Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Laragh & Glendalough News

Community Alert – Text Alert

At a Community Alert meeting held in the Brockagh Centre on May 6^th it was agreed that a ‘text-alert’ system should be set up for the area.  This scheme is supported by Muintir na Tíre (Community Alert) and the Gardaí and is operating successfully in many locations throughout the country.  The idea is very simple: by registering your mobile phone with the scheme, together with the payment of a fee of €10, you will receive text messages from the Gardaí to be on the lookout for suspicious activity and unwanted visitors in the area.  The text messages will be focussed on activity relevant to Laragh/Glendalough and the surrounding areas (currently the system can only send texts to mobile phones).  The Gardaí may also use the facility to alert the community to look out for missing persons, etc.

The text alert is a one-way communication only.  Should you become aware of suspicious activity yourself, ring 999, 112 or the local Garda station.

The messages will come directly from An Garda Síochána to your registered phone using a bulk text provider – the Gardaí cannot fund the system so this is why you have to pay a registration fee.  Each text costs about 6c and the duration of registration will depend on the number of texts sent by the Gardaí.  But it is expected that the registration fee will cover at least one year’s operation of the scheme.  Details of how to register and how to pay will be included in next month’s newsletter.

 

Performance Cancelled

The Garden Theatre Company has cancelled its Bealtaine performance of The Queens of Pimlico in the Brockagh Centre on Saturday 31^st May.

 

New Rector for St. John’s Church

The Reverend Brian O’Reilly has been appointed as the new Rector of Rathdrum, Derralossary with Glenealy in the Diocese of Glendalough.  Monday, August 25^th, has been set as the date of institution for his new role in CountyWicklow.

Reverend O’Reilly grew up in Dublin and was ordained deacon in 2007.  Prior to his ordination, he worked as a land surveyor, having completed his surveying studies in the College of Technology at Bolton Street (now DIT) in 1984.  He was awarded a Bachelor of Theology degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2008.  He is married to Karen and they have a son, Cillian, aged 13.

 

St. Kevin’s Way – A One-Day Camino

To celebrate the feast of St. Kevin (3^rd June) the Glendalough Hermitage Team has organised two walks on Saturday 31^st May.

Walk 1: This will commence at the church in Hollywood at 8.30 am and will finish in Glendalough at 4 pm (please note change of time).

Walk 2: This will start at the Green Road, near the Woollen Mills, at 2 pm and will also finish with a concluding prayer in Glendalough at 4 o’clock.

It is advisable to wear suitable clothing/footwear and to have a walking stick.  Please bring a packed lunch (walk 1) and drinks/snacks.  There is no registration fee but booking is essential – contact Glendalough Hermitage Centre on 087-9356696.

 

Arts Network Fireside Session

The Glendalough Arts Network invites you to a very special Fireside Session in the lobby of Lynham’s Hotel on Friday 30^th May.  Join us from 8 to 10 pm for a special evening of music and mingling.  Our talented performers will include the Traditional Arts Collective’s Jonny Tennant, Glenealy-based soul mates Eileen McLane and Gaby Brady, and Woodlark’s Kate Gisbourne.  This will be the last Fireside Session until we resume in September, so we very much hope you will join us and bring a friend or two.

As always, the session is free and family friendly, although adults will be welcome to nip into the bar to avail of Lynham’s fine selection of refreshments.  It promises to be a great night and a fantastic lead-in to our Summer Festival, which will take place this year on 19^th July.

To join our mailing list as a performer, speaker or storyteller, or to receive newsletter updates, please email glendaloughartsnetwork@gmail.com

 

Laragh Glendalough Active Retirement

Our next lunch will be in Glenmalure Lodge on Tuesday 3^rd June at 12.45 pm.  We also meet up every Tuesday morning at 11 am in the Brockagh Centre for a bit of fun, light exercise and a cuppa.  Everyone is welcome to come along and try us out.

The Brockagh Resource Centre

Car Boot Sale

The next Car Boot Sale will take place on Sunday 1^st June – this is a great opportunity to either get rid of clutter or find a bargain (many items are new or nearly new).  We also have food stalls, home-baking, jams, plants and crafts.  Vans must be booked in.  Contact us on 0404-45600.

Tuesday Night – Dance Night

Social dancing continues every Tuesday night from 9.30 pm until late.

Yogatree Yoga

Yoga can help with relaxation, de-stressing, flexibility and improved health.  If you have always wondered about yoga you can try it out in the friendly social atmosphere of our Yogatree classes. They are suitable for all ages and abilities from beginners to more advanced students and take place on Wednesday evenings from 6.45 to 8.15pm.  Please contact Yogatree on 0404-40000 for more information.

 

Bealtaine Festival

Go for Life Games

We ‘lobbed’, ‘scidiled’ and ‘flisked’ with a group from Sunbeam Flexi South on 6^th May.  It was great fun and very social.  Many thanks to Valerie McCoy for coming along to facilitate us.  Anyone interested in ‘trying out’ for the Wicklow Team was invited to come along to the ‘Shake Out’ day in the Brockagh Centre on Thursday 29^th May.  John, Dick, Olive and Celia will be checking out the competition as they hope to make the team for the third year in a row and head to Dublin for the national Go for Life games on Saturday 7^th June.

I’ll Live ’til I Die

A lovely afternoon was spent in the company of Carmen Cullen and Gerry Anderson as we were transported back in time to the days of Delia Murphy, the famous balladeer who had the nation singing along with her tunes.  Carmen, Delia’s niece, gave us a very personal insight into her aunt’s life and shared family photos and stories.  She also read from her book ‘Two Sisters Singing’, which is loosely based on Delia’s life.  In addition, Carmen sang some of Delia’s most famous songs such as Courtin’ in the Kitchen, The Spinning Wheel and Three Lovely Lassies from Bannion. 

Holy Wells of Co Wicklow

Rosaleen Durkin joined us on Tuesday 13^th May and gave us a very interesting and informative talk on Holy Wells in Ireland and in Co. Wicklow in particular. She is trying to trace the 120 documented Holy Wells in Co. Wicklow and so far has visited 40 of them.  Many are overgrown and it took Rosaleen a few visits and much help from friends to uncover them.  We wish her well in her endeavour and look forward to reading the book she eventually hopes to publish about the wells.

Musical Coffee Morning

We had a fabulous time at our recent Musical Coffee Morning when the Davidson College Church Choir from North Carolina, USA provided a musical treat for us.  The group was joined in St. Kevin’s church by some members of the Co. Wicklow Get Vocal choir.  Afterwards, everyone retired to the Brockagh Centre for lunch.

The event was a fundraiser organised by Laragh Glendalough & District Active Retirement Association in aid of Make a Wish Foundation and The Irish Heart Foundation.  Our guests experienced the excitement of an “Irish raffle” and the joys of winning a prize.  A total of €413 was raised for both charities.  Many thanks to everyone who donated raffle prizes or baked and all those who supported the coffee morning.

 

Tidy Towns

We have entered Laragh/Glendalough in the National Tidy Towns Competition and will hold our next monthly litter clean up on Tuesday 3^rd June at 7.30 pm.  We meet opposite Lynhams and all are welcome.

Our annual insurance will cost at least €470 (last year’s price).  Petrol for the strimmers is also an ongoing cost.  We are therefore appealing for donations which can be dropped in the Tidy Towns donation box in McCoys shop or in the PO.

 

Kinesiology Clinic

Rosaleen Durkin’s kinesiology sessions for children and adults use muscle bio-feedback to test for common food sensitivities (dairy, gluten, sugar, eggs, etc.) and to detect and correct mineral and nutritional imbalances in the body.  Kinesiology can also provide help with skin conditions and sleeping, anxiety, digestive and concentration problems.  The next clinic takes place on Thursday 26^th June in the Brockagh Centre.

Rosaleen also works with children and adults with learning difficulties (AD/HD, dyslexia, Asperger’s Syndrome).  For appointments or further information call Rosaleen on 087-2195931 or visit www.rosaleendurkin.com

IHF Cycle Challenge Fundraisers

Grand Draw

We concluded our fundraising with a Grand Draw in Lynhams on Friday 23^rd May for everyone who sponsored me for the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) cycle.  Winners were as follows: Joel Leroy (James Taylor tickets) – thanks, Robbie; Nick Keenan (Christy Moore tickets); David Ward (The Coronas tickets); Angela Chambers (Dawn French tickets); Owen Windsor (Anne Sexton Pilates voucher) – thanks, Anne; Frank Evans (Glendalough Hotel voucher) – thanks, Pat; Pauline Sinnott (Tour of Dail plus dinner for four, courtesy of Andrew Doyle TD).  Congratulations also to the twelve other prize-winners.

Anthony and Aoife were our headline act and were ably supported by special guests Brian & Mary, Angela & Gary, Gerard, Richard and Simon.  We rounded the night off with a rousing Royal Albert Hall type version of ‘The Oul Triangle’ (Anthony provided the Glen Hansard bit with Brian as Luke Kelly).  Goodness knows what the French visitors made of it all!  Everyone provided their services free of charge for which I am really grateful.  Thanks also to all who made the night such a success (including Lynhams for the nibbles).

On behalf of the Irish Hospice Foundation I would like to thank everyone again for their continued support over the last few weeks.  As of now we have raised €2,095 which well exceeds our target.  I want to reiterate that all funds go to the IHF with costs/registration etc. for the cycle covered by myself.  Anyone wishing to contribute can still do so by contacting me or by using the link www.mycharity.ie/event/tom_mileys_cycle

Tom Miley (087-4178741)

 

Death

We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Annie Shorten who passed away peacefully on April 25^th in her 103^rd year.  Annie, her late husband Bill and their family, spent a number of years as part of the Glendalough community.  May she rest in peace.

 

Scoil Chaoimhín Naofa

First Holy Communion

Children from Rang 2 made their First Holy Communion on Sunday 11^th May.  Well done and thank you to everyone who was involved with the ceremony.  A special “Míle Buíochas” to the many parents from the school, especially from Rang 1, who provided refreshments with wonderful bakes in the school following the ceremony.  Please keep the children in your prayers.

Green Flag for Biodiversity

Since last year, the pupils have been busy working on the Fifth Green Flag which is for Biodiversity.  On Tuesday 20^th May, Ciara O’Reilly, her dad William, Cian Scanlon and his mum Therese went to DCU to receive the Flag.  This was then raised at a ceremony in the school on Monday 26^th May.  Well done to everyone who made this happen.

Czech Visitors

We were delighted to be hosts to 15 visitors from Otrocineves, in the CzechRepublic, who came to the school on Monday 26^th.  Together, we marked the raising of the Fifth Green Flag, with speeches in two languages, music, song and an exchange of gifts.  Photos of GreenSchool events over the years were displayed for all to see.  Mayor Josef Sinkner of Otrocineves and Moira Byrne, Wicklow County Council Environmental Officer, raised the flag to the sound of a drum-roll.  Thank you to all who helped prepare refreshments and provide equipment for the visit – especially Gerard Duffy, our very professional ‘sound-man’.

Well Done!

Congratulations to Katie Miley, a past pupil of the school, who represented Ireland on the U16 Irish Girls’ soccer team recently.  We are also proud of Heather Cullen and Katie (again) who are both now playing on the Wicklow U16 Ladies Team.  Ádh mór oraibh.

 

Annamoe Community Centre

Bowls  Games continue on Tuesdays at 7.30 pm.

Fun Céilí  Our next Family Fun Céilí takes place on 30^th May at 8 pm.  All are welcome.

Pure Mile  All hands are welcome and will be needed for work on our entry in the 2014 Pure Mile competition.  Judging is in August.

Story House Night  Come along at 8 pm on 13^th June for a great night of fun and tales.

 

Adult Career Guidance Service

The Adult Career Guidance Service continues at the Brockagh Centre. This careers/education service is free, friendly, confidential, supportive and available to all adults over 18 years of age.  For more information or to book an appointment please contact Irene Hayden on 086-8061569.

 

Citizens Information Centre

The Citizens Information Centre at the Brockagh Resource Centre is open for information relating to your rights and entitlements from 10 am until noon on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.  The next clinics will take place on Tuesdays 3^rd and 17^th June.  No appointment is necessary for this free and confidential service.

 

Laragh GFC

Senior Games

We had our first Championship match on Friday 16^th May in Hollywood, evenly matched as usual against Kilbride; at half time the score stood at 7 points apiece and it continued point for point until the last 10 minutes of the second half when we were awarded a penalty.  Christy Merrigan grabbed the ball and buried it to the back of the net.  From here we went on to win by 5 points: 1-15 to 0-13.  The scorers were John Nolan: 06, Damien Hanlon: 03, Christy Merrigan: 1-01, Liam McEvoy: 02, Craig McCoy: 01, Davie McDonald: 01 and Myles Conway: 01.  Well done to all on a great team performance and keep up the training.

We then played the favourites, Kilmac, in the championship in Ashford.  Over the last few years, we have not managed to get the better of this team and it was no different on Sunday.  Kilmac won by 5 points with the final score 2-10 to 1-18.  The scorers on the day were Jack Dunne: 1-01, Liam McEvoy: 1-01, John Nolan: 05, Davie McDonald: 01, Damien Hanlon: 01 and Aran Lynham: 01.

Juvenile Teams

It is great to see the numbers in our nursery increasing as otherwise the future would not look too good for the club.  These boys and girls are improving week by week.  There is a lot of work involved with this age group so any help on a Wednesday evening at 6 pm would be appreciated, as would help with any of our other juvenile teams.

We have held two U8 and U10 blitzes in our field so far this year with teams from all areas of the county participating.  Anyone who has attended will have seen the great football played by the teams involved.  None of this would happen without the help of committee members, players, parents and referees.  Many thanks to all and hopefully we will see everyone for our next blitz.

The U12s have been in fine form over the last month winning both their games against tough opposition in Kiltegan and Coolkenno.  We wish them the best of luck in their next game against the favourites in their group, St. Kevin’s.  Training continues every Wednesday from 6.30 to 7.30 pm.

The U14s are playing with Avondale this year.  So far they have won 4 out of 4 games and put in some excellent performances.  Hopefully they will get something at the end of the year for all their effort.  Training is on Mondays from 6 to 7.15 pm.

The U16s are playing with An Tochar and are holding their own in their league – drawing or losing narrowly in their last two games.

We have plenty of our players playing underage hurling with Avondale and this is going very well.

Avondale GAA Club

We have a number of players attending Avondale GAA club on a Saturday for their new set up which involves both hurling and football.  If anyone else is interested please contact any committee member.

Thanks

The club sends a big thanks to everyone that bought a ticket from us for the County Development Draw; we have had one winner of €150 with one more draw to come.

Thank you to all who helped out with our recent bucket collection and to everyone who helped with the concrete in the grounds over the last few weeks.  Your help will be needed again shortly.

Thanks also to the two lads who are keeping our pitches, grounds and dressing rooms up to scratch.

Congratulations

Congratulation to Steve Olohan who has been called up for the Wicklow Junior team.

Well done also to all our players who made either their Communion or Confirmation recently and to those who graduated from AvondaleCommunity College last week.

Hard Luck

Hard luck to FC Laragh who were narrowly defeated in the final of the Thomas Scott Cup.  Keep the heads up and bring it home next year!

 

Mobile Library

The mobile library visits Laragh every second Thursday from 12 noon to 12.50 pm.  The first ten minutes are spent outside the Brockagh Centre and the rest of the time is spent outside Lynhams.  The next visits will be on Thursdays 5^th and 19^th June.

 

This Newsletter is produced by the Parish Development & Renewal Group