There Was Good, Bad And Indifferent Waterford News In 2022

Our News and Current Affairs team put together a round-up of the big Waterford news stories of the year gone by.

Ukraine

On the 24th of February this year, the largest war in Europe since World War II began, as Russia started its invasion of eastern Ukraine. As news of the atrocities being committed and the terror being felt by those in the affected regions and beyond began to filter through, the people of Waterford sprang into action to help in whatever way they could. A protest was held just three days later, followed by a rally the following weekend, organised by then-Mayor Joe Kelly.

WLR also featured many people on Déise Today and on WLR News over the course of the year who had fled Ukraine and made Waterford their home. Throughout the months, goods continued to be sent from Waterford to Ukraine, and people continued to be welcomed from Ukraine to Waterford. Sports centres, like Dungarvan and Carrickpherish, were among the facilities to be turned into temporary accommodation centres locally, while longer-term places to stay were being sourced by the council and by the Irish Red Cross.

Many of the 900+ Ukrainians who initially arrived in Waterford this year will now be marking their first Christmas in Ireland and as the war rages on in their home country, no doubt the Déise will remain a comforting safe place for them into 2023.

You can listen back here to a journey two local men made from Waterford to the Polish/Ukrainian border to deliver items to those in need back in early March.

North Quays Good News

After a period of uncertainty following the loss of the original developer, there was good news for the city’s north quays in the latter part of 2022.

In early November, it was confirmed that the Cabinet had approved a 170m in Government funding for the development of the infrastructure side of the project.

This money would enable Waterford City and County Council to appoint a contractor for the main public works contract consisting of three main elements: the integrated transport hub, which included the relocation of Plunkett Station; the construction of a new sustainable transport bridge over the River Suir and the construction of new access roads and bridges onto the north quays site.

A fourth element, improvements to the Kilkenny access roads, is also part of the overall project. But that is not part of this funding envelope and will be dealt with via a difference approval process through URDF when it is ready to progress.

Further good news followed within weeks with the confirmation of the appointment of a contractor and then most recently, the confirmed disposal of 16.7 acres of land at the north quays site to a company called Hopcast Ltd for the sum of 5.1m.

Needless to say, there was broad political and local reaction to all the good news. Listen back here.

Vicky Phelan RIP

She was a mother to two young children who never wanted to be a household name. Someone who had no aspirations to be famous – but became so – for all the wrong reasons.

Vicky Phelan was – without doubt – one of the most inspirational Irish people of the last decade.

From Mooncoin in Co Kilkenny originally, her death at the young age of 48 on November 14 last, saddened people the length and breadth of Ireland.

A powerful and passionate advocate for women’s health, she had started her journey in the public eye when her own sad story unfolded. Wrongly given the all-clear from a cervical screen in 2011, she was later diagnosed with cancer- and found to be terminally ill.

For five years, Vicky fought for accountability not only for herself but for over 200 women whom, it later transpired, had also been victims of misdiagnosis in what would turn out to be a major scandal centring on Ireland’s cervical screening system.

Vicky Phelan, mother, daughter, sister and inspiration to many, had opened the floodgates.

Saoibh Lonergan

She warmed the hearts of many on this year’s ‘Late Late Toy Show’.

Ten-year-old Saoibh Lonergan from Tramore, lit up this year’s Christmas special with her infectious personality and smile, before performing a song that she penned while recovering in hospital.

In June of this year, and seven years after she first developed pain, Saoibh was diagnosed with a benign tumour in her spinal canal and endured 10 hours of surgery to have it removed.

But it hasn’t dampened Saoibh’s fantastic spirit and love of life which was evident in her TV appearance with Ryan Tubridy in late November.

And again when she popped into Deise Today’s studio with her mam Orla, and dad Kenny, the Monday morning straight after, for a chat with Damien.

Makem and Clancy

They are the sons of two of Ireland’s most legendary musicians and now accomplished and popular musicians in their own rights.

Rory Makem and Donal Clancy are sons of Tommy Maken and Liam Clancy and are carrying on the musical legacy, stories and songs of their famous fathers.

In October last, they performed a sell-out gig in the fantastic Dunhill Community Hall.

And prior to this, they dropped into WLR’S Dungarvan studio for a chat, and to perform some songs, on Deise Today, in what turned out to be one of the musical highlights from that show this year.

AIB’s ‘Cashless’ U-Turn

AS u-turns go, it was quite the moment for ‘people power’ in 2022.

It’s not often a bank holds its hands up and admits ‘we got it wrong’.

But such was the case with AIB when it caved to massive pressure this past summer to reverse a plan – announced just weeks previously - to make some of its 170 branches ‘cashless’

Three Waterford branches – in Ardkeen, Tramore, Lismore - were amongst a list of 70 countrywide to become cashless, which was published by AIB in mid-July.

The bank had cited based its decision on falling levels of cash usage and cheque transactions, and a rise in the popularity of non-cash alternatives such as digital and card payments. The cost of security and handling cash, they said, had also risen."

The changes were to be rolled out from Sept 30 in some branches, with more following from October 21, adding to the 70 in total.

The public and political backlash was both swift – and fierce.

So fierce, as it turned out, that a few weeks later, AIB caved to the pressure and reversed the plan.

James Tobin and Billy Kyne

2022 saw the deaths of two prominent stalwarts of Waterford council, both of whom served as mayor in their time and combined gave an impressive 60-off years of service.

Fianna Fail councillor James Tobin from Tallow and former Dungarvan councillor Billy Kyne passed away in July and October respectively.

They were both a key part of political life in Waterford but their deaths this year saddened not only their political colleagues but the communities which they had served for many years.

On Tues, July 5, news broke of the sudden death – the previous day - of newly elected Deputy Mayor of Waterford, James Tobin of Tallow which caused much shock as he had been in good health.

Indeed, it was only on June 30 – days before – that he had been elected, unopposed, to the office of Deputy Mayor.

In October, meanwhile, there was more sad news in political circles locally with the death of former Labour party representative Billy Kyne.

Son of the late Tom Kyne who was a prominent Labour party TF for Waterford for over 20 years, Billy was first elected to Dungarvan Urban District Council in 1979 and was later co-opted to WCC in 1981.

He successfully retained his seat on both local authorities at every election up to his retirement ahead of the 2014 local elections.

Aoife Foley

It’s clearly a sign of the times we’re in that one of the most reacted to interviews on Deise Today recently was an information piece about the cost of running household appliances!

How much it costs to boil a kettle, to put on a load of washing OR to put the central heating on for one hour, are just some of the questions which were published in a Government booklet in early December.

The guide was compiled by Professor Aoife Foley who is an expert in energy systems engineering at Queen’s University in Belfast.

She spoke to Damien on air, on Deise Today, on Monday, Dec 5th.

The Late Sean Murphy

In early October, Waterford mourned the death of a man who was one of the city and county’s best-known entertainers.

Sean Murphy, from Mahon Bridge in Kilmacthomas, was one of Co Waterford’s most knowledgeable historians but perhaps was best known as one of the founding members of the ‘Bachelors in Trouble’ comedy act.

The ‘Bachelors in Trouble’ – who became nationally recognised and even appeared on ‘The Late Late Show’ – were formed from a local drama group in 1989 to film and record stories from rural Ireland.

But their stories, as bachelor brothers Jack and Tom Coffey, proved so popular that they made a 30-year career from the comedy and music act.

On Deise Today on the morning of October 5, Tony Coffey spoke following the death of his good friend and comedy ‘partner in crime’, Sean.

Covid Takes A Back Seat – Finally!

It was the story that dominated news, worldwide, in 2020 and 2021 and finally, in 2022 we saw some light at the end of the Covid tunnel.

After two years of restrictions, enforced mask wearing, a lack of group gatherings and so much more, we saw the return of some ‘normality’ this year.

While opinions differ on whether the pandemic is officially ‘over’, certainly there has been a major global fall-off in both case numbers and death numbers and we’re no longer living under the constant shadow of coronavirus severely impacting our daily lives.

After two years of living with restrictions, the curtain lifted on the last ones remaining – travel and mandatory mask-wearing in schools and other settings – in late February 2022…

Women's Soccer

For women’s sport in Ireland, it was certainly an occasion to celebrate…albeit, in this instance, there would follow some controversy about the celebrations themselves.

For the first time in their history, 2022 saw the Republic of Ireland women’s soccer team qualify for the World Cup, after beating Scotland in a play-off.

It was a superb achievement for the Irish women who will be Australia-bound in July next for the tournament.

Ciara Grant, from Waterford originally but now living in Wales, is a former Irish international soccer player who won 102 caps for Ireland in her time.

She spoke to Damien Tiernan on Deise Today the morning after Ireland’s qualifying success.

Dublin Airport Chaos

On the first of April this year, our hopes shot to where our hearts wanted to be - the sky.

But our hopes and hearts were shortly shattered when the chaos of Dublin Airport began.

Everyone had the same idea, to get out of Ireland and off on holiday. Flights were cancelled and delayed. The queues travelled out of the front door. People were angry, disappointed, and eager to leave.

Environment

When presented with the opportunity, people across Waterford are willing to above and beyond for our planet. From beach cleans to keeping bees, the locals here are here making our world a better place.

On World Environment Day, World Ocean Day and World Bee Day, WLR's Jayde Maher spoke to people across the county about their part in keeping Earth healthy.

Royal Visit

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall came to visit Ireland between March 23rd and 25th. It came as part of a series of royal tours marking the Queen's platinum jubilee year.

On the 24th, the pair took a tour around Waterford.

Brook House

When Brook House first closed during the pandemic, people were understanding, but when there were talks of it not re-opening, people were angry, upset, and ready to fight for what they wanted.

Brook House is a mental health daycare centre based in Waterford.

According to residents there, it has changed the lives of many.

After weeks of protesting for their safe haven, Brook House finally reopened in April.

Cost of Living- Households

The cost of living crisis reared it’s ugly head for one and all this year – Waterford being no exception.

People first began to notice the price of daily essentials increasing at the start of the summer, as the true economic effects of the war in Ukraine began to be felt.

There was, and still is, fear for the Winter months as the price of energy and heating homes has almost doubled. Prices for petrol and diesel have also oscillated massively over the last number of months.

On a couple of occasions, Waterford people held protests and meetings in order to make their voices heard on this issue.

WLR reporter, Kyle Butler, also did a special feature on this topic in the run-in to Christmas, focusing on the costs associated with Christmas for the public and on operational costs for businesses.

Waterford Airport

2022 was a year of yet more ups and downs for Waterford Airport. We began the year with serious concerns over the future of the Rescue 117 base there, as a department review sparked fears that the country would move to a three-base system, with Waterford losing out.

However, after much public outcry and political discussions, the Department of Transport, headed up by the Transport Minister, Éamonn Ryan, made the announcement on January 25th that the base at Waterford Airport would be kept.

After the Rescue 117 base issue was put to bed, concentration shifted back to the long-awaited runway extension that would finally allow commercial flights to resume from Waterford Airport.

On Friday, February 4th, the good news broke on WLR that the planning permission had been granted. Funding was then the outstanding issue but one of the big announcements of the year came in August when it was revealed that Galway millionaires, the Comer brothers, had decided to invest in the airport.

Despite Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary, telling an Oireachtas committee at the end of November that he had advised them not to invest, Waterford Airport board members said the commitment remains and that the runway extension will finally go ahead in spring of 2023.

Suirway Bus Service

Another of the big stories to make the news in Waterford this year was that of Suirway.

On the morning of Monday, September 12th, the company’s director, Brian Lynch, announced that Suirway Bus and Coach Services would have to cease operating after 123 years in business.

The demise of Ireland’s oldest passenger carrier business was greeted with widespread sadness and concern, particularly for the Lynch family and their workers, and also for those who used the service.

Very quickly, efforts began to secure another service for that part of the county. A petition was started, reaching more than 800 signatures online. October 31st was the date given by Suirway for when their buses would run for the very last time, which gave exactly seven weeks for a replacement service to be procured, with pressure then on local representatives to convince the Department of Transport to deliver.

Three weeks later, on the 10th of October, the good news came that a bus service for east Waterford would be retained and just a week after that, it was confirmed that Bus Éireann would be operating that new service under the Transport for Ireland umbrella, from Tuesday November 1st.

Planned Solar Farm planned for Clonea Power

There was controversy in the Clonea Power area of Waterford throughout the year with plans to develop a large solar farm.

The issue led to public meetings where locals met with representatives of the private company planning the development.

A campaign against the proposal started and the matter is due to come to a head in the coming 12 months.

Deise Today covered the topic a number of times, including Damien Tiernan visiting the area.

Climate Change

The issue of climate warming continued to dominate many headlines throughout the year.

Deise Today covered many various aspects of climate discussions, local, national and international including live reports from COP in Egypt.

The programme also ran a Climate Change Special, for which it won a national IMRO award.

Sculpture Destroyed

The wooden sculptures of Waterford man John Hayes have become national treasures.

One such piece was made and put on display at the Waterford Greenway, but was destroyed by apparent vandals during the autumn, with the culprits still not having been found.

Deise Today covered the topic and the reaction to the shocking news.

South East Technological University

The Southeast Technological University or SETU was formally established this summer. Deise Today has covered all the twists and turns in the debate and developments over the years with informative analysis and interviews.

This major development for education in the South East has major economic implications for the region.