“Meow, meow,” Claws are being sharpened once again!

So it begins, afresh. Other regional players, are indicating that the South East should NOT work together, for the betterment of the 500,000 people living and working in this wee corner of Ireland.

To have to listen to a senior stakeholder, from Kilkenny Chamber, stating that the development of the North Quay would be detrimental to Kilkenny, is maddening. However, not surprising, if the truth be told. Given his parochial reasoning, that it would be detrimental to Kilkenny, if it should go ahead. This from a business body that not so many years ago, went through its own internal enquiry. Looking into some, well let me say, abacus financial accountability. How can a lobby group, created to “Advance business together” and be “In business for business”, have such a myopic vision of where future regional development lies?

This “Cats Chamber”, is at odds with their neighbours in Waterford. Like so many rational, logical groups, who advocate the North Quays development, as the start of some significant regional expansion. In fact, the Government’s 2040 National Planning Framework, puts Waterford to the fore of this regionalisation, forecasting significant population growth. Will these vested parish pump politics get in the way of a vision, to once and for all create genuine regional balance? Of course they will.

Looking back at the judge’s post-report of the “Three Sisters” bid, you’ll remember that Galway was awarded the honour. They happened to have a festival on, when the judges were visiting and the City also beamed the final judging “Live”. Now there’s a City that knows just how to tick the right boxes.

Yet we had three equally big hitters, supposedly working together? This should have blown Galway’s bid to “Kingdom Come”. Combining the strength and talent of Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford, should have been a no brainer. These three South East giants could have fashioned a one of a kind offering. The judges would have had no option, but to give the award to the “Three Sisters”. This didn’t happen. It may well have been attributed to their concerns, as to whether these regions, had the propensity to work together, for the greater good. Something Galway would have pointed out!

There are so many other examples of the lack of cooperation with the neighbours. They’re only really interested in “Self”.

The proposed expansion of the City boundary, to the North of the River Suir was scuppered. Despite apparent Government Ministerial approval. The outcry from Kilkenny’s political representatives, ensured that the rubber stamp would not take the ink. The Port of Waterford is in the eyes of others, The Port of Kilkenny and they are not frightened to shout about this either.

Kilkenny, as a five seat constituency, guarantees that the main political parties have more to lose if they don’t get their agenda just right. There is a very real possibility, that this constituency will return three FF or FG TDs at the next election. What with Waterford’s political representation not being able to compete and probably returning only one from FF, FG, SF and a Green or Independent, is it any wonder that the corridors of power, purr to the calls of the cats?

When “Big Phil” departed for Brussels, he left a very large void. That space is now being filled post haste. Waterford’s last significant Minister, departed many moons ago and we are still staring at the gigantic chasm he left.

There will be NO regional development, if we don’t get moving with Waterford’s agenda. Do we need to cosy up to those negative thinkers? Well no, but we do need to make sure that we can work with them. Persuading them that for the region to flourish, Waterford has to retain her beating heart.

After all, where do the huge percentage of the employees working in IDA businesses coming from? Also, what of the employees, attracted to working for the larger Waterford based service companies? Yes, they come from across the SE region. Including Kilkenny.

Without Waterford’s employment opportunities, the whole region would fail. Yet recognising and admitting this, seems to be the BIG elephant in the room.

In the meantime, we need to clip these covetous claws at every opportunity.

“Round and round and round we go!”

It’s official, Waterford City now has one of the largest “Roundish-squarish-abouts” in the county and probably the South East. The urban regeneration plans/works are in full swing and there are new road layouts springing up everywhere. Though we need not be surprised by this, as there was ample consultation and lots of opportunities to feed into the process, from as far back as 2015 (I think!).

I have to admit, that I’ve not had the occasion to try the new route, at “Rush-hour”, around the College Street, Bath Street, Manor Street, Railway Square loop. However, having been up and down on several occasions, it appears to be working well. The surface is a pleasure to drive on and don’t the new white shiny road markings look the business?

“Surprise, Surprise”, there were of course the usual Facebook warriors, pointing out that the world had ended, when this new system was introduced Cilla Black style. It’s not like we didn’t know this was happening! We’ll all have to give the new route time to bed in and before we know any different, it may become the norm?

Remember how so, so many were against The Apple Market roof development? In no time at all, this regenerated area has become a firm favourite of Waterfordonians and visitors alike. Looking at the future plans, there is plenty to keep this new performance area at the forefront of Waterford’s entertainment portfolio.

Admittedly, there are a number of snagging issues that need sorting out. The road surface, for example, differentiating the traffic and public areas, some noise concerns etc. We are assured that the Council is aware of these and in time, this will be addressed.

Perhaps we need a gentle reminder, on how to obey traffic directions? This might make these changes easier to understand? After all, those of us of a certain age and vintage, have possibly forgotten what a “Highway Code” book looks like. Can we even remember what the content actually refers to when driving? I know on the ring-road, people just choose to ignore the lane priority road markings, on approach to the roundabouts. The racing drivers, in the right-hand lanes, save literally seconds off their journey time, by refusing to move back to the left, when approaching said roundabouts. Better still, some in the left-hand lane drive straight across at roundabouts, creating the phenomenon of “Square-abouts”.

Anyway, as the City grows and expands, there will inevitably be more traffic disruptions. We should all be prepared to accept these, as they will surely and eventually benefit the expansion of the City. We need to accept that old adage, “You can’t make an omelette, without breaking a few eggs!” We can only hope that those making the omelettes, will not leave a few pieces of shell in their final presentation. Therefore, monitoring the new traffic flows will be crucial to keep footfall at reasonable levels, thus avoiding adverse negative publicity.

There does need to be a certain amount of proactivity on the Council’s behalf. For instance, the traffic tailbacks on the Dunmore Road are anomalous. During quieter times, this route can be as demanding as “Rush-hour”. Conversely, there can be tailbacks from Lombard Street, right back to the fried egg in Newtown, for no meaningful or apparent reason. You could be 40 minutes trying to navigate down this road, which is off-putting and discourages people coming into the City.

It may have something to do with the phasing of the traffic lights from the Quay, going all the way back to the junction on Lombard Street. Maybe the tech boffins in the Council can look at this? You know who I mean, those guys who talk only in binary numbers, “01010111 01100101 01101100 01101100, 01000010 01101111 01101001!”

I think we all have to be patient whilst the changes crystallize. Though some spinners do need to move away from the rhetoric, that traffic jams are good for this City. They are not! They discourage people from travelling to Waterford, when the access roads are constantly blocked. We need an accessible City Centre, with good public transport links. Dublin’s levels of congestion, are simply not acceptable in a City of circa 50,000 people.

Happy motoring. 

“Happy Burns Night!”

If you haven’t guessed it yet, I am very proud of my Scottish roots. I am Waterford’s token Scot, wheeled out on the odd occasion, to give my views and opinions on WLR and all manner of topics. Never a “Flowery” answer from this Garland!

Annually, on the 25^th January, we kilt wearing loons (Aberdonian for boys), celebrate the life of one of Scotland’s greatest exports. Robert Burns Esquire, Scotland’s National Bard. He was and still is our people’s champion. Rabbie, as we refer to him, was born in the year of our Lord 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire, his father a very, very poor tenant farmer. He grew up to become immeasurably famous and revered, for his creative poetry and verse. He would articulate a social commentary, on the injustices of life in Scotland, in the early 19^th Century.

Please note that we Scots claimed 1759, as a date to celebrate, long before those in Diageo and “The Black Stuff”, from St James’s Gate, ever did!

Rabbie was quite literally the Robbie Williams of his day. That “Bit of rough”, the ladies of a certain standing, could go and see performing his work in the Literary Salons of the day. They would travel hundreds of miles, to Edinburgh, just to get a glimpse of him, in the homes of the Edinburgh elite, reciting his latest “Hits”. He liked the ladies and the ladies LIKED him, if you know what I mean!

 

We gather with friends and family every year, around the 25^th January, to celebrate the close bonds we have with those dearest to us. Haggis, with tatties and bashed neeps are washed down with the odd malt or two. There is much reminiscing and storytelling as the night lingers on.

Of course, the main ingredient of the meal, which always comes up in conversation, is the Haggis. Some say, this is an animal unique to Scotland, a kind of cross between a Guinea Pig and a Teletubby rabbit. One of the Darwinian features of this exceptional beastie, is that both their left and right legs are of different lengths. Thus, allow the creatures to escape predators, by running very quickly around a hillside. Admittedly, they could only run fast in one direction. The trick to catching them, is to chase them in the opposite direction so that they fall from the hill into waiting nets.

Rumour has it, that a breeding pair have been released onto the Comeragh Mountains. Apparently, a handsome fellow in yellow Lycra was seen leaving the scene at speed on his bike? If true, this is an ideal environment to establish a colony. According to pre-release veterinarian reports, the pair are due to give birth to their first litter, on 1^st April.

The relevance of Burns Night is not lost on our own Minister for Health, who recently visited a “Best practice hospital near Glasgow”. Visiting a ward, with the CEO, he was introduced to Hamish, who looked perfectly healthy, until he spoke, “Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie!....” Looking puzzled our minister rapidly moved on.

Next, a very healthy looking elderly lady called Morag spoke, “O my Luve's like a red, red rose, that's newly sprung in June....” Our Minister was beginning to feel discomfited at this stage and asked to move on to the last bed. There he met Angus, who immediately started reciting, “Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led....”

Uneasy, troubled and clearly perplexed our Minister asked “What type of ward is this?” To which the CEO replied “This is our Burns Ward!” BOOM! BOOM!

I do realise that some of you may not get that joke – it wouldn’t be the first time I have NOT been funny. However, it may encourage you to search out some of Robert Burns’ work.  You’ll soon discover, that you recognise many of the lines Burns wrote. Lines quoted widely, throughout the world.

Phil Coulter has even “Tweaked” a line from one of Rabbie’s lyrics, using this in “Ireland’s Call”, their unofficial rugby anthem. Yes - we Scots get everywhere!

So there you have it, my wee indulgence of Scottish nostalgia.

Good luck searching out the Haggis. “Happy Burns Night!”

“Forget New Year Resolutions, maybe we need a Revolution?”

“I don’t believe it!”

We’re not even two weeks into the New Year and already there are Cream Eggs in many of the larger supermarkets. The shelves are beginning to fill and bulge, with all manner of chocolate gooey ovalness. With the annual Halloween “Trick or Treating”, has now merged, seamlessly, into baubles and tinsel, New Year and Easter appear to be rolling together as well. Soon there will be absolutely NO separation between our seasonal festivities and that’s a shame. Our year will be truncated by one big commercial temptation, with no time to rejoice or rest, for that matter.

I was asked the other day, whilst on the Friday Panel of Eamon Keane’s Deise Today programme, if I’ve made any New Year resolutions? I told Eamon and his listeners, that I’d given up making these a very, very long time ago. Personally, I do think it is important to give yourself goals and targets. However, committing to these just once a year, never really worked for me. As your circumstances change, so must the objectives you have set. Adaptation, commitment and flexibility are the key.

Anyway, having told the listeners that I don’t have any individual resolutions set for 2018, I did have a few wishes for Waterford Inc. Namely, that our four elected TDs would actually deliver on their 2016 General Election promises for this, the “Quiet County!”

The background to this, in relation to our health, is the shocking, but not surprising, revelation that Ireland Inc. needs 2,500 new hospital beds. Failure to deliver these in the next few years, will leave a much greater deficit of around 9,000, further down the line. Such complete and utter lack of forward planning, to future proofing of our health care, just beggar’s belief! More worryingly for Waterford, this is a significant national distraction, we don’t need, in relation to our ongoing 24/7 cardio campaign. Unfortunately, when to comes to the health of those living in Waterford and the South East, this is yet another well aimed nail, driven into our coffin.

A spate of Facebook ping-pong was observed last week on the subject of 24/7 cardio care. It seems that ALL political parties are claiming and counter-claiming, that they have or have not tabled a motion. It appears that we are as fractured as ever on this regional issue. From what I have heard on the political grapevine, we are no nearer to getting REAL all party support. Quite clearly point scoring, has taken precedence over our ailing health issues.

What of our SDZ on the North Quay? I know that we are being told that this is full steam ahead and that the Arabs will be bringing their wealth, their Riyal, to develop this crucial piece of infrastructure. What if we need a plan B? I don’t hear any talk of just what this might be. Have we put all our Easter eggs into the one basket – I for one hope not!

Our airport continues to get a leg-up from government backed funding. As time ever so slowly moves forward, we have to wonder if we will ever attract another carrier of significance. Runway extension is all that is needed to secure this lifeline. Alas, those holding on onto the purse strings don’t seem to be so convinced. The longer we go on without an operator, the more the people of the South East will get used to the short drive to Dublin and Cork. Can we be sure there is a plan B to secure the levels of funding others receive?

WIT continues its age old battle to get University status. Continually moving goal posts, whilst other third level university institutions swallow up ALL the funding. Will there ever be space for a university of the South East? Again time is marching on and quite clearly, some are ahead of us in the queue. We don’t seem to be sticking our elbows out wide enough, to stop others pushing in.

2018 is already upon us. I hope that those who can influence Waterford’s future, took a long hard look at themselves over the festive period. They needed to set a few New Year resolutions and deliver them!

“Happy Hogmanay!”

Aren’t traditions great? In Scotland, we celebrate Hogmanay, on December 31^st, the last day of the year past. Looking back on what has gone, rather than towards what is yet to come. Unlike our “Auld Enemy”, those Sassenachs down South, we do our own thing, we’ve done for time immemorial.

This tradition also involves “The First Foot”. The taller and darker the preferred male “First Footer”, the better. He is the first person to cross the doorstep or threshold, of a friend or neighbour, post the midnight “Bells”. He brings with him emblematic gifts of coal, salt, shortbread, fruit cake (often Black Bun). Ensuring the household will have warmth and food a’ plenty, in the coming year. He’ll also bring a “Wee dram” in the form of Whisky, possibly even a fine malt, sharing and toasting “Slainte Mhath”. The ensuing party could quite literally go on for days – or at least ‘till the Whisky ran out! 

It’s strange just how these topics come up in conversation. I happened to be talking about this to a Welsh friend, whilst out cycling on a cold, snowy capped Comeragh morning. We both agreed that our first experience of Irish tradition was in fact in church, with our respective wives. When at mass, the congregation turn round and wish everyone within a handshake distance, “Peace be with you.” A welcoming gesture to any visitor and certainly to this newbie. This action a sign of friendship and companionship. Initially my Welsh friend thought everyone was saying “Pleased to meet you!” Making him feel very warmly received indeed.

 

I thought that I would look back over the year past, picking out some of “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” moments, affecting us in Waterford. Boi, there was unquestionably an awful lot to choose from!

Our biggest ongoing saga, was of course our right to proper cardio care, at UHW. This story has been rumbling on for many years and it looks like we will have to wait another 18 months, for another report to be written. I was very disappointed, to have seen only a few hundred at the protest in Dublin. My daughter and I expected to see hundreds, if not thousands, on Kildare Street. I was kilted and ready to “Storm the gates”, Braveheart style, to take up position on “The Plinth”. With so few in number, we missed a gilt-edged opportunity to capture the National Airwaves, with our passionate protest.

What then of our “Fantastic Four”, who marched triumphantly into the Dáil chambers after that 2016 General Election? They would, collectively, deliver for Waterford and its electorate. With 25% of this Capella group, unable to perform, our bargaining power was anything but harmonious.

Cars tend to drive much better with all four wheels, don’t they? Maybe, 2018 will see the re-emergence of our missing TD, to bolster and re-energise Team Waterford’s clout in Dublin? Do we have to recognise that we will be driving a knackered, three-wheeled, Reliant Robin from now on?

Our City looked resplendent and magnificent, all through the busy summer months, with City in Bloom. A wonderful riot of colour, emerging from the simplest and most cost effective of projects, delivered by Waterford Business Group and Waterford Council. Spraoi once again produced something spectacular and Waterford Walls brought permanency, to some of the more bedraggled corners of the City. Festivals were, on the whole, a huge success and there is much to look forward to in 2018.

Waterford’s Greenway has been the jewel in our USP crown, attracting some 250,000 visitors to the County. This 42-kilometre converted railway line, between Waterford City and Dungarvan, has to be applauded, celebrated, cared for and most importantly, treated with the respect it deserves. If we are to reap the benefits from this tourist attraction, we must regard it as we would, one of Waterford’s Treasures.

2017 delivered a very mixed bag for Waterford. Let’s not lose sight of the fact, that we are only on the “Third tier” of Ireland’s economic recovery. Traffic jams and footfall do not equate to a booming economy. The reports and CSO figures tell us the truth. We have an awfully long way to go, to even just catch up.

Here’s hoping, “Happy New Year” to you all.