Around the Districts: Slane and Tullyallen

Contact

Contact Sean on 087-6783729 or email swall32@gmail.com if you have an item for this column.

Public meeting

Slane Community Forum is holding a public meeting ‘10 years of focused community activity and achievement’ in the Conyngham Arms Hotel next Wednesday May 24th at 8pm. The agenda includes a

brief review of activities and achievements over 10 years and review of progress and landmark events.

Individual cross community organisations will outline their activities and plans by way of a brief presentations by individual community groups. Activities and plans, current and future will be discussed and there will be a general discussion which will also provide the opportunity for individuals to put forward suggestions and become involved in various activities and projects.

Vikings are coming

The Viking Festival returns to Slane Castle this Saturday May 20th and Sunday May 21st. Visitors to the camp can try archery and hear Skalds tell Viking sagas. Artisans will have their handcrafted goods on display and for sale. Participate in children’s treasure hunts, story telling and viking style face painting, see fierce warriors do battle to be Irish champion. There is something for all the family. Tickets from boynevalleyevents.com/slane-castle-viking-festival

Tidy Towns AGM

Slane Tidy Towns’ agm takes place on Tuesday June 6th in the parochial hall, Main Street, at 8pm. The outgoing committee is looking forward to seeing some new faces. Volunteers are always needed to help with ongoing work.

Blotto results

Congratulations to Thomas Berrill who was a popular winner of the jackpot in the Slane GFC Blotto on May 10th. Thomas scooped the €3375 jackpot with the winning numbers 7, 12, 18, 24. The jackpot starts up again at €1,000. You can get envelopes for the blotto as well as tickets for the next 50/50 draw on Clubforce, in local shops and at the bingo in Toddy Harding Park on a Wednesday evening.

Spinners Cycle Run

Slane Spinners Cycling Club would like to thank everyone who helped make their recent sportive such a resounding success. To all club members, their families and friends who gave up of their time so generously to assist with the event, to all the local businesses for their kind support and donations, to all the SOSAD volunteers who turned up to help, and to the 236 cyclists and their clubs who took part.

Boyne Music Festival

Slane Castle is one of the venues as the Boyne Music Festival gets set to celebrate 10 years of internationally acclaimed music making and artistry this summer with concerts, poetry, walks, workshops and more from July 27th to 30th. It will feature artists including Robert Cohen (cello), Mia Cooper (violin), Zoë Conway (violin), Anna Devin (soprano) and Alex Petcu (percussion).

There will be a morning workshop for amateur chamber music ensembles led by Boyne Music Festival artists at Townley Hall on Wednesday July 26th before the festival officially opens with a concert in the ballroom of Slane Castle on the Thursday at 8pm. This concert is preceded by a 10th anniversary celebratory dinner in the beautiful surrounds of the castle which is a wonderful opportunity to experience local cuisine while also marking this exciting milestone with other festival guests.

The festival returns to its spiritual home at Townley Hall on the Friday for an exciting evening of classical, contemporary and traditional music by Irish composers. The concert is preceded by a special event for

BMF Friends including a tour of Townley Hall and an opportunity to meet the artists.

For younger audiences, there will be a children’s workshop and family concert at St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, on the Saturday led by the captivating clarinetist, Jessie Grimes.

Classical music enthusiasts will be treated to well-loved repertoire from Beethoven, Saint-Saëns and Holst, as well as contemporary music from Kevin Puts and Osvaldo Golijov in concerts on Saturday 29th at 8pm at St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, at 8pm, and then on Sunday at 5pm to close the festival at Townley Hall. Tickets are on sale www.boynemusicfestival.com from April 18th where full programme details can be found.

Rossin Rovers Summer Camp

Rossin Rovers Soccer Club FAI Football Camp takes place at their grounds Monknewtown (C15 N24H) from July 10th to 14th, and registration is now open. Come and join the fun this summer and train like a pro. The camp is for boys and girls six to 14 years, from Monday to Friday 10am - 1pm. Each child receives an official camp top, backpack and ball. Booking details are on the club Facebook page.

Joker Draw

There is big money to be won in the Joker Draw which raises funds for the St Patrick’s Day Parade in the village. It takes place in Lynch’s Bar every Sunday evening and you can get your envelopes in any business in the village. Envelopes are €3 for one week and €20 for seven weeks.

Coerver coaching camp

Slane Wanderers Soccer Club is hosting a Coerver Coaching Summer Camp at the Wheatfield from July 17th to 21st from 10am to 1pm each day for boys and girls seven to 13 years. Online booking is now open and can be made by following the link on the club Facebook page.

Little Wanderers for boys and girls aged four to six has returned on Tuesday evenings at 6.30pm in Wheatfield Park.

Blessing of the graves

The Blessing of the Graves take place in Monknewtown, Knowth, Dowth and Fennor, starting at 3pm on Sunday, August 13th. The Blessing of the Graves on the Hill of Slane and St Erc’s Cemetery is the following Sunday, August 20th, starting at 2.30pm.

Fundamentals starting up

Fundamentals for children under the age of six looking to play football, boost their social development, learn new skills and meet new friends, has started up at Slane GFC in Toddy Harding Park and takes place on Thursday evenings from 6.30 to 7.30pm. For further information contact Aoife at 086 0390500.

Car Show

ALMC Motor Club are holding a Car Show with hundreds of classic and collectable vehicles taking part at Slane Castle on Sunday August 27th from 11am - 5pm. There will be many static displays to see as well as a food arena. Vehicles include saloons, sports, rally cars, race cars, American, commercial, military, karts, and classic motorcycles. A team of judges will be in attendance to select the winners with an awards ceremony taking place in the arena around 3.30pm. There will be children’s entertainment throughout the day. Slane Castle will be putting on a range of hot food options and the cafe will be open throughout the show. You can also browse the shopping stalls with traders putting on a wide range of items. Tickets available at Eventbrite from July 1st.

Community Centre Gof Classic

Slane Community Centre are holding their annual Golf Classic at Ashbourne Golf Club on Friday, May 26th. The organising committee is looking for teams and sponsors for this great event. A team of four is €400 and includes snack on the ninth hole and dinner in the clubhouse. Prizes for first and second placed teams and longest drive and nearest the pin. All funds raised will go towards the building of the community centre and sports hall in Slane. For further information contact maevecarbin@gmail.com or colmdevin2@gmail.com

Walking group

The Slane Striders Walking Group meet each Tuesday evening at 7.30pm for walks around the Slane/Boyne Valley area. They also meet on Thursday mornings at 10.30am. New members always welcome. For further information contact Lucy Kennedy on 0874649876.

Couch to 5k

Rathkenny Athletic Club are considering hosting a Couch to 5k programme again this year to coincide with their annual road race on August 18th. If there is enough interest the Couch to 5k will commence in mid June. If you never ran before and are thinking of taking it up or maybe you are a lapsed runner or just want to increase your daily steps then this programme will be ideal. Contact 086 0724911 for more details.

TULLYALLEN

Deadline Times for Your News

If you would like to see your news in this part of the newspaper, birthday, wedding anniversary, achievement, new addition to the family or anything that might be of interest to the local community, please have no hesitation in contacting. Give me a ring at 087-6366605 or pop me an email at hilary.a.kelly@gmail.com. For any news to feature in next week’s paper your news must be with me for Friday morning 10 o’clock.

We Have a Winner

The Glen Emmets Lotto draw sponsored by The Morning Star took place last Tuesday May 9th, we finally have a winner for the Big Jackpot and the result is as follows: The Grand Prize was €10,000 and congratulations to the lucky winner, Lauren Owens. The numbers drawn were 6-8-13-24. There was no winner of the second draw for €2,400. The numbers drawn for that prize were 1-5-28-32. The Lucky Dip winners of €25 were Joanne Murphy, Mark Curry, Jack Carolan & Jade Gilkes. The new jackpot draw will be €2,500 next week with €100 added every week to this draw until it is won. The draw is held online Tuesday nights on the Glen Emmets Facebook page & tickets are on sale in Centra Tullyallen or go onto the Glen Emmets Web page where you can set up your weekly draw numbers & payment. But not to worry if you are not internet savvy, if you would like your envelope collected, contact any member of the Emmets & they can organize to collect your envelope.

Special Recognition

This Sunday 21st May at 11am Mass in Mellifont Parish, Fr. Sean Dooley P.P. on behalf of the Parish Pastoral Council will present six prestigious St. Patrick’s medals to recognise deserving parishioners in Mellifont Parish and, within the diocese of Armagh, for their exceptional service and outstanding commitment to the life and ministry of the church and to the wider community in Tullyallen/ Mellifont.

This recognition event coincides with Ireland’s national volunteering week which is May 15th to 21st. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Parish Hall – all welcome to join in the celebration of thanks for the recipient’s hard work throughout the years.

Parish News

Congratulations to the boys and girls of 2nd Class who celebrated the Sacrament of Communion on Saturday 13th of May. Congratulations, also to their parents, teachers & family members. It was a beautiful and uplifting celebration of faith.

Holy Spirit Triduum in our Parish- 26th- 28th of May. Friday- Adoration at 7pm followed by Mass at 7.30pm, Saturday: Mass for students undertaking examinations at 7.30pm and Sunday Rosary at 10.30am followed by Mass at 11am. The Holy Spirit Triduum prayer will be prayed at each Mass.

The AGM of our Parish Pastoral Council will take place at 8pm on Thursday, 8th of June in the Paddy Healy Room in our Parish Hall.

Corpus Christi/Cemetery Sunday: Our Outdoor Mass with Eucharistic Procession and Blessing of Graves will take place on Sunday 11th of June at 11am. You are asked to bring Holy Water with you to bless your own grave at the time. Please spread the word to family and friends.

We are currently looking for more people to collect at our Weekend Masses 7.30pm Saturday and 8.30am and 11am Mass. It is difficult if there are no people to collect and if there is a big congregation for one person to collect. If you can assist with this, can you please drop into Sandra our Sacristan to give your name. Your help and support is greatly appreciated. Many hands make light work!

We are currently trying to develop an Adoration Team for Church: If interested contact 1. Fr Sean 041 9838520 mellifontparish@outlook.ie 2. Niall 086 3461087 or Message us on our Parish Facebook Page Mellifont Parish-Tullyallen

Link onto our Parish Facebook page Mellifont Parish- Tullyallen. If you are on our Facebook page like us, invite and share this information with others too. Spread the word that our Parish Facebook is active.

Glen Emmets Summer Camp

The ever-successful Glen Emmets Summer Camp is back again this year.

This year they will be hosting two camps in Cusack Park....with the Glen Emmets GPO Gerry Malone. Week One: 3-7th July and Week Two: 7-11 August. The camps will be on from 10am-2.30pm each day and is aimed at ages 6-12yrs. The Glen Emmets camp is always fun action packed with multi-sports and costs just €50 per week (5 days) but you would need to book early as places are limited. Contact by text on 086-1062153 & you can revolut the payment.

Rossin Rovers

Booking has now opened for Rossin Rovers AFC Summer camp. This camp is on 10th July to 14th July at their pitch in Monknewtown, Slane, Monday to Friday – 10am to 1pm and is aimed at boys and girls aged 6 to 14 years. Bookings are online, click on faifootballcamps.ie and they will point you in the right direction.

Men’s Shed Busy at Work

Great to see our Men’s Shed members busy getting all the beautiful bird feeders & bird nesting boxes ready for collection. They can make all sorts of garden bits and pieces on request, why not drop into them and see if there is something they can do for you. They are based beside the Glen Emmets Clubhouse and are open Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10am. Meanwhile the Polycarbonate Tunnel is proving very popular and the members of The Men’s Shed want to say a big thank you to Bernadette Shevlin for supplying them with tomato plants and also to Collon man Noel Grimes who visited their shed last week and donated plants and bags of multiple purpose compost for the members to use in their Polycarbonate Tunnel.