Laragh & Glendalough News Issue 143 - March 2009

GDDA AGM

The AGM of the Glendalough and District Development Association takes place at 8 pm on Tuesday March 3rd in the Glendalough Hotel.

Women's World Day of Prayer

The Women's World Day of Prayer is, as the name indicates, one day in the year when a common service is used in churches around the globe. This year the service has been prepared by the women of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific. There will be a service in St John's Church, Laragh at 8 pm on Friday 6th March. Sister Ann Francis will give the meditation, Heather Sheane, from Glenealy, will lead and ladies from Rathdrum and Laragh will participate in the service. All are welcome and men should not be put off by the title. It is merely that women have devised and lead the service. There will be refreshments afterwards.

Annamoe Events

Annamoe Community will hold its Annual Dinner Dance on 13th March at 8.30 pm sharp in the Glendalough Hotel. Music will be by The Wicklow Man. Tickets are €25 each and can be purchased from any committee member.

Annamoe Tractor and Car Run will take place on 17th May starting at Martin Byrne’s field in Annamoe at 12.30 pm.

Your support would be very much appreciated at both events.

Visit to the Czech Republic

The adverse weather conditions forced the cancellation of the advertised open meeting last month. The meeting, to discuss a return visit to our twinning partners in Otrocineves in the Czech Republic, has now been rescheduled for 8 pm on Thursday 5th March and will take place in the Brockagh Centre. A DVD showing the Christmas celebrations in Otrocineves will be shown. All are welcome, particularly newcomers - no Czech is required! We will try to arrange a date for the visit to suit the majority of participants. Accommodation in the village will be provided by our hosts so costs can be kept very low. Why not come along and sign up - the visits to date have been really successful and a wonderful experience for those who came along.

Fit Walk

A ‘Fit Walk’ programme will start in the Brockagh Centre on Tuesday 3rd March from 10 to 11 am. This is a five-week course which will show you how to improve your fitness through walking, explain how to get the best fat-burning benefits, teach you good posture and how to ‘StrideWalk’ and ‘PowerWalk’. The programme is free but places are limited. For further details contact the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600.

Star Gazing and Saturn Observation

Come along on Saturday 7th March and observe Saturn, the moon and the night sky at the Upper Lake in Glendalough. Members of the Irish Astronomical Society will have powerful telescopes set up for visitors to observe the night sky. The event is weather dependant so please phone the Wicklow Mountains National Park Information Office to check that it will take place. This event is free, suitable for all the family and booking is not necessary. Drop in at any time between 8 and 10 pm. The Wicklow Co. Co. car park will stay open for the duration - however the parking fee of €4 may be applied.
For further information please contact The Education Centre at 0404-45656 (weekdays) or The Information Office at 0404-45425 (weekends).

St. Kevin’s Parish

The Stations of the Cross will take place on each Thursday evening during Lent at 7 pm. All are very welcome.

Baptism

We welcome Amie Jane Kearney, daughter of Liam and Caroline and sister of Connor and Luke, who was baptised in St. Kevin’s Church recently.

Senior Help Line

Do you need someone to listen? Would you like to talk to someone? Would it help to share a worry? Do you feel unsafe at home? Are there days when nobody calls? Senior Help Line is a confidential listening service for older people by older people for the price of a local call anywhere in Ireland. The Senior Help Line number 1850-440444 is open each day from 10 am to 4 pm and each evening from 7 to 10 pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Scoil Chaoimhín Naofa

Doodle-4-Google Finalists
There was a high level of participation from our pupils in the Doodle-4-Google competition. The children designed Google logos for St. Patrick’s Day. Many creative images were entered. Well done to everyone who designed a logo. Special congratulations to County Finalists Lauren Carter and Emma Birro and to Wicklow Finalists Brian Ward and Kaitlin O’Toole McGuinness. Thanks to all who voted for Brian and Kaitlin’s logos which were on Google’s website for a couple of weeks. National winners will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony on 2nd March.

Arklow Musical Festival
A number of pupils are preparing to perform in a solo verse speaking competition in the Arklow Music Festival. Karen Carter has given generously of her time to practise with the children. They are set to give fine recitations. We wish them the best of luck.

St. Brigid’s Day Prayer Service
Fr. Kevin led the whole school in a St. Brigid’s Day prayer service. Fifth and Sixth Class pupils had made St. Brigid’s Crosses. These were blessed by Fr. Kevin and a cross is now hanging in each family home.

Indoor Hurling
Well done to the Third and Fourth Class boys who took part in an indoor football tournament in Roundwood. The boys played very well and they won a few of their matches.

Easter/Summer Camps

An Óige, in conjunction with EcoAdventure Ireland, is pleased to announce Easter and Summer Multi-activity and Pony Camps at its new 5-star hostel in Knockree, Co Wicklow. Camps are suitable for 8 to 17 year olds for the residential option and 6 to 17 year olds for the non-residential option. Activities include pony trekking, mountain-biking, hill-walking, basic survival training, archery, orienteering, team tasks and low ropes. Prices start from €150 based on 5 days. To book or for further information please contact Eamonn on 01-2767988.

Avondale College Fashion Show

On 27th March the parent's association of Avondale Community College will hold a fashion show fundraiser in the school sports hall. It starts at 8 pm and admission will be €10. There will be a wine and refreshments reception, goody bags for early guests, entertainment at the interval and a raffle. Clothes being modelled include ladies (dressy & casual), men’s casual, kids and teens (casual & sports) and wedding, debs and communion wear. Tickets will be on sale in the school from 2nd March. Thank you in advance for your continued support.

Laragh IT

A new ECDL night course starts on Tuesday 24th March (7.30 to 9.30 pm). ECDL opens the door on the world of information technology and is an internationally recognised qualification which will deepen your knowledge of Microsoft Office. ECDL is for everyone, whether you are aiming for employment, promotion or just personal growth. The course covers basic IT concepts, folder & file management, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation, internet & email. Contact Michelle on 0404-45600.

St. Patrick’s Night Dance

The Wicklow Man will provide the music for the St. Patrick’s Night Dance in the Brockagh Centre on Tuesday 17th March. There will be music from 9.30 pm until late and refreshments will also be available.

Drugs Awareness

Who talks to your child about drugs – can you? Community Awareness of Drugs (CAD) is running a course on drugs awareness in the Brockagh Centre from Monday 20th April. The CAD “Family Focus” programme is a series of six two and a half hour sessions which provides participants with an opportunity to update information on drugs and their effects, explore attitudes, beliefs and decisions related to drug misuse and develop a family-orientated drug prevention strategy. This course is free. To book a place call the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600.

Angel Workshop

An Angel workshop will take place on Saturday 28th March in the Brockagh Centre from 11 am to 5 pm. The theme of this special day will be Working with Angels and Life Coaching Skills. During this day with the Angels you will get to know how angels can help you in your everyday life. Experience their amazing help and guidance to enable you to heal yourself and others in mind, body and spirit and learn how it is possible with the help of angels to be in total control of your life. For further information please contact Janette on 085-1407598. Places will be limited so please book early.

Don't Tell the Wife

Kirikee Drama Group will present a comedy performance of Don't Tell the Wife by Sam Cree at 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday 28th and 29th March in the Brockagh Centre.
In this hilarious comedy we see Mrs Edna Willis revert to increasingly desperate measures to ensure her husband does not stray as, according to her busybody best friend Isobel, he has reached "the dangerous age"... Her hapless husband Bobby, oblivious to his supposed infidelity, is trying to buy a greyhound without his wife's knowledge. A seductive French lodger, a bewildered council official, a love-struck apprentice and his peculiar girlfriend, and a boozy male escort all add to the confusion of the characters - and the delight of the audience. The cast includes Liz Heffernan, Liam Farrington, Annie Morshead, Shelly Healy, Mark Galvin, Lisa Dunne, Larry Roe and Jonathan Simpson. The director is Ann Byrne.

Ballroom Dancing

Ballroom Dancing classes take place every Wednesday in the Brockagh Resource Centre (from 7 to 8 pm). Admission is €8 per person. During the class dances such as the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Quickstep are broken down and a routine is choreographed to suit the level of each student. For the more adventurous I also teach some Latin dances such as the Jive, Cha Cha and Samba. All levels are welcome as the class is quite varied and everyone will leave learning something new or with an improved technique. The lessons encourage you to have fun and keep fit while learning a lifetime skill. The class is particularly suited to those attending weddings or corporate functions and who require the basic steps to dance socially but is equally suitable for people who simply love dancing. You can come along on your own or with a partner. Classes are by Deborah O’Reilly, fully qualified from IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association). Call 086-8547322 for more information.

Mobile Library

The mobile library is in Laragh on Thursdays March 12th and 26th from 10 am until noon.

The Brockagh Resource Centre

Car Boot Sale
The Car Boot sale takes place on the 1st Sunday of every month and will return on Sunday March 1st from 11 am. For further information contact the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600.

Glendalough Market & Craft Fair
The next Glendalough Market and Craft Fair will take place on Sunday March 8th from 11 am to 4pm. There will be lots of food and craft stalls – refreshments will be available and parking and admission are free. To book a stall please phone 0404-45600.

Help Wanted for Bealtaine
The annual Bealtaine festival in May celebrates creativity in older age. This year the local group would like to organise a variety show on the afternoon of Sunday 24th May. It will be called the ‘Hidden Talent Variety Show’ and we are looking for anybody in the area who would like to showcase their talents be it singing, dancing, playing an instrument, telling stories, etc. If you are willing to take part or help out in organising it please contact Bernadette in the Brockagh Centre on 0404-45600 or Lucy Devitt on 0404-45130.

Best Wishes

We send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Sister Eileen from the Hermitage. Now that she has left the hospital we hope to see her back with us very soon.

Adult Guidance Service

The VEC Adult Guidance Service in the Brockagh Centre will be available on Monday, March 2nd (and the first Monday of every month where there isn’t a bank holiday). This careers/education service is free, friendly, confidential, supportive and available to all adults over 18 years of age. For more information or to make an appointment contact Irene Hayden on 086-8061569.

Homeopathy Clinic

This new, two-weekly service will be available (by appointment) at the Brockagh Centre on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 2 to 7pm. The next clinics will be on Thursdays 5th and 19th March. The service includes your homeopathic prescription plus support/re-prescription service until you feel better. The charge is a nominal fee of €15 for short consultations and €40 for longer consultations. Contact Paul Dixon at 086-3091237 or e-mail paul@wicklowhomeopathy.com
The clinic is ideal for the treatment of minor ailments such as sore throats, colds, food poisoning, toothaches, first aid, breaks, sprains, post-surgery healing, non-repeating headaches, morning sickness, baby colic, teething problems, etc. It is also suitable for more chronic conditions such as migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, skin problems, asthma, menstrual irregularities and general aches and pains. For more information on homeopathy visit www.wicklowhomeopathy.com

Laragh Lads

Starting from Friday 27th February, the Laragh Lads will play on the last Friday of every month in the Glendalough Hotel.

EasyYoga

If those good intentions to exercise regularly, eat sensibly and maintain a healthy weight have not quite borne fruit since you set your goals at the start of the New Year, don’t chastise yourself! Spring is a natural time to ‘begin’ again and do something extra to boost your wellbeing.
Viva, herself a pensioner, is offering a special EasyYoga class from 6.45 pm to 8 pm at the Brockagh Resource Centre on Wednesdays. If you’ve always wondered about yoga, try one of her classes this spring. In yoga we work to our own ability and Viva’s easy yoga class is suitable for complete beginners as well as for those recovering from injury or living with health challenges. Yoga is most helpful to recovery, recuperation, relaxation and de-stressing, whether you are young or older.
By attending just one class each week you will notice the difference in the benefits to your overall wellbeing. Instead of seizing-up, loosen your limbs and decrease the tension and tightness which too often induce aches and discomfort. Learn specific postures to promote efficient detoxification. Learn greater awareness of correct breathing. Sleep more soundly when the body earns its rest. Enjoy your body and its abilities, be stronger and more relaxed and enjoy the friendly social atmosphere of Yogatree classes. Join today! Call 0404-40000 or email info@yogatreeireland.com

Yoga for Kids

Your child may already be one of our young Yogis or you may have heard about the Yoga classes at the Brockagh Centre. These classes are especially for children and take place on Thursday afternoons after school. They are designed to stimulate children’s power of imagination, teach self expression, boost confidence and self-esteem and maintain children’s natural flexibility. Yoga Bugs is for children aged 2 to 7 years and Yoga’d Up is for children aged 8 to 12 years. For more details contact Hilde on 0404-40000/45600.

Citizens Information

The Citizens Information Centre at the Brockagh 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 clinic will take place on 3rd March. Please note that there will be no clinic on 17th March as it is a Public Holiday. No appointment is necessary for this free and confidential service.

Looking for Relations

We received the following email - if anyone can help please contact the editor.
I recently found out I have some ancestors from Rathdrum, County Wicklow. The family name is Burke and the Rathdrum connection is from the 1911 Census for Salford Lancashire England. My grandmother Sarah Burke (born 1852) is one of three daughters of James Burke, widower. The other daughters were Eliza (born 1849, Rathdrum Co. Wicklow) and Alicia (born 1857).
I would be very grateful if you could put me in touch with a local family history group or suggest where I might be able to obtain additional information on this family.
John Hoolachan

This months newsletter was sponsored by Laragh GFC.