< PreviousJanuary 2018 The Meath Coaster10Well attended public meeting puts Stamullen Playground firmly back on the agendaStamullen PlaygroundThere was a full house in St. Patricks GAA Club at the playground publicmeeting organised by the joint commit-tees of Stamullen needs a Playground and Stamullen Community Alert. Many locals, including Meath East TD Thomas Byrne and Meath Councillors, attended to hear updates and progress made by the groups who have secured €130K in fund-ing from Meath County Council but, so far have been unable to source suitable lands to build the playground on.Presentations included an overview of the 2016 census numbers which indicates that 37% of the population in Stamullen are under 18. Robert Purfield, chair of Stamullen Needs a Playground adds “de-spite those numbers, there are no facili-ties in the village for children of any age. Stamullen is a typical commuter town where the houses came first and the facili-ties never followed”. The group, also con-sisting of Fiona Coyle, Ciaran Flanagan, Caroline Mills and Sarah Vanden Broeck have been active since 2015 and have ex-plored many solutions for finding a suit-able location. Ciaran explains “there are many criteria that have to be met beflore land is suitable for a playground, like road access, room for parking, sufficient road lighting and measures for preventing anti-social behaviour. We work closely with our councillors and the planning department to make sure all these conditions will be met once suitable land is found. We’re grateful for the as-sistance so far from the Ashbourne M.D. councillors, Darren O’Rourke and Claire O’Driscoll in particular”.Lisa Kearney Mellor, representing the S tamullen Community Alert group said “Currently there are 2 options that are being explored. The first is a proposal for expressions of interest. We have ap-proached the IFA and other parties to ask about lands in the locality that might be available for this purpose. The second is working with the Council for a variation within the current development plan. This variation could allow for inclusion of a playground within a new housing devel-opment planned in Stamullen and all of the criteria would be met if this option was possible. It’s important our commu-nity to really look into the possibility of this variation so the playground can hap-pen sooner rather than later”.Fine Gael Councillor Alan Tobin said “The playground group must be com-mended for their tireless hard work over the last two years on behalf of the commu-nity. From a Meath County Council point of view, the next phase is to seek expres-sions of interest from landowners in the area that are willing to engage with the committee and the council to ensure that Stamullen gets a playground without any further delays. All Ashbourne Councillors support the residents in their quest andare available at any time to help progress the project.” §OPEN DAY3rd February 20183pm – 5pmPuppet TheatreWe wish the community of East Meath a fantastic 2018! From Maria and staff of Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa.To enrol your child, you can:-♦ Call into the office for an application form. Phone number: 041-9887431 ♦ Request a form by email. Email: office@bettystownschool.ie ♦ Visit our Website: www.scoiloilibheirnaofa.scoilnet.ie and download the application form.♦ Your child must be 4 years of age on or before 31st March 2018.We warmly invite prospective parents and pupils to visit our school on Saturday 3rd February 2018, from 3-5 p.m.Loughcrew PlaygroundMaths StationsWhole School AssemblyJanuary 2018 The Meath Coaster12In December we put on a performance for the Mammies and Daddies and other family members to come in and see before Christmas. It was so much fun and we re-ally enjoyed it! We love to start the lesson with a group warm up to the Cheerleader song. Then we practise our bear walks. Some pupils like Daddy Bears big heavy steps, some pupils like Mammy Bears tip-py toe high heels walk, and others prefer Baby Bears light footsteps skipping along. It is really fun to pretend to be a mermaid and practise good toes and bad toes before curling up our tails like a mermaid hiding. Then we love to huddle up on the ground in a circle and pretend to be bears sleep-ing. Another favourite activity is when we fly from one birds nest to another; it is tricky to remember where you are going and to balance on one foot when you get there!! After all our exercise we had a rice krispie bun to relax, while the grownups went for coffee, chats and a treat baked by the teachers and principal!We are so happy that Suzanne comes to teach us and it is so lovely to have such a kind, warm teacher come to work with us each week. The girls wanted to thank Suzanne and so they presented her with a bouquet of beautiful flowers.Luckily for us our ballet lessons will con-tinue into the New Year! Royal Irish Bal-let watch out!!!! §Réalt Na Mara Girls School National School DonacarneyCuan na Réaltaí have been keeping very busy this year! We have started taking ballet lessons with Suzanne Feighry Bergin from Coastal Ballet School who comes into our school to teach us. We are lucky to have a big General Purpose Area (GP Area) where both Ms Haigney and Ms Tully’s classes can practise together. We have learned so much from Suzanne and love going to ballet class. : Mums and Dads getting together for a cuppa and a chatOne girl from each class presented Suzanne with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. cuppa and a chatBears Sleeping at the beginning of The Bare Necessities’ Songcuppa and a chat€25,995FROMDRIVE LIKE NO OTHERNEW SUBARU IMPREZA RANGE Fuel consumption (l/100km): Urban 8.0-7.7; Extra Urban 5.5-5.3; Combined 6.4-6.2. 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Automotive Ltd, for up to a total of 5 Years or 160,000 kilometres (whichever occurs first).All vehicle bodywork is covered by a 12 Year Anti-Corrosion Warranty and paintwork is covered by a 3 Year Warranty. Added reassurance is provided by a comprehensive 3 Year Recovery and Assistance Programme. For general terms and conditions visit www.subaru.ie.CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORETelephone: 01-8437100 www.nearynewmotors.ieNeary's Lusk Station Road, Lusk, Co. Dublin.January 2018 The Meath Coaster14Fit and HealthyBunscoil Buachailli Realt na MaraBunscoil Buachaillí Réalt na Mara have been busy learning all about keeping themselves fit and healthy. Lunch boxes with a rainbow of colours in the form of fruit and vegetables have been the order of the day. You may even have noticed that the footpaths in our commu-nity have been extra busy with lots of our boys out walking, cycling and even hop-ping as they laced up their runners for No Homework, Active Thursdays.Ms Mc Bride’s 4th Class were busy in-vestigating how much sugar lurks in our favourite lunchtime snacks. They discov-ered that a Yop has nearly 3 teaspoons of sugar per bottle and cereal bars have over 1.5 teaspoons. The World Health Organi-sation recommends that daily sugar intake for children age 2-8 should not exceed 3 teaspoons and 6 teaspoons for children 9-13, so the discoveries of the 4th class boys have been food for thought for us all!The month culminated in our Healthy Eat-ing Assembly where boys from each class were awarded with certificates for their nutritious lunches. Senior Infants Meet the Firemen Senior Infants enjoyed a visit from Drogheda Fire Brigade. The boys were intrigued by the firemen’s uniforms and breathing apparatus along with the equip-ment and tools that the firemen displayed. But the greatest cheer of the day erupted when the firemen demonstrated how pow-erful the fire engine’s hoses were. A strong spray of water arced across the yard from the fireman’s hose bringing whoops of de-January 2018 The Meath Coaster15041 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 AVAILABLEHappy New Year and Thank You to All Our Customerslight from the boys. And, no doubt, con-firming many of them in their determination to join Drogheda ‘s Fire Brigade, some day!Uncle Benny’s ESB Sci-ence WorkshopMs Milne’s uncle Benny popped in to see the boys in Bunscoil Buachaillí Réalt na Mara this month. As part of his work with the ESB Uncle Benny delivers Science workshops to children in primary schools. We were lucky enough to be included in his hectic schedule and, as part of their Science programme, both Senior Infants and First Classes enjoyed a workshop on robotics. Using batteries, wires, plastic cups, mark-ers and motors, every boys constructed his own mini robot. These were no ordinary robots; these ro-bots could draw! The boys enjoyed playing with their robots afterwards and experi-menting with their drawing abilities.Our thanks to Ms Milne, Un-cle Benny and the ESB for organizing these workshops. They proved that great learn-ing can be great fun! §January 2018 The Meath Coaster16Laytown Tidy TownsThere was a great turnout for the switching on of the Christmas lights on Saturday 9th December. Carols and Christmas songs were sung with every-body joining in. As well as the actual tree there were lights on the trees along the is-land by the shops. There were fireworks after the singing was over, and a mulled wine reception in Gilnas afterwards. Sin-cere thanks to Thomas Behan and Jimmy Gilna for all the work they put into this.On the same evening lights were switched on in the Square in Bettys town with carol singing by pupils from Scoil an Spioraid Naomh. Bettystown really looks great so well done to all involved!Our planters, made by Jamell Wood Prod-ucts, are now in place. The one below has kindly been sponsored by Laytown United FC.Once they were in place we needed to fill them. Thanks to Meath Co. Council for supplying topsoil to help with this. The planters all got some of this topsoil and some peatmoss and composts. Daffodils and tulip bulbs have been planted in them, and shrubs will go will be planted in early spring. All credit for this work goes to James Ellis! Thank you James!We plan to continue our Saturday morning litter picking in the New Year. As always new volun-teers would be very welcome. We meet at the Coast Tav-ern at 10am. Hopefully we will see you there one day!We wish you a very Happy New Year! §January 2018 The Meath Coaster17F. 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 1921Now enrolling for our Spring term 2018 Classes recommencing week of Monday 8th January in all Venues.For details on classes in your area call Jane on 086 4113301jojinglesnortheast@gmail.com www.jojingles.ie/northeastTuesday (9.30,10.30 11.30am & Saturday’s (9.30,10.30 11.30am & 12.30) Barlow House, Narrow West Street Drogheda Monday’s (9.30,10.30 & 11.30am)Drogheda Presbyterian Church, Colpe, opposite Grange Rath. Ireland Regional Franchisee of the Year 2014January 2018 The Meath Coaster18Liam, Arron and James Juvenile b 120217Scoil an Spioraid NaoimhChristmas Choral Festival in Sacred Heart ChurchWe hosted a fantastic Choral Festi-val for the School community on Thursday the 14th December in the local Church. All of the 16 classes performed along with a performance from Loin-nir, the school band and the school choir. The Church was full to capacity and the Parents were thrilled to see their children perform an array of Carols and Christmas songs. Compliments of the highest order from young and old!!St. Ursula’sA group of 20 children representing Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh School Choir, visited St. Ursula’s, Bettystown, on Friday 15th December and sang a selection of carols for residents and staff there. Both children and audience really enjoyed it and lots of the residents joined in and sang along. The children even received treats after-wards from the kind staff there! We hope to make this an annual event.Christmas DecorationsChildren in Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh got creative this week and designed Christ-mas decorations and Christmas scenes us-ing recycled materials. Christmas LightsScoil an Spioraid Naoimh School Choir were delighted to take part in the turning on of the Christmas lights ceremony last Saturday evening at 6 pm. They sang a se-lection of Christmas carols and songs and helped make this community occasion a thoroughly festive affair! §086/1733396086/3673406Mullenandsons1@gmail.comwww.Mullenandsons.comMullen & SonsBuildersFifth Generation Irish BuildersFor All Your Building NeedsHappy New Year!New Builds - Extensions - Renovations Attic Conversions & All Roof WorkFully Insured and RegisteredNext >