Slane

CONTACT

Contact Sean on 087-6783729 or email swall32@gmail.com if you have an item for this column.

FOUNDATION STONE

Another very significant chapter in the Slane Community Centre project was reached recently when Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD unveiled the first foundation stone at the site beside the local national school on the Collon Road. The construction phase has just begun and the foundation stone will be built into the wall of the building as the structure is put in place. The fundraising effort for the new centre has been supplemented by a Sports Capital Grant and was recently boosted by a €75,000 grant from Meath County Council Local Amenity Project Scheme. The project has also benefited from donations from a number of local businesses. The Community Centre Committee will be announcing details of a new monthly draw in the next couple of weeks.

YOUTH CAFE GENEROSITY

The young people of the village have been playing their part in the fight against Covid-19 with a very kind gesture towards the HSE staff working at the Community Assessment Hub nearby. HSE staff have been allowed the use of the Youth Cafe at Chapel Street for lunches, PPE storage and administration free of charge over the last couple of months. Prior to that health staff had nowhere to eat their lunch or take a break. The HSE have expressed their gratitude to the people of Slane for their support and patience since setting up the Covid-19 test centre on Chapel Street. The test centre is set to move from Slane next month.

WEDDING VIEWING DAY

The Conyngham Arms Hotel have a Wedding Viewing Day on Sunday, October 11th, from

NEW PLAYERS WANTED

Rossin Rovers Soccer Club is looking for boys and girls to join their under-13 team. All coaches are Garda vetted, safe guarded and all coaches have coaching badges. Training takes place on Tuesday evenings at seven in Monknewtown community pitch. Games are on Sunday mornings. Contact Brian Mahon on 0863880599 for more details.

FOOTBALL LOTTO

The numbers drawn in the Slane GFC weekly lotto were 1, 14, 17, 25. There was no jackpot winner and the €10 winners were Finton O’Brien,

Andrew McCann, Ciarán Mahon, Francis Smyth. Spot prizes are available for collection in Smyth’s shop. The jackpot is now €4750. You can play the lotto through the Clubforce app and in the envelopes every week. Meanwhile tickets are now on sale for the 50/50 draw for September.

It’s €10 to enter and €5 goes to the club and €5 into a big pot. At the end of the month a ticket is drawn out and that lucky person wins the pot. To get your tickets visit Clubforce or they are also available from committee members and local shops.

FACE COVERINGS MANDATORY

Please be aware that the wearing of masks in retail outlets and shopping centres is now mandatory. Family members should ensure that their elderly relatives are aware of this when visiting the post office or shops. Please respect staff, help protect them and yourself and everyone in the community from the virus. The use of hand santiser as you enter premises is also encouraged. If premises appear to be overcrowded please wait at the door until people leave and observe social distancing.

SLANE ASSESSMENT HUB

The HSE’s Community Assessment Hub in Slane at their Health Centre on Chapel Street is now the main Covid-19 test centre in the county. The hub is for patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 or symptoms of Covid-19. After an initial phone consultation with a GP, if it’s decided a patient needs face to face treatment they will be referred to the assessment hub. Patients can only access these hubs when referred by their GP. Once seen at the hub patients may either be asked to return home, to enter isolation or to attend an acute hospital. The assessment hub is staffed mostly by GPs but is supported by healthcare professionals including nurses and physiotherapists as well as administrative support personnel. When you get to the hub please adhere to the clearly-marked signs that are in place in the car park and obey staff directives.

SLANE LIBRARY

Slane Library has updated and revised their opening hours and services available. The library is open on Fridays from 10.30 to 1.30 for browsing, borrowing and returning books. Computer access, printing and photocopying are available. The Sensory Magic Table can be booked for 30 minute sessions. Please ring on Friday mornings at 041 982 4955, or email slanelib@meathcoco. ie to arrange a session. Check out our online library services for e-books, e-audiobooks, online newspapers, digital magazines, online events, language learning and much more.

HUB GUIDELINES

Slane Hub tourist information centre and community office on Main Street have implemented guidelines to help make a visit as safe as they can for both their visitors and staff. Access to the Hub is by use of a bell system and only one visitor can enter the office at any one time. Visitors should ring the bell and step outside the main Hub door and wait for a member of staff to call them into the office. Hand sanitisers are provided for your use and you will be invited to use these. Please respect the physical distancing guidelines in place and avoid encroaching on the space of staff.

The staff are very much aware that the last few months have been very difficult for the community, organisations and local businesses and that the future holds an air of uncertainty for many. Please be assured that they are here to help get the village up and running again and are ready and willing to play their part. Opening hours are 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday. A number of services are available at the Hub including photocopying, printing (boarding passes etc) typing (CV’s etc) as well as promotion of events.

GOLF CLASSIC

Slane Wanderers Soccer Club have their annual golf classic at Bellewstown GC on Saturday, September 26th, with tee times from 11.30am - 1.30pm. The cost is €120 per team of three and includes meal and goody bag. Prizes for longest drive and nearest the pin. Sponsorship opportunities available and further details from Brendan at 086 1921591.

MEN’S SHED BACK

More good news for the local community is that Slane and District Men’s Shed is back open again. It is open five days a week, from 10am to 4pm, and members can have a chat, drink a cup of tea and participate in the various activities in a safe environment. It is open to members from Slane and all the surrounding parishes. The shed is well equipped for a wide range of activities including woodwork, art. gym, cooking, computers, games, pool bowls as well as a new metalwork shop.

FARMER’S MARKET

Rock Farm Slane Farmers Market which takes place every Thursday, has a time change for the next number of weeks and will now take place from 3pm to 7pm.

BRÚ NA BÓINNE WELCOMING VISITORS

Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange and Knowth) have reopened but visitors are reminded that online booking is essential as are face coverings. Those visiting are requested to read booking instructions carefully and please don’t visit without a pre-booked ticket.