< Previous© March 2018 The Meath Coaster42Please mention The Meath Coaster when replying to advertisementsTHE VIEW FROM THE KITCHEN TABLE, By Geraldine HughesIf March was a person, you’d say it had issues. Spring Daffodils followed by winter snow storms, followed by 18 de-grees of sunshine. On the whole though. It’s a cheery optimistic little month. We have Mother’s Day, St. Patricks day, and Easter Sunday when it’s almost the LAW to stuff your face with chocolate, but be-fore any pedantic Pats point out that East-er Sunday is actually in April this year, well it is but we have all of March to look forward to it. In my mother in laws book this is all good news. A Lenten observer with a big sweet tooth, she makes the sacrifice every year of giving up chocolate. Except for days that are special, such as the above mentioned. Since Easter must fall in be-tween March 22nd and April 25th (I type this with authority but I only know it be-cause I googled it) so she gets a few days off. Family birthdays are also excep-tions and since there are 5 falling in Lent, she’s not really in danger of missing out on too much, especially as she will draft in Saints days, cousin birthdays, or anyone’s birthday really should a chocolate eating opportunity present itself. But where did it all come from? Not Easter itself, but the egg connection, and the Easter bunny connection. Google to the rescue again and it seems that the Ger-mans brought the story of ! Oasis Childcare Centre Mornington Co. Meath Crèche Montessori Playgroup After School Telephone 9888135 + Purpose Built + Fully Insured + HSE Inspected + Fire Certified + Intercom Entry + Large Safety Tiled Playground + Large Car Park + Easy Drop Off and Collection + Small Groups + Dedicated Staff + 7:30am to 6:30pm ONE CHILD! ONE LIFE! ONE PRE-SCHOOL EXPERIENCE Limited places remain for our ECCE and PLAYSCHOOL classes for SEPTEMBER 2018. Book now to ensure that your precious child gets the highest quality & happiest pre-school experience possible! East Meath’s Leading Childcare Provider since 2005 an egg laying Bunny to America when they settled there. I have no idea why a bunny would be laying eggs but its pos-sible that two traditions got mixed up. Apparently, it was tradition to boil and store eggs during the Lenten fast, to eat in celebration on Easter Sunday- hence the eggs. So now I get the bunny bit (sort of) and I get egg bit too but how did we make the leap from those traditions to heaps of chocolate? It’s not even just eggs any-more its chocolate bunnies too, which used to come in teeny weeny size, me-dium, and large, but this year I’ve spotted an (almost!) life size one in Tesco. Life size for a bunny not a person – that’d be excessive. Mind you, the bunny size one looks fairly excessive too. The best way to get a start on a chocolate bunny is to bite its ears, but in this case, you may have to take a hammer to it.St. Patrick, who wasn’t Irish and probably didn’t actually ban snakes did give us a decent parade, a day off work and a ton of tourists. I’d say he would be mighty surprised at his fame if he witnessed it today. Mother’s Day was started by Anne Jarvis in 1908 to hon-our her mother. By the time Anne died in 1948, she hated that it had become commer-cialised. Good job she ain’t around now to see gangs of mothers going out on the town for the day. So that’s March for you. Pick some daffodils, drown the sham-rock, spoil a mother, and eat a big chocolate bunnys . §Please mention The Meath Coaster when replying to advertisementsHOUSEHOLD SERVICESBG PAINTING & DECORATINGInterIor & exterIor25 YEARS EXPERIENCE REFERENCES AVAILABLEFREE CONSULTATIONS & ESTIMATESWALLPAPER ALSO AVAILABLEContact Brian 086 7308449Call Nicky - 041 9887128 087 7734344 A Local BusinessCosmic Cleanwww.cosmicclean.ieT&Cs & Minimum Charge appliesMAJOR DISCOUNTS for Multiple RoomsRug Collection & Delivery Service AvailableProfessional Carpet & Upholstery CleaningSPECIAL OFFER!Noel SavageElectrical Services20 Years Experience • Security LightingFuseboard Upgrades • Rewires, Extra Sockets • Lights, Fully Insured and RegisteredNo Job Too SmallBettystown, Co. MeathMobile: 086 2518898 Bettystown AlterationsCommunion & Confirmation AlterationsPremises located behind the offices in McDonough Caravan Park on Triton Road (Opposite Tesco) Phone: 086 775 3 776Tues - Sat 10am - 5pm Lunch 1:30pm - 2:30pm Close Tue 2pmClothing Alterations•Wedding/Evening Wear • Leather/Suede Repairs •CurtainsSame Day ServiceMoloney Boiler MaintenanceBarry Moloney - Heating Engineer• Oil Boilers Services and Repairs• Aga Cookers• Central Heating Power Flush• Installation of Central Heating Filters• All Aspects of Heating & Plumbing - Commercial / ResidentialFree Quotations, All Work GuaranteedMobile: 087 3337488barry@moloneyboilermaintenance.ie Grant Electrical96 Betaghstown Wood, BettystownPhone: 041 988 6908Mobile: 087 275 4057• Electrical Installation and Maintenance• Extra Sockets & Lighting• Electrical Shower Installed & Repairs• Immersion Heater Installed & Fitted• Free Estimates NO JOB TOO SMALL!TREE SURGERY Trees Topped, Trimmed or Removed incl. root destruction and removal. Stump GrindingHEDGE CUTTING & SHAPING. OLD GARDEN SHEDS & FENCING REMOVED All green waste removed, Driveway, Patio, Power-washed, Gutter cleaningSpecial OAP RatesFree Estimates, Fully Insured, Long Experience4 SEASONS GARDEN SERVICESContact Jim 085 1163631-042 6822585No Job Too Big or Too SmallStamullen, Co. Meathwww.mammydaycare.comCrèche, Montessori & After schoolPhone:01 6905333 Purpose Built Fully Insured Experienced staff Fire Certified Intercom Entry Enclosed safety tiled play area Private car park Nutritious meals cooked in houseWishing all our families a Happy Easter© March 2018 The Meath Coaster44St Patrick and East Meath ‘The big fella’ arrived at Strangford Lough in Co. Down, around 430AD, determined to spread Christianity through-out pagan Ireland. Three years later he sailed south to celebrate Easter at Tara coming ashore at Inbhear Colpa (Colp/Mornington) at the mouth of the Boyne.After landing he went to the house of a noble man, Sescnean, near Mosney, where he passed the night. There’s a well Near Mosney Train Station known locally as St Patrick’s Well where it is said he baptized Sescnean and his family. Among them was Benean, who would go on to become St Benignus, co-assistant to St Patrick and succeed him as Bishop of Armagh. Patrick moved on to Tara where the annu-al pagan Bealtaine (May Time) fire was to be lit. As this clashed with Easter, Patrick lit a paschal fire in defiance on the Hill of Slane. This incensed Tara’s High King Laoghaire and Patrick had to prove that his God was more powerful than the pa-gan gods. Legend has it that a trial by fire was proposed and agreed to by St Patrick. A pagan druid and Benignus were tied in-side a burning timber building; the druid was consumed by the fire while Benignus emerged untouched. This was the turning point for Christian teaching in Ireland.St Benans Villas in Laytown is named af-ter him, and St Patrick’s Square after the man himself.St Patrick and the “Curse of the Nanny”St Patrick is also associated with the ‘curse’ of the Nanny. The story goes that St Patrick was looking to cross the Nanny one day at high tide, but the fishermen ignored him as they were having no luck with the fishing that day. So St Patrick struck a deal with them: if they caught salmon they’d take him across. On their next cast they landed the biggest catch of salmon they’d ever had. Excited by this, greed got the better of them and they continued to cast their nets ignoring St Patrick and the deal they had made. The ‘big fella’ was furious and said, “There will never be another salmon caught in this river”, and none ever has! Beannacht Lá Fhéile PádraigEast Meath Hospice Association Pan-cake MorningThank YouEast Meath Hospice Association would like to thank you for your support of our recent Pancake Morning in City North Hotel Gormanstown.The morning was a great success ,thanks to your continued generosity and the support of the Man-agement and Staff of City North Hotel .Thanks to all who donated prizes ,plants, home baking,goods for sale, also to our friends who had a great selection of De-signer Clothes for sale© March 2018 The Meath Coaster45Pet sitting home from home for your furry friends 087 3877496Grange Rath Pet SittingDaily Beach WalksYour dog has a holiday as wellFind us on Facebook Pet sitter DroghedaDog walking and Pet sittingAnam Cara TherapyHere for you.www.anamcaratherapy.comMary “Em” RyanCounsellor/Psychotherapistanamcaratherapy@aol.com083.859.955127 Bettystown Park, Triton Road Bettystown, Co. MeathThe Easter camp is running from 26th - 30th MarchNew term starts from 9th of April with more children's and adult classes added.Contact Gill McCulloch 087-2260376 Email gill@art-house.ieArt HouseMornington,Co. MeathCOMPUTER PROBLEM?Contact Oliver 041.988.7526 087.797.0740iPhones Smartphones RepairLaptop/Desktop Repair & UpgradesDrogheda Chess ClubThe latest round of results for the Drogheda Chess club have been slightly disappointing in their recent Leinster league matches and not up to the high standards previously set. We raised €6,419 on the day,all funds raised will be spent locally to provide our volunteer Driving Service taking patients with a diagnosis of cancer,to hospital ap-pointments .This is a door to door service ,free of charge,and is intended to relieve stress on families,while treatment is ongo-ing.We also have a comfort fund , and can provide equipment,e.g,beds chairs , which may not be readily available from HSEDriving service can be contacted on 087 210 0036 §The 1st team did manage a narrow 3½ - 2½ win against Enniscorthy that keeps them in contention in the Ennis Shield (Div 3). The 2nd team however lost 3½ - 2½ against Dublin, putting a dent in their promotion hopes in the O’Hanlon Cup (Div 4). The 3rd team also suffered a 3½ - 1½ defeat against Elm Mount ‘B’, leaving them 8th in the BEA Cup (Div 5). There’s still time however for all teams to finish the season with a flourish.The club meet every Tuesday evening at 8.15pm in Reddans Bar, Bettystown. New members are welcome. For further up-to-date information please visit the club web-site at https://droghedachessclub.wordpress.com© March 2018 The Meath Coaster46Ceremonies at Easter Sacred Heart Laytown (29th March to 2nd April)Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Sup-per, incorporating the Washing of Feet, will take place at 7pm At the end of Mass the Blessed Sacrament will be brought in procession to the Altar of Repose which will be located in the cry room at the back of the Church. A period of Adoration will follow until 10pm Good Friday: Stations of the Cross (led by Young People) at 12noon; The Cel-ebration of the Lord’s Passion will take place at 3pm; Prayer around the Cross especially for young people (with Taize Chant and meditations) at 9pmHoly Saturday: The Easter Vigil will take place at 9pm and will begin with the blessing of the Paschal Fire outside the church. All who are able gather around the fire for the blessing. The Paschal Candle is then carried into the darkened church which gradually fills with light as every-one’s candle is lit.Easter Sunday: Masses on Easter Sun-day are at 10am and 12noonEaster Monday: Mass at 11amMornington ParishSt. Patrick's Day – 16th / 17th MarchFriday 16th March: Vigil Mass at 7.00pm Saturday 17th March: Mass at 10.00amPalm Sunday – Sat 24th / Sun 25th MarchSaturday: Easter Reconciliation Service - 6.00pm Vigil Mass Sunday: 10.00am Mass & 11.30am MassHoly WeekMon 26th & Tue 27th March - Mass at 8.45amWednesday 28th March - Mass at 8.45amExposition 9.00am - 10.00pmChrism Mass in the Cathedral, Mullingar at 7.00pmHoly Thursday - 29th MarchMass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.00pmGood Friday - 30th March3.00pm - Stations of the Cross Followed by Veneration of the Cross7.00pm - Good Friday Ceremonies and Veneration of the CrossEaster Vigil - 31st MarchHoly Saturday Night - Mass of the Resur-rection at 7.00pmEaster Sunday - 1st April Family Mass at 10.00am: The children are asked to bring a flower to place in the Easter Garden at this Mass.Mass at 11.30amOpen up your house for the FleadhFrom Sunday 12th to Sunday 19th of Au-gust 2018 the Town of Drogheda will play host to the world’s biggest festival of Irish Music, Song and Dance, Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann.A staggering record of 450,000 visited Ennis for last year's Fleadh. There is a major logistical challenge to provide the 400-500 houses or rooms in houses need-ed To register your interest in letting out all or part of your property for the week of the Fleadh in August 2018 you can, contact the accommodation committee e-mail drogheda.acc2018@gmail.com or download the form through the Fleadh Facebook page or Drogheda Comhaltas website or pick up a copy of the form in Drogheda’s shopping centres and partici-pating shops. §© March 2018 The Meath Coaster47Know Your RightsRebuilding Ireland Home LoanMarch 2018Question : My partner and I have been unable to get a mortgage to buy our own home. Will we be eligible for the new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan?Answer: The new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides mortgages to first-time buyers at reduced interest rates (2%–2.3%) to buy new or second-hand properties or to build a home. You can choose to fix the rates for the full term of the mortgage, so you have the same repayments for the whole time you are repaying the loan.To qualify for a loan under the scheme: • You must be a first-time buyer aged between 18 and 70 years of age• Your income cannot be more than €50,000 (€75,000 for joint applicants)• You must have a deposit of at least 10% of the purchase price of the prop-erty• You must have evidence of two insuf-ficient offers or refusals for a mort-gage loan by two banks or building societies• You must have a satisfactory credit rating • The main applicant must have been in continuous employment (or self-employed) for at least two years The property must not be over 175 square metres. If you are buying in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath or Wick-low, the maximum market value of the property cannot be more than €320,000; in all other parts of the country, the value cannot exceed €250,000. You also need to show that you can afford the monthly repayments, which must be less than one-third of your monthly household income. You can use the Home Loan Calculator on rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie to work out how much you can borrow. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available nationwide from local authori-ties. You must make an appointment with your local authority to submit your appli-cation form and supporting documents in person. You can also call the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan help desk at (051) 349 720 for more information.Further information is available from the Citizens Information Service below.Know Your Rights has been compiled by Ashbourne Citizens Information Service Ltd which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Contact InformationAddress: 43 The High Street, Ashbourne, A84FX66, Co. MeathTelephone is 0761 07 6110 and Email : ashbourne@citinfo.iehttp://www.citizensinformation.ieInformation is also available online at citi-zensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000Community Alert: Call Laytown Garda Station 041-9813320© March 2018 The Meath Coaster48Start of a New Golf Season at Laytown & Bettystown Golf ClubLaytown & Bettystown Golf ClubSaturday, February 17th, marked the start of the new golfing year at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club. This was the day when the new adult and junior club captains for 2018 hosted their Drive In. The gods were certainly smiling on Men’s Captain, Bryan Collins, Lady Captain, Rita O’Connor, and Junior Captains, An-nraoi Collins and Katie Burke as the local links course was bathed in beautiful warm sunshine for the entire day. A large crowd of members and invited guests enjoyed the early afternoon reception in the club-house and afterwards everyone made their way up onto the first tee to watch the of-ficial drive in. The usual shenanigans fol-lowed with a number of club members in fancy dress doing their utmost to unnerve the new captains before they drove off from the tee. Fortunately, all four newly-appointed captains retained their compo-sure to hit beautiful shots down the mid-dle of the fairway.The Drive In was followed by a Men’s & Ladies 9 Hole Team Competition which was thoroughly by the 102 player who participated. The day finished with a Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club Captains 2018 – Rita O’Connor & Bryan CollinsBryan Collins – Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club Men’s Captain 2018Rita O’Connor - Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club Ladies Captain 2018© March 2018 The Meath Coaster49beautiful meal provided by chef Gerry Matthews and his staff and entertainment in the club bar.In their speeches the captains welcomed all of the visitors to the club, especially the Captains of Seapoint Golf Club and Lady Captain Rita O’Connor with some of her friends and supporters.Annraoi Collins - Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club Junior Captain 2018Brendan Burke with his daughter Katie, Junior Captain 2018the Captain and Lady President of County Louth Golf Club and finished by thanking all those who helped make their special day such a great success.Lots of photos and videos from the day on the Laytown & Bettystown Facebook Page and golfers from near and far are reminded that they are most welcome to come and play the links at Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club in 2018. Don’t for-get to keep an eye out for our Open Weeks this summer. §Next >