Kelly’s Heroes!

I haven’t become a film critic this week and will not be reviewing the Brian G. Hutton film starring the likes of Clint Eastwood and Telly Savalas.  I am referring to those absolutely mad, mad, men and women who took part in the 10^th Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford, which took place last Saturday and Sunday.

You always know that the Sean Kelly is upon us, as the weather inevitably turns nasty for Sunday’s main events. It is almost as though the man upstairs does not think the 160km Kelly Comeragh Challenge is hard enough. So, he throws some curve balls at you. This year we got incessant rain, fog, sea haar and a cruel headwind, strategically directed straight into your face on the homeward leg.

However, the day did start with the promise of better cycling weather.

My wee Mini was parked in a side street in Abbeyside, at around 06:15, just before sunrise. The omens were good. The morning was overcast, but bright enough, as I unpacked the car. Putting on let’s say, summer cycling gear – bib shorts, sleeveless shirt and a very light windproof, NOT waterproof, gilet.

I knew we were in for a decent weather day, as the Sean Kelly Facebook posts said so. “Looks like we might just escape the deluge” and “Sunrise Dungarvan Bay, it's gonna be a great day”. There was even a link to a weather website promising soooo much; “Forecast looking better now for tomorrow... here's hoping”!

Hmmm – a Michael Fish weather forecaster for 2017 I’d say!

As we mustered to set off for our Biscuit Club start time of 07:15, the weather closed in. Right on cue it started to rain. That nasty, thick, misty drizzle that just penetrates everything. Little did we know, that we would have its company for the next 160km! It would not have mattered if we had dressed in rubber, I am sure we would still have been soaked, by the time we returned to Fungarvan.

So, six courageous Biscuits set off. A pair who left at 07:00 and then, a group of four. By the time we had passed the viaduct on the coast road, we had, jokingly, contemplated turning back and taking on the lesser 100km challenge. Surely the rain Gods would relent at some stage and turn the taps off! If only we could have heard them taunting at us, they were about to open up both taps.

We soldiered on through Bunmahon and onto Kill, then up and down into Balllaneen. There we ALL encountered our first of many “Squeaky bum moments” on the greasy, treacherous back roads, resembling ice rinks, in some places. Kilmacthomas, Carolls Cross and up that nasty wee climb, between the reservoirs, which is part of the Comeragh CC Tuesday night circuit. (Oh the memories of pained, sore legs, as I raced this course for the first time in 2017, as a 50 plus grumpy MAMIL). Down Church Hill and into Portlaw, with yet more buttock clenching needed to round a few of these corners.

Scrouty was the first biggish climb, then some back roads to a welcoming warm cup of tea and a bun, in Rathgormack. There we were told that “It’s sunny at the top of The Powers the Pot!” “Yeh right and I am Sean Connery,” I said.

Tickincor and Powers the Pot were soon upon us, at around the 95km mark. A 15km loop of vertical tarmac that took us all closer to God. Some quite literally much closer to God!

The descent down the treacherous Mountain Road into Clonmel was difficult and dangerous. Especially with wet, tired, cold hands, unable to grip slippery brake levers. At this, the 115km mark, those chasing their own personal best times knew to stop or chase the clock.

The weather was unrelenting. A headwind now tried to push us backwards, all the way from Ballymacarbry. The last hour of cycling was sheer, utter torture. With Fungarvan appearing out of the mist and now insight, spirits were lifted. A tough, tough day to be a MAMIL!

Of course, the real heroes were the organisers, administrators, stewards, volunteers and caterers – a BIG bualadh bos!

As for the weather forecaster.....

Dare we dream?

Well, well, well, just how do you put that into words? What a Sunday performance from Waterford’s young charges. They quite literally destroyed the Rebel Army from Cork, in that hurling semi-final. An early September final weekend awaits with Galway.

Is it now time to start dreaming?

I openly admit, that having being brought up in Scotland, on a diet of amateur rugby, I am no hurling cognoscenti. But Waterford’s second half performance was just magnificent and a sheer joy to watch. The pace, the passion, the aggression, the determination and for the first time that I can recall, a steely determination and strength of mind to win at all costs. I get the feeling that these players would have run through the walls of a nuclear bunker, for Derek McGrath and his backroom staff.

Though some on the RTE’s Sunday panel were not so enamoured with the way we played. They were surely watching another game, or maybe it was just a wee bit of sour grapes! The Cats will be at a loss come 15:30, on that first weekend in September. For the first time in an awful long stretch, Kilkenny will have to support another team.  As we chase that little white sliotar around the vast green fields of Páirc an Chrócaigh. Maybe they will see fit to support their Waterford neighbours?

I know nothing about Mr McGrath’s “Controversial” sweeper system or the way a team has to set up, to play this way. What I do know, is that it is working 100% and maybe that is all that counts. This team, through absolute hard graft and effort, have worked out how to beat other squads. Waterford’s set up, contentious or not, suits this line up and this group of players. Perhaps the Naysayers, those RTE panellists included, should shut up and embrace our team’s ambitions? A winning formula appears to have been found and if we are celebrating on the 3^rd of September, others might just start copying Waterford’s set up.

What also struck me, was the sheer number of blue and white supporters, who travelled up to Dublin, to shout “Déise Abu!” Waterford must have one of, if not the best supported hurling teams in Ireland. It looked like half of the 70,000 crowd came up the M9, or sneaked up the M11, to avoid the clash with Cork supporters on the M7!

I can only imagine, that tickets for the final clash with Galway, will be rarer than hen’s teeth. This, I have been told, will be the first time these two teams have met in an All Ireland Final. Neither will want to lose, on such an historic occasion. The match has the capacity to become a game we will all remember for many a year. Those lucky enough to secure a ticket, will remember the experience forever.

It never ceases to amaze me, how sporting successes can lift our spirits. Particularly when Waterford is still dealing with some very serious infrastructural issues. To take a trip to Dublin in early September, is both a distraction and is a welcome relief. This gives hope that a brighter future lies ahead for the people of the Déise.

As an aside and probably due to the excitement of a possible semi-final win, we all seem to have become very giddy. I noticed over the weekend a platform has appeared in the middle of the River Suir, just in line with the clock tower and the centre of the North Quay. When I asked what it was for I was told “We had struck oil and gas”. Forget the Corrib Gas Project, Waterford was to become the Dallas of Ireland! We would all get rich on the back of this and our Hurlers be presented with a brand new 50,000 seated stadium, with many bells and whistles, if we allowed Shell to start drilling!

As our young hurlers get down to the Herculean task of preparing for the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final we must support them in every way possible. We need to show our support by turning the city, county and of course Páirc an Chrócaigh blue and white.

Déise Abu!

(Hurling photograph taken by Ray McManus, with our very own Noel Browne in the background!)

Our Showcase Weekend!

It has to be one of the most eagerly anticipated weekends of the year. The annual “Spraoi Bank Holiday in August”, as we all now call it.

The 2017 three-day event was even more special this year, as we were celebrating the 25^th Birthday, of this festival of street music and entertainment. An event that, in all honesty has probably grown to such an extent, that those originators who came up with the idea, are pinching themselves very hard.

Who could have imagined that from such a small acorn, a whole forest would grow?

Spraoi 25, has brought to Waterford City, brand new international acts and a plethora of exciting, innovative and extraordinary home-grown talent. Year on year we see this festival “Reinvent” the concept of street entertainment. This production seems as fresh as ever. It is an amazing formula, has not become stale under any circumstance. You certainly don’t hear people saying this is just the “Same old, same old!”

This was my 16^th Spraoi, since relocating to Waterford City from Scotland. Having come from an events background, covering venues such as Wembley Stadium and Arena, also The Business Design Centre, I know just how challenging and difficult it is to keep an event relevant.

Hats off to the team, some would say army, of staff and volunteers who keep this Waterford treasure rolling along. Not only do they deliver annually, on the first weekend in August, but they are now even packing attendances in, at other festival in far flung corners of Europe. Maybe one year Edinburgh City will open its eyes and invite our SPRAOI to attend the Fringe? Now that would be worth visiting “Auld Reekie” for!

Despite a wee bit of warm rain on Sunday, the weather was excellent for wandering around this oldest of Ireland’s cities. It was great to see that so many of our visitors were exploring Waterford’s wee narrow streets, for the first time. They would turn a corner and there in front of them would be another performance area. We really are blessed with wondrous ancient architecture, Spraoi blending in so well, with its almost chaotic choreographed stage shows.

To many, the weekend is of course bookended by the parade and fireworks display. It would appear that Uncle Tom Cobley and his extended family were in attendance. There is something truly mesmerising about late night fireworks. The myriad of psychedelic colours, ear splitting loud bangs, pops, whizzes and whooshes, exhilarate our very essence. We all love a grand finale to a festival and Spraoi has this down to a fine art.

Of course the whole event needs sponsors and our support, the donating public. As with “ALL things Arty”, there is a huge squeeze on funding for such projects and festivals. The annual struggle, to get just enough to cover costs will always be a difficult uphill task! Funding is forthcoming from various tax payers’ resources, but alas, more and more is being channelled, yes you’ve guessed correctly, away from Waterford!

Once again we are, proportionately, at the very bottom of the Giving Tree, when it comes to supporting our Waterford arts. Local Authorities are being squeezed year on year. Have no doubt that Government pressure will force constraints, come the annual budgetary months of November and December. Those Councils, who wish to continue funding The Arts at the same levels, will be “Encouraged” to find these costs from direct increases in local commercial rates and the local property tax. The jungles drums are already tapping out a beat!

Government is at pains to tell us that “The Arts” are high on their agenda and at every local level they apparently matter a great deal. Yet, the opposite is true when fiscal policy dictates that they be adequately funded. The funding pinch will happen in 2018, as the current Government try to “Buy” our votes for the next general election, looming on the horizon.

Waterford City and County manages to incorporate many, many festivals into the calendar year. In fact we are just as busy as other cities, including Galway.

Spraoi works, because we all feel we’re part of the festival. We feel like we “OWN” a part of “OUR” festival, roll on the next 25 years.

Who is listening? #awaitinganotherreview #missinginaction

We are being heard, but no one is really listening!

Now, there is a very distinct difference between hearing and listening.

When you hear something, your ear is quite simply picking up and perceiving a particular sound. If you remember your Physics classes in secondary school, you hear and then your brain interprets those sound waves and vibrations.

Listening on the other hand, is a conscious effort to choose what you want to hear. To do this, you must concentrate on the messages you receive and understand them. Many of our senses are involved in listening and the result is more often than not, an immediate call to action. Whether that be a fight or flight response, or a simple “Yes, I am listening” response, to when Mrs Garland asks you about housework, when Scotland are playing rugby, on the TV!

Many people get these two completely mixed up. As a result, there are far too many people assuming that other people are listening to them, when in fact they are only barely being heard.

It would seem that the root of many of Waterford’s current woes and problems, stem from our inherent inability to get Waterford’s message out to the wider public and those in power. We do enough shouting and we are very good at getting people to listen on a local level. Outside of that very narrow boundary, we do not seem to be able to get the right influencers to listen to, appreciate and grasp our case. This of course has been happening to Waterford for many, many years. When we do eventually connect to the island’s consciousness, we are thrown the odd crumb, an appeasement for another few years. M9 motorway, case in point.

Could we learn from other regions?

It seems that we continue to climb our Everest, unaided, unsupported and without oxygen, whilst others are gaining copious help. Many, many Sherpa Tenzings, considerable quantities of that essential life giving odourless gas and base camps supporting the treacherous ascent. The result is that “Regional Development”, and I use that phrase very lightly, is given to those who are able to make people listen to their plight and struggles.

For some reason we just seem to be an irritating background noise, annoying far too many “People in power” and “Influencers”. This can even be heard and seen, across the world of our terrestrial broadcasters. Ask them to highlight Waterford’s current health problems, third level educational issues, unemployment struggles etc and to a man and a woman they seem disinterested. It is almost as if they have not listened to our messaging. They are only hearing an irritating buzzing in their ears.

It is clear that we need to change the way we are engaging with people on a national level. Our regional issues appear to have become solely Waterford issues by the time they reach Leinster House. Thus, diluted and diminished on impact.

Yes, a lack of political clout and Ireland’s love of parish pump politics does not help our case. But we should surely become just a bit more tactical in our campaigns? To gain Dublin’s ear?

It might be time to get our national broadcasters to sit up and to give more than a few seconds to our many issues. Of course the sixty five million dollar question is “How?”

Maybe we could take a leaf out of Fianna Fail’s recent social media campaign, #askfiannafail, and ask them to deliver for the region? Maybe this hashtag should actually read #askalloppositionparties, if we are really to get things moving?

Or better still we could just #askfinegael, as they are in power and we do have two TDs, who form part of this current Government. We even have a Junior Minister in Waterford. Of course I forgot, one is #missinginaction and the other is #awaitinganotherreview.

Our other option is to #takethefighttoDublin. I have heard people talking about taking a 90-minute protest to Dublin. #driveslowly or #blockthetolls on the M50! This would get us noticed. But would we be listened to if we were to take such a direct approach?

We clearly have an awful long way to go, #tobelistenedto. 

Finally, for the weekend ahead "Happy 25th Birthday Spraoi!" Looking forward to the fireworks display and parade. #Spraoi25

We’ve had “Bertie’s Bowl” and now “Varadkar’s Valhalla!”

I arrived in Ireland, some sixteen years ago, having driven a lorry containing ALL our family’s worldly belongings from Larne to Waterford City. It was a mammoth, long, weary journey at the time. There was little or no motorway infrastructure and in truth there were crappy roads everywhere, from the North to the South.

Our very small Scottish convoy, which constituted a rented 7.5 tonne truck and my Escort estate car, was stopped just across the border. This, I recall, put the fear of god into me and here’s why. In the back of my car, my air rifle was hidden inside my golf bag! I was well aware that an air rifle was illegal in Ireland, so to hide mine, I somehow thought making it look like a golf club was a good idea. Luckily the Garda only asked where we were going and once I explained that I was moving from Scotland to Waterford, he waved us on. The air rifle quickly left the Garland household once we settled in the City.

Thankfully, we have now seen major changes to the road infrastructure. The difficulties in accessing the South East corner, which took me from memory around 9 hours to get to in 2001, have been resolved. Belfast can be reached in less than 4 hours. Better still, you can actually drive from Belfast to Waterford without being stopped at a traffic light. Whilst the speed of change has been more walking pace than meteoric, there has been progress in opening up this wee sunny corner of this green isle.

When I settled in Waterford there was great talk and discussion about Waterford being THE “Gateway City” for the South East region. It would be developed to become the economic powerhouse of the region. Securing and attracting inward foreign investment, which would bring huge numbers of well paid jobs to everyone living in the “Sunny South East”. We would have a regional hospital with all the bells and whistles. A regional airport servicing the UK and the Western fringes of Europe. A university to rival those of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Scroll forward sixteen years and Government after Government have abjectly failed to deliver any regional development. Both the South East and North West have been principally ignored, by the very bodies that should be concentrating on promoting these disadvantaged areas. But the Irish way seems to be to ignore these problem children, sitting so far away from the epicentre of power.

The IDA’s own figures reveal a damming indictment on just how far Waterford has fallen off the table, in terms of “Promotional visits”. We are told that Waterford and the South East cannot be pushed ahead of the other regions. In fact our region cannot be promoted or receive special attention – as that would just be unfair! So, with the other regions flourishing, they're becoming an irresistible draw for yet more and  more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), at a significant cost to the struggling NW and SE.

Our current Government recently launched the National Planning Framework, amid much pomp, ceremony and PR spin. A highlight for Waterford was Minister Coveney’s promise to double the City’s population. Yet, almost the very next day he rejected a report’s recommendations to extend the City’s boundary North across the River Suir. Talk about flip flopping, this party has it down to a T.

So, the very latest Government idea, to help a “Struggling Dublin?” with its booming economy once again, is to consider building a new City for Ireland in the Midlands region!!!!

Just where is the sense in such a stupid, ridiculous idea?

Our two struggling regions are crying out for Government investment. They are ready for regional investment and yet may once again be overlooked.

Are we really prepared to accept one more political folly after another? Who remembers Bertie’s Bowl? Now, after only a few wet weeks in office, we are planning to build Varadkar’s Valhalla. Why do our leaders feel the need to build their own Guggenheims? To be immortalised when they depart the political arena?

Surely, delivering an equitable, fair and reasonable regional development policy is a better legacy than one more Guggenheim?

Who remembers THAT letter? “What letter?” I hear you cry!

In May last year, I wrote about a certain Neville Chamberlain’s political faux pas, which defined his office as Prime Minister of “Blighty”. On the 30^th September 1938, after a meeting with Chancellor Adolf Hitler, Chamberlain returned to England, via Heston Airport. He exited his “Corporate jet” waving a letter from his now BFF, announcing that there would be, “Peace for our time.”

Chamberlain, in those few brief minutes, was claiming that he had singlehandedly stopped the prospect of Armageddon. He had prevented World War II.

Scroll forward just under twelve months, to the 1^st September 1939, which we now recognise as the “Official start date” of WWII. For all Chamberlain’s letter waving and pontificating, there was no substance to Chancellor Hitler’s letter. In fact we now know, that the letter was used to stall for time, to allowing Germany to build even bigger military forces. More disturbingly, this hand typed A4 piece of embossed paper, meant that the European powers could “Legitimately” stand back, empowering Germany to make some significant land grabs.

Recorded history is a great reference point and I would advocate that we all every now and again, dip into it to see the journey we have taken.

On 6^th May 2016 we, particularly in Waterford, became very excited about a similar piece of correspondence. A letter from the then Minister of Finance, Michael Noonan TD, was waved to us, by our own Junior Minister Halligan. This declared that a second Catheterisation Laboratory had now been signed, sealed and delivered for Waterford and the wider South East. The funding and building of the second laboratory was cast in stone. Written into that mythological document, “The Programme for Government”. Fine Gael, supported by a few Independent TDs, would construct our Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

We should have been very wary of such claims and promises. History has taught us to be cautious of people waving letters. But then again we somehow choose to learn so very little from our immediate past.

“Subject to a favourable recommendation from an independent clinical review of the needs of the region....” in the first paragraph of the Minister’s letter. This should have set alarm bells ringing. We were told that this review was merely a formality. Boy were we sold a banana boat with no paddle!

14 months later and we are in reality, no further forward. We’ve yet to see foundations being dug to build a Catheterisation Laboratory. This would give us access to the very basic rights to appropriate emergency care.

The political fudge, to appease the Waterford/SE hordes, was to provide a mobile laboratory. This too was also given lots and lots of PR spin. Yet many, many weeks have passed since this unit was supposed to find its way to Waterford, for the month of June. We are led to believe that September is now the promised landing date for this unit – maybe we should club together and buy Minister Harris a sat nav?

What is for sure is that Fine Gael, with its Independent Alliance support foundations, could sign off on the procurement, build and delivery of a Catheterisation Laboratory for Waterford and the South East, at the stroke of a pen! Far too many do not see Waterford and the SE as a priority, certainly Leo and Simon don’t.

There is, in all honesty, NO need for people to be asking for other parties to threaten this and threaten that, if the lab is not delivered. Let’s face it, the opposition parties are only interested in getting into power and not bringing down a Government. Asking the people to vote at another GE is not on the cards. There is NO appetite for this type of political revolt. Anyway, we only have two opposition TDs in Waterford, so in the Number’s Game, we’re zero/zilch!

OUR issue is that we need politicians who are prepared to box clever, whilst driving OUR agenda. We need people in power, representing us, who can forge alliances and work the dark, dingy corridors of power in the Dail.

OUR Political talent pool is just too small to make any real difference. Maybe next time around?

“Just where were ALL the people?”

"When the socks you wear have priority over lives!"

A “BIG, BIG” well done to ALL the people from Waterford, Wexford, Tipp, Kilkenny and the wider South East region, who ventured by car, bus and train, to the Dáil last Tuesday, the 4^th of July. This was certainly not our “Independence Day”.

To those who had to take timeout from family holiday activities, booked a day’s annual leave and rearranged meeting appointments to travel to Dublin – “I salute each and every one of you!” The most precious time we can give to any cause is our own free time. To give this up for the benefit of others, is a very special commitment and sacrifice that so few, in reality, are really willing to make.

I would estimate that around 200 people gathered for 1 o’clock, outside Leinster House’s imposing black wrought iron gates. To be met by a few keepers of the peace, who were obviously expecting us. Thankfully, they seemed in good spirits. Happily, no water protest aggression shown to the people of the South East.

Those who took time to count the attendees on the 4^th of July, would find the numbers disappointingly low, very, very low. To be honest, appalling low and therefore relatively insignificant to Messrs Varadkar and Harris!

Waterford County’s population, according to the 2016 Census, is circa 116,000 and we saw less than 1% of that number travel to the capital! If you were to calculate attendees, as a representative percentage of the much quoted 500,000 people across the wider South East region, calculators would cough in embarrassment at the answer they spat out!

If we are being candid, to ourselves, in the cold light of day, we have to ask ourselves, “Just where were ALL the people?”

We know only far too well, that marches in Waterford City are very well attended. Seemingly getting very little constructive reaction from the corridors of power, in the Dáil. This was our - “One chance, just one chance...”, in the words of Mel Gibson, to show our Dublin centric leaders, that we must be taken seriously on the issue of 24/7 cardio care.

Where were ALL the social media keyboard warriors, who regularly contribute to posts on the various representative pages? Those people, who are so vociferous in their condemnation of the way we are being treated, had no voice on Tuesday 4^th July. They simply could not be bothered to make the extra effort and travel to Dublin to be one of the faces in our protest rally. Those anonymous champions are championing what? Judging by numbers, they are NOT supporting the 24/7 cardio care!

I spoke to lots of people, who were in attendance and whilst many put on a brave face, you could see that they were all disheartened and saddened by such a small representation. The Gardaí were even expecting “Invading hoards”, from Ireland’s Oldest City. They were ready to close off more than just the immediate area outside the Dáil. Adequate resources were on duty to cover disruption to the whole of Kildare Street and probably Molesworth Street.

Sadly, I saw more people and tourists going in and out of the National Museum of Ireland, than protesting on Kildare Street. We truly are the “Quiet County”. Disturbingly, a plethora of opposition TDs, seeking their natural environment in front of a media camera, were promising 24/7 cardio care can be delivered, by them, if in power! Easier to say than to execute!

I have since managed to speak with a few more of the attendees, who made the round trip to Dublin. They ALL said the very same about the very low turnout. Just how deeply dispirited they felt with the inadequacy of the response. Where does the protest go from here? Some even asked where were all the “Hand on Heart”, higher profile celebrates? Their attendance, might have ensured more than the derisory 25 seconds of coverage from RTE.

How are the heroic efforts of these few, perceived by the deadly duo, Varadkar/Harris and sit in the bigger scheme of their health service plans?

Our two protagonists no doubt returned to their “Golden Circle”, to discuss socks, rather than the health of the people of Waterford and the wider South East!!!!!