LARAGHGLENDALOUGH

TIDY TOWNS

Meetings Return – There will be a Tidy Towns meeting on Wednesday, July 15, at 7.30 p.m. in the Brockagh Centre. Everyone is welcome to come along.

CLEAN UP

We hope you can join us on Wednesday, July 1, 7 p.m., to meet outside Lynhams Hotel for a clean-up.

WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE.

There has been a temporary library service operating for now in areas of Wicklow. If you would like to collect or return items please contact Karen in advance at 087 9135229 or kdownes@ wicklowcoco.ie to arrange a time. It is not possible to turn up and request books directly as only items requested in advance will be on the van. This is not the mobile library itself, just a temporary delivery van.

members of both the Roundwood and Laragh communities welcomed the official opening of their playgrounds.

OFFICIAL OPENING OF VILLAGE PLAYGROUNDS.

The playgrounds in Roundwood on the Annamoe Road/ R755 and the Brockagh Resource Centre in Laragh, were formally included to the county’s growing network of community playgrounds.

Present to mark the occasion along with proud members of the communities, were Frank Curran, CE of Wicklow County Council, Irene Winters, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Shay Cullen, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow Municipal District, councillors Dunne, Kavanagh O’Brien and Snell, Senior Officers of Wicklow County Council, and representatives from Roundwood and District Community Council, Roundwood and District Athletic Club, Brockagh Resource Centre and Wicklow Uplands Council.

The development of both locations was funded through Wicklow County Council with additional funding made available for the transfer of lands from Roundwood and District Athletic Club (Roundwood site).

NEW SPINC BOARDWALK NOW OPEN

New trail accessing the Spinc boardwalk is now open. The ‘600’ steps have been removed and they have been replaced by a graded trail. Over the next few months, the area around the trail will be planted with native trees and will be fenced off to protect the emerging trees from grazers.

The new trail is a more sustainable option and will be easier to maintain in the future. It will also give easier access for Mountain Rescue and the Emergency Services when they are needed. Over the coming years, as the native woodland matures it will improve the biodiversity of the area by increasing the areas native habitats.

To assist with physical distancing to help combat Covid – 19 we are asking the public to follow a new One-Way System on some of our trails. For the Spinc Trails, the Red, White and Blue Trails, please start these walks by heading up the steps at the Poulanass waterfall (which is now one-way) and then continuing up the new trail accessing the Spinc.

We remind the public that all Spinc Trails are classed as Hill Walks. We would ask that people on these trails have appropriate navigational experience and are dressed and equipped for mountainous terrain. There are dangerous cliffs in the area and the ground will be rough and/or boggy underfoot.

In line with the Government measures to combat Covid-19 Wicklow Mountains National Park is open to those who live within Co. Wicklow and those from outside the county whose home is within 20kn of the National Park.

SCRAP METAL

Our collection of scrap metal to raise funds for the Brockagh Centre was a great success and we would like to thank everyone who contributed. We are continuing with our scrap metal collection for now with the closing date on June 26. It can be left at the back of our building for collection. Some of the items you can bring are biscuit tins, steel oil tanks, steel window frames, steel coal bunkers, radiators, solid fuel cookers, sheep wire, bicycles, old cars without the tyres, wheel barrows, golf irons, etc. No fridges, freezers, cookers, timber, plastics or tyres. Contact brockaghresourcecentre@gmail.com or go to brockaghresourcecentre.ie.

LOCAL NOTES CONTACT

If you have news or an item to be added to the Newtownmountkennedy Notes, please email Ciara Perks at ciaraperks87@ gmail.com or call 087 6380155.

REMEMBERING DETECTIVE GARDA HORKAN

Serving and retired members of An Garda Síochána were joined by members of other fronting services on Sunday, June 21, at Newtown Garda Station to pay tribute to Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

A moving tribute by way of a minutes silence was observed at midday Sunday, June 21.

Afterwards refreshments were served as everyone gathered on what was a day to honour Detective Garda Colm Horkan. May he rest in peace.

LITTERING CONCERNS

Please respect our community and the many people, Businesses and groups, who help to keep our town so beautiful and litter-free. Littering and dumping is not acceptable even during a pandemic, so please bring your rubbish, used gloves, used face masks etc home to your household bin and if you see a case of littering/dumping please report to Wicklow Litter Line on 1890 548837.

If the bottle banks in the town are full please do not leave yours around or between the full bins – this is considered dumping and fines will be issued.

PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS

Newtownmountkennedy Primary School would like to thank Eugene’s Day Today, Newtownmountkennedy post office, Adrian Dunne Pharmacy, Greystones and District Credit Union and the Parkview Hotel for displaying our wonderful Together – Apart art project. Thank you to all our wonderful pupils and staff who made this project possible with their lovely art work.

We send best wishes to our sixth class pupils who graduated online last Friday, June 19. Our school would like to congratulate this group of talented and creative children who have shown great resilience over the last few months. We are very proud of our sixth class pupils and wish them well as they continue their education in secondary school and beyond. Go n-éirí an t-ádh libh go leir.

Vincent’s Shop are now accepting donations of Newtown Primary School Uniforms – all items must be in good condition (only donate what you would buy yourself) via Shop back door. Newtown Primary Uniforms will be on sale in Store at great prices. All donations are steamed and held for 72 hours quarantine before going on shop floor.

NEWTOWN JUNIORS FC

The club continue to work on the FAI’s Safer Return to Training Protocols as we look to get our team’s back on the pitches for some very much needed outdoor activities. We cannot rush back to training as much as we would like to. Everyone from the coaches, players and parents have a role to play with regards the return to training. The main aim of the club will be to create a safe environment for all our players, coaches and parents. There is a lot of work involved but if we all put our shoulder to the wheel it will mean we will be out on the pitch in no time.

We are pleased to announce that Rory Hackett has agreed to be the club COVID-19 Compliance Officer. Rory is currently working on a Risk Assessment and when that is completed, we can organise a get together for all our coaches and COVID-19 Supervisors where we can discuss the implementation of the Safer Return Protocols. As usual we will keep everyone updated as and when we receive updates from the FAI and Government bodies. All teams will be back on the pitch very soon though strict COVID guidelines will be in place at the training pitch.

The WDSL have been in contact with all clubs and their plan is to start games in early September, starting with the 12-16-year age groups and then phasing in all the other age groups. The club will send out communications to all teams in due course with regards to training times/venues as well as more details as to what is expected from parents and players. Thank you all and keep safe.

As a club we are always on the lookout for volunteers to fill several Roles within the club. Recently we have been busy renewing and reviewing our Club Safety Statement and our Club Risk Assessments. We have also had several volunteers, who did their Safeguarding Refresher one and we await courses both at Safeguarding and at Child Welfare when certain restrictions are lifted. We would like to recruit a couple of MPs (Mandated Person) and DLPs (Designated Liaison Person) to assist those already in these roles. Those already in the roles are also coaches within the club and are on the executive committee but we would like volunteers to solely concentrate on these roles. Full training will be provided. The roles are not very time consuming and may interest someone who would like to volunteer in the club in some capacity.

We have two players from the club celebrating their birthday’s in the coming week and they are Lucas Dowdall from the under-11s and Edward Valentine from the under-14s. Happy birthday Lucas and Edward from everyone at Newtown Juniors FC

ur Last Man Standing competition which came to a halt over three months ago due to the COVID-19 Pandemic started back this past week. 66 Players were at the starting line in Round three in pursuit of the €500 Prize Pot. Going forward the Premier League fixtures set up means that we will a quick turnaround of Rounds and selections will need to be sent in promptly. All Players need to keep this in mind. What this means is selections must be in before the first game in Round four which will take place 24 hours after the last game in Round three. Hopefully with everyone’s cooperation everything will run smoothly. In Round three and going into the Monday Night game we have lost six players after Leicester, Watford, West Ham and Arsenal all failed to win their matches. Round four matches will take place this week from Tuesday the 23rd-Thursday, June 25. Good luck to all our remaining players. Rules of the competition are on our Facebook and Twitter pages and are also available on request. Thank you everyone for your continued support.

Newtown Juniors FC would like to extend their sincere condolences to the families and friends of Stephen McElligott-Ryan (Ballinaclash, Rathdrum) former player with Arklow Town and Wicklow Rovers, respectively. May he rest in peace.

For further information on all matters Newtown Juniors FC please contact the secretary at 087 6987653 or by email to hughienolan@gmail.com and you can also follow the club on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

PLAYGROUND

Newtownmountkennedy Playground is now reopen. Summer Open Times Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Children must be Supervised by a parent or Guardian at ALL TIMES. If you are coming along please read Wicklow County Council Playground rules at entrance for everyone’s safety and health.

CHILDREN’S WEE LIBRARY

The new Children’s Wee Library is located beside the Village Practice alongside its older sibling the ‘Original’ Wee Library.

Special Thanks go to Annick Bishop for creating this beautiful masterpiece for our children.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Your Community is here to help. Wicklow County Council Covid19 Community Call Helpline are there to help in anyway, call them between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

There is help and support available to everyone no matter what. If you need any help whether you are self isolating, ill or cannot get out for the essentials please call Ciara Perks at 087 6380155 or the Community Call Helpline 1800 868 399 and we will get you the help and support you need.

Whether it is groceries, collection of prescriptions, a paper or just a friendly chat please call your community is here for you.

Thank you to the amazing people who have volunteered their time, skills and knowledge, you are making a big positive difference to the people of our community.

CONDOLENCES

Sending condolences to the Byrne Family (Kilmurray) on the passing of their Uncle Louie Parsons, devoted husband of the late Kathleen. Both loved their many visits to Newtownmountkennedy over the years. Sending sympathies to all the family. May they rest in peace.