That Was The Greystones Year That Was 2024

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very late December, we try and find the time to round-up another year in the life of Greystones.

And pretty much every year, we get to somewhere in and around March and give up the ghost.

Which may be understandable, given that we put together in and around 2,000 features on the Guide each year. And going through all of those archive revisions can be head-wrecking, as we clear out the dead wood and link any stories to their past and even future posts.

So, praise be, on December 31st, 2024, after almost two weeks of editing one month a day, we’ve actually completed our month-by-month guide to another eventful Greystones year.

So, kettle on, feet up and teeth out for a wide-eyed, love-fuelled, action-packed 12 months of magic, mayhem and meh…

anuary started, as it so often does around here, with a look back, this time to the day that Patterson’s pull the blinds on their small garage in Delgany,  Greystones welcomed yet another film production to town whilst our great big film studio looks increasingly like having no Hollywood ending. The Greystones Active Retirement gang had their traditionally late, late Christmas nosh-up, the Horse & Hound’s supersize me plans got the thumbs up,  old cobbler Pat Vance got the documentary treatment, Kilpedder’s Gary Davis finally walked free after being convicted of some serious dark web shenanigans,  and we examined when Cynthia and Julian Lennon moved to Kilmacanogue.

The Jolly Boys had another wild night in The Orchard, this time raising €2,500 for Greystones Cancer Support, we visited Waseem and Rahat’s fancy new Blackrock Daata, and Greystones Garda began investigating reports of a flasher.

St Catherine’s Special School secured their new Kilcoole build, Gemma O’Doherty once again disgraced us with her presence, Gardaí were called after a vicious American XL Bully attack at the marina, and The Cliff Walk made another Top 10 treks list, despite being closed since February 2021.

The miraculous Moynagh Lee celebrated her 100th birthday whilst making the rest of us feel lazy, the Delgany Drama Society and the Delgany ICA Drama both won big at the Wicklow Drama Festival, 84 dwellings were approved for Dr Ryan’s old home, Kindlestown House, the Greystones Garda station refurbishment was put on the long arm, and chances of a Cove lifeguard took a knock back due to budget restraints.

ebruary began with the heating up of a campaign to get that new Greystones Community College actually built, the protest taking to the streets a week later, 66-year-old Jim Brennan proved there was plenty of fight in the old dog yet as he began boxing classes in his sons’ Ignite Fitness in Delgany, whilst the storage of slot machines at Sweeney’s sparked an outcry over the possible arrival of a casino down at the harbour.

Filming in Ashford, TV chef Gordon Ramsey blew through Daata, Waseem and Rahat winning two major awards two days later, Delgany’s Nick Bradshaw picked up two major gongs at the AIB Press Photographer Of The Year, and the cuddly Tommaso down at The Bitter Lemon reckoned it was time for another name change for his award-winning café.

In the shadow of a shortfall in secondary school places, Greystones Community College announced 48 new desks, Kelly Drains hit another blockage on their ancient mass path squat, and Newcastle’s Danielle Longmore was remembered with a major fundraiser for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

Mitchell reckons Greystones is getting too big for its roots, we found a little carnival fun down Charlesland way, Harry & Mary continue to be a Valentine’s Day inspiration, Hugh Jackman had his wicked way with the Wicklow wilds, and a planning application for a Sugar Loaf recreation spot at Calary were rejected.

Having opened its doors in 2004, main street shopping mall Meridian Point sold for €7m, Delgany’s Church Cottage looked set to get a mullet, Greystones Community College students Haylie Foley and Holly Cheevers won big at the Irish Environmental Innovation Awards, and young Bobby Watson took stock of some of our older buildings.

Ms Dandy is determined to make Eden Gifts in Kilcoole a one-stop shop for local artists’ creations, whilst a few doors up, Philip and Sophia opened their old-school Village Market, whilst ahead of the general election, Sinn Féin hopefuls Brian Fogarty and Esther Kelly pulled a John Brady.

Making Waves teenagers Lucy and Coco bravely took on Romeo & Juliet,  the number is up for our old phone boxes, Susan Collins’ Home Of Hair became the first hair salon in Europe to get the B-corps eco cert, and John McGowan caught the Greystones United fancy-pants dinner.

Greystones artists came together to demand a local arts centre, Archers Windows supplied Temple Carrig School’s Junior Cup rugby team with a new logo, the Nazarene Church down behind Aldi took one step closer to heaven with new renovation plans, Enniskerry hillwalkers Niall Lenoach and Noel Barry need a little help in their fight for ancient rights of way, and Kilcoole House is set for a major makeover.

arch kicked off with a rather fine St David’s production of The Addams Family, the Flynnstones launched their Friday Supper Club, the Schnittger Bourne gang won big at the Irish Property Awards, and the huggable Fiadh won our annual Me & My Pooch competition.

Father John Daly made an ecumenical move to another parish under a cloud of incense, rock’n’roll kid Paul Harrington, Cork indie cats The Frank & Walters and jazz legend Norma Winstone came to town, David Johnston gave us a little family history behind the town’s old shop-front garage Watson & Johnson, and Gill Gray won our Local Hero vote.

Meanwhile, Lourda Scott sent out the battle cry for more female councillors, Newtown got some major Town Centre First funding, new kid in town Shane Crilly took us behind the history of Base Wood Fired Pizza, and the incidents of indecent exposure continued, this time at Cherry Lane.

Local football ex-pro Emeka Meeks scored big with his BIFE team, the local Women Of Faith gang filled out Killian House with their Wholeness Of Women gathering, Santiago Capital didn’t get a warm welcome when they stuck their flag in some Kilcoole fields, and GGC’s runner Ethan Bramhill scored silver at the National Schools Country Championships.

The Little Emporium celebrated its first birthday nestled beside Tesco, McGowan caught this year’s Daffodil Day, Sheena Griffin got some more Irish Photographer Of The Year love, we caught up with Aoife and Caoimhe as they opened Pulse Pilates in sunny Kilcoole, and the very mighty Charlie Bird passed on March 11th.

Also in March, local magicians Jules and Dee got some official fairy dust, Daata, Chakra and chefs Oran and Darryl got some Irish Restaurant Awards gongs, there’s growing concern that our snazzy South Beach playground might be going south, and the Kelly gang continued their fight to plant themselves on an ancient mass path.

Another 22 houses were confirmed for little ol’ Delgany, trouble started a-brewin’ at Newtown’s River Lodge as news of imminent immigrants spread, Greystones lad Paul Sutton got on his bike for the Samaritans, and the family of Kilcoole’s Jim Urell picked up his posthumous National Property Award.

Principal about town Alan Cox also handed in his badge at Greystones Community College, Johnny Boy caught the 2024 Éire Og Greystones Awards, we caught up with Irish folkie legend Leo O”Kelly to talk about going eclectic, Cairn Homes appeared to be taking a shot about changing local planning rules whilst our much-trumpeted media campus appeared to limp off into the sunset.

Newcastle 10-year-old Leo Doyle got a job, eh, tasting Aldi’s Easter eggs, Greystones filmmaker Sinead Cassidy Holt had one very busy March weekend, and doll manufacturer behind Bratz unleashed their Sinead O’Connor prototype. The mad fecks.

pril began, as always, with one of our more foolish posts that didn’t appear all that foolish to many a Greystonian waiting for The Cliff Walk to return to active duty, the Hawkins Wood crowd had themselves a great big Easter street party, we rounded up all our Farrelly brothers’ twisted tales, and Greystones’ fishermen scored a significant court victory in their long-running legal battle to land their catches at the marina, and then found themselves locked out again.

Back on dry land, we caught up with bard on a wire David O’Reilly, plans for turning the old HSE building into a Delgany heritage centre were suddenly history, the Greystones Responders had their annual Big Table Quiz, Vagabond Tours added two more gongs to their mantlepiece, and The Horse & Hound’s Bellevue won Greystones’ Finest Eatery for a third year in a row.

McCrea’s Funeral Home took over that cute little building opposite the Garda station, we took a jump back to the harbour as the hard sell on its bright new future began, the Cramptons offered up some insider tips on rock agus roll stardom, and the Delgany-Blacklion road got a €16m upgrade fund.

Down at the park, the Greystones Bowling Club raised the flag for another summer of quiet, steady fun, 2024’s 100 Days 100 Greystonians came to a close with the incredible 100-year-old Moynagh, and we caught up with Delgany’s Peter Robbie as he made his screen debut, but 2024 would prove to be a tough year for the lad-about-village.

Kilcoole mother and son Marion and Jonathan Pierce took on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela for MS Ireland, professional warbler Dara MacMahon took us behind the scenes of Wicklow Sings, whilst John McGowan captured this year’s Hallelujah chorus.

We paid a visit to the rebuilds of Helena and Mentone cottages, It Takes A Village got a spot on the This Morning couch, Emelyn Lynch took on a New York run in memory of his late pop, Declan, and there were hopeful murmurs from Harris for the Westbank orphanage survivors.

Kilcoole brewery Rí-Rá proved they had Bray Wanderers‘ backs, five Wicklow winners popped up in this year’s Texaco Art Competition, including St Catherine’s Donncha and GCC’s Freya, the award-winning Lucey Dental in Meridian Point celebrated their 10th birthday, and young Mitchell don’t like those faraway wind turbines headed for our horizon line.

Work began on the Bray train station revamp, the relentless sun brought three grass fires to our coastline, Hozier hits the sweet spot in charts around the world, our Field Of Gold down on the seafront was in full bloom once again, and sea kayakers united for an Irish Motor Neurone Disease to honour Adrian Harkin.

Those St Catherine artists proved they like to move it, move it down at Shoreline, An Bord Pleanala rejected two Style Bawn House planning appeals, St Kevin’s celebrated one year of their new Cycle Bus initiative, and barrister Ruth Cannon unearthed a February 1926 newspaper report on a Greystones bank robbery.

McGowan caught this year’s East Coast Coffee Morning down at The Beach House, Greystones Community College students Ella Macek and Andrew Gaube aced their State Examinations, six people were arrested and three Garda cars damaged at the Trudder House immigration centre protests whilst a concerned Newtown mother wrote an open letter to the Guide.

Harris was on the ball for a GUAFC visit, and as Greystones protests almost began, we tried to address the spate of recent indecent exposure incidents and how real community spirit was our strongest tool against bullies of every shade.

ay saw The Harbour Bar get the thumbs up for a major revamp, a new social group started up around Charleslands, Hawkins Wood and beyond, the Gaskin lass came up with the smart idea of free driving lessons for secondary school students, St Laurence’s had their annual big fundraising day out, and the Kilquade Cup took over Delgany Golf Club once again.

Kellie McConnell began an eventful year by standing in the local elections for People Before Profit, protestors gathered outside the Delgany home of Simon Harris, some heathen swines attempted to steal some marble from Redford Cemetery, Sporting Greystones U18s packed their bags for Atletico Madrid, whilst Rebecca and Lianna from the Irish Women’s Open Rugby Team were off to the world cup in Nottingham.

Meanwhile, the new Re-turn deposit refunds for bottles and cans might need a re-think, the Westbank orphanage survivors took it to church, millionaire fisherman Ivan Toole got some major judicial review moolah from German wind farm group RWE, Bray teacher Sarah Costello launched a fundraiser for Gaza mother and daughter Halla and Chahd after their harrowing four-month escape to Ireland, and Trevor O’Brien raised €5,825 for Irish Cancer Support through collecting no longer needed clothes.

Veteran Kilcoole councillor Tom Fortune set out his wares and cares for the local elections, it appeared that Greystones secondary school place shortages were finally resolved, St David’s Sports Day at the town’s GAA grounds were fun-filled and, we’re assured, injury-free, whilst this year’s Darkness Into Light got its official Greystones launch.

There were some colourful spirits in the sky the night before as the Northern Lights lit up the town, Sinn Féin’s Dermot ‘Daisy’ O’Brien unleashed his election manifesto, as did People Before Profit’s Kellie McConnell, Fine Gael’s Aileen Lennon and Louise Fenelon Gaskin, Kilcoole maverick Tom Fortune, Independent Orla Finn, Social Democrats Danny Alvey, Mark Barry and Aaron McAllorum, Fianna Fáil’s Jack Commons, the Green Party’s Lourda Scott and Erika Doyle, Sinn Féin’s Esther Kelly and Brian Fogarty, Pat Shortt creation Stephen Stokes, and Labour’s Trump supporter Anne Waithira Burke.

Classical guitar maestro John Feeley hit The Whale, Greystones 14-year-old Eldwood Sweeney joined the Irish National Youth Ballet for their spring production of Coppélia,  Greystones United’s U14 Girls won the SFAI National Cup final, Halfway Up The Stairs’ Amanda Dunne was crowned Bookseller Of the Year at the British Book Awards, and Delgany Golf Club handed out awards to the young stars of tomorrow from St Laurence’s and The Glebe National School.

Jago Hayden offered up a personal history of the Kinsella clan, a bunch of eejits cycled 180 miles from Greystones to Doolin for Purple House, nicotine pouches seemed to be taking the place of vapes for teenage kicks, Tiglin’s Aubrey McCarthy was named Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Of The Year, and Maurice Dodd gave us all advice on hedgehogs going down the drain.

St David’s had a big student awards thingy, as did their arch rivals, Greystones Community College, John McGowan caught this year’s Africa Day in Burnaby Park, somehow Messi’s team mate, Enzo Fernandez, and The White Lotus actress Alexandra Daddario (the one with the eyes) were in Greystones over the same weekend, whilst Mei Liu celebrated one year at her Delgany nail salon.

We paid a visit to our Splash Of Colour kids art competition, St Catherine’s Special School, Laura Wood talked all things Americana with us for the Greystones Players’ latest production, a grand total of one dog poo fine was issued in 2023 in Wicklow, Cllr Lourda Scott filed a complaint over Cairn Home reneging on an Archers Wood amenity building, and they swiftly responded seven months later.

In light of the Newtown IPAS centre protests, Newtown Together is launched, the young McGowan catches the Greystones Active Retirement Association afternoon bop around the clock, this year’s Street Feast hit our, well, streets, An Bord Pleanála approved Kilcoole’s new 109-room nursing home at Darraghville, and Nicky’s Village Market got a new jolt of life whilst Brew With A View won our Póg mo Cone ice cream competition.

A GoFundMe was set up for Nicola Taylor after a misdiagnosis at a UK clinic sent her down a long cancer treatment route, John McGowan and Gerry Kelly caught the Bray Choral Society’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem at The Holy Redeemer, séan nos superstar Iarla Ó Lionáird popped by for tea and inspirations, and finally, we recreated a 1958 Delgany photo of three school friends, Maura, Margie and Mary, and found out how these kids ended up in The Irish Times.

une began with the shocking discovery that, during their recent strikes, our firemen were being spied upon in their trucks,  John McGowan caught our first Irish Goa Day in Burnaby Park, Temple Carrig School had Principal Cox hand over his badge to Principal Crean, Beyond The Trees up in Avondale got itself a shiny new award, and Wicklow Town’s ancient Abbey Grounds get the official nod to become an amphitheatre and chomping grounds.

Enso made it three-in-a-row as they once again won our annual Yummiest Pizza vote, Niamh Coffey opened up her new clinic and fitness studio down in Charlesland, WCC gave the thumbs down to 46 units on Kilcoole’s Lott Lane, whilst the local election results saw some new blood being pumped into our district council.

Farrankelly residents are a little sick and tired of being left high and damp, Delgany’s Li Duggan released an e-book on conquering those seasonal allergies, Andrea Splendori looked back on 178 episodes of his Social Fabric podcast, and with the local elections weekend all wrapped up, Jennifer Whitmore promptly collapsed and ended up in hospital, thankfully going on to make a full recovery.

Greystones Cancer Support celebrated its 30th birthday, a little bit of Kinsella history went on the market, a major drugs bust covered Delgany, Greystones and Kilmacanogue, more far-right feckwits targeted Simon Harris’ home, with three arrests made later in the month, whilst three age-friendly housing units were announced for Killincarrig.

Anne Ivory looked back on 30 years of Greystones Cancer Support ahead of the Burnaby Park party, after a series of strikes, Aircoach claimed to have its shifts together again, Temple Carrig School’s additional school accommodation got the thumbs up, as did a new special class at St David’s.

Being a kindhearted soul, key worker Andy at Newlock offered up some free service for the elderly and vulnerable in our community, Greystones Family Resource set up a weekly Tuesday evening get-together for the LGBTQ+ young folk and their parents, whilst as the IPAS centre protests continued, Brady expressed his opposition to the EU Migration Pact.

The Grist clan in Blacklion celebrated five years of washful thinking, thieves left with no dough after an overnight break-in at Base Wood Fired Pizza, tennis legend Goran Ivanišević played an exhibition match and signed 4,378 balls in sunny Greystones, and we jumped back to Jack Clarke’s incredible black and white portraits of the 1980s.

The 2023 wages for Wicklow’s councillors made for some interesting reeling, Windgates’ Melanie Hunter revealed the fine art of putting the right words in other people’s mouths, Tom Fortune got his turn to wear the big cheese medallion, and a new memorial golf classic was formed in honour of Delgany’s Colin O’Mahony – and it got off to a flying start.

The latest Ignite Fitness spinathon raised over €100,000 for Irish Motor Neurone Disease and the Irish Cancer Society, Fernanda at V.I.Pets on Theatre Lane offered up some tips on keeping your dog fit agus healthy, following protests outside his Delgany home, Simon Harris received a bomb threat, and the very bould Charlie Keddy celebrated his 80th birthday with a big splash at Shoreline.

As we long suspected, Bray doesn’t give a feck about fashion, a Wicklow Pride disco for teenagers in Newtown gets cancelled after threats of protest, Tiglin’s Aubrey McCarthy got another gong, we spoke with Paul Neale about feathering your nest, the new Greystones Community College build finally started building, and with Taylor Swift taking over the world, her shout-out to us on Sweet Nothing after picking up a stone from a beach here (‘Does it ever miss Wicklow sometimes?‘) is hoorayed by politicians, fans and dedicated stoners.

Having won it three times in a row, Fiona Roche abdicated from our Top Of The Shops competition, the Greystones Swimming Club hit the big 100, Greystones Momma Yvonne McSorley proved that, hey, when it comes to vegan treats, she knows best, there was another lesson in gum control in Burnaby Park, the Beirne clan conquered three local peaks for Purple House.

Meanwhile, this year’s Creative Ireland Day for kids had Coolnagreina rockin’ da house – and it also threw up quite possibly the most bangin’ tune Ireland has ever produced.

uly began with the opening of Bread 41 in the old Davis Motors building whilst around the corner, Sonny’s celebrated their 4th birthday, Ann Conan at the Bray Citizens Information Centre handed in her badge, the Welltrack kids hit the road for their graduation party, and Hollywood’s favourite knitter Delia Barry produced a one-of-a-kind Aran cardigan for Taylor Swift.

We finally got to sit down with Vick and Ida to talk about their particular brand of café culture, local West End star and Temple Carrig School teacher Chris Holland once again did his bit for us yokels, John McGowan caught the latest Two Marys Golf Classic (which raised a mighty €9,020 for Greystones Cancer Support), and wooden toy emporium Dlulukaloo won our Top Of The Shops 2024.

Delgany got some town engineer love, but no zebra crossings or flyover just yet, Fiachra Etchingham celebrated the town’s old Enterprise sailing days, in memory of John Duncan we jumped back to his history of Greystones United, plus, it’s always good to see the legendary Fossett’s Circus come to town – and some proper diddley-aye music too.

Powerscourt put the call out for poets young and old once more, Jenny Murnane’s new Greystones business gets a little help from new friends, sisters Lisa and Rachel once more appealed for information about their missing mum, Rachel Smith, who attended David Bowie’s gig at Slane on July 11th 1987 and never came home.

There was another round of wailing about The Cliff Walk being closed since 2021, Lindsay O’Donnell took us behind the scenes of her 3D pet potraits, after a few failed attempts, Robinson’s finally got its slim shady, and we rounded up Gary Acheson’s historical nuggets and curiosities, said hello to Djamel and his Paddy The Turk barber quartet on Hillside Road, and caught the Tom Kennedy Memorial vintage car show up in Kilmacanogue.

Local historican Gary Paine unearthed 1874 plans for a Greystones-Glendalough express train, Greystones’ rooftop restaurant down at the marina finally went on the market, the town finally got its own laundromutt, Phelim Drew revealed the songs that can make him break down and cry, and 4-year-old Chloe Forde from Delgany was the overall winner of the HSE SunSmart Children’s Art Competition.

As he said goodbye to his Ross O’Carroll-Kelly creation, Paul Howard revealed his comic inspirations, Delgany’s Peter Robbie revealed the cancer battle that almost got the better of him, we had a chat with Penneys veteran Andrew Murray as their Bray branch finally opened, and 12 dolphins spotted off our coast caused quite a stir, and a cool video.

Physio Sam Yentin left his native Toronto for a Greystones girl, we caught up with the McNally lass as Pretty Woman turned 10, maybe Stevie Wonder should have called that album Wetter Than July?, that new Aircoach timetable hits some major turbulence, and Marina Village residents aren’t crazy about being a car park for the town.

Panto dame supreme Rob Murphy brings his drama school back to Greystones, getting GG’s draughty old house was a major plus this year, the Paddy Dunne Golf Classic has become a yearly fixture, the residents of Archers Wood gathered for a Go Slow day, and we checked out the local winners of this year’s Reach For The Stars astrophotography competition.

Greystones rockers turned West Cork cat Stuart Crampton and his better half turned it up to 11 for Penny Dinners, we jumped back to Basil Miller’s 2015 take on the harbour land grab, a petition was launched to make our beaches bigger, better, safer and sexier but it still hasn’t quite hit its 1,000 signatures, there was a, eh, drive-by shooting just outside Roundwood, and Vagabond Tours got their eco-loving B Corp rating.

Hippies came from near and far for a Remembering Sinead weekend in Bray, the McGowan lad caught this year’s Rowing Regatta, Gerry Kelly caught this year’s Kilmacanogue Horse Show, the Dunnes honoured their stillborn daughter Sariel’s 10th birthday with a 10k fundraiser run, the Greystones secondary school shortage wasn’t sorted after all, and Lucey Dental got, hey, more awards love.

Party animal Mark Kinsella organised another wild weekend at Lourdes, we met up with Vincent and Eveline as they set about painting the town new, and as The Hungry Monk marked 36 years, we sat down with Julian and co to unearth their secret recipe for success.

ugust began with The Cliff Walk detouring onto, eh, Windgates road, Tiglin celebrated its 15th birthday, Isobel at Lorient Gift marked their 10th birthday, and clearly unwell Bray man David O’Callaghan decided to attack Áras an Uachtaráin, the Custom House and Government Buildings with a van.

We brought some colour to the cheeks of Robert French’s 100-year-old Greystones pics, this year’s Picnic In The Park was all about showing Greystones Cancer Support some love on their 30th birthday, we added a few more vintage pics to our Bray history, everyone was a winner at this year’s Charlesland Mini-League, and Gary Paine paid tribute to the schooner supreme Belle Vue, gone 180 years ago.

Gardaí investigated ‘especially sinister‘ threats against Simon Harris, once a Wicklow child’s answer to Squid Game, Clara Lara gets some jingle bells, finally, Greystones’ ban Garda might have something to go on, as the summer weather kicked in, we unleashed our Sun Is Shining mix, and with the sad passing of Courtney Murphy, we jumped back to his family link to the 1915 Lusitania disaster.

The Somers lad put in an application for 14 houses at the old Delgany central homestead, Brew With A View won our Póg Mo Cone ice cream competition once again, that McGowan fecker caught this year’s Kenmare Family Fun Day, McCrea’s opened their swanky new funeral home opposite the Garda station, and there was a changing of the guardians at The Horse & Hound as Mark & Mary Molloy handed over their badge of honour to that rugger bugger, Kevin Moes.

Artist Muslim Dervishev gave Delgany’s Fairy Trail houses a whole new lick of pixie dust, Gerry Kelly caught the Ciara’s Classic golf shindig for Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital, The Poetry Chair came to Greystones, and there was nothing we could do about it, supergran Niamh Cooke unleashed her latest solo art exhibition, and we revisited Brian Gurrin’s history of the Three Trouts River.

Yet another Harris home protest suspect gets arrested, Zoom Adventure Play down in Charlesland added a monthly last Monday session for young kids with additional needs, a little Glen Of The Downs history went on the market as the former Rock House pub was put up for sale, ReWild Wicklow’s camera traps in our woods and forests gave us some Fox News we could trust, and the Bray Biodiversity Action Plan was launched.

Lifelong friends Patrick Bradshaw, Ian Barrett and Colm Whooley found themselves sitting at the top of the table at Delgany Golf Club, the Harris lad swung by his old school to cheer on this year’s graduates, and also found the time to turn the sod on the new Greystones Community College build, Camile unleashed their brand new menu, and Kindlestown Park had their Family Fun Day just for the kids.

We spoke with young Catherine and Trevor about this year’s Dahlia Show down in St Patrick’s NS, a new monthly Death Café gathering popped up for those curious about life on the other side, the new glamping site down behind The Beach House is a cosy room with a great view,  there was a pollution warning at the Three Trouts River after a dead deer is discovered, whilst Maria Doyle Kennedy, Mary Coughlan and Paul Noonan were the big attractions at this year’s inaugural Newcastle Music Festival.

Chemists were finally given the power to renew prescriptions, Delgany acupuncturist Li proves that the pin is mightier than the sore, public access to Wicklow Head and that iconic lighthouse was finally secured, and we were pretty darn sure that Kamala was going to win. Dang.

Kilcoole Primary School’s great big expansion gets the official thumbs up, Colding submitted formal plans for a 1,300mw wind farm off our coast, John McGowan caught the Harry McCormack Memorial Golf Day, and with his sad passing, we revisited the Kodachrome visions of Greystones by Harry Acheson.

Meanwhile, Dave O’Reilly told us all about bringing Stan Laurel to The Whale stage, and for no particular reason, we relistened to GG’s late mum talk about life on Blackberry Lane.

eptember began with a mighty street feast down Charlesland way, whilst Farrankelly had their annual Family Fun Day, Floral Art celebrated 10 years of stinkin’ up the place real nice, and we finally met up with the Big Bosch Boss, Brian Mullen.

Work also began on bringing a Boules court to Burnaby Park, given all the arse over secondary school places around here, Whitmore reckons we need a centralised application system, and we also need to look after those sharks, plus Greystones Primary Care Centre down by the South Beach car park is a go, a 2-year trial play therapist has been secured for Greystones schools, and Doyle’s old auction house on Hillside Road is all set for development.

Didem was the deserving winner of Greystones Yummiest Takeaway 2024 with the Turkish yum that is Yellov, young Neven Maguire swung by to catch the good, the bad and the muddy for his latest TV series, and we were the first to spot that a 197-acre chunk of Delgany was now on the market.

A new grassroots campaign to reopen The Cliff Walk after almost four years got underway, there were more feckin’ awards for Lucey Dental, Delgany NS and St Francis were two of the six Wicklow schools to join the Arts Council Programme, and it would appear some Greystonians just don’t know how bins work.

Three arrests are made following the December 2023 shooting of Clinton McCormack in Delgany, New York firefighters hit Greystones as the cycle for Aoibheann’s Pink Tie got underway, we spoke to the Whitmore lass about that 197 acres going a-beggin’ at Bellevue Woods, that cool Kilkenny cat with all the Tik Tok love Robert Grace came to town, and our Taoiseach came out as bio-curious at Temple Carrig School’s big science love-in.

Lidl set their sights for their latest site on Kilcoole main street, following April’s ABP planning rejection, Style Bawn House was put back on the market, John McGowan caught this year’s La Touche Legacy Festival Of History, we updated our Fly Like A Seagull aerial photo gallery, and Fine Gael had their selection boxing match up at The Glenview.

This year’s run around the Roundwood reservoir for Lakers was captured by the McGowan lad, and he also made it along to the Greystones Bowling Club finals, North Wicklow Against Genocide turned up the pressure with more weekly protests, and finally found a home for their Refuge documentary screening, plus that cute little shop at the side of Sonny’s that was an auction house, then Mooch, then Larry’s, then Sonny’s pizza parlour, went back on the market.

Drama and climate change were both added to the St David’s leaving cert, the town was lucky enough to host the Irish premiere of the wonderful Led Zeppelin-led documentary Mr Jimmy, and we spoke with its Irish director, Peter Michael Dowd, the award-winning SEK International school up on Windgates Hill opened their doors to day students, the It Takes A Village gang announced a free indoor Family Fun Day in Shoreline (which went rather well), and for absolutely no reason, we revisited Eamon Flynn’s wonderful old photos of Greystones.

Reflecting just how bad the problem is around here, there are 4,364 people in Wicklow on the housing list, Jenny down at Beautyful got some awards love,  the Greystones & Delgancy SEC gang found themselves finalists in the SEAI Energy Awards, the Flynnstones have started making inroads in the USA, with some major TV guest spots, and a new Greystones Youth & Wellness Committee was formed, ‘driving by a vision to empower young people to shape the future of sports and wellness in the community’.

David Devine and the Platinum gang struck gold, plainly a bit of a lad (the scamp was blocked from our social media), Lee McGuirk sadly passed after a terminal illness, a €2,000 fine is introduced for those who sell vapes to kids, the Wicklow River Projects completed their groundbreaking, barrier-building project to open up breeding grounds for upstream migratory fish, and Brady spoke out against the Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme paid to homeowners housing Ukrainians.

Margaret Kennedy led the tour checking out just how disabled-friendly our town is, we caught up with one of our favourite stand-ups, Martin Angolo, as he hit The Harbour Bar, we talked to Melissa Connaughton about her covered lightbulb moment, and the Halfway Up The Stairs gang held Ireland’s first comic book festival, whilst Buoys launched their new menu.

Another bunch of Greystonians joined a caravan of love for Ukraine, and as Fiachna Ó Braonáin revealed all to Andrea Splendori we went soul-searching with the Hothouse Flower.

McGowan caught A Women’s Breakfast gathering, and the Greystones Active Retirement Association’s coffee morning for Wicklow Hospice, we spoke with Conor Brown about finding redemption, God and crafts, St Laurence’s NS kids headed up the Get Ireland Walking campaign, a fundraiser was launched to help one-year-old Rudy Gannon get the critical care that he needs, and work begins on that long-awaited and mildly controversial N11 bus lane.

ctober began with Simon Harris revealing quite a bit on Ryan Tubridy’s new podcast, Orla Madden hit the Boat Yard Pop-Up exhibition, Indian Spice celebrating 22 years of yummy food and groovy awards, and we took a look at how Delgany 2.0 was coming along.

The annual Katie Taylor bursary was up for grabs, there was a call for bike lockers at Greystones train station, there was glee as an additional bus was added to Route 33 from Wicklow to the big city, those fecking eejits at East Coast Radio got some extra funding, and the town got itself some young Reading Goals ambassadors.

And did you know about that Jubilee Castle down on the North Beach? Which is where this month a seal decided to introduce its baby to the world, a bunch of his friends and his family got together at the harbour to bid the late Eamon Brosnan farewell, and the writing on that Glen Of The Downs wall kept on changing after the Newtown Says No shout-out sparked some comic mutations.

We met up with old school guitar-driven rockers Stick’n’Poke as these teenagers released yet another kick-ass single, the Meridian Point revamp plans got a little revamp, the bould Simon launched the new Mermaid Arts Centre’s Strategic Plan 2024-2027, Greystones Secondary School’s laid out their new admissions plan, and the ever-busy Harris lad had a take your Delgany NS kid to work day.

Meanwhile, we explored the inspirations of Karl Spain, Sharon Mannion and Luka Bloom, McGowan caught up with his old muckers as the Greystones Camera Club held their annual exhibition, the omnipresent Harris cut the ribbon on St David’s dirty big extension, those Northern Lights paid Greystones another spectacular visit, and the sod was turned at the new Kilcoole Primary School extension build.

Wicklow also got its first decarbonised building, Mokeda Films brought their horror film to the bloody streets of Greystones, a QR codes parking scam hit the town’s meters, a bunch of hearty men got naked on the South Beach for Wicklow Hospice, and we jumped back to Gene Wilder’s impromptu and impulsive stay in the O’Farrell’s Burnaby family home.

We also rounded up the latest musical chairs when it comes to Greystones shops and eateries, a man was arrested for posting false allegations on social media centred around footage shot a Newtown bus trip, we swung up to Ciara’s Kitchen to talk cooking demos with the woman of the house, and Clara Cullen celebrated the first-year anniversary of Oak & Olive Home business.

Our councillors voted to keep the Local Property Tax increase at 6%, an inspired initiative sees 150 heritage apple trees readied for planting in and around Kilcoole, a campaign group and petition was launched for a Newtown Secondary School, and Whitmore called on Harris to intervene on The Cliff Walk closure – and, bejiggers, he does.

This year’s Wicklow Stories short film festival took over The Whale again, the petrol pumps at Davis Motors get a snazzy rebirth thanks to Bread 41, a new Bray steering committee addressing human trafficking was launched, the Éire Óg Greystones kids played host to the annual SCÓR hooley, and a little out of town, My Lovely Horse had a lovely fundraiser in Donard.

We had a few newbies added to our Kids Are Alright archives, Harris welcomed the publication of the Online Safety Code,  Whitmore called out the two-year closure of the Ashford Park playground, Powerscourt decided to take it to the tops too with The Wonder Of Trees,  Johnny Boy caught the Connecting People roadshow as it hit town, and Daata won a trayo of gongs at the annual Asian Restaurant Awards.

Mette launched AMOC’s new Sticks & Stones range, Whitmore delivered the Glen Of The Downs purchase petition to Harris, we tidied up some of Gary Acheson’s teenage wildlife pics from the mean streets of 1980s Greystones, and after a few years of feckin’ around, The Greystones Regional Innovation District hub finally opened down in Charlesland to feck all fanfare.

Far more risque, the town’s three secondary school engaged in a debate, but in French to make it sound like the students were actually flirting with one another, having found himself not running for Fine Gael in the general election, Shay Cullen decided to go it alone, Tiglin snapped up a large piece of Bray history for their latest rehab centre, and some of the residents of the swanky Struan Hill estate were feeling the strain of never-ending building works.

John McGowan was there as the Festival Of Light lit up Greystones once again, Harris hit the campaign trail in his hometown, we love this library initiative of Bring A Coat Take A Coat, Lillian Jauregiui celebrated her first year of Blissful Spa down in Hawkins Wood, Gerry Cannon talked about playing comic legend Stan Laurel in Dave O’Reilly’s new play, and Ashford’s long-vacant Garda station is now set to become a community centre.

The Friends Of The Cliff Walk put their well-researched plan into reopening this local hike to the good people of Greystones Municipal District, Bray Citizens Information Centre got some OAP LUV, with the sad passing of Victor Edmonds, we jumped back to his exploration of his grandfather’s secret 1922 history,  and Jade McMeekin-Quinn won our annual Greystones Rocks photo competition with a stunning shut that captures the great escape that is the South Beach.

ovember began with our Halloween round-up of Greystones freaks and shrieks, and as the last Bellevue Hill field gets the JCB chop, we jumped back to our chat with local John McDonald about a disappearing Delgany.

A fundraiser was launched for Bray law student Hannah Leonard after a Sicily accident leaves her in a coma, Ms Coughlan revealed the songs that can make her break down and cry herself a river, Greystones Lawn Tennis Club got some major moolah, and Greystones 12-year-old Oisin has his Simon The Sloth toy hit Tesco.

Wicklow one of just seven counties not receiving any large scale sports funding, after more than a little uproar, Donnelly announces that Bray’s pregnancy crisis service isn’t closing, Knockroe’s Sam Murphy delivers a knock-out performance when he gets in the Dublin ring with WWE legend Cody Rhodes, and Paddy and the SuperValu gang get some National Grocery Retail Awards love for their cheeky freshness.

Siofra Lawless gets one hell of a Greystones homecoming after her back-to-back gold wins at the World Junior Boxing Championships, local millionaire fisherman Ivan Toole has a not-so-great day in court as he battles on with the Greystones marina, Whitmore banged the drum over the rejection of the Newtown Area Sports Development funding, and then secured it, and a 24hr bus service is to be introduced for Bray.

Vagabond Tours are officially declared a dang great place to work, Baris introduced us to the kick that is Jiu-Jitsu, grants for adapting homes for the disabled and the vulnerable launched, St Anthony’s FC got a nice chunk of ka-ching, and the mighty Lalli de Buitlear took us through the history of Delgany’s 7th century graveyard.

The quiet man behind so many wonderful Greystones gigs over the past few years, Ross McParland announces that he’s handing in his Whale badge, Greystones trains are having more and more trouble, it seems, finding Greystones station, whilst Bus Connect is having trouble actually connecting.

The latest local legend to get the full larger-than-life tribute is all set to be Bridie Mooney, the Scoil Rince Fáinne Irish dancers win another batch of awards, road works for the Charlesland dual carriageway arrive with a finish date of, eh, March 2025, and can the Harris lad finally get a real answer when it comes to the future of the troubled Greystones Media Campus?

Ex-councillor Derek Mitchell files an ABP objection over Codling Wind Park’s planned off-shore turbines, and because the lad kindly sponsors our annual coffee competition, we jumped back to our April 2018 video chat with furniture design deity Robert Mooney.

Young Eimear Coffey is here to help us find the bright side of the road, Katie Taylor is triumphant once again against Amanda Serrano, but the fight ain’t pretty, Greystones college student Emily Gaines sets up her own Leaving Cert one-on-one coaching service, and after 12 years of ribbing, those Farrelly brothers finally join the Guide. Yowsa.

That Newtown & Roundwood secondary school took a step closer, the Flynnstones celebrated 20 years with a weekend of happy, Jago Hayden shared some more old harbour memories, and heading to The Whale, Irish jazz legend Ronan Guilfoyle explained just why John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme can still surprise.

As Joni Mitchell tribute Shadows And Light head to The Whale in March, they told us all about their inspirations, Whitmore warns of a generation having to forever live with mum and dad, Harris got in touch with the Chief Superintendent at Wicklow Garda Station about anti-social behaviour in Burnaby Park, and Cairn Homes might have finally hit their city limits around here.

Dylan and Elliot go ecclesiastical for their latest single, there’s our Greystones train station history for anyone with a few hours to spare down at the station, McConnell calls for new fossil fuel infrastructure ban, and soon after has to address some far right harassment on the campaign trail.

The Bellevue Hill developers have been instructed that their planned creche has to go ahead, Delgany real estate guru Anya makes the telly after buying, eh, an abandoned Montenegro village, St Kevin’s National School plant their own forest using the Miyawaki method, and there’s another planning refusal at Delgany’s 18th century Honeybrook Cottage.

The legend that is Phil Coulter came back to St Patrick’s Church, Mr McGowan covers the town with Santa as The Man In Red switches on our Christmas lights, plus the town’s no.1 snapper caught all the madness and magic of Ladies Night 2024, whilst we caught up with The Friends of The Cliff Walk as they set out to cut through the crap.

And to no one’s great surprise – and quite a few competitors’ relief – Tommaso made it ten-in-a-row with his latest Best Coffee award.

ecember began with a little bit of bloodletting as the general election results came in at Shoreline, whilst after 437 years of campaigning, Kilcoole’s bould Charlie Keddy finally found himself elected.

We caught up with Ms Dandy at Kilcoole’s Eden Gifts as she marked one fine and fragrant year, the Delgany ICA girls had a sweet Christmas celebration after winning Guild Of The Year, Greystones Cancer Support had their annual Christmas yum-yums, and Ashford’s main street development finally gets a move on.

Tiglin released their new longitudinal research report LIFE. RESTORED. with a little help from Simon, it was the right time of year to revisit our guided tour of the Carmelite Church life-size crib, Beyond The Trees was away with the 67,000 twinkling fairy lights, Storm Darragh gave us a dang good fright, and inspired a reposting of our waves gallery.

The Greystones Players took on Thornton Wilder’s 1931 Christmas classic, Purple House are back in the saddle for their 2025 cycle from Santander to Santiago, St David’s TY students hit the F1 track again and are looking for sponsorship, Newtown Tidy Towns’ unleashed their 2025 calendar, over 400 Wicklow school kids attended a Youth Climate Conference, and tragically, one of the town’s most famous residents, Frankie The Aldi Cat, is no longer with us.

Halfway Up The Stairs revealed their Books Of 2024, no snow this Christmas, so, we just had to settle for this winter wonderland, Wicklow’s archive army just got a little bigger, we met up with the effervescent Fatima, on her mission from the wellness gods, and the It Takes A Village love train headed to Budapest.

The Men’s finally came back into play after a little storm sand shift, a shift which also coughed up a strange visitor on our North Beach, Newtown’s Bawn House is about to be reborn, thanks to the Duggans, and ahead of his latest Social Fabric Podcast live talk, Andrea Splendori wonders if too much wellness can make you sick.

Orla Mulhern had a pretty good year showing au pairs our green agus peasant land, Chris Dobson caught Santa’s 2024 tour of Kilcoole, and in case you didn’t know, we’re sleepyheads around here.

Once again, Wicklow County Council set out to assess The Cliff Walk closure, a move not entirely welcomed by The Friends Of The Cliff Walk, Tiglin’s Big Night Out at the marina raises almost €15,000 for the homeless, the rockin’ Ollie is automatic for the people, the inaugural Colin O’Mahony Golf Classic Cup runneth over with €12,000 raised for charity, Newtown’s parish priest Sean Smith celebrates his 90th with a canon ball, and we rounded up the salacious stories of Delgany butchers supreme Anthony & Padraig.

Vick took a break from his café for a Christmas morning dive for charity, and just hours after, we also caught this year’s Christmas Day Swim, met up with parent coach Sarah over the festive break to discuss the magic and mayhem of motherhood, Tiglin founder Aubrey McCarthy stepped into the Seanad ring once again, and the Greystones Arts Centre Initiative announced their new First Tuesday artist talks at Greystones Library.

Most importantly, we finally crowned Greystones Most Beautiful Baby 2024, just two weeks before crowning this year’s Greystones Person of The Year, the mighty Ms Kathleen Kelleher.

And, eh, that was all we wrote about another jam-packed Greystones year.

Just to say, if you can help keep our daily archive of life around here on the road, hey, we’d really appreciate it.

Now, let’s go make 2025 an even better year…