< Previous© May 2018 The Meath Coaster30Please mention The Meath Coaster when replying to advertisementsCOMPUTER PROBLEM?Contact Oliver 041.988.7526 087.797.0740iPhones Smartphones RepairLaptop/Desktop Repair & UpgradesAvoiding Data Loss Part 1I’ve been working with computers and technology for over 35 years now and you would think I’d be bringing you good tidings regarding how reliable and de-pendable it has become. After all when I started with it I spent most of your time trying to keep it running. Over time it def-initely started to improve and at one point it was almost like we had forgotten how unreliable it was. Then it all changed. Old Ideas To Be DiscardedMost of you when you think of comput-ers are firmly mired in the beliefs of the early 2000’s when you bought a pc or lap-top and it lasted for at a minimum 5 years maybe longer. Those days are definitely gone and I’m not sure there is any way to reverse the trend. With that idea in mind let me lay out a few pointers on how to minimise the amount of data you lose when your current device decides it’s time to give up the ghost. Firstly let us look at what is now the “in” thing – The Cloud.Cloud Storage - What it is NOTBelieve it or not cloud storage has been around since the 80’s and earlier. Nowadays its been dressed up as some mythical place up there somewhere that is secure, safe and a great place to store your information.The fact so many people accept the above without question is a testament to the ex-cellent sales job done by the cloud com-puting sales people. You have seen the pictures of those mas-sive data centres with cables and buzzing lights and spotlessly clean floors moni-tored by very serious technicians. It’s normal to think well that’s got to be better than my old backup hard drive doesn’t it?The answer is No. Cloud storage should be treated like any other technology to be greeted with a healthy skepticism at all times and ques-tioned frequently.The Cloud is nothing more than comput-ers not in your house. There is no magic about it. It’s a computer somewhere and the primary difference to your own com-puter is that it is available to be hacked 24 hours a day 365 days a year by whom-ever decides they want to gain access to the data on it. If you listen carefully to the news you’ll hear it all the time and re-member those are only the breaches that they tell you about. There are many, many more that go unreported and undetected.Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.You can contact him via email at help.desk@reidyonline.com or at the telephone num-bers listed on this page. This article, and all previous articles, are available to view online at http://reidyonline.blogspot.ie/ or www.reidyonline.com/blogspot.htm § © May 2018 The Meath Coaster31Please mention The Meath Coaster when replying to advertisementsKnow Your Rights European Health Insurance Card May 2018Question. My partner and I are plan-ning a holiday in Spain. How do we access public healthcare services if one of us becomes ill when abroad?Answer You and your partner each need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card allows you to ac-cess public healthcare services if you be-come ill or get injured when travelling to or visiting certain European countries. It doesn’t cover private treatment or the cost of repatriation to Ireland if required. The countries covered by the card are the 28 member states of the EU, the three oth-er members of the EEA (Iceland, Liech-tenstein, Norway) and Switzerland. You don’t need the card for a visit to the UK if you can show that you are ordinarily resident in Ireland. In practice, this means showing a driving licence, passport or similar document. If you have a smartphone you can down-load the free EHIC app. This includes emergency phone numbers and informa-tion about treatments and costs covered. The app does not replace the card.If you already have a medical card or Drugs Payment Scheme card, you can ap-ply online for your EHIC at ehic.ie. Otherwise, you can download an appli-cation form from ehic.ie or get one from your Local Health Office. You need to provide your name, address, date of birth and Personal Public Service number (PPS number). You may also need to show proof that you are ordinarily resident in Ireland. If your EHIC has expired you can renew it online at ehic.ie. If your details have changed (for example, your address) you need to contact your Local Health Of-fice to renew the card. If you have concerns about getting a new or renewed card in time, you can get a Temporary Replacement Certificate, ei-ther online or from your Local Health Of-fice. You may also wish to consider taking out private travel insurance for expenses that are not covered by the EHIC (such as the costs of repatriation).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 4000Reverend M. RyanWedding Celebrant27 Bettystown Park, BettystownMeath/Louth/Nationwide!Call or Text 083.859.9551Email:therovingrev@gmail.comwww.therovingrev.comThe Roving RevYour Wedding, Your Way@eastmeathfrenchclub Julianstown Parish Rooms (St Mary's) Les samedis de 13h à 15h Pour les enfants de 5 à 12 ans CONTACTS: Céline: 083-3988014 Anne: 087-1207703 Justine: 087-7948043 eastmeathfrenchclub@outlook.com • Free Parking• Free Medication Packing• Free blood pressure testing• Free Medical Advice and Support• Open 7 days a week• Open late nightsPure Pharmacy, Southgate SC, Drogheda, Co. LouthTel: 041-981 7281Pharmacist: Sinead Carty MPSIITS TIME FOR CHANGE* call us today and start saving now!100%IRISHOWNED*valid prescription requiredTHEPRICEThe only difference is© May 2018 The Meath Coaster34Please mention The Meath Coaster when replying to advertisementsTHE VIEW FROM THE KITCHEN TABLE, By Geraldine HughesWhen I was in secondary school, I was lucky to be taught by a nun who was ahead of her time. She was a strong female role model, a woman with strong opinions, and you sensed she wouldn’t have been a nun unless she had the courage of her con-victions. She was unconventional, outspo-ken and forever telling us to question eve-rything we were told, even the religion she was teaching us.I thought of her today while I was sitting in the NCT centre (is there ever a time that cars don’t cost money!), Flicking through Social Media, there was an interesting lit-tle article about The Mars Rover, with a dinky 360 piece of footage from Mars. Fascinating stuff. I went into the com-ments section and there I found my kind of people. Conspiracy Theorists. I love a good conspiracy Theory, and I lay the blame squarely at the feet of Sister Alma, who told me to question eve-rything, especially when coming from high places. So, I do.I wouldn’t necessarily put myself on the same page as Mr. Trump and his often-repeated claims of Fake News but I sort of am a bit. If news is not actually fake, it is dramatized to a huge extent, which kind of brings out the cynic in me, so I find myself harrumphing a lot and wondering out loud if they think we came down in the last shower. But that ! 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 is nothing compared to the effort real con-spiracy theorists put in – their little fingers must be worn down to the knuckles with the amount of typing they do to convince the world that there is a conspiracy afoot. The big difference between me and them is that they bother to try to get facts at all. I don’t. I’m just happy out believing that mostly someone is trying to pull the wool over my eyes. I just pose questions. I mean who stood to gain by poisoning an ex spy and his daughter? Wouldn’t the Russians bring a lot of heat down on themselves (excuse the American T.V cop show lan-guage) by doing that? Did they really send a rover to Mars? And if they didn’t, why lie about it? Is it really chicken breast in those nuggets? Is Elvis still alive? I have no answers to any of these ques-tions but I do like to wonder about them from time to time. I mean it’s not com-pletely paranoid to wonder if there is a such an entity as Big Pharma keeping people on a life-time of drugs (there’s not much profit in curing any-one is there?!) Also, it was bad enough when my phone started to send me advertise-ments for products related to searches I had just done. It was slightly creepier when it was ads for something I had just discussed within earshot of my phone. Now *whispering* it sends me ads for things I just think about. So, keep questioning – at the very least it passes time while you wait to get your car back. . §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. 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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 6030099No Job Too Big or Too SmallMammy Day CareCrèche, Montessori & AfterschoolFull and part-time careECCE Free pre-school yearsAffordable childcare schemeAfter-school careLarge outdoor play area3 months to 12 years of age catered forStamullen, Co. MeathE: info@mammydaycare.com T: 01 690 5333/086 8286927© May 2018 The Meath Coaster36Retire InspiredThe phrase ‘Retirement Planning’ is al-most universally understood to relate to financial planning. But increasingly it is seen that there is more to retirement that just viewing this issue through a financial lens, i.e. planning for retirement.As a financial adviser, I perhaps natu-rally focus on the figures – estimated pre-retirement earnings, fund projections, investment growth rates etc. But what sometimes is overlooked is getting the cli-ent to also envision what retirement will actually look like.What do they plan to do in retirement, how they spend all the extra spare time, do they plan to do more travelling, what new interests/hobbies might they take up, will they engage in new learning etc? When today’s retirees started working, perhaps in the early 1970s, the average life expectancy for retiring at age 65 was some 12 years for males and about 15 for females. Today the average is some 20 years and circa 24 years for females. Not alone can today’s retirees look forward to a much longer retirement, but in most cases, they are far healthier than in previ-ous generations.It is important that as people approach re-tirement, they have a good grasp of how their finances will be positioned so that they may look beyond the day of retire-ment. Some helpful questions to perhaps ask in the planning stage are;• What do you plan to do in retirement, how will you spend your time?• What are your major expenditures?• What new or increased expenditures might arise in retirement, e.g. more travelling?• Do you regularly shop around for better deals on items such as utilities?• Will you perhaps downsize after retirement?Recently I have been contacted by several people who have received their leaving-service and retirement options directly from the Pension company. They were originally going to choose the option they thought suited them. But upon meet-ing with me and going through the above questions, they felt more confident that they made the right choice for them and in some cases they made different decisions than initially planned.One client was entitled to a substantial tax-free cash amount which she nearly missed out on as she did not fully understand the options. Another client who initially thought they were required to wait until age 65 to drawdown their pension benefits, was able to access their pension options.The better you can envision retirement, the better you will be able to decide on financial planning options (e.g. what tax-free lump sum, whether Annuity or ARF, investment profile/risk rating of invest-ment options etc).Have questions or would like to chat about this topic? Contact Oran on 087 668 6624 or visit www.drumgoolebrokerage.ie for more information. §Drumgoole Financial Services is regulated by The Central Bank of Irelandoran@drumgoolebrokerage.iewww.drumgoolebrokerage.ie© May 2018 The Meath Coaster37Ballygarth CastleBallygarth Castle is first referenced in a document dating from 1372 as an estate belonging to the Netterville fam-ily. After the 1641 rebellion the estate was confiscated and awarded to Captain George Pepper who was confirmed as owner by King Charles II in 1660.The castle was originally a three-storey rectangular tower house. A Georgian wing was added in 1782, and the castle was partially damaged in 1839 on the “Night of the Big Wind”. In 1867 and again in 1889 internal alterations and additions were made to the castle.In 1690, at the Battle of the Boyne, the Peppers supported King James II. James lost, and once again Ballygarth was to be awarded to an officer of the winning army. However, the Peppers managed to retain ownership through “The White Horse of the Peppers”.A Williamite officer arrived in Julianstown looking for Ballygarth. Rory Og, a foster brother to Gerald Pepper, happened to be in the village at the time and devised a plan to lead the officer astray. The of-ficer stayed in Julianstown that night and Rory loosened a shoe of the officer’s horse. The following morning, acting as a guide, Rory took him in the wrong direc-tion. Eventually the officer’s horse threw the shoe, and Rory took him to the nearest blacksmith in Duleek! The officer took a room in the Inn but the following morn-ing Rory had disappeared, so the black-smith’s son (Rory’s nephew) took on the role of guide. As instructed, he too took the officer around in circles in search of Ballygarth and then abandoned him in the middle of nowhere. As night fell the officer saw a light in the distance and followed it in the hope of finding shelter. Arriving at the source of the light, the officer knocked on the door and was welcomed to stable his horse and stay the night. As he stabled his horse, which was now quite lame, he noticed a beautiful white horse in the next stable. On returning to the house he was invited to join the family for dinner. Over dinner he recounted how he had been led around in his search for Bal-lygarth, and how now his priority was to get back to barracks. Worried about the condition of his horse he was prepared to give the deeds for Ballygarth, a property he could not find, in return for the white horse in the stable. This was agreed to. Little did he know that he was in Ballygarth and dealing with Mr Pepper. §Ballygarth Castle viewed from Sonairte© May 2018 The Meath Coaster38Scoil an Spioraid NaoimhConfirmation 2018We had a fantastic celebration for the 6th classes and their parents when Bishop Michael Smith confirmed 90 pu-pils on a glorious day in April 20th. A spe-cial word of thanks to the teaching staff, the SNA staff, the Parents Association, Fr Denis and all the parents who supported the school in the preparation and busy lead up to this magical day.4th BlitzThe four 4th classes headed to St Pats Stamullen on Friday 25th to demonstrate © May 2018 The Meath Coaster39their keenness for the sport! A great time was had by all and lots of fun meeting other schools and getting to know more about the sport.School BandThe school band under the leadership of Fíona O Donnell participated in the St Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17th. A very proud day and such a great honour for the school. Thanks Fíona!3rd class songwriters“While learning about Anne Frank in His-tory class, third-class students in Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Laytown decided that it would be a fitting tribute to write a song inspired by her ordeal.Together with their teacher, Mr. Ka-vanagh, they proceeded to compose a song called Freedom.The students performed the song in a whole-school assembly, after which the teacher made a record of the performance and took it to the offices of LMFM.Sinead Brassil of LMFM subsequent-ly made arrangements to have a reporter visit the school to interview the students and teacher and record them performing the song.The students were extremely excited and they are very much looking forward to hearing themselves on air over the com-ing weeks.” §Next >