< Previous© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 10 Coláiste na hInse Message from An Príomhoide W hen we established The Coláiste in 2007 as a group of parents, teach- ers and local community representatives and decided on Aimsigh Do Réalt Eolais (Reach for your star) as our school motto we were in 'normal' times. Listening to Irish doctors returning to Ireland from Australia to help their clann to fight this viral affliction I understand where such high aspirations for living come from. There is no doubt there is something spe- cial in our people whose idea of reaching for the stars has always been to return a sparkle of hope and help to others. This is how we must continue. It is always better to choose kindness than the bitterness of despair and loneliness of self-interest. Now to show kindness is to talk to your neighbour through a closed window or drop medicine at a front door or purpose- fully walk two metres apart giving eve- ryone space. Indeed it is this that has im- pressed me the most. Teenagers like to gather in large social groups in the community and now our young adults are making the difficult and conscious effort to avoid social gather- ings. Thank you, it is making a difference! In Coláiste na hInse we are closed to learners but as a team of teachers and leaders we are working every day, linking with students and checking in with people by e-mail or phone. Our cleaning, care- taking, secretarial and Senior Leadership Team of Principal and Deputy Principals are on site daily coordinating this new reality of remote teaching and learning. We are planning and taking stock. Indeed following staff and parent audits in March we are refining our communication our learning and how we take feedback. We are aware of the stress that can be in homes especially now with so much un- certainty, job losses and increased anxiety that many examination year students in particular feel over the state exams. We are here, just a click away. Feel free to send teachers, Caomhnoirí and Réaltoirí e-mails. The office e-mails are operating for parents and we want you to know we are here and we are listening. The school is a very lonely place without the buzz and excitement of students and teachers and the community sounds we are familiar with. Even the bell sounds hol- low! We will return, we will get through this and as a clann we are here and here we will stay, just that click away! Keep safe and continue to spread that Irish sparkle of kindness and support. We really are in this together. Anne Marie McCarrick Matheson Leinster Debating Winners© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 11 Debating Coláiste na hInse swept the boards at the Matheson Leinster Finals at the end of February. Seán Corr was recognised as Leinster Oratory Champion while Phoebe Boyle secured the title of the Best First Year in Leinster, with each of our four competitors qualifying for the national finals. Soccer Our Under 19 soccer team defeated Ratoath on penalties in the league final at Oriel Park. The team have impressed throughout the league campaign and brought this form into the showpiece in Dundalk, dominating the first half without making the breakthrough. Ratoath came back into the contest in the second half, but CNI continued to create the better chances. The game remained deadlocked throughout extra-time, before CNI se- cured their first title at this age level. Our first year team narrowly missed out on their own final place following a cruel extra-time defeat to St. Mary’s. Momen- tum swung between the sides in a thrill- ing match. CNI showed remarkable grit to fight back from 2-0 and bring the game into extra-time at 2-2, before two late goals in extra-time won the match for St. Mary’s. Young Enterprise Idirbliain mini-companies represented CNI at the Student Enterprise County Fi- nal at Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim. The Under 19 League Champions© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 12 companies showcased a range of original products on the day. Well done to all in- volved. Second Year History Trip As part of their Classroom Based Assess- ments (CBAs), all second year students visited local historic sites, included Mill- mount, Newgrange and Trim Castle. The students enjoyed the tours and had to re- search the history of the visited site to pro- duce their poster in the weeks ahead. Couch to 5K Our Couch to 5K dáltaí completed their programme and undertook the Parkrun at Oldbridge at the end of February. On a beautiful sunny morning in wet and muddy conditions, all of our dáltaí agus múinteoirí completed the challenging five kilometre course. Congratulations to all on an outstanding achievement following weeks of training. The plan had been to return to Oldbridge again, but this has been put on hold fol- lowing the school closure. First Year Trip to Carlingford Our first year dáltaí visited Carlingford at the beginning of March and engaged in a range of team building activities with classmates, caomhnóirí and their réaltóir. Activities at the Adventure Centre includ- ed laser tag and and a sky climb. Spirit of the Coláiste Comghairdeas to the 21 first year daltai who were recognised on Thursday for their efforts in reaching for their stars with pride, ambition and positivity! The boys and girls, from all 6 rang groups, were recommended for their academic achievements, sporting endeavours and participation in extra-curricular activities. Well done all. Aimsigh do realt eolais. Cabhrú le Lámha at Meath Enterprise Competition Couch to 5K Runners Enjoy a Healthy Breakfast© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 13 Dáltaí in Carlingford Throw And Grow T hrow And Grow is a TY enterprise company. We make and sell flower seed bombs. Our seed bombs are designed to be thrown on any grass surface and then within 4-6 weeks, the seeds will blossom while the shell decomposes. Our prod- ucts are eco-friendly. They are designed to help save the bees by encouraging us to plant flowers with ease. This is a great activity to do with kids. Our Facebook is: @throwandgrow1 §© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 14 Council Update By Cllr. Annie Hoey - Now Senator! Stay Safe T hese are not normal times. For many, it is a time of worry and confusion. Things are topsy-turvy and we are losing track of the days of the week. Many of us are staying away from our families in order to protect them and keep them well. We are trying to adjust to a new way of living and a new way of doing things. For many of us, we understand the gravity of the situation and we are prepared to do what we can to weather this storm. Update on Meath County Council Ser- vices Following the announcement by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D. on Friday, March 27, all of the Meath County Coun- cil Offices offices are now closed to the public with immediate effect and will re- main closed until further notice. The Council has reviewed its essential services in line with Government poli- cy and the objectives of the new public health measures. A number of our staff continue to work from home and ensure that service levels continue, while front- line and essential staff will deliver public services, some of which will be restricted in nature. Meath County Council Customer Ser- vices The Council is advising customers not call to the offices for any reason as they will not be able to gain access. Anyone wishing to transact business can do so by telephone (046 9097000) or email: cus- tomerservice@meathcoco.ie The Customer Services team will con- tinue to be available to take calls during normal working hours, Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm. Given they are operating es- sential emergency services only they will not be in a position to deal with all routine enquiries. While the Council will endeav- our to deal with all calls, priority will be given to emergency calls and calls to the Covid 19 support line (details below). The out of hours emergency line (1890 445 335) will also operate as usual. Face to face meetings with staff cannot be accommodated other than to deal with emergency situations and subject to social distancing requirements. Covid-19 Support Line The Council has established a new com- munity support line to assist older or vul- nerable people who are recommended to cocoon and remain in their homes during this current period of the emergency. If you are one of these people and you need assistance with practical matters such as: collecting medical and food supplies, need transport to attend a medical ap- pointment or another need, please contact our free-phone number: 1800 808 809 be- tween 8am-8pm. The line is a seven day service. You can also email:= covidsup- port@meathcoco.ie This service is being provided at county level in cooperation with a number of public agencies, NGOs, local groups, sports clubs and others. ALONE Covid-19 Phone Line ALONE is encouraging older people who need advice or support to call their support line, 0818 222 024, from 8am to 8pm, sev-© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 15 Continued over.... en days a week. The support line is a col- laboration with the Department of Health and the HSE, is open to all older people. Motor Tax The Motor Tax Counter (in Buvinda House, Navan) is closed. Motor Tax re- newals should be done on-line: www.mo- tortax.ie Planning Applications Planning and other applications can only be accepted in the post boxes outside Meath County Council; there will be no facility to lodge applications at the public counters, until further advised. Please be advised that with the enactment of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid 19) Act 2020, a new pro- vision (Section 251A) has been inserted into the Planning & Development Acts 2000 (as amended) which as implications for a number of planning related pieces of legislation. Further information is provid- ed on the Meath County Council website here: /www.meath.ie/council/council-ser- vices/planning-and-building Parks and Playgrounds Please be advised that all playgrounds are closed and should no longer be used by the public. This also applies to outdoor gym equipment. In terms of public amenity sites, the Coun- cil is facilitating pedestrian access only. This includes the prevention of vehicular access onto beaches, to comply with the requirement to restrict movement to with- in 2km of your home address. Meath County Council has placed signage at a number of parks and public amenity areas advising of the need to adhere to physical distancing. The Council also ad- vises that pathways in some amenity areas are now one-way only for pedestrians, to help comply with the physical distancing guidelines. Waste Collection & Recycling Facilities The Civic Amenity Sites at Navan, Kells and Trim are open Monday to Saturday (8.30am to 4.45pm). The public is advised to use the sites only if essentially required and alternatively to store materials where possible at this time. It is anticipated that if the Covid 19 restrictions are fully observed activity at these sites will be sig- nificantly reduced and social distancing will be more easily achieved. In order to eliminate cash handling the Council has decided to waive the €2 entry charge to the three sites from April 1 st , for the period of the current heath protection measures being in place. Mind Your Mental Health At this time, keeping a realistic perspective of the situation based on facts is important. Here are some ways you can do this: • Stay informed but set limits for news and social media. If you find the cov- erage of the Coronavirus is too intense for you, talk it through with someone or get support© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 16 • Keep up your healthy routines! While it may not be possible, or even desir- able, to get up at the crack of dawn and plough on as normal, try to carve out time to do some of the things you enjoy and find relaxing • Stay connected to others. During times of stress, friends and families can be a good source of support. Keep in touch with them and others via e-mail, social media, video calls, phone calls and text messages • • Visit websites such as hse.ie to find out more coping resources and where you can go if you need addition- al support Bettystown Library In the midst of everything, some good news! Bettystown new state of the art li- brary is due to open its doors in 2022. The 700sq m library will be located in a land- mark building with stunning views out over the sea and a major community meet- ing space overlooking a new plaza in the centre of the village. This state-of-the-art facility is designed with a variety of users in mind and features dedicated areas for children, teens and adults — whether they need a quiet place to work or are holding a book club. Expert staff, extensive collec- tions and accessible learning spaces will provide the people of East Meath with the knowledge and information skills they need in the 21 st century. This state-of- the-art library will serve the many educa- tional, cultural and recreational needs in our growing coastal community. As a vi- brant, accessible and user-friendly centre of knowledge, open to everyone whatever their age, education or nationality the li- brary service will offer a new heart to the centre of Bettystown. Thank you I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of the workers and volun- teers who are risking their own health and well-being in order to ensure we still have services running, and that there is care and support ready and available for our most vulnerable citizens. I hope, when the time comes and we are on the other side of all this, that we do not forget the unsung he- roes in this crisis. When they need us to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their campaigns for decent wages and work conditions, please let us not forget the in- credible work they are doing right now to keep us and our loved ones safe and well. Ní neart go cur le chéile. Proposed Bettystown Library© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 17 International Women’s Day Sunrise Swim at Bettystown yesterday. S wimTribe, a wonderful group of women from Bettystown, Laytown and Drogheda, who swim in the Irish sea everyday at Bettystown Beach, took to the sea at sunrise yesterday to celebrate Inter- national Women’s Day and raise funds for Drogheda Women's & Children's Ref- uge Centre. So far they have raised over €1200 through their GoFundMe page. Over 40 women warmed up with Yoga led by Siobhan Woods, who founded the Swim Tribe last September, and then en- thusiastically ran into the 8 degree sea water. Following their swim, the ladies enjoyed hot drinks and lots of homemade goodies on the beach. The SwimTribe group started with a couple of ladies and has grown into an inspirational commu- nity of over 60 dippers and swimmers who have been swimming daily through the winter. To donate to Drogheda Women’s and Children’s Refuge Centre IWD Swimrise Fund, please click on this link http://bit. ly/SwimTribeSwimRise With thanks to David Stanley for the great photos. § Deirdre Daly, Amy Brennan, Laura Frances , Pamela Brennan and Antonine Murphy© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 18 Réalt Na Mara GNS Celebrating the Sacrament of Confir- mation in Star of the Sea Church B ishop Tom Deenihan celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation with the 6 th Class children on March the 5 th , in a beautiful ceremony concelebrated with Parish Priest Fr. Denis and curate Fr. Jo- seph. The children sang sweetly and prayed fer- vently. They appreciated the individual time Bishop Tom spent with each child as he anointed their foreheads with Holy Chrism and they received the Holy Spirit. In his homily Bishop Tom talked to the children and gave them valuable advice, “God made you as you are and loves you as you are, you are all different but social media can make unfair comparisons be- tween you. All of you have something to contribute. When you move to secondary school, challenges can make you insecure, but don’t be tempted to turn to alcohol or drugs. Remember you have the Holy Spirit with- in you to give you strength and courage”. The teachers, Mrs. McCartan, Ms. Brodi- gan and Ms. Kirwan, had prepared the children so well, with the 5 th Class choir supporting the 6 th Class and filling the church with glorious song. Thanks to all involved including Ms. Brodigan who accompanied and directed the singing with Ms. McManus and Ms. S. Kirwan. Ms. Kirwan’s Class© April 2020 The Meath Coaster 19 Ms. Brodigan’s Class Mrs. McCartan’s ClassNext >