Bray Community Noticeboard

St Patrick’s Festival

The St Patrick’s Festival and Parade in Bray is bigger and better than ever this year. It will run for five days from Thursday, March 16 until Monday, March 20.

The programme will include Bird’s Euroshow Funfair, live music, an open-air céilí, talks, a walk, a treasure hunt, movies at the Bandstand and the S. Patrick’s Day Bray Parade.

Together with the support of sponsors Bird’s Euroshow and Wicklow County Council, Bray Chamber has arranged some free-of-charge events.

Once again, organisers have teamed up with the Bray Autism Friendly Town Team and there will be a quiet zone at the Parade at the junction of Quinsborough Road and Seymour Road.

The Parade Grand Marshall this year is Bray’s Person of the Year’ Dr David Menzies, a founding member of Bray Cardiac First Responders and a founding member and volunteer with Wicklow Rapid Response.

To facilitate the new Parade route, there will be road closures in place on Thursday, March 17 from 1 p.m. until after 3 pm. Roads affected include Main Street, Florence Road, Eglinton Road, Quinsboro Road, Seymour Road, Seapoint Road, Strand Road and surrounding junctions.

Events that are happening during the festival include ‘Learn how to Irish dance with a virtual Céilí by Scoil Rince Fáinne’. Go to bray.ie/stpatricksfestival to watch.

There will be live music throughout the town’s many venues. See bray.ie/events for music listings.

The Bray Head Walk is also returning this year on Sunday, March 19. During a guided walk with Bray Adventures, you can take in some stunning views of Bray and surrounding areas. Places are limited for this free walk, so booking is essential. Sign up at bray.ie/stpatricksfestival.

You can learn more about the Festival, the parade and the many events on offer by visiting bray.ie/stpatricksfestival/.

Purple House

Purple House Cancer Support provides a range of professional support services to people of all ages affected by cancer in Ireland.

It has a wide range of classes and programmes available both in person and remotely through its Purple House at Home Service.

Programmes include Reflexology, Men’s Cancer Support Group, Knitting and Crochet, Breast Cancer Support Group, Acupuncture and Yoga.

Purple House also runs support services for children and young adults affected by cancer, including art therapy, sensory and creative therapies, individual counselling, social outings, teenager meet-ups and arts and crafts classes.

For details about the full list of programmes and schedules available, contact Purple House by email at info@purplehouse.ie or see purplehouse.ie.

Purple House has also just started a six-week programme called ‘Cancer Surviving and Thriving’ in person at Purple House. The programme will run weekly until Tuesday, March 28. This is a self-management programme that has been designed for people recovering after cancer treatment (three months or more post treatment).

Helping the vulnerable

A group of people, together with members from Bray Christian Outreach, are in the Methodist Church Hall on Florence Road, Bray every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., serving a hot meal, tea, coffee, sleeping bags and toiletries (when available). to help protect the vulnerable in the Bray community.

Please spread the word.

Refugee Council

Information for Ukrainians who have come to Ireland is available in English and Ukrainian on iamukrainian.ie.

W.H. Five Loaves

Wicklow Homeless Five Loaves drop-in day centre on Main Street, Bray welcomes volunteers from all walks of life.

Volunteers and their contributions are key to our success and without them we would not achieve our objectives.

W.H. Five Loaves promotes the participation of student volunteers and although it is only short term it can be a meaningful experience and provide them with the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the less well-off in our community. Wicklow Homeless Five Loaves believes that everyone has a talent to share, an ear to listen or a service to provide.

More information is available at whfiveloaves.com.

National Tree Week

National Tree Week takes place this year from March 19-26. Wicklow County Council and Tree Council of Ireland are offering free trees for planting. These barerooted trees will include a mixture of Holly, Bird Cherry, Willow and Alder, plus Rowan, Birch, Sycamore, Oak and Beech.

Trees are available for schools, community groups and residents’ associations.

Delivery is expected before or during National Tree Week.

People can register their interest by emailing eao@wicklowcoco.ie.

Bridge clubs

Cuala Bridge Club, Dargle Bridge Club and East Coast Bridge Club all play in The Open Door Daycare Centre on Vevay Road. Bray.

Bridge is played every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night at 7.30 p.m. The centre is wheelchair friendly with plenty of parking available.

If anyone is interested in joining or would like further information about the clubs please ring or send a message to the following numbers Wednesday - Dargle BC, Michael at 087 9480151, Thursday - East Coast BC, Phil at 087 2718505 or Friday Cuala BC, Susan at 087 9485138.

Care and Repair service

CARA (Care and Repair Action) service carries out small jobs such as hedge and grass cutting, minor carpentry, small paint jobs, replacing light bulbs, installing smoke alarms and moving light furniture for older and vulnerable people living in the Bray and North Wicklow areas. The CARA staff will first carry out a home visit survey to assess the work that needs doing – all our staff are Garda vetted and carry BAP ID cards. You only have to pay for the materials used, although we also gratefully accept voluntary donations.

Call CARA on 01 286 6080 or email whsce1@brayareapartnership.ie.

Active Retirement

Bray Active Retirement holds monthly meetings on the first Friday of the month in the Little Flower Hall at 10.30 a.m. Membership is open to retired men and women 50 years and over.

The association offers a range of activities including holidays, creative activities, learning programmes and sporting pursuits and afternoon tea dances, in various locations.

Membership details available at the Good Neighbour Mornings, Little Flower Hall, Holy Redeemer Parish, first Friday of the month 10.30 a.m. (Sept-June).

See www.activeirl.ie or email: helenmangan22@gmail.com or call 086 404 4232.

Men’s Shed

Bray Men’s Shed is always open to new members. The group meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the mornings from around 10 a.m.

To find out more, pop along to its new location on Kilmantain Place. If you can’t get there in person, email the group on braymensshed@gmail.com or dermotmcelroy@gmail.com.

Money advice

MABS is offering Money Management talks to all local groups. Please contact Bray MABS on 0818 07 2250. The MABS Helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

South Leinster Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the State’s money advice service, guiding people through dealing with debt and support with money management. MABS has offices at 2 The Boulevard, Quinsboro Road, Bray. See mabs.ie.

Cancer Society

“We wouldn’t be able to provide the care and support we do without our amazing volunteers.”

Your time, experience and enthusiasm can make a difference for people currently experiencing cancer, and in helping ensure fewer people get cancer in the future.

Whether your role is in fundraising, service delivery or admin support, you can make a real difference. We’re always looking for volunteers. Email volunteer@irishcancer.ie for more.

Open Door

The Open Door Day Centre operates Monday to Friday on Vevay Road, Bray. Open Door provides facilities and activities for adults with physical disabilities as a result of multiple sclerosis, stroke, motor neurone disease, spina bifida, road accidents and others. The purpose-built centre offers easy access to the various activities within the building. The centre also provides carers and their families with a well-deserved break during the week. 


For further information, call 01 286 7123 or email info@opendoor.ie. See www.opendoor.ie.

Lakers Volunteers

Lakers supports adults and children with intellectual disabilities. Lakers runs over 60 activities a week for its 400 members, its centre is open six days a week, and is supported by over 160 volunteers. Volunteers are encouraged to take part in training opportunities within Lakers, Special Olympics Ireland and various sports bodies.

If you would like to volunteer, call Andrew​​​​ at 01 2022694 or email info@lakers.ie.

Support

Anu Wicklow is the outreach service of Bray Women’s Refuge. Anu provides support and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, their children, and the community.

Anu says: “We offer support to empower you to make informed and rational decisions about what’s best for you, your children and your future.”

All of its services are confidential, entirely free of charge and run specifically for residents of County Wicklow. Bray Women’s Refuge can be contacted 24/7 on 01 2866163.

Intervention training

The HSE provides free suicide intervention/prevention training in Wicklow as part of Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide called Connecting for Life.

If you use either link below, you will find various training options available such as safeTALK, Asist and Understanding Self Harm. Please note, all training is free and for over 18’s.

For more information, go to bookwhen.com/che or www.nosp.ie/training.