< Previous© March 2019 The Meath Coaster50pupils shared their expertise with the younger ones. Bhí an-spórt ag gach duine. (It was mighty craic!)Buíochas mór due to Ms Mullen, Ms McWeeney, Ms Milne, the Gaeilge Com-mittee, all of the musicians and the danc-ers for a brilliant morning`s entertainment. The Titanic Experience Ms Smith’s 1st class and Ms Carragher’s class with their excellent Titanic Projects that they created after learning all about the legend of the unsinkable ship. Science FairMs Egan`s Fourth Class hosted an Open Afternoon for parents, families and friends in our Science Room in Donacarney Boys School. The boys were delighted to have a chance to showcase some of the experi-ments they had tried out over the past few weeks. These experiments included in-vestigating the density of oil over water, improving the stability of constructions, watching colours separate in water and making butter.© March 2019 The Meath Coaster51Best of all, each investigation was car-ried out with every day household mate-rials. So please do try these experiments at home! The adults were intrigued by the science and the boys were delighted to volunteer explanations as the magic un-folded. Fun times!© March 2019 The Meath Coaster52Loreto BalbrigganIt has been a busy couple of months in Loreto Balbriggan in all aspects of school life. Oral and Practical exams and CBAs are ongoing. It is undoubtedly a stressful time for the students and we are very aware of this with a series of mindful-ness talks given to sixth years over the past few weeks. For junior cycle students it is a time to de-cide their subject options, they are mak-ing choices which could have a lifelong impact. This is facilitated by a one-day presentation given by subject teachers, followed by a subject fair where senior students set out their stands and inform their junior counterparts of the subject content. Junior students find it to be a very helpful and informative exercise. The stu-dents will have the added option this year of taking PE and Politics and Society at leaving certificate level. Two of the fifth years presently studying Politics and So-ciety were invited to a reception at the Department of Justice and Equality. They were nominated in a competition organ-ized by the Department on ‘Why Politics Needs Women’ and are pictured here.Meanwhile in the Arts fourteen of the cos-tumes entered in the Junk Kouture com-petition got through to the North Leinster Heats in the Helix. One of the costumes, pictured below, has been chosen to go through to the final in the Three Arena in May. Tegan Gordon, Junior Captain of Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club, pictured with her three counterparts from Rush, Skerries & Balbriggan.Local Junk Kouture Competitors.© March 2019 The Meath Coaster53On the sporting field Loreto Balbriggan continues to excel in hockey with the school winning the Junior Leinster ti-tle. The team are pictured below with a number of students who play for Boyne Hockey Club adding to the talent pool. There will be a hockey camp for incoming first years over the Easter holidays, any-body presently in 6th class and planning on going to Loreto may apply. Speaking of sporting talent, one of our students, Tegan Gordon has been appointed as Junior Girls Captain for Laytown and Bettystown golf club. Pictured with Tegan below are the junior girl’s captains from Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan golf clubs, all students at Loreto Balbriggan. During March the school’s equestrian team also won the Kil-lossery equestrian interschool’s league, a considerable achievement for the students who trained tirelessly for the event. Final-ly, as exam season approaches, supervised study will be available to students all day Saturday and every evening. Check the website for details. §The Leinster Hockey Final winning team.Junk Kouture Winner© March 2019 The Meath Coaster54It’s amazing how times have changed since Sonairte started. Then it was al-most unheard of to have strawberries at Christmas as almost all available fruit and veg were seasonal. We ate what was in season as previous generations had before us. Now we take it for granted to buy whatever fruit or veg we want from anywhere in the world whenever we want. However it is said that the most nutritious health giving fruit and vegetables are those that make it to our dinner table in the short-est possible times. Food for thought!In the fruit and veg garden we try to en-courage as much biodiversity as possible, this little wildlife garden attracts a wide range of species, many which assist with pest control in the garden, problems which in the past often necessitated man-made solution, will now be solved by nature.UpdateWe are currently closed while we under-take some essential maintenance work, prepare for the growing season, plan fu-ture events, and new energy displays.If you have a few hours to spare and would like to help us please visit our website www.sonairte.ie where you can download a Volunteer Application Form or email hello@sonairte.ie and we will be in touch with you. Bob,our gardener and his team are hard at work filling all our beds with produce, the veg boxes will be ready to go soon.In the meantime why not invest in a raised bed and grow your own veg, for €30 each or discounts for 4 for €100. With the 1-2-3 Vegetable growing system, you will have almost everything you need to success-fully grow your own vegetables.Table QuizA massive thank you to Reddens bar Betttystown for helping us host our Quiz Night in March and a huge thank you to all the local organisations who kindly do-nated prizes for the raffle. The night was a huge success and will continue to help with the development of SonairteYogaEaster children yoga camp in the yoga room at Sonairte. Contact Michelle for more info 0862670706 §Spring timeIt’s that time of year where gardens come to life so remember Wildlife is an invalu-able addition to all gardens. You can en-courage insects, birds, amphibians and small mammals into your garden by creat-ing habitats suitable for them to live in. Popular approaches are: pond creation, growing plants as nectar sources for in-sects, installing artificial sites for resting or hibernation, or simply neglecting a cor-ner of the garden.Vegetables starting to rise© March 2019 The Meath Coaster55Badminton Success for Stamullen's Guildea'sHolly Guildea recently was selected to represent Leinster at the annual U13 Celtic challenge Badminton event which was held in North Wales last month.The event consist of 4 teams Wales, Ul-ster, Lothian and Leinster. After 2 days of intense play Leinster came out on top and were crowned Celtic challenge Champi-ons 2019. Holly made a very strong con-tribution to the win by winning all her 6 games, performing particularly well in her mixed doubles showing great touch and clinical finishing around the net. The team was expertly coached by Kate Frost and Jack Lawlor and managed by Jean Kelly. Well done to all the team on a terrific per-formance.Scott Guildea has been selected for the Irish U17 National team which will trav-el to Poland in August to take part in the u17 European badminton championships. Scott has had a very strong season and has worked really hard to get this call up to the National team. He has also been selected on the u18 Leinster team who travel to Nottingham in April to play in the Eng-lish inter county championships and the u15 Leinster team who play in the Celtic challenge in Lisburn at the end of March. Scott is 14 years old so making the u17 and u18 teams are fantastic achievements.Scott also captained his school team (Gormanston College u16) to an all Ire-land division 1 runner up medal.All in all a very successful season for the Stamullen family.© March 2019 The Meath Coaster56Castlehill Riding ClubThe Equipet NER Winter Showjump-ing League came to an exciting finish at Killossery Lodge Stud recently, where many members of Castlehill RC were in line for placings across the grades. In the Primary class, Sarah Mc Nulty Malone and her horse Jinx won the final leg at Killossery and placed a fantastic 2nd in the league. Great results for this speedy duo. In the Advanced Primary Class, it was club secretary Olivia Nolan and her horse Bridgemount Esker Lily who won the league ahead of Paul Murray and Gentle Henry who placed second and Genia De-Souza and Danny who placed 4th. New member Elaine Mulligan was very unlucky to be just outside the placings, but the camaraderie, atmosphere and ban-ter was fantastic! Well done!!! Niamh Murphy and her lovely 6 year old mare Railings Hopeful Scope were just outside the placing the the intermedi-ate league, but placed 5th in the final leg, showing what a fantastic team these two are for the future. Club member Justyna Adam and her horse Molly have been making the most of the recent dry weather and competed at Boden Park Hunter Trials recently. They had a great round, and built on their experience to compete at the One Day Event in Monart EC. The duo had a fan-tastic day and finished the competition on their dressage score having received no penalties in the sj and cross country phases. Well done Justyna and Molly, they season ahead looks extremely bright for you both. Tracey McKeown and her horse Ardeo Chocolate were also competing at the Sarah Malone (mounted) with her daughter Ciara and horse JinxOlivia Nolan and Bridgemount Esker Lily© March 2019 The Meath Coaster57Eventing Ireland show in Tyrella recently. This fantastic pair placed a brilliant third in a very competitive EI100 Amateur class, having finished they day on their super dressage score. What a fantastic achievement for the start of the season. Finally, club chair Lindsey ilona Brady and her horse Trigger Joe competed at a Dressage Ireland show in Killossery, where they achieved two qualifying scores to compete in the Novice Class at the Dressage Ireland Winter Finals in Ca-van EC in April. Well done to all our members on their fan-tastic achievements, and we look forward to an exciting season ahead. More photos in the digital issue.For more information, please “like” our page on Facebook or contact Olivia on (086) 383 1802. Tracey McKeown and Ardeo ChocolateJustyna Adam and Molly© March 2019 The Meath Coaster58Cilles ACSpring has sprung! Enjoying run-ning without all the extra layers, be complaining about the heat soon, fingers crossed. March was an exceptionally busy month for the club, with amazing ef-fort being put in by everyone. Duleek 5k24th of Feb was a busy day for the club, 29 of our finest hit the roads of Duleek in a fast paced 5k, well done to you all. Holly Brennan surged home in a time of 18:43 crossing the line as the 4th female home. Well done to the graduates of the last couch to 5k in 2018, this was their first test on the roads and they loved it!Leinster junior indoor championshipsThe Leinster Junior indoor championships were held March 2nd, Cilles AC pulled in a whopping 10 silver medals!! Brilliant stuff. Lauren Murphy Silver 1500mAaron Smith 5th 1500mHolly Brennan Silver 3000mCiaran Smith 5th 3000mSiofra Murphy Silver 4x400mMeg Sowray Silver 4x400mHolly Brennan Silver 4x400mLauren Murphy Silver 4x400mLiam Hyland Silver 4x400mSean Redmond Silver 4x400mAaron Smith Silver 4x400mCiaran Smith Silver 4x400mThere was some cracking performances and very impressive times from everyone. Well done guys, you are the future.Carlingford Half marathon & 10kThe Carlingford half marathon and 10k held on the 3rd was not for the faint heart-ed, the weather was shocking, the runners © March 2019 The Meath Coaster59were soggy but somehow they were all smiling in the pictures.Day 2 of the Meath indoor league cham-pionship Day 2 of the Meath indoor league cham-pionship took place in Cushinstown. 10 of our lovely juveniles took part, Layla claimed 1st in the u13 girls event and Shane took 2nd in the u13 boys, special mention for Conor attending his first event. All Ireland schools championshipsHuge congratulatiosn to Holly and Lauren who medaled in the All Irelands schools Cross Country. This is one of the most prestigious races of the year for these girls and finishing so well is a testament to their talent and efforts.Holly had a superb run and put herself in a good position going into the last 800m Holly threw everything that she had into the race and picked off a number of very talented girls to finish in an amazing 3rd place. Lauren found herself on the starting line with one of the most talented young ath-letes that Ireland has seen in decades, Sarah Healy. Lauren ran her own race and had a fantastic first lap and was in a perfect position to medal, Lauren picked her spot and put in an incredible finishing Holly at Duleek 5kHolly schools international cross countryGroup pic at Duleek 5kNext >