homes & businesses WICKLOW WE DELIVER!- for 30 years NORTH EDITION to 44,500 Delivered LOCAL AUTISM-FRIENDLY TOWNS FOOTBALL MANAGER JURASSIC POWERSCOURT page 4 page 14 page 15 TimesNORTH EDITION DELIVERED TO HOMES & BUSINESSES IN: SHANKILL, ENNISKERRY, BRAY, GREYSTONES, DELGANY, KILCOOLE, NEWCASTLE, KILQUADE, ASHFORD, KILPEDDER, NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY, KILMACANOGUE, LARAGH, MONEYSTOWN, ROUNDWOOD. Tuesday 1st October 2019 5 Eglinton Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow Tel: 01 - 2869111 www.wicklowtimes.net E-mail: [email protected] 10% HIKE IN PROPERTY TAX WICKLOW PROPERTY TAX NOW 29% MORE THAN DUBLIN The decision to increase Local Property Tax in County Wicklow by 10% next year, following a vote taken by councillors last Monday, has been described as a ‘betrayal’ by Independent councillor Joe Behan. “Homeowners across Councillors voted 21 to by 10%. Wicklow’s tax County Wicklow have 8 in favour of increasing on the family home is been utterly betrayed by the LPT when the propos- now 29% dearer than the Green Party, Social al was put forward by Cllr these counties and with Democrats, Labour, Shay Cullen (FG) and sec- house prices in north Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. onded by Cathaoirleach Wicklow some of the The decision to raise the Irene Winters (FG). A highest in the country, we family home tax by 10% motion proposed by Cllr are now paying the high- has caused John Snell to keep it at the est Household tax. In outrage among homeown- base rate was defeated. Dublin a house valued at ers who are struggling This is in stark contrast between €400K and daily to make ends meet. with neighbouring local 450K will pay €688 but It is incredible that coun- authorities such as South in Wicklow a family in a cillors had an opportunity Dublin Council and Dun similarly valued home to reduce the tax by 15% Laoghaire/Rathdown will pay €841. and then actually voted to council which reduced Westmeath, Galway, increase it instead” he their LPT by 15% and and Louth meanwhile said. Fingal which reduced it have voted to keep the Oscar, Mark and Fiona Mooney at the Honey Festival in Ashford. See story on page 15 LPT at the base rate, as counties which have has Laois which is one of lower LPT. the counties that will ben- Councillor Behan said efit from the equalisation “I, sadly, was attending fund into which Wicklow the funeral of my father in must contribute. law in Co. Clare while the Independent council- meeting was in progress. lors Mags Crean, Gerry Had I been there, I would O’Neill, Peir Leonard, have proposed a reduction Mary Kavanagh, John in the present level of the Snell, and Sinn Fein’s tax. However, I commend Grace McManus and my colleagues who Daisy O’Brien all voted staunchly opposed the against raising the LPT, as 10% increase. did Cllr Edward Timmins, Unfortunately, they were breaking ranks with his outnumbered by five fellow Fine Gael council- political parties (FF, FG, lors. Councillors Joe Greens, Soc Dems and Behan (Family bereave- Lab) who surrendered to ment) and Labour’s Paul the management of the O’Brien were absent and Council. Cllr Tom Fortune (Ind) “The most despicable was present but did not element of this family support either proposal. In home tax is that it has a protest vote he said he simply replaced previous was voting for no LPT. central government fund- The equalisation fund ing and is not improving means that 20% or €3.4 life for the citizens of million of the LPT County Wicklow in any collected in Wicklow will way. The Councillors who go to a centralised fund to be dispersed among other (continued on p 8 ) WICKLOW 2 NEWS TimesLOCAL Tuesday 1st October 2019 Greystones Art Group open for new calendar season Greystones Art Group has restarted for the 2019/20 season and is open to new members. Established in 1965, Greystones Art Group is one of Ireland’s longest running art groups. It has a diverse set of members and is a fun and inspirational way to practice in a creative space. The group has a vari- artists. Art Group participate in group. ety of events throughout The talks include tech- a number of exhibitions. Anyone who may be the month, each Monday niques and suggestions The first exhibition is in interested is invited to they meet to paint, relating to medium, com- November and will take come along any Monday sketch, create and share position, colour mixing place in Greystones morning, South Beach inspiration. A new loca- and brushwork in a fun Library. The main event, Pavilion, Charlesland tion is selected monthly and friendly environ- the Annual Art Golf and Country Club, for outdoor sketching ment. There is a small Exhibition, takes place in from 10am to 1pm or and painting, there are fee of €5 for non-mem- Spring and will preview email info@greystone- also monthly talks and bers. the diverse works from sartgroup.com for further demonstrations by guest Each year Greystones the members of the art information. Charity walk from Bray to Greystones Robyn and Holly Doyle at the Honey Festival in Ashford. See more page 15 for Mental Health Ireland Aisling Uí Laoire is organising a walk from Greystones to Bray on Saturday, 5th Alzimhers social group Conversational English October, just ahead of World Mental Health Week and would love you to join her! classes in Bray and Kilcoole Mental Health Ireland promotes positive mental health and wellbeing to all individuals and communi- The Alzheimer’s Society host a social club for ties in Ireland. This is Aisling’s fifth year organising the walk to help raise funds so that the charity can people living with dementia and their family Bray Area Partnership’s Fáilte Isteach plan outings and events for those struggling with mental health in their communities. carer every Friday morning from 11am to 12 Bray and Kilcoole conversational The starting point for the walk is outside the Beach House restaurant in Greystones at 12pm on noon in the Parkview hotel, English classes have started up again in Saturday, 5th October and the walk will finish outside Butler & Barry in Bray. Aisling would like to Newtownmountkennedy. Come along for a chat north Bray, south Bray and Kilcoole. invite everyone to come along to participate in the walk and help raise funds for a great cause. Some and a cuppa. Phone 086 8207070 or just come participants brought their dogs last year, so canine walkers are also very welcome! along any Friday morning. This is a free and The idea of Fáilte Isteach is that volunteers teach There will be official collection buckets on the day of the walk to collect any donations - all donations, confidential service practical conversational English to people from other no matter how small will be very welcome and will greatly help the organisation support people with countries who live and work in their community. mental health difficulties and create awareness of mental health issues. Coffee Morning for Classes are free (but a €3 voluntary donation per class For anyone who cannot participate but would like to donate to the charity, please visit Aisling’s online is requested) and take place through friendly small sponsorship page give.everydayhero.com/ie/walk-for-mental-health-ireland-from-greystones-to-bray or Alzheimer Society group conversations over a cup of tea. Classes are on a search for “Walk for Mental Health Ireland from Greystones to Bray” on Facebook where Aisling has Wednesday night and Thursday morning in Bray, and posted the link to her sponsorship page. The next event for the Delgany Thursday Club Wednesday morning in Kilcoole. You have to register will be on 3rd October. For this event, instead of with the Partnership before attending. See www.bra- an outing, they are holding a coffee morning in yareapartnership.ie to find out more or call aid of the Wicklow Branch of The Alzheimer 01 286 8266. Society of Ireland, from 10:30am to 12:30pm in The Old Schoolhouse, Delgany. There will be a GROW information day home produce stall, book stall and raffle. Admission is €5.00 per person to include in Arklow tea/coffee. GROW Ireland, the mental health service, Delgany and District will hold an information day in Arklow. Horticultural Society AGM Izabela Morris will start born to stand out” by Izzy with an “An introduction Fagan, “Expression The Delgany and District Horticultural Society to the GROW Programme though image making” by are holding their Annual General Meeting on and how it can help” fol- Dympna Nolan and infor- Wednesday the 9th of October next in St lowed by “The mation on services provid- Patrick’s Recreation Centre on Church Road at Importance of Creativity” ed by Suicide Prevention 8.00pm. A lecture will be delivered after the short by Peir Leonard, Office with Pieta House. meeting by Valerie Keegan who is a specialist in “Exercise your head” by The talks will be followed Alpine Plants. All non members are welcome and Jenny Fortune from with wellbeing activities tea will be served after the lecture. Genuine Fitness, “Why and refreshments. This is blend in when you are a free event and takes place from 11.30am to 2.30pm on Wednesday 9th October in Arklow Library Just come along on the day or for more information you can con- SHOP LOCAL tact Izabella on Pictured are participants from last year’s walk, after their arrival at Greystones Harbour 086 822 3680. EAT LOCAL N0 HUNTIMG PERMITTED BRAY AT PAUL STANTONS LANDS AT BALLINAHINCH, Vevay Rd, Bray SPEND LOCAL NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY, CO.WICKLOW Section 44 of the Wildlife Act.