Articles by John Harte
Man In His 60s Dies After Truck And Car Collide On N81
A man in his 60s has died after a car and a truck collided on the N81 at Athgarvan in Co. Wicklow, yesterday morning. It happened at around 11:15am. The driver of the car, a man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to the mortuary at Naas General Hospital, where a postmortem will be carried out, and the coroner has been told. The truck driver, also a man in his 60s, was taken to Tallaght University Hospital.
Enniskerry’s Lara Gillespie Crowned World Champion In Shanghai
World Champion Lara Gillespie - Instagram credit - @laragillespie Enniskerry’s Lara Gillespie has won the points race at the UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai, becoming a double world champion and delivering one of the greatest moments in Irish cycling history. The 25-year-old took gold at the Chongming Shanghai Velodrome, adding to the elimination race world title she won in Chile last year. She is the first Irish cyclist, outside of paracycling, to win two world championship titles.
Magic Wicklow Half Dozen Win Tailteann Team Of The Year Places After Summer Glory
Tailteann Six - (Clockwise) Dean Healy, Oisin McGraynor, Malachy Stone, Padraig O'Toole, Eoin Murtagh & Kevin Quinn Wicklow have six players on the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year. The Garden County’s Tailteann Cup heroes fill nearly half of the starting fifteen. Malachy Stone, Eoin Murtagh, Dean Healy, Padraig O’Toole, Oisin McGraynor and Kevin Quinn are all included after their exceptional performance in the Blue & Gold this tear.
Wicklow Schools, Clinics & Council Services Hit In Biggest Public Sector Strike in 15 Years
Schools, health clinics, council offices and State agencies across Wicklow will face disruption today as a 24-hour national public sector strike gets under way. More than 300,000 workers, including teachers, doctors, nurses and civil servants, are due to take part. Unions say the action is over pay, after the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 expired in June without a successor deal. SCHOOLS Schools, colleges and universities are all expected to close, with about 90,000 teachers due to strike.
Katie Taylor's Remarkable Life To Be Dramatised In Theatres In HERstory
Katie Taylor - HERstory Bray’s Katie Taylor is taking her life story on the road in 2027 with HERstory, a two-part live show that was launched in Dublin yesterday. The first half is a theatrical performance exploring Katie’s origins in Bray and following her story up to the end of her amateur career in 2016. It will be directed by Andrew Flynn, director of Theatre at Galway Arts Centre, and produced by Katie’s manager, Brian Peters.
More Choice For Wicklow Buyers While Asking Prices For 3-Bed Semis Holds Steady
Asking prices for property in Wicklow have risen by €20,000 in the past year, with the median now standing at €450,000. That’s according to the latest MyHome Property Price Report for the third quarter of 2026. It also marks a €5,000 rise on the previous three months.
Conor Fee On Fire As An Tóchar End 31 Year Wait To Land County Football Crown
Wicklow 2026 - An Tóchar - County Football Champions - Paul O'Brien via Wicklow GAA Thirty-one years is a long time to wait for anything......... An Tóchar waited that long for the Miley Cup on Sunday in Aughrim seeing off 2023 winners Blessington in style by 0-21 to 1-7 in a county final that turned into a procession after the break. It is only the third senior title in the club’s history, and the first since 1995.
Wicklow Hails Role Model Warren Kavanagh Who Calls Time On Successful Career
Warren Kavanagh (Wicklow GAA) Wicklow have lost one of their most dependable defenders with the retirement of Warren Kavanagh from inter-county hurling. The Glenealy man made his league debut for the county in 2016 and his championship debut against London in 2017. He was part of the Wicklow panel in 2025, when he came on as a sub in the Christy Ring Cup semi-final against Derry at Celtic Park.
Wicklow's Jack Reynor To Be Honoured In Los Angeles
Jack Reynor Reynor, who grew up in Valleymount in west Wicklow, is the first honouree named for the 21st annual awards, which take place on 11 March 2027 at The Ebell of Los Angeles. The event, held ahead of the Oscars, recognises Irish talent, and those who support Irish culture, across film, television and music. Alliance president Trina Vargo said she first noticed Reynor in What Richard Did in 2012 and that it was clear even then he was at the start of a long career.
Ominous Soundtrack Drowns Out Councillor's Message As Row Over Council Rent Hikes Rumbles On
Independent Bray Councillor Joe Behan (Facebook) Independent Bray councillor Joe Behan has found himself the subject of online mockery after a TikTok about Wicklow County Council's new rent scheme was paired with a dramatic soundtrack that, according to JOE.ie, drowned out his message. The video, carries the caption "Bad news for many people in County Wicklow today". It shows Cllr Behan speaking to camera from inside a car, while the music plays over him.
€8.65Bn Budget Package To Include Higher Tax Band, €10 Welfare Rise & €1,000 Cut In Childcare
What it means for Wicklow — The commuter household For a county where thousands travel to Dublin every day, the tax changes should show up quickly. A single worker on €50,000 in Bray, Greystones or Arklow could be around €750 better off a year. A dual-income couple on a combined €100,000, a common profile in the north of the county, could be about €1,500 ahead. Minimum wage workers see the hourly rate climb to €14.94.
Ballywaltrim Community Centre To Close For A Week After Collapse Of Scheme Provider
Ballywaltrim Community Centre Ballywaltrim Community Centre is closing its doors from today (Monday 5 October) for at least a week, after the company that employs its staff ceased operating. The centre's volunteer board says it was told on 24 September that Cuala Developments had closed. Cuala hires and manages the Community Employment (CE) workers placed in the centre and in other local sites, including Wolfe Tone and the Ark Housing charity shop.
Carnew Emmets Retain Wicklow Senior Hurling Crown With Three-Point Win Over Glenealy
Wicklow Senior Hurling Champions 2026 - Carnew Emmetts (Carnew Emmets GAA Club - Facebook) Carnew Emmets have won back-to-back Wicklow Senior Hurling Championships for the first time since completing a four-in-a-row in 1981, holding off Glenealy by 0-15 to 0-12 in a tightly contested final at Echelon Park in Aughrim. Glenealy matched the holders for much of a tense opening half, with Eoin Kavanagh scoring for Carnew and Michael Óg O'Neill pointing frees at the other end.
Baltinglass Basketball & Wicklow Town Athletics Club Land Share Of €60,000 Fund
Sports SPAR Funding - Baltinglass Bulldogs & Inbhear Dee AC Wicklow Wicklow is celebrating a double. Bulldogs Basketball Club in Baltinglass and Inbhear Dee AC in Wicklow Town have both been named winners in the 2026 SPAR and EUROSPAR Community Fund. The Garden County is one of only four counties with two winners, along with Kilkenny, Sligo and Waterford. Across all 26 counties in the fund, 30 clubs share more than €60,000.
"Nursing homes are people's homes" — Alliance Calls For Action After Kilcoole Lodge Report
Mowlam Kilcoole Lodge Nursing Home Wicklow (Mowlam Healthcare) A group representing smaller nursing homes is warning of "disastrous outcomes" for Ireland's ageing population unless problems in the sector are tackled. The Alliance Supporting Nursing Homes has called for urgent Government action after HIQA findings at Kilcoole Lodge Nursing Home in Co. Wicklow, which is managed by Mowlam Healthcare.
Fórsa Work-To-Rule Begins Today, With 1,400 Members In Wicklow Over Pay Deal
Fórsa ECFM News · Wednesday 30 September 2026 Members of the Fórsa trade union begin work-to-rule action today across the civil and public service, in an escalating dispute over public service pay and the cost of living. Fórsa says more than 90,000 members will take part. That includes staff in local and municipal authorities, health and welfare services, education, Government departments and State agencies.
Bray Four-Piece Florence Road Grateful For Eddie Vedder's Act Of Kindness
Florence Road & Eddie Vedder (Florence Road Instagram) Bray band Florence Road have thanked Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder after he stepped in to help when all of their gear was stolen from their van in Los Angeles. The Wicklow four-piece, made up of Lily Aron, Emma Brandon, Ailbhe Barry and Hannah Kelly, were due to play California's Ohana Festival at the weekend. On Saturday, they announced on Instagram that they would have to pull out.
Wicklow County Council Delays Rent Scheme Until November Amid Strong Protest Voices
Wicklow County Council has postponed the introduction of its new Differential Rent Scheme by five weeks, following a wave of complaints from council tenants over the size of the increases they have been notified of. The council said Chief Executive Emer O'Gorman made a decision at a special meeting of the full council to "defer the effective date" of the scheme. It was due to take effect on 3 October and will now start on 7 November 2026.
An Tóchar To Face Blessington In Wicklow Senior Football Final
An Tochar v Blessington final 2026 Blessington beat holders Baltinglass by two points on Saturday, while An Tóchar edged out Arklow Geraldines-Ballymoney by a point on Sunday. An Tóchar are seeking their first senior title since 1995. Blessington are seeking their fifth. An Tóchar 1-16 Arklow Geraldines-Ballymoney 3-9 Arklow made the better start and led 0-5 to 0-0 after 11 minutes.
Wicklow's New Homes Carry Highest Price Tags Outside Of Dublin
€475,000 Wicklow median, new-build sales, year to June 2026 €448,000 National median for new homes, up 3% on a year earlier Wicklow sits about €27,000 above the national median. It also edges past neighbours Kildare (€460,000) and Meath (€450,028), and is higher than any county in Munster or Connacht-Ulster.
Wicklow Joins National Call For Family Court Reform As Communities March To Protect Children's Voices
Walk in Our Shoes is not a formal organisation, but rather a grassroots coming together of concerned citizens — families, children, advocates, and members of the public — united by a single message: the family court system must be trauma-informed, transparent, and trustworthy. The concerns raised by the movement are well-documented in reports like the Child Law Project, which has highlighted systemic issues affecting children caught in family court proceedings.
Inspiring Laragh Woman Wins London Business Book Award - How Lollipops Changed Everything!
Dr. Feena May - CEO - The Inspiring Company A leadership book that began with a bag of lollipops on the front line in Bosnia has won at the Business Book Awards in London. The Power of a Lollipop: A Model for Inspiring Leadership, by Dr Feena May from laragh in Co. Wicklow has won the People, Culture & Management award at an awards gala. The judges chose it unanimously. The lollipops were real.
Sinn Féin Say Wicklow Rent Hikes Forcing Families Into "Impossible Choices"
Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has issued a stark warning about the human cost of proposed local authority rent hikes, describing how constituents are being forced to make impossible choices between paying rent and caring for family members. Speaking following a week of engagement with residents affected by the increases, Brady highlighted the scale of the proposed hikes, which in many cases represent increases of 100%, 200% or more.
Wicklow Sports Clubs Encouraged To Apply For Funding For Community Facilities
Wicklow sports clubs now have time to prepare for €750,000 funding grants Clubs urged to begin planning applications for new Community Sport Facilities Fund round opening next week The Community Sport Facilities Fund opens for registration on Monday. (28th September) The updated scheme brings increased grant limits, simplified application requirements and a new tiered structure designed to support projects at every level.
Blessington Farm Steps Into National Spotlight
Wicklow dairy farmer Dermot Phibbs on set during filming of the National Dairy Council’s Irish Dairy. A True Irish Legend campaign on his farm in Tinode, Blessington with his family A working dairy farm in Blessington has become the stunning backdrop for a major national advertising campaign, putting one of Wicklow's most productive agricultural operations into the national spotlight.
Two Weeks To Budget 2027: Simon Harris Focusing On Income Tax, Energy Support & Childcare
With two weeks remaining before the delivery of Budget 2027, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has set out the Government's priorities, signaling a budget designed around cost-of-living relief for working people and households. In a wide-ranging statement, Harris emphasized three core pillars: income tax reduction, energy price support, and childcare cost relief—framing these measures as essential interventions as Ireland heads into winter amid ongoing economic pressures.
Daina Moorehouse Eyes Redemption Against Fuentes Fernandez In European Quarters
Daina Moorehouse - Boxing Ireland Wicklow's Daina Moorehouse will compete in the quarter-finals of the European Elite Boxing Championships in Bulgaria this afternoon, (Bulgarian time) with a chance to avenge a defeat that has been playing on her mind. The Enniskerry B.C. boxer progressed to the 51-kilogram quarter-finals with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Bulgaria's Zlatislava Chukanova on Saturday.
Festival Republic Moves Kaleidoscope to Glendalough as Russborough Deal Ends
Kaleidoscope Festival is relocating to Glendalough Estate in July 2027, ending its run at Russborough House in Blessington where the event has been held since its 2019 launch. The move comes as the festival group, organised by Festival Republic (the company behind Electric Picnic), claims it has outgrown the 200-acre estate.
Diamond Shines In Dublin As Kilcoole Athlete Targets Marathon Marker
2026 Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon The Wicklow runner turned in an impressive performance at the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon, securing a third-place finish in a competitive field of elite distance runners in a time of 1:19:41. Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the race, Sarah Diamond reflected on the demanding nature of the course and the factors that make running in Dublin such a rewarding experience. "It was a really, really tough race.
Over 50 Free Events, Performances & Workshops For Wicklow Culture Night
Workshops & Activities Across Library Venues Wicklow Library Services have curated a varied programme of events at nine locations across the county. Ballywaltrim Library Artist Sharon Wells guides an evening of wool work, felting, and traditional crafting with folklore. Greystones Library Creative stitching workshop with artist Tamara Fiabane, plus a jazz guitar performance by Mike Nielsen.
Irish Farming Could Face 'Cliff Edge' With One In Three Farmers Planning Exit
The findings paint a bleak picture for the future of Irish agriculture. Half of those planning to exit do not yet have a successor identified, while the survey also found that 80% of farmers expect their income to fall over the coming year—a scenario that farm leaders say is pushing experienced farmers into early retirement and deterring young people from entering the sector.
Wicklow's "Irish Viking" Disqualified From Driving for Six Years
Matthew Gilbert Instagram @mattyirishviking A social media influencer with over two million TikTok followers has been disqualified from driving for six years after being caught speeding on the N11 while already disqualified and without insurance this year. Matthew Gilbert, known online as "The Irish Viking," appeared at Bray District Court charged with driving while disqualified, speeding, and having no insurance following an incident on January 2nd.
Wicklow Whiskey Tariff Relief A 'Gamechanger' For Local Distillers
Irish Whiskey Barrel U.S. President Donald Trump's removal of US tariffs on Irish whiskey ton Sunday has brought welcome relief to a Wicklow distillery, which saw a 20% export collapse this year. After more than a year of uncertainty—moving from zero tariff to 15%, then 10%, and now back to zero— US confirmation that Irish whiskey exports will face no duties has been hailed as a turning point for the county's premium spirits industry. The relief is palpable among distillers.
Teacher Shortage Solution Comes To Wicklow Schools
Teaching - Vitaly Gariev for unsplash ClassCover, an Australian-based booking system, has expanded its Irish pilot to include eight counties—and Wicklow is one of them. The move comes as schools across the region continue to struggle with accessing substitute teachers at short notice. Figures paint a worrying picture: a recent survey by the Irish National Teacher Organisation found that 60% of schools couldn't source a substitute when needed.
Hospital Parking Charges Under Fresh Review As Brady Demands Action
Parking Sign (istockphoto) Wicklow TD John Brady has hit out at the HSE after it announced another review into hospital parking charges, calling it proof that the Government has failed to address an issue affecting patients across the constituency. The announcement comes eight years after the previous review was ordered by then Health Minister Simon Harris, with little progress in that time despite repeated promises in successive Government programmes.
Radio Backing Irish Artists Through Irish Music Month
Irish Music Month Twenty-two independent radio stations across Ireland, including East Coast FM, are putting Irish music centre stage this September and October through Irish Music Month. More Airplay. More Support. Real Money. Irish Music Month is a month-long celebration of Irish artists and the vital role local radio plays in supporting homegrown talent – from first gigs to international success.
Simon Harris Commits to Four Years of Income Tax Relief
Simon Harris Tánaiste, leader of Fine Gael and Wicklow T.D. The Tánaiste has committed to raising the income tax threshold for the higher rate of taxation on a year-on-year basis over the next four years, in a move aimed at providing relief to middle-income earners across the country. Simon Harris, who is both Tánaiste and leader of Fine Gael, is expected to confirm the commitment this morning at day two of the party's think-in in Gorey, County Wexford.
Education Minister Hails Coláiste Bhríde as 'True Community Hub' for South Wicklow
Coláiste Bhríde Carnew Coláiste Bhríde in Carnew is a 'flagship example' of how rural schools anchor community life according to Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton. During her tour of the campus today the Minister will meet with students, staff and members of the school community, examining facilities that now serve young people from across south Wicklow and north Wexford.
Criminal Legal Aid Certificates Tumble In Bray Following Introduction Of Legal Aid Scheme
Bray Courthouse (Courts Service) New figures from the Courts Service show a dramatic reduction in the number of criminal legal aid certificates being granted by the Bray District Court offices following the introduction of the new Criminal Legal Aid Scheme in July. In Bray, the number of certificates granted fell from 148 in July 2025 to 26 in July 2026.
Unidentified Drone Spotted Off Wicklow Coast As Trump Visit Looms
At approximately 5pm, a commercial pilot approaching Dublin Airport reported sighting the large drone over the Irish Sea. Other aircraft in the vicinity were immediately alerted to the potential hazard. The incident came during a period of significant air traffic disruption between the UK and Ireland, and coincided with a meeting of EU agriculture ministers concluding in Dublin. The discovery is expected to trigger immediate questions about airspace security ahead of the presidential visit.
1.6 Million Tune Into Bray Bomber Katie Taylor's Stunning Croker Swansong
Katie Taylor Croke Park @MatchRoom @DAZNBoxing East Coast FM News Monday, September 8, 2026 Katie Taylor's curtain call at Croke Park on Saturday night didn't just pack a punch—it landed on 1.6 million Irish screens. RTÉ has confirmed the stunning viewership figures for the Bray boxing icon's retirement fight. Taylor saw off Flora Pili with relative ease in a unanimous points victory, and in doing so, proved once again why Bray—has produced one of Ireland's greatest ever athletes.
Gardaí Arrest Suspect in Roundwood Hit-and-Run That Left Cyclist Seriously Injured
Published: September 8, 2026 | East Coast FM News Gardaí have arrested a man suspected of being behind the wheel of a Seat vehicle that struck a cyclist in Roundwood, Co Wicklow, on Sunday, September 6th, before fleeing the scene. The cyclist sustained serious injuries in the collision, but was assisted at the scene by passing motorists and motorcyclists. The swift action of witnesses, who provided information and descriptions of the vehicle to gardaí, proved crucial in tracking down the suspect.
Greystones Family Resource Centre Awarded €10k Under Capital Funding
Charlesland Shopping Centre, Greystones Greystones Family Resource Centre has been awarded €10,000 in one-off capital funding as part of a nationwide Government scheme. The allocation is one of 136 identical €10,000 grants, making up a €1.36 million capital fund for Family Resource Centres across Ireland.
Katie's Crowning Glory Capped By Glittering Croker Finale
Katie Taylor, retires her gloves in the centre of the ring after beating Flora Pili for the undisputed Super Lightweight Championship Croke Park, September 5, 2026 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo-Matchroom Boxing) The air in Wicklow feels a little different — lighter, somehow, as if the whole county is still exhaling after Saturday night’s roar in Dublin as Katie Taylor signed off after a glorious, remarkable sporting career. People aren’t just talking about a fight.
Teenager From Greystones Named As One Of The Victims Of Icelandic Car Crash
A memorial near Krýsuvíkurvegur in the wake of the tragic death of Greystones teenager Hannah Jane Large mbl.is Karítas.jpg An 18-year-old woman from Greystones has been named as one of the three young people who died in a car crash in Iceland earlier this week. Hannah Jane Large, was among three teenagers who died when their car left the road at Krýsuvíkurvegur, about 29km south of Reykjavík, on Monday. An Icelandic man and woman also died in the collision.
No Turning Back! — Oisin McConville Secured For 2027 In Massive Wicklow Boost
Wicklow Football Manager Oisin McConville takes the acclaim of Croke Park - Sportsfile (Ray McManus) Oisín McConville will remain on as Wicklow senior football manager for the 2027 season, Wicklow county board officials have confirmed. The Crossmaglen native’s continuation was announced yesterday with the county board stating his appointment “will be ratified at the next county board meeting” following this summer’s dramatic Tailteann Cup success at Croke Park over Down.
EU Defence Ministers Descend on Wicklow as Government Pledges €10m More for Ukraine
Druids Glen. The informal meeting — part of Ireland's ongoing Presidency of the Council of the European Union — will focus primarily on Ukraine, along with maritime defence and the increasingly prominent question of security in space.
Matchroom Tee Up Katie Finale With Astonishing Promo Video Narrated By Barry Keoghan
Katie Taylor - Once Upon A Time - (Matchroom Boxing) Wicklow's greatest sporting export is about to bow out in style, and Matchroom Boxing have just released the video to prove it. The promotional trailer for Katie Taylor's retirement fight has landed online, and it's already being talked about locally for the way it captures just how big a moment September 5th is going to be — not just for boxing, but for Bray and the whole county.
Lidl Renames Its Boghall Road Outlet 'The Katie Taylor Lidl Store'
Katie Taylor - Lidl Mural - Boghall Road (Lidl Ireland) The Katie Taylor Lidl Store is the centrepiece of a wider campaign inviting communities across Ireland to stand 'In Katie's Corner' as she prepares to make history.
Irish Water Complete Mains Upgrades To Improve Output And Quality In Glenealy & Bray
From the first cuppa of the morning to keeping the shops and community halls ticking over, Wicklow homes and businesses are set for a steadier, more dependable supply. Good news flowing through the Garden of Ireland this week, as Uisce Éireann put the finishing touches to a major upgrade to the local water network.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with John
Contact John , search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack