Stamullen

VEHICLES STOLEN

Two vehicles were stolen in the district last week. One car was taken in Stamullen village, while another vehicle was taken at the allotment site of the Gormanston to Balbriggan R132 road beyond Knocknagin.

RUBBISH PILING UP

There has certainly been a very noticeable increase in the amount of both commercial and household domestic rubbish that has been dumped along many of the smaller rural roads across the parish since the beginning of the current `lock-down`. En route from Stamullen to Drogheda via Lisdornan, Dardistown, Cooperhill and Beamore Cross, the rubbish has been dumped in a `ribbon-type` fashion as if it had been tossed out of a vehicle that was continuing to move along while someone was busy throwing the rubbish from the window of the vehicle. Meanwhile; why do people walk their dogs along the rural country roads and, when the dog does his `business`, the dog-poo is then picked up and, above-all, placed into plastic bags and then discarded into the adjacent hedgerow! And, on a further note of people walking the country roads; there have been incidents where people have gone in to walk around and across agricultural land after leaving the gates either swinging open after them or, in two cases which I have come across, leaving the gates to two fields at Stedalt and Ballestran on the ground. Respecting the beautiful landscape around you is equally as important and deserves the same respect as any `urbanof living amongst the concrete and streetscape!

STEACH MAOILÍN

A new Facebook Site of `old Stamullen` has been created for Stamullen village, parish and neighbouring districts. The site is full of old photographs, memories, articles, adverts, recollections and parishioners reminiscing about the village and parish in which they grew up in. It is full of interesting images, history & heritage of Stamullen and surrounding townlands and parishes. Something else to do in perhaps taking your eye and mind away from all else that is happening around us at the moment and hopefully the Stamullen Site will grow & progress in the weeks and months ahead. The site is called Steach Maoilín.

BELLEWSTOWN RACES

The word is that, the racing on the Hill will go ahead on July 2nd, 4th & 8th this year, however it certainly will not be the usual gathering of the masses for this annual and really-looked forward to event as it will probably take place behind closed `roads`!

CURRENT CRISIS

So, another few restrictions have now been lifted and people are starting to return to work, at least to some extent with hardware shops, garden centres, repair shops and building sites having reopened since May 18th last. Beaches, golf courses, tennis courts and some other parks are also now beginning to open under the guidelines of keeping a safe distance from others while you are out and all activities are still to be confined to within a radius of 5km from your home. With each restriction being lifted, more and more people are emerging back into the great outdoors of the community.

However, with all being said, only a few short days ago I have seen around 10 to 12 youths all sitting and crowded around and on top of a two-seater bench at the village water-pump in Stamullen, while others apparently thought it unnecessary to avoid close contact while out walking in the same village area. In many ways, after May 18th, there was a feeling in the air that this `storm` has now passed; the Covid-19 pandemic is all but over and thankfully things can now begin to return to normal; however, that is certainly not the case. The scenes on the national airwaves, of dozens of youths crowding onto trains to take them to Sutton Strand in Dublin last week, spoke volumes regarding the restlessness of sections of our community, particularly the younger generations. It is also becoming apparent in political circles that the `blame-game` is now on, as to should have done what and when regarding the spread and control of the Coronavirus. The high rate of infection amongst those who are working in the meat factories across the country for instance and also the safety measures taken regarding the nursing & retirement homes for the infirm and the elderly within our society.

Take note that, if these little `droplets` of Coronavirus could speak, they might issue a `statement` regarding why folk should still be mindful of a resurgence of an attack and further spread within our communities: the `statement` issued from these `droplets` would read, “We haven’t gone away, you know”!