Waterford Today | Waterford's free weekly newspaper

A local Waterford man fullfilled a life-long wish when he conducted a symphony for RTE of Rossini's Overture: The Barber of Seville this week after working in many arts occupations.

Michael Mooney, from Tramore, Co. Waterford, will conduct the symphony that will be shown on RTE television this Thursday on the Seoige and O'Shea television programme.

Michael conducted the Symphony on Tuesday which was recorded by RTE staff to be shown on the Thursday for television.

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Although it's nearly fifty years ago, I can still remember being bullied at school. I never knew why I was singled out – I was a bit of a swot, I guess, but not the only one in the class.

But I can still feel the fear that I felt back then, whenever that group closed in around me in the school yard.

In those days, of course, bullying only took a couple of forms. It is a much more complex problem nowadays. For example, I've only recently come across the term "Bebo-bullying", which involves the use of an internet page to make someone feel isolated and alone. Having seen some examples of "Bebo-bullying", I can well imagine the hurt and damage it can do.

When you talk to kids who have been bullied, they all ask exactly the same questions. Why

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Waterford City Council Library Service has sponsored weekend tickets for three lucky library users to attend the Ennis Book Club Festival at the end of February this year.

Winners in Waterford City are Rachel Boyer, Mary Grehan and Anne Hanway. Each local winner receives weekend tickets to the festival and was presented with their prize at Ardkeen Library on Friday 25th January by City Librarian, Jane Cantwell. The competition involved writing a short story about who would make up an ideal book club and what the club would read.

The winners will have the opportunity to attend a three-day programme of events featuring author visits from Roddy Doyle, Dermot Bolger and Nuala O Faolain.

Waterford City Council Library Service branches would like to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in any of our book clubs. Contact your local library

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The results of the EPA report for 2006 on the quality of the Drinking Water for Waterford City were welcomed by Cllr. Jack Walsh, The Labour Party.

"The compliance level of 98.9% indicated in the report for the City is very reassuring" Cllr. Walsh stated.

"While this is slightly down on last years result of 99.4% it is still an excellent performance and full credit must go to the staff in the Water Department in City Council and in the East Waterford Water Supply Scheme for delivering drinking water to such a high standard to the people of the City" Cllr. Jack Walsh continued.

There is now greater public awareness of the importance of good quality drinking water and these results will greatly reassure the people of the City. "Young children and older people with health problem are particularly vulnerable to any

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Waterford's Minister Martin Cullen TD, last week welcomed the announcement by the National Roads Authority (NRA) that the final two stages of the Waterford to Dublin motorway will commence construction this year and that the entire €1.46 billion route is on target, as he announced in Transport 21, to be completed by 2010.

Speaking today Minister Martin Cullen TD said: "As we are all aware, the Waterford City Bypass is continuing on schedule, as is the section from Waterford to Knocktopher. The two sections commencing this year and before Easter are the 40 km stretch from Knocktopher to Carlow and the 27 km stretch from the Carlow Bypass up to Kilcullen."

Minister Martin Cullen TD added: "In addition the completion this year of the 19 km Carlow Bypass will greatly improve travel time between Waterford and Dublin by up to 40 minutes

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John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, last week welcomed the launch of his Department's Statement of Strategy 2008 - 2010.

In launching the new Statement of Strategy, the Minister said that "given the Department's broad mandate, its work has a significant impact on people's quality of life and well being. It is critical therefore, that the Department's strategic vision is clearly defined. This vision must, in turn, be translated into appropriate actions that will enable the Department to achieve its goals across a range of policy areas."

The Statement of Strategy 2008-2010 sets out the key objectives and strategies that will be pursued by the Department in its core functional areas of environment, water and natural heritage, built heritage and planning, housing, local government and meteorological services, over the coming three years. Implementation of the

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Beat 102-103, the regional radio station which broadcasts to five counties in the South East, and Byrne's World of Wonder raised €45,000 worth of donations with their 'Operation Santa Claus' Christmas toy appeal for needy children in the South East.

The 'Operation Santa Claus' appeal raised €45,000 worth of donations, which is more than DOUBLE the amount raised in previous years.

Beat 102-103 teamed up with Byrne's World of Wonder stores before Christmas to encourage consumers to donate new toys and books to the 'Operation Santa Claus' appeal. All toys collected were distributed to disadvantaged children throughout the South East by St Vincent de Paul and other local children's charities, making Christmas a much happier occasion for many needy children.

Gabrielle Cummins, CEO of Beat 102–103, is

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The IFA National Forestry Committee has identified three issues that need attention if afforestation is to increase in the country. They are a green forest payment, the removal of the replanting obligation and the relaxation of the restrictions on further afforestation.

Pat Hennessy, the newly-elected Chairman of the National Forestry Committee, said "it is vital that barriers to further forest cover are removed to build up critical mass."

"A Green Forest Payment must be paid to woodland owners because non-timber goods and services are of little or no economic value to the woodland owner at present. This payment will have an immediate effect as it will reward forest owners for the vital environmental services that their forests are providing."

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The Minister for Integration, Mr. Conor Lenihan T.D., last week attended the launch of the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

In Ireland, the Year is being coordinated by the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) in conjunction with the Office of the Minister for Integration. A very comprehensive programme to mark and celebrate the year has been drawn up which includes every aspect of intercultural dialogue. Areas such as education, young people, arts, service providers, businesses, the media, community participation, and sport events will form part of the year's celebrations.

At the launch the Minister said "The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue provides an excellent opportunity for everyone to celebrate our diverse society, to participate in the events, to engage with people from different cultures and to deepen understandings and create insights in the process. I would like to

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With exports exceeding €47 billion and employing more than 40,000 people, Life Sciences is Ireland's largest industry. Health research is playing an increasingly important role in the expansion of the industry and the first national Health Research Roundtable, jointly hosted by Prospectus, Ireland's leading independent strategy consultancy, the Health Research Board and the IDA, will take place today at The Wilton Room, IDA Ireland, from 4-7 p.m.

Entitled "Making Health Research Partnerships Work", topics such as the need for trust based partnerships in health research, balancing clinical and research priorities and application of research outcomes to improve healthcare systems will be among the items on the agenda. With widespread acceptance that health research is crucial in, among others, enabling better patient treatments, improving the quality of patient care and educating the consumer about healthier lifestyles , invited participants from hospitals,

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The inclement weather in January kept many observant walkers indoors and so, incoming records of natural happenings are few and far between. That being said, it is obvious from other sources that some fine fieldwork in Waterford did take place by the dedicated few and a few surprises were recorded. For instance, the first Glossy Ibis seen here in more than 60 years was seen flying up the Blackwater near Youghal. These birds are common in North Africa (Egypt) and Eastern Europe but extremely rare here. In addition, a first record for the 21st century was of two Cattle Egrets first seen in the area of Dungarvan at the start of the month and then incidentally seen about the same place up to the 17th January. Another single bird was seen at the Six-cross Roads near Waterford City on the

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Dear Editor,

Despite the monumental effort being put into WIT's application for University 'designation' (please note we are not seeking any 'upgrading') in Waterford and the South East Region for some time now, the entire effort was shot in the foot last week, by what I believe was an ill-advised decision to print the opinion of one biased TCD lecturer on the front page of a local newspaper.

I appreciate the journalist's efforts (noted in the article) to attempt to balance the opinion, but in the absence of achieving that balance, I believe the correct editorial decision would have been not to print the article, or at least to wait until a counter opinion could be found. Waterford is a small city with a well known and vociferous groundswell of support for WIT's University bid. I cannot believe that it would have

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Dear Editor,

Waterford Today recently gave front page headlines to an argument against WIT's bid for University status. The paper has every right to publish this argument just as Dr. Constantin Gurdgiev has every right to express his opinion. However, on a matter of such importance to the South East Region, I would have expected an editorial comment or a strong rebuttal from Waterford's Government Representatives, this will hopefully be forthcoming.

Meantime, I would take strong issue with the description of Dr. Constantin Gurdgiev as an "independent academic and commentator". The man may be an academic, but he is certainly not an independent commentator on this issue. Indeed, he does not even attempt to hide where his vested interests lie. The main thrust of Gurdgiev's argument is the protection of the status quo to suit the perceived needs of Trinity College and

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The Society's next meeting at St. Joseph and Benildus Parish Centre, Newtown (next to the Church.) on Wednesday 5th January at 8:00 pm. Brendan Sayers from the National Botanic Gardens, TV personality, International Orchid expert and member of the Irish Garden Plant Society, will talk on "Favourite and Forgotten Gems," - our Heritage of Irish garden plants and how we can preserve them."

Gardening books and magazines will also be on sale. Enjoy a friendly complimentary tea or coffee.

2008 Membership Subscriptions are now due, €20 Per Person. €30 Family. Non-members Euro 3.00 for the evening. For further information on the Society please ring Ann on 051-857856 or Margaret on 051-851111 or Tom on 051-873937.

Congratulations

A very happy birthday to Stephanie O' Reilly who recently celebrated her 21st birthday with a big party at the Waterford Social Centre with all of her many

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Question: I am starting a new job shortly and, due to a disability, I need to buy a car to get to work. Is there a grant available to help with this expense?

Answer: The Motorised Transport Grant is a means-tested Health Service Executive (HSE) payment for people with disabilities who need to buy a car. This payment is also for disabled people who need to have a car or other vehicle adapted in order to enable them to drive and, as a result, earn a living.

A grant of up to 75% of the cost may be paid, up to a maximum of €5,020.50. You can apply to the Disability Services Manager in your Local Health Office.To be eligible to receive this grant, you must:

• be over 17 years and under 66 years of age• have a disability that

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