Stamullen

IN MEMORY

Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Andy Kavanagh, formerly of Heathstown, Stamullen, who passed away suddenly at Gormanston Wood Nursing Home on Saturday October 3rd last. Following funeral Mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Clonalvy, Mr Kavanagh was laid to rest in Clonalvy Graveyard on Monday October 5th last.

RESIDENTIAL GROWTH

Over the next few months and into 2021 and beyond, there are a number of new residential housing developments to be constructed at Kilbreckstown and Cock Hill in Stamullen and also within the townland of Gormanston.

This huge increase in development will, without doubt, swell the population of Stamullen over the next decade and, due to the location of Stamullen, there is also no doubt that this whole area of east Meath will become a much sought after place in which to reside and/or trade and do business with and from. At one time, in the not-too-daistant-past, places like Tallaght, Blanchardstown, Swords, Ratoath and Balbriggan were no more than large villages. So, take a good look at these places today; then take a look at the location of Stamullen/ Gormanston, being a mere 20 minutes from Dublin Airport for instance and with access to and from the M1 Motorway and therefore the corridor between Dublin and Belfast and, situated as we are, along the east coast of Ireland; it doesent take a genius to figure out where we are heading, at least in population and residential terms.

However, much work needs to be done regarding other infrastructural facilities that will also be much needed as we move forward. Employment, recreational facilities, playgrounds; public toilets, a new cemetery, protecting and indeed promoting both the built & natural heritage of the area. Progress with caution and not with arrogance and ignorance, but is anyone listening and/or paying any attention to the many concerns and worries, etc. that many of the native families of the greater area of Stamullen may have? It is great that new families who move into the area are being welcomed and represented at both local and county level; as the population swells, do`nt forget, so too, of course, does the `Voting Register`!

However, it must also be rembered that, although the older, native families are very quickly being overtaken and replaced by the `newcomer`; such older and native families have a right to be listened too and represented. It may not be beneficial to Councillors, as far as the votes may be concerned, but nonetheless, such country people need representation as they witness their rural settings becoming totally urbanised and, like I have said before, not only feeling, but actually becoming a `stranger` in their own Home!

KNOW YOUR PARISH.

Keeping an eye on our Natural Heritage. Majestic Birds of Prey across the parish of Stamullen. There has been a huge increase of such birds of prey to be seen throughout the parish in recent years and none more so than this year. The Sparrow Hawk has now become a familiar sight again in the parish and can be seen regularly along the smaller country roads, scouting at speed around both sides of the hedgerows for its prey of smaller birds which it strikes and kills with great speed and accuracy; they are truly the `hunting-masters` of the local hedgerows and woodlands.

The, similar, but smaller Kestrel can easily be identified as it can very often be seen hovering, flapping its wings particularly fast as it scans the ground below for small mammals which it then descends upon using its talons to kill its prey. Many Kestrels can also be regularly seen hovering over the motorway in its search for road-kill; animals and mammals that are after getting hit by traffic.

The large and majestic Buzzard can be seen across all parts of the parish and sometimes your attention may be first drawn to the sky by its cry; then by its fantastic, colourful wingspan as it soars above the surrounding landscape. These birds of prey were only reintroduced to the Fingal area of Co. Dublin back in the mid 1990`s after been absent from the country since the first decade of the 20th century and they have been one of the greatest and fastest species to make such a comeback in such a short space of time. The bird, although pretty large, lives on small mammals which it identifies on the ground below as it continually soars across the sky. After the corn crops had been harvested over the past number of weeks, both the Buzzard and the Kestrel could be seen soaring and hovering over the corn-stubble fields in search of the great abundance of food below; there was also much fighting between the two over the territory they were both operating in and, it appeared that the Kestrel was the bird coming out on top.

Lastly, the Peregrine Falcon is not only the fastest bird in the world, but it is also the fastest member of the animal kingdom and can reach speeds of up to 220 miles per hour (368kph), folding its wings back under its body it strikes its prey in mid air, like a cruise missile, before they even realise what`s happened.

This beautiful bird of prey can be seen occasionally across all parts of the parish and some great photographs of this bird have been captured in townlands such as Irishtown, Whiteleas, Tir Rí and Mullaghteeling in 2019 and 2020.