< Previous© October 2019 The Meath Coaster 40 The Early Bird...… Zurich is offering new pension custom- ers under 35 a €100 bonus to kick-start their pension! This bonus is for a lim- ited time only until 29 th November 2019. (T&Cs apply) I n Ireland, 38 per cent of all working adults don’t have a pension. Of those people that don’t have a pension and don’t ever intend on starting one, 65 per cent plan to live off the State pension when they retire*. These findings are revealed in Zurich’s lat- est research into pensions in Ireland. This is the second year of this comprehensive research study and highlights the concerns many people have about their future and how they will maintain their standard of living when they retire. This year, 53 per cent of those surveyed that don’t have a pension, state that lack of spare money is the reason for it. Of those who have no pension, 31 per cent plan to start saving in one to five years, but more worrying is that 42 per cent think it is too late to start a pension at this stage in their lives. In 2019, 62 per cent of working adults have a pension. They are contributing €220 on average to their pension scheme each month. Of these, less than half are happy with the size of their personal con- tribution and 76 per cent would like to be able to save more. According to those sur- veyed, the average annual income need- ed to lead a normal life in retirement is €26,747. Longer life expectancy and working lives might lead some to think that retirement Life Assurance Pensions Income Protection Investments Financial Planning Drumgoole Financial Services is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland Oran Drumgoole QFA Phone 087 668 6624 Office 041 981 2080 oran@drumgoolebrokerage.ie www.drumgoolebrokerage.ie is a long way off, but the sooner you start saving the better. The picture of life in re- tirement is going to look different for eve- ryone, but it’s worth thinking about what lifestyle you would like, how much that will potentially cost and the income you will need to sustain that. The message is getting out there that there are tax incentives for people saving into a pension. Almost 60 per cent are aware that everyone who makes pension contri- butions is entitled to tax relief and 55 per cent know that part of their pension funds can be taken tax-free upon retirement. However, 61 per cent admit that they don’t understand how pension savings are invested, which is up 3 per cent on last year’s figures. Pensions might seem complicated but they don’t have to be. Engaging with a financial advisor is a good starting point. They can help demystify pensions and in- vestments and get you started on a sav- ings journey that will work for you and planned life in retirement. If you would like further information on this topic please contact Oran on 087 668 6624 or visit www.drumgoolebrokerage. ie. §Mammy Day Care Crèche, Montessori & Afterschool Full and part-time care ECCE Free pre-school years Affordable childcare scheme After-school care Large outdoor play area 3 months to 12 years of age catered for Stamullen, Co. Meath E: info@mammydaycare.com T: 01 690 5333/086 8286927 “Safety is our Business, Why NOT make it part of Yours” Our objective is simple, to assist your business in not only meeting your health & safety obligations but exceeding them. We can provide a wide range of services; • Safety Statements / Risk Assessments • Manual Handling Training • First Aid Responder Training • Forklift, Reach & Power-pallet Truck • MEWP & Work at Heights • VDU Ergonomic Assessments • And much more…………. Call Pearse today on (086) 0600 747 to discuss your exact requirements. www.annbrooksafetytraining.ie Tusla inspected • Part time places • Rural Setting Gormanston FREE ECCE PLACES from 2 years & 8 months Our staff are qualified, dedicated to providing kind, warm, tentative and a satisfying learning experience to each child 085 8619279 lamhabeagaanmhi@gmail.com Opening Times: 9am ·12pm Bettystown Alterations Wedding Alterations and Evening Wear Premises located behind the offices in McDonough Caravan Park on Triton Road (Opposite Tesco) Phone: 086 775 3 776 Tues - Sat 10am - 5pm Lunch 1:30pm - 2:30pm Close Tue 2pm Clothing Alterations •Wedding/Evening Wear • Leather/Suede Repairs •Curtains Same Day Service Interior and exterior • High quality service Reasonable prices • Free Estimates Quality painting with a personal touch PH. 086-1624110 Email: deanlaheen@yahoo.co.uk Facebook: Dean Laheen Painting and Decorating Dean Laheen Painting & Decorating Relax, revive, renew with Reflexology Aromatherapy Massage Facials Phone Jess: 086 6010492 FB: @AromaWellnessHolisticTherapies Poor sleep, Digestive issues, Stress, Hormonal imbalances, Headaches, Sinus problems, Back pain, Sore, tired muscles Stamullen Halloween Workshop Create the spookiest masterpiece! Monday 28 th October 10am-1pm. Julianstown Community Centre Age 6-11 Price: €25 Contact: Linda 087 161 8877 FB/Insta: Little Artists LITTLE ARTISTS Call Tara on 085 1681190 or Book in Integral Gym Bettystown Tara Massage Sports Massage and Acupuncture “Your body’s ability to heal is far greater than you realise”© October 2019 The Meath Coaster 42 COMPUTER PROBLEM? Contact Oliver 041.988.7526 087.797.0740 iPhones Smartphones Repair Laptop/Desktop Repair & Upgrades Internet Connectivity P robably the most misunderstood area of computing is the whole area of communications between your comput- ing device and the internet. As always I recommend you consult a professional if you are experiencing ongo- ing issues or need advice as to which solu- tion is the best for you. This can save you a great deal of frustration and time wasted researching solutions and providers. A good point to begin is with internet con- nectivity for the home or office. This is normally via broadband. Broadband Definition A Google search of the word broadband yielded the following fairly accurate defi- nitions for broadband • The term broadband commonly refers to high-speed Internet access that is al- ways on and faster than the traditional dial-up access. Broadband includes several high-speed transmission tech- nologies such as: Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Cable Modems and Fiber optic solutions. • Broadband is a high-data-rate connection to the Internet. The technol- ogy gets its name as a result of the wide band of frequencies that is available for information In Ireland Broadband for your home is provided primarily via the following tech- nologies: 1. Using the telephone network owned and operated by Eir. 2. Using the newer ESB/Vodafone Fiber optic network.(Siro). 3. Via Satellite from a variety of smaller providers. 4. Via Television Cabling networks in se- lected Areas. 5. Over the Cellular Networks operated by various Mobile Phone companies. 6. Via Wifiwhere the provider installs an Antenna on Your Roof and you receive a signal from a transmitter located in your area. Apologies to any providers I have not cov- ered in the above list as there are others but they are not commonly found. WiFi For the purposes of clarification and to elim- inate a common misconception: Broadband is NOT Wifi, and Wifiis NOT broadband. Virtually all broadband modems provide Wifibut it is not a requirement. Wifias a communication medium has no capability whatsoever to connect to the internet. Wifioperates on top of an internet connectivity solution. Thus you may have an excellent wifisignal and be connected to your broadband modem but have no internet connection. . § Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.You can con- tact him via email at help.desk@reidyonline. com, by the telephone numbers listed on this page, and whatsapp @08779707040. This ar- ticle, and all previous articles, are available to view online at http://reidyonline.blogspot.ie/ or www.reidyonline.com/blogspot.htm© October 2019 The Meath Coaster 43 Bone Health T o mark World Osteoporo- sis Day on October 20 th this month’s article is about how we can support our bones through diet and lifestyle. Osteoporosis is a condition whereby the bone density decreases, increasing the risk of bone fracture and compression of the spi- nal vertebrae. Statistically, women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis than men. Their slighter frames and thinner bones along with the drop in oestrogen and proges- terone associated with the menopause all contribute to this increased risk. There is not much we can do with regards the influ- ence our gender may have on our bones, but fortunately there are other ways in which we can support our bone health: • Eat more fruit and veg - these foods are rich sources of calcium, magne- sium, potassium and vitamins C and K which are all excellent for bone support. • Caffeine, sodium and too much pro- tein can all cause the body to lose calcium which adversely affects the bones. Reduce your intake of these if excessive. • Smoking and alcohol can cause the body to lose bone mass, so if you have other risk factors which can- not be avoided, consider reducing or eliminating these factors. • Stay active - ideally there are 3 forms of exercise which we need to regular- ly perform to keep our bones healthy - weight-bearing (walking, jogging, going up and down stairs), re- sistance (working with weights / weight machines or rubber bands / tubing) and flexibility exercise (helps develop balance which re- duces the risk of falls) Important nutrients for bone health include: Calcium - is essential for the develop- ment, growth, and maintenance of bone (approximately 99% of calcium in the body is found in the bones and teeth) Vitamin D - aids the absorption of cal- cium. Vitamin C - plays a key role in the produc- tion of collagen which acts as a support structure for mineral deposits and gives bones it's resilience. It also enhances ab- sorption of calcium, enhances the effect of vitamin D on bone metabolism and stimu- lates the cells which builds bone. Magnesium - helps convert vitamin D into it's active form and has a symbiotic rela- tionship with calcium (i.e. they work to- gether, so a deficiency in one may hinder the metabolism of the other) Vitamin K - reduces the level of bone loss during the menopause. ! With Ireland lacking sunshine (some- times even during the Summer months) we should consider supplementing with Vitamin D, particularly during the Winter months ahead. Anna Ryan, Dip. NT, DC, MNTOI, BAI, BA www.nicanutrition.ie nicanutrition@gmail.com© October 2019 The Meath Coaster 44 Drogheda Grammar School First Year bonding T he new school year has begun in ear- nest and it has been heartening to see our first-year students settle in so well, helped in no small part by a fantastic team of fifth-year mentors. The team-building day trip to Clogherhead on Friday 6 th September was enjoyed by all and will surely mark the beginning of many great friendships for years to come. Our Break- fast Bonding on the 30 th September offers another opportunity to make new friends and ask questions of their mentors. grateful, as ever, to our dedicated teachers who make such trips possible. Finally, in terms of cultural enrichment, our Overseas Programme has seen us welcome four vis- iting international students. We look for- ward to seeing the contribution they make to our school in the year to come. School Summit and Higher Options Our Transition Year students travelled to the School SUMMIT conference on Mon- day 16 th September to learn more about traineeships and apprenticeships. It was a great opportunity for them to learn more about the different courses and appren- ticeships available to them. On Friday 20 th Sept fifth and sixth-year students attended Higher Options in the RDS. As always, this day provided in- sightful information for students as they continue their research into their chosen career paths. In an ever-changing world of employment, it is vital that students are aware of the multitude of pathways avail- 5th and 6th year students in Paris Overseas trips Over four days in September, 30 of our fifth and sixth-year students embarked on a French and Home Economics trip to Par- is. They stayed for four days where they immersed themselves in French language and culture. An action-packed itinerary en- compassed visits to the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, and Disneyland Paris, as well as taking in the local cuisine. October sees our third-year Geography students make their eagerly awaited trip to Italy in what promises to be a highlight of the school calendar. Once there, they will see Mount Vesuvius, and the ruins of Pompeii as well as the Roman catacombs. We are © October 2019 The Meath Coaster 45 able to them once they complete their sec- ondary education. Indeed, many students remarked that these events instilled in them a renewed focus for the year ahead. Outdoor pursuits The 17 th -21 st of September saw our TY stu- dents travel to Gartan Adventure Centre for a truly memorable teambuilding ex- perience. Gartan is a perennial favourite of the TY programme and this year was no different. Our TYs were very fortunate with great weather as they enjoyed canoe- ing, orienteering, and hill-walking among many other activities. This week our TY students commence their five-week Self Defence course. This dynamic and confi- dence-building module offers students the opportunity to learn a valuable new skill. History field trip Third-year History students travelled to The Irish National Heritage Park in Wex- ford on Tuesday 24 th September where they learned about the history of Ireland’s Ancient East. The students were treated to a guided tour where they saw Neolithic settlements, Early Christian Ireland Mon- asteries and many more historical arte- facts. A truly fantastic place to see History being brought to life! The sound of music! The halls of Drogheda Grammar School, so often brimming with the sounds of students coming and going, have instead been filled with music in recent weeks. The introduction of a piano in the lobby of the school, with its accompanying motto ‘If you can play the piano, you can play the piano’, has really struck a chord with many of our students. Indeed, we are lucky to have so many fine young musi- cians in our midst and this platform to dis- play their unique talents is most welcome. It has been wonderful to hear the range of styles and genres performed at break time and lunchtime. It is our hope that it will inspire others to take up an instrument. As the saying goes… ‘there’s no time like the present!’ Open Evening On Thursday 26 th September Drogheda Grammar School opened its doors for our annual Open Evening with over 400 parents and students attending. We hope our guests enjoyed visiting our school as much as we enjoyed hosting them. We would like to thank all the parents and children who took the time to visit our school and all the staff and students who helped on the night. For any further infor- mation, please contact our office. STEM for 1 st Year girls Soroptomists International, Drogheda organised a ‘STEM for girls’ event for first-year girls on Wednesday 25 th Sep- tember. 17 of our first-year Girls attended the event aimed at encouraging first-year girls to consider scientific and engineer- ing careers. The presentations and hands- on activities meant it was a very engaging experience for our first years. § Attendees at Drogheda Soroptimists’ STEM event.© October 2019 The Meath Coaster 46 EMHA Thank You E ast Meath Hospice Association would like to thank all who attended Coffee Mornings on Thursday September 19 th .We were supported as always by our gener- ous hosts,Reddans of Bettystown, Lime- kiln Julianstown,Whytes Stamullen and Linda in Bellewstown. Nationally,Coffee Mornings are promoted and supported by Bewleys The amounts raised on the day was 5,000euro! All money raised will be spent locally to provide services for people who have a diagnosis of cancer . Volunteer Driving Service can be contacted on 0872100036, providing door to door transport to hospital appointments.Drivers are volunteers,service is free for cancer pa- tients ,and is totally confidential. Last year drivers completed 450 trips,to hospitals in Dublin and Drogheda Should you need us contact on 0872100036 ,as soon as you know your appointment,and coordinater will check who is available to drive § Boyne Greenway Meeting Following the recent public meeting on the Boyne Greenway, Cllr Stephen McK- ee commented: 'The Boyne Greenway is a fantastic project which could be hugely beneficial to the area.' 'That said, residents do have concerns, particularly residents on Tower Road, Mornington, which will need to be ad- dressed and I will be highlighting those concerns in my own submission. This project should not proceed until those concerns are addressed.' 'Residents have until October 25 th to make submissions to Meath County Council. Submissions can be made to Transport@ meathcoco.ie or online at https://consult. meath.ie'. § Caption: Cllr's Stephen McKee & Sharon Tolan at the recent Public Meeting on the proposed route of the Boyne Greenway Drogheda-Mornington section held in the Village Hotel, Bettystown.© October 2019 The Meath Coaster 47 WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH THE BETTYSTOWN TIDY TOWNS GROUP? Tús community work placement initiative Information for jobseekers considering Tús as a pathway to employment Would you like a Tús community work placement that will provide short term quality working opportunities - while carrying out a range of services that benefit Local communities? • Are you receiving Full Time Jobseekers? • Do you get occasional work AND want to keep your Job Seeker Payment? • Would you like to support your local Tidy Town group? • AND also get a weekly Top-Up Some of the benefits of participating on the Tús Scheme are: • You will gain experience in a positive supportive working environment • Dedicated support available to you while seeking full time or part time employment. • Opportunities to learn new skills and improve existing skills. • Improved sense of well-being, increase self-confidence and personal growth. If Yes to the above then….. We have groups in this area who need an extra pair of helping hands or skills. Ask: for the Tidy Towns Coordinator or call Kenny on 0858342354 The Tús payment is the equivalent to your Jobseekers Allowance plus a” top up,” as set out by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection with a minimum payment of €225.50 for 19.5 hours community work per week. You will also maintain your secondary benefits. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meath Partnership administers the Tús Scheme on behalf of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in Co. Meath. © October 2019 The Meath Coaster 48 Klara Ralph O’Connor and Castleview Ozzie Castlehill Riding Club D ressage has been the focus of the Castlehill RC members lately, as the White’s Agri NER Autumn Dressage League kicked off at Cheval showgrounds in September. This league was run over 4 weeks, with Castlehill RC running the second leg on the 7 th of September. At the first leg hosted by Choltrai and Fingal RCs, our Primary riders were out in force with Klara Ralph O’Connor (Castleview Ozzie) taking the red rosette. Close behind was Maeve Duffy (Theodore Diamond Daz- zler) taking 2 nd , and Marie Ralph (Castleview Ozzie) taking 4 th . In the Sportsmans B class Olivia Nolan (Bridgemount Esker Lily) placed 2 nd , while Clidna Ryan (Angel) rode in the inter class, and was unlucky not to be placed. Well done to club chair Lindsey ilona Brady (Trigger Joe) who won the Ad- vanced Intermediate class. Castlehill RC hosted the second leg, and huge thanks goes to all our members that volunteered to help on the day. Lucinda Webb Graham was our judge, who was not only positive in her marking, but also knowledgeable with her feedback. In the primary class, it was a Castlehill 2,3,4 with Maeve placing 2 nd , Klara 3 rd and Ma- rie 4 th . Olivia Nolan (Bridgemount Esker © October 2019 The Meath Coaster 49 Lily) won the AP and Sportsmans B class- es, while Lindsey ilona Brady (Trigger Joe) won the AI. The third leg was hosted by Killeek RC, where in the Primary class there was a placings swap between mother/daugh- ter combination Marie and Klara Ralph. Marie won the class (Castleview Ozzie), while Klara placed 2 nd . Close behind in 5 th was Maeve Duffy. Well done to Anne Dickenson who competed in the AP class but was unlucky to be out of the placings. Olivia Nolan won the Sportsmans B class, and Lindsey ilona Brady (Trigger Joe) won the AI. At the final, hosted by Drynam RC, Klara was 2 nd in the Primary class with Mum Ma- rie close behind in 4 th . These results meant that Klara won the league overall, while Marie placed 3 rd . Fantastic results for this family affair, on their lovely shared pony Castleview Ozzie. In the AP class, Olivia Nolan was 2 nd , which placed her 3 rd overall in the league, while in the AI class, it was another win for Lindsey ilona Brady and Trigger Joe, winning all four legs, and the league overall. Well done to all our mem- bers that competed! For more information, please “like” our page on FB or contact Olivia on 086 – 3831802. § Blood Donor Clinic Thanks T he Irish Blood Transfusion Service would like to thank all 218 donors who attended the recently held clinic in the Ashbourne House Hotel, Ashbourne. A special thank you to our local voluntary organiser Mary Lake for her help and sup- port prior to and during the holding of the clinic. A breakdown of the total figures show that 14 former donors and 21 first time donors attended the clinic. Approximately 1,000 people in Ireland will receive a blood transfusion every week. To do this we in the Irish Blood Transfusion Service must collect approxi- mately 3,000 donations of blood each and every week from voluntary donors like you. It is essential that we maintain and increase the level of support on our next visit to Ashbourne. A total of 7,982 units were required in the Mater Hospital, Dub- lin during 2018. Finally on behalf of all the patients in hospi- tal who benefit from your generosity a heart- felt thank you to all who attended or helped with our Ashbourne Clinic in any way. For further details, please contact Finbar Gethins, Area Manager at our Ardee Re- gional Office, 041 – 685 9994. § Mother/Daughter combo Marie and Klara Ralph St. Patrick's G.F.C Stamullen Tuesday 5th November From 4:30pm to 8:00pm Become a blood donor 1850 – 73 11 37 or 041 – 685 9994 John Healy, Area Organiser at our or www.giveblood.ieNext >