December, the month of waiting for the coming of the light
of hope, after the darkest hours. We are coming to the last
month of the special year 2000. We stand on the threshold
of the third millennium, and with hope we move forward.
As we look back on the years events, we think of our area
cleanup, when 120 people came out on the 4th of March to
collect 28 tonnes of litter from our ditches. We think of
the memorable Jubilee Year ceremonies in our parishes, the
opening of Newtown church, and the mission in Staplestown
and Cooleragh parish
There was also the success of the anti-incinerator group
in Kilcock, the great summer following Kildare football,
the success of Coill Dubh hurlers, the great year for Kilcock
footballers, and the fine extension built by St. Kevin's
G.A.A. Club.
The OAK Partnership has received an allocation of £1.8 million
under the social inclusion programme of the national development
plan. The funding for the period represents a significant
increase for OAK and it is an endorsement of the work achieved
by the Partnership since it began in 1995. The new OAK strategic
plan which will be carried out over the next three years
focuses on issues affecting the long-term unemployed and
socially excluded in the north west Kildare, east Offaly
area, including childcare, transport, and access to education,
training and employment. Tir na Mona congratulates OAK on
its achievements, and looks forward to working with the
partnership in the future.
The Tir na Mona AGM scheduled for the 6th Nov had to be
postponed until the 27th of the month due to bad weather.
A new umbrella committee made up of representatives from
each of the areas takes over following the AGM and we wish
them every success for the year ahead. We wish our readers
and advertisers a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Liam Holton, chairman.
If you would like to send Christmas Greetings via the internet
contact Morna at the Tir na Mona office, tel 869977 by 22nd
Dec. There will be no MONA in January so we will be back
again with the February issue.
Are you feeling lonely? Are there days when
nobody calls? Would you like to share a worry? Call The
Senior Help Line 1 850 440 444 Mornings: 10.00a.m. to 1.00p.m.
Evenings: 7.00p.m. to 10.00p.m. You will be talking to an
older person who will welcome your call. The service is
provided from anywhere in Ireland for the price of a local
call.
Community &
Development Notes
At this time of year we should all try
to be aware of those in our community who are feeling low
in themselves.
It is not enough to say prayers at mass, although I found
it a great help in my illness. Feeling low can be a sign
of depression. In my case I felt low and out of sorts with
everything and everyone around me.
Support from family, friends and work colleagues was a great
help in my illness. When we feel low or depressed our view
of the world is coloured by a feeling that everything we
touch turns against us. Our relationship with those nearest
to us, our parents, our partners or our children , can be
particularly weakened by depression. Coping skills are completely
absent in the sufferers way of thought. We crave support
from all those around us but feel inside that it does not
touch us.
It is very hard for those who have never suffered from a
long bout of depression to fully understand what it does
to the sufferers self esteem.
The only thing which we can give to those who suffer from
depression is total and unconditional support and love.
We must also help them to see that, no more than a broken
leg , depression must be treated by professionals. We must
all help to demystify the disease of depression and make
it acceptable to admit in public that we suffer from the
physical disease which is depression.
At any time up to 20% of the population suffers from depression.
It is an illness that can affect anyone at any age, but
it is an illness which many people try to hide. There is
help out there, from G.P.’s, and help groups such as
AWARE (tel 01-6766166) and the
SAMARITANS (tel 045-435299 or 1850-609090) Paddy
Maher.
Some other useful numbers:
Childline 1800 666666
Cherish 01 6629212 (advice, information & support
for single parents)
Naas Hospital (045-897221)
Health Board (045-897001)
Drugs Information (1800-295295)
Womens Refuge (01-84223770)
Rape Crisis Centre (01-6614911) (01-6614564)
Alone (01-6791032)
A.A. (01-4538998)
Amen 046 23718 (Men’s support - domestic violence)
Table
of Events, in the Community
Table of Events, in the Community
7th Dec |
Mobile Library visits Staplestown from
11.50 -12.30pm.
|
7th Dec |
Timahoe Ladies Club, Kelly’s Bar @ 9 p.m.
|
9th Dec |
St. Kevin’s Social Members Draw in St
Kevin’s clubrooms
|
9th Dec |
Coill Dubh Residents Assoc. Draw in Kelly’s
Bar
|
10th Dec |
Staplestown/Cooleragh Senior Citizens
Christmas Party in Toughers At 7 p.m. |
16th Dec |
Santa arrives at Connolly’s, Ballagh House
@ 3 p.m.
|
16th Dec |
Staplestown Millenium Choir Christmas
Celebration, St Kevins G.F.C. @ 8 p.m. |
21st Dec |
Mobile Library visits Staplestown from
11.50 -12.30pm.
|
26th Dec |
Wren Boys concert, Donadea Forest Park
@ 1.30 p.m.
|
31st Dec |
Cross Country horse event staring from
St Kevin’s G.F.C. @ 2 p.m |
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
Oct issue was put together by Paula & Orla Kelly, Ann Marie
Byrne, Therese Holton, Nicola Lynam and Hugh Maher
If
you have an article, advertisement or news item you would
like to include in this newsletter, please contact:
Staplestown,
Mary Murphy 869416,
Timahoe, Hugh Maher,
Timahoe, Sonia Higgins,
Timahoe, Bernard Owens 863676,
Coill Dubh, Rosaleen 860023 (school),
Donadea, Bernadette Crean 869118
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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