homes & businesses WICKLOW WE DELIVER!- for 31 years SOUTH EDITION to 44,500 Delivered LOCAL SCIENTISTS AWARDED ICA SINGING COMP DRAMA FEST page 6 page 14 page 16 TimesSOUTH EDITION DELIVERED TO HOMES & BUSINESSES IN: RATHNEW, WICKLOW, GLENEALY, BRITTAS BAY, AVOCA, WOODENBRIDGE, ARKLOW, SHILLELAGH, TINAHELY, REDCROSS, BALLINACLASH, AUGHRIM, RATHDRUM, DONARD, DUNLAVIN, CARNEW, COOLATTIN, BALTINGLASS, BLESSINGTON. NOTuesday 21st January‘GREEN’ 2020 5 Eglinton Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow LIGHT Tel: 01 - 2869111 www.wicklowtimes.net FOR E-mail: [email protected] N11 The tens of thousands of Wicklow commuters stuck in the traffic nightmare on the N11 every morning and night will be concerned at recent statements by the Green Party on the proposed upgrade of the N11 M11, according to Independent councillor and general election candidate, Joe Behan. “The Greens want to on this project will be Wicklow County Council halt or delay any made by An Bord meeting, Green Party proposed upgrading of the Pleanála not by local councillor Steven carriageway thus prolong- councillors. I cannot Matthews called for a ing the agony of families accept that the people detailed transport study to who are forced to endure currently stuck in their be carried out on provid- long hours apart because cars now in 2020 should ing an improved rail ser- it takes so long to get to suffer any further vice frequency between and from work in Dublin unnecessary delays in Arklow and Bray, the pro- every day,” he said. upgrading the capacity of vision of local bus public “We all agree that any the N11 M 11. transport between towns improvements must be “While I don’t doubt and improved pedestrian accompanied by enhanced the sincerity of the Greens and cycling infrastructure public transport and park in their reasons for seek- through towns to transport and ride facilities all along ing to delay the project, I hubs, schools and places the N11 at Arklow, believe it is not in the of employment before Wicklow, Greystones and interests of the proceeding with Phase 2 Bray. It is a disgrace that hard-pressed Wicklow route selection of the there is no joined up commuters and they N11/M11 improvement thinking by Government should reconsider their scheme. to implement this. position on this major Greystones Green “It is also a disgrace issue for the county.” Party Councillor Lourda that the ultimate decision At last Monday's Scott said "Given the Pat Casey TD with Julie New and Micheal Martin at the launch of Deputy Casey’s campaign in Arklow last Friday. Pic: Michael Kelly environmental sensitivity commuters of Wicklow." and importance of the area There was not much we are also asking that all enthusiasm for Cllr necessary environmental Matthews' proposal from impact assessments be Fine Gael or Fianna Fail produced for each pro- councillors. Cllr Derek posed route to enable the Mitchell (FG) said he was public to be fully "reluctant" to postpone informed of the Phase 2, and Cllr Pat likely environmental dam- Fitzgerald (FF) said he age before being asked to was against any deferral. select preferred road "Sixty percent of the options. We would like to working population in see Wicklow County Arklow are commuting. Council take the lead by The people I represent assessing the don't want any deferral on carbon footprint of the the project,” he said. Phase 2 options and Cllr Gerry Walsh (FF) demonstrating how any of agreed that postponing it the proposed options will would "send out the reduce transport wrong message". emissions contributing to Chief Executive of climate change." Wicklow County Council, Cllr Matthews conclud- Frank Curran said he did ed: "It seems apparent not recommend postpon- from this week's meeting ing it as it would mean that most parties just want "We would go back to the Steven Matthews the road built regardless end of the queue". Green Party of the environmental Cllr Behan, said he was consequences or the fact against any delay: @stevensgreen1 that widening a road will Email: [email protected] do nothing for the (continued on page 3) WICKLOW 2 NEWS TimesLOCAL Tuesday 21st January 2020 Life saving ‘Message in a Bottle’ idea from Wicklow Lions Members of Wicklow and District Lions Club say they are very proud to be part of the National Lions project called ‘Message in a Bottle’. ‘Message in a Bottle’ is friend, neighbour or carer the bottle by the label on Whilst it is focused on a simple idea that encour- to assist in completing the the door. the more vulnerable ages people to keep their form. The bottle, which is people in a community, basic personal and medi- The bottle which is normally kept in the fridge anyone can have an cal details in a common totally free of charge is or press, can then be locat- accident in the home, so place, for example in their actually a plastic contain- ed by the attending service. this scheme can benefit fridge, where in cases of er complete with a per- They quickly read the vital anyone. emergency, the emergen- sonal information form information on the form Message in a Bottle is cy teams can easily access and three self-adhesive and act accordingly. now also available to them and possibly save pharmacy style logo green The bottles are avail- golfers. A metal disc /tag their lives. stickers which are stuck able free of charge from is placed on the golf bag The information to the front and back door. any Lions member to indicate that a bottle is required is very basic but In the event of an acci- throughout the district or contained in the top pock- necessary. The personal dent or incident within the from pharmacies, garda et of the golf bag, proving information form is self- home, the first responder/ stations, the fire service, once again how much a explanatory; however one emergency services on the first responders, doctors life saving idea this is, The McEvoy family - Luke, Ruby, Tara and Daragh - present cheques to Jim Schofield of may like to ask a relative, scene will be alerted to surgeries, etc. created by Lions. NILMDTS (Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep), and Joan Tuthill of Feileacon in memory of their daughter Pippa. Funds were raised by coffee mornings, by Daragh running in the Dublin City Birdwatch Ireland events Tiny €5 flutter in Marathon, and events organised by work colleagues. January Wicklow scoops Saturday 25th: Outing to Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. Meet at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve at 10.30am. Car-pool €7,500 profit in lotto from Greystones Park and Ride at 8.30am. (contact bird- A Fresh Voice for Wicklow [email protected] if you need a lift) winnings February The champagne was popping in County Tuesday 11th: “ Dippers, fishers, goosers and wags” - Wicklow last Tuesday night after a lucky Paul Birds of the Avonmore River Catchment. A presentation punter transformed a small stake into a by Oran O’Sullivan, Glenview Hotel at 8pm. whopping four-figure windfall following Saturday 15th: Wicklow County Bird Race. Meet a burst of Lotto luck. at the car park at the southern end of Bray seafront prom- The anonymous punter placed a €5 treble in O'BRIEN enade (by the amusements). Time: 7am (for team registra- a BoyleSports shop in the Garden County and tion). Race Start: 7:15am (sharp). Race Finish: 6:45pm at picked three numbers to be drawn in the The Beehive Inn, off the N11 south of Rathnew. Teams of EuroMillions Main draw. 3-4 people per car at €5 per person (fees cover organisa- All three numbers to be drawn were at odds tional costs of the event with proceeds going to the of 1,500/1. When 25, 39, and 44 all dropped out Looking BirdWatch Ireland Wicklow Branch). Objective: To of the machine, the odds were smashed and the record as many species of bird as possible in one day big win was in the bag. The run of good fortune within the Wicklow County boundaries. allowed them to return to the shop and exchange their bet slip for an amazing total of €7,505. for your Saturday 22nd. Joint outing to Altamount Gardens, Leon Blanche, spokesperson for BoyleSports The Pottle, Co. Carlow with the Carlow Branch BWI. said: “Sometimes just a small stake can go a Meeting at Altamount Gardens at 10.30am. Car-pool from long way and we have to hand it to our customer Greystones Park and Ride at 8.30am. (contact birdwatch- in Wicklow for their ambitious approach. We Number [email protected] if you need a lift). Please note there wish them huge congratulations on an amazing is a €3 entrance fee per person to the gardens. start to the new year.” One Vote BRAY Claire Crystal Vevay Rd, Bray The launch of the 43rd Bray One Act Drama Festival took place in the Mermaid Arts Centre last Psychic Clairvovant Medium week. Actors from the participating groups, along with patrons and supporters of the Festival and committee members were all in attendance. Also there on the night, were representatives • Free Fitting PALM from the charities which will benefit from the festival this year. Tommy Gordon (W H 5 Loaves) TAROT CARDSCRYSTAL BALL RUNE STONES • Free Measuring and Jimmy Fearon (Deborah Ireland) addressed the crowd giving information on their charities. WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE READINGS Festival Director William Mansfield launched what promises to be another great week of drama, Service comedy and entertainment. The Festival runs from Tues 28th Jan - Sat 1st Feb in the Mermaid • Free In Home Wednesday 29th Jan Theatre. Tickets are available from the Mermaid at 012724030 or online at www.mermaidarts- Advice & Design & centre.ie.