News from Julianstown by Niamh Bn. Uí Loinsigh & Jackie O’Shea
There are some things that even COVID-19 19 cannot change and that is St Patrick’s day (Lá le Pádraig) which will be celebrated on March 17, the date of his death. Celebrated by millions all over the world it has become one of the most popular worldwide cultural events.
So who was St Patrick? He was a Patron Saint of Ireland and his feast day was important in Ireland’s religious calendar. A popular belief is he introduced Christianity to Ireland, banished snakes from our island, and used the 3 leaf Shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity. There are several traditions to consider that are associated with St Patrick’s Day. Some are associated with religious traditions, others relate to people celebrating being Irish for the day, even for those who have no connections with Ireland.
Many people wear something green on St Patrick ’s Day. This is known by many as the ‘wearing of the green’ to celebrate their Irish heritage. In Ireland, people wear a small bunch of Shamrocks on their right breast of their outer clothing. The Shamrocks are blessed in ceremonies all over Ireland by either the local Priests or Bishops. This is known as the Blessing of the Shamrock. As the popularity of St Patrick’s Day grew in the United States so did the tradition of wearing something green. From green hats to shamrock sunglasses, everyone today celebrates the Irish culture by the wearing of the green.
Julianstown Tidy Towns are looking for volunteers to help with the many new projects that will be rolled out this year. One of the main ones will be planting 650 Dahlia Bulbs and Wildflower Seeds on the green space in front of the woods. This will give a ‘wow’ factor when they bloom from late June to November and will be funded with a grant from Pobal. We are also applying for funding to help with the maintenance of Moorechurch Cemetery and for new heritage signage for the village from Meath County Council Community Grants. An Taisce National Spring Clean will take place on Saturday 10th April this Dumping around the village is still a problem and if you do see large amounts of litter please contact Meath Co.Co. Environment Dept. on 046-9097000, by email at customerservice@meathcoco.ie
Julianstown Daffodil Garden
Julianstown & District Community Association would like to pay tribute to our dear friend Clare McEnaney who sadly passed away on the 25th March last year and here is a poem which was written by Colm O’Donnell to mark her anniversary.
Clare
Snowdrops in Ballygarth woods
Will always remind us of you
Their bright white heads
In the dark
Dreary winter
Like them, a halo A shining light
On every Julianstown dark a night
The birds and
Especially the bees
Watched you
Turning that soil
Clipping and chatting
Making plans,
Planting bulbs
Whilst saving our creed
Day and night
A barren patch of land In Julianstown
Transformed with your
Knowledge and insight
You will always be one of our own
A legacy you have left
Never forgotten
Not lost
You still are Our shining light
We in Julianstown would like to praise Laytown and Bettystown villages for the trojan work that has been carried out there in the past year, especially the unsung heroes who do the ‘litter picking’. Nearly every day you can spot them doing a very unrewarding job, risking life and limb with the traffic, out in all weathers. Well done to them! You don’t notice when it’s done, but everyone notices when it’s not done … we in Julianstown are happy to supply litter pickers, bags and glove to anyone who would like to clean a small part around their area and please contact 086 377283 and we will get them to you. Thank you to our own unsung heroes who are keeping Julianstown clean. It is so encouraging to see most dog walkers now carrying poo bags and cleaning up after their dogs. However, please put them in the litter bin as there is nothing worse than trying to unhook them from brambles and they certainly do not make for a pretty sight.
I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the end of this lockdown and with spring upon us, it feels a bit like the start of a big race with everyone itching to get started planting, mowing and planning summer beds etc. Things to do in the garden in March – The start of the month is the last chance to prune apple trees and blackcurrants, blueberries, & raspberries. Also, you need to plant garlic early in the month. Later, start sowing seeds directly out into drills, you can sow root crops such as parsnips, carrots, beet, radish, and turnips directly into the soil. Plant summer bulbs and mow the lawn on dry days (if needed). If you have fish in your pond you can start feeding them.
Pigeon House Lane by Mog Downey The Woods in Julianstown Village by Mog Downey
If you have any news or ideas you would like to share with us …
You can contact us on Facebook – Julianstown & District Community Assoc or www.julianstown.net