Wednesday, 20 July 2022 | 14.2°C Dublin

C ost of living getting too much for you? Help is available.

MABS is offering Money Management talks to all local groups.

Please contact Bray MABS 0818 07 2250 to arrange a talk for your group.

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South Leinster Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the State’s money advice service, guiding people through dealing with debt and support with money management.

They have offices at 2 The Boulevard, Quinsboro Road, Bray. See mabs.ie.

The MABS Helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Members of Wicklow Active Retirement have been having a busy few weeks.

They have had talks from Codling Wind Farm, telling about the plans for the next ten years, organised by Liz Dillon.

Eileen Earls told them all about all the work Wicklow Cancer Support do in the town. An Garda Siochana, represented by Garda Lynne Roche and Niall Kennedy, gave advice on how to avoid scams and about personal security.

Dave Shannon from Wicklow Town Team spoke about the plans the Team had for the town, lighting of heritage sights, Pilgrim walk to Glendalough, Bus link, two-storey Car Park and plans for the Abbey Grounds.

Another member of the team came another Tuesday, Andrew Lawless and talked about Tidy Towns and about upgrading our houses with insulation. There currently is a two year waiting list for an upgrade. He also spoke about Millvale Solar Farm in Rathnew.

Members had a wonderful day out in Kildare on June 30th, visiting and having a tour of St. Brigid's Cathedral and the National Stud, where they had lunch and also visited the Japanese Gardens all ably arranged by Pauline Flanagan.

At the beginning of October they have booked a four night stay in Westport which everyone is looking forward to.

Wicklow Active Retirement meet every Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. for coffee and will be closed for the month of August, re-opening on August 30th. New members are always welcome.

Family Fun Days take place at Wicklow Mountains National Park at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday for July and August.

Fun for all the family with nature walks, arts and crafts, treasure hunts and bug safaris. Free with booking essential. To book, or for further details, email wickloweduactioncentre@housing.gov.ie. Parking: Wicklow County Council, Upper Lake car park, A98W778 (parking charges apply).

Slimming World Newtown takes place every Monday at 5.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Parkview Hotel, Call or Text Trevor at 085 2499982 for more information.

Join the Wicklow Wolves Women’s Basketball group every Tuesday evening in the community centre sports hall in Newtownmountkennedy between 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Learn how to play or brush up on those basketball skills. Main aim is to get fit while having fun. Contact 0871477507 for more details or just turn up on the night with a pair of runners.

Pilates is now on in Glenealy Village Hall every Tuesday night at 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. For more information, contact Zara at 087 9367474.

Ballinaclash Foróige (Youth Club) weekly day camps take place every Tuesday for the month of July and August from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m.

On Monday mornings weekly at 10 a.m. join the Laragh walking group at Brockagh Resource Centre for a walk around the Glendalough area for approximately one hour. No need to book, just show up on the day.

The Roundwood Festival makes a return on July 31 with events and activities taking place from 2 p.m. until late.

The day will start with the usual fun and games in a new location – the field opposite Roundwood NS on the Lough Dan Road.

Now is the time to start working on your scarecrows for the scarecrow competition! If you need straw for your masterpiece, please call John on 086 8225705. Then erect your scarecrow inside the fence on Roundwood Street Festival Day. Judging will take place on the day.

The Festival raffle tickets, which are the main fundraiser for the event, will be hitting the streets soon.

Thanks are also passed onto all the businesses who have offered support. The festival is being run by volunteers so if you are in a position to help out in distributing raffle tickets, volunteering on the day or on the following tidy-up day or have ideas to include in the festival events, please email info@roundwood.ie. Your input and support will be greatly appreciated.

Aikido is a non-competitive Japanese Martial Art for Flexibility, Coordination, Relaxation and Self Defence.

The instructor is Joe McHugh, 5th Dan Aikido Aikikai. Classes take place at Moneystown Community Hall on Wednesdays evenings from 7.30 p.m. Beginners are especially welcome.

The cost is €5 for the unemployed and €8 for the employed. For information, contact 086 1019668.

The weekly guided walk of the new Wicklow Town Heritage Trail continues this Saturday, and all summer long will become a key attraction for tourists visiting the town and will provide a great insight into the rich heritage of the town.

Locals, visitors and tourists are all welcome to take part in what is a very informative trail detailing the rich history of Wicklow town.

This walk will commence from Fitzwilliam Square at 11 a.m. and will take approximately two hours to complete, allowing participants to spend some time at each location.

The walk this week will focus mainly on the history and heritage around the town centre, including St Patrick’s Church – telling the history of its construction and its historical context, the ruins of the Franciscan Abbey, and the story of Robert Halpin – his birthplace and his achievement in laying the first Trans-Atlantic cable.

On each storyboard, there is a QR code which enables participants to watch a video on their phone, telling them the story of each key location. The actors featured on the videos are members of the local dramatic society. Please note that a walk will take place each week from now until the end of September.

Every Saturday Wicklow Library hosts story-time for children up to six years of age, while every Thursday Comhrá agus Ceol takes place at 11.15 a.m., which involves conversation and songs for children aged up to four years.

Are you interested in joining a knitting or sewing group? For information and to book any of the events contact the library by phone 0404 67025, or email wicklib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Weekly meetings of Grow’s free, community-based peer support groups are set to resume from July 20 at the Wicklow Parish Centre, De La Salle Pastoral Centre, St Patrick’s Road, Wicklow.

The meeting takes place from 2.30 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Trish on 086 012 9082.

Grow is a mental health charity that aims to support anyone who is experiencing a mental health issue.

Anyone with an extra supply of garden food produce, you can drop it outside the main entrance of Brockagh Resource Centre in the crate provided for the community to share.

Free cooking apples are outside the front door in a container for anyone to have this week.

Yoga Tree classes on Friday mornings at Brockagh Resource Centre with Hilde Eiselen.

Join the expertly taught yoga classes, suitable for all abilities and ages, from complete beginner to advanced practitioners.

Relaxing, dynamic, energising, enjoyable, beneficial and fun yoga for everyone. Emerge strong and calm, ready for anything.

For more information about the schedule, phone 0404 40000 or email info@yogatree.ie.

Wicklow Historical Society Journal 2022 is now available in all local outlets. It features 140 pages of stories, tales and photographs of Wicklow and district history, heritage and folklore. Available at the very low price of €5.

Society members are now back on track after Covid and hope to resume normal service as soon as possible. 

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