Dungarvan plans to become first Dementia Friendly town in Ireland

Home Instead Senior Care is currently providing a free training programme to local businesses and their staff in Dungarvan who, through the course of their normal working day, may come into contact with dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers. 

While it is estimated that there are over 50,000 people affected by dementia in Ireland today, what is equally concerning is that this number is expected to rise to 140,000 in the next 25 years.

The free training programme, devised and facilitated by Home Instead Senior Care has so far been undertaken by 13 Dungarvan businesses, including Garvey’s SuperValu, The Park Hotel, Bank of Ireland, AIB, pharmacies and restaurants.

Ray Power, Manager Home Instead Senior Care Waterford stressed the importance of service providers and retailers having a better understanding of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“Every day in Dungarvan, someone with dementia goes into a shop, a bank, a restaurant and, as is too often the case with dementia or Alzheimer’s, that person may be confused, disorientated or isolated.  The premise of this dementia training workshop is to help businesses and their staff understand dementia, recognise the signs and interact appropriately with that person.”

“From very simply recognising the symptoms of dementia in a person to dealing with them appropriately and compassionately through apt body movements, body language and voice tone, staff will be better equipped to assist and reassure a person with dementia, in order for that person to have a stress and anxiety free experience.”

Dungarvan Chamber of Commerce recently completed the dementia workshop and is actively encouraging more local businesses to sign up for training.

Jenny Beresford, CEO Dungarvan Chamber of Commerce was enthusiastic about the initiative. “We are delighted to be working with Home Instead Senior Care to address the needs of those with dementia and their families.  Dungarvan businesses have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to providing excellent customer care. We feel that local businesses, being some of the first in the country to undertake this training programme, will certainly add value to the Dungarvan retail and service experience, not just for locals, but for those who come to visit the area.”

Mr. Power added “We are determined to make Dungarvan Ireland’s first fully Dementia Friendly Town.  The derivatives of this are manifold.  For people with dementia, visiting, shopping and staying in Dungarvan it will become an even more agreeable experience. It would encourage, what is often a marginalised sector and their family carers, who can also feel very isolated and alone, to become more enmeshed in the local community.  This is something we at Home Instead Senior Care believe can only have massive benefits to those with dementia, their carers and their families.”

If you are a business owner and are interested in finding out more about Home Instead Senior Care Dementia Training workshops, visit www.homeinstead.ie or call Waterford Home Instead Senior Care on 058 75298.

Spectral phenomena expected at Loftus Hall’s Halloween experience!

For many of us Halloween conjures up images of trick or treating, dressing in ghoulish costume, pumpkin carving or bobbing for apples!

However, these contemporary Halloween activities are based on practices dating back to the darker origins of Halloween, or Samhain.  Around 2,000 years ago in Celtic Ireland, Samhain was the division of the year between summer and winter.  During Samhain, the divide between this world and other domains was at its thinnest which gave spirits greater opportunity to pass through to this world.

Loftus Hall, in Co. Wexford, will celebrate Samhain, and as Ireland’s most haunted house, you can expect to experience some eerie encounters and hear some ghostly tales from Loftus Hall’s past.

Nestled on the Hook Peninsula in Co. Wexford in barren and austere surroundings, Loftus Hall’s heritage dates back 665 years to 1350. It is now a magnet for tourists, historians, and paranormal enthusiasts, who continue to document evidence of frequent paranormal activity in the house. Highlighting some of this activity, Loftus Hall will feature on TV3 this Halloween, with a fascinating account of an Irish Ghost Hunters Investigation.

According to Aidan Quigley, Owner of Loftus Hall, Loftus Hall is a very special, but unpredictable, place to be during Samhain. “We observe strange phenomena in the house throughout the year, but at Halloween, the house often surprises us.”

 “At Loftus Hall, there is no need for overstated gory props or effects.  The house has a very twisted and tortured history, and so naturally speaks for itself. We have had reports from many ghost hunting groups and spectre seekers who recount rather unsettling results, such as significant temperature drops, particularly in the Chapel and Tapestry Room, and spikes in electro-magnetic fields, indicating an unseen energy source. Visitors to Loftus Hall continually experience and qualify these findings, and many encounter things that they can’t quite explain.”

The Loftus Hall Samhain Tours open to the public from October 17^th and visitors should expect some strange and inexplicable goings-on.

It’s not only ghost hunters who have documented ethereal activities at Loftus Hall.  Following last year’s viral “ghost photo” which hit the international headlines when tourist Thomas Beavis snapped what appeared to be a ghostly apparition in the porch way of the Hall, another visitor to Loftus Hall, Tara McMeel also captured some strange ghostly apparitions in a “selfie” shot.

The continuous visitor feedback regarding unnatural experiences, and tangible captures of evidence such as this, keeps world-wide curiosity rife about Loftus Hall and its ominous past.

Mr. Quigley revealed, “Without giving too much away about the newly designed family or adult Samhain tours, I can confirm they will both feature the re-enactment of the much heralded, infamous “dark stranger” episode.  Charles Tottenham Loftus, the then custodian of the Hall in the 18^th century, invited a stranger to play cards.  During the card game, as his daughter Anne who was captivated by this stranger, bent to retrieve a fallen playing card, she discovered that the invited guest had cloven hooves.  The stranger flew into a fiery rage, crashing through the roof leaving in his wake a smell of sulphur and brimstone, and the very same roof has been irreparable ever since. This Legend is synonymous with Loftus Hall, and is a fundamental part of the houses spectral history.”

If you want to experience Samhain in an authentic haunted house, Loftus Hall Hall’oween tours commence from October 17^th with a range of family tours each day, adult night tours on October 24^th, 25^th, 30^th and 31^st, and the ultimate Halloween Paranormal Investigation Lockdown on the 7^th November.

To find out more about the Daily Halloween Tours, Adult Night tours, or the Loftus Hall Halloween Lockdown at Loftus Hall visit www.loftushall.ie or call 051 397728.

Rotary Club Film night brings Spectre to Waterford

The Rotary Club of Waterford is proud to present a special ‘Premiere Sequel’ screening of the latest Bond movie ‘Spectre’.

This charity evening takes place at Waterford Omniplex (former Regina) on Patrick Street on Tuesday October 27^th at 8pm.

Spectre

A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

Nora Widger, President of the Rotary Club of Waterford is looking forward to the event, “We at Waterford Rotary are delighted to return with another film night, and what a film! The Bond series is always exciting and popular and we expect a large number attending this eagerly anticipated film night.”

The Rotary Club of Waterford raised approximately €30,000 for charities in 2014, including local charities such as Waterford Hospice. Waterford Rotary Club is best known locally for the annual Memorial Christmas Tree in John Roberts Square. 

Tickets cost €25 (all of which goes to charity) and can be purchased Nolke Opticians Ardkeen or David M Breen & Co, Wallace House, Waterford.

Coffee House Lane brings home the Bronze!

With over 2,500 food and drink products entered in this year’s Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards competition, Waterford’s Coffee Warehouse brought bronze back to the Deise from Dingle.

Now in its eight year, the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards is the biggest competition on the island of Ireland for quality Irish produce and Coffee Warehouse’s “Coffee House Lane Blend 1690” picked up the accolade in the best coffee category.

Coffee Warehouse is renowned for its Ponticelli brand and in April this year launched its new coffee brand, Coffee House Lane, in honour of Waterford’s coffee roasting tradition. 

Mark Bergin, founder of Coffee Warehouse was delighted to receive the award.  “It’s a fantastic boost for our company, and a great endorsement of a new coffee blend that was only launched six months ago.  Not only is it a bonus to receive recognition from the Blas judging panel, it gives us the confidence to promote our coffee not just in Ireland, but throughout the UK and eventually Europe.”

“Exploring new export markets was always part of our business strategy, but the fact that Coffee House Lane now has a Blas na hEireann award for one of the best coffees in Ireland, will be hugely advantageous to our company.”

Mark also believes that the Blas na hEireann awards encourage food and drink producers to provide consumers with quality produce.  “Waterford is punching well above its weight in terms of good food and drink producers. There is a very passionate and proactive collective of Waterford growers, producers and retailers who are dedicated to supplying customers with good quality products and an enjoyable food experience.  Competitions, such as Blas na hEireann, encourage producers to aim for consistently high standards.”

Amongst the more renowned foodstuffs that originated in Waterford such as the blaa, rasher and cream cracker, coffee was roasted in Waterford back as far as 1690.  John Aikenhead was the visionary who first brewed and distributed coffee in Ireland, from his coffee house in the aptly named Coffee House Lane, and the Coffee House Lane Blend 1690 plays homage to the significant role Waterford played in bringing coffee to the Irish public.

In that past year Coffee Warehouse has increased its distribution exponentially since its participation in the SuperValu Food Academy “Start” and “Advance” programmes and is now stocked in 135 SuperValu stores throughout the country, Ardkeen Quality Food Store and numerous independent retailers.  Without the support of agencies such as Waterford Local Enterprise Office, Love Irish Food and SuperValu, Mark says, the company “would not be where it is today.”

Ciaran Cullen, Local Enterprise Office Waterford, congratulated Coffee Warehouse on its award.  “Mark and his team at Coffee Warehouse are dedicated to the pursuit of bringing good coffee to their customers.  By exploring and undertaking new and innovative roasting techniques and sourcing the finest coffee beans from Kenya, Sumatra, Ethiopia and Brazil, Coffee Warehouse has raised the bar for all coffee producers in the country.”

“Having been involved with the development of the brand concept of Coffee House Lane, with invaluable assistance from Eamonn McEneaney, Director of Waterford Museum of Treasures Waterford LEO is delighted that Coffee House Lane’s Blend 1690 was recognised at the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards.”

For more information about Coffee House Lane and the range of Coffee Warehouse blends visit www.ponticelli.ie or keep up to date with Coffee House Lane on Facebook and Twitter.

Free Dementia Care Workshops for Waterford Families during World Alzheimer’s Month

September marks the fourth global World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia.  

Home Instead Senior Care will run a series of free workshops for Waterford’s family carers to support them in taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

The two hour workshops take place from 7pm to 9pm in Dooley’s Hotel, The Quay, Waterford on Monday, September 21^st and in The Park Hotel, Dungarvan, on Tuesday, September 22^nd.

Family carers from the local community are invited to attend the workshops and learn practical caregiving techniques to support them in their role of family carer. Caregiving techniques will include:

· Suggested approaches when helping with personal care activities

· Understanding behavioural symptoms, and care approaches to help minimise actions

· Learning how to starting conversations for effective communication

· Recognising ways to prevent behavioural symptoms in the future

· Discovering ways to care for yourself so that you can remain a

  successful family carer

Danette Connolly, Director of Care at Home Instead Senior Care Waterford said, “These workshops are of huge benefit and comfort to anyone who is caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia.  It is very easy to become isolated and overwhelmed by the task of every day caregiving.  These workshops will help them feel less alone and learn about the supports that can make caregiving easier.”

Though research continues, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. But until there is a cure, there is care. This workshop is specially designed for family carers and offers a personal approach to help families care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease at home. 60-70% of people with dementia in Ireland currently live at home in the community and rely on family carers.

Danette added, “Until there is a cure, we offer an interim solution.  The purpose of the family carer workshops is to support caregivers when it comes to understanding dementias and providing care at home for a loved one.”

The family carer training workshops take place from 7pm to 9pm in Dooley’s Hotel, The Quay, Waterford on Monday, September 21^st and from 7pm to 9pm in The Park Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, on Tuesday, September 22^nd.

Places are free, though early booking is advised.  For further information call Waterford Home Instead Senior Care 051 333960 or 058 75298.  Alternatively email waterford@hiscwaterford.ie

Rapid Cabs new App - creating a high-tech taxi service

Waterford City’s Rapid Cabs  invests €200,000 this year on making its taxi service the most high tech outside Dublin.

Safety and security has always been paramount to Rapid Cabs, but now its new Rapid Cabs ‘Hotel Booker’ is the most modern, safest and smartest way to book a taxi in a hotel in Waterford.

Visitors to Waterford simply click to book a taxi, enter their name and telephone number and watch the taxi being dispatched and arriving at the hotel. The Rapid Cabs hotel taxi booker has six different languages to choose from including Spanish, French, Portuguese and Russian.

For locals the service is just as impressive, the new Rapid Cabs App is the most secure way to book a taxi with just two clicks. The app will show an image of the driver along with their name of the driver, registration of the taxi, the car make and model and the even the colour of the car.

The app gives customers an estimated time of arrival and cost of the fare, as well as the capacity to track the taxi and pay securely via debit or credit card. Booking notifications and emailed receipts are also standard, if required.

Rapid Cabs CEO Eric O’Brien, explains the importance of these advances, “Rapid Cabs are dominant in the taxi market in Waterford already, but in our business a reputation for safety and security is so important. We cannot take anything for granted, we need to push ourselves to invest and increase the level of service to our customers in order to stay at the top of our game. These investments and advancements are also required and expected in the corporate world, an area which we hope to grow in the next year or two.”

Rapid Cabs is a family run business located in Waterford City. Established in 2000 with only five taxis, it now has the largest range of taxis in the south east of Ireland, including taxis, hackneys, people carriers, wheelchair taxis and a large range of coaches.

All drivers are fully vetted by Garda and fully insured and licensed. Open and accessible 24 hours a day 365 days a year, Rapid Cabs has a fully computerised booking dispatch system from its local taxi call centre and has installed in-car computers in all of its taxis to ensure as such efficiency as possible.

The new App is available free on Apple and Android.

Waterford served up on a plate at Waterford Harvest Festival

With a tasty, jam – packed programme of events scheduled for Waterford Harvest Festival (September 11^th to 13^th), an exciting collaboration of Waterford restaurants is flying the flag for local producers.

The premise of this year’s Harvest Festival is Waterford Food Heroes and “EAT Waterford”, a collective of Waterford restaurants and hotels will champion the best of local produce.  Set in the Marquee on the Mall, in the heart of the Viking Triangle, diners will be able to enjoy a five course tasting menu, prepared by the participating restaurants using fresh, seasonal ingredients, sourced from local producers.

Paul Power, Head Chef with Waterford’s Bellissimo Restaurant, a member of EAT Waterford, outlined the group’s food philosophy and how EAT Waterford is committed to shining the spotlight on Waterford as a burgeoning food tourism destination.

“The last ten years have seen an exciting, passionate food movement in Waterford.  There has been the development of a food philosophy that values local and regional produce and from that ensures the best dining experience for customers.”

“Waterford and its surrounds are spoilt with a fantastic array of great growers and producers and, of course, natural resources, so there is no excuse for restaurants to provide sub-standard dining experiences.”

All of the EAT Waterford restaurants are ardent supporters of artisan producers and there is currently an exciting cohort of such producers in Waterford.  The home of the blaa, rashers and even the humble cream cracker has inspired a generation of local producers of great meat, seafood, breads, vegetables, beer and spirits.

“In the last decade, Waterford producers, growers, chefs and restaurants began to sing from the same hymn sheet.  Working in tandem, from grass roots level to the dining table, has resulted in a more enjoyable, positive, memorable experience for diners in Waterford city.”

“EAT Waterford was formed earlier this year to harness local restaurants that adhere to a similar food philosophy and those that recognise the value of working together to raise the profile of our vibrant restaurant scene.”

The EAT Waterford Marquee on the Mall takes place throughout Waterford Harvest Festival with sittings at 7pm on Friday, September 11^th, 1pm, 5pm and 8.30pm on Saturday, September 12^th and 2pm  on Sunday, September 13^th.

Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.ie or from  participating restaurants; Loko, La Boheme, L’Atmosphere, Bellissimo and Zak’s Restaurant (Athenaeum House Hotel).

Not only will Waterford Harvest Festival be the home of the Marquee on the Mall dining experience, there is an emphasis on all things fun, food and family. 

The wide and eclectic programme of free events for all includes the Festival Market on the Mall, Farm to Fork, The Big Taste, Enterprising Food Market, Trad Craft Corner, Harvest Time in the Garden, The Ballybricken Festival Fair, Harvest Kitchen and Play ‘n’ Picnic in the Park.

This year’s festival promises a congruence of sights, sounds, tastes and aromas with cookery demonstrations, foodie films, tastings and workshops, all making Waterford City one big street party for Harvest weekend.

All roads lead to Waterford from September 11^th to 13th.  If you want to know more, the Waterford Harvest Festival full programme of events is available on www.waterfordharvestfestival.ie

Be sure to keep up to date on all things Harvest Fest by checking it out on Facebook and Twitter #WaterfoodHeroes and #WhattheFork