November Mona Newsletter

_________November Staplestown News________


ALEYESSA BACK FOR CHRISTMAS

Don’t forget Marie Reilly is hosting a Coffee Morning in her home on Wednesday25th November from 10-12.00. The money raised goes to bring Aleyessa, a Chernobyl friend, back to Ireland for Christmas. Marie and her husband Michael also have a raffle going on at the moment. Lines are £1.00 each (permit granted). The rafflewill take place in Timahoe school on Friday 4th of December at 3pm. Proceeds to this also go to the same worthy cause. Remember that a break of 2.5 - 3 weeks reduces a years build up of radiation, which these children are continually exposed to.  Your support for the above fund-raisers would be greatly appreciated.


NEWSLETTER SOCIAL NIGHT

The Newsletter Committee are holding a Social Night on Saturday 21st November in St. Kevin’s clubrooms from 9.30 pm until late. This is an opportunity for the committee to thank all who supported us over the last year. Everyone is welcome, so please come along.


NEWSLETTER RAFFLE

Just a reminder to all that the Newsletter Committee have a raffle in progress at the moment which is continuing until the 12th December’98. The raffle will take place in St. Kevin’s clubrooms on the 12th at 10.30pm. Prizes for the raffle are as follows:

1st Portable colour T.V

2nd Bumper Hamper

3rd £50 voucher (S. Flannery)

4th Xmas cake/ pudding /spirits

5th Turkey / ham / sauces etc.

6th £30 voucher (J. Dunne)

7th Wine & Cheese Hamper

The cost is a £1.00 per line and are available from Mary Murphy, 869416 Linda Condon, 836588, Bernard Owens, 863676, Bernadette Crean, 869118.

Lines also available at local shops and pubs. Please support this worthy cause as the money raised will go towards funding the Newsletter for next year.


HOUSEHOLD TIPS

Microwaves

To clean and freshen a microwave. Place a bowl of hot water containing a slice of lemon inside the microwave. Boil the water and leave in the microwave for a few minutes to produce steam. Then remove the bowl and wipe the inside of the microwave with a soft cloth.

Mini-mash cakes

Left over mashed potato can be frozen in a cup tray. You will soon have enough frozen mash cakes to make a tasty meal. Remove from the freezer sprinkle with grated cheese and put into a hot oven until heated through. The kids will love them.


Staplestown Millenium Choir

Staplestown Millennium Choir seeking to fund their special Christmas Celebration in Staplestown Church planned this year for Saturday night the 19th of December, had rebooked the BEAT 15 Swing Band again for October 16th back in June after their very successful first show at Dowlings in April. Then when it was realised that the Tir na Mona Community night and Auction was to take place on the night of October 23rd, it was decided to continue with both nights and share the proceeds with Tir na Mona. So, you could buy the tickets for both events at a reduced price. This arrangement worked well in so far as people who could not go to one night, were able to come along to the other or vice-versa. In any event, more people actually came along to the Swing Band, night but that was probably because there were more from outside the community there. There is a growing interest in the 30’s and 40’s Glenn Miller style music and dancing, provided by this excellent group of musicians who get together to perform only 5 or 6 times a year under the enthusiastic direction of Ronan O’Reilly who just 6 months ago was appointed Director of the Artane Boys Band. If the BEAT 15 night had been advertised more heavily in the press and local radio it would have attracted a wider audience and filled the space which should otherwise have been filled by our own community. Those who did support the occasion enjoyed a great evening’s music and dancing. Flip Schramm and his wife Marion from Enfield who were with the large group invited by Larry and Mary Doran, dazzled everyone with a spectacular display of fast ballroom style dancing. Ample spot prizes and other special dancing "awards" and a "raffle" added to the fun and thanks are due to the firms Gemini Unisex Saloon, Cummins of Prosperous, Centra, Tom Goughs Butcher, Marron’s Chemist and Country Blossoms in Clane who donated valuable vouchers and gifts for these.

A week later the Staplestown Choir members again participated in the Tir na Mona Community Council night in Dowlings, where local musicians Gerry Casey and Paddy Kelly saw their hard work rewarded when those present initially a bit reluctant to get on the floor, were eventually dancing "big time" to every piece of music produced by the 2. Well done to them both for their perseverance and their music. The Auction arranged by Terry Dohery, Donagh Barrett and Bernard Owens and ably handled by "auctioneer" Ger Nevin, was the other feature of this great evening and resulted in one Liam Holton slim in the manner of a "Tour" competitor, trying to master the mechanics of an ancient Rudge bicycle which was part of the auction and which he just could not succeed in demonstrating that the device could be successfully peddled clockwise and counter clockwise around the floor-surely a first for Dowlings. Thanks to all who supported these worthy causes. See you on the 19th Dec. for the Christmas Celebration.


A COMMUNITY GROUP WITH A VISION!

It’s nice to see the Parish of Kilcock / New-town producing a Newsletter. We wish them well in their new venture. One article of interest in the newsletter was written by our very own Liam Holton.

Tir na Mona Development Group represents 700 homes in the Coill Dubh, Timahoe, Staplestown, Donadea, Hortland and Tiermohan area. The group was formed at a public meeting in Coill Dubh in May, 1997.

The Oak Partnership in Edenderry had facilitated us by funding us to attend courses in Community Development. These courses are titled "Training for Transformation" and "Area Development Planning". At the present time there are four area development groups namely Coill Dubh, Timahoe, and Donadea. Each of these area elect representatives to the Tir na Mona umbrella group. A mission statement was drawn up stating: We the Members of Tir na Mona are committed to creating a cohesive community, attentive to the needs of all, thus enduring that we leave behind a legacy for our children to build on. We will do this in the following ways:

  • Maximising our cultural, educational, social and economic potential of our area.
  • Utilising existing resource.
  • Upgrading local infrastructure.

All our actions will be undertaken with the utmost regard for the environment and our heritage. The Tir na Mona name was chosen because there is a high proportion of peat-lands in this area. Our development plan will try to focus on the future use and conservation of the peatlands. Tourism, recreation, agriculture and horticulture seem to be the likely projects to best develop this beautiful features of our local area. Tir na Mona, since it was formed, has organised a number of events. The group had helped to set up Community Alert Schemes in the areas. We revived the traditional Wren Boys in Donadea Forest on St. Stephens Day, (fund raised went to the ISLANDS Charity). We entered a float in the Easter Parade in Naas, where we took 2nd prize out of 86 floats. The group has been involved in organising events with Staplestown Choir and helped out in the 1798 Commemoration Ceremonies in conjunction with Prosperous, Kilcock and Timahoe. We were also involved in the turf-cutting competition in Derry Crib Bog and ran a very successful Wild West Jamboree. Our Mona newsletter is circulated to 700 homes and is becoming a useful source of local information. Finally, the group is involved in the restoration and extension of Newtown and Staplestown Halls.

Our aim is to try and involve more people in our development groups. If the Newtown and Cappagh area want to join us they are most welcome, as we are all neighbours. Moreover, we would extend a special welcome to all the new families in our areas and invite them to come along and meet their neighbours at all the various activities in our areas.


[ Top | Kildare Community Network ]