DOWN THE YEARS

Memories from days gone by

FROM OUR ARCHIVES Mothe rand son in violent fracas June 2008

WICKLOW Gardai had to call for assistance from Bray, Arklow and Greystones over the weekend after a row on the street threatened to spiral out of control.

A mother and son were refused permission to enter a local premises and took grave exception to the refusal. Their furious reaction led to an outbreak of public disorder on Marlton Road in the early hours of Saturday morning.

With their resources already spread thin, the Wicklow station had to call for backup after bystanders started getting involved. A number of revellers still out from Friday night refused to leave the scene, despite orders to do so from the gardaí.

Eventually, the mother and son were arrested but still continued to behave violently back at Wicklow Garda Station. A couple of officers received minor injuries after being assaulted as they attempted to make arrests.

71 workers lose Kerry Foods jobs June 2009

KERRY Foods is to wind down all operations from its factory in Glenealy, resulting in the loss of 71 jobs.

The closure will take effect from September. Workers were informed of the news at a meeting held late on Thursday evening. Production will instead be transferred to Kerry Foods’ facilities in Shillelagh, Dublin and the UK. The company blames a fall in sales and a drop in demand for exports.

Cllr Jimmy O’Shaughnessy said the news came as a real surprise to all the workers. ‘ There is a huge sense of shock out there,’ he said.

‘ This is devastating news for the likes of Rathdrum, Wicklow town, Rathnew, Glenealy and Barndarrig. Seventy-one people losing their jobs in a small area is a big blow. It’s the equivalent of losing over 300 or so jobs in a larger area.’

The Glenealy plant produces cooked meats, mostly for export. In June of last year the Kerry Group sought 30 production line redundancies, and followed that up by letting seven staff go from the administration and finance section belonging to the Glenealy operation.

Frank Hayes of corporate affairs for the Kerry Group says the decision is regrettable but had to be made. ‘Unfortunately, the bulk meats deli sector has declined dramatically in recent times. The depreciation of the sterling and euro rate also played a big part. We can accommodate production in three of our other plants, and regrettably that means scaling down our Glenealy operation by the end of September.’

He added that there is the possibility for 20 redeployment opportunities at the Kerry Group’s Dublin operation. Discussions with staff over redundancy arrangements are taking place, and the company will also fully fund outplacement training for all staff members.

Traders suggest Saturday markets June 2008

NEW proposals could see Wicklow town’s Main Street pedestrianised each Saturday for a threemonth trial period. The recently established Wicklow Town Forum is making moves to introduce a street fair each Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. to try and improve the amount of people taking to the main street for shopping purposes. The family-orientated initiative would also include street entertainment, kids’ activities, art and craft exhibitions, music and community group promotions. However, firstly they want to hear from the public and their reaction toward the plan.

Forum member Cllr Irene Winters says, ‘We will be advertising it to get feedback from retailers and members of the public first. We would be aiming to start on the first Saturday in August. Retailers on the main street are open to having their own stalls outside their premises too.’

70 jobs hang in the balance at Abwood June 2008

SEVENTY jobs hover in the balance after six councillors vetoed a proposal to give two of the three main buildings at the controversial Abwood Homes factory planning permission.

Three of the four Greystones representatives opposed Monday’s move to allow company headed by George Smullen remain in business at Timore Lane in Newtownmountkennedy. The proposal to allow a ‘material contravention’ of the council’s development plan fell just one vote short of the necessary three-quarters majority as councillors split 17- 6 on the issue. The missing man was Cllr. Jim Ruttle who made no bones about the fact that he would have swung the issue by providing the required extra vote. The

West Wicklow independent explained that he was detained at what he called a family event and he suffered delays at Dublin Airport that made him late for the meeting.

The motion offered to allow Smullen retain two of the three buildings on its site beside the N11. If passed, it would also have required them to demolish one large shed, provide a septic tank, landscape the site and improve back roads in the area.

This was a considerably better offer than was handed down in the High Court last year when Justice Peter Charleton gave him nine months to leave Timore Lane altogether as he ruled the factory had no planning permission.

Residents of the area, worried about noise levels and truck movements on Timore Lane, shared the public seating in the council chamber with workers from the factory as the elected members agonised over their decision. All the councillors were mindful of the possible effect on jobs, but several suggested that Abwood Home could relocate elsewhere.

ESB holds up public toilet plans June 1998

THE hold-up in providing a public convenience at Lake Drive, Blessington, is on the part of the ESB, Cllr Jim Ruttle was informed at Wicklow County Council’s monthly meeting.

Cllr Ruttle pointed out that £40,000 had been allocated by the council a couple of years ago for construction of the facility.

County secretary Bryan Doyle revealed to the council that some years the ESB had indicated that it would be willing to provide 50 per cent of the funding for the toilets.

‘However, when detailed plans were prepared and the ESB approached for the funding, they were not in a position to provide same,’ he said.

The result was that the project was on hold until the ESB is in a position to come forward with the money.

Two pedigree Poms stolen June 2008

TWO dog owners are appealing for information following the theft of their beloved pets.

Having combed every inch of Co. Wicklow and Wexford, including checking pet sanctuaries and shelters, consulting a fortune teller and notifying the Gardaí, the Arklow animal lovers feel that victims of pet theft, such as themselves, are left with very little chance of getting the animal back.

The most recent theft took place on the Coolgreany Road in Arklow on August 11. Heartbroken owner Deirdre Power said that she arrived home to find her garden gate open and her pure-bred pomeranian of 18 months, named ‘Peanut’, gone.

The thief had left behind another mixed breed dog, prompting her to suspect that Peanut was stolen to be sold.

‘I called all the shelters in the region, even as far as Gorey. People who steal pets such as this have no idea the heartbreak they inflict on the owner. Peanut was a real pet and very, very gentle,’ she said.

When fellow Arklow resident and dog breeder who owns Peanut’s parents, Jasmine and Fletcher, Elizabeth Dayman, heard Deirdre’s bad luck, she decided it was time to put out a formal appeal. Having had her own pomeranian ‘Fletcher’ stolen in March of this year, she found it very upsetting to learn that this pup had also been claimed by thieves.