Closing Dungarvan’s Quay to Traffic Is Pure Madness

Last August Waterford City and County Council closed off part of the Quay in Dungarvan to traffic during the month of August from Friday afternoons to Monday Morning’s and a Tuesday morning should the Monday happen to be a Bank Holiday.

Waterford City and County Council have announced that they are closing the quay again this year, again from a Friday Evening till Monday Morning or on a Tuesday Morning on the weekend of the August Bank Holiday, but this year to extend the closing off period to the months of July and August.

The notice that this was happening appeared in the local papers in Dungarvan recently. I am sure it also appears on the Council’s website but I could not find it there where I looked, or at least I could not find it as easily as a person would hope to find such a notice.

As a disabled person, having seen the notice in the Dungarvan Papers, I emailed the Council to object to the closing off of the quay, and I am here appealing to the newly elected 32 members of Waterford City and Council to support me in my appeal and to make sure that the closing off of the quay in Dungarvan or any other area of the town to traffic does not happen.

Closing off the quay to traffic, as small as the area is to most will not mean anything, but if you are disabled and use the disabled parking bays in the town if the closure goes ahead it will mean that the town’s limited number of parking spaces, which as it is are often taken by able bodied people fraudulently using disabled parking badges are cut by two.

In my appeal to Waterford City and County Council to keep the quay open 24 hours a day to through traffic I pointed out that when it comes to my disabilities, I am one of the lucky ones, if I wanted to visit the library or one of the bars or places where you can consume food inside the barriers I am able to walk, but not disabled people are not as lucky as me and if they had to walk from the disabled parking bay close to the entrance to Garvey’s Supervalu Car Park on the quay or from the disabled bay on Lower Main Street that walk could well be considered a very long one.

I am wondering if Waterford City and County Council goes ahead with their ludicrous idea of closing off the quay again this year are they interested in disabled people visiting the town. Are they only interested in able bodied people who come to Dungarvan to Walk, Run or Cycle on the very successful Greenway which starts close to the quay. Closing off the quay to disabled people and the closing off of two disabled parking bays surly is giving the two fingers sign to the disabled people who live and visit the town of Dungarvan.

I can understand why increased numbers visiting the quay area of Dungarvan that the Council might want to make it safer for them by closing off the quay to traffic.

If the Council wanted to be seen to make the area somewhat safer at weekends there is other options available to it.

Anybody that visits the quay area particularly at the weekends can see that there is a problem in the area. But the problems are not caused by people parking in the two disabled parking bays along the quay which are inside the area that the council wants to close off.

The biggest problem when it comes to vehicles in this area is the parking of cars along the Waterfront, an area that there are double yellow lines painted on the ground.

   If the Council want to make the area safer why not hire a clamping company and clamp cars that park along the waterside part of the quay. Just think of the amount of cars you see parked on this side of the quay each weekend and then think of the money that could be generated to removing a clamp on illegally parked cars.

The Council could take on extra Traffic Wardens for the summer months and roster them to work longer into the evening, making regular walks along the quay well into the evening and issuing illegally parked cars with a fine. Again, another way that Waterford City and County Council would generate money and maybe even pay for these extra temporary jobs.

The Council could even go ahead with its proposal to close off the quay to through traffic but not put up barriers as they did last year and I am sure are planning this year. This would allow people with a valid blue badge to park along the quay and those without a badge would not be permitted to park in the area, and if they were they could be issued with a fine by a Traffic Warden or member of the Gardai, or even clamped if the Council were to go down that road.

I am appealing on behalf of the many disabled people who live in and visit Dungarvan that Waterford City and County Councillors and the 32 newly elected of the body show a compassionate side to them and to announce that they will NOT close off the quay to traffic each weekend in July and August and going forward, or at least if they want to close it off to leave it barrier free and to allow those with valid blue badges to park in the area.

I know that the management and the Councillors will possibly put forward an argument that the closing off of parts of towns and villages of a similar size to Dungarvan and centres that are bigger is something that happens all around Europe.

But why should Dungarvan and other areas of Waterford City and County be like other areas. Why can’t Dungarvan and all parts of Waterford City and County be seen as a place not in Europe but all over the World be seen as a place where disabled people are welcomed, where they can come and go at their ease. Is Dungarvan really a place where the Céad Míle Fáilte is well and truly alive, or does that Céad Míle Fáilte only extend to those that can make most use of the likes of the Greenway or the other tourist attractions around the City and County that you really have to be an able bodied person to get the full advantages off.

Ladies and Gentlemen of Waterford City and County Council and the 32 newly elected members of the Council, please, please, please show you have a compassionate side. Please make Dungarvan a place where the Céad Míle Fáilte is well and truly something that just to the majority but to all. Disabled parking bays in Dungarvan are hard enough to find in Dungarvan as it is without reducing the numbers. Two might be a small number but when you are talking about what is a small number of disabled bays in the town then two is a big number.

Will Dungarvan’s Quay and its two disabled parking bays remain open 24/7, I wont hold my breath but we can hope.

Déise Ladies Seek Munster Final Spot

After recording back to back wins over Kerry in their two most recent competitive games, Ciaran Curran’s Waterford Senior Ladies Football team are back in action at the Cork IT Grounds on Sunday evening next (5pm) against reigning Cork.

For Ciaran Curran’s side who recently triumphed in the National League Division Two final against a fancied Kerry side at Parnell Park in Dublin and then beat the same opposition in the first round of games in this year’s Munster Championship at Ennis, a game that provided the curtain raiser to the Munster Championship game between Waterford and Clare they will know that should they avoid defeat in this game that they will guarantee for themselves a place in this year’s Munster Final.

However, while Waterford had to work hard to beat Kerry in their two most recent competitive outings, they will know that they will have to up their game another notch or two if they were to get something from this latest game.

Ephie Fitzgerald’s side on the same afternoon that Waterford beat Kerry in the National Football League Division Two final a Parnell Park overcame the challenge of Galway to take the Division One title at the same venue on a 1-12 to 2-7 score line.

The Rebellettes in the last number of years have proven to be the queen’s of Ladies football having enjoyed huge success over a number of years firstly under the care of Eamon Ryan and in more recent years Ephie Fitzgerald who before taking over from Ryan was working with the Waterford’s men’s Senior Football team.

Since 2005 Cork have appeared in 12 All-Ireland Finals, winning an incredible eleven of these titles, while at the same time they have appeared in 13 Division One National League Final’s winning all but one of them.

While Cork may no longer have the likes of Rena Buckley, Valerie Mulcahy, Briege Corkery, Juliet Murphy, Angela Walsh, Brid Stack and Elaine Harte in their team these days, they still have some outstanding players in the likes of Martina O’Brien, Hannah Looney, Niamh Cotter, Aisling Hutchings, Ciara O’Sullivan, Orlagh Farmer, Eimear Scally, Libby Coppinger and Orla Finn to call upon, all players that have won numerous honours between them in the red and white shirt of Cork.

Waterford will have a strong side out again for this game and they should be able to call on the seven players that were recently named in the National League Division 2 team of the year, Rosie Landers, Karen McGrath, Róisín Tobin, Emma Murray, Michelle Ryan, Maria Delahunty and Aileen Wall, as well as the likes of up and coming players as well as some more experienced players, the likes of Aisling Mullaney, Rebecca Casey, Kate McGrath, Megan Dunford, Katie Murray, Kelly Ann Hogan, Chloe Fennell, and Eimear Fennell.

This is going to be the toughest game that Waterford will have played this year one that many of the experts will give Waterford no chance of winning.

But the same happened just two years ago when Cork travelled to Dungarvan to play Waterford and on that occasion Waterford won 3-11 to 1-11 and had beat Kerry in the their previous game in the competition. Twelve months earlier Waterford pushed Cork all the way in Fermoy but on that occasion had to give second best.

That result from two years ago should give the side confidence going into this weekend’s game. Waterford will know having won promotion to play in division one of next year’s league they will have to get used to playing sides like Cork and the speed that they play the game if they are to retain their place in Division one at the end of next year’s league.

While many will not give Waterford much of a chance going into this game, right now this will be a Waterford side that are high on confidence, and for me if they were to get a positive result from the game on Sunday evening it would hardly be a shock.

Do Elected Representatives Listen To What People Are Saying

We all know that politicians and would be politicians don’t listen to the people they look to for votes. More correctly I should say that most do not listen to what is said to them by those that they represent, or those that they hope to represent. It seems to me anyway that many of our politicians or would be politicians are afraid to upset the decision makers upstairs that they might have to go to with representations that are made to them in case they are refused what they hope to see happen if they were to speak out against particular issues.

I listened with interest to Déise Today on WLR.fm this morning which came from its studio in Dungarvan. When I heard that there was going to be candidates in the upcoming local elections in the Dungarvan area coming on I texted a question to the shows presenter Damien Tiernan to put to the candidates which I am glad to say Damien did.

The question was a very simple one, what they think of what disabled people are saying of late on social media about Dungarvan’s Grattan Square.

Not surprisingly five of the six that were on the show in two different sections did not seem to know what was been said. Maybe they genuinely did not know which I would be surprised to hear, or they are misunderstanding what is been said which could easily happen, or they are choosing not to listen which I would hope is not the case because the votes of disabled people and relatives and friends of disabled people could well be the difference between someone getting elected and not getting elected.

Those that read what appears on my social media pages with some time and who take it in will know only too well what the problem is. Dungarvan’s Grattan Square while looking well since it got its much needed makeover looks well, it is not safe.

The surface chosen by those responsible for giving the area its makeover is far from ideal. If you are on crutches like I am you will notice that there is a glaze on the bricks used to create the surface which when wet or when it freezes makes it near impossible to walk on.

For those that don’t know, I cannot walk. Most people that use crutches do so as a support after maybe a knee or hip operation until it is back to what it should be. It is also used as a support for those waiting on an operation or maybe by someone recovering from a leg brake or some other short term injury.

But for me, my crutches are my legs. To walk I put them about two feet in front of me, press hard down on them and lift myself using upper bodied strength to lift myself in front of my crutches and repeat this motion for my next step.

As you can imagine when you have yourself lifted off the ground you don’t want to have a surface with a shine on it, one that is wet or one that is covered in frost or snow. The latter two I know no human has control over but we have full control over the first one. Another thing that I and people like me have to deal with when out and about is colourless pieces of plastic, like those that you find around a packet of cigarettes which smokers for some reason favour throwing on the ground when opening a packet. To leave a crutch on these is very dangerous as the rubber on the end of the crutch will slip on it causing the person to fall.

This morning when Damien Tiernan put my question to the six candidates in the election next week, they preferred to make mention of the studs on the ground, the shared spaces, the fried eggs at the bottom of Mary Street, the amount of pedestrian crossings, the speed which drivers drive at through the square, all of which I have not seen one disabled person make mention of.

To his credit Labour Candidate Tomás Phelan did make mention of some of what I and others are making and Tomás last week in the Dungarvan papers also referenced what people are saying.

Independent candidate Joe O’Riordan on his Facebook page also seems to understand what is been said not just by disabled people but also the elderly about the square. Joe for those that have not seen it have put a video up on his Facebook page showed an elderly woman with a walker passing over the water channels that are dotted around the Square which are not very safe, but are essential in ways to take away the water off the area, but there was other ways to do this simply putting a slope away from the fronts of the shops to a gully that could have been located under where the footpaths meet where the cars are stopped from going onto the footpaths.

As a disabled person I am not interested in what ways cars are allowed to park in Grattan Square provided there are adequate parking spaces for disabled people to park. I am not interested in how safe or unsafe the fried egg is. I am not interested in how many pedestrian areas there is to cross the square in provided that they are easily identified which they are not right now with the exception of one of them.

I am however interested in the surface of Grattan Square and how unsafe it is. I know it would cost a great deal of money to do, but I am interested in seeing the present footpaths in and around Grattan Square rooted up and replaced by a much safer surface. They don’t even have to be rooted up. They can be covered over with a safer surface, something with a bit of grip in.

Many of those who favour Dungarvan’s Grattan Square as it is are fit and able bodied people. But they one day will be old. They might one day suffer a stroke, a brain haemorrhage or be in an accident that might result in them been left having to use crutches or a wheelchair to get out and about and it is then and only then that some of those responsible for the square in its present state will find out how dangerous it is.

And it is not just those that are disabled or elderly that are saying that Grattan Square is dangerous. I have heard those that push prams or buggies say how difficult it is for them to do so since the square got its makeover. I have heard those that pushed loved ones in wheelchairs say how difficult it is to do so. I have heard women who walk in heels say how difficult it is, especially if they come out of a pub after a number of drinks, and it need not be too many they tell me.

I am once more asking all those standing for election to Waterford City and County Council to put party politics to one side and work between them to make Grattan Square a safer place for all and not just the chosen few.

I know that some candidates will say ‘Grattan Square is not in my area so it does not affect me” but it does. While they might represent people from Tallow, Lismore, Cappoquin, Touraneena etc in the Lismore area, Portlaw, Kilmeaden, Kilmacthomas or Stradbally in the Portlaw/Kilmacthomas area, or Tramore, Ferrybank, Ballybricken, Passage East, Dunmore East or the Dunmore Road in the different areas around the City electorate areas, but I have met and spoken with people from these areas and other areas who visit Dungarvan on a regular basis, and some of those that visit Dungarvan from areas outside the Dungarvan Electorate areas are disabled and elderly and they are affected by the state of Grattan Square, and so wherever our new councillors are from because people move around the county and visit Dungarvan and indeed Waterford City to name but just two areas, they should be taking an interest in the state of Grattan Square in Dungarvan.

For those that might not have heard the show the five candidates that choose for whatever reason not to comment on the surface of Grattan Square were the Sinn Fein candidates Siobhan Whelan and Conor McGuinness, two of Fine Gael’s candidates Pat Nugent and Ian Noctor and one of Fianna Fail’s Candidates – Ann Marie Rossiter.

 

Rosie Penalty Save Help’s Waterford to Back To Back Wins over Kerry

Six days on from beating Kerry in this year’s National League Division two Ladies Football Final at Parnell Park in Dublin, Ciaran Curran’s Waterford senior ladies football team made it back to back wins over their rivals in the opening game of this year’s Munster Championship game at Cusack Park on Saturday evening last, the curtain raiser to the Munster Senior Football Championship game between Clare and Waterford.

This game was always expected to be a much tighter affair than the game in the capital, a game where Waterford at one point had opened up a fifteen point advantage on the score board and those expecting a tighter game this time out were not to be left disappointed.

In Ladies Football when side meet for the second time in quick succession it is often the side that loses the first game is often the sides that learns most and when the sides meet again they often come out on top.

Early in this game it looked as if this was again going to be the case in this one as Kerry opened up a four point lead inside the opening 11 minutes of this game, but once Waterford began to get on top at the start of the second quarter there was no doubting as to which was the better of the two sides once more.

Waterford in the second quarter did enough to go in at the break with the scores level on the board and when they came out for the second half, whatever was said to the players at the break was obvious to have had an effect as Ciaran Curran’s side came out kicking seven scores in the third quarter without response.

And while Kerry would come into the game once more in the final quarter thanks in no small part to a second goal from Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh with nine minutes of the game remaining, Waterford were able to find the scores in the closing minutes to ensure back to back wins over the girls from the Kingdom.

Kerry however will be wondering ‘what if’ as with three minutes to go in this game Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh had the chance to secure a hat-trick of goals when her side was awarded a penalty following a foul from Caoimhe McGrath, but the Kerry full forward could not find a way past Rosie Landers who has made the number one shirt her own this season in her first year involved in the panel, having started the year as the second choice goalkeeper.

Sarah Houlihan opened the scoring for Kerry with a fifth minute free, and six minutes later the very experienced Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was pulled down by Kate McGrath who was issued with a yellow card resulting in a ten minute time out for her by referee Kevin O’Brien. The Corca Dhuibhne player dusted herself down before taking the resulting penalty which she put past Rosie Landers in the Waterford goal opening up a 1-1 to no score lead for Kerry.

Waterford’s first score came on 16 minutes through the hard working Eimear Fennell who fired to the net leaving just one between the sides. The same player would level matters just three minutes later after some good work combining with Michelle Ryan.

Sarah Houlihan from a free edged the side from the Kingdom back in front with a converted free seven minutes from the break, but Waterford would go in at the end of a low scoring half thanks to an effort two minutes after Houlihan had given Kerry the lead.

Maria Delahunty gave Waterford lead the first time on 32 minutes when she put over a free. Eimear Fennell extended the Waterford lead just seconds later and when Maria Delahunty pointed from another free five minutes after the restart Waterford had opened up a three point lead.

Chloe Fennell and Maria Delahunty added further scores for the eventual winners before Róisín Tobin and Michelle Ryan two of the longer serving players on this side pointed to open up a 1-9 to 1-2 lead for Waterford with 15 minutes to play.

Kerry’s first score of the second half came from Niamh Carmody on 46 minutes followed with a similar score by Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh three minutes later. The same player netted her second goal of the game on 51 minutes which brought her side to with two of Waterford (1-9 to 2-4), but this would prove to be her sides last of the half.

Aileen Wall get her name on the score sheet on 52 minutes and five minutes later Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was given the chance of completing her hat-trick when Caoimhe McGrath gave away a penalty and as a result was forced to sit out the remainder of the game, but this time the Kerry full forward could not find a way past Rosie Landers who brilliantly saved from 12 metres

Waterford rounded off a comfortable win with points either side of the hour mark, first through Eimear Fennell and then from Katie Murray in the first minute of added time.

Waterford: Rosie Landers; Aisling Mullaney, Caoimhe McGrath, Rebecca Casey; Kate McGrath, Karen McGrath, Róisín Tobin; Emma Murray, Katie Murray; Kelly Ann Hogan, Chloe Fennell, Maria Delahunty; Eimear Fennell, Michelle Ryan, Aileen Wall.

Subs: Caragh McCarthy for Aisling Mullaney (56), Shauna Dunphy for Eimear Fennell (60).

Scorers: Eimear Fennell 1-03, Maria Delahunty 0-03 (0-02f), Emma Murray, Chloe Fennell, Róisín Tobin, Michelle Ryan, Aileen Wall, Katie Murray 0-01 each.

Kerry: Kayleigh Cronin; Eilis Lynch, Aislinn Desmond, Ciara O’Brien; Sophie Lynch, Aisling O’Connell, Miriam O’Keeffe; Lorraine Scanlon, Amanda Brosnan; Ciara Murphy, Anna Galvin, Niamh Carmody; Sarah Houlihan, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Hannah O’Donoghue.

Subs: Laoise Coughlan for Aislinn Desmond (14), Emma Dineen for Miriam O’Keeffe (39), Fiadhna Tangney for Anna Galvin (47), Brid Ryan for Amanda Brosnan (57), Erica McGlynn for Sarah Houlihan (60).

Scorers: Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh 2-01 (1-0pen), Sarah Houlihan 0-2 (0-02f), N Carmody 0-01.

Referee: Kevin O’Brien (Limerick).

Waterford to Begin with a Win

Waterford’s record in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship since Justin McCarthy departed as team manager in 2008 hardly stands out.

Under the Cork man between 2002 and 2008 Waterford played some of its best ever hurling, certainly since what some would describe as the Counties best ever period between 1957 and 1963 when the County won three Munster Finals as well as one All-Ireland and one National League Final, losing out in one other All-Ireland Final title.

Under McCarthy Waterford ended a 39 year spell without a Munster title winning the first of three title won under his guidance in 2002 in his first season in charge having taken over from another Cork man Gerald McCarthy and they also won a National League title in 2007 the year that many still feel that Waterford should have won the All-Ireland title with many pointing out having to play three weekends in a row, twice against Cork and then against Limerick not helping the side. There was some who at the time argued that the then County Board should have done more to get a break between the second game with Cork and the game with Limerick, but maybe many might forget that Clare and Tipperary earlier that year also had to play three weekends running in the Munster Championship when they could not be separated.

Since McCarthy departed after his side lost to Clare in 2008, Waterford have played 22 Munster Championship games of which just seven resulted in wins for Waterford and there was four draws as well along the way.

But while Waterford’s Munster Championship results in the last ten seasons might well be described as somewhat disappointing, it has to be pointed out that under the guidance of Davy Fitzgerald, Michael Ryan and more recently Derek McGrath Waterford in the All-Ireland series have fared much better reaching their quota of All-Ireland quarter finals, semi finals and even finals under Davy Fitzgerald in 2008 and Derek McGrath just two seasons ago.

Waterford last year just like Tipperary who also had to play four weekends running did not enjoy the best of Munster Final campaigns as the two sides missed out on a place in the All-Ireland Series of games.

But I feel that this year is one that is going to be much better for Waterford. To finish in the top three and stake a place in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals or even Semi Finals as Munster Champions will not be easy as between the five counties in the Munster side of the draw on a given day there is hardly a puck of the ball between the sides.

Last year I feel Waterford were on the wrong side of the fixtures draw. Getting a bye in the first round of fixtures meant that when Derek McGrath’s side travelled to Ennis to play Clare in their first game in the second round of fixtures in a new look Munster Championship they were already playing catch up on sides they were competing with as they had already put points on the league table before Waterford got to play.

Yes, I know all sides had four games to play but sometimes points on the table is much better than a game in hand on those you are competing with.

This year Waterford once more have four games to play in a row, but the bye is at the end of the fixture list for the five counties meaning that if Waterford have the points needed to gain an All-Ireland Quarter Final place at a minimum after they play their fourth game, the pressure could well be on the other sides in the fifth round of fixtures.

Ideally of course Waterford might well like to have had two games then a bye and two more games when it came to the way the fixtures were made, but we don’t live in an ideal world.

After Waterford lost out to Galway in the All-Ireland Final while attending a club game in Dungarvan, the question was asked in press box at Fraher Field, was there and All-Ireland in Waterford.

Without having to think for two long I said there was and I firmly believe that Waterford are not far from winning a first title since 1959. Will that happen in 2019, I don’t know. It would be nice to think it could, sixty years after Frankie Walsh lead his side up the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect the Liam McCarthy Cup.

To win the title is not going to be easy. There are a number of sides going to be serious contenders. Reigning champions Limerick and last year’s runners up Galway are going to be there again. So too will Tipperary, Cork, Clare and Kilkenny. Dublin it’s hard to make a call on them. Wexford I am not sure about and it is hard to see Carlow do anything, even if we all would like to see the Minnow do something that nobody expect.

The experts are telling us that home advantage in games is a big thing. Statistics show that the home team when there is one goes on to win about three quarters of the games. Personally I would like to think that the best team win on a given day. I have heard some say that the referee can be swayed in the big calls when there is a home support on his back. I would hope this is not true and that referee’s regardless of who is playing and where would referee the game in a fair manor to both sides.

Waterford had an excellent league campaign, topping Division 1B and going on to contest the final against All-Ireland Champions Limerick.

Waterford have named a strong team for the game in Walsh Park tomorrow and what is pleasing about the current Waterford set up is that there is plenty of options coming off the bench. It is important to remember that in the current game that the game is no longer about 15 men, it is about the five subs available to be put on and even the two or three that might be called upon next week to come in and do a job if there is injuries or suspensions picked up.

Clare no doubt would love to have remained in the league longer and coming to Waterford one think will be in the back of their minds. When the two sides met in the quarter finals of the league at Walsh Park back in March Clare conceded 31 points.

What happened in that game will play no part this weekend. That game is not history, but at the same time you can’t but help thinking maybe that some of the Clare players might be thinking can Waterford serve up another performance like that on what is a Walsh Park that is in pristine condition which will suit some of the speed merchants that Waterford have held in reserve for this game.

If the experts are right and home advantage counts for something, then Waterford will win this game. The only thing to be decided is the winning margin. But if Clare were to travel down believing those who make claims about home advantage, what is the point in them travelling and putting big amounts of money into the team. Would it not be better for them if the experts are right about home advantage, staying back up in Clare and getting ready for their first home game in two weeks time against Tipperary in Ennis, sending down a second string junior team to go through the motions against Pauric Fanning’s side, telling them before they leave to enjoy the trip.

The Capacity of Walsh Park might not reach the level set of just over 11,000 but it will come pretty close to it. I have no doubt that those that watch it at the venue or at home on the television will be served up an entertaining game that will be much closer that the 0-31 to 1-14 win that Waterford had back in March in Walsh Park.

So who will win? For me it will be the home side, not because of the home advantage thing that some are alluding to but because I feel Waterford have the better panel of the two sides and have some great options to come off the bench.

Waterford Camogie Sides Go In Search Of Two Munster Final Appearances

If you are a regular reader of what appears here you will know that I have nothing but the upmost of respect for our counties Camogie and Ladies Footballers and those tasked at board room level at Club and County level that are helping to develop the both games.

But sometimes you have to wonder about some and the joined up thinking there is when it comes to the promotion of the games.

Take those at Munster Council Level for example. This coming Saturday evening they have Waterford’s junior and senior teams down to play two games at the one time in two different counties. Some might ask what is wrong with this. Well one wrong might be this, Waterford in their junior team are using players that are currently outside the eighteen or nineteen most used players from the senior team, which gives Waterford something to think about for this weekend. Do they send these players to Lemybrien for a Munster Semi Final game against Kerry where they will get game time or do they send them to The Ragg outside Thurles with the senior team where they are most likely to start on the bench but could be sent on at some stage?

The question also has to be asked should there be the coming together and the formation of one body by the Camogie and Ladies Football Associations to allow for duel players if players are willing to commit to both codes. I have no doubt there is players who want to play both but because of two associations who often have fixtures on the same day and even the same time make it impossible to happen. Waterford have one duel player this year in Caoimhe McGrath who excelled in both the National Camogie and Ladies Football Leagues this year in the white and blue of Waterford but this Saturday the Abbeyside player will have to make up her mind or have her mind made up for her as to which game she wants to play as while the Waterford Senior’s are playing Tipperary in the Ragg, two hours earlier in Ennis the Waterford Senior Ladies Footballers are playing Kerry in the First round of this year’s Munster Championship, a repeat of last weekend’s League final in Parnell Park.

When Waterford’s junior team run onto the pitch in Lemybrien on Saturday evening it will be their second game in the competition, having beating a strong Clare side a few weeks back.

In that game Niamh Murphy was the heroine when it came to the scoring as she hit eight points in her side’s tally of 1-10.

The De La Salle player is part of the senior set up in the last few years and has also been part of a talented De La Salle side and the experience she has picked up with these sides was obvious in the win over Clare, remaining very cool headed striking from placed balls and struck the winner from play with just under two minutes remaining.

She is joined in the junior set up in the likes of Niamh Ahearne another member of the senior panel and a daughter of former inter county hurler Shane.  Becky Kavanagh, Sadie Mai Rowe, Saoirse Bonnar and Johanna Houlihan are also experienced players in this side.

Also included are some rising stars of the game, the likes of Leah Sheridan who was part of the Gailltir team that contested this year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final in February as well as the likes of Megan Foran, Hannah Flynn, Aoife and Shauna Fitzgerald, Izabella Markiewiz and Sally Kelly who are also rising stars of the game.

They will be up against a Kerry side that lost three of their games in the National League and conceded a fourth game to Armagh while playing in Division two. They however retained their place in Division two for next year by beating Carlow in a relegation playoff game.

Kerry in this game will be looking to the likes of Niamh Leen, Sara Murphy, Olivia Dineen, Elaine Ryall, Laura Collins and Jackie Horgan for big performances.

While this is Waterford’s second string teams you have to field with the mix of youth and experience in it that the side are good enough to qualify for a Munster Final.

While the junior game is going on in Lemybrien the senior team will be in action at The Ragg Camogie Grounds outside Thurles.

These two sides have met twice in the last twelve months and on both occasions victory went to the Premier County side, first in last year’s All-Ireland Senior Quarter Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and more recently in this year’s National League.

So will we see it be third time Waterford on Saturday evening. Well we have every right to think it will.

Waterford in the National League finished in fourth place in a five team group in their group, but it must be pointed out that for much of the league Donal O’Rourke had to plan without the services of the Gailltir players who were preparing for their All-Ireland Club Final at Croke Park.

Tipperary could well have a strong line out on Saturday evening including the likes of Gemma Grace, Eimear Loughman, Niamh Tracey, Ereena Fryday, Grace O’Brien and of course Cáit Devane to name but a few.

Waterford at full strength are a match for anyone. To pick one from Brianna O’Regan and Ciara Jackman to start in goal is not an easy task to start with, and out along the field you have some brilliant players in the likes of All-Star Beth Carton, team captain Niamh Rockett, Iona Heffernan, Sibheal Harney, Aoife Landers, Lorraine Bray, Sarah Lacey, Orla Hickey, Claire Whyte, Áine Lyng, Annie Fitzgerald, Kate Lynch, Clodagh Carroll, Kaiesha Tobin etc.

Tipperary have got the better of Waterford in some of the recent clashes between the two, but Donal O’Rourke and his charges will know that the tide has to turn at some stage.

With the All-Ireland Championship coming up in a few weeks times there might be some places that need filling in on the team in the mind of Donal O’Rourke and his selectors and the 15 players that start this game and any that come on will be going all out to secure a place in that championship starting team and the players will know that a good showing here could well cement their place in the starting All-Ireland Championship team.

Some might make the home side favourites to win here, but there is something telling me that Donal O’Rourke’s side will upset here those that are suggesting that the home side will advance to a Munster Final.

Waterford V Kerry Part 2

Last Sunday was a memorable day for Ladies Football in Waterford when Ciaran Curran’s side beat Kerry to claim the Division Two National League title against a fancied Kerry side at Parnell Park in Dublin.

Goals that day made a difference with Waterford hitting four in a brilliant first half performance as Michelle Ryan, Kelly Ann Hogan, Maria Delahunty and Róisín Tobin all had the umpires at the northern side of the North Dublin venue reaching for the green flag.

For Waterford to keep up the way they were performing in that first half for the full sixty minutes was always going to be a big ask for Ciaran Curran’s side and while the ladies from the kingdom did come more into contention in the second half much of the damage was done as far as they were concerned and Waterford were full value for their 5-13 to 1-17 victory, staking a place in Division One in next years league where they will be up against the likes of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Mayo, Donegal and Tipperary.

The two sides meet again this Saturday evening in Ennis, the curtain raiser to the Munster Championship (mens) quarter final between Waterford and Clare.

The outcome of last Sunday’s game will bear no impact in the result of this game. After Waterford’s win last Sunday and the manner in which they played will get some suggesting that they will win again this weekend, but that loss for Kerry will only spur them on and they will be going out all guns blazing to gain revenge as quickly as possible.

It remains to be seen as of now what changes if any will be made for this game.

Last weekend Kerry were forced into changing their goalkeeper Robyn White in the first half. The Kerry mentors indicated at the break that she had picked up a hamstring injury and was replaced soon after Waterford had netted their third goal. Kayleigh Cronin came on for her after 26 minutes could well retain her place for this game. On the day I felt that Robyn White had lost some confidence between the posts after the start that Waterford made and she could well have been replaced maybe for the start of the second half and if she had not Waterford could have scored more than just the one goal in the second thirty minutes.

Having played each other last weekend for the second time this year, both sides will know each other fairly well and know each other’s strength’s and weaknesses.

Players like Aislinn Desmond, Aisling O’Connell, Lorraine Scanlon, Amanda Brosnan, Hannah O’Donoghue and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh down the spine of the Kerry team last Sunday are very talented players while the likes of Miriam O’Keeffe and Sarah Houlihan in the corner forward positions as well as Niamh Carmody in the half forward line are also talented players.

This present Waterford side is a talented one and it is one that could well go on to achieve a great deal in the years to come.

Within the set up there is some very experience players in the likes of Caoimhe McGrath, Róisín Tobin, Karen McGrath, Michelle Ryan, the Murray sisters, Maria Delahunty, Eimear Fennell and Aileen Wall which is a benefit to any side, but there is also some excellent young players in the likes of Rosie Landers, Rebecca Casey, Kelly Ann Hogan and Aisling Mullaney amongst but a few who have a bright future ahead of them in the game.

In Ladies Football as well as in Camogie when sides meet twice in a short space of time it is often the side that lose the first day learns the most and come out on top on the second occasion.

Will it happen like this on Saturday evening in Ennis? It really is impossible to say. One thing is for sure the game is going to be much closer than it was last Sunday, and regardless of the outcome both sides will be involved in the All-Ireland Championship which begins in a few weeks time.

Tough Task Ahead For Waterford Footballers

Waterford’s senior footballers go in search of a first Munster Championship win since 2010 on Saturday evening when they take on Clare at Cusack Park in Ennis.

Since beating Clare at Fraher Field back in 2010 on a 1-10 to 0-9 score line Waterford’s best result came five years ago when they drew 0-12 to 2-6 score line and more recently although while tasting defeat losing out to Cork by one point at Fraher Field two years ago.

Nobody that has an interest in Football that Benji Whelan’s side will face a difficult task if they are to reverse Waterford’s run of results in the Munster Championship this weekend.

While the Kilmacthomas man and his management team will have left no stone unturned in preparing their charges for this game, it really is hard to see anything other than a Clare win happen, but in saying that, it is when nobody give a Waterford football side any hope that they are at their best, and we could well see this happen on Saturday evening.

When it comes to Gaelic Football this year getting out of Division Four in the National League was Waterford’s main aim, but a poor start to this year’s campaign, losing their first three games meant that Waterford’s interest in the competition was over before the competition reached it’s midway point.

Waterford’s result’s did improve in the second half of the competition, even if they were to lose their last game in the group stages against a Leitrim side that had secured promotion to Division Three before the game and this will give the side in white and blue confidence going into the game in Ennis on Saturday evening.

What side Waterford will field on Saturday evening remains to be seen. We do know that the side will show a number of changes to that which we would have seen in previous years.

Aaron Beresford had taken over the number one shirt from his Ballinacourty club made Stephen Enright this year but the Ballinacourty man dislocated his knee in the run up to the first round of the club championship ruling him out of contention for his sides two games, and while we are told that he has returned to training with the county, it remains to be seen if the game has come too soon for him.

If he is deemed fit to play then expect him to start, but if he isn’t, then Gaultier’s David Whitty would be expected to start with Kilrossanty’s 46 year old goal keeper Darren Mulhearne called up to the panel in recent weeks providing cover on the bench.

Modeligo’s Sean O’Donovan, Ray Ó Ceallaigh from An Rinn and James McGrath from county champions The Nire would be expected to start in front of him with Tadhg Ó hUallachain, Brian Looby and Shane Ryan expected to form the half back line but in what order from left to right would remain to be seen.

The middle of the field could see Waterford’s twin towers – Kilrossanty’s Tommy Prendergast and Stradbally’s Shane Ahearne link up, a pairing that no centre of the field pairing would like to come up against with their combined aerial ability.

In attack the line out could well see plenty of roving between the six position but the positions are likely to be filled by JJ and Dessie Hutchinson from Gaultier, Conor Murray and Michael Curry from Rathgormack as well as Feargal Ó Cuirrín from An Rinn and possibly Dylan Guiry, with the likes of Jason Curry, Donie Fitzgerald and Sean Whelan-Barrett also likely to come into contention.

Clare played two divisions above Waterford in the National League and did well to retain their place in Division Two for 2020, no mean achievement considering some of the teams that were in that division this year. The finished level on points with Cork (along with Tipperary) but the rebels were relegated after the pair drew and Clare finished with a better scoring difference.  

David Tubridy is one of Clare’s best players now with a long number of years and he could well if given the chance prove to be a thorn in the Waterford defence on Saturday evening making few mistakes.

But they are by no means a one man team an in the likes of Jamie Malone, Gary Brennan, Gordon Kelly and Piece DeLoughrey they have some quality players that will cause problems for most sides.

I for one would love to say that Waterford will win this game and would love to be reading about a Waterford win in next week’s City and Dungarvan local papers, but hand on heart as much as I would love to say it, i can’t.

But as I have said already when Waterford are wrote off my many this is when they can produce the goods and if they were to produce the goods here I would not be surprised. I would really love to be proven wrong here, but it is hard to see anything other than a home win in this one.

66 Do Battle For 32 Seats on Waterford City and County Council

The closing date for receipt of nominations for this year’s local elections closed at the weekend with those whose name were submitted having until noon today (Tuesday May 7) to withdraw their name for the race if they so wish.

In Waterford 66 names will contest the local elections in six different electorate areas. 31 of the 32 sitting councillors have decided to seek re-election for the next five year term, Ballymacarbry based Councillor Michael Joseph O’Ryan the only councillor deciding not to seek re-election and in doing so ended over a century of service to the people of the county.

Of the 66 that will be contesting the election for a place on the council for the next five years, 26 are doing so for the first time, while a number of candidates standing who were not elected in 2014 have previously served on either Waterford City Council or Waterford County Council before the two local authorises were merged into one in 2014.

Nine candidates will stand for five seats in the new look Portlaw-Kilmacthomas electorate area, previously the Comeragh Electorate area.

Sitting Councillors – Liam Brazil (Fine Gael), Declan Clune (Sinn Fein), Ray Murphy (Fianna Fail), John O’Leary (Fianna Fail) and Seanie Power (Fine Gael) will be joined by former member of Waterford County Council Ger Barron (Labour) as well as first time candidates Mairead Coffey Jacob (Fine Gael) and Independents Ann Troy and Dolores Whelan.

The Dungarvan-Lismore electorate area is split into two areas for the next five years with the Dungarvan area getting to elect six councillors and Lismore three.

In the Dungarvan Electorate area outgoing Councillors Tom Cronin (Fianna Fail), Damien Geoghegan (Fine Gael), Pat Nugent (Fine Gael), Seamus O’Donnell (Independent) and Siobhan Whelan will all be looking to be re-elected after serving for the past five years on Waterford City and County Council and will have one more with them this time out after it was decided the area should have six councillors.

Joining them on the ballot paper will be Conor D. McGuinness (Sinn Fein), Sean French (Fianna Fail), Caren Hallahan (Independent), Ciara Langan (Independent), Ian Noctor (Fine Gael), Joe O’Riordan (Independent), Thomas Phelan (Labour) and Ann Marie Rossiter (Fianna Fail).

The three outgoing Candidates in the Lismore area Declan Doocey (Fine Gael), John Pratt (Labour) and James Tobin (Fianna Fail) will be joined on the ticket by Louise Brierly (Sinn Fein) and Lynne Glasscoe (Green Party) for three seats.

Six seats will be up for grabs in the three areas in and around the city area.

In the Tramore – Waterford City West area outgoing Councillors Joe Conway (Independent), Jim Griffin (Sinn Fein), Blaise Halligan (Independent), Joe Kelly (Independent), Lola O’Sullivan (Fine Gael) and Eamon Quinlan (Fianna Fail) all face a massive task to retain their seats.

Along with the six outgoing councillors on the Ballot paper will be the names of eight others,  Brendan Byrne (Independent), Una Dunphy (People Before Profit), Michael Gallwey (Renua), Leslie Hughes (Sinn Fein), Maxine Keoghan (Fine Gael), Rita Lacey (Fianna Fail), Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Green Party) and Melissa O’Neill (Independent).

In Waterford City East Sharon Carey (Fine Gael), David Daniels (Independent), Pat Fitzgerald (Sinn Fein), Eddie Mulligan (Fianna Fail), Matt Shanahan (Independent) and Adam Wyse (Fianna Fail) are the outgoing councillors and will have to fend off opposition from Fiona Dowd (Fine Gael), Michael Doyle (Sinn Fein), Michael Garland (Independent), Jody Power (Green Party) and Lee Walsh (Independent) if they are to be re-elected.

Another big field have declared for the six seats in Waterford City South.

The outgoing candidates here are Breda Brennan (Sinn Fein), John Cummins (Fine Gael), John Hearne (Sinn Fein), Jason Murphy (Fianna Fail) Laurence Cha O’Neill (Independent) and Sean Reinhardt (Independent), are up against Donal Barry (Independent), Vivienne Burns (Independent), Brendan Byrne (Independent), Ronan Cleary (Aontú), Warren Fitzgerald (Sinn Fein), Susan Gallagher (Green Party), Andrew Power (Independent) and Seamus Ryan (Labour).

In the elections in 2014 in the Comeragh Area, there was an electorate of 15,534 with a valid vote of 9,028 with a quota set at 1,280.

Michael Joseph O’Ryan and Liam Brazil both were elected on the first count both receiving nearly 200 votes each above the quota.

John O’Leary and Declan Clune were both elected on the eight count both having passed the quota. Seanie Power was elected on the ninth county having received one vote over the quota with Mary Butler getting elected on the same count without reaching the set quota. Mary Butler would resign her seat in 2016 after she was elected to the Dáil as a Fianna Fail Deputy for Waterford and was replaced by Ray Murphy.

Those failing to get elected in the Comeragh Area in 2014 were Brendan Coffey (Fine Gael), Seanie Walsh (Independent), Ger Barron (Labour) Doctor David Janes (Direct Democracy), Michael Flynn (Independent), and David Kirwan (Independent).

The Dungarvan-Lismore electorate area in 2014 had eight seats.

Damien Geoghegan topped the pole with 1,337 Number 1’s, passing the quota of 1312 votes needed from an electorate of 22,774.  

Pat Nugent and James Tobin both passed the quota in the fourth and fifth count respectfully, while Siobhan Whelan was elected on the seventh count.

John Pratt, Tom Cronin, Declan Doocey and Seamus O’Donnell were all elected in the eight count without reaching the quota needed.

Louise Brierley (Sinn Fein), Nicky Sheehan (Labour), Michael Cosgrove (Fine Gael), Midi de Paor Walsh (Independent), Ann Marie Rossiter (Fianna Fail) and Michael (The Mad Hatter) Wright {RIP} (Independent) were also on the Ballot Paper.

The Tramore – Waterford City West had an electorate of 16,028 in 2014 with the quota set at 1,196 for the six seats.

Joe Conway was the first to be elected reaching the quota on the eight count. Jim Griffin was elected on the eleventh count, with Joe Kelly, Blaise Halligan, Lola O’Sullivan and Eamon Quinlan elected without a quota on the twelfth count.

Ann Marie Power (Independent), Hilary Quinlan (Fine Gael), Pat Daly (Fianna Fail), David Lane (Sinn Fein), Davy Walsh (Workers Party), Dee Jacques (Labour), Pat Finnerty ( Independent), Dick Roche (Independent), Maxine Keoghan (Fine Gael), Jenna Keane (Independent), Monica Melay (Independent) and Brian Hearne (Workers Party) making up the remainder of the field back in 2014.

Waterford City East had a electorate of 19,090 and the quota was set at 1,118, and in the first round of counting Pat Fitzgerald and Davy Daniels passed this number.

John Carey would pass the figure on the eleventh count. He died in 2018 and his daughter Sharon was co-opted onto the council in his place and she will contest this year’s election.

Also getting elected on the same county were Adam Wyse and Mary Roche. The latter would resign her place on the council in recent months and was replaced by Matt Shanahan who will contest this years election.

Eddie Mulligan as an Independent was elected on the twelfth count without reaching the quota. Eddie Mulligan went on to join the Fianna Fail Party after getting elected in 2014.

Jim D’Arcy (Fine Gael), Neil White (Independent), Tom Cunningham (Fine Gael), Jack Walsh (Labour), Liz Murphy (Fianna Fail), Eamon McGrath (Fianna Fail), Joan Quirke (People Before Profit), John Walsh (Independent) and Larry McCarthy (Direct Democracy) also contested in this area in 2014.

Waterford City South in 2014 had an electorate of 12,181 with the quota set at 1,032.

Sinn Fein’s John Hearne topped the poll and was elected on the first count with his party colleague Breda Brennan elected on the eighth count.

John Cummins was elected on the tenth count surpassing the quota with Jason Murphy, Sean Reinhardt and Laurence (Cha) O’Neill getting elected on the same count without reaching the quota.

Seamus Ryan (Labour), Willie Moore (Workers Party), Tom Murphy (Independent), Donal Barry (Independent), David O’Brien (Independent), Keith Nolan (Independent), Gary Hogan (Direct Democracy) and Eddie Walsh made up the remainder of the ballot paper in this area.

Something tells me with a number of issues getting a lot of media coverage in Waterford in the last while that this could well be an interesting election. Whether National Issues affecting Waterford can be resolved at a local level remains to be seen. The numbers entering the race for one of 32 seats tells me that there is some that feel that they can do something about the issues that affects Waterford and indeed the South east. Something also tells me that of the 31 councillors that are seeking re-election not all will be returned. How many wont – right now we will have to wait and see.