Plans have been lodged with Wicklow County Council for the construction of a three-story mixed-use building with 10 apartments and two retail units in Castlepark Located on a 0.037-hectare site at the rear of 11 Main Street the proposed development comprises six one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments there is a huge demand for one-bedroom apartments The plans also include a basement level with six car parking spaces a storage area and a 52 sqm communal area to the rear which is currently in scrubland and overgrown is zoned ‘Town Centre’ in the current Arklow Development Plan and is surrounded by a mixture of apartments and commercial premises “The proposed site is centrally located in the middle of a Level 3 Arklow Town and is in a prime location for a mixed-use development,” L/K Design wrote “The proposed development has been designed to take into account the existing look of new builds in Arklow in the immediate area and has been designed to keep tie in with the style of the recently constructed Arklow Medical Centre just down the road from our proposed site and as a result the proposed will simulate into the area “We are proposing six parking spaces for the proposed development as we feel that with the town centre location of the proposed development in this large level 3 Town and the small size of the proposed site we feel this level of car parking is in line with the 2018 Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments – Guidelines for planning authorities.” Wicklow County Council will decide on the application by June 3 LifestyleSix of the best Garden County gardens to visit in Wicklow this summer Wicklow is of course known as the ‘Garden County’ so what better place to visit to find some of the country's garden gems whether it’s for a stroll around Powerscourt or something a bit more adventurous the company bidding to become Ireland’s largest anaerobic digestion (AD) developer has submitted plans for its latest project near Arklow which is partnering with local dairy farmer Seoirse McGrath is seeking permission to build a 90,000t AD plant The 10ac AD greenfield site is currently in grass and is located approximately 720m west of the boundary of Arklow town The plant will connect directly to the gas network The plant will process up to 90,000t of feedstock annually 18,500t of drinks production residues and 9,000t of dairy production residues will be sourced to supply the plant the feedstock will be sourced close to the plant and it intends to work with farmers to grow the wholecrop supply the slurry and manures and use the digestate Seoirse McGrath is the local landowner and owns and manages a dairy farm The farm has been in the family's ownership since at least 1761 The McGrath family was the overall winners of the Glanbia Quality Milk Awards in 2007 and Seoirse was the winner of the Wicklow FBD Young Farmer of the Future in 2002 The plant will include a digestate treatment system which has a design capacity to treat a minimum of 78,000t of whole digestate per annum Following treatment of the whole digestate around 8,000t of digestate fibre and around 17,000t of liquid digestate concentrate will be produced The treatment process will recover 53,000t of clean water with the remaining volume returned to the process as a feeding liquid The proposed development will employ approximately five full-time staff It is anticipated that around 44 HGV trips will occur in and out of the site each day associated with the input of material and the export of bio-based fertiliser Contact us Advertise with us Company information Career opportunities Privacy statement Terms of service Commenting policy Change cookies settings Change cookies settings 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of Craig & Seán & dearly loved sister of Daniel She will be sadly missed by her sorrowing husband A service in celebration of Rita’s life will take place at the funeral home at 12 noon on Sunday Those who cannot attend are welcome to join via live-stream; http://johnsweeneyandsons.ie/our-webcam/ Messages of sympathy & support can be expressed in the condolence section below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one Choose another country to see content specific to your location The Old Ship Arklow hosted a Quiz Night for East Coast Samaritans on the 21st of March 2025 with Quizmaster Pat Power East Coast Samaritans are proud to express our deepest gratitude to the management and staff of The Old Ship Arklow for their continued support of our branch and the vital work we do in the community a lively Quiz Night hosted by the amazing Quizmaster Pat Power was yet another shining example of their dedication to helping those in need Quizmaster Pat in The Old Ship for Samaritans Quiz night The event brought the community together for an evening filled with fun and meaningful purpose Attendees competed in an atmosphere of warm connection and uplifting spirit all in the name of raising much-needed funds to support the Samaritans branch service Volunteers from East Coast Samaritans Paul and Ger with Quizmaster Pat A particularly poignant moment of the night came at the close when volunteer Paul read aloud his beautifully composed poem His heartfelt words perfectly captured the spirit of the event and the invaluable support that The Old Ship Arklow continues to provide: " In the heart of our town where the laughter flows But it’s not just the pints and the chatter that bind It’s the ties to the cause that ignite in our minds With every joyful cheer and heartfelt toast made A lighthouse for souls with its steadfast psalm Events like these highlight the incredible impact of community spirit We are truly fortunate to have such remarkable supporters East Coast Samaritans would like to sincerely thank all those involved in the Quiz Night Quizmaster Pat for leading a wonderful evening We are honored to collaborate with The Old Ship Arklow as they continue to help us raise awareness about the importance of emotional support services we are making a tangible difference in people’s lives Some of the content you’re seeing is based on the country you’re browsing from Stay on top of our latest news and updates Samaritans is a charity registered in England and Wales (219432) and in Scotland (SC040604) and incorporated in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (757372) Samaritans Ireland is a charity registered in the Republic of Ireland (20033668) and incorporated in the Republic of Ireland as a company limited by guarantee (450409) Samaritans Enterprises is a private limited company (01451175) Arklow’s sleek new wastewater treatment plant is a collaborative triumph between engineers and a good neighbour to the homes and shops and places of work that it is hoped will be built alongside The plant consists of two calm oblongs of mysterious scale their long horizontals echoing the line where the sea meets the sky plus a third more domestic structure alongside all in a marine blue-green colour you could call pale teal is an opportunity to make visible the billions that are usually spent unseen on the public good of clean water Arklow (pop 13,399) has until recently dumped its untreated waste straight into the River Avoca which like many in Ireland faces pressures of population growth for fear of worsening the already dire situation but it has taken more than 30 years since the first attempt to build a suitable treatment plant there for it to come into being There’s a seeing-how-things-work fascination to the place as in cutaway drawings of machines in a children’s bookEventually the state-owned company formed in 2013 to manage Ireland’s water took it on and chose a site that would result in the least possible energy use and carbon impact It was also what might be called a prime location on a spit of land between the sea and the river released from the restrictions of its waste problem this would be the obvious place for a new neighbourhood So there was an issue of architecture as well as engineering and a practice was sought who could civilise this mucky mechanical beast with absolutely no experience of work of this scale or type they offered a “conversation” with the many experts and contractors performing the essential task of making the plant work under the overall leadership of Arup and Ayesa Rather than moan about the impact of technical demands on the aesthetics of a design the idea was to use them as a spur to new thinking “We tend to never disagree with an imposition,” he says “but to let them into the heart of the project.” This layout means that the plant occupies less land than a conventional farm such that some of it can be turned to other uses The tanks and pipes can be concealed from view There’s also some freedom in the way the different parts can be arrayed: Clancy Moore chose to distribute them in two blocks set at an angle to each other which helps to break down their mass and sit more comfortably in the landscape Inside there’s a multilevel world of tubes and cylinders and gantries and slow-moving mechanisms an earthy version of an old movie’s vision of the future amazingly unsmelly (those odour engineers having done their job) as in cutaway drawings of machines in a children’s book one looking on to nearby hills and one to the sea will give views of existing and planned windfarms situating the plant in a larger landscape of enlightened infrastructure It’s a three-dimensional educational opportunity The long sloping louvers made of corrugated fibre cement board and designed to smooth the flow of air through the buildings Photograph: Camilla Crafa & Piera BedinThe exterior is almost all a matter of long sloping louvers – designed to smooth the flow of air through the buildings – made of corrugated fibre cement board It’s a workaday material given a bit of zing by its zigzagging profile at the corners and by that minty colour from the strip of some of Arklow’s sports teams and from a sea thistle on the nearby beaches Pleasure is taken in the way things are put together in the fixings that stop the boards blowing away in the rough-textured concrete feet that take the steel frame to the ground is a more refined and playful version of its big siblings with pawky angles and fleeting resemblances to a human face The whole sits companionably in a harbourside terrain of containers and sheds while also intimating the domestic scale of the hoped-for future development Clancy says that the new facility could help Arklow go “from being a problem child to something to be proud of” With the sea and the view and the handsome not-smelly structures This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Lioncor will build on a site close to the Avoca River One of Ireland’s most active private housing developers plans to start work later this year on the first phase of a development which will ultimately see 1,500 dwellings built in Arklow town in county Wicklow The masterplan for that development also includes two new schools and a local centre told the Irish Independent that work will get underway later this year once detail design has concluded Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Predeceased by his sister Mary and brothers P.K and little angel Gilbert Reposing at Sweeney’s Funeral Home from 4pm until 7pm on Thursday Removal from his residence on Friday morning at 10.30 to St Templerainey arriving for Requiem Mass at 11 o’clock Those who cannot attend are welcome to join via webcam; https://churchmedia.ie/st-josephs-church-templerainey-arklow/ Committal service will take place at Sweeney’s Funeral Home at 12.30 www.olh.ie/donate Messages of sympathy and support can be expressed in the condolence section below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Cremation / BurialDate Published: If you would like to make a donation to the chosen charity please click on the button below. The Arklow Silver Band at the Irish Association of Brass and Concert Bands’ National Band Championships in Ardee Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleFri 2 May 2025 at 11:00The Arklow Shipping Silver Band made a triumphant return to competitive performance recently when they took home first place in the Section 2 Brass category and the coveted title of Best Overall Section 2 Band at the Irish Association of Brass and Concert Bands’ National Band Championships Travelling to the Bohemian Centre in County Louth a venue owned and operated by the Ardee Concert Band the Arklow band settled into the beautiful surroundings providing a fitting backdrop for a day filled with music and camaraderie following an extensive period of restructuring and rebuilding the band the competition marked a significant moment for Silver Band members Performing the challenging Malvern Suite by renowned composer Philip Sparke the band impressed both audiences and adjudicator alike with their outstanding performance securing them first place in the Section 2 Brass category and the prestigious title of Best Overall Section 2 Band a competition that included both brass and concert bands given that over half of the current members were experiencing their very first competition “It was a proud and emotional day for everyone involved highlighting not just musical talent but also the spirit of dedication and perseverance that runs through the band,” they said “A special acknowledgement must go to Stephen Smith who made his competitive conducting debut with the band His inspiring leadership and musical direction were instrumental in shaping the performance and guiding the band to success “Credit is also due to Slawek and Artur Bosy whose unwavering commitment over the past several years has been crucial in recruiting and nurturing new members to bring the band back to full strength.” “We put in a tremendous amount of hard work over the past few months to perfect and polish the piece and it was incredibly rewarding to see that effort pay off,” Stephen Smith added “It was a fantastic experience for the whole band many of whom were competing for the very first time This success is a true testament to teamwork proving once again that ‘practice makes perfect.” the Arklow Shipping Silver Band is already preparing for their next challenge – competing at the South of Ireland Band Championships in Clonakilty in early July Emiliano Gamarra and Denise Pollacchi of Kul Beans Kaffe at their new coffee drive-thru with Arklow Rugby Club Chairman Shane Nalty Having established their coffee hub as one of Arklow’s go-to places for a great cup of joe the Argentinian couple behind Kul Beans Kaffe hope to “keep building a coffee community” with their latest venture – the seaside town’s first coffee drive-thru Offering locals and N11 commuters the same speciality coffees and treats that Kul Beans Kaffe has become synonymous with Denise Pollacchi and Emiliano Gamarra’s convenient new location on the grounds of Arklow Rugby Club is already causing quite a stir the coffee hut has a drive-thru window for coffee on the go cyclists and motorists who want to get out and stretch their legs The enterprise has proven to be particularly popular with early morning drivers with Denise and Emiliano’s ever-growing community of customers dropping by to support their expansion Originally from Rosario in the central Argentine province of Santa Fe the couple uprooted their lives to move to Ireland in 2018 before ditching their Dublin jobs to set up shop in Arklow Since establishing their coffee hub on Yellow Lane in 2023 the coffee lovers have become a firm favourite on the town’s culinary scene Eager to repay the outpouring of support they have received and expand their coffee community Denise and Emiliano began scouting for a second location which they found at the home of a club for whom they have been a sponsor since the inception of their business so we have been a sponsor of them from the very beginning,” Denise said “We have our main location with the coffee truck beside Mr Price and recently we decided to expand a bit and started looking at new opportunities to bring new things to Arklow we’re always thinking about the community around coffee and local business “We already have this relationship with Arklow Rugby Club going back to the start so we approached them with an offer about doing the drive-thru “The other big thing is that the rugby club is in a key spot next to the N11 so we will get people travelling up from Wexford and I think that will help grow both our communities,” she added “There is the front window for the drive-thru then we have a little walk-up window on the side for anyone walking or for the days when Arklow Rugby Club has matches or training “It’s great that it is on the other side of the town from our main location “Now they can have the same quality of coffee which is from the comfort of the car without stepping out “People have been really supportive and welcoming the new location and we’re already getting that same sense of community there that we have since Emiliano and I came to Arklow it’s all about high-quality coffee and creating a memorable We truly hope everyone who visits feels that warmth and care.” You can follow Denise and Emiliano @Kul Beans Kaffe Headroom performing at 'Live At The Royal' in the Royal Hotel in Arklow Josie Cavanagh who performed at 'Live At The Royal' in the Royal Hotel in Arklow Fear Gorta who performed at 'Live At The Royal' at the Royal Hotel in Arklow The Spudguns performing at 'Live At The Royal' in the Royal Hotel in Arklow Fionn O'Sullivan of Headroom performing at the Royal Hotel in Arklow Jessica Boylan and Akysha Kelly at 'Live At The Royal' in the Royal Hotel in Arklow Lily Kaye and Claire Myler at 'Live At The Royal' in the Royal Hotel in Arklow Callum Farrelly and Naomi Walshe at 'Live At The Royal' in the Royal Hotel in Arklow Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleThu 1 May 2025 at 06:00There was an electric atmosphere at the Royal Hotel in Arklow when the popular venue hosted four emerging bands and artists as part of a new initiative to provide a live platform in an inclusive and safe space for established and new acts the over 14s event saw gifted up-and-coming performers The Spudguns HeadRoom and Josie Kavanagh rock a sell-out audience with a broad mix of ages in attendance to support the local talent Born out of a conversation initiated by Cllr Peir Leonard and local musician Trevor O’Sullivan at a ‘Making Arklow’ meeting on the role of music in the seaside town which was sponsored by Music Generation Wicklow was part of a series aimed at encouraging and shaping the future of Arklow’s musical landscape “It was a fantastic event with a really great turnout so we’re going to have to look at doing another one,” Cllr Leonard joked and some people came down from as far as Greystones and Dublin to see the acts “The event was all about creating a safe space for young people to go and it really couldn’t have gone any better who put in a huge amount of work organising and coordinating the bands.” John Rowan with comedians Barry Murphy and Karl Spain at the comedy evening in the Royal Hotel Caoimhe Crowley and Lora Kavanagh at the comedy evening in the Royal Hotel Maureen O'Reilly and Mary Byrne at the drag bingo in the Royal Hotel Anita Nolan and Maureen Delaney at the drag bingo in the Royal Hotel Dicey O'Reilly keeping the spotlight on things at the drag bingo in the Royal Hotel Comedian Barry Murphy and Stephen Winters at the comedy evening in the Royal Hotel CJ Cassin and Cathy Connell at the drag bingo in the Royal Hotel Martina Tuinstra and Susan Power at the drag bingo in the Royal Hotel Peir Leonard and Karl Spain at the comedy evening in the Royal Hotel Gwen Hughes and Trish Keating at the comedy evening in the Royal Hotel Andrea and Keith Byrne at the drag bingo in the Royal Hotel Joan Van Eesbeck and Kathleen Manley at the drag bingo in the Royal Hotel Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleSun 13 Apr 2025 at 13:00The Royal in Arklow was filled with the echoing sound of laughter when the venue hosted three of the nation’s most revered comics for a night of comedy Fred Cooke and Barry Murphy (of Aprés Match fame) bringing a sense of vibrancy to the sleepy seaside town Delighted to have been able to bring such high-calibre talents to south Wicklow co-owner of The Royal (along with his brother Lloyd) Kyle Hudson said the evening was just the first of many top-quality events the beloved local will be hosting “We got in touch with a talent agency through Cllr Peir Leonard and Barry Murphy came down to look at the venue and was more than happy to give it a go,” he said “The night was the first of many we’ll be hosting and we plan to diversify the night-time offering in Arklow and give people something a bit different.” Cllr Leonard said: “It brought people out and really gave them something different and it’s so great to see people bringing a variety of cultural experiences into the town.” laughs and entertainment with the incredible Tina D Parton and Divalicious attendees were treated to a glass of prosecco on arrival and finger food Arklow Grand Marshal Aidy Doyle with wife Arlene at the St Summer O'Regan and Emma Lalor at the St Jordi Butterworth and Flynn Scully at the St Oliver Merrigan and Dave Tyrrell at the St Wicklow PeopleMon 17 Mar 2025 at 19:56Arklow businesses marching groups and community organisations were out in force to celebrate a bumper St Patrick’s Day Parade to remember a tireless fundraiser for Arklow Community First Responders the colourful parade marched along the town’s packed Main Street with revellers congregating at the Parade Ground for optimal viewing quiet area to support the neurodiverse community inside and outside Arklow Library returned for a second year and was facilitated by Wicklow County Council Library Service in conjunction with All Kinds of Amazing Making Arklow and the St Patrick’s Day parade committee A 93ac Arklow residential farm was sold by public auction for €1.595m or €17,150/ac Co Wicklow – 7km from Arklow – was guided at €1.1m or €12,000/ac Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleFri 11 Apr 2025 at 04:00The Arklow community has come together to support beloved local councillor Miriam Murphy after the recent death of her “husband who has been hailed as a “true gentleman with a terrific sense of humour” As a mark of respect for late Kilkenny native Paul and their valued colleague elected Arklow councillors agreed to defer their April Municipal District meeting but not before declaring their support for Cllr Murphy and reminiscing about her husband’s welcoming nature and how he was always on hand with sound advice positive person,” Cllr Sylvester Bourke began “I’m very upset for her and the loss of Paul “I know that Paul was tuned into everything going on in the chamber from the conversations we’ve had He was a gentleman and was always very supportive of Miriam “It’s going to be very hard for Miriam and it behoves all of us to do the very best we can to help her in the days ahead because it’s not going to be easy.” when Kilkenny were playing in an All-Ireland final Miriam would ring him looking for a ticket for her Paul who hailed from Thomastown and was an avid supporter of the Cats he was so gracious,” Cllr Fitzgerald continued I have been over to their house on many occasions Noting that the entire community is “devastated for Miriam” Cllr Peir Leonard said: “Anytime I ever spoke to Miriam to get advice on things Paul would be there in the background giving his input and political advice “I think the whole community will wrap their arms around Miriam as she is an amazing person and politician “Paul really and truly was her best friend “It’s lucky to find someone who is both your partner and your best friend so I can only imagine how difficult it will be for Miriam,” Cllr Warren O’Toole added in terms of giving her all the support she needs from us to help her get through this.” district manager Leonora Earls expressed their sincerest condolences to Cllr Murphy adding that she had spoken to her on the phone and Cllr Murphy had said she would “continue going as a councillor because it would absolutely be what Paul wanted her to do” “From all of us within the Arklow Municipal District we will do everything we possibly can to support Cllr Murphy,” she added Cllr Pat Kennedy said that Cllr Murphy is a very valued member of the chamber and “a good colleague to all of us” adding: “We are very lucky to have six councillors that get on together it’s going to be very difficult for Miriam and I’d ask everyone to remember Paul and Miriam in your prayers.” Tributes to Paul have been pouring in from across the Garden County and beyond since his passing with many of his Kilkenny acquaintances recalling his time on pirate radio in the late 80s and as a DJ in the marquee before the big bands played in his hometown of Thomastown “Lovely memories come to mind of our pirate radio adventures where Paul’s talent and personality made him a firm favourite with his fellow presenters and the listening public,” one commented while another added: “His distinctive husky voice made him a favourite on the airwaves” An old classmate said he was “always in good spirits and humorous and never let disability define him” while another commented: “He kept the very best side out and was always game for a laugh He was so happy and contented always looking on the bright side” Expressing their condolences to Cllr Murphy we are so sorry that you have lost your best friend and partner Paul “You both were indeed a unique couple and inspired us all down through the years to live life to the full and make the most out of every day and that you both surely did!” best friend Mosh and his large circle of friends Paul’s reposing will take place at Murphy’s Funeral Home The removal from Murphy’s Funeral Home will take place on Saturday Club members and volunteers at the East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club's annual journey around Ireland in aid of Arklow Cancer Support. Paul Shannon, Jimmy Gannon and David Guilfoyle at the East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club's annual journey around Ireland in aid of Arklow Cancer Support. Carmel and Mark Whelan at the East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club's annual journey around Ireland in aid of Arklow Cancer Support. Alan O'Toole at the East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club's annual journey around Ireland in aid of Arklow Cancer Support. Mark Ryan at the East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club's annual journey around Ireland in aid of Arklow Cancer Support. Seamus O'Brien and Mark Whelan at the East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club's annual journey around Ireland in aid of Arklow Cancer Support. Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleTue 29 Apr 2025 at 03:00Ten members of the East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club recently completed their annual journey around Ireland in aid of Arklow Cancer Support, receiving a heroes’ welcome when they returned to south Wicklow after a hard, three-day ride. Setting off from Arklow in damp conditions, the convoy of riders rode north in torrential rain before stopping off for the night in Donegal. Soaked to the bone, the riders dried off their clothes as much as possible, then hit the road bound for Killarney, where they spent the night, before embarking on the home leg to Arklow. Welcomed home to the Arklow Bay Hotel by crowds of family members, friends, supporters and representatives from Arklow Cancer Support, riders were beaming with pride at having completed one of the most challenging charity runs in the history of the almost two-decade-old fundraiser. Praising his fellow East Coast Roosters Motorcycle Club for their endurance and unwavering support for the run that has seen over hundreds of thousands raised for local charities, club founder Mark Whelan said there were a few sore bodies after the ride. “We’ve never witnessed weather like it before, and it couldn’t have rained any harder when we were leaving,” Mark said. “It kept going for the whole day, and while we stopped for fuel, we were so wet that we couldn’t take the wet gear off to stop for food, so we didn’t have anything to eat until we got to Donegal. “We got up in the morning and, lo and behold, it was but bucketing down and the clothes were still damp from the previous day, despite the lads trying to dry them on radiators overnight. “But the spirits remained high, and those lads have big hearts. They just keep going and don’t complain. “On Sunday, we still got a couple of heavy showers, and we made it back to the Arklow Bay at 4.30 pm, where the families and Arklow Cancer Support volunteers clapped us. “The lads were so tired, as it was a real test of mental endurance, having to concentrate 100pc of the time because of the weather. “But we made it home safe and sound, which is always the main thing, so it was another successful run for the books!” Reflecting on the run, long-term East Coast Roosters David Guilfoyle said that, while it was one of the more challenging ones they have taken on, everyone pushed through to complete it, as they always do. “I’d say the divers in the North Sea wouldn’t have got as wet as we did,” David joked. “The rain was relentless, the whole way up and leaving Donegal on the second day – it just didn’t let up. “However, it was still a really good run. We all made it back. There were no accidents, and we raised a few quid. And it was actually one of the better organised runs, in terms of managing the group. “After all that weather, I think the lads were delighted to make it back to Arklow and see their families. “When you’re coming into the bay and you see the volunteers from Arklow Cancer Support and all the families, it makes it all worth it.” LifestyleSix of the best Garden County gardens to visit in Wicklow this summer Wicklow is of course known as the ‘Garden County’, so what better place to visit to find some of the country's garden gems, whether it’s for a stroll around Powerscourt or something a bit more adventurous, like a tree-top walk at Avondale. … Arklow, in Co Wicklow Designed by the engineer Andrew Noble and heroically built by manual labour in the 1750s Although shorn of stone parapets and extended laterally in the 1960s it is still known by its original name of the Nineteen Arches Bridge What has passed beneath the bridge for decades is shameful The swirling waters carried not only toxic effluents from long-ceased copper mining upriver in the Vale of Avoca and from the former Irish Fertiliser Industries plant closer to Arklow but also all of the town’s untreated sewage which was discharged directly into the river – ironically Efforts by Wicklow County Council to deal with this dreadful pollution became mired in controversy about where a wastewater-treatment plant should be located An early proposal to install it among the sand dunes at Seabank was fought all the way to the Supreme Court by owners of a local caravan park – and by the time it ruled against them coastal erosion meant the site was no longer viable Back in 2005 Karin Dubsky of Coastwatch Ireland suggested the former IFI site as a better location for the treatment plant got so irritated by the ongoing uncertainty that he staked a poster in the Avoca river in 2007 showing a cartoon figure sitting on a toilet In 2019 the court found that Ireland had indeed failed to comply with the directive leaving open the prospect of financial sanctions Irish Water, since rebranded as Uisce Éireann, was already on the Arklow case and decided in 2016 that the best location for its treatment plant would be a site at Ferrybank on a promontory between the Avoca river and the Irish Sea occupied by the long-derelict Wallboard factory (previously Arklow Gypsum) alongside large storage tanks for heavy fuel oil probably constructed using spoil from Avoca Mines it is contaminated by concentrations of heavy metals such as copper and zinc So there could be no question of excavating the ground to “bury” the proposed sewage works Instead it was going to be highly visible from the town it serves during its preapplication consultations with Irish Water in May 2016 to emphasise that “a high design quality would be required in respect of the proposed development given that it would be located in an urban area” the board was proposing that architects would need to be involved in the €140 million project rather than leaving it to engineers alone the Arklow project “marks the first time in the world that an architect has been an integrated part of the design team for a wastewater treatment plant” The pagoda-style pavilions on Dún Laoghaire’s West Pier from where sewage is pumped to the Ringsend treatment plant were designed by the architect Paul O’Toole but Clancy says Arklow was of a different order From the outset Clancy Moore stressed “an understanding of conversation as a vital design tool” in collaborating with other professionals involved in the project – a whole range of engineers specialising in everything from odours to industrial processes cost-control experts and consultation facilitators – but also with the Ferrybank site This approach derived from their experience in making “deeply collaborative public work” such as the Red Pavilion, at London Festival of Architecture in 2015 and the intimacy of doing dozens of domestic projects It’s based on “listening closely to the client taking time and researching the specifics of the brief and of the site understanding the many contexts of a project and Clancy Moore were subcontractors to the project’s consultant engineers “At the start we would speak and be rebuffed most of the time “What it shows is that architects can do things like this The design that emerged was “a radical reinvention” of the typical wastewater treatment plant Unlike a conventional plant that pumps multiple times from tank to tank with the rest of the flow happening by gravity – dramatically reducing energy consumption with arrays of photovoltaic panels to offset the plant’s electricity use A new interceptor sewer now takes all of Arklow’s wastewater to the Ferrybank site where it is processed in two steel-framed buildings with a strongly defined character: layered facades composed of corrugated light-green open louvres assist with odour control and even provide habitats for bats and nesting birds the site includes a smaller two-storey administration and laboratory building clad in fibre-cement panels in the same colour with a V-shaped roof profile and an enclosure containing a trio of sludge tanks is a 930m outfall pipe that discharges treated effluent in the sea bed; it was shipped in three sections from Norway As Clancy told An Bord Pleanála’s oral hearing in January 2019 the architectural approach sought to contribute positively to the visual environment of Arklow by acknowledging the town’s industrial history and long maritime tradition while providing “contemporary civic buildings” that reflect the core function and purpose of these structures – to treat municipal sewage In his report the senior planning inspector Paul Caprani – who is now a Bord Pleanála board member – concluded that the design approach “represents a successful architectural solution and provides an appropriate compromise between providing a building which accommodates a large infrastructural development but respects the scale of buildings in the vicinity and its setting in the docklands/waterfront area” Nearly a third of the site is to be rewilded It is protected from the sea by a rock-armoured earthen bank that is (rather optimistically) intended to survive a one-in-1,000-year storm This is to be landscaped and turned into an amenity area by Wicklow County Council whose planners Clancy Moore kept in the loop even though they had no role in the statutory consent process [ Water system ‘in a desperate state’, says Uisce Éireann chairOpens in new window ] [ Dublin in top 20 cities sampled for levels of cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy found in sewageOpens in new window ] The lack of a sewage-treatment plant was a significant constraint on the development of Arklow, which has a population of 13,000. (It is the county’s third-largest town.) The new facility, which is due to be officially opened in early May, would allow the town to triple in size, with much of this growth expected to take the form of new apartment buildings in the port area, replacing redundant industrial buildings and derelict sites along the waterfront. In most urban areas, sewage works are located out of sight and out of mind, as if there’s something shameful about processing the waste we all generate from the consumption of food to keep ourselves going, so that it doesn’t contaminate rivers, lakes and the sea around us. But Arklow’s new green wonder is there for all to see – an essential piece of civic infrastructure that deserves to be celebrated. Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC Arklow Christian Community Church pastor Solomon Aroboto and his wife Patricia make a donation to Anita Nolan and Maureen Delaney from Little Warriors Arklow Christian Community Church pastor Solomon Aroboto makes a donation to the Vale of Avoca Men's Shed Arklow Christian Community Church pastor Solomon Aroboto makes a donation to the Arklow Women's Shed Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleFri 11 Apr 2025 at 09:00The Arklow Christian Community Church celebrated its monthly Super Sunday event for March by supporting the Little Warriors community organisation with a generous donations Representatives from Little Warriors were in attendance to meet Pastor Solomon Aroboto and his wife Patricia who were delighted to present them with cheques to help support their “excellent work” Established by mum of four Anita Nolan in 2021 Little Warriors provides support and inclusion for neurodiverse children and their families as well as a safe and inclusive space for children and friends to play in an anxiety-free environment the Little Warriors volunteers said they were “delighted” with the church’s generous contribution and felt very honoured to be chosen as recipients the church made donations to the Vale of Avoca Men’s Shed and Arklow Women’s Shed The Arklow Christian Community Church has made sizeable donations to a variety of worthy local causes over the years The Arklow Community Action Resource Centre Arklow First Responders and Arklow Tidy Towns – to name but a few Its inspiration was Sydney Opera House and its paper-thin louvre windows are reminiscent of a luxury ocean-liner the people of Arklow in Ireland can finally go swimming without fear of floaters “There’s a wonderful passage in Ulysses,” says practice co-founder, Andrew Clancy, summoning James Joyce as we tiptoe along a metal gantry above a gigantic vat of bubbling brown sludge “The narrator turns on the tap to fill a kettle sparking a lengthy rumination on where the water comes from from the volume of the tanks to the dimensions and cost of the plumbing.” A single Cyclopean window punctures each building while the louvres are inverted and enlarged at the top forming a bat-friendly cornice-like crownThere can’t be many sewage works designers quoting Joyce (despite the Irish author’s scatological inclinations) But Clancy’s point is that there is an entire universe of water treatment storage and distribution that is rarely celebrated It takes place beneath our feet and out of sight in a world hidden below ground and squirrelled away in anonymous sheds behind tall fences and slapped with hefty fines for its repeated failure to remedy the situation The lack of waterworks has also been a brake on the town’s development: without a treatment plant others that it was home to a rare species of horsehair worm The well-resourced owners of a nearby caravan park decided to take the council to the supreme court But they ultimately won the battle: by then the plant’s 10-year planning permission had expired “We had to start from scratch,” says Michael Tinsley, project manager at Irish Water the state-owned water company founded in 2013 we made a point of talking to absolutely everybody.” After considering numerous options they hit on a location close to where the plant had originally been proposed on the site of a former wallboard factory in Ferrybank the national planning board insisted that an architect be involved on a key promontory overlooked by the whole town that’s exactly where such a monument of civic infrastructure should be “Think of the Sydney Opera House,” he says drawing a comparison to the world’s most famous waterfront building “It occupies the most prominent site in the city But not many people actually go to the opera you would probably think of the poo before you thought of the opera.” Sailing spot … the plant under construction Rather than trying to beckon the Bilbao effect by building a palace of culture like many a grand Victorian pumping station before it It is an earthy hymn to the fact that locals may finally be able to swim without fear of floaters the complex is an elegant thing to encounter The two vast processing sheds stand like ocean-liners on the horizon their profiles serrated with angled louvres giving them the look of concertina paper lanterns A single Cyclopean window punctures each building – one looking out to sea one looking back to the town – while the louvres are inverted and enlarged at the top They have an almost cartoonish presence from afar their oversized gills a caricature of ventilation while also providing habitats for bats and birds The long horizontal louvres (made of fibre cement panels bolted to a demountable steel frame) are corrugated recalling the fluted pantiles of a Chinese temple Their celadon green hue reinforces that allusion although here the colour references local sports teams as well as sea thistle and the hulls of Arklow Shipping boats A third laboratory building – scaled like a Dinky Toy in comparison – looks like a cheeky creature Its facade greets you with a wink at the entrance to the site a single eye-like window above a protruding nose-like canopy and a butterfly roof forming two perky ears The process of protecting these design details – which are so often lost on projects of this scale – was unusual “There are no drawings in the tender package for a water treatment works,” says Clancy whose firm is more used to designing private houses “Because it rightfully assumes that technological developments are outpacing the speed of public procurement.” As a result the architects had to translate their design into precise passages of text enshrining the ratios and proportions of their facades in exacting legalese A cheeky creature keeping an eye on proceedings … building at Arklow wastewater treatment plant Photograph: Johan Dehlin“We also made sure the architecture was the cheapest thing,” he adds “so it would be the last to be cut on the ‘value engineering’ list.” Tinsley estimates the architecture amounts to about 3% of the total project cost we had some internal debates at Irish Water with colleagues thinking we were lavishing money on a big “But it’s within the margin of error – the architecture cost was dwarfed by the cost of inflation.” the architects brought more than just a pleasing wrapper negotiators and catalysts within a team of specialist engineers – from odour control to tunnelling marine ecology to highways – they were the glue that bound it all together While a conventional plant pumps wastewater multiple times from tank to tank with the rest of the process happening by gravity Roofing the whole structure (which is usually open air) also allowed gantry cranes to be installed for future maintenance and servicing along with a solar farm that generates about a third of the total energy requirements It has been a long time coming, and the people of Arklow are rightfully relieved. As Tinsley puts it plainly: “No one wants to be the biggest town in Ireland with shite going into the river.” nationalisation is the only way to clean up the mess – and it may even bring things of beauty in the process The Arklow Shipping Silver Band will play at two events this Easter the first of which takes place at the Easter Sunday Service hosted by the Arklow Christian Community Church on St The special service promises to be a moving and uplifting celebration of the Easter message enhanced by a programme of inspirational music performed live by the band The repertoire for the morning includes a selection of well-loved spiritual and popular pieces that reflect the joy and hope of Easter Audience members can look forward to stirring renditions of Jesus Christ Has Risen said: “We’re honoured to be part of this meaningful celebration Brass band music has a unique way of bringing people together and lifting spirits and we look forward to sharing this joyful occasion with the community “The Easter Sunday Service is open to the public Whether you’re a regular churchgoer or simply wish to enjoy some beautiful music in a welcoming setting this event promises to be a truly special experience.” The second engagement is the Irish Band Championships on Saturday This marks a significant milestone for the band as it returns to the national stage after several years of rebuilding and revitalisation the band has chosen to perform an evocative and technically demanding piece The band has been working diligently in rehearsals to perfect every nuance of this challenging piece and is eager to present it to both the adjudicators and the audience in Ardee “We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come,” Stephen said “Returning to the Irish Band Championships is a major step forward for us It’s a chance to represent Arklow with pride to connect with other bands across the country and to celebrate the joy of brass band music at its highest level “The Arklow Shipping Silver Band extends its gratitude to the parents whose encouragement and enthusiasm have played a vital role in this journey “As the band prepares to take the stage in Ardee they do so with the goal of making their town proud and continuing a long-standing tradition of musical excellence.” The cast singing 'I'm a believer' in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Andrew Doherty as Shrek in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Sean Hendley as Lord Farquaad in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Olivia Connell and Ella McEvoy as the Three Blind Mice in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Amber Simmons and April Prestige who both played Young Fiona in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Kevin Macken-Tierney as Pinocchio in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Thomas Byrne as the Mad Hatter in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Lauren Gammell as Teen Fiona in the Avonmore Musicial Society's Musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall The wedding scene in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Doireann Hurley as the Ugly Duckling in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Orlagh Sunderland as Donkey in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Fiona Walker as the Wicked Witch and Emily Davis as the Sugar Plum fairy in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Ellie Willoughby as Princess Fiona in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Donkey played by Orlagh Sunderland and the Dragon in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Frankie Murphy as Young Shrek and Iza Wong as Mama Ogre in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Christine Dunne Firmo in the Avonmore Musicial Society's musical 'Shrek' in St Mary's Hall Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleTue 29 Apr 2025 at 17:00Everyone’s favourite green ogre took to the Arklow stage when the local Avonmore Musical Society brought the big bright and beautiful world of Shrek the Musical to life at six sell-out shows in St Mary’s College Hall the society reaped the rewards of all their efforts in their 43rd annual production and their first sell-out since the 2012 production of The Wizard of Oz Amy Penston was making her directorial debut for the society having appeared on stage numerous times over the years while musical director Conor McCarthy was musically directing for the first time for Avonmore and Martina Lynch who has choreographed every show since the 2010 production of Seussical The show had a massive cast of 70 who sang Sean Hendley (Lord Farquaad) and Christine Dunne Firmo (Dragon) with so many others performing as part of the talented ensemble The society has a good mix of ages from young to not so young with the most senior player this year being James Kearon (Pied Piper) Lauren Gammell played the part of teen Fiona with the part of young Fiona being played by April Prestage and Amber Simmons The production team that brought the magic of Shrek had lots of help from Natasha Byrne on costumes “I’m very proud of what the society has achieved in taking the much-loved story from the page to the stage,” Avonmore chairperson Patrick Bracken said “I’d like to acknowledge the massive financial support of local businesses but especially Ryan Neary of R Neary Motors who were the Avonmore main sponsors for the second year I would like to say a massive thanks to Aidan Ward and all at St Mary’s for their constant support by allowing the use of the school for all of Avonmore’s shows “An enormous thanks to our hard-working committee led by secretary Nicole Forde PROs Rob Donnelly and Christine Nolan and committee members Aoife Coade the society are so grateful to the thousands of audience members who return year after year and inspire the society to keep going and growing Avonmore will be back in action soon planning for next Easter but for now it’s time for a rest,” he said Grace Steadman and Aisling Minogue at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Eileen and Fergal Keogh at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Norma Tracey and Emma Murphy at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Charlie and Roisin Louth at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Gavin Doyle and Paul Tracey at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Deirdre Keogh and Breda McCarthy at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Dorraine Dempsey and Kim O'Leary at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Niamh Leonard and AnnMarie Burke at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Eamonn Quirke and Laura Rice at the Arklow Rugby Club table quiz in the Old Ship Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleSat 26 Apr 2025 at 11:00The Old Ship in Arklow was packed to capacity when Arklow Rugby Club held a quiz night to remember that raised a whopping €2,500 for the club The community was out in force to contest the competitive quiz which saw a huge number of teams battle it out in what was one of the largest Old Ship quiz nights on record With generous donations flowing in on the night and a fantastic Arklow Rugby Club hailed the convivial event as a testament to the seaside town’s famous community spirit the event was a huge success and extremely well supported,” a club spokesperson said which included some donations for tables for people who couldn’t attend expressed his gratitude for the support and thanks to the Old Ship the wonderful quiz master and the team of helpers on the night Reposing at Murphy's Funeral Home, The Avenue, Gorey (Y25 K122) on Friday 11th April from 4 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. Removal from Murphy's Funeral Home on Saturday 12th April at 12.45 p.m. to St. David's Church, Johnstown arriving for Funeral Mass at 1.30 p.m. followed by Burial in Ballycoogue Cemetery. The family very much appreciate your support and kindness at this sad and difficult time and would be grateful if you would express your messages of sympathy on the Condolence link below this notice. Carol Murphy and Jenny Kaye McEvoy enjoying Arklow's inaugural sensory space at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade 2024 Arklow will take another giant step towards becoming a more inclusive town when the Arklow Autism Friendly Town Committee officially launches its Autism-Friendly Town initiative on Thursday Featuring measures to improve accessibility in public spaces the expansive initiative will aim to make the seaside town a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with autism and their families The initiative will launch at the Arklow Bay Hotel at 7 pm sharp where the evening will include a performance from Sunbeam House Music Program and some guest speakers The Arklow Autism Friendly Town committee has extended an open invitation to the community organisations and clubs to join the important celebration of diversity and inclusion in Arklow Little Warriors founder and passionate advocate for children and families living with autism Anita Nolan said: “We are thrilled to launch this important initiative and are delighted to have Adam Harris from AsIam joining us in celebrating this milestone for Arklow “We have been blown away by the continued support from the people of Arklow and are excited to showcase our work and to give everyone an insight into the amazing plans we have for the future.” alongside All Kinds of Amazing and The House are organisations that provide vital resources and support for families and individuals to help them navigate the challenges of autism Arklow Autism Friendly Town Committee chair Warren O’Toole said that Arklow has always been a community that “values inclusion” and that the initiative “marks a significant step in making the town even more welcoming” “As we continue our journey towards making Arklow an Autism Friendly Town we understand the importance of support from childhood into adulthood and one key area we’ve identified is work experience and employment “We are engaging with coordinators and students in local schools to develop a meaningful work experience program with the help of our Autism Friendly Champions “We believe that everyone deserves opportunities to learn Arklow Municipal District staff have appealed to local sports clubs to inform them about events they intend to host at Arklow’s running track so that the information can aid the district’s push for funding to carry out resurfacing works on the track Following the long-awaited restoration of public lighting local athletes and walkers have flocked to the running track with St Benedict’s Inbhear Mór AC hosting a successful Juvenile League meeting where over 300 young runners from nine clubs line up to race The increase in usage has re-ignited calls for planned drainage and regrading works on the running track surface to be expedited as much as possible Cllr Warren O’Toole asked for an update on the resurfacing project noting that there were hopes a county championship might be hosted at the track in the not-too-distant future district administrator Alvina Brehony emphasised that the Arklow MD were not informed about the recent Juvenile League meeting and pressed home the importance of the MD being notified before any event both for public safety and to help staff demonstrate the need for resurfacing funding “We’re not being asked by different clubs to use the track we can then use that as pressure on the department,” she said “There was an event there a few weeks ago that was all over the paper that there were over 300 children there “They should be submitting an event form to us to include their insurance and the traffic management plan they are properly covered if something happens “At least then we can use that information as a push to the department “If something like this county event you’re talking about happens it’s also good for the local economy,” she added “I just ask that you can encourage clubs or organisers to contact us this is not an exercise to put obstacles in the way of people having events Speculating that clubs may not be aware that they should contact the MD Cllr Miriam Murphy asked that a letter be issued to all local clubs explaining the importance of timely notification as well as its importance to the local economy and as fuel to help drive funding After being asked for a status update on the resurfacing funding Ms Brehony explained that the MD has had approval for funding for several years but that the department only releases a certain amount every year “We have contacted them several times every year since I’ve been here and yesterday was the first answer we got when they looked for further information,” she said I’ll be able to update them with developments since the initial application was made we have received applications for county/school events because I’m not sure that would have been in the original application “That’s why it’s so important that people let us know when they are going to have an event similar to Ms Brehony’s appeal about the running track the MD also needs to know if any races are being held on public roads “because often we don’t hear about them until after the fact” and members of the public might not be aware of when we intend to do any resurfacing works There could be temporary traffic management “If you’re aware of any events that are taking place on Arklow MD on roads because we might do a sweep if we knew about them in advance “This is not trying to make things more difficult Ikea is opening its first Wicklow click and collect sites Two Tesco stores in County Wicklow are set to get new Ikea click and collect sites where customers will be able to collect Ikea orders worth more than €200 for free The Swedish furnishing company launched it’s click and collect option in May 2023 in Cork Now it is continuing to expand the service to be available at 21 sites with seven new locations coming on stream soon customers go through the standard checkout process online then opt for their local Tesco as their collection point It’s free if the ordered items cost more than €200 and €15 otherwise Wicklow Ikea customers will be able to use Tesco’s Wexford Road store in Arklow and the store at the Bray Centre on the Vevay Road as their collection points with plans to open the Arklow site on Tuesday said: “We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with Tesco Ireland which has allowed us to bring our collection services “The positive reception has been fantastic and resulted in us expanding the service to seven more communities.” “We’re pleased to expand our partnership with Ikea Ireland to introduce new pick-up points in more of our car parks across the country,” added Darrin Honer country operations manager at Tesco Ireland we are seeing just how convenient this offering is for customers who are pairing picking up their Ikea order with doing their weekly shop or picking up their click-and-collect order.” Ikea also has plan and order points – smaller stores that offer furniture and design advice – including in Naas And an order and collect story in Carrickmines in South Dublin A piece from a new exhibition entitled 'Catchment' at the Arklow Maritime Museum Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleSun 20 Apr 2025 at 09:00Though they may have departed their physical gallery space in Bridgewater the 402 Art Collective continues to thrive creatively and conceptually now showing at Arklow Maritime Museum a poignant exploration of our connection to water Catchment invites viewers to reflect on how people and places have long been shaped by the waterways that flow through them The free exhibition is a deeply collaborative effort by the artists of the 402 Art Collective who have united to create a visual and emotional tapestry that links individual experiences to the broader natural and cultural rhythms of the river At the heart of the exhibition lies the Avoca River — a symbol of connection This shared source of life is celebrated in various forms from ceramics and photography that pay tribute to the river’s flora and fauna to mixed media works capturing the recreational and social heritage of the waterway in Arklow The exhibition tells a story not only of the past and present but also of the future — urging viewers to consider the long-term health and sustainability of this vital ecosystem A by-product of Catchment is the work-in-progress by artist-in-residence Adam Burke Burke’s project aims to breathe new life into the forgotten — moments and memories of the river that live on only in oral history reconnecting us with pieces of local heritage that risk fading from collective memory The finished piece will be on permanent exhibition at the museum “As the 402 Art Collective continues to evolve Catchment stands as a testament to their commitment to meaningful community-focused art,” a 402 spokesperson said “With this new chapter unfolding in the Maritime Museum the collective reaffirms that while their walls may have changed their creative current runs stronger than ever.” Glencormac's Bradley Walsh is challenged by Arklow Celtic's Wayne Kenny Peacefully at home with her adoring family by her side Cherished daughter of Carmel (née Kenny) & the late John & beloved sister of Damien She will be sadly missed by her heartbroken mother neighbours & many dear friends in Sunbeam Services & beyond Reposing at Sweeney’s Funeral Home from 5pm until 7pm on Monday A service in celebration of Selina’s life will take place at the funeral home at 11 o’clock on Tuesday Funeral afterwards to Mount Jerome Crematorium Cremation service to be held at 1.45 in the Victorian Chapel https://www.mountjerome.ie/victorian-chapel-service/ https://www.beaumontfundraising.ie/ https://www.arklowcancersupport.ie/donate Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Cremation / BurialDate Published: Frankie and Noleen Brauders at Dicey's Mega Bingo in aid of Arklow Town Football Club in the Arklow Bay Hotel Sinead Cullen and Leann Doyle at Dicey's Mega Bingo in aid of Arklow Town Football Club in the Arklow Bay Hotel Jack Murray and Oran Walker at Dicey's Mega Bingo in aid of Arklow Town Football Club in the Arklow Bay Hotel Gary Doyle and Dicey O'Reilly at Dicey's Mega Bingo in aid of Arklow Town Football Club in the Arklow Bay Hotel Mick and Dawn Kavanagh at Dicey's Mega Bingo in aid of Arklow Town Football Club in the Arklow Bay Hotel Linda O'Reilly with Linda and Leah Browne at Dicey's Mega Bingo in aid of Arklow Town Football Club in the Arklow Bay Hotel Owen Moore and Leon Barnes at Dicey's Mega Bingo in aid of Arklow Town Football Club in the Arklow Bay Hotel Liz Sorenson and Charlotte Bracken at Dicey's Mega Bingo in aid of Arklow Town Football Club in the Arklow Bay Hotel Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleSat 8 Mar 2025 at 09:00The Arklow community was out in force recently for a bingo night in aid of Arklow Town FC that raised €3,000 towards the club’s U16 team and their trip to play at a tournament in England this summer the mega bingo night saw over 150 players descend on the Arklow Bay Hotel where a bumper raffle was held with prizes generously sponsored by local businesses All proceeds from the night will help support Arklow Town’s very successful U16 team as they plan to go over to Cheshire to compete in a competitive tournament The trip follows on from their monumental efforts at the Blackpool Cup last year where they came out on top and brought home the silverware back to Arklow Hoping that they can repeat the feat this year team manager Gary Doyle thanked everyone who made the mega bingo night possible praising tribute to Dicey and the long list of businesses who sponsored it and we had a huge raffle with prizes and hampers donated by local businesses who also sponsored the event and the bingo rounds D Reid Plastering (Dermot Reid) The Gallery Bar “We are delighted to have raised around €3,000 on the night and will go a long way towards bringing the lads over to England to compete again this year.” Members of the Arklow Lifeboat with members of the South East Road Club who will cycle from Arklow to Limerick and back to raise funds for the Arklow RNLI Members of the Arklow-based South East Road Club will embark on a cycle challenge in aid of Arklow RNLI on May 17 that will see the club taking on a route that traverses the country Starting at the Arklow RNLI lifeboat station and cycling all the way to Limerick the journey there and back will be a challenging day for the riders who will cycle back from The Treaty City on May 18 As a collection of local cycling enthusiasts of all ages who like nothing more than a challenge and in particular one where they can combine their enthusiasm for the road South East Road Club (SERC) expressed their desire to support such a fantastic organisation like RNLI “For a seaside town like Arklow with strong links to maritime activity the community is and has been very reliant on the RNLI and the excellent commitment of their volunteers and crew who provide such a vital service for the town and local coastal area,” a SERC spokesperson said Chairperson of the Arklow RNLI Fundraising Branch Paul Burke said: “We are incredibly grateful to the South East Road Club for thinking of us in this way and we wish them the best of luck as they take on this challenge “Donations from this cycle will go towards helping to maintain our lifeboat as well as supporting the training of our crew members visit gofund.me/7297e2f2 or search ‘SERC Coast to Coast to Coast in aid of RNLI’ on gofundme.com Mary Wood and Colm Moules present Linda McCormick Tommy Breen and Emma Kinsella of Sunbeam House Services with the Dennis Naughton Cup for the best traditonal group at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Mary Burke and Colm Moules present Gavin Enright with the Ernie Sharp Cup for the best agricultural/horticultural display at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Dicey O'Reilly presents Wayne Kelly with the Bank of Ireland shield for the best commercial display at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Mary Burke presents Laura Gannon with the Arklow Chamber Award for the best float at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Dicey O'Reilly and Colm Moules present Erin Tobin Hilary Tobin and Sophie O'Leary of the Arklow Girl Guides with the Arklow Business and retail shield for the best costume at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Dicey O'Reilly presents Trudie Byrne and Eileen Gough of Arklow Tidy Towns with the Arklow Traders shield shield for the best non-commercial display at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Mary Burke and Colm Moules present Julie New of Plain and Pearl with an award for her services and displays over the years at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Mary Burke and Colm Moules present Ciara Flynn of the Arklow Pipe Band with the Paddy Lynch Shield for the most entertaining group at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Jim Hoey presents Mary Kirwan of the Inbhear Mor Marchers with the AIB Shield for the best marching group at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Colm Moules and Gracie Mulligan present the Murt Mulligan Perpetual Cup to Peter Fitzgerald for the best vintage display at the Arklow St Patrick's Day parade awards night in the Bridge Hotel Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleTue 8 Apr 2025 at 03:00The prize winners at the Arklow St Patrick’s Day parade were recently presented with awards across a range of categories at a ceremony in the Bridge Hotel in Arklow Following the success of the beloved parade Mary Wood and Colm Moules welcomed some of the outstanding participants who contributed to this year’s festivities at the Bridge Hotel The Arklow Chamber Award for the best float went to Laura Gannon from Laura’s Health & Dance Fitness with Wayne Kelly taking home the Bank of Ireland Shield for the best commercial display Trudie Byrne and Eileen Gough of Arklow Tidy Towns accepted the Arklow Traders Shield for the best non-commercial display while Mary Kirwan of the Inbhear Mor Marchers took home the AIB Shield for the best marching group The Dennis Naughton Cup for the best traditional group was presented to Linda McCormick Tommy Breen and Emma Kinsella of Sunbeam House Services while Ciara Flynn of the Arklow Pipe Band received the Paddy Lynch Shield for the most entertaining group Gavin Enright accepted the Ernie Sharp Cup for the best agricultural/horticultural display Hilary Tobin and Sophie O’Leary of the Arklow Girl Guides taking home the Arklow Business and Retail Shield for the best costume Julie New of Plain and Pearl (who recently announced the store’s closure) was presented with an award for her services and displays over the years at the Arklow St the Murt Mulligan Cup was presented by committee members in memory of the late local legend’s support and generous sponsorship over the years His wife Gracie Mulligan presented the cup for the first time to Best Vintage Display winner Peter Fitzgerald whose steam engine was a source of great interest on the day Wicklow-Wexford TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin During his maiden speech in Leinster House Wicklow-Wexford TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin recently highlighted the government’s “neglect” of Arklow and demanded that a suite of improvements be prioritised in the Programme for Government to unlock south Wicklow’s potential Underlining the need for more social housing healthcare and education facilities and improved recreation and transport infrastructure the Sinn Féin Deputy devoted a significant portion of his five-minute speaking allocation to Garden County issues Noting that Arklow has never had a TD elected in the history of the state Mr Ó Súilleabháin began by saying that the seaside town is before adding that it has been “neglected for decades by the government” unharnessed potential and I think it needs to be a key objective of this Programme for Government to improve things in the Arklow area,” he said “The wastewater treatment plant has just come to completion and what we need now is to see the biggest ever affordable and social housing delivery programme in the history of Arklow and the surrounding villages of Rathdrum and others in south Wicklow “We certainly need to harness Arklow’s maritime potential and work to develop recreational facilities which are very neglected in the town “We need to deliver recreation infrastructure in south Wicklow in terms of the Arklow to Shillelagh Greenway Mr Ó Súilleabháin went on to say that Arklow’s fishermen need to be supported whose case has come up in committees and the chamber on many occasions over the past five years adding that he wants this to be the Programme for Government that “delivers justice for CJ and his family” “We need to upgrade Arklow’s Primary Care Centre and expedite the delivery of one in Gorey centres on their own are pretty useless unless they’re staffed the psychologists and the occupational therapists,” he continued “We need to see new community spaces and centres Arklow doesn’t have them and many groups have no home We also need to redevelop the old Eir centre in Arklow “This needs to be put to the use of the local community and we need to see other facilities developed in the town because its speculators making very quick profits through that system “We have to see progress with Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir and Gaelcholáiste na Mara The children there are waiting too long for a school “As a primary teacher for 34 years and a special education teacher for many years I would like to see this Programme for Government delivering the ASD Units that many villages and towns in north Wexford and south Wicklow are looking for presently and are applying for,” he added “We need to update the outdated rail service to Dublin a new exit from Arklow to the M11 and Local Link buses this Programme for Government needs to be ambitious for Arklow but also to deliver for Gorey and the surrounding villages.” my supporters and voters of north Wexford and south Wicklow for giving me this opportunity to represent them here in Leinster House.” An initiative for young people with Sail Training Ireland on the Dutch tall ship 'Maybe' has been approved for discretionary funding by the Arklow Municipal District Arklow councillors and municipal district staff have agreed to develop a protocol for the allocation of discretionary funding after recently witnessing a “dramatic increase” in requests from members of the public Intended for public realm improvements and initiatives with socio-economic benefits for the district the criteria for discretionary budget spending were broached at the Arklow MD March meeting where a series of motions and correspondences that sought council funding were discussed Arklow Community First Responders with pharmacist Christine Byrne from Adrian Dunne Pharmacy on Arklow Main Street celebrate the replacement of the town's first defibrillator Arklow Community First Responders joined staff from Adrian Dunnes Pharmacy recently to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the town’s first public access defibrillator which has now been replaced after being deployed by the public and pharmacists in many times of emergency local first responders discussed the possibility of installing a defibrillator on Arklow Main Street and the seaside town had its first public access defibrillator in place outside of Adrian Dunnes Pharmacy Little did they imagine that 10 years later the community would have 14 of these life-saving devices dotted all over the town which would not be possible without the support of the community Expressing their deepest gratitude for the unwavering support Arklow Community First Responder Denise Guilfoyle said: “The community’s generosity and belief in our mission has empowered us to continue serving our community they have helped us grow stronger and reach more individuals in need “Whether it is attending our public events each gesture makes a difference and inspires us to keep moving forward we had decided to replace Arklow’s first defibrillator with a new model which will hopefully keep our community safe for many years to come,” she added “We are truly humbled to be part of such a caring and compassionate community Detailing how the defibrillator has been a vital life-saving resource for the community over the past decade Adrian Dunnes Pharmacy retail manager Eileen Broughan praised the first responders for providing such an integral public service “The defibrillator has been used on many an occasion by both the public and pharmacists on duty that you might be called to something on the street,” she said “Arklow Community First Responders are a fantastic service and we’re very lucky to have them here in the town “We actually had an emergency at the pharmacy this morning whereby we had to call for an ambulance and they were on site within five minutes to attend to the patient while they waited for the ambulance to come “We are privileged to have them here in the town.” Members of the Arklow and South Leinster Manchester United Supporters Club celebrate their 30th anniversary at Old Trafford with Denis Irwin Members of the Arklow and South Leinster Manchester United Supporters Club celebrate their 30th anniversary at Old Trafford Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleSat 15 Mar 2025 at 06:00The Arklow and South Leinster Manchester United Supporters Club celebrated its 30th anniversary in style when they embarked on a memorable trip to Old Trafford where they mingled with club legends and received a presentation from Ireland’s Denis Irwin A 52-strong contingent from the Arklow-based club made the trip to Manchester to take in the Red Devils’ home tie against Arsenal but not before attending a monthly function for fans known as ‘The Warm Up’ Supporters of all ages met former United players like David May and Wes Brown posed for photographs with FA Cup trophies and were invited out onto the hallowed Old Trafford pitch to meet Cork man Irwin who presented the club with a commemorative jersey signed by the current squad The once-in-a-lifetime experience added to the legacy of the historic club which boasts around 350 members from across Wicklow who meet for regular game screenings at The Old House in Arklow and Shay Doyle’s in Rathnew Still on cloud nine after the stellar weekend club co-founder James Cullen said it was the perfect way to celebrate their birthday and will live long in the memory of club members “The trip was something Manchester United do for official supporters’ clubs to mark big anniversaries where they invite you over for a pre-match function to meet former players and receive a presentation,” he said “We got to meet David May and Wes Brown and had plenty of time to take photos with trophies where he presented us with a commemorative framed jersey that was signed by the whole team – which was a fantastic experience we still had the match against Arsenal to look forward to which was a decent game with some good goals and we were happy enough with the 1-1 result “It was a great way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the club the late Tommy Doyle and myself,” he added “We’d have a fair few members in the club from the start who have been to European Cup finals and Champions League finals Membership for The Arklow and South Leinster Manchester United Supporters Club opens on April 4 Contact James Cullen at 086 2327859 or Seamus Doyle at 0862022461 or any existing member to express your interest Richard Murphy scoring Arklow's second try Wicklow PeopleTue 18 Feb 2025 at 22:30Arklow have set up a winner-takes-all home game this Sunday following their hard-fought win away to Birr last weekend With just one point separating Midland Warriors and Arklow at the top of the league table a win for either side will see them crowned Division 3 champions The south county Offaly side proved a real test for Arklow in dull and cold conditions last Sunday Both sides were resilient in defence and cancelled each other’s attacks for large parts of this match Birr never lose by large margins and are known to compete every game to the bitter end Arklow in fairness largely stuck to their task and ultimately found ways around Birr to score two tries In terms of ball handling and passing this was possibly Arklow’s finest game this season A returning Ryan Kinsella coupled up with Paddy Ryan in the centre to create an electric partnership that fired the Arklow attack A start on the wing for young Gordon Prestage proved a solid choice as he made both significant carries and some big-hitting tackles As the game approached half-time both sides were scoreless until out-half Harry Kirk spotted an opportunity twenty metres from the line Eamon Quirke received the ball and gained some hard yards followed by Tommy Scarfe who made further progress With the try line in sight the ball was spread through the hands and it was Ryan who finally opened the score (0-5) Arklow felt they had their hard work done with the wind in their backs for the second half but again Birr held firm and when this prop fielded a high ball in the style of a certain Hugo Keenan The eye-catcher of the day however had to be Richard “Nitsy” Murphy he seemed to be everywhere and broke the gain line time and again throughout the match His competitiveness at the breakdown was a constant thorn in the side of Birr and when Arklow finally notched up a second score of the day it was Murphy that touched the ball down to extend Arklow’s lead (0-10) As mentioned Birr never stop playing and Arklow never felt that had enough in the basket to see the game out So when the home side were awarded and scored a penalty with twelve minutes remaining The younger group within the pack worked their socks off as the clock headed towards full-time with Eoin Byrne and Roan Frehill to the fore When Arklow were awarded a penalty on 77 minutes Kirk converted and created a bit of breathing space between the sides (3-13) Birr did manage to score again at the very end with an unconverted try but Arklow took the spoils (8-13) It sets everything up for a massive game this weekend Nothing is ever guaranteed in sport but Arklow will be giving this their best and hope for a large home crowd to carry them to the end The R747 Vale road between Arklow and Woodenbridge will be closed from Monday February 21 (excluding February 15 and 16) Wicklow County Council has announced a series of road closures that will see diversions and traffic management systems in place on roads in the Arklow the R747- Kilcarra to Arklow will be closed from 9am on Monday February 21 (excluding February 15 and 16) to facilitate Coillte emergency tree surgery works with local access maintained to the point of the works area Traffic originating from the R747 Woodenbridge will be diverted onto the R752 at the Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge and travel north to Avoca village Motorists will turn right in Avoca onto the R754 (over the bridge) and turn right onto the L2180 (Beech Road) leading to Arklow on to Main Street Arklow and ending the detour at the roundabout junction with the R747 South Quay in Arklow (L-6907) from the junction of Bridge Street (R772) to the junction of Condren’s Lane Lower (L-69052-170) will be closed from Monday February 14 from 8am to 6pm to facilitate ground investigation works for the Arklow Flood Relief Scheme There is an alternative route from South Quay to Main Street via South Green (L6905) turning towards Old Chapel Ground/Hudsons Square turning left into Laffins Lane (across from the Brook House) into Castle Park and following the one-way system to Main Street motorists can continue to Lower Main Street and turn left into South Green towards South Quay and turn right there will be a ‘stop and go’ traffic management system in place to facilitate roadworks on Eglington Road (R-766-10) near the Florence Road Junction from Monday roadworks will take place on N11 J13 at Newcastle/Newtown Mount Kennedy southbound from 10pm to 6am The N11 Southbound – J13 on-slip – will be closed with diversion via R772/N11 NB/N11 J12/N11 SB The road closure to facilitate the installation of a drainage system and footpath works on Ballynerrin Road There is an alternative route from Ballynerrin Road then left onto the L -1102-0 and left onto Ballyguille Road Wicklow County Council has apologised for any inconvenience caused Daughter of the late George & Elizabeth & sister of Sammy She will be sadly missed by Nancy & the McGrath family Reposing at Sweeney’s Funeral Home from 3pm until 5pm on Sunday (March 23rd) Removal on Monday morning (March 24th) at 9.30 to St.’s Mary & Peter’s Church arriving for Requiem Mass at 10 o’clock https://www.arklowparish.ie/webcam/ Funeral afterwards to St. Gabriel’s Cemetery. Litter pickers from Arklow Town Team and local Tidy Towns members at the Arklow Municipal District's annual An Taisce Spring Clean Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleSat 19 Apr 2025 at 04:00Volunteers from local Tidy Towns groups and the Arklow Town Team were out in force recently for the An Taisce Spring Clean which saw community members picking litter from Arklow the day saw volunteers for the Arklow to Woodenbridge route assembled at AGB Aughrim to Woodenbridge at Lawless’ and Avoca to Woodenbridge in Woodview Park with refreshments waiting for volunteers in the Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge afterwards Thanking all the volunteers who took part in the spring clean for their great effort an Arklow Tidy Towns spokesperson said: “Well done everyone The hospitality at Woodenbridge Hotel was very welcome and a special thanks to Garda Therese Kelly and her colleagues for keeping us all safe along the route.” Cllr Sylvester Bourke congratulated the volunteers who joined forces from Arklow/Avoca/Aughrim Tidy Towns adding: “It went very well and it was a successful day out with lots of volunteers who I thank very much and the gardaí deserve a big mention for getting us around on a mini-bus and keeping us safe.” Arklow Municipal District staff have agreed to evaluate the repair of two concrete access ramps on South Beach and the possibility of new public seating in the area Cllr Peir Leonard asked staff to look at restoring the damaged ramps and the prospect of a new public seating area created by replacing existing kerbing with a poured concrete seat with composite timber seat on top “similar to the style of the benches in Arklow Harbour” “I know there is a question on who owns this car park and I think we have all accepted the ongoing demise of our access to our beaches because of coastal erosion but there are two access ramps down onto that beach – one that is broken in half and one that is probably as bad,” she said “There are areas down there that are dangerous we had put wood on top of the kerb to make a seat “A lot of people go down there for walks and it’s nice to sit and look at the sea and beach “We need to ensure access from the car park down onto the beach for inclusivity and accessibility Acknowledging that there is an issue with ownership of the car park district engineer Avril Hill said she had referred Cllr Leonard’s request for the ramps to WCC’s environmental department who are responsible for beaches and access adding that she is unfamiliar with the kerb Cllr Leonard asked that the Arklow MD fund a redesign of the existing entrance to Croghan Industrial Estate including an assessment of the “inadequate public lighting” and new signage at the entrance to support the many businesses which occupy the “important local employment zone” “I was contacted by some businesses up there who asked me if we could do something with the entrance to make it on par with some of the other industrial estates,” Cllr Leonard said “The entrance is quite dull and a new signpost with all the businesses and some landscaping would be great from an economic point of view and supporting local businesses.” Ms Hill said that public lighting may be addressed under the Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project (PLEEP) with district manager Leonora Earls saying that it would be up to the business owners to design and fund a sign Arklow Community First Responders volunteers celebrating 14 years in Arklow at the Bridgewater Centre Arklow Coral Leisure Centre staff with their chosen charity for 2025 Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleFri 28 Feb 2025 at 04:00Arklow Community First Responders recently celebrated their 14th birthday with a public information event at the Bridgewater Shopping Centre where volunteers praised their new year-long sponsor Arklow Coral Leisure Marking the group’s anniversary as an active responder group with the National Ambulance Service Arklow CFR first went live answering cardiac emergency calls on behalf of the Ambulance Service on February 14 As Arklow CFR volunteer Denise Guilfoyle explained the continued success of the voluntary group is due to in part to a steady stream of willing volunteers who contribute their time day and night to aid members of the community experiencing a cardiac emergency “All these volunteers past and present have made a great contribution to the longevity of our group and our community as a whole,” she said “The second and most crucial factor in our group and indeed any local voluntary group is the support of the community itself “The Arklow community has provided us with unwavering and continued support both financially and emotionally over the past 14 years and for that “We would like to express our sincere thanks to all we hope that our group can continue to grow and provide continued care in such emergencies.” Arklow CFR was recently nominated as Coral Leisure Arklow’s chosen charity for the year which will see the leisure centre host a series of fundraisers in support of the first responders’ vital work in the community Coral Leisure partners up with a charity and this year we decided to go with Arklow Community First Responders,” a Coral Leisure spokesperson said “Our own duty manager Nicola Walker is a volunteer with Arklow CFR and with the vital work that Arklow CFR does with a family fun day where everyone had a blast with the pool inflatable with all donations going directly to Arklow CFR “We’re in talks with Wicklow County Council at the moment to host our big event of the year and we’d hope to finalise the details of that soon.” Thanking Coral Leisure Arklow for their generous support Denise commented: “We are delighted that our group has been chosen as Coral’s charity for 2025 “Sincere thanks to Michael (Wolohan) and all the staff for their very kind gesture.” Pastor Solomon Aroboto of the Arklow Christian Community Church makes a donation to Stephen Smith of the Arklow Silver Band Arklow Christian Community Church's Easter service The Arklow Shipping Silver Band performing at the Arklow Christian Community Church Easter service Arklow Shipping Silver Band conductor Stephen Smith with pastor Solomon Aroboto at the Arklow Christian Community Church Easter service Eoin Mac RaghnaillWicklow PeopleSun 27 Apr 2025 at 08:00The Arklow Christian Community Church recently welcomed the talented members of the Arklow Silver Band to celebrate Easter at an extra-special Sunday service the historic local band played several seasonal favourites before meeting attendees and sharing an exceptional spread of refreshments and food Thanking the talented band members for adding so much to the occasion pastor Solomon Aroboto presented band conductor Stephen Smith with a generous donation “It was just a pleasure to play at the church again after our performance last Christmas,” Stephen said and then they laid out some lovely food for everyone and we look forward to playing there again and we met some very nice people who really appreciated us being there it was just a very uplifting and enjoyable morning “A big thanks to pastor Solomon and the church for their generous donation Thanking Stephen and the band for their exceptional performance as well as all those who made the special Sunday service possible pastor Aroboto said: “We had a wonderful morning full of joy and community spirit “The silver band helped make it extra special and we were delighted to be able to show our appreciation to them We hope to have them back at the church again very soon.” The MS Ireland East Wicklow Branch is hoping to raise vital funds to continue supporting people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families by putting on a fundraiser hosted by Dicey’s Mega Bingo at the Arklow Bay Hotel on April 25 and bingo games MC’d by the legendary Dicey Reilly while guests can also learn a bit more about the impact of MS and how the community can come together to make a difference The MS Ireland East Wicklow Branch is a dedicated branch of MS Ireland committed to providing support and resources to individuals living with MS and their families The branch plays a vital role in raising awareness about MS and offering much-needed assistance to those affected by this condition a branch spokesperson said: “The upcoming Dicey’s Mega Bingo fundraiser at the Arklow Bay Hotel is an opportunity for the community to come together and show their support attendees will not only have a great night out but will also contribute to a cause that makes a significant difference in the lives of people with MS and their families “Multiple sclerosis is a chronic illness that affects the central nervous system leading to a wide range of physical and cognitive challenges Living with MS can be incredibly demanding “Over one in 500 people have MS in Ireland so there’s a good chance that you either know someone with MS or a member of their family “We invite everyone to join us on April 25 at the Arklow Bay Hotel to support the MS Ireland East Wicklow Branch and help raise the funds needed for the branch to continue to support people with MS we can make a positive impact and improve the lives of those living with multiple sclerosis.” Arklow & District Chamber of Commerce president Gary McKenzie with governor of the Central Bank of Ireland Members of the Arklow & District Chamber of Commerce recently met with the governor of the Central Bank of Ireland for a general discussion about the financial situation in Ireland The insightful breakfast meeting covered a range of topics including access to finance and lending conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rising business banking costs and transparency in pricing and the impact of interest rates and inflation on business growth cyber resilience and protections for SMEs were also discussed along with how to ensure continued US investment and Ireland’s role as a financial hub “We had a productive discussion on the general financial situation in Ireland and inflation on businesses,” chamber president Gary McKenzie said “With the economy navigating a period of high borrowing costs it was insightful to hear the Governor’s perspective on Ireland’s economic outlook and the Central Bank’s role in ensuring financial stability “It was an engaging and informative discussion and we appreciate the governor’s time in addressing these concerns “We look forward to seeing how these conversations translate into action for the business community.” This €5 million investment is needed to build a new water treatment plant at Ballyduff to serve Arklow Town as the existing plant is at capacity with a surface water source that has an unstable level of quality The new water treatment plant serves 13,000 customers from a combination of both ground and surface water sources which has improved the water quality in the area and further secured the water supply. This important project has allowed for growth in population Uisce Éireann is a designated activity company one of four acts performing at The Royal Hotel in Arklow on Saturday The Royal Hotel in Arklow will play host to four emerging bands and artists on April 26 as part of a new initiative to provide a live platform in a welcoming inclusive and safe space for established and new acts Born out of a conversation initiated by Cllr Peir Leonard and local musician Trevor O’Sullivan at a ‘Making Arklow’ meeting on the role of music in the seaside town and how to accommodate its proliferation the upcoming ‘Live At The Royal’ event is part of a series of events aimed at encouraging and shaping the future of Arklow’s musical landscape will see talented up-and-coming performers The Spudguns HeadRoom and Josie Kavanagh take to the stage at The Royal The strictly over-14s event will take place from 4 pm to 8 pm (doors 3.30 pm) Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan (centre right) with Arklow & District Chamber of commerce members Gary McKenzie (president) Members of the Arklow & District Chamber of Commerce recently met with Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan for a wide-ranging discussion about the future of south Wicklow The productive meeting covered a myriad of topics and challenges from the dereliction of Arklow Main Street and the benefits of Arklow’s new Wastewater Treatment plant to the development of the Arklow to Shillelagh Greenway Brennan said he was delighted to take this opportunity to sit with members of the business community in south Wicklow to hear their ideas and concerns first-hand and to “discuss how we can work together to continue to build on the positive progress made in our area” “A concern shared by all at the table was the dereliction on Arklow Main Street that many feel has impeded the development of the town,” Brennan said there is a positive outlook and a sense of green shoots starting to show with the new Wastewater Treatment Plant and other developments being undertaken by both the business community and Wicklow County Council infrastructure must be kept at the forefront of all plans ensuring that the town has the capacity to reach its potential We must learn from the mistakes made in other towns and ensure that we are alive to future challenges “We need to work with the IDA to attract future investment and to help grow and support the companies already operating in Arklow and south Wicklow “I know from my discussions with Emer O’Gorman Wicklow County Council CEO and her team that they are on the same page and they too need the support from our government at national level to help resolve these infrastructural issues,” he added “There are a lot of positive developments in the pipeline for Arklow and South Wicklow such as the development of the Arklow to Shillelagh Greenway and it is imperative that we continue to work with all parties to ensure there are no avoidable delays in bringing these to fruition “I look forward to ongoing engagement with the Chamber and its members and working to make Arklow and South Wicklow a better 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