A New Year’s Resolution For Arklow

A New Year’s Resolution For Arklow 

The hard truth facing the main street. It's basically dead.

The end of the year is always the time where people decide what they want to achieve in the next 12 months. To take stock of where they are going, and where they've been. I set up this blog 6 months ago as a way to promote Arklow to the outside world, to show them all the positives about the town and that even with all the doom and gloom that seems almost constant in the media, there are good people here that are trying their hardest to aid our recovery. Whether it be businesses, new sports clubs, museums or art societies we have a community of great people that deserve to be represented.

But Arklow is far from perfect, and over the last month I took a hard look at just how bad things were. And to be honest the one thing about Arklow that desperately needs improvement is it's Main Street. Let's be honest, it's dead. People like to blame The Bridgewater Shopping Centre for taking away all the footfall of the Main Street, but do you honestly believe that if that centre wasn't there that the situation would be any different? We'd have an even bigger unemployment problem (The centre is currently one of the biggest employers in Wicklow) and Arklow would be just another black hole of a town that people couldn't wait to escape for the big city. People use the shopping centre as an excuse when it should be seen as an opportunity to bring people to the main street.

An all to familiar site at the moment

If you walk down the Main Street, you know exactly what  mean. We are constantly told the benefits of what happens when you shop local, about how it keeps money in the local community. But there are so few shops left that it feels sometimes that there is actually no point going there at all. And believe me, I had to resort to using maths to asses the situation. I walked from the top of the Main Street to the bottom and counted every single building (143) and then ignored every building that was a house or a place of residence which left 127 buildings that could be used for a shop. and out of those 127 buildings, 43 are empty and have been empty for a long time. So roughly one third of the shops are closed, which doesn't sound too horrifying. But some of these units are absolutely huge, the biggest being the old Ormonde Cinema site, and the Alps behind it.

 The Alps site is approximately 6.75 acres that is absolutely going to waste. It's a golden opportunity to inject some sort of spark into the Main Street and the town as a whole, and it's just sitting there falling apart. A google search leaves a long and confusing history of what it was going to be, but that doesn't really matter because at the moment it's a big chunk of nothing. A while back I asked people on the Arklow Online Facebook Page if they could have any store on the Main Street what would it be. 

The answer? Penneys, and by an overwhelming margin. So I did the most sensible thing I could think of. I e-mailed Penneys and asked if in the past they had or currently have any plans to build in Arklow. And the answer was pretty much what I expected, and from the e-mail itself  " we are not aware of any immediate or current plans to open in your area at this time". Disappointing, but what can you expect when there is 6.75 acres of land hanging around and it's almost impossible to find out whats going on with it? I mean I live in the town and I don't know whats happening with it, so what is someone who want to do business in Arklow supposed to do? 

The problem facing the Main Street is a vicious circle, big businesses (or businesses of any kind) don't want to operate on the Main Street because there's no footfall, and there's no footfall because people feel like there's nothing on the Main Street. But I would bet my life that if that Alps site was put to good use and a big player was invited to open a flagship store in Arklow, the footfall would go through the roof and into outer space. But the sad truth is nobody wants to take that risk, and as a result the Main Street is rotting, a hollow shell of what it once was a long time ago.

So what could Arklows New Years resolution be? Maybe just to start a discussion. A conversation about who owns all these buildings and empty spaces, and how exactly we can better utilize them. How we can get the ball rolling and jump start Arklows revival. And in one years time who knows what the outcome will be? But I know there are people here that don't want the town to die a sad, prolonged death, and I have faith in them that 2017 might not be the end of Arklow, but the start.

Restaurant Review #2 - D'arcy McGees

Over the years, walking home from work up the main street I've been stopped by many a stranger asking a very familiar question. "Do you know where D'arcys is? I can't seem to find it.". A lot of the time these people were very close to their desired destination, but weren't able to spot what seems like a hidden passage between the Chinese restaurant and the beauty salon. It took me a while to find myself the first time I went for dinner, but I'm glad I made the effort to seek it out.

I'll admit it, I go to D'arcys a lot. I've been there on a busy Saturday night when the place is packed with hungry customers and I've brought a group of similarly hungry friends, and I've been on a quiet Tuesday afternoon when I'm the only person in there. And to be honest the only difference in the experience is trying to find a table on the busy Saturday (We figured out by booking a table ahead of time that remedies the problem.). Well also the menu is slightly different on a weekend but I will get to that.

The food is great, although be forewarned that the spicy Chinese dishes are very spicy, and whilst I can usually tolerate spicy food I wasn't able to finish the salt chilli chicken the first (and last) time I ordered it. I've now happily settled on the bacon cheeseburger, which in my unqualified opinion is the best bacon cheeseburger in the town. If you haven't tried this wonderful creation yet, you really should. The service is always great and the staff are very nice. I've been there so much the staff are starting to recognize me when I come i and even remember my orders, which makes me fear for my not so secret identity.

Whilst the food, service and atmosphere of D'arcys cannot be faulted, they do have some nagging little quirks that could be improved upon. One is the fact that the menu on a weekday is different to the one on a weekend. I'm sure they have their logistical reason for doing this, but the bacon cheeseburger I spent the last paragraph gushing over isn't available on a Saturday. I'm semi hoping that someone in D'arcys is reading this and changes their mind, it's the best thing on your menu. The second is D'arcys has zero online presence. The only Facebook page I could find hasn't been updated since last year and the website focuses more on the location in Templeogue with Arklow as an afterthought. I know this isn't really relevant to the food or service but when Christys and The Old Ship are putting so much effort into their online game, it's weird that D'arcys seem not to.

But those are just small criticisms and don't reflect on the food or service everyone puts in, if you have an evening or an afternoon free you should head to D'arcy Mcgees and prepare for a great time. Even better if you get the bacon cheeseburger,

If you want to book a table at D'arcys, you can reach them at (0402) 91556.

Arklow Fitness #2 - New Beginning

Arklow Fitness #2 - New Beginning (Liz Bermingham)

When most people decide they want to lead a fitter and healthier life they usually ask themselves one question, "Where do I start?". It can be so confusing trying to figure out how to effectively lose weight or improve performance. Sometimes it feels like the information can be conflicting, and from a personal standpoint, it's always that complication that leads to giving up and reverting back to old habits.

But visiting Liz Bermingham at her home office for a free wellness profile, the theme was to keep everything simple. No fads, no gimmicks, just simple changes to encourage the right weight loss. The purpose of the wellness profile is to focus on balance and learning how to lose weight effectively, and why it will always benefit you in the long run than so called "diets". The profile focuses on you as an individual and your needs, on whats been going wrong and how to break old habits and operate healthily.

A piece of educational material showing how two people can weigh the same but look totally different because of the make up of their bodies.

The wellness profile itself is straight forward. You meet with Liz and have a quick chat about your diet and discuss some of the basics. It seems crazy but so many people ignore the basics such as being well hydrated and eating regularly throughout the day to keep the metabolism working. Skipping a meal at breakfast usually either leads to careless snacking throughout the day or a dinner that is so large it could power you through a marathon. After the chat you then step onto the scales, but not like the scales you probably have at home. Where as your home scales just tell you your weight and that's it, the scales Liz has measures almost everything about you. Your body fat percentage, your muscle mass, how hydrated you are, how much muscle you have in each limb, your favorite movie. OK that last one was a joke but it's so thorough I was expecting it to guess my hair and eye color.

Then it's just a case of having each result that the scale analysed explained to you. Some results can be good, some bad. I was pretty shocked to see I have the metabolic age almost ten years older than I am, but then again I never had it scanned before now. You then discuss with Liz the best way to rectify any results you aren't particularly happy with, but at a steady and manageable rate.

When you meet people that are very in to their fitness, they can have this weird intensity to them, and for a lot of us regular Joes it can be a little off putting. But Liz is incredibly warm and friendly, after about five minutes you are chatting away. She truly believes in what shes doing and seems to get great satisfaction in helping people get the results and building up a community and friendships. Her dedication to you is remarkable, in her eyes its you and your results that are most important. And with 10 years experience you can tell she knows what she's talking about

Liz also practices what she preaches, having gone through a transformation of her own

So if you're looking to try and make a positive change in your life but don't know where to start, give Liz a call and get a good start on the right path to success.

If you want to book a free wellness/ performance profile, you can get in touch with Liz on 087 236 8698 or find her online here. 

Mini Review- Breakfast at the Old Ship

I've been going into the Old Ship for a long time now, because of the fact that it never fails to disappoint. It always has good food, always has event after event on the weekends and is always a great place to visit. Recently I popped in to try the all day breakfast, something I've never had before even though breakfast is my all time favorite meal, tied with lunch and dinner.

I've never been disappointed with The Old Ship. You come in, get a friendly greeting and some chat, your food arrives on time and is always great. It seems so simple and yet can be so hard to find a place that offers that. You only need to look on their Facebook page to see I'm not alone, as nearly every review is overwhelmingly positive. It's incredibly hard, almost impossible, to keep everyone happy but The Old Ship is doing something right.

For all you Breakfast fanatics out there, I'll lay it all out for you. Three sausages, two slices of bacon, mushrooms, eggs, tomatoes, pudding, hash brown. And my favorite part, unlimited tea/coffee and toast. I love my coffee, so if someone offers me all the coffee I can drink with a meal then what else can I do but be the happiest reviewer ever? Plus the food was cooked to perfection, it's to closest thing to something your Mam would cook you on a Sunday morning. Its Mam good. It's an amazing breakfast and great value, at just over €8.

So if you ever have the hankering for some good old fashioned breakfast food, but can't be bothered with all that pan washing nonsense then just let The Old Ship take care of it for you, they're really rather good at it.

.The Old Ship serve breakfast all day, as well as a set menu and various daily specials. You can find them on Facebook by clicking here.

Arklow Sports Club List

Arklow Sports Clubs List

The following is a list of sports clubs and societies in Arklow of all varieties. If you're looking to join or take up a new sport, this is the best place to find them and get in touch through their contact details.

Archery

South East Archers- 086 849 6110, Facebook

Athletics

St Benedicts Athletics Club- 0402 22000

Boxing

Arklow Boxing Club- 0402 31463, Facebook

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 

Arnkell Jiu Jitsu Academy- 087 180 2058, Facebook, Website 

Cycling

South East Road Club- Facebook, Website 

Fitness Classes

Brian Kelly Fitness- 085 817 1852, Facebook

Red Door Fitness- 087 968 3795, Facebook

Stephen Hurley Fitness- 086 055 2133, Facebook, Website

Football

Arklow Town Football Club- 0402 31900, Facebook

GAA

Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney GAA Club- 087 915 2070, Facebook, 

Arklow Rock Parnells- 085 404 4455, Facebook, Website 

Gymnastics

Arklow Gymnastics Club- 085 161 5973, Facebook, Website

Cobra Gymnastics and Trampoline Club- Facebook, Website 

Judo

Arklow Judo Club- 086 088 3342, Facebook

Rowing

Arklow Rowing Club- 087 668 1290, Facebook, Website

Rugby

Arklow Rugby Club- 0402 39376, Facebook, Website 

Sailing

Arklow Sailing Club- 085 250 9330, Facebook, Website 

Special Olympics 

Arklow Vikings Special Olympics Club- 087 216 1806, Facebook

Swimming

Asgard Swimming Club- Facebook, Website 

Tae Kwon Do

Arklow School of Tae Kwon Do- 087 299 9626, Facebook  

Arklow Fitness #1 - Arnkell Jiu Jitsu Academy

Arklow Fitness #1 - Arnkell Jiu Jitsu Academy

Staying in shape is something a lot of people worry about, and yet we all find it difficult to find the time and commitment to find a form of exercise that we can really stick with long term. Luckily Arklow now has more and more gyms and fitness centres, and there are more opportunities to not just build fitness levels, but also get to meet people around the town as opposed to more solitary fitness pursuits like jogging.

Arnkell Jiu Jitsu Academy opened it's doors late last year, and I've been training there since the start of the new year in a desperate attempt at a new years resolution to stay in shape. I'd previously tried boxing, kickboxing and rugby but dropped out around the one or two month mark as my commitment levels and real life took more and more of my desire to train away. And yet I'm still training at the academy because I fell in love with Brazillian Jiu Jitsu about ten minutes into my first training session.

It's always a little bit intimidating stepping into a new place for the first time. You assure yourself it's going to be fine but you still have no idea what to expect, especially when you aren't even sure what Brazilian Jiu Jitsu even is. For those wondering, it's a grappling based martial art that focuses more on chokes, joint manipulation and submission in order to make your opponent tap out. It sounds rougher than it is but in reality everyone that trains in Arklow is always supportive and wants to help you improve at jiu jitsu, not to repeatedly make you tap out.

When I first set foot in the academy I met the instructors Dean Barry and Brian Kelly, whose friendliness and good humour immediately made me feel very at home and comfortable right away. As I trained more and more I saw just how much passion both Brian and Dean have for the martial art, and to help everyone improve. If you are stuck on a particular technique or have any questions they'll be happy to explain it to you so you don't feel left behind. Everyone that trains there is also very friendly and helpful, so if you're confused about a technique don't worry, everyone is more than happy to help. I found this out during my first few sessions where I was confused at just about everything, but I picked it up eventually and now find myself helping others if they ask because I remember how helpful everyone was with me.

Instructors Brian Kelly (left) and Dean Barry (right) with young star Lexi. 

If you're worried that you might not be fit enough or maybe a bit too past your prime to start your BJJ journey you need not worry. No matter your age or level of fitness, everyone is completely wrecked after their first session. You use muscles that you didn't realize you had, and full disclosure, you will feel more than a bit stiff the day after. But this doesn't last for ever and you soon find yourself counting down the hours till you get to go again. Injury is always a possibility, but it's not as common as in a striking martial art or even a sport like rugby because the focus is more on technique and submissions. You won't have to explain any black eyes to anyone unless you just happen to be very unlucky, I myself caught a knee in the side of the head which was a complete accident, but it does happen. If you do happen to get injured you will be taken care of, and again I think I've only seen this once since the start of the year.

 A typical beginners session will consist of a dynamic warm up that will fire up the muscles you will be using. Then you get into pairs and go through three or four techniques that are shown to you beforehand just so you get used to actually doing the technique on another person. I found it easier to bring someone with me in the early days of training because I wanted to train with someone at a similar skill level to me (No skill at all) but to be honest I was just as comfortable training with the other students because we all just wanted to learn. The final ten minutes of the session will then be sparring, or "rolling" as its known in BJJ, which is used to test out your new technique on someone who is now resisting you doing it to them and actively trying to escape or put you in a hold of their own.

If you have prior experience in BJJ or have been taking beginners classes for a while and have a good understanding of the basic concepts you then move up to the mixed class where you learn more advanced techniques and do some more rolling to try out what you've been learning. There is a competition team at the academy but there is no obligation to train for tournaments or anything. If you want to learn the basics and get fit then you are more than welcome to. There are also CombatFit classes that let you train like a fighter without the risk of getting hurt (which will be covered in a future blog post). There are kids classes too which cover the ages of 4 to 12 which focus more on co-ordination, discipline and techniques in a fun atmosphere.

Overall what keeps me going to the Arnkell Jiu Jitsu Academy is the friendly atmosphere and sense of achievement and progression. Classes are laid out like a proper curriculum, you build up a good knowledge of the basics and then move on from there. You get out of it what you put in to it. And in the environment that the instructors have created you feel like a part of the family, everyone wants to help you improve and reach your goals no matter what they are. So if you want to get fit, try out a new martial art and make a lot of new friends then I highly recommend you come down and meet everyone and see if Brazillian Jiu Jitsu is for you. I'll see you on the mats.

Arnkell Jiu Jitsu Academy has classes running seven days a week, and your first week of training is absolutely free. If you want to get in touch you can find them on Facebook by clicking here or contacting them by phone at 087 180 2058.  

Things To Do In Arklow #1- Arklow Maritime Museum

Things to do in Arklow #1 - Arklow Maritime Museum

Arklow has had a long and illustrious maritime history. Ever since the Vikings first landed here and dubbed the tiny plot of land "Arnkell", the sea has almost been the veins that flowed into Arklow providing it with prosperity right up to the turn of the 20th century when Arklow was Ireland's finest fishing port.

The Arklow Maritime museum is a tribute to the strong sea faring history and tradition of the town. The museum relocated to a space at the Bridgewater Centre, and from the outside it looks deceptively small, tucked away between a cafe and the local Eddie Rockets restaurant. But appearances can be very deceiving as we came up the stairs and saw a giant space packed with just under two thousand individual pieces of  maritime memorabilia.

The museum has been around for about thirty years, but its new location is very crisp and clean. It doesn't feel like museums I've been too before where everything feels dusty and hidden away. This history is here to be celebrated. The view of the Avoca river from the balcony is also stunning, and the fact that the port is just a few minutes down the road gives you the sense that you are standing in the centre where all this history happened so many years ago.

The view for the balcony, even on a cloudy day it looks stunning.

When you enter the museum, the people there are friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the great amount of history that has happened over the hundreds of years that Arklow has existed, and how its maritime roots allowed it to thrive. We got to watch a short fifteen minute documentary about the history of Arklows maritime roots and then spent a good hour exploring the exhibit. There is so much to see and learn about, and some of the facts are guaranteed to surprise you.


It's so interesting to look at the exhibits and learn about the experiences and accomplishments of men and women from Arklow, and its fantastic to have a place where they can be remembered and respected.

A womans shoe obtained during the sinking
of the HMS Lusitania 

Its also incredible to hear just how much Arklow had an impact on the world in times gone by. The very first RNLI station was established in Arklow one hundred and eighty years ago, with a some of the artifacts from the period now in the museum. When the HMS Lusitania was sunk in May 1915, it was two Arklow captains who were the first on the scene to try and provide assistance to the people overboard. The museum contains both the medals received by German
officers who shot the Lusitania down, and also the shoe of a woman who fell overboard one hundred and one years ago.

If I were to try and explain every part of the museum and every one of the nearly two thousand exhibits I would most probably be writing a book on the subject. But if you're in the area and have a few hours to kill it's definitely worth your while popping in to the Arklow Maritime Museum and seeing for yourself just how much impact the sea had on Arklow, and just how much impact Arklow had on the sea.

If you'd like to find out more about the Arklow Maritime Museum you can visit their website at http://www.arklowmaritimeheritage.ie/ or you can find them on Facebook