It’s been a remarkably busy couple of days on the news front for Waterford and its environs, so much so that it has proven difficult for me to concentrate on one particular topic.
Therefore, this week’s offering aims to fleet through some of the past week’s main events.
Last Thursday night, Waterford-based Kate Hyde emerged from RTE’s ‘Dragon’s Den’ with €30,000, having sold 40 per cent of her Hen Party business to Gavin Duffy and Niall O’Farrell.
From an idea which she got off the ground in her spare time 12 months ago, Kate has clearly tapped into something worth pursuing – why else would Messrs Duffy and O’Farrell have dipped their toes into the pond?
In this recession-dominated time, it’s a pleasure to write of a local success story. Best of luck to Kate with her business and no doubt hers is a name we’ll see popping up in our Business pages in the future.
Speaking of which, see Business 1 where Kate reflects on her ‘Dragon’s Den’ adventure.
That same day, Waterford United announced a new sponsorship deal with mobile phone network ‘3′, a significant coup for the Blues who are back in First Division action this Saturday at home to Sporting Fingal.
Chief Executive of ‘3′ Robert Finnegan, a native of Dunmore East, is to be saluted for going local when it came to entering the Eircom League as a kit sponsor. Let’s hope it proves a magic number for all concerned.
On Friday last there was the long-anticipated sale of Waterford Wedgwood to KPS Capital, which wasn’t greeted with a ringing endorsement from workers and their union representatives.
Specific details on the sale were not made readily available to those whose working futures remain uncertain but a source close to the deal said that KPS “has ambitious plans” for the company.
Quite what those plans are have yet to be disclosed, but one thing is certain: the visitor centre is secured, thus ensuring that the region will remain an attractive proposition for tourists.
After weeks of claim and counter-claim, it was a relief to learn of good news of any kind concerning the Kilbarry facility. Whether Waterford Crystal as we have known it to this point is in fact no more, as one worker put it last Friday, remains to be seen.
All one can hope is that KPS Capital’s intentions prove both noble and largely acceptable to those who matter most.
That same day, Niamh Whelan joined Ferrybank club mate Kelly Proper on the Irish senior squad which will compete at next weekend’s European Indoor Athletics Championships in Turin.
These are heady days for athletics in Waterford, with Whelan’s selection for the Irish team coming quick on the heels of David McCarthy’s breaching the four-minute mile barrier.
Staying with sport, Waterford’s hurlers restored pride when defeating All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in front of 7,500 spectators at Walsh Park in the National Hurling League.
There may have been no titles at stake last Sunday, but this success will do wonders for the morale our county hurlers ahead of the great tests that lie ahead this summer.
And with De La Salle readying themselves for their All-Ireland club final appearance; these are good times for hurling in the county. Last September is finally starting to feel like a bad dream.
Speaking of finals, Ferrybank’s John O’Shea picked up another winner’s medal that afternoon as Manchester United won the League Cup, the second trophy the club has won this year. And it may not be the last gong to come O’Shea’s way this season.
That night, seven-year-old ‘B Boy 6′ Jack Lynch danced his way into the final of the All-Ireland Talent Show and won many a heart across the nation when busting some incredible grooves.
Twenty-four hours later, Minister Martin Cullen was back in the news as the door of the Air Corps AW 139 helicopter he was being ferried in blew off in mid-air. Thankfully, no-one was hurt though the Minister was said to be “shaken” according to a witness.
Which brings me up to yesterday (Tuesday) and the news of likely job losses at Bausch and Lomb, a development which the Waterford economy needs like a hole in the head.
For good and bad reasons, it’s been a busy, busy week, I’m sure you’d agree.
