Family Fun and hoedown at the Meade Potato Company in Lobinstown
A NEW Solar Farm has been given permission for a site at Grangegeeth, Slane.
The development will consist of the installation of a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel array consisting of up to 11 hectares of solar panels on ground mounted steel frames, electrical substation, client side substation, inverter cabins, underground cable ducts, a temporary site compound and ancillary facilities, boundary security fencing, CCTV, associated site roads and site works. It will have a life of 10 years.
12 submissions were received on the application, comments including ‘impact on tourism’, ‘not an appropriate use for agricultural lands’, ‘impact on wildlife and their natural habitat’, ‘ health risks’.
The council say that the solar panels are ‘non reflective and dark blue-black in colour’ and are to be enclosed within silver aluminium frames.
They also say that it fits in with the county plan for ‘developing a more diverse range and combination of energy sources’ and that includes wind, micro hydro power and solar energy.
it will take 10 weeks to develop the facility.
AFTER a successful Family Fun Day debut last year and two years of boot stomping music & craic at the Hoedown in Lobinstown, both events return to the Meade Potato Company farm and food production facility in Lobinstown, Co Meath on Saturday 5th August and Sunday 6th Augustfor a farm festival weekend.
The Family Fun Day is in aid of the local schools Heronstown and Newtown N.S, while the Hoedown is a fundraiser for Syddan GFC.
The Family Fun Day is on the Saturday from noon to 3pm where children can dance to country tunes, enter the mini tractor grand prix, take a pony ride, have a bounce on a selection of bouncy castles, get their faces painted, enjoy the farm animals, kick hot shots and take a tour of the farm and food production facility to learn more about the farm to fork journey of fresh produce.
Admission is €5 per child and includes all of the above activities, and free entry into a draw to win an annual family membership pass for Tayto Park. A BBQ stand and ice cream van will also offer families great value to make this a fun day that’s easy on the pocket. The car park opens at 11:30am.
Adults are catered for the following evening starting from 8pm at the Hoedown in Lobinstown which will feature music by the Texas Wildcats with special guest star Eugene Donegan – Pilgrim St and Paddy McGarry.
The Meade potato store will be transformed into a bona fide barn dance venue complete with a saloon offering happy hour specials and good value all night. There will be prizes for the Best Dressed Cowgirl and Best Dressed Cowboy as well as a jiving competition for those twinkle toes that fancy their chances. A night not to be missed for all ages over 18.
Admission of €25 includes great music and a pig roast BBQ by Callaghan Butchers Ardee. Tickets for the Hoedown are available at Lobinstown Post Office, Kevin Flanagan Butchers Drumconrath, Watters Pub Collon, Lobinstown Inn, The Sally Pub Rathkenny, Donoghue’s Pub Woodtown, Meade Potato Company, PS Supplies Lobinstown, Callaghans Butchers Ardee and all Syddan GFC and Dee Rangers LGFA players and committee members.
‘Based on the huge amount of positive feedback and fun we had facilitating both events last year, it will be a Bank Holiday weekend not to be missed here in Lobinstown,’ stated Eleanor Meade of Meade Potato Company.