Laragh & Glendalough News Issue 138 - September 2008

Medieval Chant in Glendalough

On Friday 29th August (from 7 to 8.30 pm) Schola Gregoriana will perform a programme of Medieval Chant from Irish Manuscripts in the Visitor Centre in Glendalough. This Heritage Week event will be presented by Dr. Ann Buckley, NUI Maynooth. All are welcome and admission is free.

Laragh Badminton Club

The AGM of Laragh Badminton Club takes place on Thursday 11th September at 8.30 pm in the Brockagh Resource Centre. We hope to see a good turn out of players and parents of junior members interested in promoting badminton. We would like to thank Avon Motors for sponsoring our very successful and keenly contested end-of-year junior competition. Well done to all the participants. Play resumes as usual on Mondays and Thursdays from Monday 15th September with junior members starting at 8 pm and seniors at 9pm. Boys and girls from 5th Class and upwards in primary school are welcome to join.

Christmas Shopping Trip to Chicago

Are you interested in a 7-night Christmas shopping trip to Chicago in November? The price of €1,800 includes transport to and from the airport (on both sides), airfare, 4* city centre hotel, breakfasts and dinners, a theatre outing to see the Broadway musical Wicked, a city tour, a trip to a premium outlet mall for shopping and a Chicago Bulls basketball game. Please call the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600 for details.

Information Day for Older People

County Wicklow Network for Older People is hosting an information morning on Thursday 11th September from 10.30 am until 1 pm in the Brockagh Centre. It will provide older people across County Wicklow with access to information on the rights, entitlements and services which are available to them in the county. Speakers on the day will be from Age Action and Citizens Information Service. A light lunch will be provided and transport can be arranged if required. For further information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Garvan Hickey by Thursday 4th September at 0402-20208 or e-mail ghickey@wicklowcoco.ie

Tidy Towns

Judging has now taken place in the Tidy Towns Competition. We hope to publish the results in the next newsletter. As we are coming to the end of the summer we will be holding what is likely to be our penultimate ‘clean–up’ of the year on Saturday 6th September. We will meet outside Lynhams at 11am and all are very welcome.

Goodbye to Fr Attilio

After three months with St. Kevin’s Parish Father Attilio has left for his home in Italy. The purpose of his visit was to improve his grasp of English so that he could take Thai language lessons (these are not offered through Italian)! We congratulate him on how well he achieved this goal and thank him for the generous service he gave to the parish. We wish him every blessing in his new mission in Thailand and remind him that he is always welcome to visit us in the future.

Adult Guidance Service

Co. Wicklow Adult Guidance Service will be in the Brockagh Centre on Monday September 1st from 11 am until 1 pm. This facility is free, friendly, confidential, supportive and is available to all adults over 18 years of age. It provides a range of services including one to one career/education guidance, information on local and national courses, help with CV preparation and interview skills, study skills workshops, information and advice on education grants, rights and entitlements. To book an appointment contact Irene Hayden on 086-8061569.

Road Cycling Group

Are you interested in setting up a road cycling group in the Laragh area for regular training spins and general fitness purposes? If so, contact Catherine (086-3111043) or Tom (087-4178741).

Many thThe Brockagh Resource Centre

The days are getting a little bit shorter, children are back to school – now is the time to plan your autumn/winter classes! See insert for a timetable of both our regular and new activities.

Dancing for Children
Lindsay Howard will return with her dance classes from Monday 1st September. Toddler Music and Movement will take place on Monday mornings from 10 am. This class is proving popular with both parents and children. Under 8s Ballet has a new Monday slot at 5.15 pm which is followed by Cheerleading for teens and pre-teens at 6 pm. The cheerleading squad will learn pom dances, jumps and tumbles, cheers and chants as well as stunts. For further information on any of these classes call Lyndsay on 085-8113102.
Jazz and Hip-Hop classes with Kate will be back on Wednesday 1st October at 5 pm for the under 10s and at 6 pm for over 10s. Age-appropriate classes consist of a variety of dance styles including jazz, hip-hop, salsa and Irish dance as well as drama games. To book a place, please call Kate on 086-8256775.

Dancing for Adults
Get rid of the Monday morning blues with Adult Disco Jazz at 10.45 am from Monday 1st September. If you are not a morning person there is also the regular Monday evening class at 7 pm. These classes are fun and funky dance/exercise and are guaranteed to put a spring in your step for the rest of the week. For further information call Lindsay on 085-8113102.
Line Dancing continues on a Wednesday night from 8.15 pm. This is great fun and a marvellous way to keep fit. Call Jane on 086-8683380.
Adult Ballroom Dancing will return in September from 7 pm until 8 pm. For further information call Gina on 087-2818887.

Fitness – Children and Adults
Tae Kwon Do classes with Paul Healy will return to their usual Tuesday and Friday slots for juniors and seniors from 2nd September.
KICKS will return on 2nd September and also takes place on a Tuesday and Friday night from 8.30 pm to 9.15 pm. KICKS combines self-defence, dance and boxercise for a total body workout and is a fun way to keep fit, lose weight and become strong. It is for both males and females and is suitable for all levels of fitness. For further details on Tae Kwon Do or Kicks contact Paul on 087-2484570 or choskicks@hotmail.com

Badminton returns on Monday September 15th. Juniors play on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 to 9 pm. Adult classes continue at 9 pm.

Yoga and Tai Chi
Yoga Level 1 (Tuesdays, 7 to 8 pm) – Gentle Yoga suitable for all ages and abilities - ideal for complete beginners. Take time-out to tune into yourself - improve mobility/flexibility, posture and muscle tone. The class includes breath work, gentle postures and guided relaxation.Yoga Level 2 (Tuesdays, 8.15 to 9.45 pm) – Stronger Yoga – a more challenging class for those wanting to expand their yoga practice. Focusing on building flexibility and inner strength through strong breath and posture work, it draws on both Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga traditions. The class includes breath work and yoga postures and finishes with guided relaxation.
There will be an ‘open night’ for both classes on Tuesday 9th September where you can try either for a fee of €5. A six week course begins on 16th September. For more information contact Rachel on 087-3161446.
Yogatree classes with Hilde restart on Thursday 11th September at 10.30 am and again at 7.30 pm. Newcomers of all ages and levels are more than welcome to join our regular yogis for a term of Iyengar-inspired therapeutic yoga and reap the rewards of stretching and toning, followed by a deep sense of relaxation and well-being. Call 0404-40000 or 087-2436475 or e-mail info@yogatreeireland.com with enquiries.

Tai Chi/Chi Kung & Meditation Would you like to feel more relaxed, more effective in your daily life, more in tune with your surroundings? Would you like to have more fulfilling relationships with family, friends and work colleagues? Heather Darling will hold an open night for a new term on Monday 15th September at 7.15 pm. Try Tai Chi for one night for €10. Please contact Heather on 087-2383888.
Yoga for Kids stimulates children’s power of imagination while boosting confidence and self-esteem and maintaining children’s natural flexibility. Classes take place on Thursdays from 18th September. Yoga Bugs starts at 1.45 pm (children aged 2 to 7 years) and Yoga at 2.45 pm (children aged 8 to 12 years). For further information contact Hilde on 0404-40000.

Other Activities
Happy Days Carer and Toddler Group is back on Wednesday 3rd September. This drop-in event for under 7s and their carers takes place on Wednesday mornings from 10.30 am till 12 noon and allows adults and children come together to have fun and to support one another. All are welcome. For further details please call Caroline Stacey on 086-6045434.
Go For Life (over 55s) will be back on Tuesday 30th September. New members are always welcome to join us for tea, a chat, a laugh and some light exercise.
Youth Club resumes on Wednesday 17th September from 7.30 until 9 pm. Call Margaret Bolton on 086-8479761.
Art Classes start on 24th September. A Beginner's and Intermediate 6-week course will take place on Wednesday nights with a certified ‘Frank Clarke’ teacher. The medium is acrylic and watercolour and there is a focus on teaching techniques. Contact Sheila on 0404-46952.

Car Boot Sale
The next Car Boot sale will take place on Sunday September 7th from 11 am (stall holders 10 am). The cost is €10 per car or small van. For further details contact 0404-45600.
Country Market & Craft Fair
The Craft Fair will be back on Sunday 14th September from 11 am to 4.30 pm. New stall-holders are always welcome (€30 per stall). Parking and admission are free. Stalls include home-baking, preserves, plants, pottery, jewellery and much more. Refreshments will also be available. To book a stall phone 0404-45600.

Doggy Day Out
The Doggy Day Out in the Brockagh Centre raised €908 for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Best Small Dog was won by Tommy Brown with Toby; Best Large Dog was won by Jessica Fahy and Lenny; Sarah Cullen and Titch won the Best Six Legs; Best Old Dog was won by Linda Haug and Danny; Hilda Bleakley’s dog won the Best Groomed, and Louise Howe’s Chance was first in the Most Obedient category. The prize for Fancy Dress went to Eric Olohan’s Batman. The overall winner was Linda Haug with Danny.
Special thanks go to the following – Husse Dog Food who sponsored the First Prizes, Doui Walsh and Alan who provided entertainment, Fiona Gammell from the K9 Club who sponsored the rosettes and acted as judge with Elaine; Lee-Anne who did the pet portraits. Thanks also to Liam Farrington who got up especially early on Sunday morning to build a dog kennel, Valerie McCoy who volunteered, Patrick Nuttall who donated the straw and Michael Byrne who delivered it. A big thank you goes to everyone who donated prizes on the day or who helped out. Well done to Michelle McCoy who organised the event.

Tuesday Night - Dance Night
Tuesday night is always dance night - from 10 pm till late with the Wicklow Man.
Saturday Night Dances
August 30th is the date for our next Saturday Dance (with Tommy Carroll). Social dancing takes place from 9.30 pm until late. The next event after that will take place on Saturday 27th September (with the Wicklow Man).

Wicklow Mountains National Park

Heritage Week Tree ID Walk
On Saturday 30th August you can learn to identify trees and discover their history, folklore, ecology and uses (this walk is not suitable for children).

Woodland Walk
Explore the woods of Glendalough on Saturday 6th September - looking at the plants and animals and the history of the woods (this walk is not suitable for children).

Knocksink Wood Family Tree Walk
Families can ‘meet’ the trees of Knocksink Wood on Saturday 20th September via several fun activities (the walk is family friendly, although not suitable for buggies).

Tomnafinnoge Walk
On Saturday 27th September you can explore the beautiful flora and fauna of the oakwoods of Tomnafinnoge Nature Reserve (the last remnant of the famous Coolatin Wood) with a National Park guide (this walk is not suitable for children).

Deer Rut Walk
On Saturday 4th October you can hike off track to see the deer rutting as stags fight for hinds. Hiking boots, raingear and a certain level of fitness are essential. The walk is not for children.
All the above events are free of charge but booking is essential. Participants should wear suitable footwear for venturing off track. For further information please phone 0404-45425.

Citizen’s Information

The Citizen’s Information Centre at the Brockagh Centre is open on Tuesdays 2nd and 16th September 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.

Sponsor an issue - please contact Nuala at 45167. Thanks to the generous sponsor of this newsletter who wishes to remain anonymous.