Stamullen
CONTACT ME
Contact Gerard on 087/2729154 or E-mail: starinaghgerard1@ .com if you have an item for this Column.
SINCERE SYMPATHY
The sincere sympathy of Broomfield and District Residents Association and the Community of Broomfield and District is extended to the Murphy and extended Murphy Family on the passing of John Murphy, Glenmore Drive, Drogheda, and formerly of Ardee Road, Collon recently. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time for you.
WEATHER
I hope this weeks Broomfield Notes finds all Community Members well and none the worst for the recent spell of inclement weather. The best wishes of the Association and Community is extended to all who are hospitalised or ill at this time. We wish you a speedy recovery.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, THURSDAY 8TH MARCH
International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8th. This global day celebrates the cultural, political, social and economic achievements of women.
MOTHER’S DAY, SUNDAY 11TH MARCH
Mother’s Day is next Sunday 11th March. Mother’s Day is that special occasion to show Mothers how much we appreciate everything they do, and how important they really are. Best wishes and thanks, to all the Mothers throughout our Community, and further afield.
DAFFODIL DAY 2018
Daffodil Day is on Friday 23rd March 2018. This year marks Daffodil Day’s 31st anniversary. Congratulations to all involved with the Irish Cancer Society, who host Daffodil Day. Thousands of volunteers will be on duty around Ireland selling daffodil pins and flowers. Please do what you can to support Daffodil Day on 23rd March 2018, it will be greatly appreciated by those touched by cancer who have availed of the services provided by the cancer support groups, locally and nationally.
DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING COURSE
The Digital Skills Training Course delivered by Meath Partnership is up and running in Teach Raithneach on Mondays from 1.30 to 3.30 pm. The course started on Monday 19th February and runs for 5 weeks. Thanks to all the Course Participants involved and Regina, the Course Tutor for their co-operation and help. A follow up course can be sought if there is sufficient demand.
ANTI-LITTER LEAGUE 2018
This initiative by Meath Co. Council will run for the months of March and April which will overlap with National Spring Clean (hosted by An Taisce) which runs for the month of April. Judging will begin on Monday 19th March, and there will be two rounds of judging over a six week period, ending on April 27th. Points will be deducted for the presence of litter and there will be a score for general appearance. Broomfield and District has a proud record to defend in this initiative, having secured the Gold Medal for the last two years Ar aghaidh libh le ceile!
SET DANCING NEWS
Set Dancing Classes take place in Teach Raithneach every Monday evening from 8.30 to 10.30 pm. The ideal preparation for this years Fleadh Ceoil na h-Eireann in Drogheda. You don’t need a partner to participate. Everyone welcome. Light refreshments served. Contact Gerard on 087 2729154 for further information.
PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP
The Parent and Toddler Group meet every Thursday morning in Teach Raithneach. Contact Isobel on 087 4170561 for further information or to get involved. All welcome!
FARRELLY SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING
The Farrelly School of Irish Dancing conduct classes in Step and Ceili Dancing in Teach Raithneach on Tuesday evenings. Class begins at 6.00 pm and concludes at 7.30 pm. New Members, boys and girls are welcome at any time. Please contact Grainne on 086 3707227 or Olive on 086 3502157.
TUS VACANCY
A TUS vacancy exists with Broomfield and District Residents Association. The Work Programme involves Care-taking duties in and around Teach Raithneach, as well as the maintenance and up-keep of a number of amenities throughout the District. If you think you are eligible to participate in this Scheme, then please contact the Secretary on 086 3212986 for more information. Self referral forms are available. These allow you to self-refer to Meath Partnership, the body who have responsibility for implementing the TUS Scheme in this area.
TEACH RAITHNEACH BOOKING
To discuss options or to book Teach Raithneach, contact Alice on 087-9360018
LOTTERY
Broomfield Bonus Ball Lottery Results
Draw Date: 28/02/2018 Bonus Ball Numbers were: 35, 02 and 05.
No Jackpot Winner! Week’s Jackpot: €2,600.
This Weeks €20 Winners: E &D Traynor, Starinagh. Eddie Devlin, Priest’s Hill, Collon. Christopher Mc Court, Ardee. Des Mathews, Starinagh, Collon. Rosaleen Collier, Collon.
Promoters: Gerard Sheila Matthews & Traynor.
Next Draw Date: 07/03/2018 Thanks for supporting Broomfield Bonus Ball Lottery.
IN MEMORY
Next Weldon, Eileen
Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Mrs Margaret Hughes, Smithstown Julianstown, who recently passed away. Following Funeral Mass at St. Mary`s Church in Julianstown, Mrs Hughes was laid to rest in Moorechurch Cemetery.
FREE IT CLASSES
A five-week course on basic I-phone, Smartphone and/or Tablet skills is about to get underway, free of charge, within the St. Patrick`s GFC Complex at Cock Hill Stamullen.
This course was to begin on Thursday last March 1st and was to run each week from 2 until 4pm; however, due to the bad weather conditions of last week, the course had to be postponed. There may still be an opportunity for those who may wish to avail of the course and further details and information may be had by contacting Angela at the Meath Partnership on 046-9280790.
MAKE A WISH CAKE-SALE
Local Mountain View resident Johnny McQuillan and family are hosting the annual Wish day Cake sale in the Parish Rooms Stamullen village over this coming weekend of March 10th and 11th.
The sale will take place at the centre before and after mass on Saturday March 10th from around 5.30pm and also the following day, Sunday March 11th from around 9.30am. All contributions, donations and support will be greatly appreciated. Anyone who may wish to carry out some home baking etc. and who would like to help out with this very worthy cause are being asked to contact 086-8911861 and/or 086-0669502.
ST. PATRICK`S FIRE
Historical narratives record that St. Patrick had lit the Pascal Fire at Easter on the Hill of Slane, which of course greatly annoyed some of the Pagan Kings and Chieftains on the Hill of Tara to the south west. On this coming St. Patrick`s Day, March 17th 2018, a very special event will take place on the Hill of Slane to commemorate this `historic` event when Bishop Michael Smith will celebrate a mass, starting around 5.30pm. For more information contact the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal at 041-9830441.
SNOW STORM
Heavy snow began to fall throughout the parish on Tuesday evening last, February 27th, arriving even earlier than Met Eireann had first predicted, it caught many people, pedestrians and particularly motorists by surprise. By late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, the snow had compacted on the ground and had frozen over.
However, the Local Authority in all great fairness to them had the gritting lorry out and by mid morning the roads around Stamullen village to the R132 Balbriggan to Drogheda Road, along with the slip-ways on and off the M1 Motorway had been cleared of snow and ice and this was most welcome by all. Thursday, March 1st and many folk were scurrying around trying to supplies of food and home heating etc. in before the country came to a halt and everyone was advised to get inside by 4pm and stay indoors until around 6pm the following day, Friday March 2nd.
The snow storm, Beast from the East, along with the southern storm called Emma duly arrived across the country by late on Thursday evening and we awoke to some heavy falls of snow on the Friday morning, but perhaps not as bad as we were first led to believe it might be.
Shops, services, deliveries etc. had all but grind to a halt over this 24-hour period and a few places, supermarkets, garages and some local shops did open up on Friday March 2nd and were inundated with large ques of customers forming in all premises, including the local supermarket in Stamullen village.
In many instances the scenes were like something out of a nuclear holocaust movie with people scrambling around the place stocking up on more supplies as if the `end of the world` was after being announced.
The heavy falls of snow across the rural parts of Stamullen did cause many problems for people/motorists trying to move about. Large drifts of snow came down in the townlands of Tullog, Herbertstown, Giblockstown, Greenanstown, Lacystown and parts of Ballestran. Many residents of Stamullen village also took to some of the rural roads with their children and sleighs, while others took in the beauty of the white country landscape in the townlands surrounding the village. The snow didn’t appear to be as detrimental as the falls we had back in early January of 1982.
It was almost impossible to move around anywhere for many days following that particular snow storm of 36 years ago. It was also strange to see so many varieties of bird species bopping about throughout the hedgerows across the rural parts of the parish; it being the beginning of spring, the mating season and also a time when they are beginning to build their nests. Because it was unusual to see such a fall of snow and ice at this time of the year, it made it so much more difficult for our small feathered friends. Bluetits, Finches, Sparrows, Wrens, Thrushes, Blackbirds etc. could all be seen fluttering about seeking food and water and many appeared to have been in an exhausted state, hungry and dried feathers due to the lack of water they could find; this was evident on Friday March 2nd when many species could be seen sitting beneath the bare hedgerows or slowly moving about.
On a lighter note: a young man from the Stedalt Cross area was out walking his dog through the fields of Ballestran following the heavy fall of snow on Thursday when he encountered a herd of around twenty wild deer behind a snow-covered hedgerow with the wonderful hills of Tullog and Tir-Ri in the background; a brilliant setting for a seasonal photograph if only it had occurred some 9 or 10 weeks ago during the festive period instead of the early days of what is supposed to be spring. Well the old saying does state: `The month of March, in like a lion, out like a lamb`; it certainly lived up to it this time around!