual discovery dawns. Shift the direction of your research.

CapricornProfitable opportunities bloom over the next two weeks. A turning point arises around income and finances. Generate positive cash flow.

Were you a fan of A Woman’s Heart? www.rte.ie

MALAHIDE CASTLE & GARDENS www.malahidecastleandgardens.ie

Did you attend an A Woman’s Heart concert performance in the 1990s? Mind the Gap Films would like to hear from you! They are producing a documentary for RTÉ about the release and tour of the album, which emerged into the world in July 1992 and featured 12 songs performed by beloved and up-andcoming female talent – Eleanor McEvoy, Mary Black, Sharon Shannon, Dolores Keane, Frances Black and Maura O’Connell. Please get in touch and share your story. Contact kate@ mindthegapfilms.com

Malahide Castle is a 12th century castle situated close to Malahide village. It history begins with Richard Talbot, a knight that accompanied King Henry II to Ireland, being granted the land. You will learn about its past and about its place in Irish history. Rumoured to be the most haunted castle in Ireland, over hundreds of years, the castle’s residents, workers and visitors have all reported eerie happenings. Perfect for a day out for all the family with plenty to suit everyone’s interest, including its beautiful garden.

HAVE A GOOD TRIP: ADVENTURES IN PSYCHEDELICS Netflix Based on celebrities telling their stories about their hallucinogenic drug use while at the same time giving us the scientific information on how it all works. The celebrity line up sees ASAP Rocky, Sting, Carrie Fisher, Adam Scott and much more telling their stories. The music throughout is one of the best parts by Yo a Tengo, an indie rock band from New Jersey.

An interesting, if a little too pro-drug use, into the world of Psychedelic drug use from some scientists, rockstars and artists.

AquariusA challenge redirects you illuminating a new personal direction. Expand your boundaries. Turn toward an inspiring possibility.

PiscesOne door closes as another opens. The Aquarius Full Moon illuminates a transition time. Ritual and symbolism provide comfort.

Begin an introspective phase.

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Bathers warned to be careful Continued from front page

“Sometimes, the spine breaks off in the foot and it will cause discomfort until it is removed.”

Meanwhile, August is also “peak season” for the Lion’s Mane jellyfish to wash up here.

The jellyfish is a rust colour and can be up to one metre long, have 150 long tentacles on the bottom which can give off a nasty sting that is known for great pain, nausea, cramps and headaches.

“In the context of Ireland you get most of them in the Irish Sea, and from our research we found around Dublin is you tend to get more of them. Dublin Bay seems to be a bit of a hotspot, and also, around Hollyhead,” Dr Damien Haberlin, a researcher at University College Cork’s Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy, said.

“The Lion’s Mane is probably the nastiest species we get most of the time in terms of the sting, although, I would hasten to add there’s never been a recorded fatality or anything like that, but there have been some people hospitalised with respiratory difficulties.”

wicklowvoice.ie August 21, 2020

Coillte arm firefighters with 100 new helmets

Asylum seekers in direct provision at the Esplanade Hotel on Bray’s Seafront have been targeted with leaflets spreading conspiracy theories about Covid-19.

The Department of Justice has been notified about the leaflets which were distributed by Anti-Corruption Ireland, the right-wing conspiracy theory group, according to the Irish Independent.

Is is reported that the leaflets claim that Covid-19 is a “staged event”, that wearing masks is dangerous while also promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

The flyers also ask people to boycott “foreign” supermarkets such as Lidl and Tesco.

“Newly arrived people in the country, many of whom may have little or no English, may struggle to work out what is genuine public health information and what isn’t,” John Brady, Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, said.

“It’s quite alarming. I have been in touch with the Minister for Justice to make her aware of

New bike shop opens

it. It is very concerning, given the many people who have contracted the virus in direct provision centres across the state.

“For this misinformation to go in to one of the premises being used to accommodate asylum

seekers is very, very concerning.” Deputy Brady added that he and other local politicians had been told that the leaflets may have been distributed by someone working in the hotel.

“We are not aware of where

this information came from, but I can assure you we have at no time disseminated any information of this sort to residents at the hotel,” Fergus O’Grady, the managing director at the hotel, said.

A new bike shop with a difference is set to open in Bray - it will sell motorcycles, pedal and electric bikes.

Republic of Bike is owned

by Mark McQuaid who has been running and operating Platinum Motorcycles BMW in Bray for the past 11 years.

Mark, who comes from a large cycling family, decided during lockdown to put both motorcycles and bicycles under the same roof.

“I decided to go full swing into it,” Mark told wicklownow.ie. “Getting my hands on bikes has been difficult due to the worldwide shortage but I have managed to get a really good stock of everything from entry level beginner bikes, to good road bikes and e-bikes” Republic of Bike is located on Purcell Square, just off Bray Main Street.

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August 21, 2020

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wicklowvoice.ie August 21, 2020