Waterford Gardai are waiting to arrest one man in relation to the stabbing incident on Ignatius Street three weeks ago.
A spokesperson for Waterford Garda station said that they had followed up definite lines of inquiry in which a number of people were interviewed and that an arrest should be made shortly.

The incident, which occurred on Easter Sunday in which three men suffered stab wounds, two of which were non-serious and one which was serious but non-life threatening.  All three men who were injured required visits to Waterford Regional Hospital but were released shortly afterwards.

In a separate investigation, Gardai are appealing for witnesses in relation to a recent number of burglaries in the Ursuline Court and Grantstown area.  Waterford Gardai say that the burglaries are similar as they were conducted through windows that were left open when the intruder, or intruders, entered the houses. ...
Read More »

Bus Eireann are pleased to announce that they will be adding their new, low floor city buses to their Ballybeg and St. John's Park route from Monday 14th April. The modern, eco-friendly buses are fully wheelchair accessible and designed for ease of use by people who are mobility impaired. They have proved hugely popular already on both their Waterford Regional Hospital and Brown's Road routes.

To avoid congestion and provide a more visible service to Waterford Crystal and Waterford IT the departure point for the Ballybeg route will change from Patrick Street to The Clock Tower, while for customer convenience the timetable from the Ballybeg terminus will now be on the hour and every quarter hour in between. Full details of all changes are on our ad in this issue. C...
Read More »

The Waterford City suicide and self-harm prevention 'Action Plan' was launched last Friday at the Ramada Viking Hotel after years of consultation with stakeholders and public sector bodies in the city.

The document, 'Reflecting the Challenge: An Integrated Action Plan for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-Harm in Waterford City', was formally launched by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Martin Cullen, who gave the keynote address during the afternoon.  The Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Mary O'Halloran also made a brief address at the launch followed by Joe Mooney, Chairperson of the Waterford City Suicide Prevention Task Group and Geoff Day, head of the National Task Force on Suicide.

Prior to the formal launch, Joe Mooney was asked ab...
Read More »

Pictured above is Jimmy Kelly, a native of Waterford who has just been appointed to one of the top jobs in Unite trade union formerly the Tranport and General Workers Union. Jimmy was appointed to the position of Assistant General Secretary of the Union which has two million members in the UK and Ireland north and south on Thursday of last week by the GEC of the union.

Jimmy began his active trade union career in Waterford Crystal where he held the position of Convenor for a number of years. He was subsequently elected as Chairman of the TGWU the first Irishman to hold such a position. The union subsequently merged with Amicus to become Unite and Jimmy was appointed regional secretary for the Irish division where he is based in Belfast. His new appointment which will see him based in London makes him the second most powerful trade union figure in Unite with an international profile.

Bausch & Lomb won a prestigious Best Practice Award at the recent Irish Institute of Training & Development's National Training Awards. The company was rewarded for the development of its Equal Opportunities Forum, to promote awareness of equality and diversity across its Waterford facility.

In their tenth year, the Irish Institute of Training & Development's (IITD) National Training Awards aim to recognise organisations, which demonstrate best practice and an ongoing commitment to training & developing their people. Entries are judged on the basis of level of resource and investment in training & development relative to the size of the organisation; the scope of delivery and practice and the levels of innovation displayed in training & development initiatives. The IITD is the professional association representing training and HRD (human resource development) professionals in Ireland.

Waterford Labour Deputy Brian O'Shea has said that it is clear from a reply which he has received from Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Noel Ahern T.D. that there is no provision in the 2008 estimate of expenditure of that Department in the matter of carrying out the necessary remedial works to prevent flooding on the Waterford-Tramore Road.

In response to Deputy O'Shea's question Minister of State Ahern replied that the Office of Public Works would consider funding Waterford City Council to carry out works on the Tramore Road when it is considered appropriate on economic, social and environmental grounds to do so. Funding for any works will be from existing resources.

Deputy O'Shea has put down a further question to the Minister of State asking what is meant by where it is considered appropriate on economic, social and environmental grounds to do so.  The issue of dealing with flooding on the...
Read More »

Waterford Gardai have arrested a local man in his fifties in relation to a drugs seizure last week.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said there had been a surveillance operation involving members of the Waterford Drugs Unit.  As a result of the operation, the Waterford man was arrested, allegedly in possession of 72,000 euro worth of cannabis resin.

According to a spokesperson for Waterford Gardai, there had been significant activity in Waterford in relation to the illegal supply of cannabis for over a year.   The arrest was made on the Lacken Road in Waterford City and the man was arrested under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) legislation.  The arrested man was released after a period of questioning and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Waterford has fast become a key battleground for the Lisbon treaty with both sides of the political divide setting out their respective stalls on the treaty, which will make Irish people decide whether the treaty shall pass through Europe or not pass at all.

With 12th June emerging as the key date for a referendum, there is to be an upsurge in activity from those in favour and opposed to the Lisbon (Reform) treaty, starting with Fine Gael on Thursday, 10th of April.

Fine Gael's guest speaker at the event in Dooleys Hotel will be former Fine Gael leader, Alan Dukes, and Ireland South MEP, Colm Burke, has also planned to attend but will be struggling for time with EU Parliament votes on the same day.

Waterford was planned as one of eight public meetings by Fine Gael in the Ireland South constituency, which represents five Munster counties.  Colm Burke told Waterford Today Newspaper that the publ...
Read More »

Waterford Crystal designers were inspired by the graceful movement of ballet to create the distinctive new collection Ballet Ribbon. The latest offering from the world's leading luxury crystal brands pays homage to this superior dance form with an elegant range of stemware and giftware to grace any home.

The collection features both stemware and giftware pieces. The stemware range includes a champagne flute, red and white wine glass, tumbler and a carafe. Strong bold silhouettes encircled with flowing cuts create a stunning aesthetic with timeless style. The stemware sets a modern sophisticated tone to the dining table.

The giftware pieces include a 6” pocket vase, a 10” vase and a 10” bowl. These pieces, cut with the same gracefu...
Read More »

The Waterford Motivation Weight Management Clinic opened on Canada Street in July 2007.

The actual programme was first developed over 30 years ago by a French Canadian doctor, Dr. Maurice Larocque and is in operation worldwide.  The programme consists of two parts – a healthy eating plan coupled with a lifestyle change in order to maintain your target weight long-term.

Did you know that 86% of our clients maintain their target weight? Over the next four weeks we will be profiling 4 clients who wanted to share their individual stories with the people of Waterford.

One such success story is Elaine Condon (pictured).

Most young working women will relate to Elaine's story. Elaine had struggled with her weigh...
Read More »

The 49th Annual Congress of the Union of Students Ireland (USI), concluding last week in Bettystown, Co. Meath, has chosen a Donegal native and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) graduate to be the next USI president.   Shane Kelly, 26, holds a BA in Business Studies and Recreation Management. He is currently president of WIT Students' Union (since 2006).

On July 1 Mr Kelly will take over from incumbent USI president Hamidreza Khodabakhshi.

USI President Hamidreza Khodabakhshi will next month spearhead a lobby of the Oireachtas (30th April 2008), when student leaders from across Ireland will urge TDs and senators to support increased assistance for part-time students, and deliver on the Government's pledge of a Student Accommodation Taskforce.

USI President Hamidreza Khodabakhshi said: "Shane Kelly has demonstrated first-class leadership as president of WIT Students' Union. Congress delegate...
Read More »

Foróige, National Youth Development Organisation, held its National Leaders' Conference in the Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick from 28th to 30th March. 250 volunteer leaders from all over the country, including 7 from Waterford, took part in the conference during which they shared their experiences and engaged in challenging debates related to the conference theme of Building Young People's Health and Well-Being Through Foróige. The conference also celebrated volunteerism and paid tribute to all the volunteers who give of their time, energy and expertise to enable the positive development of young people across Ireland.

Eilish Flynn, Club Leader of Ballyduff Upper Foróige Club, Co. Waterford and a member of the National Council of Foróige said, "The Leaders' ...
Read More »

Cha's Angels, a fun-loving group led by city councillor and former mayor, Cha O'Neill, are thrilled with their feat. In the first two weeks alone, the men lost 88lbs. That went up to 108lbs in the final week of the challenge which is in aid of the South East Cancer Foundation (SECF).

Collectively, they weighed in almost ten and a half stone or a whole, average person lighter when the final weigh-in took place on March 31. "We are over the moon,” an elated Cha O'Neill said as the men weighed in and they thanked all their various mentors.

Cha's Angels avoided the temptations to splurge posed during the Cheltenham festival, St Patrick's Day and Easter. Instead, they made do with porridge, fruit treats and lean meats such as chicken – even throughout Easter. All alcohol was also banned.

They're now appealing to anyone who has filled sponsorship cards to hand them in so that the funding ta...
Read More »

Tramore and Ardmore listed under 'might be classified as poor'

A recently published consultation document by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, stated that two Waterford beach areas may not be able to meet the required standard required by new bathing waters regulation, transposing an EU directive into Irish law.

The new regulations, which will phase in the EU directive into Irish law over the next three to four years will take effect on the current standards of the EU mandatory regulation, the EU guide regulation and the National Limit Value, under which bathing areas are currently assessed.

Tramore Main Strand and Ardmore Bay, which are both listed in the Appendix of a Department of Environment Consultation paper on the draft regulations treating the bathing areas as those that '….might be classified as poor' under the new regulations, prior to the signing of...
Read More »

'Vision for Vasilivichi', the Bausch & Lomb employee charity which works for the benefit of the children of the Vasilivichi Orphanage in Belarus, has issued a call for a qualified Russian chef to join them for some part-time work in Waterford during the period of June 29 to July 21 this year.

'Vision for Vasilivichi' will this summer again host a special summer camp for twenty-six children who will travel to Ireland with their teachers and interpreters to enjoy a fun-filled three weeks of fresh air and activities.

Of the 26 children, 11 have no sight and others are partially sighted, but all are eagerly looking forward to what they regard as a trip of a lifetime. During the visit here, the children will receive treatment from an optician and a dentist, as well as choosing new clothes and shoes which they will bring home with them.

Other planned activities include trips to the Dunmore East Adv...
Read More »

Minister Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Social and Family Affairs on Friday last opened Waterford's new Gaelcholáiste Phort Lairge located at Six Cross Roads, Waterford city.

Minister Cullen TD said the newly-established school which is an all Irish secondary school and the first such second level school in the city was "a symbol of Waterford residents identifying a need, working towards an outcome, taking action that at times was not easy, but now stands as a tribute to local initiative.”

He added: "The students currently in First Year are trailblazers and are setting the tone and expectations for students to come.”

Minister Martin Cullen TD also remarked: "I am delighted to see that the students here study English, French and German as well as Irish. Research shows that students studying two or more languages develop a facility to pick up others. We will not only need linguists in t...
Read More »