Community Alerts
South Eastern nitiative expands to support 15 extra creative businesses
Wicklow Local Enterprise Office have welcomed Waterford LEO as a collaborative partner on the South Eastern Creative Corridor (SECC) initiative.
Wicklow Local Enterprise Office have welcomed Waterford LEO as a collaborative partner on the South Eastern Creative Corridor (SECC) initiative. This opens up the opportunity for 15 Waterford AV sector businesses to join the exciting programme of training, networking and events scheduled across the South East region in 2017.
The programme started last Friday 9th December in the Lyrath Hotel in Kilkenny with an action packed Regional Bootcamp Event facilitated by a team of expert facilitators, designed to kick start the networking and goal setting for the first 54 regional businesses. Registration is still open at www.creativecorridor.ie and relevant businesses from within the region are urged to take this opportunity to extend their network and grow their businesses through this development and investment programme.
1916 Commemorations come to a close with unveiling of commemorative monuments
After a busy commemorative year with over 80 events reflecting the 1916 Rising, Waterford’s commemorations will conclude on Thursday, December 22nd with the unveiling of permanent memorials in both Waterford City and Dungarvan.
Reflecting on the 2016 programme, Chairman of the Commemoration Committee Ger Crotty commented “We were particularly pleased with the input from the wider community to the Waterford Commemoration Programme and that includes schools, tidy towns groups, history groups, community groups and youth groups.
There really was something for everyone in the 2016 calendar of events. Along with the dignified flag raising and civic ceremonies, projects from the artistic and Irish language communities including film, theatre, writing and music were very exciting and enhanced the contribution to cultural expression of the 2016 Commemoration in Waterford.”
He went on to say “An open invitation is extended to the general public to the unveiling of both memorials which will take place at The Bishop’s Palace at 11.00 a.m. and the Lookout in Dungarvan at 2.30p.m. on Thursday to mark the culmination of a truly remarkable and memorable centenary commemoration of 1916”.
Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford scoops National Award!
Waterford City and County Council and Waterford Sports Partnership are proud to announce that the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford won the Best Leisure Cycling Event at the Cycling Ireland Awards on Saturday 26th November.
2016 marked the 10th Anniversary of the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford part of the An Post Cycle Series, a Sport Ireland initiative of five cycling events throughout Ireland and over 6,000 cyclists took part. Since its inception in 2007 the Sean Kelly Tour has grown from strength to strength and this is the second time we have won this national award beating off stiff competition from the Tour de Burren and the Leinster Loop.
Speaking after the awards, Rosarie Kealy, Co-ordinator, Waterford Sports Partnership said, “I was delighted to accept this award on behalf of the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford. It is a great honour for the event to be recognised by Cycling Ireland members as the Best Leisure Cycle in 2016. It acknowledges the support of all our sponsors, our hard working committee, the contribution from staff in Waterford Sports Partnership and Waterford City and County Council and also the wonderful team of volunteers that make this event possible each year. We are so proud of this event and delighted with the number of Waterford people that get on their bikes to take part each year”.
“Waterford City and County Council is delighted with this award and feel that it is a fitting acknowledgement and recognition of the huge volunteer effort that goes into this great event” says Michael Walsh, Chief Executive. He added: “every year well over 500 volunteers from communities, towns, villages, clubs and organisations from all over Waterford put their collective shoulders to the wheel and ensure that an extra special ‘Waterford Welcome’ is extended to all 6500 participants. It is now an extremely important part of Waterford’s portfolio of cultural and recreational events while also making a significant local economic impact.”
Free furniture UPCYCLING event – Saturday 22nd Oct
Join us this Reuse Month us for a free furniture upcycling workshop on Saturday 22nd October 10am-4pm in Edmund Rice Centre, Barrack Street. Event is free but booking is essential.
Contact Ella at 0761 102938 or eryan@waterfordcouncil.ie today to book your place. The workshops will be delivered by Joanne Condon of Kyle Lane, a qualified teacher and artist to give you the best tips and tricks, currently the Upcycling and DIY expert for the Today Show on RTE1. Visit http://kylelane.ie/workshops for further information.’
What you will learn:
- How to prep and paint furniture
- How to apply wallpaper/gift paper/maps etc to furniture.
- How to apply lettering and typography to furniture.
- How to create and use stencils, transfer images to enhance designs onto pieces of furniture
- How to create geometric designs
- How to apply gold leaf
- How to distress and age furniture effectively.
The course includes:
- A small item i.e. small table, locker
- Upcycling techniques pack
- A booklet of course content that will be covered throughout the day.
GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant scheme open
The Heritage Council have announced that the 2017 GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant scheme is now open for applications. This grant scheme is run in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and only farmers approved in the GLAS scheme are eligible to apply.
The grant is available for the conservation of traditional farm outbuildings, including roof, walls, structural repairs, windows and doors. The grant is also available for other related structures including historic yard surfaces, walls, gate pillars and gates. A grant award will not be for more than 75% of the cost of the works with grant amounts varying from €4,000 to a maximum of €25,000.
The process is highly competitive and it is expected that 50-70 projects will be supported in 2017. The emphasis is on essential repairs with restoration works having a low priority. Think of what’s necessary to do rather than what might be nice to do!
Completed applications should be returned by post to
Anna Meenan, Project Manager, Farm Buildings Grant Scheme, The Heritage Council, Áras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny
by 5pm Friday 18th November 2016.
Queries to Tel. 056 777 0777, E-mail: ameenan@heritagecouncil.ie
Documentation
Information Notice re: Fireworks via Department of Justice & Equality
Fireworks are not only dangerous, there are severe criminal penalties that apply
- Remember, fireworks contain explosive materials and are potentially very dangerous if misused, especially high hazard fireworks (such as bangers, rockets, roman candles, cake/batteries or shells).
- An import licence is required for all fireworks, and it is an offence to possess unlicensed fireworks (other than low hazard fireworks, such as party poppers, sparklers etc), with intent to sell or supply and a fine of up to €10,000 can apply.
- It is an offence to throw or direct any ignited firework at a person or property and a fine of up to €10,000 can apply.
- Contact Margaret O’Gorman, Firearms, Explosives and Private Security Policy Division, Department of Justice and Equality MMOGorman@justice.ie +353 1 6028350
Warning – Several sightings of Portguese Man O’War jellyfish
Beach goers and swimmers alike are asked to be vigilant as several members of the public have reported Portuguese Man O’War jellyfish both in the sea and washed up on shore.
The sightings were on Ardmore beach, Clonea beach (Castle end) and Tramore beach.
The sting from these creatures is very painful and can be fatal – even when the animal is dead, so please do not touch or pick them up etc.
Report all sightings to contact@waterfordcouncil.ie with a picture and location please.
Housing Vacancy Repair & Relief Initiative
The basis of the scheme is that repair and improvement works to suitable vacant properties are funded to bring them up to the standard for rented accommodation and the cost of the works is then deducted from lease payments over an agreed lease term.
A key component of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is a new scheme, the Vacant Housing Repair and Leasing Initiative, which targets the delivery of social housing and also ensures that existing housing stock is used to the maximum degree possible.
Waterford City and County Council have piloted and progressed the initiative with Department of Housing Planning Community and Local Government support. CSO Census data and local studies have indicated that there are significant numbers of vacant dwellings in Waterford City & County. The Vacant Housing Repair and Leasing Initiative (also known as Repair and Leasing Initiative or RLI) is intended to target these properties as a possible source of social housing and also provides the property owner with an income stream that may be otherwise unavailable.
Make your own Movie – Workshop for Community Groups
As part of the Well Festival, we are running a session for Community and Voluntary Groups on ‘Making your Own Movie’, perfect for recording your events in-house or putting up that clip up to make your social media posts stand out.
This session will also give you an opportunity to network with other community groups.
Would you like to be able to make videos for you and your community group? Our one-hour film making workshop will give you practical experience in hands on film-making. The group will become a working film crew learning sound, camera operation, continuity, lighting, and how to set up and record a shot for editing.
Time: Tuesday 4 October, 11am, Central Library Central Library
Tutor: Niamh Moroney, Artist in Residence with Central Arts.
Free but places limited Phone 0761 10 2975 to book or email wellwaterford@waterfordcouncil.ie
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week takes place this year between 26th September and 2nd October.
- The aim of the campaign this year is to highlight the fact that carbon monoxide (CO) can, and does, kill. It is colourless, odourless, hard to detect and it can kill in less than three minutes.
- On average, six people in Ireland die every year as a result of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. But there’s a lot you can do to safeguard against it.
Remember:
- Carbon Monoxide can be produced by ANY fuel that burns, including coal, turf, oil, gas and wood.
- Service fuel burning appliances and have chimneys swept annually.
- Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
The campaign is being fronted by Tommy McAnairey, the ballad-singing canary created to drive awareness about carbon monoxide, and will feature across all national and local media with a significant social media presence. There will also be radio and TV coverage as well as media interviews with people directly affected by carbon monoxide. Rory Cowan, star of the hit comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys, is a campaign ambassador for Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week this year due to his own personal experience with carbon monoxide exposure.
You can support the week by:
- Following Tommy on Twitter @TommyMcAnairey
- Following Gas Networks Ireland on Twitter @GasNetIrl and retweeting Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week tweets to your followers
Further information is available from link to the Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week website www.carbonmonoxide.ie
Railway Square Playground Closed
Due to vandalism, the playground in Railway Square, Manor Street, Waterford will be closed for the foreseeable future.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Homecoming for Waterford U21 Hurling champions !

The victorious Waterford U21 hurlers will be welcomed home tomorrow Sunday 11th September, at celebrations in Waterford City and Dungarvan.
The arrangements are as follows :
– People’s Park, Waterford City, 2pm.
– Grattan Square, Dungarvan, 5pm
Everyone welcome.
- Sunshine and Tides Rise – So Does Risk, Warns Water Safety Ireland - July 10, 2025
- Waterford City & County Council joins KIMO to help protect the Irish Sea - July 09, 2025
- National Day of Commemoration – Waterford 2025 - July 09, 2025
- Motor Tax Services Currently Unavailable - July 08, 2025
- 8 Arch Gallery Launches at Kilmacthomas Woollen Mill - July 04, 2025
- Construction begins on new active travel scheme in Tramore - July 04, 2025
- Bestselling Author Shelia O’Flanagan to visit Tramore Library - July 03, 2025
- Driving Test Waiting Times Continue to Improve - July 03, 2025
- Crooked Bridge playground closed - July 02, 2025
- Celebration of Trad, Dance and Fun Filled Programme of Children’s Events set for Comeraghs Wild 2025 - July 02, 2025
- RSA Urges Drivers to Slow Down - June 30, 2025
- Waterford Harvest Festival returns this September 5th to 7th - June 30, 2025