< Previous© April 2018 The Meath Coaster20News from Julianstown & District Community AssociationBy Niamh Uí Loinsigh & Michelle RourkeThe Lime Kiln Julianstown win Best Gastro Pub in Meath The first of four regional finals in this year’s Irish Restaurant Awards took place in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, on Wednesday March 7, where 165 awards were presented to the coun-try’s leading chefs, restaurants and pubs. Over 550 people at-tended the Leinster Regional Fi-nal where the top establishments in each county were named. Speaking at the awards, Adrian Cummins, Chief Ex-ecutive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI), said, “Now in their tenth year, the Irish Restaurant Awards contin-ue to showcase the exquisite and admira-ble calibre of food available in our restau-rants and pubs nationwide. The Lime Kiln is delighted to win this prestigious award.Whitecross National School Spanish Teachers: Four Spanish teachers have joined Whitecross for a 3 month in-ternship until the beginning of May. Marta & Amaia will be working with the infant classes and Julen & Ane will be working with classes between 1st and 6th. It will be an opportunity for our pupils and teachers to pick up a little Spanish, learn a little about Spain and also these teachers will provide valuable support and help in our classrooms.The students themselves have complet-ed 4 years at the University of Navarre which is located in Pamplona, Spain. The internship is their last assignment on their qualification process.Student Teachers: This term and next term several classes will host student teachers Good News At LastThe unsightly Old Mill in Julianstown may be a thing of the past sooner rather than later. It seems a planning application will be made in the coming weeks on the 9.5 acre site. The site has been earmarked for a 100 bed Nursing Home/Retiremen Complex with Landscaping. Although many obstacles were met along the way including fire damage and trespassing on the site, Cllr Keogan said it was impor-tant to find the ‘right’ proposal for the site and this has taken considerable time. Julianstown residents are asked to submit ideas for their consideration, of the use for the refurbishment of ‘The Old Mill’ build-ing itself, which is on 3.5 acres. Rocktop CEA Group is the developer and have a distinguished record of providing nurs-ing home design and sustainable develop-ment. Please contact Cllr Sharon Keogan Duleek or Cllr Tom Kelly, Laytown with any proposal you may have.© April 2018 The Meath Coaster21from 3 teacher training colleges; DCU (St. Patricks); Marino and Mary Immac-ulate. These students teach a number of very well-planned lessons each day, help smaller groups in the class and provide their host teacher with valuable prepara-tion time. An Taisce National Spring Clean in Julianstown Our Annual Spring Clean takes place in Julianstown on Saturday 14th April @ 10am. Meeting point is at Whitecross National School. Hi-Vis jackets, gloves, litter pick-ers & litter bags will be provided. There will also be cars on hand to pick up your full bags. Please make an effort as this is an ample opportunity to get our village cleaned up. Thank you to Meath County Council for providing the skip & equipment. Julianstown & District Community As-sociation will hold its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 24th April in the Church of Ireland Parish Rooms @ 8 p.m. All welcome to attend. Meath Community Grants and Julianstown & District Community Association has applied for funding under three separate headings. One will be for funding toward our Summer Festival which takes place on Sunday 10th June, another for funding towards trees which have died on the ap-proach roads, and last but not least fund-ing for the strimming of our cemetery at Moorechurch. You may be aware that the council no longer cuts the grass in the cemetery so this grant would be very welcome. Meath County Council Herit-age Grants were also opened and under this category, we applied for funding for a Heritage Week for the planting of Blue-bells in the Woods. Fingers crossed that we are successful in getting some funding.Daffs survived the ‘Beast from the East’ & the ‘Son of a Beast’Mayday and the Celtic festival of Beal-taine Mayday corresponds with the Irish fes-tival of La Bealtaine, which officially heralded the beginning of the summer. Its name appears to derive from the Old Irish words Bel taine meaning ‘bright fire’ and it was surrounded by a large number of folk beliefs some of which had possible pagan origins. As the name of the festi-val suggests bonfires played an important part in the activities and were often lit on prominent local landmarks with the Hill of Uisneach in Co. Westmeath being the most famous example.A particularly common tradition involved driving herds of cows between two bon-fires in the belief that this would purify the herd and also bring luck. It was also deemed unlucky to give away salt, fire or water on Mayday as the luck and profits of a farm went with these gifts. Witches and the fairies were also believed to be unusu-ally active during this period and a num-© April 2018 The Meath Coaster22ber of actions could be taken to protect your home and especially your livestock. Milk could be poured across the thresh-old of the house or byre to prevent entry by the ‘wee folk’ or more gruesomely the cattle could be driven to the nearest ring-fort or “fairyfort” and some of their blood spilt on the ground to appease the spirits. Ringforts are the classic early medieval settlement type and were long abandoned by the 19thand 20th centuries when they had become associated with the fairy folk. ‘May bushes’were also erected in farm yards and around villages. These normally consisted of hawthorn branches that had been driven into the ground and then decorated with rags and other items. one has a definitive answer as to why the day exists, but there are some ideas out there. Here are some of the strongest theo-ries behind why we wake up to clingfilm on the toilet and ludicrous news stories every April 1.There is strong evidence that Pope Greg-ory XIII is behind the day of trickery. He adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which moved our year from March to Jan-uary 1. Although the change was widely advertised, some people missed it and when these people celebrated the New Year on April 1 they were seen as fool-ish. When they were ridiculed, the day be-came known as Fools Day. A different theory is that April Fool’s Day is left over from the idea of renewal festi-vals, which marked the end of winter and the start of spring. One of the oldest ver-sions of this occasion was the Roman fes-tival Hilaria. The festival coincided with the spring equinox, and invited Romans to take part in games, pranks and masquer-ades. Those who took part in the festival would wear disguises, play tricks on peo-ple and generally wreak havoc.But wherever the tradition came from and there are many theories, be careful this year – will you be the ‘pranker’ or ‘pran-kee’!!!A Blight on Our Community.... Recently a dedicated lady (Mary Lou Murray) spent 4 hours picking up litter on the Laytown Road. It was dangerous, cold, backbreaking, and miserable just af-ter the snow… her reward?? - The pleas-ure of seeing the verges clean. In less than a week it’s in the same state again! Does anyone care? Any suggestions on how we can tackle this problem? Please voice them to your Councilors’. This matter President Higgins lights a Bealtaine fire on the Hill of Uisneach April Fool’s Day is on Easter Sunday this year!!!So this year April Fool’s Day falls on Easter Sunday (or does it!!! Lol!)April Fools’ Day is the time of year where we spend the morning on the lookout for pranks and tricks being played on us. Newspapers and social media will publish fake stories, your friends and family will be looking to catch you out – you’re ba-sically on high alert until midday, when you can breathe a sigh of relief for another year (or can you?!?!)But where did the annual tradition come from and why is it still so popular? No-© April 2018 The Meath Coaster23is not going away and very unfair to the minorities who do clean it up out of pure admiration and pride for where we live. This has to STOP now!FREE Digital SkillsTraining Get online with FREE introductory Internet Training. Learn how to use a Laptop, iPad, Tablet, Smartphone, Send an Email, Social Networking, and Shop & Pay Bills online. Learn in a safe friendly environment at your own pace. Classes will commence with a LAPTOP class on Monday morning, 9th April, 2018 in St. Patricks GAA Club, Stamullen from 10.00 to 12.00 & 11th April, 2018 in St. Colmcilles GAA Centre, Pilltown road, Bettystown from 14.00 to 16.00. Classes will run for 5 weeks & are FREE! To book your place, call Angela on 046-9280790. Courses are funded by Meath Partnership.Julianstown Parents Baby &Toddler Group The Julianstown Baby & Toddler group opens every Wednesday morning from 9.30-11.30 in the Community Centre, Julianstown. Come along and let your lit-tle ones play while you have a chat and a cof-fee.041 98 444 98 041 98 111 98086 838 4444www.eastcoastcabs.comEAST COAST CABSEAST COAST CABS SERVICING MEATH COAST & DROGHEDA REGIONS CABS - 4, 6 & 8 SEATERSNEW RANGE OF MINI-VANSCOACHES - 16, 24, 36 & 54 SEATERS AVAILABLEJulianstown BadmintonBadminton takes place each Tuesday evening at 7.45 pm new members 18yrs + always welcome. Insurance for the year is a mere €30 and is due now. All standards welcome. You can contact the J.D.C.A. on Facebook or www.julianstowncommunity.com © April 2018 The Meath Coaster24Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan.Life in Loreto Balbriggan continues apace with a wide of extra and co-curriular activities running alongside the busy preparation for end of year in-house and state exams and Junior Cycle CBAs. For those doing state exams in June, su-pervised study is available in the school during the second week of the Easter holidays and will also be available on Saturday mornings and after school every evening during the summer term. We wish the 6th and 3rd years all the best during this particularly pressurised time. While ex-ams and exam preparation are central to the work we do it is very important that the students look after their general well being in order to allow themselves to per-form to the best of their ability. Sport and healthy living is therefore en-couraged and promoted in every aspect of life in Loreto Balbriggan. We have hock-ey teams competing at all levels in various leagues. The under 16s have done par-Under 16 Camogie Team Leinster FinalistsElite Dance Crew© April 2018 The Meath Coaster25ticularly well on the hockey front, being narrowly beaten by one goal in the second round of penalties by Sutton Park in the u16 Leinster finals in Dundrum. As well as this, four of our hockey teams played in the North Side league in Trinity sports grounds. Our Minor Bs and Senior As won gold and the Senior Bs and First year team won silver medals. It was a fantas-tic achievement for all teams to get into the final, long may this success continue. Many students from Boyne Hockey club make a huge contribution to the hockey teams in the school. On the camogie pitch, Loreto Balbriggan did go the dis-tance and won the u16 Leinster finals. For those not so interested in team sports their was an opportunity to be active in the run-a-muck challenge, a huge number of fifth years faced the challenge on a rainy Saturday morning and really enjoyed the misery. Not to confine wellbeing activities it to the sporting field the Elite dance Crew is a dance crew open to anyone interested. This group won the best dance group in the Final of School Stars in the TLT in Drogheda, judged by Louis Walsh.Staying on the subject of mental health and wellbeing, a number of fourth year stu-dents attended the Jigsaw peer education programme. This enables the students to Run A muck CrewJunk Kouture FinalistsFirst Year Students in Mellifont Abbey© April 2018 The Meath Coaster26deliver a presentation to their peers based on raising awareness of mental health in young people. They will no doubt do some good work with their peers.All the first years had the opportunity to visit the Harry Potter Studios in London as well as visiting Mellifont and New-grange, much closer to home but fascinat-ing in their own right. We would like to wish our three finalists the very best of luck in the Junk Kouture Jigsaw peer educators being presented with their certificatesLeinster Hockey Finalistsfinal in April. Twelve teams competed in the semi final in the Helix, a phenomenal number from one school. Finally, the staff and students of Loreto Secondary School Balbriggan would like to extend their sympathies to the family and friends of Max Mason on their great loss. We also acknowledge the school community in Colaiste na hinse at this very difficult time. May he rest in eternal peace. §© April 2018 The Meath Coaster27Council UpdateBy Cllr. Eimear FergusonFollowing the tragic death of one of our young residents It is with a sad and heavy heart that this arti-cle is being written this month. On what should have been a day for school going youths to look forward to their Easter holiday's, they were walking from Coláiste na hInse, flowers in hand, to where their school mate and fellow stu-dent had cycled regularly. My thoughts and sympathies go the family and friends involved in this tragedy. Ar dheis de go raibh an anam Hopefully you have all recovered from the Beast from the East and Emma's visit-ing the Meath Coast (as well as most of our Island). A huge thank you has to go out to all our emergency services, Meath CoCo, local farmers and everyone who got out to clear roads, look after the needy etc. Meath CoCo spent their time trying to deal with emergencies and try keep the roads useable. A big thank you to the volunteers who got out to clear housing estates and see to their vulnerable neigh-bours. It's what community spirit is all about.Footpath at Five OaksFollowing much lobbying from Council-lors and residents, on both sides of the Louth Meath border, the footpath at the front of Five Oaks looks like it has taken giant steps towards beng installed as part of collaborative works between the two local authorities. Agreement has been reached in principle on the provision of a footpath so let's hope it happens sooner rather than later. This project is one of a number of opportunities for joint co-operation by the the two councils.Whitefields to Donacarney NS FootpathI was delighted to support the council's proposal to allocate funds for a 700m footpath from Whitefields, Bettystown Cross to Donacarney National Schools. This will be funded by the rollover of monies from the Municipal footpath allocation, which come from planning levies, for the next few years. It is a badly needed piece of infrastruc-ture and with the emphasis on healthy liv-ing and exercise for children, it will be so beneficial for safe walking to school. It'll hopefully take some traffic of a very busy road, especially at school times. With a bit of luck it'll be done quickly. Discussions have commenced with the landowners on the R150 in Donacarney and a design brief is currently being prepared for the appointment of a consultant to design the works.Works in NorthlandsThe OPW works being carried out in Northlands are soon to be complete and we thank the residents for their patience during the necessary works. The OPW have still to carry out works on the East-ham Road which will result in some clo-sures. Diversions will be put in place and hopefully cause minimal disruption to us-ers.Laytown Coastal Erosion remediation © April 2018 The Meath Coaster28works The proposed works are planned to begin on April 18th 2018 and hopefully will be complete within 8 weeks.Laytown Family Resource Centre160,000 Euro has been announced for the Laytown Resource Centre. I have met with this group often (one of my council colleagues is deeply involved with Marie in other parts of the county) and have wit-nessed the great work they do within the community. This money will go al long way to providing much needed supports, services and training to parent and child groups. Car Park Laytown Train StationBoth myself and Imelda Munster TD are calling on Iarnrod Eireann to provide car park west of Laytown train station as well as a request to lower their passenger fares to the Meath coast.With the population growing and the num-bers commuting for work ever increasing in East Meath the need for IE to provide parking at Laytown train station is grow-ing. The ideal location for this would be west of the station and would eliminate the need to of walk under the bridge which is dangerous enough for vehicular traffic without adding pedestrians.Many years back, the council removed tennis courts from the existing car park area to create spaces but demand for parking has outgrown the spaces allocat-ed. This has led to commuters filling up spaces allocated for the local rate paying businesses and, more recently, the spaces for the playground. This leaves no spaces for parking to avail of the businesses and no parking for families wanting to use the playground.With the high cost Iarnrod Eireann charge for fares to and from Laytown, along with © April 2018 The Meath Coaster29the ever increasing commuting popula-tion, it is high time they heeded the calls for them to provide their own large car park and allow the council land be utilised as a recreational space which is badly lacking in this area.Odour from the beachUnless you've been away on holiday or living in a cave/bubble, you'll know all about the sickening odour on our coastline from the deposition of marine life on the beach. Lovely to see such a variety - for 2 days max. After that the decomposition odour begins and intensifies in the com-ing week. After many calls to the environ-ment office in Meath County council to see if anything could be done to alleviate the smell, it was decided, considering the high tides being forecast and the likeli-hood of the dead fish being taken back into the sea, to let nature take its course. It would appear that we, on the Meath Coast, were not the only area to have suf-fered. Not that that was any consolation to us.Seafield UpdateWe were given an update on the lands at Seafield. We queried if a building could be included which would act as some sort of Community Hall but were informed that planning would not allow a large build-ing, just meeting room, some small stor-age and toilet facilities.FYIWould you like to make your home warm-er and cut your heating bills? Why not log on to seai.ie to check and see if you are eligible for a grant. Over 370,000 homes in Ireland have been upgraded. You could be next.Louth & East Meath T.D. IMELDA MUNSTERWorking with Cllr Eimear FergusonFor an appointment please contact me atSINN FÉIN CONSTITUENCY OFFICE84 West St., DroghedaMonday - Friday 9.30 - 5pm041 987 3823imelda.munster@oireachtas.ieLOCAL CLINIC TIMEAlverno House, Laytown.2nd & 4th Monday, 3.30pm - 4.30pmPhone 041 987 3823 for appointmentForrest GumpHuge Comhgairdeas to St Colmcilles GAA OsKaRs and I'm delighted to have been in the cast of the winner of the Best Film on the night. Great bunch of actors!I've run out of space aga uch with me I can be reached on 086 4068270 or eimear.ferguson@members.meathcoco.ie §Next >