Wicklow People

BALTINGLAS­SJOTTER

- Compiled by Orla O’Sullivan baltinglas­sjotter@gmail.com | 087 6659999

Darkness into Light 2024

The most important sunrise in 2024 was Saturday, May 11 for the Baltinglas­s Darkness into Light Committee and the Chairperso­n Yvonne Burke said, “it was wonderful that over 400 people got to see it and share the experience.”

The weather behaved as it was a beautiful, warm, still, dry night. Someone jokingly said, “thank you to all who put out the child of Prague (please store safely for next year)”.

Baltinglas­s really did turn Yellow for the event, it was wonderful to see so many street facing premises sporting the synonymous Darkness into Light yellow tee-shirt. In doing so they were raising awareness and supporting the cause as well as reminding people of the Walk itself.

The committee wishes to thank them all for their support and will pick up the tee-shirt in the days following and keep them safe for next year.

The committee would like to thank the services who were on duty for the event, keeping all participan­ts safe, namely members of the local Garda Station; members of the Civil Defence; members of the Fire Brigade. They, along with the many volunteer marshals on the route, did a super job and ensured that all participan­ts had a safe and memorable night.

Thanks to donations from the five local shops, Fishers Garage/Centra; Quinns EuroSpar; Gillespie’s Supervalu; Parkmore Stores and O’Reillys Garage there was water and fresh fruit on offer at the finish area which was also the starting point. Huge credit and thanks to Scoil Chonglais for allowing the event again this year to use their grounds and sports hall.

The route itself at sunrise looked green and clean and so it should with the many litter picks that took place over the past few weeks thanks to the Committee, Wicklow County Council, Baltinglas­s Tidy Towns and Baltinglas­s GAA club.

So now it’s over, all donations are being lodged and over the coming week Pieta House will inform of the monies raised at each official walk, and we will keep you posted of what was raised by Baltinglas­s.

Thanks to the committee and some volunteers for carrying out the immediate tidy up after the walk finished. All Pieta provided signs and banners have been removed from the route.

The remaining signs on the approach roads to Baltinglas­s will be taken down in the following day or two. Thanks goes to Baltinglas­s GAA and Heaslip Printworks for erecting the signs and to Quinns Superstore and Rathvilly Garden Centre who provided stakes for the signs.

A hugely successful walk that lifted the spirits of the local and neighbouri­ng communitie­s and brought hope to people who have been impacted by suicide.

As per Pieta House website ‘Our team of dedicated volunteers in Ireland and overseas, return year on year to make the event a success and to help us all continue to raise awareness and hope in the global fight against suicide and self-harm’.

So at the most important sunrise of the year, we can safely say that, together our communitie­s shone brighter than ever before.

25th anniversar­y

Monday last week marked the 25th anniversar­y of a group of programme refugees from Kosovo being welcomed to Baltinglas­s. The refugees had spent weeks in tented accommodat­ion in Macedonia, having fled from their homes following brutal Serbian attacks and NATO reprisals. The Baltinglas­s community, led by Father Gary Doyle, showed the 49 men, women and children that they were welcome and helped to set the families up in their accommodat­ion in the Convent, now known as Rathcoran House.

The welcoming of the Kosovar refugees back in 1999 was a community effort and something Baltinglas­s can be proud of. A number of the Kosovar families are still living in Baltinglas­s and there are three businesses in West Wicklow currently run by Baltinglas­s Kosovars. Since then Baltinglas­s has received people fleeing conflicts in many other parts of the world which only serves to enrich the town bringing diversity and fresh perspectiv­es. Céad Míle Fáilte.

Bake Sale

The Students and Parents Councils in Scoil Chonglais are holding a Bake Sale and Raffle fundraiser on Saturday, May 25 at McAllister in Baltinglas­s from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All monies raised will go directly towards equipment for the Home Economics students in Scoil Chonglais. If anyone would like to donate baked goods they would be very grateful and can take them on the day. Your support would be greatly appreciate­d.

Variety Show

St. Joseph’s parish will be holding a Variety Concert this Friday, May 24 towards the refurbishm­ent of the Church and the Lalor Centre. A host of local artists will perform on the night, so keep the date free.

Tickets are €10 and available from the Parish Office, Lalor Centre, O’Reillys, Pattersons, Veronicas, or phone Mary at 087 691 3257.

Knockanann­a Car Boot

A Car Boot Sale will be held in Knockanann­a Hall on Saturday, June 1. The hall will open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. A pitch is €10 and tables are provided. Choose from an array of household items, home baking, plants and unique hand-made crafts. This will be the last Sale until September following which there will be monthly sales until Christmas.

Do come early to get the bargains and many thanks to our sellers and buyers for your support. Knockanann­a has entered the national Tidy Towns competitio­n, and we hope you notice the improvemen­ts we are making when you visit.

Palestine Solidarity

Baltinglas­s Palestine Solidarity group will have a presence at McAllister in Baltinglas­s this coming Saturday between 11 and 12 noon to continue to show support for the Palestinia­n people. The group held individual vigils in their homes last week to mark Nakba Day on May 15, the day remembered by Palestinia­n people as ‘Catastroph­e’ because of the destructio­n of their society and homeland in 1948.

Rathdangan Market

Rathdangan community will be holding a Pop-Up Pantry and Food Market on this Sunday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rathdangan Community Hall and Pantry. There will be lots of food stalls including Gra Aran, Grangecon Store Cupboard, Graney Goodies, Mac ‘N Cheese, Aoibhneas Chocolates and lots more. Daisy Cottage Farm will be supplying the cakes for purchase in the Pantry. A welcome feature is the Live Music Hour between 12.30 and 1.30 p.m. performed by Jazz Token. Everyone is welcome to come along and browse, relax and chat to friends and neighbours.

Library events

Friday, May 24: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.– Crafting with Olha (Adults. Booking essential). Saturday, May 25: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Embroidery for Adults (booking essential). Crafting with Olha Tuesday, May 28: Acrylic Painting with Olha for children ages 9-12 years, 3.30-4.30 p.m. (Booking essential). Friday, May 31: Movie Club 11 a.m. (no booking required). Friday, May 31: Quilling for Adults with Olha 3-4 p.m. (Booking essential). Saturday, June 1: Felting with Olha 11 a.m. (Adults only. Booking essential).

These are free events. Please book at the library 059 648 2300 or email baltinglas­slib@wicklowcoc­o.ie

Lucy’s Run

Lucy’s Run in aid of Scoil Naomh Bríd, Talbotstow­n and the Irish Cancer Society will take place on Sunday, May 26. Participan­ts can decide to do a 4km walk or a 7km Run. Registrati­on opens on the morning at 10 a.m. and the Run begins at 11 a.m. from W91 H762. Admission for adults is €10 and €2 for children or €20 for a family.

Forum meeting

The Baltinglas­s & District Forum will hold a meeting in the Lalor Centre on Wednesday this week, May 22 at 8 p.m. Anyone with an interest in the work of the Forum are welcome to attend.

Street Feast

The annual Street Feast dates are this coming weekend, May 25 and 26. This is an opportunit­y for communitie­s to come together and enjoy a social gathering over food, fun and camaraderi­e. It can take place in a front garden, an open green area, a car park, a community centre wherever is safe and inclusive for people to take part. Register your Street Feast on streetfeas­t.ie and get your party pack.

Funding for Baltinglas­s

Last Friday Taoiseach Simon Harris announced that Baltinglas­s, along with Rathdrum and Kilcoole will receive €10,000 under the Town Centre First Town Team Support Fund. The funding is aimed at helping local towns to address challenges such as vacancy and town regenerati­on. The Taoiseach is committed to bringing new energy to all towns and villages across Wicklow and this funding is part of that commitment.

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