Just where is “The Home of the Greenway”?

After 40 day and 40 nights of brilliant sunshine, it actually rained on Sunday 15^th July. A day that will surely live long in our memory.

If you were watching the footie, you’ll remember in years to come, that on this day, France won the World Cup in Moscow, 20 years after lifting the trophy in Paris. It was also the day that Novak Djokovic lifted his fourth Wimbledon title. Made all the more remarkable, when you consider the injury hampered last two years he has endured. Oh, and Kilkenny tumbled out of the Hurling Championship! They’ll be joining Waterford, Wexford and Tipp on an extended Summer break.

The rain also caught me out, whilst on my Penny Farthing. Up at the top of Templeorum, with two fellow Biscuits, we had to make the treacherous descent into Piltown. To me, this mountain road is my very own piece of the Tour de France. The wee “S-bends” halfway down, with the stunning views of the Suir Valley, is in my mind a mini Alpine Pass. It’s a great road to cycle or walk, whether you start in Piltown or Newmarket.

Thankfully, my cycle on Saturday suffered no hazardous dramas.

On the last blisteringly hot day before the rains came, a group of “Cookie-clad” cyclists pedalled very hard into a strong South-Westerly headwind. Cycling from Waterford City to Dungarvan Town, to meet with a number of in-bound Irish tour operators. Wearing another of my other hats, “Waterford Camino Tours”, I was helping to host some V.I.P. guests. Guests looking to Waterford and the South East as a new, emerging market. Specifically, we were promoting all things Greenway, Comeraghs and coastal trails. We really do have so much to offer. It is just that we don’t shout loud enough about what’s on our doorstep.

Waterford’s guests sampled the delights of fishing for lobster off Dunmore East, the underground croft in the Museum of Treasures, Crough Woods to Mahon Falls and of course a cycle through Durrow Tunnel to Dungarvan. This tunnel is now being marketed as “The world’s biggest air conditioning unit!” If you haven’t yet walked or pedalled through this spectacular setting, do so on the next scorchingly hot day. It is quite literally, the coolest place to go, when it’s even too hot for an ice cream!

Dungarvan was extremely busy with walkers and all manner of fashionably clad pedal pushers. The quay was the place to be seen, on the last hot day before the rains came. The local supermarket supplied the tea, coffee and FREE cake! As I was paying the tab, I almost cried! Customer service is all too often overlooked, but the staff members in Garvey’s SuperValu were extra special and wonderfully engaging. There’s a lesson for many here!

As our posse settled down for some alfresco picnicking, we were approached by a local member of the Dungarvan press. No doubt drawn to us by our athletic bodies, clad in skin tight bright yellow Lycra. “Would you agree to a few photographs and an interview?” we were asked. Never one to shy away from a wee bit of PR, I volunteered to speak and say a few words. Fifteen minutes later, a few hundred words spoken into the “i-Voice Recorder” and it was all over, done and dusted. The Waterford Biscuit Club, the importance of the Greenway as a tourism attractor, Waterford Camino Tours and even the 1848 Tricolour, all topics of discussion.

 

What struck me on Saturday, was just how Dungarvan has embraced this new Greenway attraction. Everyone has really bought into the project and is passionately selling the concept. From the “Meet and Greet”, to the stunning town centre quayside location and of course the local newspaper article, all adding to our experience. One of those Special Days that we’ll all fondly remember.

This “Wehst” Waterford market town, is promoting itself as the “Home of the Greenway” and you can see why. Waterford City may well be the starting point of the Greenway, but it’s disconnected from the buzz, liveliness and energy, that walkers and cyclists are bringing Dungarvan.

If we don’t pedal harder, we’ll never catch up.

Ireland – a pimple on the nose of Brexit!

 No two days are ever the same, in the merry-go-round that surrounds our daily connection with politics. One moment our representatives are flavour of the month. Making front page headlines proclaiming that TD X is quite literally “The bee’s knees!” Then “BOOM”, the very same media have turned against them and all of a sudden they’re “Mr Potato Head!”

There’s a very fine line between riding the crest of a wave and drowning in your self-importance. It’s a strange game to want to participate in and to those that do, I readily tip my hat, as you really can never win. Dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t.

I suppose that our political glitterati, live their lives on the basis that today’s headlines, are tomorrow’s fish supper wrappings. Any bad PR will soon be forgotten, as we the voting public, their employers, move onto the next important topic in our lives. Now that may well be “Love Island” or 24/7 cardio care at University Hospital Waterford. We are soon distracted and if we are to be brutally honest, we’ll forget the very images that made us say “I’ll never vote for him/her again!”

Remember the recent referendum photography of the 14 Waterford Councillors, standing to attention, outside the City Hall? Proclaiming their entitlement as men, to “Vote NO!” There was public outcry. A bombardment of social media indignation, ridiculing the image and the messaging contained within that framed photograph. Just how many will recall this picture, when they come a knocking next May, for your local council vote? I have no doubt that they wish this imagery to quietly disappear. Secretly hoping that no new candidates will come forward, to remind Waterford’s voting public of this ill-informed, error in judgment.

A term in office, brings out the very best and worst in some of our representatives. No doubt many go into the dark world of politics with their eyes closed. Their rose tinted glasses are very rapidly removed, dropped on the ground and stood on. They are then consumed by either party politics or the promise of more money. A Junior Ministerial post perhaps, a Chair of a Committee? Or better still, the guarantee of delivering on their manifesto promises for their constituents? Deals are undoubtedly being brokered, in the dark dank corridors of power, at Leinster House.

Crafty politicians barter a better deal and deliver with no fuss. No pomp and certainly no media ceremony. They just deliver for their adoring public and then move on to the next item on the agenda. Keeping it fresh and unsullied is the key to keeping your media presence performing at the highest levels.

We’ve heard many say that we need to be ready to benefit economically, from that everlasting soap opera that is “Brexit”. The reality is, that Ireland is the last thing on the UK Government’s mind. Whilst the Conservative party continually glues itself back together, using the Blue Peter method of sticky backed plastic and coat hangers, said party leading the charge, is self-imploding. Leading figures are going, but they’ve not gone yet. Enjoying shouting louder than ever from Common’s backbenches.

You have to wonder if Brexit will just disappear on the back of a leadership challenge or maybe even another election? Will we see “Brentry” the UK’s next political milestone? What will be, will be and we in Waterford, need our charges to focus on the here and now.

Brexit may well be another distraction for our TDs, ignoring what’s needed closer to home. We can’t in truth influence the Tory Party’s stance on leaving the EU. They’ll obviously be dead set on protecting themselves, whilst looking after their own voters. After all, it is a much tougher electoral system in the UK. First past the post and no multi-seat constituencies.

Maybe we need to make it harder for TDs to be elected and reduce the representation to reflect the population size? That way, a single elected TD would have to represent ALL views and opinions to earn their keep. They’d have to deliver to survive.

Squeezing the Brexit pimple, is proving much harder than anyone imagined.

“Connect Four!”

You know that game! The one with the blue plastic sandwich board, balancing on two wobbly feet. Covered in 42 circular holes, into which you fit your wee red or yellow pieces. A game for two-players, who take alternate turns to drop their coloured disks into the slot to “Connect Four” in a row, either vertically, horizontally or diagonally. An abstract strategy game that would realistically take between 1 and 10 minutes to play.

There are, apparently, over four and a half trillion game piece combinations, on the 7 by 6 play board grid. A tricky wee game, that came out in the mid-seventies and was the must have present at the time of release. It is a game where your strategy, could in due course, benefit your opponent’s strategy.

Connecting four for Waterford, would certainly help our economic cause.

The Waterford Greenway, has as I have continually championed, been a massive success. More so for the “Wesht” of the county, as that after all is where the idea was first muted and started. You only have to go in to Dungarvan’s newly refurbished Grattan Square, to see hundreds of walkers and cyclists mingling with the locals. They’re spending their hard earned Euros in cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops. It has been a phenomenally fiscal success story, everywhere along the 46km route. Except perhaps in Waterford City Centre.

This lack of connectivity to Waterford’s beating heart is disappointing. At a time when the Greenway is fresh, new and exciting, Ireland’s oldest City Centre is unquestionably missing out. The lack of a suitable connector to Bilberry, creates the wrong impression. It also gives an uneven balance to the spending profile of Greenway users. More money is being spent out of the City and yet the bulk of rate paying businesses are in the City. Plans are afoot to rectify this imbalance. The lack of speed, in implementing a suitable solution must be a concern.

Waterford Airport’s woes continue to lack any connectivity. Two years have gone by, since any commercial flight took-off or landed for a foreign destination. There is quite literally tumbleweed blowing across the runway. Whilst other regional airports continue to “Boom” and attract funding, ours doesn’t! We, the travelling public, are already connecting with other transport hubs such as Dublin and Cork. Bringing us back to Waterford will be a gargantuan task and maybe our Mission Impossible?

Our third level educators are failing to connect all the dots. Only last week, we heard that Dublin, “www.tu4Dublin.ie”, is almost certainly going to be the first Technological University in Ireland. This despite our enthusiasm after the 2011 Hunt Report was published, when we’d hope that Waterford and Carlow would wear this crown. Support had been canvassed, the application process keenly adopted, yet unfathomably, we still lost out?

DIT has also secured funding for a €220 million campus, due to open in 2020. Others are working together and making it happen. We appear to be bereft of connections and political backing to push the necessary buttons. Or maybe there is something deeper stalling our applications?

Our four political protagonists are making all the right connections, but in all the wrong places. Political neighbours are delivering in bucket loads for their constituents. Just look across the border to Kilkenny, Cork or Tipperary. The TDs in these heartlands are pulling rabbits out of their hats, at will. Time and time again we read about X, Y and Z being built, funded and completed. There has been no need for another report! No waiting for funding. No delays in getting Pashcal to loosen his purse strings. Some have such close connections that access to taxpayers’ money is a bottomless pit.

 

Why then does Waterford not even have the most basic of connections? We have for as long as I can remember, been the bottom of so many waiting lists. Yet making the above four connect seamlessly, would undeniably help ALL our current causes.

Delivering better connections seems to be our Everest. Yes, we can always get to base camp, but the promise of oxygen to help us get to the top, never materialises.

“Connect Four”, a game we must win!

“Don’t panic, don’t panic!”

Considering that I lodge my article the Friday before it reaches your doorstep, I have to write with a wee eye on what’s likely to happen next week. Now that is difficult at the very best of times. However, being Scottish makes that even harder, as we are naturally good at dealing with the here and now, but trying to second guess the future is a wee bit harder for us.

We are pragmatic, realistic, no-nonsense and matter-of-fact. You’ll know that you have Scots in your blood, if you stop talking and listen, when bagpipes are playing in the background. You’ll quite happily eat the odd Haggis or two, despite knowing what it’s made of! Love watching “Braveheart”, even though you know it is a historically inaccurate Hollywood fairytale. You’ll be prepared at any moment to risk injury, life and limb, by diving into a crowd to retrieve a penny. Finally, when that big orange disc in the sky starts to shine for more than one day, you’ll happily slow-roast for hours on end. Changing your base colour from milky-white, to lobster red, with no hope of ever getting a hint of a tan!

 

At the time of sitting down to push and bash away at the QWERTY keyboard on my laptop, in some sort of hopefully structured way, I could already start to hear the taps all over Dublin Town, running full flow once again. Though, this time it was not to stop “Pipes freezing”, rather it was filling baths and sinks to avoid water shortages. Just how did we arrive at the start of July with water shortages? Have we not just experienced the very wettest of winters and an almighty dollop of snow, that created 10 and 12 feet drifts? Just where has ALL that melt-water gone? It appears to have done a Penn and Teller and disappeared. Not even Keith Barry can help us find our missing Uisce. Perhaps we need to start drinking more Uisce Beatha to compensate?

A few days of “Unseasonably hot weather”, has the whole of Uisce Éireann in a panic. Their social media and PR departments have gone into overdrive. All weekend leave has no doubt been cancelled. Cries of “Don’t panic, don’t panic Mr Grant!” reverberating around Colvill House. Their website is stating that the “Demand for water has risen to critical levels”. Having looked at the longer term forecast, the whole country will be in shutdown by the time you’ve read this. Taps will have been turned off at the mains and we’ll be relying on imported bottled water to survive. Our gardens will have been transformed from luscious green, to burnt toast brown and Dermot Bannon wouldn’t be able to save the day. As there is no hope, we must now all retreat into our shells and just give up life!

Life will of course go on. In fact the “Sunny South East” is once again living up to its Failte Ireland strap line. This wee corner of Ireland’s Ancient East, is sizzling like never before. The hot Saharan winds are bringing people in their thousands, to our City and County. Only last Tuesday, on one of the many “Hottest days of the year”, I had the pleasure of cycling our wonderful Greenway, with a journalist from Australia. Asked if the climate was always like this, “Yes, of course it is!” was my honest reply, as I pointed out Buzzards, Egrets, and Cormorants enjoying the sunshine along the Suir Estuary. We have to make the most of days and weeks like these, as they come around all too infrequently.

In the midst of all this talk of heatstroke and heat exhaustion, thousands of hard, mad amateur athletes, conquered the 26 miles 385 yards or 42,195 metres, of the Waterford Viking Marathon. They’re all certifiably bonkers. Any physical exertion in the heat, poses tough questions about your own ability. There’s no help completing a marathon. Just you against the ticking clock. A singular brave feat of dogged endurance. Well done to those that completed the distance and didn’t panic in the heat.

Enjoy the pleasures the sunshine brings and “Happy 4^th of July”.

Keep it clean!

It seems like Summer has finally decided to turn up. Better late than never, I suppose. The weather has started to give us more than 24 hours of heat and thankfully, the rain has only visited us once or twice, in the last few weeks. This of course means that many of us will be heading out to visit our wonderful countryside. Additionally, thousands of returning visitors and hopefully including the exciting potential, of lots of first time tourists, will visit our quirky City Centre, outlying towns and villages.

That “First impressions count” has never been so important to Waterford, than now. The potential of significant growth, as outlined in the 2040 Government National Planning Framework, the North Quays crossing the finishing line with An Bord Pleanála, Michael Street shopping complex raring to go and our glorious Greenway attracting almost quarter of a million visitors, in the first ten months, since opening, gives us a head start. Circa 106,000 walkers and circa 142,000 cyclists, all mixing and convivially sharing, well most of the time, the same 46km stretch, of old disused railway line between Waterford City and Dungarvan Town.

Approximately 94% of users, said that their overall perception of the Greenway was excellent or good. 68% of the walkers and cyclists said, “This amenity was the main reason that they visited or travelled to County Waterford.” The stunning scenery and vistas was one of the main attractions for people visiting and using the Greenway. Nearly half of the 250,000 visitors, spent around €28.50 on food and refreshments, whilst navigating the 46km route. Stopping off at all points between The City and Dungarvan. The “Boom effect” is seen in places like Kilmacthomas, Durrow and even off track, in villages like Lemybrien and Kilmeaden. Everywhere there is a connection, there is a very positive economic impact. Jobs are certainly being created and businesses are benefiting.

Yes, we occasionally hear, on Eamon Keane’s WLR Deise Today, that recreational walkers, joggers, doggy walkers and cyclists are at each other throats. Thankfully these are very isolated incidents. Though sometimes, you would think that the close proximity of a pedestrian and a Lycra-clad-pedal-pusher was an excuse to start WW3? I am sure that occasionally people just complain, to hear their own voices on the radio. We’re in reality not a very tolerant society, yet wish to give the impression that we are. In general and on the whole, the 250,000 Greenway Guardians, are getting on with enjoying this, our newest, public amenity.

Our City’s centre and the hearts of our towns and villages are also looking resplendent. Many of course, are hoping to pick up additional points in the annual Tidy Towns competition. They want to be that committee interviewed “Live”, by Mary Kennedy, on RTE’s Nationwide. These types of community projects help create the right impression. The hundreds of hanging floral displays, with their “Bee friendly” flowers, make Ireland’s Oldest City, a joy to walk around at this time of year. We see many businesses striving to make that extra special effort, to create the right impression for every visitor.

There are so many trying to do the right thing, to make Waterford wondrous. It takes time and not an insignificant amount of effort, to make these wee changes, which make such a big difference.

It’s such a pity that some have an indifferent, unsympathetic attitude, to improving and looking after, the ambience of our City and county.

I do wonder what motivates these abhorrent, repugnant people, to drop litter, fly-tip or illegally dump? Oh and don’t get me started on dog owners, who abandon Fido’s s~*$e for us to walk on! It’s just a two fingered salute to the hard work of so many. If we’re not careful, the very amenities that we ALL share so lovingly, will very quickly become a public refuse bin. Worryingly, there are signs that this is already happening.

When it comes to littering and dog s~*$e, everyone must take responsibility. From the top down, there has to be a sea change in attitude. Many of our EU neighbours get it spot on, so why can’t we?

When it’s gone, it’s gone, heed the warning!

It’s a numbers game!

In life, everything we do seems to be related to numbers. Whether that’s our age, paying the household bills, our disposable income or protesting within a consequential cohort. Less is not more, when dealing with figures. Unless of course you are talking about the BBC 1 “Pointless” programme. Here zero, nil, nada is the right answer to the questions being asked. Though some people I know, don’t actually understand the lowest score wins!

On Sunday the 10^th, I “pedalled” for the fourth time, the murderous Wicklow 200! Why I’d want to put myself through that torture and torment, by returning to this most scenic of regions, to test my mettle once again, shows that I am certifiably mad! To cycle 200 kilometres and climb over 2,800 metres of brutal hills, has become a numbers game to me. I am now trying to complete this testing task in less than 7 hours. Alas, despite the help from my fellow Biscuit Club members and a handy few Orwell Wheelers, 7:05:58 was the finishing time on my GSP gizmo. So I’ll just have to return in 2019 and try once again. That 7 hour barrier, has become my very own Robert The Bruce’s wee spider’s legacy. She tried and tried, time after time to finish her wee web, in that darkened cave. The good news was, she eventually completed all of her web and Robert The Bruce went on to hammer the English, at the Battle of Bannockburn, in 1314. Happy days!

Professor Nolan’s National Review of Cardiac Service, is now underway. According to Minister H, Nolan’s report will define the provision of this medical speciality, for decades to come. The Review will deliver, once and for all, a service suitable for a modern Ireland. We are to believe that the findings will be equitable and impartial, delivering for ALL the people on this green isle. We hope that the citizens of Waterford, the wider SE, will see parity of service provision, when Prof Nolan’s notes and conclusions are finally published in full. We can’t contemplate another stab in the back, with a knife or a blow to the head, with a lead pipe. Luckily, there’s been no mention of Colonel Mustard or Professor Plum!

We know from The Herity Report, that the numbers stacked up against us. In fact it now transpires, that there was some excellent tutoring by Senior Civil Servants, instructing just how the abacus should come to its final calculations. 500,000 people living in the SE region? “Poppy-cock”, would be the findings of Herity’s Report. Every Government Department, the CSO, Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland worked to that half a million figure. But “No!”, Herity worked to some fictitious, fabricated figure, that could only be defined, by the Report’s terms of reference.

Let’s hope that Prof Nolan does the right thing and gets the numbers correct, first time around.

Just imagine if we could mobilise ALL the people, from across the whole SE region, to “Tell Nolan”? By this I mean, let him know that we are here in substantial numbers. The opportunity is out there. We can ALL go on-line to make our own submissions to the 24/7 cardio cause. The deadline, to make our voices heard, is 1pm on Friday the 17^th of August. If we sit back and do diddly-squat, then nobody can complain if this latest Report finds against our will. Let your fingers do the talking, get on-line!

Will it work I hear you cry?

History tells us that numbers count. Remember when the rescue helicopter services were proposed to be withdrawn from Waterford Airport? Tens of thousands wrote, emailed and protested from across the SE region. Lo and behold, such political pressure ensured we retained our R117 helicopter.

19,000 people sent a badly worded, generic, photocopied letter, to Minister C and his Boundary Commission. The net result was that Simon Coveney dropped the recommendations to expand Waterford City, to the North. Additional political party pressure lead by JP Phelan and Co, threatened by the potential loss of a mass FG vote, ensured another Kilkenny victory.

Our politicians live and die through numbers. Make your voice count, get involved!

Finally, we’ve been dealt a Royal Flush!

Last Wednesday week, those wise owls in An Bord Pleanála, came to the very logical decision that Waterford’s North Quays, would go ahead as planned. Objections were withdrawn at the oral hearing in Treacy’s Hotel. We had indeed been dealt a Royal Flush and can now look forward to a brighter future for Waterford Inc.

The story of the Strategic Development Zone for the City’s North Quays, has been a long and windy road. Helped along the way, by Paudie Coffey, when he was in office as a Junior Minister. We can’t underestimate the background work, needed to secure the very first out of Dublin, SDZ. Ireland’s Oldest City would for once, be ahead of the pack and put its hand up before any others. Processing the application did take time. We all hoped that the messaging stating “Waterford was Open for Business”, would strike a chord with a wealthy international developer. A City battered, bruised and beaten by others, would begin to fight back. We would be stronger, fitter and better placed than any other urban centre, to benefit from the prestigious SDZ tag. All we needed was a smooth passage through the complex, often unfair planning procedures. We awaited our knight in shining armour, to kiss us and awaken us from 100 years of slumber.

The 6^th of June 2018 was our day of destiny. It now seems likely that full planning permission for the SDZ, will be given sometime in September. The developers no doubt, tuned in live to WLR FM, to hear the news directly from Eamon Keane, on Deise Today. Michael Walsh, CEO of Waterford Council, also spoke about the significance of the decision. The process now needs to secure Government’s circa €65,000,000 contribution, for infrastructural works to the road and rail network. Contracts have yet to be signed. No doubt these will be scrutinised, to ensure the people and rate paying businesses of Waterford, get the very best deal for their Euro. After all, none of us wish to be sold a pup. Putting the pressure for profit aside, the deal has to be commercially right for Waterford and its citizens.

The final piece of the jigsaw must be put in place by Government. Paschal and his moneymen, are obliged to give their blessing. Allowing Waterford to access the “Honey Pot”, that is the Strategic Development Fund. This billion Euro cash cow, must write a cheque to Waterford Council post haste. Like Thomas Barr, we have cleared all ten hurdles, in the 400m Olympic final. Dublin’s Dail Darlings, need to support our application and fast track our submission. Delays won’t be tolerated. With a developer waiting in the wings, it’s time to stop talking and “Show us the money!”

Leo has indicated, that Waterford’s resurgence is one of his priorities. Well now is the time to reaffirm that commitment. Show Waterford that there is some substance to the chitchat and that we are indeed, a City worthy of investment. The Nett economic gain, from a relatively small, absorbable circa €65,000,000 of tax payers’ money, is colossal. It’s a no brainer.

The race to reclaim Waterford’s rightful position as the economic driver for the South East, has begun. It’s not going to be a sprint. Rather it will be a marathon. We’ve trained hard and at this stage we’re ready for whatever the road ahead throws at us.

All things going well, we should start to see ground being broken in the first quarter of 2019. Michael Street will be developed alongside, if not before the North Quays. This will be very exciting. It will add to the continued renaissance of this area. Once we see cranes and machinery move “On-site”, it will become very real for everyone. The promised construction jobs will be an added bonus and the spin off to local businesses, will be a very welcome shot in the arm.

It’s brilliant to be able to write so positively about an external decision going our way. It takes our mind of some dodgy, dubious officiating. Rumour has it Mr GAA, that Specsavers may even be opening a mega-store on the North Quays!