ENNISKERRY
POWERSCOURT WITH KILBRIDE
Services of Worship in St Patrick’s Church, Powerscourt for this Sunday – The First Sunday after Trinity: All Church Services and activities remain suspended in accordance with Government instructions. Keep an eye on the parish website for updates and for details of online services of worship. From last Monday up to 25 immediate family and close friends may now attend a funeral but social distancing must be observed. While churches and houses of worship will be permitted to open on June 29, further details are awaited from the Government and the Archbishop.
Services of Worship in St Brigid’s Church, Kilbride for Sunday – The First Sunday after Trinity: All Church Services and activities remain suspended in accordance with Government instructions. Keep an eye on the parish website for updates and for details of online services of worship. From last Monday up to 25 immediate family and close friends may now attend a funeral but social distancing must be observed. While churches and houses of worship will be permitted to open on June 29, further details are awaited from the Government and the Archbishop.
Powerscourt Graveyard: The upkeep of the parish’s beautiful graveyard is important to the parish as this holy place provides peace and sanctuary for many visitors but we ask that you clean-up after your dog and that all dogs are kept on a lead. In order the maintain the natural sense of our country graveyard, it is requested that no coloured pebbles be used on the graves and that grave owners take responsibility to remove and dispose of wreaths or floral decorations once they have fulfilled their purpose.
ST MARY’S CHURCH
Parish Website: The parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary has its own website. Please check out ‘Enniskerryparish.ie’ for the latest information about our parish.
Coronavirus Measures: Masses in our churches remain suspended till further notice due to measures introduced by the healthcare authorities limiting attendance at public indoor gatherings. The Archbishop of Dublin has announced that everyone is dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass for the duration of the present emergency Weekday Mass is now broadcast by RTÉ NEWS NOW at 10.30 a.m. and also through EWTN, Radio Maria, channel which can be found in Saorview and Channel 210. Mass from Knock Shrine is broadcast each day at midday; Rosary at 7 p.m. and Mass at 7.30 p.m. on knockshrine/watchlive; Mass is also broadcast by web-came from St Mary’s Pro Cathedral Dublin. For a list of churches broadcasting Mass by web-cam go to dublindiocese.ie/ list-of-churches-with-webcamsto-watch-listen-to-daily Mass/ or go to massonline for details of Masses in Ireland and Britain. St Mary’s and St Mochonog’s
Church will be open for private prayer each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – please remember to adhere to social distancing requirements. From last Monday up to 25 immediate family and close friends may now attend a funeral but social distancing must be observed. While churches and houses of worship will be permitted to open on June 29, further details are awaited from the Government and the Diocese Office.
Sacrament Cancellations: The 2020 schedule/timetable previously issued by the parish office as regards the celebration the Sacrament of First Confession, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, remains cancelled. In the meantime, those who were to celebrate the Sacraments of First Confession, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, are encouraged to continue their preparation. Although places for workshop will be allowed to re-open on June 29, social distancing protocols will remain in force, and consideration will now be given as to how these sacraments will be celebrated at a future date.
Maintaining Contact With Our Parishioners: At this time there are many churches across various diocese that are broadcasting Masses through webcams and parish radios. The Enniskerry Parish website has been updated so that our parish community can tune in and engage in a Spiritual Communion – go to enniskerryparish.ie and click on the Daily Mass link on the home page. On the parish website there is a Daily Reflection, a Pastoral Letter from Fr Bernard and Fr Hyacinth along with resources for families and prayers at home during this time. Parishioners will be updated on developments every week via our weekly Parish Link Newsletter which will be available each Friday on the parish website. More resources will be added in the coming days and weeks including Mass resources and spiritual links for all.
Outreach: Two support groups have been set up by local volunteers to help people who are isolated due to the present crisis and need help with food shopping, prescription and medication collection. Parishioners, who would like to volunteer Kilmacanogue are asked to call David Metcalfe at 086 3895627 and for Enniskerry to call Melanie Corrigan at 083 3642439 for further information. Parishioners, who need assistance themselves or know of someone who does, are asked to call either of these numbers.
ALONE COVID-19 Support Line for Older People: ALONE – Supporting older people to age at home – has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland. Professional staff will be available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line will be open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., by calling 0818 – 222 024, and hours may be extended to meet the demand.
Useful Help Lines: Society of St Vincent de Paul: 01 8550022; Samaritans: 1850-609090; Recovery: 01 6260775; Accord: 01 5053112.
ENNISKERRY HISTORY SOCIETY
Monthly meetings of the Enniskerry History Society, which meets the guidance of its president, John Callan, are scheduled to resume in October if permitted to do so. Further information about the Enniskerry History Society available from John Callan at 01 2867853.
KILMACANOGUE HISTORY SOCIETY
All Society activities remain suspended.
ENNISKERRY LIBRARY
The library re-opened last Monday but is operating on a ‘click and collect’ basis only – borrowers can order/reserve books online and will then be advised when they can be collected from the library. Books can be renewed online – late return fees have been suspended during the period of the library’s closure.
COMMUNITY CALL HELPLINE
As part of the Government response to the Covid-19 crisis, Wicklow County Council has established Covid-19 Community Call Forum which works with State agencies and community and voluntary to provide supports or service to any vulnerable people who need them such as the collection of essential items like food, ‘meals on wheels’, household items, fuel or medicine (in line with guidance), and support for those who are experiencing social isolation or cocooning. The Helpline No. is 1800 868 399 or email covidsupport@wicklowcoco.ie.
BOOKS FOR THE HOUSEBOUND
Aware that a lot of you are stuck at home and would really love a few books for company, Shankill Day Care/Shankill Old Folks Association (SOFA) are delighted to announce the re-opening of its Book Sale service. However, due to the Covid-19 crisis, it will be an email/phone order and collection service. You can place an order for specific book titles or authors (and we will check to see if we have them in stock) or you request a specific genre (Fiction, Crime, Mystery, History etc) and leave it up to us to find a suitable book for you. All books are in pristine condition and very competitively priced. We also have a selection of jigsaws and DVDs also very competitively priced.
To place an order, you can email us at SOFABooks4U@ gmail.com or send us a text or WhatsApp message at 089 4932103. To collect the books, we will send you a message to let you know when your book (s) are ready for collection and the amount owing and then you can call to the Shankill Day Care Centre, Lower Road, Shankill D18 HW95, and pick them up between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesdays or Fridays. Please note that we are not in a position to accept new books or take back any returns while the Covid-19 crisis is ongoing.
LOCAL NOTES CONTACT
If you have news or an item to be added to the Newtownmountkennedy notes, please email Ciara Perks at ciaraperks87@ gmail.com or call 087 6380155.
CHILDREN’S WEE LIBRARY
There is a new addition to Newtownmountkennedy Main Street. The new Children’s Wee Library is located beside the Village Practice alongside it’s Older Sibling the ‘Original’ Wee Library.
Special Thanks go to Annick Bishop for creating this beautiful masterpiece for our children.
FISHERS RE-OPENING
Fishers Boutique department store will be reopening on Monday, June 8, at 10 a.m. New layout and new entrance with all health and safety precautions in place. Open mon to sat from 10 to five, Sunday 11-5
Food at Fishers cafe will also open for takeaway at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 8, offering hot and cold drinks, treats, cakes, sandwiches, soup and salads along with lunch boxes and afternoon tea (pre-order) just pop in or phone in your order in advance – 012812892. Daily menu on our website and social media pages Open everyday 10-4
COMMUNITY RESPONSE
Your Community is here to help. Wicklow County Council Covid19 Community Call Helpline are there to help in anyway, call them between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
There is help and support available to everyone no matter what. If you need any help whether you are self isolating, ill or cannot get out for the essentials please call Ciara Perks at 087 6380155 or the Community Call Helpline 1800 868 399 and we will get you the help and support you need. Whether it is groceries, collection of prescriptions, a paper or just a friendly chat please call your community is here for you.
Thank you to the amazing people who have volunteered their time, skills and knowledge, you are making a big positive difference to the people of our community.
GAA CLUB NOTES
Throughout the current pandemic and challenging times, GAA clubs across the 32 counties have been helping their members and communities stay healthy and connected within the restrictions of public health advice.
To help reward this contribution and to celebrate the importance of staying active the MyLife GAA Healthy Clubs Steps Challenge officially began on June 3 and will run till June 30 with a chance for a club in each province to win a €2,500 O’Neill’s voucher.
Newtown GAA club is already registered and available to join on MyLife. If you previously joined the challenge you don’t need to do anything, just start stepping. It’s not to late to join this club and community challenge with the emphasis on keeping active.
Participants must be 18 years of age or older. Details of how to join the challenge attached.
DISTRICT FORUM
We are pleased to share that Newtownmountkennedy and District Forum were one of the Community Groups to receive
€1,000 funding from Wicklow County Council’s Covid-19 Emergency Fund Grant.
The committee are now working with a local company to develop an exciting resource for our community and surrounding area. Thanks to Wicklow County Council for their support and backing the project.
As a community and Country we are starting to emerge through phases hopefully with health and optimism to begin to reopen our communities. We wish everyone well on their journey. Newtown is Open so remember please Support Local and Stay Local.
WALL OF POSITIVITY
Our Wall of Positivity is located at the Bus Stop beside the Parkview Hotel. The power of positivity is important now more than ever in our everyday life, why not share a thought or wish. Even put up your own picture (with sellotape) to brighten up our spirits and give us a smile.
NEWTOWN TIDY TOWNS
TOWN AND VILLAGE RENEWAL SCHEME – Work has recommenced on the Main Street of Newtownmountkennedy with the installation of the first two solar bins. These are general rubbish bins, suitable also for bagged dog waste.
Due to the very dry spring and early summer, Tidy Towns has had to manually water the newly planted upright oaks twice a week. The effort has all been worthwhile as the trees are now greening up nicely. We have unfortunately lost one, which will be replaced in due course. Watering will continue throughout the summer months.
FLOWER BASKET DISPLAY – A letter has gone out this weekend to all the businesses and community groups thanking them for their support of Tidy Towns’ activities and events over the years, and also letting them know that, unfortunately, Tidy Towns will not be organising the beautiful floral basket display we usually see at this time of year. We have suggested instead that, as businesses start reopening, they consider purchasing one or two of our local florist, Ann Duffy’s, flower baskets – what a nice image it would be to see the town coming to life again flower basket by flower basket.
BRING A BOOK – TAKE A BOOK
A bring a book – take a book initiative is now located in Newtownmountkennedy post office. A large variety of titles are available for you. If you have books to add to the collection feel free to drop them in.
Thanks to the Nolan’s as always for offering the space to the community.
LITTERING
Please respect our community and the many people, Businesses and groups, who help to keep our town so beautiful and litter-free. Littering and dumping is not acceptable even during a pandemic, so please bring your rubbish, used gloves, used face masks etc home to your household bin and if you see a case of littering/dumping please report to Wicklow Litter Line on 1890 548837.