Laragh & Glendalough News Issue135 - June 2008

Czech Visit

Final arrangements for the visit of our Czech friends (the group has increased to fourteen) have now been made. Members of the community in a position to help out with transport etc. or who wish to come along to any of the events, some of which coincide with the celebrations for Féile Chaoimhín, are very welcome (contact Brendan at 45167 for further information).

Day and Time Activity
Thursday 29th (late) Czech Group Arrives
Friday 30th 10.30 am Visit to Scoil Chaoimhín Naofa
Friday 30th 12.30 pm Visitors Centre and National Park
Saturday 31st 5 am Dawn Chorus
Saturday 31st (all day) Visit to Dublin
Saturday 31st 8.30pm Heritage Evening, Upper Lake
Saturday 31st 9.30pm Dance in Brockagh Centre
Sunday 1st 11.30 am Mass
Sunday 1st afternoon To be decided
Sunday 1st 8 pm Ceol & Craic in Brockagh Centre
Monday 2nd 11 am or 2 pm St. Kevin's Pilgrimage Walk
Tuesday 3rd (midday) Czech Group Leaves

Honorary Citizenship

Congratulations to Eileen Patterson who was recently made an honorary citizen of the town of Spezet in Brittany, France. Eileen has been involved with the exchange programme between Spezet and Roundwood for over twenty years. She is also involved in the twinning project between the Laragh/Glendalough area and Otrocineves in the Czech Republic.

A New Cemetery for our Community

Most people are aware that there is an urgent need to provide additional space for the burial of the dead in our community. The Parish Pastoral Council of St. Kevin's Parish has explored a variety of possibilities, some of which seemed hopeful, but none of which has worked out.

We are proposing to host a public meeting at the Brockagh Resource Centre on Thursday June 26th, at 8 pm. All are welcome, and anyone who can propose a solution to the problem will be particularly welcome. This is a matter which, like no other, concerns us all.
In the final analysis, the provision of a burial place is the responsibility of the local authority. With this in mind, local representatives have been invited to attend - we hope they may be able to tell us what the County Council proposes to do when the last remaining plots at St. Kevin's are gone.

The Way of Kevin
And then there was St. Kevin's Way
The Way of Kevin, Tochar Chaoimhín
In a Meditation Garden on a hill
below the chapel graveyard,
Suaimhneas Chaoimhín, the Tranquillity
of Kevin
sings with the sound of water splashing.
A first Cuckoo calls on 4th of May
Tadpoles swim in the old stone
Baptism Font from Annamoe Church.

Are these Holy tadpoles in the Baptismal
Font?
Or are they like the rest of us, struggling?
Is this their time, their place, their struggle?
Life is what's Holy. Life is a struggle
whether in a Holy Water Font or
in the outstretched hand of a saint.
Struggle is the Prayer of Life.
Ask St. Kevin. Ask the Blackbird.
Ask the sons of the sons of the Blackbird.
Ask the way.
Martin Swords, May 6th 2008

Inspired by Seamus Heaney's Poem
St Kevin and the Blackbird
And then there was St Kevin and the blackbird

Mobile Library

The mobile library will be in Laragh on Thursdays June 5th and 19th from 10 am to 12 noon.

Wicklow Mountains National Park

June Bug Walk
Take a safari through the amazing world of bugs on Saturday 7th June. Family friendly, although not suitable for buggies, this walk is loved by children and adults alike. Bring a jar with a lid to help examine the mini-beasts. Bookings (essential) will be taken on 0404-45425 from Saturday 24th May.

Leave No Trace Day
Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethic designed for everyone who uses the outdoors (from hill walkers to climbers to families with a picnic). On Saturday 14th June we will have a series of drop-in stations with fun activities focusing on the seven principles of Leave No Trace. This is a fun, casual, family-friendly day designed for anyone with an interest in conserving our outdoor places. All ages are welcome and booking is not required. Drop in any time between 11 am and 4 pm and stay as long or as short as you wish.

Wildflower Walk
Learn to identify some of the wildflowers of Glendalough and discover a little about their ecology, folklore and history. This walk takes place on Saturday 28th June and is not suitable for children. Booking is essential and will be taken from Saturday 14th June only on 0404-45425.

Féile Chaoimhín Naofa

Full details of the festival are available on www.glendalough.dublindiocese.ie (or see May's newsletter). The highlights are given below

Saturday 31st - 5 am Dawn Chorus
Saturday 31st - 8.30pm Heritage Evening
Sunday 1st - 9.15 am Holy Communion Service (C of I)
Sunday 1st - 9.30 am & 11.30 am Mass with a focus on St. Kevin (RC)
Sunday 1st - 8 pm Ceol agus Craic
Monday 2nd - 11 am or 2 pm St. Kevin's Pilgrimage Walk
Tuesday 3rd - 9 am Mass for the Feast

Yogatree Summer Classes

There is always yoga for everyone at the Brockagh Centre - we welcome beginners, intermediate and advanced yogis and we love to have a good mix spanning the generations and the sexes in our classes. Pregnant ladies can attend certain classes.
If you have never tried yoga, perhaps this summer it is time you did. If you love yoga, but have not found the time in recent month or years, why not sign-up for six weeks in June and July? If you are a practicing yogi or yogini, there is no need to seize up or miss out. - classes start on Tuesday evening 17th June at the Devils Glen Equestrian Centre in Ashford and on Thursday morning 19th June at the Brockagh Resource Centre.
Practising yoga helps to bring the body to its optimal health through toning and strengthening the muscular and skeletal systems, through proper alignment of the spine and the promotion of blood circulation to the organs/soft tissues. But that's not all - find out for yourself how yoga can help you!
For enquiries/bookings please call Emer or Hilde on 0404-40000 or email info@yogatreeireland.com

Summer Camps

BamBam Play and Learn Summer Camp
During the months of July and August BamBam Play and Learn runs a Mother Goose Summer Camp for the 2 to 4 year olds which includes lots of games, activities and crafts combined with outdoor play. The camp costs €80 per week and runs from Monday to Friday each week from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. Children bring a packed lunch.
There will also be an Arts and Crafts Summer Camp during the month of July for children aged 5 to 11 years of age. This camp runs each week from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. Children bring a packed lunch. The cost is €80 per week.

Music, Art & Drama 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 July 18th (10.30 am until 2.30 pm). Phone 087-2631186 or 086-3378473 for further details.

Brockagh Summer Camp
The Brockagh Summer Camp will take place from Tuesday July 22nd to Friday July 25th from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm. Activities include fitness and fun, arts and crafts, yoga, pottery, games (new and old) and dancing (Stage Bratz). The cost is €70 per child - €35 deposit required. For further information call the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600.

Kate's Summer Dance Camp
Kids Dance Camp will take place from Monday 28th July until Friday 1st August. If you are interested in booking a place or would like further information, please call Kate on 086-8256775

Anglers' Disco

The Laragh and Glendalough Anglers' Disco will take place in Lynham's Hotel (late bar) on Friday May 30th. DJ Jody Ferguson will play music from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Bealtaine Festival

There has been plenty of activity in Laragh and Glendalough during the Bealtaine Festival. Declan Lynch entertained us on 6th May with a few stories from his hilarious and very successful book "The Book of the Poor Ould Fellas" although many ladies in the audience felt that if Declan decided to write a book about the "Poor Ould Ones" he could fill twice as many pages!
There was a full house for Mick Lally and Geraldine Plunkett's performance of John B Keane's "The Matchmaker" on Saturday 10th May. We were joined by active retirement groups and friendship clubs from Greystones, Wicklow, Shillelagh, Tinahely, Carnew and Hollywood. It was very much enjoyed by all.
On Tuesday 13th we received valuable information from a nurse from the Marie Keating Foundation. This was followed by an introduction to using the mobile phone, which was very educational but a little too short, so we hope to expand on it in the future so we can all get 'texting'.
For many, the highlight of the Bealtaine Festival was the morning children from 3rd and 4th class in Scoil Chaoimhín Naofa joined our "Go for Life" group. We all did a warm-up routine together and strutted our stuff to the 'Superman' song. All had great fun with the 'swap places' game which was followed by "Queenie I O" and hopscotch and then the children showed off their talents with their 'elastics'. It was a great morning and we look forward to our return invitation. Many thanks go to Ann Savage and Ms Hegarty.

Dance Night

The Bealtaine Festival will 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! The cost is €5 for everyone.

Adult Guidance Service

The next Adult Guidance Service takes place in the Brockagh Centre on Tuesday June 3rd from 11 am until 1 pm. This free service includes one to one career/education guidance and advice. To book an appointment contact Irene on 086-8061569.

Basket Making

A one-day, basic basket-making course will take place in the Brockagh Centre on Saturday June 28th. Learn to make your own basket to use at home. If you are interested please call Lusi on 087-6597885 - places are limited.

St Colman's Hospital Whitsun Walk

Your support would be appreciated for the 38th Whitsun Walk in aid of St. Colman's Hospital which will take place on June 1st. There will also be a Garden Fete in St Colman's, commencing at 2pm, which will feature stalls, bands, refreshments, etc. All are welcome and car parking is free.

The Brockagh Resource Centre

Car Boot Sale
The next Car Boot sale will take place on Sunday June 1st 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 8th June 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.

Ashtanga Yoga
A new class of Ashtanga yoga takes place on Wednesday nights from 8.15 to 9.45 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 people of all ages and abilities. For further information call the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600 or Rachel on 087-3161446.

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.

Pioneer Vigil

The annual Wicklow Pioneer Vigil takes place on Friday May 30th in St. Kevin's Church, Glendalough commencing with Mass at 9 pm.

Scoil Chaoimhín Naofa

First Day at School
New children joined Ms. O'Connor's class for their first day at school on 19th May. Before long tears had been wiped away, smiles returned to the little faces and pupils settled happily into their new surroundings. A few tears lingered however, in the eyes of Mammy and Daddy!

Confirmation Ceremony
Congratulations to the Fifth and Sixth Class pupils who made their confirmation on Friday 23rd May. Fr. Kevin, deputising for Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, administered the sacrament. Thanks to all who assisted in making the day so special.

School Garden
Classes have been busy in our outdoor classroom over the past few weeks, digging, weeding and planting. We look forward to a colourful garden in the coming months.

Second Green Flag
We have received a second 'An Taisce' green flag award after two years on which we focused on the theme of energy reduction and continued our work on litter and waste. The green flag is a symbol that our school community is aware of the need to actively protect the environment in which we live.

Jack and Jill Foundation
Thanks to everyone who brought in old mobile phones for the Jack and Jill Foundation. There was a great response to this appeal.

Tesco Tokens
Just over 20,000 Tesco tokens have been collected so far. We appreciate all the donations.

Swimming Lessons
Pupils eagerly anticipate their swimming lesson every Thursday afternoon. Thanks to all the parents who volunteered to help with supervision.

End-of-Year Blessing
Our end-of-year Mass will take place in St Kevin's church on 21st June at 7.30 pm. Following the Mass there will be a blessing of our newly-extended school.

Transition Towns

Have you ever considered what we'll do when cheap oil is no longer as readily available as it is now? Or how we'll face the inevitability of climate change? How will our daily lives be affected? Have you ever thought on ways in which we could be preparing now for the onslaught of Peak Oil and climate change? Perhaps you have some solutions… If you have answered 'yes' to all these questions, you may be interested in checking out www.transitiontowns.org. For further information email catherinedevitt@yahoo.co.uk or call 086-3111043.

Citizen's Information

The Citizen's Information Centre at the Brockagh Centre is open on Tuesdays 3rd and 17th June from 10 am until 12 noon for information relating to your rights and entitlements. No appointment is necessary. This is a free and confidential service.

Blessing of Graves 2008

St. Kevin's cemetery in Laragh will be blessed on Saturday August 9th after the 7 pm Mass. The cemetery in Glendalough will be blessed on August 16th after 7 pm Mass in Laragh.

Laragh GFC

Quiz Night
The club would like to thank the many people who supported the quiz night in Lynhams in aid of our Juveniles. Thanks also to Martin Byrne, our quizmaster, and to all those who donated prizes for the raffle.

Croke Park Trip
A very enjoyable day was had by all who travelled to Croke Park and witnessed the famous victory against Kildare. Our Juveniles in particular enjoyed the day - sincere thanks to the many parents who helped out.

Advertising Space Available
Anyone who is interested in placing an advertising board on the newly-erected fence around the main pitch should contact a member of the club.

Congratulations
Congratulations to Craig McCoy, Steve Olohan and Stephen O'Neill who were on the Avondale Community College team that won the Wicklow Senior A final recently.

Upcoming Championship Game
Our footballers are doing well in Division 2 of the League. Dates for the championship will soon be known - keep an eye on the fixtures list in the local press as we need lots of support for these games.

Best Wishes
Best wishes to Craig McCoy for a speedy recovery after his recent operation.