WICKLOW AND DISTRICT NEWS ROUND-UP

Neighbourhod Watch

There is an importat notice about setting up a Neighbourhood Watch and Text Alert in the Ashford and District area.

An Garda Síochána and Ashford Development Association have arranged a public meeting in order to set up the neighbourhood watch/text alert system within the community.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 24, at 8 p.m. in the Community and Heritage Centre, Ashford.

The whole community is invited to attend.

Neighbourhood Watch is a crime prevention and community safety programme. It operates as a partnership between An Garda Síochána and the public.

It works on the basis that every member of a community can help to improve the quality of life in the area by keeping a look out for neighbours and reporting suspicious activities to the Gardaí.

The scheme may be set up in response to community demand or as a result of Garda contact. A Garda officer will outline what has to be done at the public meeting.

What are some of the aims of Neighbourhood Watch? To improve community safety

To prevent crime

To develop Garda and community links

To increase public confidence in An Garda Síochána

To foster a caring environment for older and vulnerable people

To reduce anti-social behaviour, including graffiti and harassment

Neighbourhood Watch will only succeed with active input from all members. Your actions and support will help to make it work. Don’t leave it to others - play a part in any way you can.

Active Retirement

In conjunction with Uniquemedia Roundwood Active Retirement presents ‘Politics in Ireland’ on October 13 2017 in Roundwood Parish Hall at 7.30 p.m..

All Adults and young teenagers especially welcome. The Facilitator on the night will be Gay Mitchell, (former Lord Mayor of Dublin and Government Minister).

This once off event is funded by The Older Persons’ Fund at The Community Foundation.

This is an intergenerational civic initiative lead by the Roundwood Active Retirement Group linking in with the younger generation to understand how the Political System works, to learn how to influence it and have our needs addressed.

We want to develop our own capacity to effect change in issues that directly affect us.

Walking Club

The Roundwood Whizzers Walking Group are back in action every Wednesday evening meeting at 7 p.m. at the Coach House car park. Everyone welcome to walk at your own pace for approximately 1 hour in and around Roundwood village

Irish Music Classes

Learn traditional Irish music and dance with an award-winning Comhaltas branch (guitar, fiddle, flute, tin whistle and grúpa ceoil).

Classes are held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights in St. Laurence O’Toole N.S., Roundwood – the first term is from September to January while the second term is from January to May.

Performances, workshops and outings take place throughout the year. For more information, phone (086) 8269964 or email roundwoodcce@gmail.com

Christmas Fair

This year’s Glendalough Christmas Fair takes place in the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh is on this year on the 10th Dec with lots of special gifts. If you are interested in booking a stall at our popular and festive Christmas Fair or if you would like to perform music or entertain in the festive spirit at the fair call Michelle at the Brockagh Centre on 0404 45600 or email us at laraghit@eircom.net to request a booking form.

Oskars Night

Wicklow Rugby Club and Wicklow Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to bring some Hollywood glamour to Wicklow town.

A fundrasing ‘Night at the Oskars’ takes place on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

This event will be staged in the Grand Hotel, Wicklow town.

The Event will have Amateur Local People Acting out scripts and characters from well know International Films and Television Dramas.

The Event will be open to groups from any background, so Get practising ....

A great night out is promised for the audience. More Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Sports and Science Camp

The Dominican College Wicklow will be organising another fundraiser for their charity work on behalf of the School of St Jude in Tanzania.

A Sports and Science Halloween Camp will take place at the Dominican from Monday, October 30, to Friday, November 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

It will include Rocket making, forensic science, solve a CSI case, crystal making, electricity, microbiology, basketball, football, hockey, tennis and much more!

It is suitable for all primary school students.

The camp costs €60 for the week or €13 per day

To register phone (087) 6598309. Limited places available so sign up soon!

Sign up forms available in Dominican College school reception or in Malone’s bookshop, Main Street, Wicklow town.

Computer Course

A free five-week digital skills computer course will be coming soon (depending on numbers).

Topics covered include online banking, apps, online government services, email, shopping online, online TV players, podcasts, photographs, security and much more.

This course is for beginners or someone who is rarely online and wants to up skill.

Call the Brockagh Resource Centre on (0404) 45600 or email laraghit@eircom.net.

Wicklow Tennis Club

Congratulations to ladies second team and the men’s second team who have both advanced to the quarter final in the Dublin Lawn Tennis Council Senior League.

Both teams have a home draw this Saturday with the men playing at 11 a.m. against Glenageary 3 and the ladies playing Carrickmines 3 at 2 p.m., best of luck to all the players.

Many thanks to John Brady for organising a very successful Pizza ‘n’ Play last Friday evening for the 10 to 16 year olds, they all had a great time.

Thank you to Robert Earls, John Diskin and Jean Baker who represented the executive committee at the recent Tennis Ireland Leinster strategy workshop.

This was an opportunity for clubs to get together and brainstorm on the future of tennis in Ireland.

For enquiries relating to membership or any other tennis matter please contact cub administrator Sinéad Nolan on (085) 1156051 or info@ wicklowtennisclub.com.

Paediatric First Aid

The Brockagh Centre is delighted to be able to offer a fantastic evening of paediatric first aid on Monday, October 16, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m..

Run by the highly acclaimed ‘Parent First Aid’ company, this popular, informative evening will cover all basic first aid required in the care of children including choking, burns, meningitis, breaks/fractures, CPR, bleeding and more.

To book your place, please call the Brockagh Centre on (0404) 45600.

Flower Classes

A series of flower classes are being planned for the autumn at the Brockagh Centre.

The sessions can cover everything from basic methods to modern designs for a variety of occasions. The teaching team will facilitate the requirements of the participants and focus on the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside.

For more details, email maureenlaragh@gmail.com.

Bridge Notes

Grand Slam Bridge Club

Goodness how fast the first month of the current Bridge Club season has flown and last Wednesday, October 4, saw the fifth competition of this year hotly contested.

That’s twelve per cent of the season over already. Strange how time appears to pass very much more rapidly as one ages.

Back to last week’s competition. The winning pair for the second week running were Marian O’Sullivan and Caroline Brown. They scraped into the winner’s spot by a single point from Carol Wadden and Linda Walsh in second place.

These two pairs were well ahead of third and fourth placed pairs who were also separated by a single point as were the first and second placed pairs.

Third were Teresa Mahon and Jeanette Kiely and fourth were Catherine King and Eithne Smith. The rest of the pack failed to shine on the night.

Some Interesting hands were dealt and an enjoyable night was had by all.

The silver anniversary dinner celebration is booked for Thursday, October 19, in the Lighthouse Restaurant on the Quay at 6.30 p.m..

The club will subsidize this special celebration night out and those members who pay for their booked tickets before October 19 will only have to pay €15 per person for the meal.

A set menu of mouth watering sea food choices (four mains) along with a limited alternative options for those who do not enjoy fruits of the sea has been expertly prepared. This event in this highly prized restaurant at this price is only ridiculous, but we are marking a silver milestone in the history of the Grand Slam Bridge Club by subsidizing this feast for our great club members. Bring it on!

This week again saw the return of the new beginners amongst the laughter and banter picking up a little more idea of this great card game.

Any one can come along on any Wednesday they choose and avail of the free hour long introduction to the game from 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.

There is no need to bring along a playing partner or to think you have to start on week one. It is a complex game and is a great way to help exercise the grey matter while having fun.

The aim is to enjoy the challenge, relax and make new friends in convivial company and its free. Royal Bridge Club

Michael and Nell O’Gorman were the leading North/South pair on Monday night last week closely followed by Eileen Sheehan and Ger Power in second place.

The East /West winners were Marian O’Shaughnessy and Pauline Earls.

Eileen Sheehan’s successful season continued on Wednesday night winning North/South in the Red room with Bernie Hamilton followed by Stella Doyle and Dorothy Levingstone in second place.

In the Blue room Una McGowran and Una Ryan were again the clear winners in North/South from Terry Hayes and Sheila O’Leary.

The East / West winners were Dorothy Johnson and Mary Woolley with Mags Smith and Ann Cafferkey second.

On Thursday night Noeleen Day and Helen Urban were the North/South winners with Gerry Holden and Diane Dunne second.

First in East /West winners were Bridie Coghill and Irene Maher with Gina and Jim O’Sullivan second.

Margaret Kelly and Rose Butler were the North /South winners on Friday morning, with Dorothy Johnson and Bridget Timmons second.

East /West winners were Dorothy and Eric Levingstone with Jane Bradshaw and Mairead Scanlon second.

Neptune Bridge Club

As it was a draw night for partners the Novice players joined the main competition and we are glad they did not find it too daunting.

The north south winners were Phil Fox and Lyla Doyle. Second Linda Saunders and Phil Fox.

Third were Eleanor O’Flaherty and Terri Byrne.

In the east West the winners were John Hopkins and Gertie Hallinan.

Second Anthea Goodbody and Jacqui Farrell (novice player). Third Pat Kerr and Birdie Andrews. Abbey Bridge Club

The winning pair on Monday, October 2, was Noeleen Redmond and President Eric Levingstone.

In second place was Evelyn Cullinane and Joan Madden while third place went to Clare Pippet and Keith Clarke.

Diamond and 002 Bridge Clubs

Bridge Fundraiser for An Tochar Strictly for Maria Magee will be held on Sunday, October 15, in Roundwood Community Hall, starting at 7 p.m..

Entry £10 including Raffle and Tea/Coffee.

No Partner or dancing shoes required for what should be a real fun event.