< PreviousAugust 2017 The Meath Coaster ©10A fantastic year in our school!The health and well-being of our school community is paramount in Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh and it is valued as much as academic excellence. We endeavour to provide a holistic education where physi-cal activity and the visual arts are embed-ded in the life of the school. We hosted a variety of different award ceremonies in June including Sporting Achievements, Kindness Awards, Attend-ance Awards, Golden Book Awards and Anti bullying Poster competition awards.Pictured here are the 6th Class Graduation, all the award winners and the Sporting Awards..Next month will feature more in-dividual award winners. Follow your dreams Follow your passionBelieve in yourself.Life is an endless process of self-discovery Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Attendance AwardsAugust 2017 The Meath Coaster ©11Sport AwardsSCHOOL SERVICES 2017/2018Email: info@eastcoasttravel.ie www.eastcoasttravel.iePhone Sarah 086 6006443, Gerry 086 7954646, John 087 2303068East Coast Travel are the sole transport provider for primary schools in Laytown and Bettystown, Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa and Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh. We also serve Coláiste na hInse, and St Mary’s and Sacred Heart Drogheda Coláiste na hInse - Stamullen, Julianstown, Drogheda, Bryanstown, Five Oaks ,Stameen, Grange Rath, Donacarney, Mornington, BettystownScoil Oilibhéir Naofa and Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Donacarney, Mornington, Bettystown, Laytown Places are restricted Please phone well in advance to book a place!St Mary’s and Sacred Heart, DroghedaLaytown, Bettystown, Mornington, Donacarney, Grange Rath BUS PICK-UP POINTSAugust 2017 The Meath Coaster ©12Council Update by Cllr Eimear FergusonFull Council July 3rd, 2017Arts funding Awards and Bursa-ries 2017 were announced. Glad to see Scoil an Spio-raid Naomh and Gaelscoil an Bhradáin Feasa were two lucky recipients of these. The monies are to go towards school musi-cal instrument purchase schemes.HousingThe 16 new houses in Bettystown are now allocated to tenants. It may only be 16 but it's 16 families housed in secure homes. Not enough, by far, but it's a start. Phase 2 is due to start shortly and between Meath County Council and the housing agencies, acquisition of more houses is ongoing.Iarnrod Eireann gave us a presentation on Changing Customers needs. The is-sues raised in connection with the Meath Coast area were the cost difference in fares between Balbriggan to Drogheda including all stations in between. The need for car parking facili-ties at Laytown was raised and requested to look into this is-sue urgently. Cost of unused Gormanston car park and issues pertaining to com-muters parking along the roadside was also raised. Removing the charges, just like Dunboyne station, has been requested. We'll wait and see what happens!Municipal District July 13th, 2017This was a very brief meeting as the launch of the Duleek and Donore CCTV was scheduled for the same morning.It was great to hear that, fi-nally, the footpath between the educational campus and Bettystown is to be started. Not before time!!For those attending Gormanston College, the footpath to the college is to be com-pleted by the start of school term in Sep-tember. The water fiasco.Having reported this leak early on Thurs-day, I headed off on the Camino totally unaware of the devastation the leak was going cause. Having checked out the lat-est update it appears that the measures taken to fix the leak are just temporary. They've stuck a Band Aid on it and more disruption is expected within a coupe of weeks. Great!! Irish Wa-ter - Laurel and Hardy spring to mind. "That's another fine mess you've gotten us into.BeachThe third beach warden has started work on the beach and between the three of them are doing a great job keeping the beach as clean as they possibly can. Of course, they'd have less work if we all leave nothing but August 2017 The Meath Coaster ©13our footprints. They're are signs on the beach encouraging all visitor to do like-wise. Delighted to say, so far, we've have excellent water quality this summer. I had the greatest of pleasure to attend a new summer camp for children with spe-cial needs in Julianstown which is the brain child of a wonderful lady, Valerie Donovan. I was also delighted to have met up with Chris McElligott, Irish soc-cer player and recently a leader on Opera-tion Transformation (photo on the oppo-site page & page 27). This was one of the most rewarding visits I've had to a project in recent times. The amount of help given by local sports clubs has really to be com-mended.Plans are well underway for the Sand Yachting Championships in September. Volunteers are needed for the duration and training will be provided if you have some hours to spare and want to help out. If you are interested, just give me a shout and I'll take your details and pass on them on.If you need to contact me on any issue my number is 086 4068270, email eimear.fer-guson@members.meathcoco.ie Stay safe and enjoy the rest of the sum-mer. §Cllr Stephen McKee, with his 2 daughters, Ella and Eabha, enjoying the recent Mosney Road/Briarleas Street Party in Julianstown087 911 2411 087 279 8738041 9836177New Castles & Slides For HireAUGUST SPECIAL OFFERSBouncing Castles Hire from €50Wide Range of Slide Combi CastlesObstacles & SlidesFree Safety Mats with all Bouncy CastlesBungee Runs, Gladiator Duel, Adults & Kids Sumo WrestlingNew Ultra Pad SUMO for 201750ft Crocodile Obstacle CourseCombi Bouncy CastleHippoDino Combi CastleBugs Bunny BouncyFire Truck combiHigh Slide Obstacle Course€200 Cash Draw with every Castle Hire, Draw at end of AugustAugust 2017 The Meath Coaster ©14News from JulianstownWe are now into August, the birds have completely fledged, the sheep have been sheared and the combine har-vesters are busy rumbling through the fields, and all is well.....until the water runs dry.... Many many thanks to our councillors namely Sharon Keogan, Sha-ron Tolan and Paddy Meade for keeping us updated on the situation and let’s hope that’s the end of it. Our Pride of Place judging takes place in the first week of August, so once again a plea for your to help-to keep our village tidy. Unfortunately, we were once again targeted by a plant thief in the village garden; around a dozen lavender plants, and four hydrangea all taken from the same area. It’s so very dis-heartening for the few volunteers who put in so much time and effort. Heritage day will take place in our vil-lage garden on August 26th from 11 am to 1 pm and all residents, families and friends are invited to come along and learn about the garden. There will be light refreshments for all and if you would like to bake a cake or two, please bring it along with you. We have been very fortunate to get funding from Meath County Council Heritage Dept for tulip bulbs for our vil-lage. Blacks Garden have agreed to plant them for us and we will be looking for-ward to seeing them bloom throughout the village in Spring. Admission is FREE to all for Heritage Day and we hope you will come along to get the grand tour of the garden. It is great to see so many of our teenagers enjoying the village garden and chilling out with their friends. But, we do ask that they remember to close the shed door when leaving and please don’t feed the fish bread as it will kill them! Afternoon Tea We are delighted to an-nounce that Cooleswan Liqueurs are sponsoring an afternoon tea in the Church of Ireland Parish Room on Friday 1st Sep-tember. It will be a fun afternoon, with cookery demonstrations. This is following our very successful event which we held last year in City North. This is a ticket only event and please contact Jackie at 087 6579884 or any member of Julianstown Tidy Towns Group if you would like a ticket.No Quick Solution! Cllr. Sharon Keogan recently asked Meath Co. Co. when was the first €150,000 of the €300,000 allocated to Julianstown for traffic calming measures and the reply she received was that Consultant Engineers would be engaged later in the year to plan a design. So it looks like no work will commence for another year! Old Mill Hotel - Meath County Council has confirmed it will finally take steps to force the owners of a site on which a long-derelict hotel stands to take action to address its ru-inous condition, or else it will place it on the derelict sites register within months.The council had been threatened with le-gal action by a company in Julianstown for its failure to put the site of the Old Mill Hotel on the derelict sites register, despite having declared it derelict in 2008. Resi-dents have been complaining to the coun-cil and public representatives about the August 2017 The Meath Coaster ©15Fred 041 9829021086 8075521 info@coastalcoachtravel.ieLORETO Secondary School BalbrigganDIRECTFive Oaks/Stameen, 8:00Grange Rath, 8:05Donacarney, 8:10Mornington, 8:15Bettystown, 8:20Laytown, 8:25Julianstown, 8:30Loreto 8:45Loreto / Gormanston via StamullenFive Oaks / Stameen 7:35Grange Rath, 7:40Donacarney, 7:45 Mornington, 7:50Golf Links Road 7:52 Bettystown Eastham Rd, 7:54Sevitt Hall/Manor 7:58 Betaghstown Wood 8:00Laytown, 8:05 Julianstown, 8:10Gormanston 8:15 Continues to Loreto BalgrigganStamullen 8:20 Stamullen Glasheen 8:25Stamullen St Pats 8:30 Gormanston 8:35Loreto 8:45Private Bus Hire Also AvailableFormerly Part of East-Coast TravelTimes are approximate at start of year. All stops in between existing stops. Places are restricted Please phone well in advance to book a place!site since the hotel closed down 10 years ago. (Extract from article in The Irish Times recently)Blue Birds - More than 90% of gardens enjoy regular visits from Blue Tits, mak-ing them the most common small bird to be seen on feeders or bird tables. They have blue caps, wings and tails, a green black and a yellow breast and underparts. A distinctive black ‘robber’s mask’ runs from the base of the bill, obscuring the eyes. The sexes are almost impossible to separate, but the males usually have slightly brighter blue on the wings and crown. Juveniles have a more ‘washed-out’ plumage with the face and underparts being the same pale-yellow colour. If you put out a new feeder, the chances are the first bird to use it will be a Blue tit. Parish Office - The Stamullen/Julianstown Parish Office re-opened on Monday July 24th at Preston Hill follow-ing the annual summer break. Telephone Carol at 01 8412647 or e mail secaj@eircom.net. Parish Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi - There are a limited number of spaces available if you are interested in joining the Parish Pilgrimage. Cost in-cludes return flights, 5 nights B & B in the Irish College, one four course dinner with musical entertainment, full itinerary to include all major Basilicas, Catacombs, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, Pantheon and Piazza Navona, Day-trip to Assisi, Half day to Castelgandol-fo, full time accompaniment and guided tours. We are travelling from 11th-16th Au-gust. Contact Kieron on 0579355050 or at www.culturalconnections.eu. If you have anything you would like men-tioned in the Julianstown News, please contact Niamh on 086 34377283 or mes-sage us on Facebook Julianstown Tidy Towns Group §August 2017 The Meath Coaster ©16Stamullen CFR Group UpdateIt’s been a busy time for the Stamullen Community First Responders. The group have been running regular training scenarios in the Village over the past num-ber of months in preparation for going live with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the National Ambulance Ser-vice (NAS). group secretary Áine Walker working tire-lessly to bring it to fruition. Over the last six months alone, Warren has trained over 20 people to cardiac first response level in addition to carrying out several cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) demon-strations for local school and community groups.We are delighted to announce that we are now live and in position to respond to emergency situations in coordination with HSE Ambulance Control and the NAS. From now on when a 999 or 112 call comes in from within 3km of Stamullen Village relating to heart attack, cardiac ar-rest, choking or stroke the HSE will dis-patch an ambulance and at the same time contact the First Responders!With 70% of cardiac arrests occurring within the home, the response of the local CFR group is crucial, as they can get to the patient very quickly and provide the initial care which increases the patient’s chances of survival. The launch of the group is the culmina-tion of a lot of preparation and training with group co-ordinator Warren Stott and Figure 2 Volunteers in trainingFundraising and sponsorship has been vi-tal to the success of the responders, with Meath County Council providing finan-cial assistance and the Bank of Ireland sponsoring the groups ‘on call’ automatic external defibrillator (AED). The group are also thankful to Atomic Fitness whose fundraising campaign provided the funds Warren Stott, Ciarán Fogarty, Nathanial O’Byrne, Joe O’Neill, Áine Walker, Lynne Doyle and Glenn Monk.Pictured are Thierry Brearley, Bank of Ireland representatives, Warren Stott and Lynne Doyle.August 2017 The Meath Coaster ©17The Stamullen Roundup By Grace TierneyHope for Homeless (H4H), who do a food run every Monday night to the G.P.O. in Dublin from Stamullen and Balbriggan, are seeking volunteer drivers between 7 and 10p.m. on Monday nights. Message them via their Facebook page if you’re willing to help.New solar-powered speed signs have been installed along the Stamullen and Gormanston roads and are working really well. I’m looking forward to the footpath works which are due to take place in Gormanston this month.Repair works are continuing as we go to press, but here’s hoping water supplies will have resumed in Stamullen (and elsewhere) by the time you receive this issue. It was good to see residents helping each other in bringing supplies from the tanks to houses this week. Given the regularity of water stoppages in the village during the last decade, residents will be nervous until the Drogheda main is completely replaced.Good luck to the Scouts & Venture Scouts who are heading away on long camps to Cork and Cavan this month. May your tents stay dry, your sausages sizzle, and your fires light the first time.Thanks are extended to all the support-ers of the Down Syndrome Coffee Morn-ing at Balloy during July – all those who came on the day and all who contributed in so many ways. They’re delighted to announce that they raised over €2,700 to support adults with Down Syndrome.The Golden Girls are on a break during Au-gust and will return in September.St. Mary’s Baton Twirlers will resume training on Wednesday 30th August at 6p.m. in St. Pat’s G.A.A. in Stamullen. They wel-come new members aged from four, right up to adult.Got Stamullen news? Send it to Grace (087-9074145) or grace@meathcoaster.comfor the purchase and installation of the village defibrillator located at the Parish Hall. The group would also like to thank Dee’s barber shop and St Patricks Church & Parish Hall for allowing us the use of their premises for indoor training.As always, the group is open to new vol-unteers and anyone interested can contact them by email at stamullencfr@gmail.com, by mobile on (086) 3642204 or on Facebook through ‘Stamullen Commu-nity First Responders’. August 2017 The Meath Coaster ©18Laytown Tidy TownsSummer is half way through and it was great to see the playground and green spaces full of kids during the fine weather in July. It's good to see new signs at the Beach entrances clarifying some of the basic by laws applicable there. One sign states the times horses are allowed on the beach. Another sign has photos and names of "Restricted or listed”breeds of dogs, also in place at the entrances. It has to be said that any dog that is reared badly and is dominant and aggressive is a danger if not under the control of its owner. The picnic tables which had been put in place at the memorial garden and on the promenade were not, as we had expected, wheelchair accessible. We contacted Eco-plastic who were most understanding and obliged us by exchanging them for wheel-chair accessible ones which were deliv-ered last week. Sincerest thanks to them.Thanks also to Meath Co. Council for re-moving the old ones and putting the new ones in their place. §With the Spring tides comes the local teenagers jumping off the footbridge like lemmings and having a ball. Unfortunate-ly this activity comes with the need for a clean up of the big mess left behind. Six towels, ten pairs of stockings, under-pants and dozens of bottles of Lucozade Sport , sweet and crisp bags to mention a few. Good news is there were only a half dozen cans of cider added to the mess. Al-though most of us are not sure we’d like our dhildren, or indeed grandchildren put-ting this rubbish in their bodies or leaving articles of clothing scattered in the dunes, but teens are teens and some must have gone home naked !!Patrick Gogarty giving the seal of approval to the table in the Memorial Garden!Nathan Somerville trying out the new bench on the promenadeAugust 2017 The Meath Coaster ©19F. Watson & Son LtdFuneral Directors Complete Funeral ServiceLAYTOWN, CO. MEATH Tel: 086 0275440 • 041 98382279 DYER STREET, DROGHEDAwww.droghedafunerals.ieServing the Entire East Meath Area and Drogheda since 19211 Leyland Place, Stockwell St, DroghedaTel : 041 9842275 E-mail: fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ieFergus O'Dowd TD Working hard for the people of Louth and East MeathNext >