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€100,000 bill for sending councillors to conferences

THE ART OF THE MATTER: Adelaide Kane (13) and Michael Flynn (12) at the launch of the Wicklow Arts Festival brochure in the Grand Hotel, Wicklow Town. The festival is being sponsored by Eolas Recruitment this year. Three-page special, pages 13-15 » Lots more pictures from around the county inside

By Cianan Brennan

WickloW’s county councillors attended 212 conferences at the state’s expense in 2012 and 2013, an investigation by the Wicklow Voice can reveal.

The total charge for these conferences was almost €100,000, at an average expense charge of €452 per event.

13 councillors attended more than 10 conferences each during that time period.

The most prolific of all the councillors involved was Baltinglass’ Vincent Blake of Fine Gael who attended some 16 conferences over the two years at an average cost of €380 per event.

Fianna Fáil’s Pat Fitzgerald (Arklow) attended 15, independent Thomas cullen (Baltinglass) attended 14, while Nicky kelly (independent - Arklow), Pat Doran (Fianna Fáil – Baltinglass), and George Jones (Fine Gael - Greystones) attended 13 conferences each.

Attendance of such conferences varied from councillor to councillor and from party to party, though the only councillor who attended no events whatsoever over the two years was Bray’s John Brady of sinn Féin.

Brady’s party colleague on the council, Wicklow Town’s John snell, attended 12 events at an average expense charge of €600.

snell’s average expense claim is the highest of the 24 councillors across the county.

other councillors with similarly large average claims include kelly (average €581), Doran (average €548), and labour’s Barry Nevin of Bray, who charged an average of

€551 for the 12 conferences he attended. The highest expense figures charged over the time period are attributed to kelly and Doran, who ran up bills of €7,553 and €7,129 respectively during the relevant time period.

The pending local elections of 2014 may have had an impact on figures, as both the number of events attended (dropped from 118 to 94) and the expenses charged (dropped from €61,000 to €31,000) decreased significantly from 2012 to 2013 as councillors perhaps opted to increase their visibility within their constituency. The conferences attended varied greatly in scope and geographical location.

councillors found themselves travelling to Donegal, cork, Waterford, kilkenny, limerick, Mayo, Tipperary and kerry amongst other locations.

Many of the conferences attended had a specific remit such as local government reform or heritage and tourism.Continued on page 9

who gets what - county councillor pay and expenses: pages 8 and 9

4 | NEWS wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

THUR 15 HIT MEN TRIO [COVERS]

FRI 16 OLD HANNAH [BLUE GRASS]

SAT 17 NEW SECRET WEAPON [PROG ROCK]

SUN 18 MONGOOSE [JAZZ FOLK GROUP]

THUR 22 SWEENEY’S JAZZMEN [JAZZ]

COMEDY [AIDAN BISHOP, SIMON O’KEEFFE]

FRI 23 TBC [TBC]

SAT 24 HARD CHARGERS [BLUES ROCK]

SUN 25 MARY COUGHLAN [JAZZ, BLUES]

THUR 29 EARLY HOUSE [FUNK/SOUL COVERS]

FRI 30 THE ESKIES [FOLK ROCKABILLY]

SAT 31 THE STONEY BROKES [BLUES ROCK]

SUN 1 UFO [Amy winehouse]

The Harbour Bar Live Lounge — May

news in brief Studios to create 1,000 jobs with €50m expansion

MANAGEMENT at this newspaper have spoken to Gardai over deliberate damage to the Wicklow Voice’s supermarket display stands.

“With regret, we have been forced to discuss this matter to An Garda siochana as it is hampering our ability to distribute our newspaper in a timely manner,” a spokesman for the Wicklow Voice said. “The interference has amounted to throwing rubbish on top of our newspapers to prevent readers from picking up a copy, while stickers etc have also been smeared over our branding.“Despite the Wicklow Voice being a free newspaper, our advice is that this amounts to criminal damage. it is a worrying development as it is putting the five jobs which we have created in jeopardy,” the spokesman added.

Wicklow Voice management has re-introduced a small amount of door-to-door distribution in certain areas to ensure that all 20,000 newspapers are distributed within a fortnight as agreed with advertisers.

By Cianan Brennan

AsHFoRD studios is planning a €50 million expansion that will more than treble its size and create 1,000 jobs.

The studio, production home of hit TV show Vikings, has lodged a planning application that would add four further filming studios to the campus which currently holds three such studios, all of which are occupied by Vikings sets.

if approved the expansion would bring the total size of the site to over 550,000 sq ft.

speaking exclusively to the Wicklow Voice, studio owner Joe o’connell (63) could not hide his enthusiasm for the project.

“The projected new studios would be larger in size than what we currently have which would make them ideal for movies, which generally require greater scale,” he says.

“The application is lodged, so we hope to have news within the next two months.”

situated in the quiet countryside just off the N11 outside Ashford, the enormous studio is remarkably well hidden from the outside world.

Walking to the campus restaurant, a number of Viking longboats strewn along the route bely the site’s true purpose.

At present the studio is slightly hampered regarding prospective clients as Vikings, inspired by

the sagas of the viking Ragnar lothbrok, occupies all their filming space.

“if all goes well then we would expect to be able to accommodate at least two more productions along the same scale as Vikings,” says o’connell, an entrepreneur who made several fortunes from different ventures before entering the film business almost a decade ago.

o’connell is less fussy about what productions the new studios might expect to host.

“You take what you can get in this business, but the success of The Tudors and now Vikings shows that the market is there to be exploited.

“Movies are obviously attractive, but they are very transient by nature.

“You can have a full movie set on a Thursday but then come Monday, the shoot finishes and the place is a ghost town,” he adds.

if successful the expansion would be expected to be completed within 24 months.

At present the Vikings shoot employs 350 people. o’connell, who has lived in Wicklow for almost 30 years, expects that possibly three times that figure could be achieved in terms of employment.

“When one takes into account the construction of the studios, there is obviously significant employment potential there,” he adds.

Interactive tour at Wicklow GaolA brAnd new interactive tour launches at Wicklow’s Historic Gaol from May 20. designed to excite and engage, the multi-media tour includes holographic projections of cruel prison guards, lifelike audio of the defiant cries from the 1798 rebels and interaction with the historic figures who walked the floors of this ancient building.

Car boot saleA cAr boot sale will be held in Holy rosary School, Wicklow Town on Sunday, 18th May from 10am. There will be cupcakes, toys, plants, clothes, baby gear, house and shed clearance and lots more. Tea/coffee available. contact 087 4154926 for fnformation.

Monster yachtWickloW Sailing club member, david r yan, has chartered the Monster Project, a Volvo 70 class yacht for the round ireland yacht race. The round ireland yacht race promises some of the most challenging conditions that offshore racing has to offer, from the tidal irish Sea to the open Atlantic ocean.

By Michelle McGlynn

MAry coughlan will bring her bluesy sound to the live lounge in Harbour bar this May.

She has received great acclaim for her emotional and heartfelt renditions.

Mary’s seemingly timeless talent has seen her career span four decades and she doesn’t show signs of stopping any time soon.

Her smoky, bluesy drawl has always been a seduction, no matter what the subject.

Mary’s ability to inhabit her songs enthralls audiences from the moment she opens her mouth until the moment she leaves the stage.

Mary will be playing at the Harbour bar on Sunday May 25.

This free performance by one of ireland’s greatest talents is not to be missed.

Coughlan to play free gig

Gardai alerted to damage

Greystones girl is the new face of BurberryBy Michelle McGlynn

li Ann Small from Greystones has landed an exclusive contract with the fashion clothing giant, burberry.

The stunning 19-year-old, who has already walked the catwalk with the likes of cara delevingne, will be the face of christopher bailey’s limited collection for the burberry brand.

Burberry flew Li Ann to Shanghai for a special runway show to mark the opening of their new flagship store.

The raven haired beauty, whose mother is from Malaysia, has been modelling full-time since completing her leaving cert in Greystones last year.

li Ann has already enjoyed success having appeared in Vogue china, W Magazine, Elle Girl Japan and italian Vogue online.

She shows no signs of devel-oping diva behaviour as she celebrated her big news with a hot chocolate and a night of bowling.

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie NEWS |5

wicklow people (and gosling!) in pictures

Maureen and well-known business journalist with Independent newspapers Brendan Keenan enjoy a stroll in Killruddery. Feidhlim (7) and Lauren O’Toole (5) at the Killruddery Farmers Market

Lisa Kelly, Roisin McCarthy and Carole Kane from Enniskerry at the Presidential Suite at the Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa. General Manager, David Webster hosted a special event for the local community to personally introduce them to the hotel and its facilities.

A cute new arrival to Arklow’s boating lake, a one day old Gosling has already learned how to pick the daisies (pic: Yvette O Beirne)

Pictured are Jane McCorkell, Sophie Fitzsimons and Paraic Horkan at the Bord na Móna ‘Brighten Up Your Garden’ educational workshop in Horkan’s Garden Centre, Glen of the Downs.

Jack (3), Ian and Julianne Creamer (2) out and about in Greystones

World MS day to take place on May 28World Multiple Sclerosis day 2014 will take place on May 28 and MS ireland are asking you to donate what you can to their collection buckets which will be in various locations across the county.

There is also a global one day Wish campaign taking place online.

Share your one day Wish at www.ms-society.ie or using #onedayMS.

Designer gets stamp of approvalAn Post has chosen one of Wicklow garden designer Frazer Mcdonogh’s award winning garden’s to appear on a postage stamp to be issued on 22nd May 2014 to celebrate the success of bloom in the Park.

Mcdonogh is honoured to have been chosen for the national stamp from over 200 gardens.

Lymphoedema information evening

TAniA king, a l ymphoedema specialist, will be at

Greystones cancer Support centre, la Touche Place on May 21 at 7.30pm.

All are welcome to this important information session on a topic that is often neglected.

Enterprise start workshop

THE next Enterprise Start Workshop for the dublin Mid-East region is taking place in Wicklow Town on May 21st & 22nd.

This workshop is aimed at entrepreneurs who have an idea for an innovative, start-up business that has the potential to grow in international Markets.

The workshop is free of charge and you can register at www.enterprise-ireland.com

Arklow RNLI rescue four people

rnlb Ger Tigchlearr and her volunteer crew launched the morning of May 13 at 05.45 to the aid of a local fishing vessel.

The vessel, a 45ft local fishing vessel, with 4 crewmembers aboard had developed engine trouble and was adrift.

Arklow lifeboat proceeded to tow the casualty vessel back to Arklow where the crew came ashore safely.

The Delgany’s first birthdayTHE delgany is a unique establishment that houses a top quality restaurant, grocery store, gift shop and bakery all under one roof.

They celebrate their first birthday on May 15.

Coastcare Group Action DaybrA y coastcare Group would like to thank volunteers who took part in the May Action day recently.

Volunteers filled an entire skip with litter as well as sanding, cleaning and painting benches.

Please consider joining the next Action day as we head into the busy tourist season. Meeting at the raheen car park on June 14 at 12pm.

New guide brings walkers to WicklowHElEn Fairbairn has just published an extensive walking guide that focuses largely on Wicklow.

The guide features twenty-eight walks graded according to difficulty.

it illustrates a fantastic mix of walks from tough mountain walks to rocky coastal tours. There is so much to be discovered.

6| News wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

By Michelle McGlynn

WickloW TD Anne Ferris has spoken of her pain after dis-covering that she was adopted at age seventeen.

Brave Anne, who was speak-ing as she introduced The open Adoption Bill 2014 which aims to legislate for open adoption in ireland, drew on her own expe-rience when conveying the need for this new legislation.

“As both an adopted person and the mother of an adopted child, i understand as well as anybody else the importance of the mother-child relationship to adopters and natural parents.”

Ferris first learned she was adopted in her late teens when a sibling informed her “in a sud-den and unmanaged manner.”

she opened up to the House about how it feels to have such life-changing news suddenly thrust upon you.

“i cannot begin to explain the destabilising effect of sud-denly discovering, on the verge

of adulthood, that in many re-spects that you are suddenly not the person you always thought you were.”

statistics quoted by Ferris state that between 1952 and 1973 more than 20, 000 adop-tion orders were made by the former adoption board.

“somewhere lost in those sta-tistics is not just me, the young son of Philomena, my own first-born daughter, who was taken from me in 1972 and as i have come to realise, many of my colleagues in the House who were themselves adopted or had

children or siblings taken from them and placed into adoption.”

The story of her firstborn daughter had a happy ending, having been reunited with her daughter after being separated for 23 years.

But as Ferris acknowledges, she is one of the lucky ones.

Many people have contacted her, both mothers and adult chil-dren, who are desperate to make contact but are prohibited by the current closed adoption system that will not allow them access to their records.

Ferris admirably decided to speak out about the most dif-ficult times in her life because she believes her Bill could have a positive impact for today’s children.

“it can only be healthier for a child, where a member of their natural family wants to make contact, to have the opportunity to make that contact.”

The Bill attracted positive commentary from both govern-ment and opposition benches.

of the support, Ferris said that it was evidence of the wide-spread support for a new ap-proach to adoption rights.

Following her passionate words, the Bill was unanimous-ly accepted by the Dail and will now move to committee stage.

Minister for children charlie Flanagan said he would be very pleased to work constructively with Ms Ferris on her propos-als and he referred the Bill to the oireachtast health and chil-dren’s committee to examine the Bill.

Mr Flanagan, in his first ad-dress to the Dáil as a Minister, said he had made his maiden speech to the Dáil in April 1987 on a private member’s adoption motion.

The Minister said he recog-nised the need for legislation to be updated to reflect both in-ternational and domestic devel-opments. “As is often the case with social policy, norms move and change and we as legisla-tors, must respond.”

Brave Ferris tells of adoption pain

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May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie ADVERTISING FEATURE |7

Windows worth looking into!iF you’re considering improving your home with replacement energy rated double glazed windows and doors, why not visit our showrooms beside Unit 7, The boulevard centre, Quinsborough road, bray Co Wicklow. You’ll find an extensive range of double glazed windows, over com-posite doors on display and a superb range of patio and uPVc doors. our range are designed to deliver the high-est level of energy efficiency while maximum weather and security performance. When you buy from Premium Windows you can be assured of quality, performance and sustainability.

HoMEsToRE interiors have announced a massive sale at their store in Unit 7, The Boulevard centre, Quinsborough Road, Bray co Wicklow.

The huge sell off is to make way for a new state-of-the-art kitchen showroom which will be opened in the coming months.

“Everything must go,” says Paul kelly of Homestore interiors.

“We have plans to introduce a brand new kitchen showroom and as a result we are clearing out a huge selection of our stock. We have a great range of carpets, beds, wood, flooring, blinds, PVc windows and doors all at great prices.”

on offer at the store is a 1,000-count pocket sprung bed which has been reduced to €299 from €799 and includes a free

15-tog duvet and twin pack of pillows

There is also a massive 20% off all carpets and wood flooring

while in their Premium Windows section they are offering a 3-bed semi deal that includes seven windows plus front door supplied and fitted for only €5499 plus a back door for free!

As part of the expansion, Homestore interiors are also looking to fill a number of positions at their store.

“We are currently looking to hire two people with the relevant experience for an immediate start,” says Paul.

“Anyone interested can send through a cV to paul.kelly971@gmail.com or post one into Unit 7, The Boulevard centre, Quinsborough Road, Bray co Wicklow.”

Huge Homestore Interiors sale to make way for kitchen revampBeds, floors and carpets all must go!

8| ELECTIONS 2014 wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

Councillors get €1.4m payBy Cianan Brennan

sAlARY and expenses for Wicklow’s 24 county council-lors totalled €1.4 million be-tween 2012 and 2013.

The expense sheets for the last calendar year were recently signed off on by the council authority and reveal remunera-tions varying from €50,000 to almost €90,000 for differ-ent councillors, an investiga-tion by the Wicklow Voice has confirmed.

The numbers are particularly significant given the role of county councillor is essentially supposed to be a part time one, with some councillors earning sums equating to a very com-fortable salary in the private sector.

The best paid councillor in Wicklow over the last two years was Wicklow Town’s Pat casey of Fianna Fáil who collected €87,000.

George Jones (Fine Gael – Greystones) and current council chairman Jimmy o’shaughnessy (independent – Wicklow Town) brought home €79,000 and €75,000 respectively.

Five further councillors earned over €60,000 over the last two

years. They are Vincent Blake (Baltinglass – Fine Gael), Nicky kelly (Arklow – independent), sylvester Bourke (Arklow – Fine Gael), christopher Fox (Bray – independent), and Pat Vance (Bray – Fianna Fáil).

The councillor with the low-est remuneration in county Wicklow was Greystones’ Gráinne Mcloughlin (Fine Gael) who collected €50,000 over the two years.

The remaining 15 councillors earned between €50,000 and €60,000 over the relevant time period.

They are John Ryan €58,957; Thomas cullen €57,676; John Byrne €57,054; Pat Doran €55,917; James Ruttle €55,879; Pat Fitzgerald €55,727; Derek Mitchell €54,165; Mick Glynn €53,178; Barry Nevin €52,810; John Brady €52,309; Tom Fortune €52,158; Edward Timmins €51,954; John snell €51,238; irene Winters €50,430 and conal kavanagh €50,186.

some 13 councillors sit on their relevant town council in addition to their duties with the higher authority. An additional €65,000 in remuneration was received by these representa-tives from their town councils.

This will cease to be the case

with the abolishment of all town councils at the start of May. The increase in councillor num-bers from 24 to 32 across the county may redress the balance however.

Fine Gael tops the bill in terms of remuneration, with their nine councillors receiving some €526,000.

They are followed by labour (6 councillors - €356,000), Fianna Fáil (4 councillors - €268,000), independents (3 councillors - €176,000), and sinn Féin (2 councillors - €104,000).

This sees Fianna Fáil as the party with the highest average

salary and expenses however, with roughly €67,000 being re-ceived per councillor.

Most payments are taxable, while figures shown are net of tax. All councillors received a basic salary payment of €33,000 for 2012 and 2013 (€16,500 per annum). This is the sole salary style payment received.

Expense allowances vary de-pending on which area of the county the relevant councillor is operating from, with geographi-cal distance from Wicklow Town apparently the deciding factor.

Representatives from Baltinglass are the best remu-

nerated from this point of view, with both Edward Timmins (Fine Gael) and Thomas cullen (independent) receiving some €18,000 in expense allowances.

conversely Wicklow Town’s councillors received €10,678 as a result of their close proximity to the council seat.

separate allowances for the attendance of conferences ac-count for a further €96,000 in expense claims, with only one councillor (Bray’s seán Brady of sinn Féin) attending no con-ferences whatsoever.

chairmanship of a strategic Policy committee (sPc) leads to an automatic annual payment of €6,000 per year.

Wicklow has five such com-mittees, covering housing, water, transport, community development, and economic development, together with a county Development Board (cDB).

in chairing both the community sPc and the cDB therefore, George Jones was paid €24,000 over the two years.

The largest council payments are for the cathaoirleach and leas-cathaoirleach of the coun-cil itself, offices that switch between councillors periodi-cally, with roughly €20,000 and

€3,500 paid for the councillors fulfilling the role respectively per year.

Under these offices Pat Casey received €41,000, Jimmy o’shaughnessy received €27,000, sylvester Bourke (Arklow – Fine Gael) received €18,000, and John Ryan (Bray – Fine Gael) received €3,500 dur-ing 2012 and 2013.

These offices are not re-munerated per calendar year which leads to overlap between roles, with both casey and o’shaughnessy representing as both cathaoirleach and leas-cathaoirleach within the same calendar year.

These figures account for state expenses only.

Not included are any (nomi-nal or significant) payments from external committees that the various councillors may be member of.

There are fully 23 such boards and committees that councillors claim membership of, not in-cluding sPcs and the cDB.

These include institutions such as the county Wicklow VEc, the Wicklow county Enterprise Board, the county’s Joint Policing committee, the Arklow Harbour company, and the Regional Health Forum.

The €21m parachuTe pOTA FUnd of almost €21 million has been established in order to compensate for the loss of a council seat in the aftermath of the local elections on May 23.

A town councillor with 20 or more years service can expect to receive a lump sum of €7,276, while county councillors with similar time served are in line for a €50,398 payment.

There are four incumbent

councillors on Wicklow county council who are either retiring or not seeking re-election and who will thus be in line to take advantage of the retirement payments.

They are George Jones (Greystones – Fine Gael), John byrne (bray – labour), barry nevin (bray – labour), and conal kavanagh (Wicklow Town – labour).

Hanley wants new limit

FirST time council candidate Taragh Hanley of Fianna Fáil has called for the main Greystones-kilcoole road to be given a 50km/h limit as opposed to its current limit of 80km/h.

“This road is incredibly dangerous at the entrance to the village,” she said.

“it is a very popular spot for cyclists and walkers who now feel like they are taking their lives into their hands while trying to get some fresh air.”

“The speed limit on this road needs to be reduced and i will endeavour to see that this happens,” Hanley added.

Whitmore invites Silicon Valley mayor indEPEndEnT candidate in the local elections Jennifer Whitmore has invited Pat burt, the ex-Mayor of Palo Alto in Silicon Valley, to Greystones in July.

“We held a video conference with Pat last week and outlined the proposal for the Greystones innovation campus,” says Whitmore.

“He was very interested in our plans and gave us great advice on how to advance the proposals and build a culture of innovation in Greystones.”

“Pat has agreed to visit the area in July to see what Greystones has to offer,” added Whitmore.

Fortune wants Greystones protectedindEPEndEnT councillor Tom Fortune says that the protection of the built environment of Greystones, kilcoole, delgany and newcastle should be a priority for the new local Authority after the May elections.

“The whole area has a unique character. Much of this character derives from a number of old buildings and attractive streetscapes yet all these features are

under constant threat of inappropriate development,” said Fortune.

“With the building industry showing some signs of recovery the newly elected councillors must ensure that only development which enhances the character of Greystones and its environs is permitted.”

Bruton visits Wicklow CampusMiniSTEr for Jobs, Enterprise and innovation, richard bruton visited Wicklow county campus recently to view the facilities on offer, including the new Local Enterprise Office which replaces the former county Enterprise board.

Doyle wants mental health solutions FiAnnA Fáil county council hopeful James doyle has called for more “long term solutions to improve Mental Health Awareness”.

“As a young person i am very concerned about mental well being particularly in light of youth unemployment. i have seen first-hand the effects on families and friends,” he said.

doyle has also welcomed what he refers to as a “temporary measure of extra school spaces assigned to kilcoole primary schools”.

Wray proposes new road nameFinE Gael county council candidate Sarah Wray has raised the possibility that the Southern cross road in bray be renamed.

“I first proposed a name change for the Southern Cross five years ago but the mechanisms to make it happen were not there. The Minister for the Environment has now committed to putting a process in place so this is now a real possibility,” said Wray.

Wray, who lives in deepdales on the Southern cross road, has suggested that the road’s name be changed to killruddery road.

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie ELECTIONS 2014|9

Sean (6) and Paul Condran and Kari-Ann Keogh (7) at the Caroline Foundation’s Guinness World Record attempt for the Longest Awareness Ribbon Chain which was a huge success with over 3, 000 supporters turning out on the day. See page 22

polls in brief

QUALIFYING WORK DONE ON YOUR HOME BETWEEN 25 OCTOBER 2013

AND 10 APRIL 2014

HOMEOWNERS• Contact your contractor to remind them to enter

works and payment details onto HRI online on www.revenue.ie NOW.

• Your contractor will need your Local Property Tax Property ID to enter the details.

• You won’t be able to claim the HRI tax credit unless your contractor enters the details onto the online system.

CONTRACTORS• Enter the works details onto HRI online NOW – you’ll

need your client’s Local Property Tax Property ID.

• If you’re not already registered for VAT and RCT, contact your local Revenue office NOW.

• You should enter the works details and payment details onto HRI online so your client can avail of the HRI tax credit.

GETTING WORK DONE ON YOUR HOME NOWIf you’re currently having work carried out you should give your contractor your property ID (but not your PPS number or PIN). You should check the HRI online to see if your contractor has entered your work details on HRI online on www.revenue.ie. You won’t be able to claim the HRI tax credit if your contractor doesn’t qualify and hasn’t entered the works and payment details onto HRI online.

More information (including demo videos) about the Home Renovation Incentive and what homeowners and contractors need to do to avail of the incentive is available on www.revenue.ie/go/147/.

www.revenue.ie

Home Renovation Incentive

Continued from page 1

The councillors’ representative bodies, the Association of Municipal Authorities of ireland (AMAi), local Authority Members Association (lAMA), and the Association of city and county councils (Accc), all hold annual conferences, and these were well attended by Wicklow’s representatives.

More obscure conferences that were attended include the Tipperary Peace convention

(Pat Doran attended 2012), Professional Development (irene Winters, Fine Gael of Wicklow Town, attended 2012), Personal Development conference (Jimmy o’shaughnessy, independent of Wicklow Town, attended 2012), and a Media and the councillor seminar (John snell attended 2013). The southwest of the country appears to be particularly popular, with kerry and cork appearing on the list of events attended repeatedly.

€100,000 bill

AFTER dedicating the last 40 years of my life to the service of the people of North Wicklow i believe now is the right time to bring the curtain down on my political career.

This will bring to an end to 96 unbroken years of representation on Wicklow’s local authority by members of my family.

As a family representing the labour Party in county Wicklow, i believe our contribu-tion is one that will be difficult to surpass.

My grandfather Edward Byrne, a railway worker and active member of the ‘National Union of Railway Men’, was also secretary of the famous Bray Emmett’s GAA football team that won the All ireland and interna-tional Football championship in 1902.

He was a founder member and treasurer of the Bray and kingston Trade Union and Labour Party Council when it first con-vened in 1917. other prominent people at that historic first meeting were future party leader Tom Johnson (who wrote the first democratic programme for Dáil Eireann), Roddy connolly (son of 1916 Rising hero James), and politician and trade unionist cathal o’shannon.

No fewer than four other attendees of that meeting went on to become public repre-sentatives on Bray’s Urban District coun-cil. in 1918 my grandfather was elected as a representative to both Wicklow county council and Bray Urban District council, both bodies on which he served as chairman over the course of his political career.

He was spurred to get involved in local politics in protest at the slum conditions prevalent in Bray at the time, manifested in a serious shortage of local authority housing and terrible sanitary conditions in general.

His main achievements during his ten-ure were the acquisition of a land bank for housing and the construction of both Wolfe Tone square and o’Byrne Road.

Edward’s good friend Joe Metcalf was a prominent member of the irish citizen Army. He played a key role alongside Big Jim larkin in the 1913 Dublin lockout, and was seriously injured in the police baton charge in sackville street (now o’connell street) during the strike.

Another famous colleague and friend of my grandfather’s was seán Dunne, a fellow member of Wicklow county council who went on to become a member of Dáil Eire-ann representing a Dublin constituency.

Dunne is probably best remembered for leading the famous hunger marches from Bray to Rathdrum in the 1930’s in reaction to the effects of the Great Depression.

From 1918 until 1945 my grandfather contested 10 elections as a public represent-ative and was successful in all 10.

Edward E. Byrne, my father, succeeded Edward senior as a councillor and was the first Wicklow person to be elected President of the Association of Municipal Authorities of ireland (AMAi), the body representing

ireland’s local authorities which is still in existence today.

A Peace commissioner and Executive Member of the irish Print Trade Union, he was elected to both Wicklow county council and Bray Urban District council in 1945. As a public representative for 29 years he contested 10 elections success-fully, the same number as his illustrious predecessor.

indeed, during the 1950’s there was a unique situation in co. Wicklow with four different labour Party TD’s resident in the county. They were Jim Everett, sean Dunne, Roddy connolly and Young Jim larkin. During his tenure my father served as chairman of both Bray’s Urban District council and Vocational Education commit-tee.

i succeeded my father as a councillor on both Wicklow county council and Bray Urban District council, (now Bray Town Council), when I first ran for office in 1974.

When I was first elected my constituency covered the whole of North Wicklow, an area that extended from Bray to Greystones and kilcoole.

As an active trade unionist i was Presi-dent of Bray and District council of Trade Unions and was also a serving member on the Executive council of the Association of county and city councils (Accc).

like my father and grandfather before me, i have served as chairman of the county council and also Bray Town council on several occasions.

Since first being elected however I have actually gone one better in achieving elec-tion on 14 consecutive occasions, surpass-ing the records of both my father and grand-father.

My retirement will bring to an end 40 years of unbroken service as the labour Party’s local public representative.

since 1918 the Byrne Family have had a constant presence on Wicklow’s council. As councillors representing the people of Bray and North Wicklow we leave behind an unmatched familial record of continuous unbroken service.

in total we as a family have contested 34 local elections without a single negative re-sult.

saying goodbye after 96 years isn’t easy, but i feel i and my father and grandfather before me have done our county proud.

our likes may not be seen again!

John Byrne has served on both Wicklow County Council and Bray Town Council as a Labour Party representative since 1974 and is a former chairman of both councils. John resides in Bray where his family has lived for generations.

10 | OPINION

opinion&comment

IWENT to bed on April 23 in a land where only dogs had much interest in the lampposts and woke the next morning to find they had been entirely taken over by politicians. The legal deadline for election posters had passed and every

second pole now carried a plea for my vote.

some people disapprove of elec-tion posters –they find them unsight-ly or dishonest. And the Greens say they’re a waste of paper (a bit like a vote for the Greens).

Not me. i like elections and they wouldn’t be the same with-out the posters. i like the rows and razzmatazz, the hustings, the empty promises and the theatre of it all.

“We campaign in poetry but gov-ern in prose,’’ was former New York governor Mario cuomo’s wry com-ment on how political idealism is eroded by harsh reality. it is often quoted against politicians, a criticism of their hypocrisy, but i believe we can enjoy the poetry without being foolish enough to accept every word of it. Governance can be grim but elections should be fun.

i wonder, however, if posters ever got a candidate even one vote. Has anyone ever looked up at a lamp-post and based their selection on the picture hanging there – “i’ve always been Fine Gael but that sinn Fein woman has such a nice smile i think i’ll vote for her instead.’’ Hardly. Yet shrewd politicians spend thousands of euro on having posters printed, and their helpers devote many hours to hanging them from every pillar and post. it doesn’t make sense. But then ‘sense’ is not a word you will often find sharing a sentence with ‘ireland’ and ‘politics’.

Posters are duller than they once were, being nearly all content with a picture, a name and a call for your vote. They used to be more personal and, were sometimes quite barbed .

“Mr cosgrave Will Think More About The Unemployed After The Elections,’’ declared a 1932 Fianna Fail poster. “He’ll Be one of Them” .

FF’s opponents hit back with a reference to De Valera’s role in the civil War, still fresh in voters’ memo-ries. Their poster showed the sinister silhouette of a gunman overshadowing a family home. “The shadow of The Gunman - keep it From Your Home”, said cumann na nGaedhael.

contrary to popular belief, Dustin the Turkey never did run for election, but somebody did produce posters for his Poultry Party. ‘Bringing The Dart To Dingle’ was their offering in

2002. And then ‘Bringing the olym-pics to Termonfeckin’, a dig at Gay Mitchell’s plan to bring the olym-pics to Dublin.

Dustin flopped in the Eurovision song contest of 2008 and his follow-ers hit back in the second referendum on the lisbon Treaty. “They didn’t vote for us,’’ said the poster. “Get Them Back. Vote No To lisbon”.

i cut my teeth as a reporter in Bel-fast at a time when skulduggery was taken for granted in elections there. The dead arose to vote and party handlers had to be careful the turn-out did not exceed 100%. Much has passed into legend; some of it’s even true.

David Mckittrick, veteran ireland correspondent of the london in-dependent, recalls stormont Prime Minister Terence o’Neill shaking his mother’s hand and urging her to “vote early and vote often”. He re-members the parlour of his grand-mother’s house, one election day in the Sixties, being filled with hats and coats to give personators a change of clothing.

Personators had the task of ‘voting often’ – popping up several times, sometimes at the same polling sta-tion, to steal the votes of others, or vote for those who had left the con-stituency but were still on the regis-ter. ‘Plugging’ was the term used for casting someone else’s vote and it had its own code of conduct. it was considered bad form for a unionist personator to plug a nationalist vote, or vice versa, the trick being to vote on behalf of those from your own side too apathetic, or too dead, to get out themselves.

since we’re on the North, let me leave the last word to the best po-litical story-teller of all, the late and much-missed Gerry Fitt.

in 1958 he was elected to Belfast city council by a narrow majority – 10 votes according to Gerry, who never let mere detail get in the way of a good story. He had campaigned on a platform of integrity and for a new approach to politics and was feeling quite pleased with himself until a man came up to shake his hand. “Well done Gerry,’’ he said. “You won by 10 votes – and i’m proud to say i was eight of them.’’

Michael Wolsey is a former deputy editor of the Irish Independent, and sits on the judging panel for the National Newspaper of Ireland Journalism Awards.

Does pole position make any difference to the overall polls?

Saying goodbye after 40 years DaviD McKittricK

recalls storMont PriMe Minister terence o’neill shaKing

his Mother’s hanD anD

urging her to “vote early anD vote often”. he reMeMbers the Parlour of his

granDMother’s house, one

election Day in the sixties, being filleD with hats

anD coats to give Personators a change of

clothing.

“with Michael

Wolsey

with John Byrne

I always find election time exciting. Politics for me is of the people and for the people and impending elections really bring this to the fore.

With the clock ticking to Election Day campaigning gets into full swing. Posters go up all over the place and can-vassers call door-to-door to de-bate the issues. I travel through several different constituencies on my way to work and have started to tell where I am on my journey when the faces on the posters change as I cross boundaries. I find there’s a real buzz about the whole thing, and the Local and European elections on May 23 are essen-tially two separate and distinct contests related by having their campaigns share the same time-line. Running them together, whilst in danger of blurring their individual purports, is cer-tainly cost effective and this is to be applauded.

My earliest concrete memory of politics is of the 1977 Gen-eral Election. I was eight and can remember being offered a ‘Bring Back Jack’ by Fianna Fail canvassers (it was a sticker for my jacket but thinking it was a sweet I said I’d have to go in and ask my parents!). ‘Bring Back Jack’ was a good slogan

and it caught the public’s imagi-nation and worked, Fianna Fail romping home with a landslide overall majority (there hasn’t been one since). Other slogans down the years haven’t always been the best. I remember a Fine Gael one in the 80’s that advised us that ‘Garret is good for you’ – it made the former Fine Gael leader (and Bray na-tive) Garret Fitzgerald sound like a medicine.

There are people who collect old election literature and post-ers, which make fascinating viewing. There’s a guy called Alan Kinsella who exhibited such material recently - check out his Irish Election Literature blog. Posters, handbills and leaflets from bygone elections are preserved for posterity in his election collection that is part political history, and part social commentary.

Posters now tend to be a bit

too generic. Everyone has a blue sky. I know it’s the era of cloud computing and blue-sky thinking but there was some-thing a bit more real about posters in past campaigns. Too many posters is not effective ei-ther – if you are driving along a street that has 10 lampposts and one candidate has postered them all while another has just postered one, the one-poster candidate will probably stand-out more. Having your poster higher up definitely helps too, with increased visibility and less risk of vandalism. The first party to put up their posters al-ways takes the highest vantage point - the phrases ‘getting your name up there’ and ‘looking down from on high’ must have originated from this!

Focusing firstly on the local elections, a good way to evalu-ate the candidates and separate the contenders from the pre-tenders is to draw up a list of two or three relevant questions and ask all the candidates the same questions.

How about ‘’Do you oppose the water and property taxes, and if so have you some con-crete, costed alternatives?’’ – this will eliminate candidates seeking easy protest votes. Or ‘’Can I ask what your opinion is on a directly-elected mayor of Wicklow? Would we benefit

from one and would you sup-port it?’’.

Wicklow will have 32 elected local representatives after May 23. These will come from the five Local Electoral Areas of Arklow, Baltinglass, Wicklow and Greystones (six each), and Bray (eight seats). A big change this time out will be the aboli-tion of the Town Councils.

The European Parliament elections perhaps get less focus but are vital to our future. The European Parliament is one of four arms of EU governance, along with the European Com-mission, European Council and European Council of Ministers.

We are privileged to be able to have input into the world’s only directly-elected trans-national parliament and should make our voice heard. 751 euro-deputies from the 28 member states will be elected between May22 and 25 and we should be happy to play our part by ensuring the best-quality candidates are se-lected to represent Ireland.

Turnout has been falling across the continent in EP elec-tions, from 62% in 1979 to 43% in 2009 and this trend needs to be reversed.

Wicklow had one of the high-est turnouts in last year’s refer-endum and we should be proud of this and continue to exercise our votes in big numbers.

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie OPINION | 11

Elections are great but the posters give me the blues

Brian Quigley

anyotherbusiness

Fianna Fail Euro South Candidate Kieran Hartley pictured here in Paddypower, Greystones Co.Wicklow placing his first ever bet on himself at 2/1 after pledging his winnings to the St. Vincent de Paul. Pic. Conor McCabe

By Captain Louis Renault

FIAnnA Fail’s Euro South candidate Kieran Hartley (left) recently wagered a few bob on himself at 2/1 in Paddy Power in Greystones, pledging his winnings to the St Vincent de Paul. Methinks Fianna Fail has more chance of winning Eurovision than a second Euro South seat, Kieran. now that I think about it, has anyone seen Kieran’s running mate, sitting MEP Brian Crowley and Conchita together at the same time?

********

What has Wicklow done to Neil O’Dowd? The influential Irish American is the publisher of the Irish Voice (no relation) and runs the widely read irishcentral.com, which recently published a list of its top 10 places to visit in Ireland. Boyne Valley, Ring of Kerry, The Cliffs of Moher, Giant’s Causeway, Aran Islands, Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College Dublin, The Burren, St Patrick’s Cathedral and Croke Park all get a mention but Glendalough is not amongst them. If the yanks fail to visit Wickla’ this year, you know who to blame ...

********

How much more can one man take? Fresh from being found not guilty of providing illegal loans during his tenure in Anglo Irish Bank, The Captain discovers that the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation is about to launch a multimillion action against Sean FitzPatrick’s wife. IBRC is suing Caitriona Fitzpatrick over disputed assets worth between €3-€5m, claiming they belonged to Seanie. Meanwhile, The Captain was delighted to see Seanie looking relaxed during a day’s golfing with his old school pals at the Druid’s Glen Golf Course recently. Greystones’ Seanie went to Presentation College Bray and has long been a supporter of the school and its Past Pupils’ Union. More than 40 lined out on the day and The Captain tips his hat to the excellent job done by Brendan Toolan and Tino Cassoni.

********

Councils aren’t normally known for their stars but ‘Dashing’ David Forde, Bray’s Finance and Personnel Officer, works tirelessly for most good causes in the town, so The Captain hopes that he recovers from his badly-bruised foot. ‘Dashing’ took a tumble off a very slippy Band Stand during the recent Pieta House Darkness Into Light walk. We hope those twinkle toes are back in action soon ...

********The Captain got an earful from Labour’s Ronan MacManus recently. Ronan, who sits on Bray Town Council and is a candidate for the County Council, was aggrieved that the Wicklow Voice’s investigation into town councillor expenses made no reference to those who sit on both town and county councils. We hope this edition makes it up to you Ronan ...

********

independent Barry Nevin has turned the art of polling on its head ... literally. The Captain spotted one of his posters hanging upside down on the Newcourt Road in Bray – just giving you the heads up! Barry, the Councillor Formerly Known as Labour, and Cllr Thomas Cullen recently sued the county manager (and lost) claiming they had been defamed. Don’t worry Barry, I’m sure things will start looking up soon ...

********

As the furore over Gabriel Dooley’s letter to the County Council rumbles on, word reaches The Captain that he is reopening a shop on Bray’s Main Street. Gabriel has made allegations about planning matters forcing a recent County Council meeting to be adjourned. Chairman Jimmy O’Shaughnessy, another Councillor Formerly Known as Labour, said he had sent the complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission and proposed no immediate discussion. Chaos ensued, resulting in Jimmy and other personnel marching out. While The Captain can understand saying nothing during the investigation, he cannot understand why Jimmy was able to speak about the matter to the Wicklow Times when they lead on the story...

Have you got a story? Then email thecaptain@wicklowvoice.ie

12 | NEWS wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

Pictured at the first Local Enterprise Office Wicklow’s business seminar in the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy was: Catherine Howard, Local Enterprise Office business advisor; Feargal O’Neill, Lacken Technology. Pic Joe Keogh

Wicklow Historical Society appeal WickloW Historical Society would like to thank their patrons for their valuable support over past years. To become a patron contact any of our members or ring 0404-67494. Their AGM takes place on Tuesday, May 27th at St. Patrick’s national School, Wicklow at 8pm.

Information day for dementia carersdo you have a loved one with memory problems? if so, head along to a free information morning where the issue will be explored in a supportive environment for patrons. it will be held in the Parkview Hotel, newtownmountkennedy on May 17 at 10am-1pm.

Forestry rally driving returnsSATUrdA y, May 17 will see a welcome return of forestry rally driving to Wicklow.

The hills and valleys of Glendalough, Aughavannagh, laragh and rathdrum will be the staging points for the inaugural AlMc Wicklow Forest rally.

it is almost a decade since a forest rally ran in the county and it is sure to be an exciting event.

news in brief

FROM SATURDAY 17th MAY - 8th JUNE 2014

MOSHI GOODIES & SEA LIFE PRIZES TO BE WON!MOSHI GOODIES & SEA LIFE PRIZES TO BE WON!MOSHI GOODIES & SEA LIFE PRIZES TO BE WON!MOSHI GOODIES & SEA LIFE PRIZES TO BE WON!More than 85 million players worldwide have logged on for fun at MoshiMonsters.com - the monsterific online world where you can adopt and care for your very own monster.

Now, meet your favourite monsters face-to-furry-face as fan favourites Katsuma and Poppet join Monstro City’s number one Moshling expert Buster Bumblechops at the National SEA LIFE Centre Bray from May the 17th to June the 8th on a mission to save our amazing marine creatures!

Every youngster who completes an interactive Moshi Marine Force quiz trail will receive a hat, certificate and sticker plus secret code to access a host of virtual goodies from MoshiMonsters.com, including an exclusive Moshling…Lubber the Whimsical whale.

We have a bumper prize package of Twelve of the brand new Moshling Collection soft toys, Five Series 9 blind bags, a Moshi Monsters Encyclopedia, a Moshi Zoo note book and back pack, badges, stickers and a special ‘super fan’ pack…plus an Annual Pass to SEA LIFE for Two adults & Two children (giving you unlimited visits for a whole year) for the winner of this easy-to-enter competition.

AND we have five more family tickets for runners-up, each worth more than €30.

SEA LIFE’s very own Moshling – Lubber – is:a) a Fiery Frazzledragon b) a Disco Duckie c) a Whimsical Whale

To Enter: Just email your answer & details to: comps@wicklowvoice.ie Closing Date: 1st June 2014

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL| 13

Arts festival promises to be best yetBy Michelle McGlynn

THis year’s Wicklow Arts Fes-tival promises to be the best yet according to organiser Geoff kane.

“We have a fantastic line-up for all ages and we are really looking forward to welcoming both locals and visitors to Wick-low Town.

“As always, the Wicklow Arts Festival wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors and vol-unteers so on behalf of the com-mittee, i would like to extend our thanks to all concerned.”

Now in its eleventh year, the festival will take place from Fri-day 23rd-sunday 25th May.

To launch the weekend, there will be a spectacular fireworks display at the East Pier at 10pm on Friday 23rd.

There’s no need to be check-ing bank balances because of the 35 -five stupendous events taking place, a massive 32 of them are free of charge.

There is so much to do, it will be quite a task deciding which events to take part in so here are a few highlights to help you.

Jackie Burke, author of the secrets of Grindlewood series for children, will read excerpts from her new book, The se-cret scroll, answer questions

and sign copies of her books at Wicklow Branch library on Friday.

if your child fancies them-selves as a bit of an indiana Jones then give them a hands-on experience at The Big Dig.

The fun and educational dig will be run by the school of irish Archaeology on the sat-urday and sunday with twenty minute sessions taking place be-tween 11am and 5pm.

For creative types, check out Bachelors Walk all day satur-day and sunday as international award-winning artists, Vera Bugatti and luigi legno, trans-form the pavement into a 3D masterpiece.

on saturday, the Assembly Hall will be host to an explora-tion dome. The digital planetari-um will show 360° films explor-ing science and astronomy.

The films will run all day for saturday only. This event will cost €3 for children and €5 for adults.

There will be live music from local bands Gúrú and The Big Muddy on Bachelors Walk on saturday from 2.30pm.

Get your dancing shoes on for a mix of 50s rock n roll and country rock, including covers and original songs.

Delgany-based climber and

writer, Gerry Galligan, who wrote climbing Ramabang about his adventures and expe-riences exploring the Himalaya and elsewhere.

Gerry will be in Bridge street Books on sunday at 3pm, re-counting stories and giving an insight into the day-to-day lives of the mountain peoples alongside a slideshow of pho-tographs.

Running from 19-25 May, The lost Property Project are presenting The circus of Bi-zarre Happenings at Fitzwilliam square.

This contemporary art exhi-bition gives visitors the oppor-tunity to discover some of the beautiful oddities of life. The exhibition is open daily 10am-5pm.

Vincent Flynn of Eolas Recruitment who are the main sponsors of the Wicklow Arts Festival, and organisers Eliza and Geoff Kane at the launch of the 2014 Wicklow Arts Festival brochure.

14 | WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

JACK WISE – WORLD CHAMPION STREET PERFORMERSunday 25, Performance area Bachelors Walk 1pm and again 4pm

Jack Wise has wowed festival crowds throughout Ireland and Europe and in 2010 was crowned World street performance champion, delighting audiences with his comedy, daring sword swallowing, amazing magic and ventriloquism Jack is a once off and never to be missed entertainer.

1

3D STREET ART All day Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th

Come along & watch as international award-winning artists - Vera Bugatti & Luigi Legno - transform the pavement at Bachelor’s Walk in Wicklow into a 3D masterpiece! They both worked as part of an international crew of 13 chosen to collaborate with master Kurt Wenner to create a large anamorphic 3D masterpiece at the Sarasota Chalk Festival (USA) in 2012.

2MARK GRAHAM – ExHIbITION & READING 7pm Saturday 24, The Malthouse Craft Beer Bar @ Phil Healy’s, Fitzwilliam Square

Mark Graham opted out of a broken banking system, setting out on a quest to attend 3 festivals in Ireland every week for a whole year. His journey didn’t reveal a broken nation in sackcloth and ashes. The countryside was alive with weird and wonderful festivals, organised by people who give generously of their time and efforts, to make their communities better places to live.Along the way he was crowned the Conker Champion of Ireland, won the All Ireland Bucket Singing Championship, hucklebucked with horny honeys in Lisdoon, kicked Bishop Brennan in the arse and had a pain in his face from laughing. ‘A Year of Festivals in Ireland’ is the story of his year on the road and his ‘Festival Heads’ photographs vividly captures the character and colour of Ireland’s festival trail. Be warned, you may want to join him. 3

7Sizzlers not to miss

FIREWORKS10pm , Friday 23, May @ East Pier Wicklow Town

The Wicklow Arts Festival will kick off with a spectacular firework display to celebrate the launch of this year’s festival, festival organisers together with the event sponsor Eolas Recruitment will have an aerial spectacular by World Championship pyrotechnic company Rocket Pyrotechnics, Ireland’s leading pyrotechnic company.

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie WICKLOW ARTS FESTIVAL | 15

Sizzlers not to miss

Fireworks10pm , Friday 23, May @ East Pier Wicklow Town

The Wicklow Arts Festival will kick off with a spectacular firework display to celebrate the launch of this year’s festival, festival organisers together with the event sponsor Eolas Recruitment will have an aerial spectacular by World Championship pyrotechnic company Rocket Pyrotechnics, Ireland’s leading pyrotechnic company.

4

Vikings TV show BoaT and CosTume display Saturday 12-5pm at Bachelors Walk and Leitrim place

A great chance to see some of the costumes and the Viking longboat from the hit TV series the Vikings, which is filmed locally at Ashford Studios and throughout Wicklow.

5Tom Crean- anTarCTiC explorer Sunday 25 at 8pm, Fatima Hall, Dominican Campus.

Tom Crean, the intrepid Antarctic explorer and one of Ireland’s unsung heroes, is brought to life in this dramatic and humorous solo performance by Aidan Dooley. This multi-award winning show has now played critically acclaimed sell-out performances throughout Ireland, USA, Australia, Europe and the UK. Venue : Fatima Hall, Dominican Campus. 8pm Adm: €15. Tickets available online or through Earls Newsagents, Wicklow.

7

sTreeT Food markeT & Foodie TreaTsSaturday & Sunday 24/25 May Bachelor’s Walk

Lots of foodie delights await over the Saturday and Sunday of the festival with a small but perfectly formed street food market at Bachelors Walk, together with extensive foodie talks, walks and demonstrations on Saturday 24th, booking is a must with a wild food foraging walk and an interactive session on food swaps with some of Wicklow’s finest ingredients on show. Soak up the atmosphere at this colourful 2 day outdoor market by the scenic River Leitrim. Whether you’re here for a taste or to treat yourself, there’s something on offer for all the family with fine foods, unusual crafts and demonstrations.

6

16 | WHAT’S HOT wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

topt

en 13245 CHILDREN’S IDEA of the fortnight

FAMILY FUN IDEA of the fortnight

BOOk of the fortnight

WickloW ArchersShoreline Leisure, Greystones, Wednesdays, 7pm.

Wicklow Archers is a community-based archery club that supports the growth and promotion of all forms of archery, for people of (nearly) all ages, ability and background. They fully support both recreational and competitive archers and provide multiple advancement courses. Archery can be a

fantastic family sport and many of our members have joined with a parent, child or sibling. Wicklow Archery is currently the largest club in Ireland and have the best facilities. They have two indoor and two outdoor facilities so they can cater to your needs and help develop your technique. Multiple beginner courses run throughout the year. Contact coaching@wicklowarchery.org to book your course now.

cV Writing WorkshopCarriage House, Greystones, Tue & Wed, May 20 & 21

Jobseekers will have the opportunity to get some advice on how to write, or how to improve their CV. This session will provide guidance on how best to present your skills and qualifications to a potential employer. They will be one-on-one sessions, lasting an hour and will be held in the morning and early afternoon. Oonagh Hodkinson and Colette O’Loan from the National Learning Network will be providing their expertise free of charge. Those wishing to avail of the sessions are asked to pre-book by contacting Jennifer Whitmore, who has organised the free sessions, on 086 663 4747 or whitmore.jennifer@gmail.com

teddy BeAr picnicPowerscourt Waterfall, Enniskerry, Sunday, May 25, 1pm.

There are few things as delightfully fun as a teddy bear picnic. This is something the kids will just adore and adults will thoroughly enjoy as well. Sit by the waterfall, enjoy the summer afternoon and some tasty food with your family and your favourite teddy bear friends. Powerscourt and Imaginosity

have joined forces to organise an afternoon of great activities. There will be parachute games, sack racing, egg and spoon races and puppet story-time. You can even join in the big sing-song, complete with instruments. Join in the fun and have a family day out that will create some wonderful memories. Remember, teddy bears need fresh air and exercise too.

BUSINESS IDEA of the fortnight

episodesBBC 2, Wednesdays, 10pm.

The popular comedy returns to our screens for a third season. Starring Matt LeBlanc, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on Friends, the show centres on a husband and wife comedy writing team’s attempt to remake their successful British tv show for American audiences. As we have seen countless times

in real life, the consequences are pretty disastrous. The couple are pressured into casting LeBlanc as the network make changes to their show.

LeBlanc, who has received a Golden Globe for his performance, plays a fictionalised version of himself. This season the show and LeBlanc’s career are fading fast as he desperately tries to renew his fortune.

the sonJo Nesbo

number 1 bestselling crime author, Jo nesbo, releases his eighteenth novel, the son. nesbo is best known for his harry hole series and has sold over 20 million books world-wide. this is the norwegian born author’s second stand alone novel. he previously wrote headhunters which was later turned into a successful

film. the son tells the story of charismatic, model prisoner, sonny. he spends his time listening to the confessions of other inmates and absolving them of their sins. everything changes when one of his fellow inmates reveals that he knows something about sonny’s disgraced father’s death. now sonny must break out and make those respon-sible pay for what they have done.

TV SHOW of the fortnight

with Michelle McGlynn

info@wicklowvoice.ie

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie WHAT’S HOT| 17

‘Pullquote here– In the MafIa, those who go agaInst the wIshes

of the Dons can have a short lIfe’

6

910ACTIVITY of the fortnight

EVENT of the fortnight

MOVIE of the fortnight

FUNdRAISER of the fortnight7 charIty Plant saleBallynure House, Grangecon, May 24 & 25, 11am

If you have a bit of a green thumb or fancy yourself the next Diarmuid Gavin this fundraiser is a must for you. This charity plant sale will feature a wide variety of unusual and hard to find garden perennials with a special emphasis on plants providing colour from mid-Summer until

the end of Autumn. Shrubs and trees will also be available. There will be people on hand to provide gardening tips and refreshments will be available. This wonderful event will raise funds for two great causes: The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and the Kildare and West Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. For further details contact Diana Scarth on 086 347 3418.

sean Mcshane MeMorIal golf classIcDruids Glen Golf Club, Sunday, June 1

The 4th Annual Sean McShane Memorial Golf Classic is taking place again this year in the Druids Glen Golf Club on Sunday June 1st. As always this will be a fun filled day with some well-known faces popping up. There will be an auction and raffle with some very

exciting prizes including a Brian O’Driscoll jersey. All money raised on the day will go to Newtown GAA Club and Newtownmountkennedy Primary School Centre for Children with Autism. To date the Sean McShane Memorial Golf Classic has raised €18, 900. If you’re not a golfer you can still head along and enjoy a fun-filled day out with the family. Any enquiries please contact seanmcshanegolfclassic@hotmail.com

BIg sePteMBerThe Academy, Middle Abbey St, Dublin, Saturday, May 17

following a massive, sold-out performance in the academy in December, Big september have returned to the venue to launch their highly anticipated album, Ballroom addicts. the five wicklow lads have been friends since their days at Presentation college, Bray. this close bond helps to form their

tight-knit but always entertaining sound. the first single from the album, the righteous way, was released last month and was met with praise and anticipation for what will follow. Big september’s summer has filled up fast with several gigs and festivals on the agenda. the band like to write upbeat music with an uplifting message so be prepared to dance the night away. tickets are €12 at ticketmaster.ie

X-Men: Days of future PastGaiety Cinema

This is the film that X-Men fans have been waiting for as the ultimate cast unite in Days of Future Past. Characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces wth their younger selves from X-Men: First Class to fight a spectacular war for survival across two time periods. By 2023, mutants are on the verge of extinction leading to Magneto (Ian McKellan) and Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) sending Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) back to 1973 to unite the young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender). They also have to stop Sentinel inventor Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage). A stellar cast lead this promising, time-hopping adventure.

8reD KIte walK, avocaAvoca, County Wicklow

The Red Kite Walk in Avoca was officially launched recently. This is a self-guided trail in the gorgeous wooded area behind the streetscape of Avoca Village. The Red Kites, a bird of prey, were facing extinction. However, they have been successfully reintroduced to rural county Wicklow. The birds can regularly be seen around the village of Avoca. They

can be recognised by their distinctive copper coloured markings and their v-shaped tail feathers. This initiative was the result of hard work by the local community and several other organisations. As the evenings get brighter and longer take this opportunity to enjoy the beauty that Avoca has to offer and catch a glimpse of this striking bird. Pictured at the launch are Anne Ferris TD, Cllr Tom Fortune, Andrew Doyle TD and Minister Michael Ring

HOROSCOPESwith Siobhan Moore WhelanAries--1,5,11,19,25,38Focus on partnerships You will be able to earn as expected, provided you will avoid any speculation. Meditation could bring the release you need.

TAurus--6,9,18,28,34,40 A long-term goal may finally be reached, justifying a celebration. Avoid making hasty decisions! consider your opinions.

Gemini--2,16,27,31,36,37Good news from your loved one may change your life completely. You might find that a long-term dream comes true.

CAnCer--1,7,9,16,26,37With Jupiter entering your sign this promises new doors opening offering vast horizons and opportunities. Go for it!

Leo--5,17,21,24,36,38The promise of a promotion is in the air. Don’t panic. Wait a few days until the planets relax and success is yours.

VirGo--4,15,20,24,27,31Time for making major changes in the social department and in your love life. come out to play Virgo and enjoy your life.

LibrA--14,16,20,23,38,41With the sun in your eighth solar house, vitality will boost after May 20th as Mars, the planet of energy arrives. Enjoy!,

sCorpio--9,13,17,24,36,38Perfect timing as you enter the spotlight, promising important accomplishments and satisfactions. Take advantage of all opportunities.

sAGiTTArius --8,10,14,26,36,42Resume relationships with friends you haven’t seen for a long time! The ruler of sagittarius’ house of work, Venus, will bring in fortune.

CApriCorn--7,14,21,26,33,38capricorn’s are great at building strategies. if you assess situations, and are patient, luck will chance for the better.

AquArius--2,6,18,21,29,31The sun (the ruler of Aquarius’ house of couples) enters Aquarius’ house of love. Time of romanticism, sensuality and love.

pisCes--2,4,16,26,36,37Domestic and financial preoccupations prevail. Pisces’ ability of maintaining social relationships can prove to bring profit. Push on!

live Psychic Angel-Tarot-Medium siobhan Tel 1580997207- 18+ Bill payers permission-calls cost €2.44 per minute; calls from other networks may vary. calls are for entertainment purposes and may be recorded.

GIG of the fortnight

18 | FASHION wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

my favourite things WHAT’S HOTwith Michelle McGlynninfo@wicklowvoice.ie

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie BEAUTY| 19

Arklow Bay Hotel

every Wednesday at 7.30pm

For details call Dorothy Fairbrother on 087 2953490

NEW 5.30pm Group opening soonEveryone is Welcome!

IngredIents 90g soft brown sugar85g Unsalted butter1 Whole eggs90g Plain Flour6g Baking Powder100g chopped Banana

PreParatIon method• Cream the butter and the sugar• Slowly beat in the eggs• Fold in the sieved flour and baking powder, then the bananas.• Pour into 6 moulds(greased with butter then caster sugar) ¾ full.• Bake for 10 minutes at 180oc, then turn the heat down to 150oc for 1 hour and 20 minutes.• Leave to rest then serve. toffee sauce

250g soft brown sugar¼ pt. Double cream65g Unsalted butter• Place all in a pan and bring to the boil.

• When all the sugar is dissolved take off the heat and serve.

20 | FOOD & WINE wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

recipes Peter Byrne Head Chef at Sika Restaurantin The Powerscourt Hotel

Banana stIcky toffee PuddIng

Some children enjoy the delights of Gourmet Greystones.

chIcken a La royaLe

IngredIents

•1 oz Crushed Rosemary•6 Baby Potatoes•1 Breast of Chicken•1 Red Pepper•100g Spinach•2 tbsp Goat Cheese•2 Cloves of Garlic•Pinch of Salt•Pinch of Pepper•½ tsp Tarragon•1 Leek (small)•Knob of Butter•3 tbsp White Wine Vinegar

For Crispy Leek Strips:

•3 tbsp Plain Flour•2 tbsp Milk

method:1.Butterfly chicken fillet.2.stuff with spinach, goats cheese,season with salt and pepper 3.Roll together and seal in a pan for 30 seconds.4.Oven bake for 18-20 minutes, (gas mark 6 or 200c)5.Boil baby potatoes, crush with a fork mixing in the rosemary, season with salt and pepper.6.Roast the red peppers and garlic in oven for 10 minutes.7.splash with white wine vinegar and add tarragon and butter8.slice leek into thin strips. Dip into milk, toss in flour and fry until golden brown.

Sam BarsoumSous Chef at The Royal Hotel, Bray

wine choiceToscana RossoDeep ruby-red with a lasting bouquet of ripe red fruit. Smooth and warm on the palate. Modern in style, this is an attractively bright, cherry-fruited wine with wide appeal. Made primarily from Sangiovese grapes, this is a wine straight from the rolling hills of Tuscany . Available for €6.99 from Lidl stores.

if anything is going to betray a person’s lack of automotive knowledge, it’s making tired old skoda jokes. The czech company, owned by VW, now produces some of the best-built small cars around, and their reputation has been enormously boosted by the ‘car of The Year’ winning Fabia supermini. With used examples now starting to appear on the market, the Fabia is one of the most cost-effective ways to get a well-renowned latest-generation car on your driveway. if ever a used car came with a solid gold guaran-tee of customer satisfaction, the skoda Fabia would be it.

Historylaunched in March 2000 to in-stant acclaim, the skoda Fabia cemented the czech com-pany’s burgeoning reputation as a manufacturer of quality cars. Following the Felicia and octavia models, the Fabia took Volkswagen’s ‘next-generation’ Polo chassis and got to use it before any Volkswagen - an indication of the importance of skoda within the VW Group empire. With five petrol engines and two diesel options to choose

from and an ever-widening ar-ray of body styles, the Fabia ap-peals on a number of levels. The choice starts with the 1.0-litre classic, which was only avail-able for three months before be-ing discontinued. A better bet is the 1.4-litre engine, available in

68bhp, 75bhp and sixteen valve 100bhp guises. For those who want a genuinely unruffled su-permini, a 2.0-litre 16v engine appeared in November 2000, generating a healthy 155bhp.

Two diesel options existed from launch, both based on the

1.9-litre engine that has seen service elsewhere in the VW Group. The 64bhp sDi unit will attract the traditional diesel buyer, but the turbocharged ver-sion, the 100bhp 1.9-litre TDi, is a viable alternative to a pet-rol model for those who enjoy

driving. Three trim levels were available, classic, comfort and Elegance in ascending order of plushness. The estate version was introduced in spring 2001, and was soon followed by the announcement of a four-door saloon with a quite enormous boot. A 1.4-litre TDi engine with 75bhp was added to the line-up in 2003 as was the HTP 1.2-litre petrol engine which re-placed the 1.0-litre at the base of the range.

Towards the end of 2004, the Fabia received a facelift. changes to the grille, spoiler and front fog lamps as well as the rear light clusters were made and the interior trim was ‘modernised’. Prices re-mained largely unaltered but the comfort trim level was re-named Ambiente. Then soon afterwards a sport model was added as a budget sporty option slotting in below the vRs hot hatch. in the summer of 2005, the 1.4-litre engine in this sport variant was downgraded to a 1.2 64bhp unit. The all-new Fabia arrived in the spring of 2007.

What You GetThe Fabia is the longest car in

its class and has the interior space efficiency to capitalise on those extra inches. Nor is any future rival likely to surpass it in this respect, for anything larger would stray into Golf, Astra and Focus family hatchback terri-tory. certainly buyers of such larger cars could consider this surprising little Skoda, for five can be seated in reasonable comfort, even if the rear centre occupant must make do with a lap belt rather than the three-point affair now offered by most rivals.

This and the rather spartan feel are the only real criticisms you could make of an interior that is otherwise a class above most other offerings in this sector.

Judged on price, a used skoda Fabia may well be overlooked by buyers seduced by cheaper rivals from Fiat, Ford and, ironi-cally as it is also part of the VW Group, sEAT.

Having said that, quality costs, and with the skoda you’ll have to pay that bit extra. The brand value of the skoda badge is growing steadily and the in-formed consumer now sees it as a watchword for build integrity.

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie MOTORS | 21

bouncing czech

liz

dillonwww.facebook.com/lizdillonfg lizdillon@hotmail.com

cllr Gráinne

MclouGhlinwww.grainnemcloughlin.commcloughlingrainne@gmail.com

cllr derek

Mitchell www.derekmitchell.ie mitchelld@eircom.net

DAVIDO’REILLY

New Voice – New VisionFine Gael candidate for Greystones, Kilcoole, Delgany,

Newcastle, Killadrennan, Willow Grove for local Election 2014

WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN DO MORECOMMUNITY – COMMITMENT

Dave_Fine_Gael_DL.indd 1 23/01/2014 16:13:06

david

o’reilly www.davidoreilly.ie david@davidoreilly.ie

for Greystones

stability, Jobs, Growth

for Greystones for Greystones for Greystones

siMon

harris td

www.simonharris.ie simon.harris@oir.ie

for europe

22 | NEWS wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

by Cianan Brennan

AVERAGE rents across the country have increased by 9% cent with Wicklow being no exception according to a new report published by property website daft.ie.

The average rent in the Garden county currently stands at €923 according to the report, an increase of 9.3% on this time last year.

The news is a slight blow to those people searching for a property to buy, though as would be expected the increase is mostly to be seen in the property centres closest to Dublin as has consistently been the case in recent times.

Rent in fact has increased in every county outside Ulster and connacht.

Wicklow lags slightly behind the rest of the country when it comes to rental value, with the average price countrywide standing at €888 for the months of January through March this year.

Meanwhile, a separate study by property website myhome.ie shows that property sales in Wicklow increased by 23% in 2013. This is an even greater rate of increase than that seen in nearby Dublin, and is very much in line with the findings of the Wicklow Voice’s own property investigation seen in our March edition.

974 houses were sold in Wicklow in 2013 according to the study, with the 204 properties changing hands in Bray marking it out as the town at the centre of the latest sales-glut.

With the value of the sales recorded pricing at €241.7 million, the amount of money spent on property in county Wicklow last year increased by fully 30%.

Managing Director of myhome.ie Angela keegan welcomed the news but added that the figures should still be treated with caution given recovery is in its early stages.

“We were surprised to see

sales rise by as much as they did in several counties,” she said. “The total level of transactions is still under 30,000, if the market was functioning properly we would expect to see double or treble that level.”

“We need to see that figure rising, and the Government and banks have a key role to play in making that happen.”

There was some less agreeable news regarding Wicklow property from the Government however, as it was announced that Wicklow would be receiving the smallest slice of a new €10 million state fund allocated towards finishing and maintaining so-called ghost estates across the country

Wicklow has been granted just €43,000 towards works on one development, although the news could be taken in a positive light in that the levels of ghost estates within the county are significantly lower than those seen in the rest of the country following the demise of the celtic Tiger.

By Michelle McGlynn

THE caroline Foundation have succeeded in breaking their way into the record books.

Their attempt to break the Guinness World record for the longest Awareness ribbon chain was a huge success with over 3,375 supporters turning out on the day.

on Sunday, May 11 excited volunteers gathered to line the cliff walk between bray and Greystones where, luckily, the sun shone down

on them. A total of 39, 000 bands of 10-inch ribbon were sown together to stretch five miles from the bandstand in bray to the South beach in Greystones.

it was a wonderful sight to behold as the ribbon was held high by the proud volunteers.

dr. Helen o’Sullivan-dwyer, founder of The caroline Foundation, said “it was stunning to see the ribbon unfurl.

“it was like a giant snail had clambered over the foothills and the beaches

of Wicklow leaving a trail behind.”

The sense of community surrounding the event was inspiring as adults, children and even a dog got into the spirit and made history together.

The event has made Wicklow proud and hopes to have raised €100, 000 for the cancer clinical research Trust.

The Wicklow Voice would like to congratulate all the organisers and volunteers involved in this uplifting record breaking event.

It’s a record as 3,375 join up for ribbon Cliff route

Private rent rockets by 9% as Dublin bubble spills over

Participants line-up for the record attempt on Bray SeafrontJoan Driver, Marjory Dalton and Eimear Ivory

Gabrielle Weir, Ciaran Megannety and Carmel Robinson

Ewa Mochon and Veronica O’Leary get ready for the challengeahead

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie news| 23

Pictured at the Bray event are: members of St. Fergal’s Football Club in Bray. Pix: Joe Keogh

THE darkness into light walks drew thousands of participants in bray, Arklow and throughout the country.

organisers believe more than 80,000 took part at 40

venues across ireland. They gathered at 4.15am for a 5km walk or which ended as dawn was breaking.

The fundraiser, now in its sixth year, also took place in

Sydney and london. it raises money for Pieta House, the centre for the prevention of self-harm and suicide and also aims to raise awareness of these problem.

Thousands turn out for Darkness Into Light

Laura Greene, Sheena Egan and Jessie Lehane.

Rebecca Black and Cheyenne Black with their dog, Kuba Black-Dutton.

Fiona Bowman and Sandra Polly.

Eimear Mangan with Nando, Voice of Ireland presenter Eoghan McDermott and Caroline Boyle and her dog Ollie

Cllr. MICK

GLYNN

Cllr. JOHN

RYAN

Cllr. SARAH

WRAY

YOUR TEAMBRAY - ENNISKERRY - KILMACANOGUE

cllrmickglynn@gmail.com

JRyan@wicklowcoco.ie

swray@braytc.ie

Vote No.1 FOR EUROPETD Simon

HARRIS

24 | SERVICES wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

servicesBuyIng? SEllIng? ContaCt onE of ouR tEam today

e: info@wicklowvoice.ie w: www.wicklowvoice.ie

Alphaplan Design (Tel: 0404-64123 / 086-2461269) seeks plan-ning permission for pro-posed dwelling, waste water treatment system, garage and site ancil-lary works at kilcroney, Bray, co. Wicklow for i. and c. DoyleThe planning applica-tion may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reason-able cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority dur-ing its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Wicklow County Council

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie TRAVEL| 25

THERE are many things that define the Puglia region of Italy – an unhinged, jagged coastline, dazzling sea, Salice Salentino wine and seafood so fresh that the locals think nothing of serv-ing you a giant plate of raw squid, mussels and octopus as a starter.

Puglia is a long, thin region, stretching right up the back of the heel of Italy’s boot and since April you now can get there di-rect from Dublin on a Ryanair flight.

Comprised of sun-bleached landscapes, silver olive groves, picturesque seascapes, and memorable hilltop and coastal towns, Puglia is a lush, largely flat farming region, skirted by a long coast that alternates be-tween glittering limestone prec-ipices and long sandy beaches.

The heel of Italy juts into the Adriatic and Ionian Seas and the waters of both are stunning-ly beautiful, veering between translucent emerald-green and dusky powder blue.

Puglia is famous for its food – there are 200 types of pasta and for millennia Puglia has been predominantly an agricultural

region, producing around 40% of Italy’s olive oil and a large proportion of its wine.

The region’s cuisine is home-country inspired, predominantly using the abundant local pro-duce such as durum wheat, to-matoes, artichokes, fava beans,

rocket, courgettes, beans, fen-nel, peppers, onions, beef and lamb.

Puglians pride themselves on their orecchiette, little ear-shaped pasta shells that are still produced by hand on a daily ba-sis by many signore.

It is usually served with tasty sauces such as meat ragu, broc-coli and lard, mushrooms or tur-nip tops.

Puglia’s cheeses are excel-lent and ubiquitous and visitors should also try to find some burrata di Andria, a fresh, soft

cheese that has to be eaten with-in 24 hours of production while the smoked mozzarella is great too.

Puglia’s long coastline and fishing tradition bring large quantites of seafood to the ta-ble and traditionally they eat raw fish and expect plates of of shellfish – clams, oysters, urchins and mussels – along with violet prawn risotto, tuna carpaccio, squid ink pasta and countless other delicious dishes and delectable wines, including a magnificent local primitivo wine.

The central area near Bari has been the most popular with tourists, with some lovely sea-side spots, including the pretty town of Polignano a Mare.

In the south, Lecce is the main city of the Salentine Peninsula, and is so packed with baroque architecture it’s been dubbed the Florence of the South.

Along with many churches and an ornate cathedral, there’s a triumphal arch and a half-bur-ied Roman amphitheatre.

But what makes Puglia extra special are its trulli, the cone shaped dwellings that look like

something from The Hobbit and dot the countryside and are the star attraction of UNESCO her-itage site Alberobello - a village frozen in time.

People come from all over to behold Alberobello and its row upon row of white-walled huts with their signature cone shaped roofs and sky grazing turrets, lined up neatly like an assembly of praying wizards.

The throngs of eager tour-ists might not be your idea of a peaceful day out, but the fact you’re all united in mutual fas-cination adds to Alberobello’s enchanting atmosphere.

There are plenty of side lanes for you to meander down, es-cape the crowds and get up close and personal with the re-vered buildings.

You might just chance upon an abandoned trullo that you can venture into – or one you can even stay the night in.

We stayed in the Masseria Spi-na near the town of Monopoli – a masseria, or country house, is a good place to stay and ranges from rustic to luxurious and each is unique, and is often a working farm.

TRULLI, MADLY, DeePLY

Trulli in the picturesque town of Alberobello in the Puglia region of Itay.

with direct flights from dublin to bari, the WIckLoW voIce took a trip to italy’s puglia

ShAY cULLenballinahinch, newtownmountkennedy shaycullen2014@gmail.com

cLLR MALcoLM

eARLSlakeview crescent, wicklowmalearls@gmail.com

cLLR IRene WInTeRSwicklow heights court, wicklowirenewinters@eircom.net

cLLR SYLveSTeR

BoURkekilliniskyduff, arklowsylvesterbourke@hotmail.com

SIMon

hARRIS TD

charlesland, greystonessimon.harris@oir.ie

foR WIckLoW foR WIckLoW foR WIckLoW foR ARkLoW foR eURoPe

STABILITY, JoBS, GRoWTh

by Cianan Brennan

WiTH summer just around the corner, many of us will be looking to lose the winter pounds and get in shape for the sunny season.

Greystones property agent Derrick McGovern has a greater challenge again in front of him as he faces into the annual Four Peaks challenge in aid of Focus ireland.

The Four Peaks involves climbing the highest mountain in each of ireland’s four provinces over the space of a single weekend – carrauntoohil in kerry, Mweelrea in Mayo, slieve Donard in Down, and lugnaquilla back home in Wicklow.

A test of fitness and, particularly, endurance, the challenge is not for the faint-hearted, although all proceeds go to a very good cause indeed, the fight against homelessness.

“i wouldn’t describe myself as overly fit, but at 49 I’m not doing too bad either. i do a lot of swimming and a decent amount of training besides,” says McGovern.

“Probably the toughest thing i’ve done is the king of Greystones triathlon, but i’ve never been a hiker so it’s a whole new challenge.”

“The last eight weeks have seen us taking on mountains in and around Wicklow to get in the right frame for the challenge.”

McGovern’s team for the challenge, the Delgany Ramblers, set themselves a funding target of €3,800.

“so far we have €2,000 in online donations alone, and we ran a table quiz in Delgany at the start of May and made over €2,000 on the night, so we’re

ahead of target with fully 4 weeks to go!”

“The response really has been wonderful to see, it’s such a good cause.”

And does Derrick plan on taking the challenge in his stride? “it’s going to be tough but i’m really looking forward to it. “climbing the last two in one day will be a killer, so maybe we’ll take the Monday off!” he smiles.

Derrick’s challenge

team can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/thedelganyramblers. online donations can be made at www.focusireland.ie

Meanwhile, Danielle o’Brien from Bray is also undertaking the Five Peaks challenge to raise funds for Heads Up, the youth suicide prevention project whose main target group is 15-24 year olds at risk of self-harm.

There will be a fundraiser to help Danielle reach the €2, 000

target necessary to undertake the challenge at the Hibernia inn on Saturday, May 24 at 8.30pm.

As part of the night we will have an auction for an ireland jersey signed by Roy keane and Martin o’ Neill donated by councillor David Grant, DiY Divorce valued at €500 thanks to DiY Divorce ltd, a four ball at Woodbrook Golf club, Bray and 2 sets of 10 classes for dance fitness courtesy of Emma Jane chambers.

26 | HEALTH wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014

Peak performance ... mountain men take on charity challenge

The Delgany Ramblers: Thomas Lenehan, Derrick McGovern, Ed French, Dave McGovern and Zoe French (who is not taking part)

COMHAIRLE BAILE BHRÉ

BRAY TOWN COUNCIL

BRAY SUMMERFEST TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 75 of the Roads Act, 1993, notice is hereby given that Bray Town Council intends to close the following roads to public traffic

ROAD TO BE CLOSEDStrand Road, Bray from the DART Station to the Junction of Victoria Avenue on Bray Seafront from 3.00pm until 6.00pm on Sunday 20th July 2014 to facilitate Bray Air Display.

To include the Junctions of:

• Quinsborough Road and Strand Road

• Albert Avenue and Strand Road

• Sidmonton Road and Strand Road

• Victoria Avenue and Strand Road

Traffic restrictions will apply at various locations throughout the town for the duration of the Summerfest.

Any objections/submissions should be made to the undersigned by 12 noon 28th May 2014.

Bray Town Council regrets any inconvenience this may cause.

Wicklow Local Authorities are committed to Access for All. This document is available in alternative format on request. Please contact Vibeke Dijkman, Access Officer, Wicklow County Council should you have any specific access requirements.

Christine Flood Town Clerk Civic Offices Main Street Bray Email: tclerk@braytc.ie Co. Wicklow Website: www.braytowncouncil.ie

By Michelle McGlynn

AGAinST all odds two men have won a car each after they both made a hole in one on a notoriously difficult hole at Greystones Golf club.

club member dermot Whiston and Woodbrook’s Paul o’Farrell will receive a brand new car each from newcastle Garage ltd. who sponsored the Greystones Golf club Pro Am.

The garage was offering a brand new Peugeot 208 for achieving a hole in one on the difficult 16th hole.

luckily, the garage had tak-en out ‘Hole-in-one’ insur -ance to cover the eventuality of one win but they definitely weren’t expecting two.

“We were in shock and i think the insurance company is still in shock,” said garage owner colin Watchorn, who went on to congratulate the two men on their incredible feat.

“The odds of two holes in one on the same hole are something like 17 million to one,” remarked club member kevin Markham on his blog.

Markham also said that reports from the official rep-resentative who was assigned to watch the green suggest that there was almost a third

hole in one.Whiston and o’Farrell will

be celebrating their big win in their new Peugeot’s in the next week or so.

Golfers get into swing of hole-in-ones as two cars won

Damien Forde, Fiona and Sinead Flood take part in the 10th Annual CABS (Charity Awareness Bus atha Cliath Staff) Walk from Newcastle to Bray.

sport in brief

Wicklow Schoolboys League win cupTHE Wicklow and district Schoolboys League U13 team won the inaugural bray Wanderers community cup at the carlisle.

In an exciting final that went all the way to penalty kicks they defeated a gallant Wexford league team after the game had finished 1-1 at full time.

Carnew U14s going to FeilecArnEW Emmets camogie Club U14 team will represent Wicklow along with knockananna at the national Féile na nGael competition in Ulster in June.

it is a great achievement for the town, as the carnew Emmets GAA U14 boys’ hurling team will also be representing Wicklow in Féile na nGael.

Disciplinary appealFolloWinG on from the sending off of Jim doyle in the Senior county Hurling Final last year bray Emmets appealed the referee’s decision.

A meeting last week of the county disciplinary committee the rescinded the referee’s decision to award the red card and exonerated Jim.

oN sunday May 18 Wicklow’s senior footballers will embark on their latest leinster odyssey as the 2014 championship proper kicks into gear.

it is probably sensible to have modest expectations. last year began promisingly with a strong performance against Meath in Aughrim which could certainly have resulted in a victory rather than a narrow loss.

However the Wicklow faithful then saw their men torn apart away to Armagh in the qualifiers, a performance that only yielded two points from the 70 minutes.

From that point of view the only way is up. A minimum target should surely be at least three matches this time around.

laois’ last championship trip to Aughrim came back in 1986, when Wicklow shocked the then league champions in a bad-tempered affair.

Three laois players were sent off and another was carried off with a broken nose as the Garden county ran out four-point winners in a game dubbed

‘The Battle of Aughrim’. Taking on laois in Aughrim

may seem something of a tall order, but there are grounds for optimism for the Wicklow fans.

There may be two divisions between the teams but the midlanders’ form during the league was indifferent at best, with their division two residency for 2015 only confirmed at the last round of games.

Wicklow meanwhile showed some of their finest form in recent memory during the league recording five wins on their way to third spot in the division.

it wasn’t enough for Harry Murphy’s men to bounce straight back from the previous year’s relegation, but a measure of pride was restored.

Retired county and Hollywood legend Tony Hannon, scorer of the famous winning point against Down in the 2009 qualifiers, can see nothing but positive signs for the challenges to come:

“But for very unfortunate circumstances against Meath

last year (a Wicklow penalty miss followed by a freak goal from all of 70 yards by Meath full back Kevin Reilly, all in the space of a minute) the result could have been very different,” he says

“That six point swing was i think the craziest 60 seconds of gaelic football I’ve ever seen!”

“But if we play like we did that day against laois then we can give a good account of ourselves, win or lose. I think we’ve every chance personally, we just need a bit of luck to go our way. The league saw a few

unfortunate things go against us, losing Leighton Glynn after a very harsh sending off down in Clare, we struggled against leitrim without leighton in the following fixture, and that was the difference between promotion and relegation really.”

“if we approach the championship with the attitude we’re good enough, we’ll have a serious bounce in our steps, we’ve some very impressive form going so i don’t see why we can’t aim high to be honest.”

There are fine footballers sprinkled throughout the Wicklow team for certain: Dean Healy at half back who returns to the fold after a spat with the county board last August, Anthony McLoughlin (“a thoroughbread footballer” – Hannon) and Niall Gaffney in midfield, while the likes of leighton Glynn and James stafford need no introduction.

The mission for the season is to play to their potential and with a baying Aughrim crowd behind them in the first round

anything is possible.Going into the laois game the

bookmakers call the tie as 4/9 against Wicklow. should they buck the odds their reward is a dubious one, for it will almost certainly mean a croke Park date with Dublin on June 8.

A great outing for all concerned, but a famous victory is practically inconceivable.

surely just once it would make sense for Dublin to play such a fixture outside headquarters (they haven’t been outside the capital for a championship fixture since narrowly beating longford in Pearse Park in 2006)? Think of the atmosphere if the Dubs were brought to Aughrim. “i couldn’t argue with that,” says Hannon. “It becomes monotonous watching Dublin steamroll over teams in Croke Park.”

“Like, they’re the most awesome, professionally prepared team i think i’ve ever seen, but always being in Croke Park plays into their hands.”

“When you see them outside Croker in the league, they

don’t always have it all their own way, it’s about creating a level playing field. There’s more than just that, the GAA is a community organisation, the economic boost alone that could be provided to places like Mullingar or Portlaoise, not to mention Aughrim, by a visit from Dublin, you couldn’t put a price on that.”

Dublin are the GAA’s marquee cash-cow unfortunately, and as the recent Sky tv deal shows, the bottom line has become what matters for the association, and that means at best a trip for Wicklow to the capital to meet the All ireland and leinster champions.

This spring, Wicklow shared their division four patch with carlow.

By the end of this year’s All ireland Garth Brooks will have played more times in croke Park than either of the two leinster counties.

The head honchos on Jones’ Road are less fond of their friends in low places than Mr. Brooks it would seem.

May 15 2014 wicklowvoice.ie Sport| 27

insideback with Cianan Brennan

Playing the Dubs in Croker is not fair

Garth Brooks will have

played more times in Croke

park than wiCklow“

28| ADVERTISING wicklowvoice.ie May 15 2014