AROUND EAST MEATH

All the news and views from the East Meath region, from Colpe to Stamullen, Laytown and Bettystown to Gormanston and Julianstown. You can contact us at: hmurphy@drogheda-independent.ie | 041 9876820

Stamullen IN MEMORY

Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Peter Casey, `The Palace`, Rath, Stamullen, who recently passed away. Mr Casey, a well-renowned Horse Trainer, passed away suddenly at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda surrounded by his loving family. Following his Funeral Mass at the Church of Assumption in Balscadden village on Wednesday, January 31st last, Peter Casey was laid to rest in Old School Cemetery in Balscadden.

NEW ARRIVALS

Congratulations and best wishes to the parents, guardians and extended families of the following children who were recently baptised in the parish. Fiadh Collins, Jenna Moloney-McEnteggart and Katleho Mollo.

MOSNEY ROAD RESIDENTS

Over the Christmas period last, residents of the Mosney Road area took to some lovely Carol-Singing amongst their neighbours along the said Mosney Road. Despite the cold and miserable weather conditions, this determined group of neighbours raised a very generous sum of €380 which they handed over to the East Meath Hospice Association. Great community spirit and well done to all concerned.

LOCAL WILDLIFE

Anyone who likes walking along the quieter, rural county roads at this time of the year as we emerge into spring and the brighter evenings will become more aware of our local wildlife species that can be seen across the parish, particularly from here on over the next few weeks and up to the early summer as much of the breeding amongst the species will take place between now and then.

Foxes are rampant at the moment throughout every town-land in the parish and there are some stunning large examples that have been seen close to Stamullen village in recent times. Wild deer have been seen in the west of the parish in the vicinity of Tullog, Herbertstown and the Micknanstown district; there also appears to be another herd of them in the vicinity of Sandyhall and Dardistown. Another wild species that also appears to be on the increase in these parts is the stoat; often wrongly referred to as a weasel, this little creature may also resemble and can be mistakenly identified as the much larger pine martin, having a reddish coat with a white underbelly. However, a classic characteristic of the much smaller stoat is that the tip of its tail contains a black spot.

The wild Irish stoat is an avid hunter of rabbits and can often be seen climbing trees as well, perhaps following the prey of the grey squirrel of which there is an abundance of this species to be found in all parts of the parish. As the weather begins to warm up over the next two months or so, the vegetation will return, trees in leaf and hedgerows sprouting new growth.

The wildlife across the rural parts of the parish is thriving at the moment and, despite the onslaught of development, traffic and noise in what was once the old village of Stamullen, there are still many districts of the parish that retain a certain peace, beauty and a natural heritage that changes from season to season on an annual basis and long may it continue!

KNOW YOUR PARISH

The following death-notice appeared in the pages of the Irish Times newspaper on Wednesday, November 12th back in the year 1873. `FulhamNovember 11th 1873, at the residence of her son, Michael Fulham Esq. The Buildings, Gormanstown, Katherine, relict of William Fulham, Esq. Stamullen County Meath, in the 78th year of her age. Her remains will be removed for internment to the family burial-ground in Stamullen at half-past-two o`clock on to-morrow, Thursday. RIP`.

The Fulham burial-plot may be seen in Stamullen old Graveyard towards the east-end, situated in front of the principal or east window of the old ruins of the Parish Church and overlooking the road into Stamullen village. The place-name, known as the `Buildings`, where the Fulham family once resided, was located on a piece of ground in the vicinity of where the bridge crosses over the M1 motorway and slip-roads on the current Stamullen to Gormanston Road.

Duleek CONGRATULATIONS

A massive congratulations to basketball international Padraig McGroggan from Duleek who won “Young Sports Star of the Year” at the Coca-Cola/ Drogheda Independent Awards Night held recently in the Westcourt Hotel, Drogheda.

DULEEK NS COMEDY NIGHT

The Parents Council of Duleek Boys & Girls NS are hosting a Comedy Night in the Glenside Hotel Drogheda on Friday 9th February 2018 featuring Joe Rooney and Patrick McDonnell from the iconic TV series Fr. Ted.

Tickets are €15 and are available from Elaine 086-8875158 and Geraldine 086- 8521971 and all members of the Parents council.

Show starts at 8pm with Audience competitions, Raffle and DJ Mike spinning the tunes till late. All are welcome and a great laugh is guaranteed.

DULEEK & DISTRICT TEXT ALERT

Duleek & District Text Alert 2018 Registrations is now open. The annual fee from January 2018 - Dec 2018 is €6.00 per household. Homeowners can submit 2 mobile telephone numbers per household. If any homeowner pays mid-year, this fee will only apply until this year end. Due to Data Protection, we are required by law to remove all non subscribed telephone numbers, registered with us from our database.

If you would like to continue to avail of our fantastic community text alert service, please do one of the following: a) Send us your name, address & mobile numbers along with postal order or cheque to: Duleek & District Text Alert, FreePost FDA 103, Community Advice & Support Clinic, Unit 5/6 The Maudlins, Main Street, Duleek. Telephone 041 9880523 b) Drop into our office in Duleek. Cllr Sharon Keogan. Community Advice & Support Clinic.

All information given by you in 2018, is held for 1 year only and then removed from our database unless you subscribed for 2019.

Our AGM will be held on Wed 28th February at 10am in our offices. All members are welcome to attend.

DULEEK/BELLEWSTOWN LGFA

Duleek/Bellewstown LGFA are sending out an SOS. We need girls born the year 2004/2005 to come join our team. We have Jerseys/coaches we even have trophys from last year but we need a few more girls. So if you reside in Duleek, Bellewstown, Cushinstown, Mount Hanover or maybe your local club does not have a team at this age group please contact Julie on 0879767447

DULEEK BELLEWSTOWN GFC LOTTO

Lotto results - 25/1/18. Jackpot €6,000 - Numbers drawn 9, 13, 19, 23; No Winner. 5 x €20.00 winners: Geraldine Potter Redmond, Betty Connor, Mrs P Mc Connon, Tan Watters, Gerry Durkin.

DULEEK AFC LOTTO

There was no winner of this week’s lotto jackpot of €8000 – numbers drawn 5, 9, 14 & 27. 6 x €20 winners; L Condron, D Kelly, A Duff, D Woods, A Finlass, A Conroy. Next week’s lotto jackpot is €8000.