Tinahely prepares to host Wicklow Fleadh
TINAHELY will be the place to be on Saturday, April 22, as the local Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann branch get ready to host the Wicklow County Fleadh. This celebration of traditional music and culture is set to attract entries and visitors from all over the county.
All are welcome to join us at the competitions throughout the day, where you will be captivated by the amazing talent of the competitors.
Tea, coffee, cakes and sandwiches galore will be served in the Community Hall from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. All proceeds from refreshments will go to support KARE Tinahely Local Service.
Founded in 1967, KARE provides support to people who have an intellectual disability and their families.
Fundraising is a vital source of additional income for KARE. Tinahely Local Service was established in 2003 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. The centre is housed in a purpose built unit in Tinahely Community Hall on the School Road. The Local Service ensures that individuals with intellectual disabilities, can avail of the service in their own community and as close to their home as possible.
The catchment area includes Tinahely, Clonmore, Hacketstown, Shillelagh, Carnew, Coolboy, Annacurra, Knockananna and Aughrim.
Refreshments co-ordinator Ellen Fox-Lanigan said ‘We are fortunate in that we have a very active Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann branch in Tinahely.A special thanks to Mary Tallon, Chairperson and Tinahely CCE for generously offering the proceeds from the refreshments to KARE. So bring your family, friends and neighbours along to the Fleadh and have a cuppa with us while you enjoy the best of traditional music and song’.
‘ This is not just a Comhaltas event. This is a community event with a team of volunteers working together to make the Fleadh an enjoyable and welcoming experience for everyone. And don’t forget there will be plenty of tea and coffee as well as a selection of delicious home-made cakes and sandwiches served in the Community Hall,’ Ellen added. WICKLOW students in six different school are set to benefit from an extension of the school meals programme.
The Department of Social Protection has invited the following schools to join the scheme: Clochar Muire NS, Rathdrum, Rathdrum Boys NS, Carnew NS, Tinahely NS, St John’s Senior School, Arklow and Woodbrook College, Bray.
Minister of State Andrew Doyle has urged the schools to respond to the invitation and to apply for the scheme as soon as possible.
The School Meals Scheme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children nationally at a total cost of some €47.7 million during 2017. It’s a really important scheme providing breakfasts and in some cases, lunches to school children. Breakfast clubs are prioritised as they provide very positive outcomes for vulnerable children in terms of their energy levels, punctuality and school attendance,’ he said.
He said that as the economy continues to recover and grow, it is important to give back to the people and families who need it most.
‘I can think of no better way to do this than to invest in providing school meals to children in Wicklow who need them. The whole point of this scheme is to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, can access regular, nutritious food so that they can take full advantage of the education provided to them,’ he said.