Laragh & Glendalough News Issue134 - May 2008

Feile Chaoimhghin Naofa

Following the success of last year's event a full programme has been planned once again this year to celebrate the feast of St. Kevin.

Saturday 31st May
" Because the Bird is Singing - 5 am, Upper Lake car park
" Heritage Evening - Words, Music and Movement in the Monastic Tradition - 8.30 pm, meet at the Stone Caher (Upper Lake). This will be followed at 9.30 pm by the dance in the Brockagh Centre which is part of the Bealtaine Festival.

Sunday 1st June
" Sunday Mass with a focus on St. Kevin - 11.30am, St. Kevin's Church, Laragh
" Ceol agus Craic - Traditional Music with Comhaltas and Special Guests - 8 pm, Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh. Admission: adults €10; children free.
Monday 2nd June

" Pilgrim Walk on St. Kevin's Way
" 11 am Meet at St. Kevin's Church car park (€5 to cover one way transport on minibus).
" 2 pm (approx) You are welcome to join the group at the Wicklow Gap (for the downhill stretch).
Participants are advised to wear walking shoes/boots and bring wet weather gear and a packed lunch/water.

Laragh/Glendalough Tidy Towns

James Callery, from the Environmental Dept. of Wicklow Co Council, will be the guest speaker at a talk held in the Brockagh Centre on Thursday 15th May at 8 pm. He will cover topics such as "Reducing Our Shopping Bag", Composting, Energy Saving and much more. All are welcome.
Our usual cleanup will take place on the first Saturday of the month at 11 am - meet on the green opposite Lynhams.

Bealtaine Festival Dances

The Bealtaine festival will open with a dance at the Brockagh Centre on Saturday 3rd May at 9.30 pm. Music will be by Tommy Carroll and plenty of craic and good fun is guaranteed. Refreshments will be available. The cost is €5 for everyone.
The festival will also close with a dance at the Brockagh Centre on Saturday May 31st at 9.30 pm - John Flood will provide the music - so get your dancing shoes on and prepare to have lots of fun! Once again the cost is €5 for everyone.

The Poor Ould Fellas

Declan Lynch, award-winning writer, will present an excerpt from his hilarious book "The Book of the Poor Ould Fellas" in the Brockagh Centre on Tuesday May 6th at 11 am. The Poor Ould Fella - the Celtic Tiger has, alas, passed him by. As modern life intrudes on his traditional ways, he has little choice but to retreat to the safety of the pub or the comfort of his own fireside. Yet even there the 21st century threatens his peace of mind - how the Poor Ould Fella despises such modern concoctions as alcohol-free Guinness, the smoking ban and reality television.

Czech Visit 2008

We are expecting a group of twelve (9 adults and 3 children) of our Czech friends to visit from Thursday 29th May to Tuesday 3rd June inclusive. They have planned their visit to coincide with the celebrations for Féile Chaoimhghín 2008. A meeting to finalise plans and arrangements for the visit will take place in the Glendalough Hotel on Tuesday 6th May at 8.30 pm. All are welcome to attend, particularly anyone interested in becoming more involved in the hosting arrangements. Alternatively you can contact Brendan at 45167.
A full programme of the planned activities will be published in next month's newsletter.

St Coleman's Hospital Whitsun Walk

The 38th Annual Whitsun Walk in aid of St. Colman's Hospital Patient Benefit Fund will take place on June 1st. There will also be a Garden Fete in St Colman's, commencing at 2 pm, which will feature stalls, bands, refreshments, etc. All are welcome and car parking is free.
Anyone wishing to help out in any way should contact a member of the committee.

Music Healing

'Healing through Celtic Music' - this event will take place at the Brockagh Centre on Friday May 9th at 7.30 pm. For further information or to book call Mary Stacey on 087-9819420.

Scoil Chaoimhin Naofa

Welcome
We extend a warm welcome to Elaine O'Brien who joined our staff this term as our new secretary. We wish her a happy and fulfilling time with us.

Handwriting Competition
Natasha Byrne demonstrated wonderful skill by achieving first place in the INTO EBS handwriting competition. This was a significant achievement as Natasha came out on top of the many entries from 41 schools. Well done to all the children who entered their best handwriting into the competition.

Pilgrim Walk
Father Kevin led Fifth and Sixth Classes on a memorable stretch of their Confirmation preparation. They headed off from Ballinagee Bridge on Slí Chaoimhín, up Turlough Hill and down into Glendasan to arrive in Glendalough. The children felt a wonderful sense of achievement as they trekked through the spring snow, helping each other along the way.

Sponsored Walk
We ended our second term at school with our annual sponsored walk. Afterwards we went to the Glendalough hotel where the Easter bunny had paid a visit on behalf of the Parents' Association. Thanks to all who supported the walk which raised €4,125 for the school.

Sports
Well done to the ten team members who competed in the Cumann na mBunscol Wicklow County Seven Aside GAA competition in Kilcoole: Gary White, Mark Miley, Evan Hawkins, Tom Kenna, Keane Murphy, Damien Hanlon, Eoin Lynham, Pádraig McCoy and Ian Foster. Thanks to Paul Carter and Brian Windsor who gave their time and effort to coach the team. The boys won their pool but were eventually beaten in the semi-final by the winning team from St. Pat's in Wicklow.
Soccer is also going strong. Our team players are Gary White, Tom Kenna, Evan Hawkins, Ian Foster, Mark Miley, Damien Hanlon, Keane Murphy, Eoin Lynham, Pádraig McCoy, Cormac Ward and Peter O'Neill. The team won the small school section of the FAI competition, qualifying for the South Leinster tournament where they won one game and were narrowly defeated in two. Thanks to Willie McCoy who sponsored the drinks on the day. Both teams proudly wore their new team sweatshirts which were sponsored by RTL.

Tráth na gCeist
Two teams represented our school in this year's Cumann na mBunscol quiz. The children who took part were Mark Miley, Tom Kenna, Evan Hawkins, Gary White, Pádraig McCoy, Ian Foster, Peter O'Neill and Damien Hanlon. They demonstrated superb knowledge of the GAA - both teams were in the top ten with one team taking third place.

Swimming Lessons
Volunteers are required to help supervise the two separate six-week long sessions of swimming lessons for First to Sixth Class. Please add your name to the rota on the school noticeboard.

Tesco Tokens
We are collecting Tesco tokens again this year. Thanks to all who donate tokens to the school.

Johnny McEvoy in Concert

Singer/songwriter Johnny McEvoy will be appearing in the Brockagh Centre for one night only on Saturday May 24th at 8 pm. He is currently doing a tour of Ireland and his first album in nearly 5 years marks his return to folk music. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to see this concert. Tickets are available from the Brockagh Centre and cost €16 with concessions €12; the price for OAP & Active Retired is €5.

Citizen's Information

The Citizen's Information Centre at the Brockagh Centre is open on Tuesdays 6th and 20th May (10am until 12 noon) for information relating to rights and entitlements. This is a free and confidential service and no appointment is necessary.

Baptisms

We extend a very warm welcome to Jack Michael Windsor, son of Fiona and George, who was recently baptised in St. Kevin's Church.

Laptops Wanted

If you have a working laptop that you do not use anymore people teaching autistic children would love them. Call Mary on 087-9819420.

Thank You

Betty wishes to thank everyone who attended her birthday party for all the lovely gifts. Thanks also to Ben and the staff of the Glendalough Hotel and to Denis and the Laragh lads for the music.

Art Exhibition with Ann Hollinshead

There will be an exhibition by Wicklow artist Ann Hollinshead on Sunday May 11th from 11 am until 4.30 pm at the Brockagh Centre. The artist's work can be purchased during the event.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Tara Byrne who graduated recently from Templemore Garda college. We wish her every success in her future career.

The Brockagh Resource Centre

Car Boot Sale
The next Car Boot sale will take place on Sunday May 4th from 11 am. Subsequent Car Boot sales will take place on the first Sunday of every month. For further information contact the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600.

Country Market & Craft Fair
The Glendalough Market and Craft Fair will be back on Sunday 11th May from 11 am to 4 pm. This market takes place on the second Sunday of every month. New stall holders are always welcome (€30 per stall). Parking and admission are free. If you would like to book a stall phone 0404-45600.

Tuesday Night - Dance Night
Tuesday night is dance night at the Brockagh Centre from 10 pm till late with the Wicklow Man.

Children's Dance Classes
Kate now runs two age-appropriate dance classes for children which will give your child the opportunity to explore dance in a fun, non-competitive environment. Wednesday classes at 6pm are dedicated to the 10+ age group and for the under 10s there is a class at 5 pm. Please call Kate on 086-8256775 to book a place.

KICKS
A fun way to get fit every Tuesday and Friday night from 8.30 to 9.15 pm - KICKS includes a mixture of aerobics, fitness, kickercise, boxercise and body toning, all performed to music in a friendly environment. KICKS is for both males and females and is suitable for all levels of fitness. For further details contact Paul on 087-2484570.

Yoga
A new class of Ashtanga yoga takes place on Wednesday nights from 8 to 9.30 pm. Ashtanga yoga improves strength, flexibility and posture, improves muscle tone and helps weight loss.
Gentle yoga takes place on the same night from 7 to 8 pm and suits the absolute novice and people of all ages and abilities. For further information call the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600.

Marie Keating Mobile Unit

The Marie Keating Foundation mobile unit will be in the Brockagh Centre on Tuesday 13th May from 10.30 am until 4 pm. There will be a registered nurse on board who provides cancer information to the general public free of charge. The unit has a welcome area where people can take a seat and wait to see the nurse (please note that this is not a screening service). The unit is equipped with take-home information leaflets on bowel, lung, skin, testicular, prostate, cervical, ovarian and breast cancer. Our nurse will talk to you one to one in our private area about any concerns you have about cancer for yourself, a relative, work colleague or neighbour. For further information contact the Brockagh Centre.

Summer Camp

Leslie Dowdall and Leo Kilroy are organizing a Music, Art & Drama Summer Camp in the Brockagh Centre from Monday July 14th to Friday June 18th (10.30 am until 2.30 pm). Phone 087-2631186 or 086-3378473 for further details.

Searching for Relatives

Paul and Catherine Walton are trying to find information about Catherine's Irish ancestors.
In c1828 Richard Murray and Catherine Doyle were married in the Glendalough area. Their children William (wife Margaret Hopper), Michael (wife Julia Toole), Catherine (husband Michael Kelly), Sarah (husband Patrick Duffy) Ann (husband Peter Richardson) and Julia (husband Patrick Cahill) emigrated to England from around 1850 through to 1870. All lived for sometime in Cleator Moor, Cumberland.
Other children were John (remained in Ireland) and Mary who married a man with the surname Caul and emigrated to Canada.
Catherine's main interest is Sarah Murray and Patrick Duffy as they are her GGgreat-grand parents. Any advice would be deeply appreciated. Email paul.walton@tesco.net

Adult Guidance Service

Irene Hayden, guidance counsellor with Co. Wicklow Adult Guidance Service, will be in the Brockagh Centre on Tuesday 3rd June from 11 am until 1 pm. The service is free, confidential and available to all adults over 18 years of age. It includes career/education guidance and help with CV preparation and interview skills. To make an appointment contact Irene on 086-8061569.

The Matchmaker

Starring Mick Lally and Geraldine Plunkett, John B. Keane's marvellous and mischievous comedy will play for one performance only at 4 pm on the afternoon of Saturday 10th May in the Brockagh Centre. The play follows the efforts of Dicky Mick Dicky O'Connor to make matches for the lonely and lovelorn from all parts of the country!
Tickets are available from the Brockagh Centre and cost €12 with concessions €10; OAP & Active Retired are free (thanks to Wicklow County Arts Office). Tickets are selling fast so book now.

Wicklow Mountains National Park

Woodland Walk
Explore the woods of Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve, looking at the plants and animals and the history of the woods. This walk takes place on Saturday 10th May and is not suitable for children. Participants should wear suitable footwear for venturing off-track. Bookings (essential) will be taken on 0404-45656/45425 from 26th April.

Dawn Chorus with Birdwatch Ireland
Sunday 18th May is Dawn Chorus Day and all over Ireland people will be getting up incredibly early to join a guided walk to listen to and learn the birds' songs. There are no limits on the age and number of participants in this event and there will be an optional Birdsong Workshop in the Education Centre afterwards. Booking is not required but for more details, phone 0404-45425. Meet at 5 am at the Upper Lake car park in Glendalough.

Tree Identification Walk
A Tree Identification Walk will take place in Knocksink Wood (for Biodiversity Week) on Saturday 24th May. Learn how to identify trees and discover their history, folklore, ecology and uses. Participants should wear suitable footwear for venturing off-track. This event is not suitable for children and bookings (essential) will be taken from Saturday 10th May. Tel: 0404-45425.
Entry to all the above events is free of charge.

Laragh Badminton Club

Congratulations to Andrew Kenny and Stephanie Merrigan who won the Grade 6 County Wicklow Championship singles competition and received their prizes at the County awards night in Glendalough. This was a successful year for the Laragh Badminton team who won the cup and are now setting their sights on the league competition for next year. The team would like to thank Ger Kenna from Roundwood and Siobhan Grehan from Laragh who both provided much needed coaching.
Any parents who would like to become involved in the running of the junior club should contact Breda McEvoy on 087-9569150.
The badminton season ends on 1st May and restarts in September. If you would like to join the club please contact Thomas Miley on 087-4178741. For more information about badminton see www.badmintonireland.com

Knock Pilgrimage

There will be a Pilgrimage to Knock on Saturday June 14th (not June 15th as previously advertised). The bus will leave Laragh at 7 am and depart from Roundwood at 7.30 am. Please give names to Charlie (0404-45188) or Susan (0404-45276) now.

Mobile Library

The mobile library will be in Laragh on Thursdays May 8th and 22nd from 10 am to 12 noon.

Death

We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to Barbara and Leo and their families on the death of baby Kate Olivia McGraynor.

Laragh GFC

Congratulations
Well done to the boys of Scoil Chaoimhín Naofa on winning their group in the recent Cumann na mBunscol competition by beating teams from St. Cronan's in Bray, Newtown and Donard. Unfortunately they were defeated by a stronger opposition from St. Pat's in Wicklow. Many thanks to all involved, especially Kathleen Kenna, for all the hard work.

Table Quiz
Our Juvenile committee will host a Table Quiz in Lynhams at 8.30 pm on Thursday May 1st. Everybody is welcome.