06 | news in brief Bray Chamber
wicklowvoice.ie August 16, 2019
Film festival is back
golf and BBQ BRAY & District Chamber are delighted to announce that the 2019 Golf Classic & Social Evening will be held on August 30. The Chamber has organised an excellent day for all our members, the aim of which will be to have an enjoyable game of golf with plenty of fun and interaction followed in the evening by socialising, meeting fellow members and perhaps making new business contacts. The cost of a team is ₏200, which includes the golf and BBQ. Even if you are not a golfer, you can join up in the Club House for a BBQ at 8pm. (₏25 Per Person) when you and your guest(s) will be made very welcome. Call Kathy O’Toole in WKH &KDPEHU RྜFH RQ or email info@braychamber.ie.
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WICKLOW Film Festival is back at Mermaid Arts Centre for a weekend of screenings and discussions between September 19 and 21. Screenings will include Blade Runner: The Final &XW PDLQ SLF WKH GHÂżQLWLYH ÂżQDO FXW RI 5LGOH\ 6FRWWÂśV OHJHQGDU\ VFL Âż FODVVLF 3HUVHSROLV D )UHQFK ,UDQLDQ DGXOW DQLPDWHG ÂżOP WKDW IROORZV D \RXQJ JLUO DV VKH comes of age against the backdrop of the Iranian 5HYROXWLRQ +RRS 'UHDPV DQ LQWLPDWH SRUWUD\DO RI WZR LQQHU FLW\ WHHQDJHUV SXUVXLQJ WKHLU GUHDPV RI 1%$ JORU\
Mars Attacks! which stars 3LHUFH %URVQDQ LQVHW Almost Famous, a coming of DJH VWRU\ FRQYH\LQJ D SLYRWDO WLPH LQ WKH ÂśV DV WKH DJH RI rock and roll is drawing to an end, and The Fall, a tale RI ÂżYH P\WKLFDO KHURHV LV WROG LQ KRVSLWDO E\ DQ LQMXUHG stuntman to his fellow patient. 1RZ LQ LWV IRXUWK \HDU WKLV FRPPXQLW\ ÂżOP IHVWLYDO has gone from strength to strength, engaging local people in the selection RI ÂżOPV WKDW H[SORUH WKH WUDQVIRUPDWLYH HŕľľHFW RI cinema.
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Tributes paid to tragic Take That fan Tina Potts
A TERMINALLY-ill Wicklow woman who was told by doctors she has only months to live and managed to meet with one of her music idols from, Take That, has passed away surrounded by her family. Band member, Mark Owen, went out of his way to ensure he met mum of two Tina Potts, from Ballyguile, Co Wicklow last April at the 3Arena. Despite being bed ridden in hospital, 40-year-old Tina, who had ovarian cancer, summoned the energy and with the approval of her medical team, saw her favourite band live in concert for one last time. Ms Potts, was given a 30% chance of living until Christmas DV VKH EUDYHO\ ÂżJKWLQJ WKH VLlent killer disease. Her cancer was diagnosed DW D ODWH VWDJH GXH WR VXŕľľHULQJ symptoms, which included fatigue, bloating, bowel changes DQG D EXLOG XS RI Ă€XLG LQ KHU abdomen. She had been urging women to get themselves checked out by medics for peace of mind. Close friend Laura Ryan said: “Unfortunately Tina
passed away around midday on Wednesday but was surrounded by everyone whom she loved and loved her unconditionally. “It’s just so upsetting for everyone. She was just too young to leave us all at this time of her life. Tina was really a great person and wonderful friend.â€? The mum, who was permaQHQWO\ FRQÂżQHG WR D ZKHHOFKDLU due to her crippling illness, had bought standing tickets for the Take That concerts prior to becoming so unwell but found out that the disability section in the 3Arena was full. Cancer awareness advocate Vicky Phelan also rowed in calling on concert and venue management to help Ms Potts.
Restaurants face ‘closure ahead of no-deal Brexit’ WHILE Wicklow seems to be going through a boom in restaurants and eateries, with more and more opening all the time, the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) has warned that they face an uncertain future if a no-deal Brexit happens. RAI are calling Tourism Minister Shane Ross to protect the restaurant and tourism industry ahead of Budget 2020, calling for a reduction in the rate as they fear the impact on their members of what looks increasingly likely to be a no-deal Brexit. More than 7,000 people work in the hospitality sector in Wicklow alone. The restaurant VAT rate was reduced in 2011 from 13.5% to 9% to help encourage and support the growth of small businesses. It was due to expire in 2013, but successive governments deemed the lower rate such a success that it was retained
until Budget 2019. “The Restaurant, Tourism and Hospitality VAT increase has put a huge strain on our members: small businesses are struggling to cope with the huge increase in the cost of doing business,â€? Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association says. Âł$URXQG RQH LQ ÂżYH UHVWDXrants in Ireland will close if a hard Brexit goes ahead: the 9% VAT rate is critical to restaurant survival in Ireland. “Minister Ross must listen to the industry and defend the Tourism & Hospitality Industry in Ireland. “Given the potential for long term and far reaching consequences from a no-deal Brexit, the government must act now to ensure the viability of the sector post Brexit.â€? Raising the VAT rate to 13.5% has undermined the competitiveness and viability of Irish businesses, and at a time when other rising costs, such as insur-
ance and commercial rates are only going up, it makes it harder IRU EXVLQHVV WR VWD\ DĂ€RDW WKH RAI claim. The RAI also fears that if the restaurant VAT rate is not reversed ahead of a no-deal Brexit, it will only worsen the divide between urban and rural tourism and continue to put businesses at risk. According to the CSO, the Accommodation and Food Services sector employs almost 8% of people in the country and contributes over â‚Ź2.2 billion to the economy. :KLOH WKHUH KDV EHHQ VLJQLÂżcant growth in the number of WRXULVWV YLVLWLQJ ,UHODQG ÂżJXUHV for 2019 show that visitors are staying for less time and spending less money. A breakdown RI YLVLWRU ÂżJXUHV VKRZV WKDW WKH UK accounts for over a quarter of all overseas tourism revenue and almost half of visitors to Ireland, further compounding worries about a hard Brexit.