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very time we finish our latest round-up of the year gone by, we vow to start weaving the next mammoth tapestry of Greystones stories at the end of each and every month.

So we don’t end up spending 20 hours of good Christmas time slogging through over 1,000 features, as we try and figure out what’s actually worth remembering and celebrating, and what deserves to be kicked out the door.

We never do actually get that cunning month-by-month plan together, instead stupidly waiting each year until the finishing line is marching over the horizon.

So, feck it, we’re going to do one month each day before New Year’s Day 2026 dawns.

And when we finish the round-up, we should have a better idea of the good, the mad and the occasional ugly spat that made up a sometimes glorious but sometimes strange and strained year in The Greatest Town On De Planet.

So, strap yourselves in for a full year in the life of Greystones 2025… 

ANUARY 2025

The year started, as always, with our annual Reasons To Be Cheerful, as people looked back on what made them happy over the previous 12 months. On January 2nd, the Greystones Active Retirement gang were twisting the afternoon away with their traditional late, late Christmas dinner, whilst Fionnuala McCormack and Katie Taylor broke a few records at The Irish Times Sport awards,  and there was good news for the Leonard family as the hospitalised Hannah was finally coming home from Sicily. Cruelly, tragedy would strike the family again as the year progressed. On the 7th, we lost one of the town’s most-loved characters, Dick Kerrigan, a man who always had a smile on his face and a song in his heart. It was another busy year for Simon Harris, with plenty of troubles alongside the shaking of babies and kissing of hands, Temple Carrig School’s new hockey pitch getting his blessing on the 10th, whilst Greystones’ own Man In Black, the bould Mark Kinsella, opened up his Greystones funeral home.

Up at The Carraig, the Jolly Boys & Girls handed over their charity lolly to Greystones Cancer Support, some of our brighter sparks shone – even St David’s! – periodically at the BT Young Scientist shindig, and our beloved old 84 was taken off the road as a new brighter, shiter bus service took over. Good news on Greystones enjoying thousands of new homes without the infrastructure to handle them, as it’s announced that Wicklow County Council have made over €40m in levvies since 2020. Operation Tara hit Kilcoole as they busted a drug gang using scooters and motorbikes, there was panic at the Charlesland Shopping Centre when a car burst into flames, and the Whale Theatre began its new journey as a people-powered arts centre. Without warning – and without any consultation with the local residents – Burnaby Park suddenly had the diggers in for a major revamp that didn’t go down well with everyone, as it all got a little legal.

There was more heartache on January 17th when one of the town’s true greats – and gents – Joe Sweeney, passed.

School friends Lilí, Maria, Nancy and Síofra had their charity run as they headed to Medjugorie as part of the Mary’s Meals campaign, The Cove earned its designated badge (which means it can now drink, we think), St Vincent de Paul gave thanks and praise to those Greystones students who helped out with their annual Christmas appeal, and we spoke to happy blow-in Shane Crilly about bringing his Base Wood Fired Pizza to Greystones. Father and son Dermod and Denis Dwyer released their travelogue of the Middle East, Desert Bonds, Simon Harris considered suing Elon Musk and X over fake ads, and after years of kicking and screaming, the right for Greystones fishermen to land their catch in Greystones harbour was finally settled, the victory coming more with a shrug than a shout.

Josh Spurling found himself the latest target in Dublin of two sisters basically mugging anyone they could find with learning disabilities, the two thankfully ending up in court. Altidore Castle got some serious ReWild Wicklow love, Storm Éwoyn toppled one of the Fairy Trail’s skyscrapers, it was far from all-change as AIB Greystones went on the market, as it turned out to be just the building rather than the bank, and Delgany’s drama queens scored big at the ICA Wicklow Drama Festival. We spoke with Sarah Kisch about the fine art of happy parenting, town historian Gary Paine’s latest deep dive marked 110 years since the sinking of the Velinheli, Bus Connects took time out of their jumbled-up schedule to respond to the local anger over their elusive service, and the newly-formed Newtown Town Team got to work. As the acclaimed documentary Housewife Of The Year came to town, we spoke with director Ciarán Cassidy, Fernanda and Michaela at V.I.Pets on Theatre Lane got some swanky awards, and real estate Sonya O’Gorman looked back at 30 years of putting people in their place.

ebruary 2025

This is the month when there was an armed stand-off on the mean streets of Delgany, when we spoke to Trevor O’Brien about people with a weight on their minds that they’d like to reduce, Greystones Community College’s Emer Dillane, Luan Morris and Emer Rowe got a major pat on the back from UCD and the Business Studies Association of Ireland, and Schnittger Bourne on La Touche Place walked away with the National Property Management Company Of The Year once again. The Blackleys in Newcastle held a talk for their Ukrainian friends in the local parish centre, we saw another side to the Dylan chap on First Dates Ireland, Whitmore called out the shortage of driving testers in Wicklow, Newtown Tidy Towns reckoned it was time to get really fruity, and philosopher about town Andrea Splendori wondered if too much wellness might be making people sick. Greystones water babies Ger Devin, Douglas Ribeiro, Sarah Louise Browne, Ruth Maher, Corinna Nolan and Lisa Howley made a big splash at the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association’s Awards, International Women’s Day was marked with a Breakfast Of Championesses at Kilian House, and we got a swanky new charity shop in de town, Charlesland’s Sinead Wyse teamed up with Breda Matthews, Biddy Scott and Deirdre Hannon at Signal Arts Centre. Whitmore continued the call to stop funding the often cruel greyhound industry, we caught up with the Sun And Sand gang over at Kilcoole’s finest takeaway, on the 21st we said goodbye to beloved postman Kayno, a gofundme was set up for Friends Of The Cliff Walk, and our Aircoach booked a one-way flight out of Greystones. Powerscourt celebrated its Hollywood connections, Greystones grrrl power makes an impact at the Camogie Blitz, Alan Nolan and Dylan Maher completed their 5K A Day run for Irish Cancer Society, Big Mac won our annual Me & My Pooch competition, Simon Harris put together a new Cliff Walk Taskforce, and Vicky Noble’s Dlulukaloo made the Sustainable Business Of The Year finals. The oft-vandalised Charlesland Golf Clubhouse went on the market, the Leaning Trees of Plaza have been officially added to Greystones’ main tourist attractions list, and Newcastle saw the launch by farmers of their No Dogs Allowed campaign, Temple Carrig student Thomas Naylor was off to Kalamazoo, Michigan to represent Ireland in some major ice hockey hooley, and McGowan caught the big Ladies Day bash down at Greystones Rugby Club. We spoke to Tracy Holmes about the upsides of Down Syndrome, the rural speed limit was reduced from 80kmh to 60kmh, Tiglin founder Aubrey McCarthy makes his bid for a Senate seat, and the Four Kings Boxing Club slapped each other about down at the harbour. Plus, we rounded up all our Delgany history ramble chats with the bould Shay Clear.

arch 2025

March’s biggest story was the loss of our good friend Adam Adamson, with even De Bray People running with a version of our headline, The King Is Dead, whilst at the other end of the month another local legend was celebrated with the unveiling of Ronnie Drew’s tribute totem at Greystones train station. As kelp farming returned, we got the lowdown from Danny Hatton our forgotten seaweed trading days, Pratiksha and Salil launched their A-Z of the town, Sharon Felton’s Pink Ball #2 took over The Parkview again, the Llewellyn lass up Delgany way had sound advice on moving house, and Delgany’s Nick Bradshaw scooped two major prizes once again at the Press Photographers Ireland awards whilst snapper Andres Poveda scored at the Press Photographers Expo.

The appeal to stop 85 new homes landing on Kindlestown House got the thumbs down, the ever-busy Yvonne O’Neill was crowned our Local Hero 2025, Newcastle’s Cian Smullen was given 3 years after falsely imprisoning his partner, and mother-of-four Suzanne Byrne explained why supporting Greystones Cancer Support is so important. International Women’s Day was celebrated with a near-star line-up in Temple Carrig School, Las Tapas created their very own cocktail, The Greystonian, it was curtains for Bray’s much-anticipated Stella Cinema, and sure, there was glamour galore at the Éire Óg Greystones’ annual awards night. Meanwhile, GCC’s Ethan Bramhill scored silver at the All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships in Galway, The Tree Festival took over Belmont Demesne for the day, and Chakra, Daata, Caladh, Scéal, Pigeon House and The Wicklow Arms all scored at the Leinster finals of the Irish Restaurant Awards.

Revenue came knocking on the door of Kilcoole’s OnlyFans hunk Matthew Gilbert after they spotted him bragging about his earnings, Rochford Doyle’s old auction house on Hillside Road went under the hammer, those sexy yurts down at The Beach House make a welcome addition to the harbour, The Irish Mathematics Teachers Association brought their annual Pi Quiz to town, and we learnt that the plans for a €250,000 outdoor arts venue at the Trafalgar Carpark were kaput. Burnaby Park’s Andris Ekis was convicted and fined for refusing not to use the toilet on a flight approaching Dublin, Rob and the Vagabond Tours gang got another major gong for their mantlepiece, and our Paddy’s Day Parade was another case of sky of blue and sea of green, and St David’s TY students put on a very fine production of Beauty & The Beast.

Talking of St David’s, their 1st Year football team became Division 1 Wicklow-Wexford League champions, whilst Greystones Community College bagged the South Leinster Junior D1 Shield, GG kickalike Jason Statham kicked some ass on the mean streets of Enniskerry, It Takes A Village had a big chinwag shindig in The Whale, and Harris did the honours at the official opening of St Patrick’s National School’s new additional needs classes. As technology advances, so do the scams, as our parking meters are hit once again, we got some lessons in the fine art of boules from Naazim in Burnaby Park, the newly-formed Wicklow Safe Haven vowed to support and fundraise Anu, the outreach arm of Bray Women’s Refuge, and Greystones Youth Café raised €600 for the hurricane-battered Mayotte.

Given just how much of Greystones’ history the Paines have compiled over the years, we thought it wise to put together a guide to Derek and Gary’s archive building, the old Church Lane pathway into St Kevin’s National School finally rose from the hedge, Mr McGowan caught this year’s Daffodil Day down at Kilian House, and after a Lourda Scott barney or two, Cairn gifted Archers Wood residence a single-storey amenity building.

pril 2025

The month started with the depressing news that American vice-president JD Vance had traced his family’s roots to Bray and had flown Pat Vance over to Washington for St Patrick’s Day, whilst another mix of tragedy and comedy was being played out in The Whale as the Making Waves Youth Theatre took on Big Willie, and the winners of our Paddy’s Day Parade 2025 were crowned.

We hit our final pic for this year’s 100 Days 100 Greystonians, our annual gallery of snapshots charting life today in the town, and as Temple Carrig School once again braced itself for Wicklow Sings, we spoke to main treblemaker Dara MacMahon. The Horse & Hound in Delgany once again won Greystones Finest Eatery, the all-singing, all-dancing Greystones Community College 4th year students brought Grease back to the stage, and award-winning children’s author Alan Nolan told us all about bringing his much-loved Yeti to the stage. The very rundown Newcastle Hospital finally gets some restoration funding, Delgany Community Council addressed the concerns over the housing developments at the old Carmelite monastery, and Delgany’s Elwood Sweeney told us all about that Billy Elliot kick inside. Mural artist supreme Mary-Kate Hardy worked her magic on the train station once again, supermodel Fiona Roche took to the great Escape runway, and the crowds turned out, as always, for the East Coast FM Coffee Morning, and the bould Alison ‘Bants” Banton celebrated 21 years of Brooke & Shoals, the effervescent, ever-ready Fatima Garner launched the Greystones Wellness Club.

To celebrate the resurrection of Christ, those mad bastards down at Base Wood Fired Pizza created an Easter special that involved lots and lots of Nutella, whilst the Delgany Fairy Trail Easter Egg Hunt had to be abandoned after it emerged that, eh, there were fake tickets hitting the market. The parents of the Delgany toddler who choked on a single pea began their Learn For Lauren campaign to raise CPR and first aid awareness, Temple Carrig’s Amélie McAndrew was one of the big winners at this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition, and Eithne Hand marked Poetry Day Ireland with the release of her latest collection, Tickle. The Greystones First Responders had a farewell quiz night for goodbye girl Sharon Lennon, there was camogie glory for Grace O’Neill, Jessica Barrie, Áine Ryan and Dearbhla Kinsella as Wicklow lifted the All Ireland U16s cup, and the hills were alive with everyone whispering about the lucky Delgany feck who won €134,388 on de Lotto. After a few rough years, Rathdrum fun park Clara Lara gets planning for a Christmas village, we caught up with Mike Nolan from The Garden Of Ireland Vintage Car Club to talk about keeping that old motor running, and Greystones teenager Dylan Holmes wins the West Of Ireland Golf Championship.

Delgany cookery school Clara’s Kitchen hit the headlines not once, not twice but thrice, we caught up with Greystones’ 1,000th coffee pitstop, the old Ashford garda station is set to become a community centre whilst Greystones’ own falls further into disrepair, and Trevor at Slimming World gathers 423 bags of baggy clothes for charity. Hothouse Flower Fiachna Ó Braonain took us through his rock agus reel roots, banner protests were organised for Simon Harris and the Occupied Territories Bill, Newtown launched a Hidden Disabilities campaign, we added some colour to the cheeks of those classic Robert French Greystones photographs, and St Catherine’s Special School had one hell of a Shoreline sports day with Battle Of The Bottles.

ay 2025

Powerscourt launched their new eco-hugging Working With Nature awards, Whitmore brought up Greystones’ crappy rail ticket prices in the Dáil, and The Whale got its hump back as the town’s theatre is handed over to a community group. Educate Together got to celebrate their Paddy’s Day Parade win, Bray’s sea life attraction got to see life again, Gerry and Sandra Kinsella started a petition to keep their beloved donkeys Wags and Trey in their Rathnew home, and the remaining members of the touring Aslan explained to us that it’s the song, not the singer.

Housing developers Napier Ventures were told that, yes, they did have to build the promised creche as part of Bellevue Rise in Delgany, Johnny Ronan’s kid got the thumbs up for changes to their riverside Kilcroney hideaway, and we laid out the alternative route literally unearthed by Friends Of The Cliff Walk which covers Bray to Greystones without any limbo dancing. Emma Weafer meanwhile told us all about the fine art of bouncing back again and again, and again,  Terry Williams did a skydive for Wicklow Hospice in memory of his father-in-law, Stephen Sutton, and Bray man David O’Callaghan was spared jail when it was ruled that he was suffering from “delusional fantasies” when he rammed various government buildings with his van. Some council clearing on Blackberry Lane ripped down some overhead wires that knocked out a neighbour’s internet but, WCC reckoned it wasn’t their problem, but in the same week, they also announced that they had bought the 21-acre site at Magheramore Beach that had just been sold to a Chinese investor for €613,000 in March.

This was also the month we waved bye-bye to life-size bronze horse known as Emer, who gave up her position in the centre of Meridian Point to become Lot 97 at Sheppard’s Irish Auction House with a guide price of €30,000 to €50,000, whilst the bronze totem tribute to Mrs Mooney was officially confirmed, the big family unveiling happening in September, and St David’s rocked the seafront with a Holyhead school jam session. We got the lowdown from the Kilcoole First Responders, 67 sixth-class pupils from Kilcoole Primary School were crowned Reading Goals Ambassadors, and our arch nemesis no.327, Alan Rowlette, and others captured this year’s Darkness Into Light as the town greeted the dawn in the name of Pieta House.

We spoke to Hardy Har Comedy Club founder Adam Burke about his 15 years of being a stand-up guy, our considerably battered South Beach Playground gets an €18,000 rescue grant, as International Women’s Day looms, Cllr Scott repeats her call for more female councillors, and being the big-hearted eejit that he is, Paddy at SuperValu donated a big chunk of change to Greystones Tidy Towns. Meanwhile, our South Beach got its blue flag once again, the town got Moby e-bikes that were quickly used and abused, St David’s Red Kite F1 team won the Schools Ireland National Finals, which helped them on their way to Singapore, and there were hugs and awards for St David’s 6th year graduates, plus more shiny happy faces not long after at Presentation Day.

Young McGowan caught this year’s Africa Day in Burnaby Park, and The Hothouse Flowers had the honour of bringing the house down as Ross McParland stepped back from running The Whale. A big part of the Wicklow Hills, Lugnaquilla went to market as part of a 1,518-acre land sale, Chakra and The Harbour Kitchen make the freshly-minted 101 Great Irish Restaurants list, whilst planning was refused for a wellness centre at the old Glen of The Downs golf clubhouse. Still, there was incredible news just around the corner for this abandoned beauty spot.

Delgany National School were among the winning teams at the 15th Wicklow Primary Schools Cup, old man GG got some future-proofing insulation finally sorted at our draughty old HQ, our beloved Sugar Loaf gets a little restoration love from Wicklow County Council, Whitmore calls out the government over Assessments Of Need crisis, and controlling husband Bashabsheh Alshwawrah was sentenced to life for killing his wife in Enniskerry on Christmas Eve 2021. Meanwhile, Mia Shepperd is determined to make arranging those playdates easier with a little more joined-up thinking around here, the Women Of Faith brigade down at The Holy Rosary had another swinging party, St David’s 1st Year Boys are crowned Leinster Champions in de football, St Catherine’s Special School had a kick-ass 50th birthday celebration, and a kick-ass and colourful year, the Cramptons release a little gene genie, and GG finally embraces the sun.

A sure sign that summer is coming, the Greystones Bowling Club gang unfurled their flags, The Bray Choral Society celebrated their 40th anniversary, Street Feast hit the tarmac yumming once again this year, and Gary Paine’s latest blast from Greystones’ past took at look at our spirited Dunkirk connection. Local student Conor Lehane pushed the clever, eco-friendly Give, Take, Return bin surround scheme for Greystones, Voices Of Bray hit a remarkable €100,000 charity fundraising milestone, whilst Arklow seemed to be very much over the rainbow. We also caught up with the cuddly Karl Quinn as his honesty café took flight at St Patrick’s Church, in a difficult year, another fine café, Brew With A View, made the move into pizza, later changing up their menu and timetable too, and Rob Murphy’s Greystones stage school lit up their Disco Inferno at The Civic Theatre.

une 2025

The month started with the Greystones Active Retirement Association celebrating their 25th anniversary in style, and with young McGowan hovering nearby, young Isaac Carcone told us all about putting on a school musical as Greystones Community College tackled Grease, we rounded up all of Gary Acheson’s kick-ass historical nuggets about little ol’ Greystones, the Common Ground gang down at Hawkins Wood and Aldoborough had another rockin’ block party, the Flynnstones finally went green, and a zebra crossing in Kilcoole went missing.

A new impact study on the closure of The Cliff Walk since February 2021 estimated that the town was losing €50,000 daily during those peak summer months, Britta Bay National School got a little ocean love for all their eco love, the monthly Conversations With An Artist got a welcome drop of Raine, and steam train nut Nicky Cox gave his golden locks the chop to once again raise money for his grandma’s much-loved Open Door. Thanks to their Matka Mali Kulfi, Chakra got their just Michelin dessert, Newtown is still without a school, despite a 32% growth in student numbers, and amidst all the anniversary celebrations and the turning of the sod on their new Kilcoole HQ, St Catherine’s Special School are still waiting for funding awarded in 2022.

On June 4th, the Leonard family in Bray – still waiting and hoping that their daughter Hannah recovers after a near-death accident Sicily – tragically lost their teenage son, Dylan, the Flynnstones found their basil faulty once again, we jumped back to our video chat with Graham Spurling about the town’s cinema paradiso, The Ormonde, and there was a wobble at Wicklow’s Beyond The Pale festival, but the bugger bounced back. Meanwhile, Phelim Drew revealed the Tracks Of My Years, Sports Direct turned the tables on Greystones by trying a massive One-Day No-Sale Day, and Wicklow County Council weren’t too impressed by The Friends Of The Cliff Walk’s recent impact study on the hike’s closure.

Enso made it a remarkable four-in-a-row when it came to the Greystones’ Perfect Pizza competition, and 6-year-old Ruby won our Splash Of Colour art competition. In an attempt to stop the regular dumping of old clothes, the town got some swanky new recycling bins, after mounting public pressure, the Bray Air Display dropped Israel military hardware supplier Lockheed Martin from their sponsors list, and Greystones new social housing estate, Cois Droichid, was finally opened. The Greystones Cancer Society had their annual summer lunch with Mr McGowan on the menu once again, Allianz Sports Day at Charlesland throws up some new local heroes, and the Colin O’Mahony Golf Classic continued for another round up at Delgany Golf Club.

The newly-formed Greystones Autism-Friendly Town committee laid out its cunning plans, St Patrick’s National School was turned into a Ukrainian airport for the day, students at Colaiste Chraobh Abhann and St David’s won prizes for their Rubbish films, and Éire Óg Greystones secured 29 acres up Bellevue Hill way for four new pitches. And they had to later point out that they had nothing to do with the hacking of old trees for an access road. We also caught up with Kiwi Samantha Kirkness as she took the wheel at the Greystones Youth Café on Trafalgar Road, Mark Barry got back in touch about going M.I.A. during the Global March to Gaza, we jumped back through more Delgany folk history with John McDonald, and the much-loved, award-winning Yellov packed up their food truck and departed Greystones.

Whipper snapper John McGowan caught the Sporting Greystones’ Mini-World Cup 2025, the town once again embraced Bloomsday, with even the Sugarloaf Bridge Club getting in on the dress-up act, there was trouble down at Wicklow Town’s Grand Hotel after a naked man was arrested on the street outside, and St Kevin’s National School got their Safe Routes upgrade. The Cliff Walk was blissfully open for about 2 days, two men were arrested mid-burglary in Killincarrig, and we caught up with Greystones Tidy Towns to talk Made In China at The Plaza Market. One of the two Greystones flashers who terrorised schoolkids and adults was refused bail over previous court non-appearances, McGowan caught the latest Two Marys Golf Classic, we jumped back through the years of Dann’s, Wicklow Town got the go-ahead for a 116-room hotel, as Posh Wash celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, we spoke with founder Andrew Maher about taking it higher, and higher, and Lidl were refused planning on Kilcoole’s main street. Coolnagreina meanwhile had a great big BBQ party as a mark of rukamy across the water, St David’s Class of ’95 had their reunion hooley, and the Simon Harris-led Cliff Walk Taskforce unleashed their first progress report.

uly 2025

Money appears to be growing on those ReWild Wicklow trees, our Local Property Tax gives Wicklow County Council annual €4,458,940 funding from 2026, following public pressure, Greystones’ three secondary schools introduce a new single application form, and the Greystones First Responders gang continue their campaign for an AED on every estate. Down at Greystones United AFC they had their annual awards ceremony for the footie stars of tomorrow, Isaac Carcone took a look at student exchange when tapas meets Tayto, the Citizens Information Network celebrated 50 years, and we all braced ourselves for the coming alpacalypse.

Local writers group SeaScribes unleashed their first collection of short stories and poems, more latenight voodoo rays lit up The Octagon, whilst on the opposite end of Bellevue love, BirdWatch Ireland’s Dick Coombes gave a Horse & Hound talk on our feathered friends, and our former friend and ally Anna O’Rourke unearthed some old harbour pics. Always enchanting to see feckwits vandalise the lifebuoys down at the harbour, Hillside Evangelical Church is expanding in mysterious ways, and the coast guards had to airlift an injured hiker from the North Beach. Ever-evolving and ever-ready, Rí-Rá in Kilcoole came up with a very handy shandy, there were concerns that Wicklow’s cancer support charities were being short-changed, our Dart line got a whole new station, and despite their incredibly crappy service, Go-Ahead got the go ahead for the next five years.

To no one’s great surprise – including her opponent’s – Katie Taylor beat Amanda Serrano once again at their Madison Square Gardens rematch, there were eviction notices at the Esplanade Hotel IPAS centre in Bray, and after 18 years as manager, Paddy Holohan took over as owner at SuperValu on our main street. Naturally, that meant a great big housewarming party. Meanwhile, the North Beach got a little weever madness, we caught up with Louise Nelson as she launched her outdoor primary school up at SEK on Windgates Hill, and Whitmore once again called for a coastal bus linking our beaches.

The mildly legendary Declan Sinnott revealed his inspirations in Tracks Of My Years, we crowned this year’s Top Of The Shops, with Lorient and Brooke & Shoals sharing in the power and the glory, whilst Vagabond Tours bagged another gong for their mantlepiece. On the downside, Daata had their day in court (and haven’t spoken to us since), whilst Lisa Grogan delved into the dark side of the white stuff, Rise At The Cove are finally rolling in their own dough, and the summer outdoor chess games kicked off in Burnaby Park once again.

Delgany’s real estate mogul Gabriel Dooley had to pay his dues in court after a €10,000 penalty, there was a dramatic rescue at Greystones harbour when a lady driver took a dark turn, physiotherapist Shane Keogh and nutritionist Conor Verbruggen launched Project Health, a 19-year-old man was arrested in Kilcoole after a €9,000 drugs haul, including cocaine and cannabis, and listeria hysteria hit The Happy Pear and others as a rare bacterial infection was discovered in ready meals created at Dublin-based Ballymaguire Foods. At Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court, a Greystones taxi driver was jailed for 10 months for possession of child pornography, a new steering committee was formed to try and tackle dog fouling, we revisited our CSSM summer camp madness at the YWCA history, and play therapists were finally secured for Greystones primary schools.

Young Gerry Kelly captured this year’s Kilmacanogue Horse Show once again, Cian Fenelon took part in the Pat Smullen Charity Race at the Curragh in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland and in memory of his grandmother, Lylah, some smash’n’grab bandits hit Greystones’ main street overnight, St Anthony’s FC have a fine Family Fun Day, and the 16th Love Your Coast photography competition had Wicklow looking particularly beautiful.

The month ended on a crushingly sad note with the passing of the wry, crisp and dry Peter Robbie…

ugust 2025

The month started with yet another brand new eatery for de town, this one a double-hammy, Charlesland Grove’s Graham Anderson pleaded guilty to possession after being found with almost €250,000 worth of cocaine and heroin, and McGowan caught a hole lot of love for Harry McCormack at Greystones Golf Club. We spoke teenage watchmaker Lachlan about time being more than just money, the annual Greystones Rowing Club Regatta got the weather,  Uplift lodged a groundbreaking Gaza legal case in the High Court in an effort to stop Ireland arming Israel, and after a series of parking scams here, there was a new free app launched to vet QR codes.

There was concern as local childcare providers abandoned the Core Funding Scheme, our bathing holes all got gold stars on their copies, Rí-Rá decided to smuggle some fashion into beige and tartan world of golf, Taragh at Divine Foodie let it be known that they now cater funerals too (the deceased recreated in potato salad not on the menu though), and we spoke to our Local Hero, Yvonne O’Neill, about the town’s Picnic In The Park life. Which this year turned out to be pretty much perfect. Rodrigo proved that there was life after latenight bars, acupuncturist Karen Costin showed us the point of the good life, and we sat down with Delgany deities Maura Davis and John McDonald for a talk down memory lane.

Talking of Delgany, the village’s old HSE HQ went to market once again, Anthony Farrelly spoke for many when rejecting a one-way system through the village, planning was refused for 14 new Blackberry Lane mansions, Coimisium Pleanála sent a 70-page request to Codling Wind Park when it came to popping off-shore turbines on our horizon, we marked 17 years since Ronnie Drew’s passing, there was a fresh application at Bullford on Kilcoole’s main street, this time for 99 residential and 2 commercial, and St Laurence’s National School applied for – and got – planning permission on a 648.2sqm extension.

This is also the month when we unearthed a 2008 video visit to Greystones that may have been edited together by Homer Simpson, Bagatelle were honoured with a commemorative bench on Bray’s seafront, Kilcoole’s Martin O’Brien told the court he was “embarrassed” over his Garda death threats, and the building of Greystones Primary Care Centre had 13 tender submissions under review. The sun shone for Delgany’s big Heritage celebrations on the main street, Rob Murphy brought a whole lot of drama back to Greystones, the Garda Press Office unleashed the crime figures for January to June, and we talked to Claire O’Brien about 12 years of Bear Paw yum.

St David’s Class of ’65 had their great big reunion, the Bray Soroptimists celebrated their 65th birthday, this year’s Two Marys Golf Classic raised €9,300 for Greystones Cancer Support, the Beirne clan once again climbed 3 peaks for Purple House, and Up To My Eyes on Theatre Lane opened the town’s first dedicated nail bar. Greystones For Palestine held their first candlelit vigil as they marched from Burnaby Park to The Cove, Laura Wood explained the cunning plans for The Whale’s reinvention as a community arts centre, after much kicking and screaming, Wicklow County Council commit to the Herbert Road exit remaining open on the new and improved N11, Uplift a petition to ban puppy farms in Ireland, something furthered by Whitmore and co in November, and an Aoibheann’s Pink Tie charity hike along The Cliff Walk highlighted over four years of inaction.

Tiglin founder Aubrey McCarthy attended Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations in Kyiv, Wicklow Planning approve 61 houses beside Eden Gate roundabout, out of 154 new Gardaí, just two are Wicklow-bound, Jago Hayden charted the Kinsella connections all over town, and Fianna Fáil had a fine Friday Fry-Up that had even the Kelleher lass dancing.

Brew With A View won our Póg Mo Cone ice cream competition for a third time in a row, McGowan caught everyone going to a Goa-Goa in Burnaby Park, we got a personal history of the old Watson & Johnson garage opposite Burnaby Park, Charlesland’s Common Ground posse had another block rockin’ street party, a smell worse than the old fish factory hit town, rounded out the month with a jump to the left as we revisited our Disco Days.

eptember 2025

Keeping it surreal, The Blessing Of The Schoolbags started our September, local Palestine activists welcomed Central Bank of Ireland no longer authorising the sale of Israeli war bonds, the RPS report into The Cliff Walk closure helpfully told us what we already knew, and the big stars came out for all-day music festival in Killincarrig for Médecins San Frontiéres.

More houses for Delgany village, as planning approvals around here now go largely unnoticed, but a lack of planning applications was very much noticed at The Carraig. The new TFI Child Leap Card was launched, giving free travel to kids from 5 to 8, Newcastle’s First Responders added a whole new slew of AEDs to the town, we added another train’s eye view video to our Harbour Works Diary, Scott pointed out the importance of a little bathing water tests after sewage overflows, and to add a little rock agus roll to the mix, we revisited The Baskerville Sisters October 29th, 1989 blowout at The Stables.

The ever-evolving, ever-inventive O’Brien brothers decided to open up their own coffee drive-thru at their Knockroe Fruit Farm, Éire Óg Greystones had a celebration day of two halves, with Mr McGowan in tow, and Tesco security manager Eoin Kenny very much saved 84-year-old James Darley’s day. Newcastle, meanwhile, decided to become Wicklow’s new Woodstock, the ever-busy McGowan caught the Farrankelly Fun Day 2025, there was a bomb threat at the Harris home, and, hopefully unrelated, Bond villain Elon Musk told young Simon to stop obstructing Conor McGregor’s doomed Presidency bid. Young Stokes reckoned the neo-nasty had a point.

On a much sunnier note, Bridie Mooney’s train station tribute was finally unveiled, Camile gals went wild all over Greystones for Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue, Felicity from St Kevin’s was back protesting on the streets in a long-running battle for school secretaries, Katie Taylor and hubby Sean swung by Tiglin’s Ashford HQ, before saying hello to Temple Carrig School too, whilst that big softy Paddy Holohan offered a home away from home for any schoolkids needing shelter from another cancelled bus. Some lucky fecker in Wicklow won Ireland’s first EuroDreams Top Prize, we spoke with the bould Sasha about her new beauty salon up by Avoca in Kilmacanogue, and our archive raid this month headed over to JP Donleavy’s fairytale home on Kilcoole’s Ballydonarea Loop.

Greystones harbour gave itself over to an impressive Emergency Services Day, Trevor Knight revealed the tracks that inspired him ahead of his band’s Whale debut, the calls for a Kilcoole dog park began, whilst Taoiseach Micheál Martin hit out at Wicklow County Council after claims in The Sunday Business Post that they were about to dezone land for 3,000 houses around here, a newspaper report WCC were quick to debunk. The principals of Greystones’ three secondary school announced a new one-for-all admissions process, although 3 months later, Temple Carrig warned of a reduction in student numbers due to a 5-year breaking promise on an extension, and the Leinster rugby team gave the Greystones pitch another try.

Iarnród Éireann released their latest coastal protection plan, with The Cliff Walk not included, of course, a Tesco Greystones shoplifter with 178 previous convictions was given an addition 10 months in prison, Scéal Bakery decided to get a slice of the pizza action around here, and the launch of a new transport interchange made it that little bit easier to get the hell out of Bray. CyclePlus decided to saddle up and step back to just repairs in the shed beside their now-vacant Meridian Point shop, Greystones Bowling Club got a handy €5,000 boost from Texaco, canny fecks Kev and Claire at de Horse turn the craic up to 91, and the sisters who mugged Joshua Spurling and others in Dublin city centre saw their case get a little heavier.

Greystones For Palestine held their second vigil march through the town, the Plot To Plate grow-your-own project is handed over to the Hawkins Wood and Aldoborough residents, young Harris swung by the latest East Wicklow Business Network’s networking brekkies, and the first Memorial Golf Day was held for Frankie Rennix. The Garden Of Ireland Vintage Car Club had another fine weekend out with the Liam Kelly Memorial Run, Greystonians of a certain vintage were out in force for the 35th La Touche Legacy’s Festival Of History, and we also said goodbye to Louisé Ormston (neé Vines), a familiar and always sunny face to so many. We put out the call for any buried pics from Greystones disco days, Stokesy called for a public basketball court, it was Greystones stylist Anne O’Shea giving Siobhan McSweeney that look in TV smash The Traitors, and Whitmore once more called out our crappy school transport scheme.

This was also the month we said hello to our latest eatery, Tide Wok, whilst the award-winning chef Andrew Holmes opened up his latest Kitchen 28 in the lush surrounds of Belmont Demesne. The Real Madrid Foundation Academy returned to SEK International, The Whale opened up a space for young musicians to rock agus roll in comfort, we bowed to the greatness of Jack Clarke’s stark black & white portraits of local yokels, we celebrated the town’s low commercial vacancy rate just as three main street businesses closed, and it there was another full house at Kilian House for GARA’s Wicklow Hospice coffee morning. The Cramptons unleashed their latest pop gem, Kilcoole brewers Rí-Rá showed their true county colours, a Charlesland nurse was found to be 5 times over the legal alcohol limit, in a tale of two chippies, Moretti’s and Jokers shared this year’s Yummiest Takeaway award, local arty-farty kids had some award-winning designs on the UN, and the third Community Climate Action Forum took place at Greystones Golf Club,

Talking of de environment, the sweetest news of September 2025 was hearing that local couple Anke and John Moran had bought the old Glen Of The Downs golf course and are now rewilding it with 80,000 native trees. Be the holly.

ctober 2025

The month started with a breakfast going very wrong for the mildly infamous Jamie O’Brien, Whitmore dismissed the new school enrolment policy as a PR stunt, our old friends Daata bagged 5 gongs at the Asian Restaurant Awards, and the town descended upon Belmont Demesne for Eoin, the Greystones 1-year-old with rare genetic mutation. Meanwhile, the ex-inmates of Greystones’ Westbank Orphanage continued their fight for justice, Delgany’s historic Struan House went to market, Greystones harbour rooftop restaurant was taken off the menu, and we shared Roderick Carlyle’s 1970s shots of Greystones just before we learnt the great man had just passed in his adopted home of Sleaford.

There was a new 5-a-side Oh My Nuts National League launched for the town’s tongue-in-cheek teens, there was an armed raid in Delgany which turned out to be more LOL than S.O.S., and McGowan caught the latest Family Fun Day down at Shoreline. Cllr Finn passed a motion on disability care toilets in de town, Greystones influencer Alex Nolan pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit notes at SuperValu Charlesland, and the mighty, mighty Ellen Clancy passed…

Delgany Golf Club expressed their need to hold onto the residentially-zoned 19th hole as a rescue Plan B, Friends of The Cliff Walk called out Wicklow County Council over lack of engagement, after an armed eviction, Brian McDonagh’s woes continued at his former home, Drummin House & Lodge, and Sporting Greystones’ new pitch at Archers Wood was officially opened by you-know-who. The North Beach got a shiny new mural for World Mental Health Day, the Holy Rosary rollers held a mighty fine golf competition agus dinner, a bunch of local hardy students roughed it with Centra sandwiches in aid of Focus Ireland, and Paddy Holohan made his takeover of SuperValu on Church Road official with a great big party.

Down in Charlesland meanwhile, Sin É celebrated 20 years with their great big party, Greystones Bowling Club got their flags in a twist, Éire Óg Junior A Camogie became Wicklow Champions, and victim of his own rockin’ success, Hozier realised he had to start hiding his moolah away. ReWild Wicklow caught some more of our wildlife on their motion capture cameras, and Church Road got ready for another facelift as three businesses closed in quick succession. A little out of town, People Before Profit’s Kellie McConnell was arrested at a pro-Palestine protest at Collins Aerospace offices, some local chancers tried to curry favour with Donal Sheehan, The Art Of Bubbles broke out the bubbly after winning Drinks Catering Supplier of The Year, and Sinn Féin rep Denise Cahill let rip on Independent Ireland’s Ian Neary for backing a vote of confidence in Simon Harris. Naturally, Neary let rip right back.

Metta at AMOC Jewellery headed back to school, the National Transport Authority teased us with 50% more trains, young Stokes topped the Wicklow councillors’ expense claims for 2025 so far, wheelchair motorcross was brought to the Charlesland Skate Park, 51 disused houses were brought back to life in Wicklow, and Conor Power kept a diary of the latest Jeeps For Peace convoy to Ukraine. Proud Mary got another feather in her cap with the launch of the Dublin Marathon’s Mary Nolan Hickey Perpetual Cup, Glenroe Farm applied to add some digs alongside those pigs, we spoke to Fergus Finlay about making the Lakers HQ in Bray even more kick-ass, Greystones Camera Club hosted their latest exhibition on Hillside, and we had tea for two with the much-missed Tino’s duo.

Also on the history front, we unearthed Lady Arbella’s August 1770 diary of a jaunt to Bellevue Woods, and teenager Lucy Mary Dann’s early 1900s in The Wicklow Arms, we rounded up all the Irish Rail works that killed our Bank Holiday weekends, the award-winning Igloo Animation were naturally drawn to Greystones, and Greystones For Palestine hosted a culture week that culminated in their latest vigil through the town. Funnyman Stephen Elliot took us through the lighter side of heartbreak, turns out Bram Stoker first sunk his teeth into writing in deepest, darkest Greystones, the Greystones Flower Club celebrated their big, bloomin’ 35th anniversary, the Goode School of Dance scored some major gongs, the Arts Centre Initiative gang had a very big night out at The Whale, and it was last orders after 20 years at Bochelli’s just as Greystones businesses sent out an S.O.S. to WCC that sparked an ugly one-sided slagging match.

As Halloween crept up on us, we jumped back to a that perfect La Touche Hotel outdoor screening of The Shining, Lalli showed us around the very dead centre of Delgany, we lost ourselves in Harry Acheson’s Kodachrome kisses, whilst his son Gary charted the rise and fall of the old harbour, author Marita Conlon-McKenna revisited a Greystones childhood that sparked a bestseller , Kevin Doyle won this year’s Greystones Rocks photo competition, and The Whale had a great big fancy-pants night out in Powerscourt.

ovember 2025

Overnight, we rounded up the scary monsters and super creeps of Halloween, Miguel Delaney’s States Of Play was nominated for the William Hill Sports Book Of The Year (later winning the Football Supporters’ Association Football Writer Of The Year), the town finally got itself a new string ensemble, and Kilcoole’s Fionnuala McCormack ran up another impressive performance in New York. Delgany ICA meanwhile did the very right thing with their latest fundraisers, another consultant firm gets some major moolah (€58,354.90, to be precise) to recommend another Greystones facelift, and it turns out, being Loco will land you in court for stirring up hatred of immigrants.

Councillor Scott called out Wicklow County Council for their ‘smoke and mirrors’ approach to land zoning, budding rock legends Stick N’ Poke rocked out with Bell X1 for Greystones’ Barbara Campbell as she battled brain cancer, Delgany developer William O’Dwyer stood trial over the on-site death of Karl McKeon in December 2019, and fellow villager Rita O’Brien was crowned a Hospice Hero. And just up the road, our own buddy Billy Elliot, Elwood Sweeney joined the Irish National Youth Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, the long and winding Chapel Road upgrade trudged on and on, ReWild Wicklow put out the call for any rare native trees hiding in plain sight,

This was also the month that Tomasso won Greystones’ Best Coffee for the 11th year in a row (even if he had to share it this year), Harris swings by our first outdoor primary school up on Windgates Hill, Temple Carrig students Jamie, Paddy and Noah walk the rocky road to Dublin for mental health charity Jigsaw, and we jump back to that O’Donoghue’s shop arose from the ashes after a 1983 fire. This was also the month that Meridian Point got the builders in for the new central kiosk, food hall and, yowsa, pergola, those Holy rollers had breakfast hugs as their latest Rosary love-in, we had our long, longwinded barney with Dave ‘Teflon’ O’Reilly about that Dundrum Shopping Centre pop-up, and some of St David’s smarter kids got some shiny gongs.

Just as Christmas loomed, some cnut in Bray stole The Grinch, Blacklion Manor got its new headwrecker road improvements, the new Greystones secondary schools admission pilot ain’t flying, as the storms kicked off, we revisited the town’s bigger splashes down on the seafront, and the long overdue garda station refurbishment got even longer. Harris confirmed some serious new year moolah for Greystones Family Resource Centre (we’re talking €180,000, people!), we take a look at 1980s Greystones through a seafront window, Friends Of The Cliff Walk notice a little choice edit by WCC in the recent RPS Group report, and the Delgany Dramatic Society decided to try a foursome in honour of Peter Robbie.

The latest Wicklow Stories Short Film Festival took over The Whale, tragically, the much-loved Wendy Maxine drowned whilst trying to rescue her dog at Magheramore Beach, Kilcoole Athletic celebrated those who were clearly born to run, Whitmore and co pushed to have Ireland’s puppy farms put on a leash, Shayne Phelan was all about survival in the wild up at Dorlindon, the Greystones Town Team launched the Shop Local, Love Local campaign, but it couldn’t hold a handmade, overpriced candle to our feckin’ inspired Feck You, Jeff onslaught. Or those cheeky TY students’ TikTok onslaught.

Ground was finally broken on the new Greystones Coast Guard site down at the harbour, Wicklow Town rubbed our noses in it with a swanky new bike track, we spoke with Rebecca at Phoenix Travel all about helping Greystones escape, well, Greystones, and a nice young man with over 100 previous convictions was discovered in a Greystones closet during an assumed burglary attempt. Brew With A View decide to give pizza a chance, our traffic jams will soon be, eh, over, there was a large turnout for the latest Friends of The Cliff Walk public meeting, followed swiftly by a Harris statement, and a mild revelation, plus, we caught up with mechanic supreme Clive Davis as he took his tyre and battery service mobile.

The toughest news of the month came in the middle with the passing of Jody Connaughton, a much-loved figure who brought so much joy – and handyman skills – to this town.

Our archive raid for November was a Hollywood double-whammy, jumping back to Gene Wilder surprising one Burnaby resident with a house stay, and Michael Jackson renting out The Ormonde so he and his kids could watch movies for the afternoon. Our Holyhead twins got a tour of our deep-rooted Welsh connections, the marvellous Milly makes this year’s Civic panto, we spoke with low whistle legend Cormac Breatnach about the ongoing fight for a State apology to the Sallins Three, Osgur Breatnach, Brian McNally and Nicky Kelly, with the passing of Noreen Talbot, we revisited our July 2016 ramble chat through her garden, and The Whale presented its case to Wicklow County Council, and to de peoples.

The Three Trouts Bridge Club raised €7,000 for Doctors Without Borders, Jill Tritschler’s latest oil on canvas gets a little National Gallery love, circa €400,000 was spent on Newtown’s now-abandoned IPAS centre, Halfway Up The Stairs revealed their Books Of 2025, Wicklow County Council revealed the 2025 gender pay gap, this land was finally confirmed as our land as it’s revealed the State bought the 100 acres at Bellevue Woods, Kilcoole had The Man In Red around, and Satan’s little helper John McGowan caught this year’s Christmas Lights party and the town’s annual Ladies Night blowout.

ecember 2025

Our Christmas month started with a little tracksuited Grinch who rampaged through Kilcoole and Bray making bail, the sod was turned on St Catherine’s Special School’s new Kilcoole build, Sporting Greystones’ Movember raised €5,655 for Men’s Mental Health Month, and acclaimed tenor Ross Scanlon revealed his Christmas favourites. Good news for Greystones ban garda as Harris announces that they might finally have something to go on, gold medalist Lara Gillespie was dizzy with Wicklow pride, Greystones Players took on Chekov’s The Seagull with 23-year-old Katie Lacey-Curtis at the helm, and there were just two dog fouling fines issued in Wicklow for 2023-24.

Tiglin founder Aubrey McCarthy gifted the St Brigid’s Cross to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the First Lady, Olena, St Patrick’s National School highlighted their life on the fast lane, following the purchase of 100 acres to extend Bellevue Woods, OPW announce plans to return it all to native oak, An Coimisiún Pleanála gives the thumbs up for a retail and residential development at the Kilcoole House site, and Charlesland vet Maurice Nicholson ends up in court on hunting-related charges. Kilcoole’s secondary school took a step closer to getting its swanky new extension, The Whale sent out a Save Our Theatre call to the town, Greystones mum Gina Carroll gets 8 months for a different kind of supermarket sweep, and the mighty Evans couple Rodney and Audrey got their just Irish Volunteer Award.

Young Harris opened St Brigid’s new special class for autistic pupils, another patch of Blackberry Jam went on the market, Fernanda from V.I.Pets had some strong advice about getting a dog at Christmas, the S.O.S. for a Greystones woman stuck in Australia with a rare cancer went out across the town, Keego kindly tries to bring some laughs to Greystones during a sticky patch, and snapper Sharon Smith was up for IPPVA Photographer Of The Year. Meanwhile, the Department Of Education’s very long engagement with Temple Carrig School’s promised extension is beginning to wear very thin, John Meakin reflects on growing up on Kilcoole’s flood plain as the family continues to battle the waves, students from the town’s three secondary schools took part in le grand débat, whilst others got up to some trilateral talks, Newtown lit up for Santa’s arrival, McGowan caught this year’s Greystones Cancer Support Christmas dinner, and Greystones For Palestine rocked de Plaza. and the Newtown Town Team unleashed their very first cunning masterplan.

The hoarding around the new St Catherine’s Special School build in Kilcoole got some tender, loving artwork, young McGowan caught this year’s Tiglin sleepout at the harbour, and swung around for the Emergency Services Day at Greystones Fire Station too. The trooper. Ana at Aartha Organics looked back on a fine year for a Greystones start-up, and Riley joined his big brother, Cooper, in winning our Beautiful Baby vote. Wicklow Hospice celebrated its 5th birthday by having a few friends round, Grattan Park’s Josh Campbell on witnessing the mayhem surrounding the Bondi Beach attack, and when it comes to that all-important Christmas shopping, hey, we say, Feck You, Jeff.

In support of mental health with our young, Vagabond were committed to talking about the white elephant in the van, St Brigid’s gets on the Safe Routes To School programme, McGowan catches the Newtown ICA ladies partying on down, Delgany had their Jingle Bell Rock at The Horse & Hound, Galway’s Patrick Grealish is charged with the threatening of Simon Harris, and Tony Doyle Coaches once again lit up our streets with their Christmas convoy. The annual Lakers Christmas Carols hit Church Road too, Éire Óg Greystones held their annual Christmas draw in The Carraig, big plans were announced for Gunning’s old 200-year-old Blacklion cottage, plans for a Delgany one-way seems to be taking the highway, and 100 brand spanking new Darts are heading our way. The Somers finally got their 14 houses around Beechwood House in Delgany’s centre, the village’s Liam Lupton-Smith completed his year-long cycle from Spain to The Cape, a Grinch tried to steal Paddy Holohan’s Christmas moolah, Wicklow Sketchers launched their monthly gatherings down at The South Beach, and WCC announced that repairs had finally started at the Farrankelly estate,

And just as the year ended, Greystones was able to celebrate its one millionth road works for 2025, Friends Of The Cliff Walk are our Greystones People Of The Year, we rounded up the Christmas house lights around de town, McGowan caught this year’s Christmas Day swim, and we somehow found a few Greystonians who had something good to say about 2025.

In the meanwhile, it would be rockin’ if you can help keep this very long-running show on the road here.