Feburary Mona NewsletterStaplestown PageTimahoe PageDonadea PageEditorial PageFebruary 01, Mona NewsletterGreen PageFebruary 01, Mona NewsletterFebruary 01, Mona NewsletterFebruary 01, Mona NewsletterFebruary 01, Mona NewsletterFebruary 01, Mona NewsletterFebruary 01, Mona Newsletter

_______________February Editorial__________

Chairman’s Report (abridged) 1999-2000

Tir Na Mona (country of the peatlands), is a Community Development Council representing the areas of Coill Dubh, Donadea, Staplestown and Timahoe. The Tir Na Mona group was founded in 1997 and represents more than 850 households.

The last twelve months has seen Tir Na Mona in a host of activities. The 1999 AGM was held in September and the 5 year Development Plan was launched on 12th November by Mr. Charlie McCreevy T.D. and Minister for Finance. Friends of the Forest organised a clean up of the lake in Donadea on 13th October. Clane Cubs, Clane Red Cross, along with Friends of the Forest and members of the community planted daffodils on the Lime Avenue, Donadea. Thanks to Mary Hayden, Clane Red Cross and Cllr. Tony McEvoy, Clane. Sean Flannery was nominated to represent Tir Na Mona on the North West Kildare Development Company. The Wren Boys concert on St. Stephen’s Day 1999 raised over £700 for National Children’s Day.
The cross-country horse ride in January 2000 raised over £700 for Tir Na Mona, thanks to Alan & Marie Byrne. Tir Na Mona made a submission at the oral hearing to An Bord Pleanala against the proposed incinerator in Kilcock. The office in Bord Na Mona was painted on 29th January by 3 members, thanks to John & Bernadette Crean for the paint. The funds raised at the Wren Boys concert was handed over on a social night in St. Kevin’s. Coill Dubh Residents Association held a successful EGM on 24th January. A number of members of Tir Na Mona took part in a Committee Skills course run by North West Kildare Dev. Company. The area clean up on 4th March saw 120 people pick over 28 tonnes of rubbish to fill seven skips provided by Kildare Co. Co. Thanks to Philip Baxter and Dara Wyre of K.C.C. The Tir Na Mona float won prizes at the Kilcock and Enfield St. Patrick’s Day Parades. Gail Maher was successfully elected to the Kildare County Development Board along with Aidan Keane from Kilcock. Tir Na Mona affiliated to and attended the Muintire AGM in Abbeyleix in May. The AGM of the MONA was held on 11th April.
Thanks to all those who submit articles, advertise and produce the MONA. The Timahoe branch of Tir Na Mona ran an Easter Egg Hunt and an Open Day in August in Coolcarrigan Gardens, thanks to Mr. Wilson-Wright for his hospitality. The directors of Tir an Mona held a meeting on 8th of May. The planned Trade Show was postponed due to the poor response. Tir Na Mona moved to a new office in St. Kevin’s during May, thanks to St. Kevin’s for making this possible. On 27th May a Bog Workshop was held on Ballinafagh Bog. The Timahoe branch of Tir Na Mona held their Field Day on the June Bank Holiday Sunday. In June also Tir Na Mona wrote to Bord Na Mona regarding the future of the premises at Timahoe and the future of cutaway boglands. We are still awaiting a reply from Bord Na Mona. St. Peter’s Well was cleaned up and on 28th June there was an ecumenical Blessing by Rev. David Fraiser attended by members of the community and Cllr. Michael Fitzpatrick. 100 people attended the Turf Cutting day in Derryvarogue Bog. Three members who had taken part in the Bog Workshop in May gave talks on the bog. Thanks to Dessie O’Leary for his turf banks and Roche’s Pub for refreshments. The Wild West Jamborees in St. Kevin’s in August raised £700 for Tir Na Mona. The official launch of the new walks and signage in Donadea Forest by Mr. Charlie McCreevy and the Pageant were attended by approx. 2000 people. Thanks to Seamus Cullen and James Reid for historical talks on the day. Thanks to Coillte and KELT for funding the walks, Kildare County Orchestra for the wonderful music, Kildare Civil Defence for stewarding and KCC for a grant from Millennium Funds. Two coffee days were held in Donadea for St. Peter’s and Tir Na Mona, thanks to all participants and helpers. Elections to the Kildare County Development Board and the Strategic Policy Committees of Kildare county Council were held in September. Congratulations to Gail Maher and Sean Flannery and thanks to all those who came along and supported them. Work will soon commence on the Timahoe and Donadea group water scheme. Thanks to all those involved for their hard work.
Congratulations to Staplestown co-op Housing group on achieving their goal. We intend to continue to work with the various statutory bodies, development groups and voluntary groups in the wider Kildare area as well as Kildare Co. Co. We welcome those who have joined us during the past year, both groups and individuals and look forward to greater participation in the future. Finally, I would like to thank all those who contributed to our achievements and wish the new committee every success as we move forward with confidence and continue to build a better community for all our people.

Liam Holton, (outgoing Chairman)


STONE BLESSING

A Millennium stone, erected by Tir Na Mona beside the restored pump in Staplestown Village was blessed after 11.15 a.m. Mass on New Year’s Eve. The blessing, in atrocious weather conditions, was performed by Rev. Fr. Pat Ramsbottom P.P. and Rev. Alan Stewart. The inscription on the granite stone put in place by stone mason Bernard Groome reads “Tir Na Mona uniting all the people of Coill Dubh, Donadea, Staplestown and Timahoe. 2000 A.D.”
This project was funded by a Millennium grant from Kildare Co. Co.


VACANCIES COILL DUBH/DONADEA COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROJECT

Applications are invited for the following positions: Secretary /classroom assistant Applicants must have good communication skills, computer experience desirable but not essential. Locations: Woodlands G.C. Coill Dubh N.S. Greenkeepers/caretakers Experience not essential but applicants must have a willingness to learn. Locations:Woodlands G.C. St. Kevin’s GAA/Rathcoffey GAA All applicants for above positions must be over 21 years of age and in receipt of at least one year of unemployment benefit Or unemployment assistance Or lone parents allowance Or disability payments Retain all secondary benefits 19.5 hour week Pay rates: As per current FAS terms and conditions Training and development courses available to successful applicants For further details tel 045 869086


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NOTES
RECYCLING

After all the Christmas excesses don’t forget to recycle your empty bottles and cans. Bottles can be deposited at the Bottle Bank at the rear of Dagwelds. Cans can be deposited in the Can Banks at the car park in Staplestown – beside the school. There are also recycling facilities for glass and aluminium in the car park behind the Woods Garage, Clane. Please remember to keep the area in and around the Banks litter free at all times.


JOINING TIR NA MONA

If you would like to join any of the Tir Na Mona groups such as your local development group, community alert group, ladies group, active age group, or Friends of the Forest please contact Morna at the Tir Na Mona office at 045 869977 for details of meetings. New members are always welcome.


COMPUTER COURSE

Tir Na Mona is currently applying for grant funding to run the “Introduction to Computers Course”. We will let you know how we get on with this. It is hoped to run this course after Easter.


TABLE OF EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

7th Feb St Mochua’s Hist Society AGM Timahoe N.S. @ 8.30 p.m.
8th Feb Library in Staplestown 11.50 – 12.30
11th Feb Bric-a-Brac & Cake Sale in aid of Timahoe Com.Dev after 11.15 mass Staplestown
12th Feb Container to Chernobyl – contact Mary @ 869416
13th Feb Timahoe Ladies Club Yoga Kelly’s Lounge @ 8 p.m.
20th Feb Timahoe Ladies Club Yoga Kelly’s Lounge @ 8 p.m.
22nd Feb Library in Staplestown 11.50 – 12.30
24th Feb Table Quiz in Kelly’s Lounge @ 9 p.m.
28th Feb Active Age Group, Kelly’s Lounge @ 8 p.m.
1th March Timahoe Ladies Club Flower Arraging Kelly’s Lounge @ 8
8th March Library in Staplestown 11.50 – 12.30
10th March AREA CLEAN UP start at 10 a.m. in each area.
11th March Cake Sale in aid of Staplestown Altar Society after 11.15 mass
18th March Car Treasure Hunt, starting from Kelly’s car park, contact Paula @ 863508


Articles for the MONA Newsletter can now be dropped into the Tir Na Mona office at St. Kevin's G.A.A. club, Staplestown. If possible please supply articles on disc in Microsoft Word format. If you have an event happening during the first week of the month please let us know about it in time for the previous issue as it take approx. 10 days to produce the MONA. The NOV issue was put together by Orla Kelly, Therese Holton, Nicola Lynam and Hugh Maher

The views represented in this Newsletter are not necessarily the views of the MONA committee. While every attempt is made to print factual information, we are not responsible for third party information that may be incorrect at time of going to press. Where errors occur, every attempt will be made to redress and amend. All parties have the right to reply within the MONA Newsletter.

Thank you.

 


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