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By Waterford City & County Council

Waterfords Official send off for Special Olympics Athletes ahead of World Winter Games

The City and County of Waterford came together today to give farewell wishes and support to the Waterford Special Olympics athletes as they prepare to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games. The mayoral send-off event, held in honor of the four athletes from Special Olympics Waterford, was a celebration of their dedication, resilience, and the unwavering support of the local community.

The event was attended by family members, Special Olympics Ireland Board Member Charlotte Donnelly, Assistant Floorball Coach George Fitzgerald, and key figures from Special Olympics Waterford, including Chairman Denis Hegarty and Club Treasurer Emma Smyth.

The four athletes representing Waterford are:

– **Niall Corcoran** – Floorball

– **James Upton** – Floorball

– **Damien Kirwan** – Floorball

– **Clive Healy** – Alpine Skiing

These athletes, accompanied by their families, received words of encouragement and best wishes from all in attendance. The Special Olympics World Winter Games are a testament to the power of sport in fostering inclusion and breaking down barriers, and Waterford is immensely proud to have these athletes representing the city on a global stage.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy, addressed the athletes with an inspiring message:

“As you step onto the competition floor, remember that you represent more than just Waterford. You embody the values of inclusion, respect, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to reach their full potential. Whether you win or lose, you are already champions in our eyes, and we are incredibly proud of you.”

“On behalf of the people of Waterford, I want to wish you all the very best in the upcoming Winter Games. Go out there, give it your all, and most importantly, enjoy every moment. We look forward to cheering you on from here at home.”

Chairman of Special Olympics Waterford, Denis Hegarty, expressed his pride and gratitude for the support shown by the local community:

We are so proud of our athletes. I want to thank all of the community who supported these young men to get where they are, including the club members, parents and of course Emma, and George here for the many lifts to competitions as well as the training and many hours put in. The Special Olympics is not just about the Worls Games, it is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Sunday. It’s training week in and week out”

Emma Smyth, Club Treasurer, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of community support in empowering athletes to achieve their dreams.

As the athletes set off for the games, the people of Waterford extend their best wishes for success and, most importantly, an unforgettable experience.

The entire city stands united in support, looking forward to celebrating their achievements upon their return. Go Team Ireland!

Waterford Special Olympics club needs volunteers! You can help athletes to achieve their dreams, get involved by emailing: so.munster@specialolympics.ie

ENDS

For further information, please contact: Kathy.baker@specialolympics.ie

By Waterford City & County Council

Start strong, grow smart, and thrive global at Local Enterprise Week 2025.

Waterford Local Enterprise Office has announced a programme of 24 events across 5 days during Local Enterprise Week 2025, taking place for Waterford City and County businesses from March 3rd to March 7th.

This year’s Local Enterprise Week will feature many new events including informative and engaging workshops, seminars, presentations and advice clinics aimed at local businesses, whether in pre-start, start-up or as an established business looking to grow.

The Local Enterprise Office has gathered experts in finance, marketing, social media, A.I. and sustainability. There are networking events, advice clinics and regional business awards, all crammed into one week at the start of March.

While favourites like the ever popular ‘Social Media Mash-Up’ returns to the Local Enterprise Week there are new and innovative events such as a Digital Innovation Clinic with the Walton Institute. You’ll get the opportunity to discuss your Digital Innovation project with an expert from the Walton Institute and explore how their expertise could potentially assist you to realise your ambition.

This clinic will explore how your limited company could avail of an Innovation voucher to access up to €5000 worth of expert time with Walton institute to work on a project in areas such as software development, communications services, immersive technologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data analytics, future networks, digital platforms, and Internet of Things (IoT).

The ’Get Exporting Workshop’ is an excellent opportunity for businesses looking to scale up and seek new markets. It gives a practical step-by-step approach to get started exporting. This includes identifying target markets, currency exchange, invoicing, and trade finance, not to mention access to grants, trade missions, and expert advice.

Tuesday March 4th celebrates the future of enterprise in Waterford with the Student Enterprise Programme County final in the Park Hotel. 36 businesses from 12 schools will compete on the day for a place at the National Finals in May.

Two events not to be missed are, the Grow Digital Workshop which will assist you in securing up to €5,000 to transform your business, and an extremely interesting Going Green workshop which will help unlock an energy efficiency grant of €10,000.

The Local Enterprise Office also celebrates International Women’s Day with Waterford Chamber, Dungarvan Chamber and Network Waterford supporting three events across the week.

Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Waterford Gareth Evans is looking forward to what promises to be a busy and productive week, “Local Enterprise Week is the perfect opportunity for many businesses to dip into a specific area of interest and gather information on a topic that may be relevant to their business now or in the future.  It also provides the perfect opportunity for someone who may be interested in starting a business to get an idea of some of the key areas of focus and how to take those first steps.

“Waterford Local Enterprise Office is delighted to work in conjunction with various key business support organisations and state agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, Network Waterford, Dungarvan Chamber and Waterford Chamber, to provide a programme that gives start-ups and small businesses opportunities to help them on the path to growth.”

To register for Local Enterprise Week events taking place in Waterford city and county from March 3rd to 7th, visit https://www.localenterprise.ie/!AK56SF . Most events are completely free of charge while some have a nominal booking fee.  As with every year, many of the events are expected to book up quickly so early booking is strongly advised.

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Published: Weekly Planning Lists

Stay up-to-date with the latest planning applications and decisions in Waterford City and County. Each Friday, we publish a comprehensive list detailing new applications, permissions granted, and other updates. Access the latest planning lists here to stay informed about developments in your area.

See https://waterfordcouncil.ie/documents/planning-lists/

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford Schools Clean Up for Litter Challenge

Ten Waterford secondary schools were represented at a reception in City Hall earlier today in recognition of their dedication to keeping their local areas litter-free.

The challenge, now in its fourth year is sponsored by Tom Murphy Car Sales Toyota, in association with Waterford City and County Council and Waterford Chamber, saw secondary schools from across the city and county partake in the challenge.

Waterpark College emerged as the overall winner of the Schools Litter Challenge, and received €1,500 prize money, sponsored by Tom Murphy Car Sales Toyota. The competition, which was launched in October last year, encourages secondary schools to keep a designated local area litter free.

As part of the eight-week challenge, secondary school students identified litter black spots in their communities and carried out regular litter picking of the area.  In addition, the students learned about the sources of litter, and about the benefits of reusing and recycling items.

Prior to the awarding of certificates to the participating schools, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy said, “I am delighted to welcome the participating schools to the Mayor’s Parlour this morning and must pay tribute to the trojan work they have undertaken throughout this Schools Litter Challenge. Now in its fourth year, it’s refreshing to see the enthusiasm and dedication from the students and their teachers hasn’t waned as each one continues to make a real difference in their local communities.

“It’s also refreshing and assuring to know that this generation of young people is dedicated and passionate about enhancing their communities, keeping them litter free, protecting the biodiversity of the area and being proactive in diminishing the environmental harm that litter, particularly single use plastics, causes.”

The mayor highlighted the support of Tom Murphy, a staunch advocate for Waterford for over fifty years, saying, “I’d like to thank Tom and the team at Tom Murphy Car Sales Toyota for their unwavering support and for generously sponsoring this event.  We are delighted that Toyota has come on board to support this amazing initiative which aligns with their brand promise, which strives to make a positive and tangible difference to Irish society.”

Waterford City and County Council provided bags, gloves, litter pickers and high visibility vests to all schools and Tom Murphy Car Sales Toyota sponsored the €1,500 prize for the winning school. 

Tom Murphy said it was inspiring to see the dedication and enthusiasm that the students put into this contest every year.  “Creating cleaner and greener streets around our beautiful county should be a top priority, and these students are excellent role models for all of us. The competition grows in strength every year and is something we look forward to supporting again with Waterford City and County Council and Waterford Chamber.

“I must say congratulations to Waterpark College on winning this year competition and a very special thank you to all the schools, students and teachers that took part, and to Toyota who have embraced this competition from the start.”

Michael Oporowicz, Area Sales Manager, Toyota Ireland said, “At Toyota Ireland, sustainability is at the centre of everything we do, and we are proud to support initiatives like the Litter Challenge in Waterford. Tom Murphy’s dedication to this initiative aligns perfectly with our ‘Built for a Better World’ vision—giving back to the community and fostering a cleaner, better future for the generations to come. It’s fantastic to see a movement promoting environmental responsibility and empowering young people to make a difference.”

Ella Ryan, Environmental Awareness Officer with Waterford City and County Council commented, “Well done to all the students and their teachers for once again embracing this initiative with such energy and commitment. Creating cleaner, greener localities and communities has so many positive effects, encouraging us all to make small changes that have a big impact.”

The secondary schools from across County Waterford that entered the competition were Blackwater Community School, St Augustine’s College, Ardscoil na nDeise, Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Mount Sion CBS Secondary School, Waterpark College (Overall Winner), Ursuline Secondary School, Dungarvan CBS, De La Salle College (Highly Commended), and St. Paul’s Community College.

By Waterford City & County Council

Call for Information on Slurry Dumping Incident Adjacent to Glennafalla River

Waterford City and County Council is seeking information from the public in relation to the dumping of agricultural slurry in a roadside ditch adjacent to the Glennafalla River.

The slurry was dumped approximately 1.5km north of Mount Mellary along the L5051 Tooranaraheen Road.

Adam James, Agricultural Inspector with Waterford City and County Council said, “The slurry was dumped within metres of the riverbank and would inevitably impact water quality in the river.  The Glennafalla is a high-status objective water body, which is among the most sensitive river habitats to pollution of this kind.”

Waterford City and County Council is asking anyone with information, or dashcam footage of the incident to contact the Environment Section in Waterford City and County Council on 0818 10 20 20 or email contact@waterfordcouncil.ie

By Waterford City & County Council

Landowners Urged to Cut Overgrown Hedges to Improve Road Safety

RSA logo

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) have come together to call on landowners to cut their hedgerows to ensure they are not causing a road safety hazard.  

Hedges can be cut between 1 September and the end of February. Under the Wildlife Act 1976, hedge-cutting is prohibited from 1 March to 31 August , except in cases where overgrowth poses a road safety hazard.

Properly maintained hedges ensure vulnerable road users are not forced onto the road by overgrown hedges. It additionally affords motorists a clear view of what is in front of them or around a bend, especially on rural roads in the case of sightlines at junctions or obstructions to road signs.

Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs with the RSA said: “Overgrown hedgerows can pose a road safety hazard. We all have a role to play in making roads safer, and landowners must take responsibility. Inaction could endanger lives.”

Landowners should act now to ensure compliance and prevent potential enforcement actions by local authorities.

Barry Kehoe is Chair of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) Transport, Infrastructure and Networks Committee and is Chief Executive of Westmeath County Council. He said: “Local authorities have an important role to ensure that roadside verges are maintained and that local road safety issues are dealt with, whilst also recognising the importance of hedgerows and biodiversity. Landowners and anyone living along the roadside have a responsibility to check that hedges and trees on their property are not causing a road safety hazard. If they are, the landowners should take the necessary steps needed to ensure road safety. We are also calling on members of the public to report road safety issues caused by overgrowth to their local authority, which can then contact the landowner.” 

Results from a 2024 Ipsos B&A survey of professional drivers, commissioned by the RSA, found that 75% of 620 HGV drivers surveyed reported overgrown roadside hedgerows to be challenging while driving. 

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) also urged landowners to consider both truck and trailer height when cutting back hedgerows. “Overgrown hedgerows pose a serious hazard to all road users, particularly for high-sided vehicles such as trucks,” said Ger Hyland, President of the IRHA. “When hedges encroach onto the road, truck drivers are often forced to veer across the white line in order to avoid damage to their vehicles and wing mirrors, creating a dangerous situation for all road users. 

We urge landowners to take action and ensure hedgerows are trimmed back, not just at the roadside, but also at the necessary height – over 4 metres to accommodate our larger vehicles.” 

ENDS 

By Waterford City & County Council

Update on Lismore Public Water Supply

Uisce Éireann logoRegrettably, several recent incidents have impacted Lismore’s water supply. Uisce Éireann acknowledges and regrets the inconvenience. We would like to assure customers that when an unplanned outage occurs, local water services crews are immediately dispatched to do repair work as soon as possible. Our focus is always on ensuring that the water supply is returned to all customers as quickly as possible.

Currently, the Lismore area has no storage facility for treated drinking water. Any interruption to production at the water treatment plant immediately affects all customers.  Interruptions or low water pressure are often a result of power outages, leaks or bursts on the network.

After an interruption to supply, normal water supply can take several hours to return to all customers, particularly for those on higher ground or at the farthest reaches of the network; it can take longer. Uisce Éireann is progressing with several strategically important plans to tackle these challenges and ensure a safer, more reliable, and more resilient water supply for Lismore.  This will involve major investment in upgrading drinking water infrastructure and will take time as plans will need to move through required statutory and regulatory processes such as land acquisition, planning and procurement.

Repairs and upgrades to the pipework on the Lismore network have been prioritised. Last week, active leak detection crews were deployed to Lismore. As part of this programme of works in November 2024, main valve replacement works were carried out. The collective efforts of the ‘Find and Fix’ activity will help strengthen ongoing initiatives to reduce the number of leaks and bursts on the network.

In addition, a plan to upgrade the disinfection systems at the water treatment plant is underway. This will require land acquisition and planning permission. When the upgrade is complete, it will reduce the instances when the current water treatment plant is forced to shut down.

Overall, the lack of treated water storage remains a key challenge that will be resolved as part of the long-term solution. Uisce Eireann will be carrying out analysis workshops in the coming months on the provision of storage. This storage will need to be provided in a location that will ensure the long term sustainability of the Lismore Public Water Supply.  Providing a robust, resilient, and safe water supply to the local community of Lismore remains a top priority for Uisce Éireann, but it will require a significant capital investment, including land acquisition, planning, and procurement, which will take time.

Lismore is included in the Supply Demand Balance Ground Water Programme and is part of the National Water Resource Plan. The preferred approach for the Lismore water supply is a new groundwater source, a new water treatment plant, and a new treated water storage reservoir on a single site. Uisce Éireann has conducted an initial hydrogeology review of the area and is conducting further reviews and trials this year.

The National Water Resource Plan preferred approach for the Lismore water supply is a new groundwater source to meet the projected demand. Uisce Éireann has conducted an initial hydrogeology review of the area under the Supply Demand Balance Groundwater Programme and is conducting further investigations this year.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment. To find out more visit www.water.ie

ENDS

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford’s 6th Global Women’s Conference – Let’s Accelerate Action

The International Women’s Day 2025 campaign theme is #AccelerateAction. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively for #IWD2025 we can all #AccelerateAction.

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women’s advancement. Since 1911, IWD belongs to all who care about women’s equality. Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to forge gender parity. All IWD activity is valid, that’s what makes IWD so inclusive.

Join us on Friday 7th March from 10:00am in Garter Lane Arts Centre, 22a O’Connell Street, Waterford City for a morning of speakers and music.

Learn how we all can Accelerate Action and create a fair and equal world.

FREE Event and All Welcome but Booking Essential as places are limited.

Book your free place: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/waterfords-6th-global-womens-conference-lets-accelerate-action-tickets-1242886891149

Keynote speaker: Orla O’Connor Director of National Women’s Council

See Eventbrite line-up for Speakers and performers with more to be announced….

Registration, Tea & Coffee from 10am. Event followed by Networking Lunch.

By Waterford City & County Council

Purple Flag partners with Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership to Update AED Locations

updated AED location list

As Valentine’s Day approaches, hearts are on our minds, and Purple Flag Waterford, in collaboration with wardens from Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership, is using this opportunity to update and inform the public about the locations of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Waterford City, Tramore, Dungarvan and several GAA clubs.

Purple Flag Waterford, renowned for its efforts to enhance the night-time economy, is equally committed to promoting community health and safety. As part of this initiative, Purple Flag aims to ensure that residents and visitors are equipped with vital information about AED locations in town centres to help them respond swiftly in an emergency.

Julie Walsh from Waterford City & County Council says, “While Purple Flag is primarily associated with night-time entertainment, we are also dedicated to fostering a safer, healthier community. The accessibility of AEDs is a key component in providing the public with the tools they need to respond effectively in an emergency. We’re proud to be working with the Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership wardens to ensure this crucial information is readily available to all.”

An AED is a user-friendly, life-saving device that can be the difference between life and death in a cardiac emergency. With just a few simple steps, a bystander can use an AED to potentially save the life of someone in cardiac arrest. The updated AED location list is an invaluable resource for the public to familiarise themselves with the locations of AEDs throughout the city and county.

This updated list of AED locations is now available on the Waterford City and County Council website, at this location.

In the event of an emergency, please dial 999 or 112 immediately.

ENDS

By Waterford City & County Council

Dublin City Council delegation visits Waterford for Conservation & Regeneration discussions

Last week, we were delighted to welcome colleagues from Dublin City Council to Waterford to discuss synergies between both local authorities, in the promotion and development of national policy around building conservation and urban regeneration.

The group visited a number of sites in the City Centre including, Waterford Cultural Quarter and the Viking Triangle where they viewed the ongoing enabling works at Parade Quay as part of the city centre regeneration strategy. They also visited No. 18 Lady Lane, a project supported by THRIVE, the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme.

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Road Alert: Junction Improvement & New Street Lighting at R676 Mahon Bridge

Road Works - Update

Motorists are advised that junction improvement works and new street lighting installation will take place on the R676 at Mahon Bridge from February 11th to February 14th, 2025.

Temporary traffic management will be in place during this period, which may cause some delays. Please allow extra time for your journey and follow all on-site signage. We appreciate your patience as these improvements are carried out.

To keep up to date and receive free text messages about items like this, subscribe now at www.mapalerter.com/waterford

By Waterford City & County Council

WAM programme deadline extended

Are you a graduate with a disability looking for employment?

We have teamed up with the WAM programme at AHEAD Ireland to offer graduate level positions.

The closing date will be 12pm, Wednesday February 19th 2025.

To apply visit here.

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford City & County Council rolls out Playful Communities project

Waterford City and County Council is building on the success of its 2024 project, which encouraged healthy and active neighbourhoods.

The Playful Communities initiative encourages children and adults to safely play outdoors, and resident groups and support agencies are invited to apply for participation.

Healthy Waterford and Waterford Sports Partnership, along with key stakeholders including Waterford Area Partnership, Ready Steady Play, Sláintecare Healthy Communities, Waterford Libraries, Waterford PPN, the Community Safety Partnership and the Waterford Child Care Committee are teaming up to begin the rollout of the Playful Communities Initiative for 2025.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy, officially launched the initiative at Carrickphierish Community Sports Hub and Educate Together National School, saying, “The Playful Communities initiative has proven to be an exceptional program, fostering stronger connections amongst residents and underscoring the importance of play and social interaction within our communities.

“Following its success in 2024, I am hopeful that even more communities throughout Waterford will have the opportunity to participate this year.”

Sinéad Breathnach, Head of Waterford City and County Council’s Community and Sports Department, outlined the importance of the Playful Communities approach, saying, “This project serves as a compelling example of how the community sector can effectively support residents in the development of resilient communities, particularly through the activation of accessible activities such as play and recreation.”

Building on last year’s initiative, several Playful Communities will be rolled out within Waterford City and County between May and September 2025.

To receive an application pack and to apply, email eoinmorrissey@waterfordcouncil.ie by February 28th.

By Waterford City & County Council

The Raptures author Jan Carson in conversation at Tramore Library

Jan Carson book club event Join Jan Carson and Dymphna Nugent as they discuss the Raptures – Jan’s third novel set in an Evangelical Protestant community in rural Northern Ireland during the summer of 1993.

It is a world Jan knows inside out but it may be unfamiliar to some of you who will be reading and orientating yourselves about Ballyhack and the strange works of Hannah Adger. Since its creation a century ago, perceptions of Northern Ireland have often been dominated by stories of conflict and political unrest. But as anyone who lives there or who has visited knows, it is a picture that’s far from complete. This is your opportunity to explore with the author the idiosyncrasies of the everyday, hidden histories and untold stories, which outsiders rarely get to hear about.

  • Tuesday 25 February, Tramore Library at 7pm
  • FREE Event. Booking essential. Phone 051 – 849594

Creative Communities on a Shared Island, funded by Creative Ireland, is a joint two-year initiative between Waterford City and County Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to develop and enhance our shared sense of community through the lens of creativity in areas such as heritage, literature and the arts.

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