< Previous© May 2020 The Meath Coaster 10 Supporting Local Business D rogheda Credit Union is backing business. While business banking is not traditionally part of our services, Drogheda Credit Union is now offering assistance to local traders and companies in Drogheda, East Meath, Dunleer and Trim. We have an Emergency Business Loan ready to offer to small or medium sized enterprises with a 6 month interest only option. Tom Kiely CEO commented, “We recog- nise the challenges faced by so many of our local businesses at this time, and we hope that this loan product will provide the support that they need. We are here for our whole community during this time, and this includes our friends in business” This loan, which is specifically for the SME sector, may assist with cashflow and other challenges that businesses are facing during this crisis. Don’t worry if you are not already a Credit Union member – you can join the Credit Union and apply for the loan on the same day. For further information on this new loan product please visit www.droghedacu.ie/ emergencybusinessloan support younger sibling in homework, ex- ploring new music, new exercise or sim- ply learning how to negotiate peacefully with family over the remote control. Your Réaltoirí have been in contact with your already on this. Guidance updates - Our Guidance team are operating with services available for all daltaí while we are learning remotely. All a student needs to do is link in with their caomhnóir via e-mail if extra support is needed. A reminder to follow @CNIcareers on Twitter. It is our way of sharing up to date vocational, educational and self care in- formation. Weekly guidance check in sessions are now running for 6ú daltaí. This is your opportunity to chat and follow up on any queries. Jigsaw are currently operating a number of support services for young people and parents. Contact details and opening hours: · 1800 JIGSAW (544729) Monday to Friday, 1pm- 5pm Text 086 180 3880 text “call me” with your preferred day and time for a call, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm email help@jigsaw.ie you can email any- time, and clinicians will be responding from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5 Other News In some positive news, former pupil Clinton Liberty will be appearing on our screens in the coming weeks. After com- pleting his degree in acting from the pres- tigious Lir programme in Trinity College, he was cast in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’. The episodes are on BBC on Sunday nights and repeat- ed on RTE on Tuesday evenings (it is af- ter the 9pm watershed so maybe not for younger viewers!) Yours in solidarity, Anne Marie McCarrick Príomhoide© May 2020 The Meath Coaster 11© May 2020 The Meath Coaster 12 Council Update By Cllr. Stephen McKee - ! New Pedestrian Crossing On The Way For Harry’s Mornington I have been informed by Meath County Council that design works have com- menced for the provision of a Pedestrian Crossing at Harry’s Centra, Mornington. I have been lobbying Meath County Council on this important safety issue for a while now alongside local resi- dents so this is good news for the area. The Pedestrian Crossing will be of benefit to many local families as well as residents and visitors to the Ozanam Home across the road. A large number of families in the area had contacted me with their con- cerns. There is currently no safe crossing along the Garra Road. The Council tell me that work is expected to commence later this year. I will keep the pressure on to ensure the work is com- pleted as soon as possible and I wish to thank Meath County Council for their support on this matter. Local Social Housing Projects & Covid-19 Following an application by Meath Coun- ty Council, the housing development at Whitefield Hall, Bettystown which will include 27 social homes has been desig- nated as an essential project within the meaning of the COVID-19 health regula- tions. This has been designated as such in order to provide critical housing. In re-starting any construction activity, contractors, consultants and their respec- tive agents must adhere to the public health guidelines and other relevant health and safety regulations and protocols applicable to the construc- tion sector. Grass Cutting On Public Spaces Following discussions with Govern- ment, approval has been given for the maintenance of some public spaces. Grass cutting, where there is a road safety issue, has now restarted as from Mon- day, April 27 and Meath County Council will maintain all landscaped public areas. For housing estates and some other public spaces, it is anticipated that grass cutting will commence on areas that the Coun- cil cut in the past, in the week beginning Tuesday, May 5 th . Please note that these operations are being kept under review and are only being undertaken where strict compliance with physical distancing rules and public health advice can be observed. Please get in touch with me if there are any green spaces that need cutting and I will ensure the work is done. Planning For The Next Phase Whilst not wishing to pre-empt any an- nouncements by the Government, Meath County Council are making some prepa- rations for the next phase in the public health restriction. The objective is to be ready, should the Council be required to expand their ser- vice delivery beyond the current list of essential services and re-open buildings to the public, while at the same time en- suring compliance with the physical dis- tancing and other public health objectives. The Community Call will also enter a new phase, which will have national wellbeing © May 2020 The Meath Coaster 13 as its focus. The launch of this new phase is imminent and it is expected that local authorities will be central to its coordina- tion and delivery. Young Social Innovators: Open Call To Local Teenagers For Solutions To The Challenges Of Covid-19 Young Social Innovators, who run educa- tion programmes for Secondary Schools across the country, are calling on young people to put forward solutions on how to respond to the challenges of coronavirus in their communities. The Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live, work, learn, connect, commu- nicate, travel and care for each other. Our young people have plenty of ideas about how to tackle these challenges in new and creative ways and need to be heard. I would encourage local teenagers to think about what is working in our communities, what can be done better and how we can make a difference. The ‘Open Call’ will run until May 31 st and is open to young people between 13-19 years old. The ide- as with the most potential to impact, as a result of the Coronavirus, will be given the opportunity to pitch to a digital panel of team leaders from across Government, NGO’s and business, which will be hosted by Virgin Media. For more information, please visit www.youngsocialinnovators. ie or visit my Facebook page at Cllr Ste- phen McKee. Minding Your Mental Health It is normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared or angry during a crisis and it is im- portant that we look after ourselves first before trying to help others. The website www.yourmentalhealth.ie has lots of ad- vice and information to help you look af- ter your mental health during this time. Appreciation For Those On The Frontline The entire community is very grateful and proud of all local workers and volun- teers who are risking their own health and well-being to make sure essential services continue to be maintained and that care and support is available for everyone who is sick and vulnerable during this time. Thank you for everything you are doing. Further Information I continue to work remotely while my clinics are temporarily closed. You can call, text or WhatsApp me directly on 086 0432760 or should you prefer, email me at stephenmckeeff@gmail.com or through Facebook at Cllr Stephen McKee. I am able to provide all state documents/ap- plications via email and WhatsApp. Take care, Stephen. § STOP NO MORE CONSTRUCTION IN THIS AREA WITHOUT INFRA - STRUCTURE© May 2020 The Meath Coaster 14 The Stamullen Roundup By Grace Tierney I hope you are all keeping well. I’m sure I’ve not captured all the kindness and good news in Stamullen here, but I tried, while staying within my 2km. Stay safe all, and keep washing those hands. The Meath County Community Re- sponse Team are waiting for your call if you’re cocooning due to age or at-risk sta- tus and need help or advice. The service is being run by a combination of public agencies, charities, local groups, sports clubs etc. You can ring them (it’s free) at 1800 808 809 or email covidsupport@ meathcoco.ie. The Stamullen CA Volunteer Group will run errands and deliveries from the phar- macy (01-8418018, open 9-6p.m. please order prescriptions in advance by phone), post office, solid fuels, and butcher’s for those who have to self-isolate. Contact Lisa at 087-6355519 or stamullenca@ gmail.com. Please spread the word. Centra’s Tick & Collect delivery service is at https://www.facebook.com/dunnes- centrastamullen or phone 01-8834202. The whole village would be lost without Gary and his team at Centra. Are you aware of the 5km run challenge started by a local healthcare profession- al Fiona Tallon? The gofundme page is https://www.gofundme.com/f/run-for- our-hse-heroes. The idea is simple - run 5km, donate €5, nominate 5 friends to do the same. By 22 nd of April she has raised €187,177 which will be used for Beau- mont, St James, Mater, Connolly hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda, Limer- ick University Hospital, Mercy Cork, and Waterford University Hospital. If you’re looking for something uplifting on your next 2km radius walk, check out Sta- mullen’s Hope Tree on Forgehill Green. Local residents came together to decorate the tree which lights up at night and is al- ready acquiring artistic contributions from creative children such as ribbons, painted pebbles (which may be spotted elsewhere in the village too), and a lucky horseshoe. There are pegs on the tree so you can add to it. Great work everybody.© May 2020 The Meath Coaster 15 Fr. Declan has been making history this month - creating his own youtube chan- nel and broadcasting Sunday Mass from the oratory at Preston Hill. The first ever online parish Mass went live on the 19 th of April at 11.35 and you can view it and his other messages at www.youtube.com/ channel/UCMaC1cpFBS-qQ8JGKY- PvkOw Well done to St. Patrick’s GAA club who have been running daily activity chal- lenges and a poster competition for the youngsters along with wellbeing posts via their facebook page www.facebook.com/ stpatricksgaastamullen/. Congrats also to Stamullen Football Club who have been running a bin challenge which you will best appreciate if you check out the incredible videos. They are now supporting the new FAI Home Skills program. If you have a footballer at home, there’s plenty they can be doing. www.fa- cebook.com/StamullenFC/. If younger children are missing their play schools, don’t forget to check Mammy Daycare’s page, where they’ve been keep- ing in touch and suggesting activities. www.facebook.com/mammydaycare07/. Those of you missing your gym workout or worrying about your fitness when this is over could check the simple at-home workouts posted by Atomic Fitness in the village. www.facebook.com/AtomicFit/. The Boyne Valley Producers network has banded together to provide their artisan products in boxes for delivery, so if you’d like to support local award-winning farm- ers, cheesemakers, etc check out https:// greatnorthernlarder.com/. If you’re look- ing for vegetables only then the Just Veg service from Lusk is covering this area - find out more at www.facebook.com/veg- etablesdelivered. Well done to local company Stitch It Brand It (www.stitchitbrandit.com/) who normally customise and embroider eve- rything from hoodies to baseball caps. Susan and Ian have added hospital scrubs and face masks to their production line and are supplying hundreds to the local frontline. St. Patrick’s Church - The church is open daily from 9-4p.m. for parishioners and the Parish Office is open from 9.30- 12.30 on Monday and Friday only. Meath Partnership have a team of Em- ployment Support Coaches working re- motely to support jobseekers to access the DEASP COVID-19 payments. They can help people to complete the forms, advise on related entitlements, support naviga- tion of mywelfare.ie, and write CVs. Con- tact - Martina at 085-834 2378 (martina. mccabe@meathpartnership.ie), Patricia at 089-4366800 (patricia.lynch@meathpart- nership.ie) and Caoimhe at 087-6693031 (caoimhe.donnellan@meathpartnership. ie). Got Stamullen news? Send it to Grace (087- 9074145) or grace@meathcoaster.com © May 2020 The Meath Coaster 16 Julianstown Youth Orchestra T his month we should be reporting back from events such as our concert in the Helix with the visiting Shakopee High School Wind Ensemble from Min- nesota, the Inaugural Fingal International Festival in Balbriggan and finalising plans for our fundraising, table quiz and end of year concerts. Instead we are in isolation, individu- ally reminiscing on the wonderful year we as a Youth Orchestra have had. This time last year the JYO senior members were celebrating their Irish Association of Youth Orchestras (IAYO) achievement award, their performance in part of the spectacular Gesamtkunstwerk in the Na- tional Concert Hall and their performance in the Solstice Arts Centre, Navan. This was followed in June by our first overseas trip to Lisbon to take part in the Interna- tional Youth Music Festival in a joint per- formance with the Lisbon Youth Strings Camerata. The junior orchestra have also had a busy year with performances in the Droichead Arts Centre, City North Hotel and their Christmas Concert. Plans for a trip to Kilkenny have been put on hold. Some individual lessons are continuing online but that’s not the same as meet- ing friends on a Friday night or Saturday morning. Unfortunately we are unable to come together to play, rehearse and learn more as a group, which really is what be- ing part of an orchestra is all about. How- ever we can enjoy our time of reflection, continue with individual practice and © May 2020 The Meath Coaster 17 look forward to a time when we can again come together and pick up where we left off, having fun and making great music under the expert direction and dedication of Fergus Sheil, Ailbhe Clancy and Molly de Burca. § Until then, check out our website (www. jyo.ie), facebook page or @jyouthorches-© May 2020 The Meath Coaster 18 News From Julianstown & District Community Association By Niamh Bn. Uí Loinsigh W hile the global population contin- ues to battle the ongoing coronavi- rus pandemic, Planet Earth has been car- rying on as usual... in fact, she has been healing. The worldwide slowdown in hu- man activity has had a number of posi- tive effects on the environment, including decreased air pollution due to less carbon- guzzling planes in the sky and less fuel- burning cars on the road. One of the good things to have come out of social distancing is that we are letting the outdoors recharge us. As nature heals, so do we. We've been forced to pause, slow down, reflect and appreciate the lit- tle things our gardens and local walking paths have to offer – from morning bird- songs to the riot of pastel colours pouring from our seasonal blossom trees. Isn’t it just lovely to have our village back again! There's something beautiful about recon- necting with the great outdoors, whether that's through gardening, outdoor walks, animal live streams or by simply shar- ing images of beautiful birds with others. © May 2020 The Meath Coaster 19 Wherever you are, make time to reconnect with nature. It will certainly do you good. We would also like to take this time to of- fer our condolences to families who have lost a loved during this coronavirus lock- down and also thank our frontline workers who are doing their utmost to keep us all safe and well. Julianstown Tidy Towns have been weeding some of the beds going up through the village and doing some work in the Village Garden. If you are suffering from cabin fever and like gardening, perhaps you could give a helping hand to keeping on top of the weeds in the garden, or maybe weed one of the large flower beds going up the hill. We would really appreciate your help as many of our members have to stay indoors for health reasons and please remember to keep your distance at all times. Whitecross National School - We have some amazing pupils. This girl planned out a 3 course meal for her fam- ily, she did a budget and all the prepara- tion. Doesn’t it look fab? Well done One of our 2 nd class pupils has been busy at home. He made a home made weigh- ing scale #mathsinaction He also spends time reading to his little sister. What a lovely thing to do See the photos on the next page. Lawns freshly mowed in the gardenThese beds are crying out for a makeoverNext >