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“Megaphone Bullying” No Substitute For Collective Engagement
CONTACT US Tel: 049 854 1372 www.oldcastlecreditunion.ie info@oldcastlecreditunion.ie Millbrook Road, Oldcastle, Co Meath
TRADE UNION UNITE, which represents craft and staff grades at Tara Mines, has warned Boliden that ‘megaphone bullying’ is no substitute for collective engagement. The union’s warning follows Boliden’s chief executive officer Mikael Staffas’ statement last week that the Swedish group, which owns Tara Mine, may decide to close the mine if it does not return to profitability. Boliden suspended operations at the mine last summer and placed it in care and maintenance. To date the company has refused to set a firm date for reopening the mine, and has failed to enter into meaningful negotiations with unions on a way forward to secure Tara’s future. Commenting, Unite Regional Officer Brian Hewitt said “Last week’s remarks by Boliden CEO Mikael Staffas
Tara Mines workers protest outside Dail Eireann last July mark a new low in the bullying approach adopted by the company since last summer.” “It is becoming increasingly clear that the ongoing suspension of operations at the mine has been dictated by a desire to undermine workers’ terms and conditions, rather than any immediate external factors such as energy costs,
which are falling, or the price of zinc which is projected to start rising.” “Now Boliden’s management is resorting to threats in an attempt to force workers to accept their cost-cutting agenda and tear up previously negotiated agreements surrounding redundancies.” “Despite five conciliation
meetings at the Workplace Relations Commission, no negotiations have taken place. Megaphone bullying is no substitute for real collective engagement. If Boliden is really interested in securing the future of Tara mines, they need to change their approach and engage meaningfully with unions,” he finished.
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
Traveller Roots and Routes THE TRAVELLER ROOTS AND ROUTES Manual was launched in January 2024, following the successful Traveller Genealogy project of 2019. During that project, Library Service staff became aware of the rich but vanishing heritage of Meath Travellers in relation to placenames, travel routes, travelling history and customs, and traditional campsites. This project records both the memories and experi-
ences of Meath Travellers who lived this life and want the record preserved for future generations. The Traveller Roots and Routes manual is fully illustrated both with rare and up-to-date photographs of Travellers and campsite locations and with maps of counties Meath and Westmeath showing travel routes and camp locations. This project was supported by the Department of Rural and Community De-
velopment under the Dormant Accounts Fund. Meath County Council, Meath Library Service, in particular Senior Executive Librarian Frances Tallon, and Meath Travellers Workshop are thanked for all their assistance. Dr Liam Mc Niffe undertook the task of interviewing, recording, and compiling the accounts presented in the Manual and is sincerely thanked for his dedication and commitment to the project.
A huge debt of gratitude is due to the participants who made this such a rich and rewarding project. Christy and Winnie McDonagh, Jody Joyce, Hughie and Biddy McDonagh, Mick Doyle and Nell McDonagh, together with their families, were generous, cooperative, and totally committed to the success of this initiative. It is hoped the project will preserve and honour their cherished memories.
Pictured at the launch with Cathaoirleach Cllr. Tommy Reilly was (L-R) County Librarian, Ciaran Mangan, Director of Services with responsibility for Cultural Development, Barry Lynch, Senior County Librarian Frances Tallon, Jody Joyce, Winnie McDonagh, Chirsty McDonagh Meath County Council Chief Executive, Kieran Kehoe and Liam McNiffe.
Bennetts, servicing Meath, Cavan and surrounding counties from Kells since 1958. All areas covered FREE surveys & estimates Maudlin Street, Kells, Co. Meath. Meet by appointment at our premises or at your cemetery by calling.
The Meath Herald February, 2024
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
Trim’s Air Pollution Causes Six Cases of Asthma per Year Young people from across Meath were on hand for a workshop on Thursday, January 18, to measure, discuss, and learn about air pollution and its effects on health and wellbeing in Trim. Working with researchers, councillors and project leaders from Meath Climate Action, attendees learned the alarming fact that six cases of asthma, four cases of diabetes and three cases of stroke are believed to occur each year in Trim, across a population of just 9,000 people. As well as the human cost of this illness, these illnesses are estimated to cost the HSE more than €210,000 every year.
This comes as the Meath Environmental Platform, a new resource for the people of Co. Meath, launches for general use. Trim residents and those from further afield can access hyperlocal air pollution information from two sensors in the town (on Market Street and Patrick Street), along with insights on traffic levels and their health consequences, as well as the best and worst times of day for air quality. During the workshop, young people learned how they can use the platform to take action and promote change. That can mean knowing the times of day when air pollution is highest as well as understanding how different
parts of the town are affected. For instance, Patrick Street, home to four schools, has high levels of vehicle-related nitrogen dioxide air pollution around drop-off and pick-up times. Anne O’Brien, Project Lead, Meath County Council, said, “The Trim Air Quality Project has allowed us to monitor air quality and assess the health impacts, disseminate this information to local stakeholders, enable behavioural change, improve air quality and health, and reduce emissions.” Ms O’Brien went on to say “Due to our continuous air quality monitoring, we can inform the local
Students attending Trim Air Project Workshop stakeholders of the improvement in air quality, showing the positive change, encouraging further action, and achieving a positive feedback loop.” The Meath Environmental Platform integrates STRIAD:AIR, Trilateral Research’s AI solution to understand how air pollution affects health. STRIAD: AIR can model areas as small as a few hundred households, showing the
effects of air pollution on diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke and pulmonary disease. The tool can also model the costs of air pollution to the HSE and to society, showing how cutting pollution saves public money. Dr Ruaraidh Dobson, Trilateral Research’s Programme Manager for Air Quality added, “Air pollution isn’t just a problem in Dublin – it takes a serious
toll on health across Ireland. This project has let us see the invisible and understand how traffic, turfburning, and other issues affect the air in Trim, as well as the burden air pollution places on the health service. By providing information on health, we want to show that action in your area, wherever you are, can make a difference and keep people healthy in your community.”
McCabe Cllr. Paul
MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL PRIDE OF PLACE 2024 Meath County Council 2024 Pride of Place competition is now open. Applications are invited from Community Groups, Tidy Towns / Village Committees, Residents Associations and other voluntary groups. The 2024 competition includes the following categories: � Housing Estate Small � Housing Estate Medium � Housing Estate Large • Housing Estate Extra Large � Apartment Complex � Youth Project � Community Wellbeing � Green Community Amenity � Best Bee & Wildlife Friendly Garden
Peace Commissioner Cathaoirleach Kells MD
� Village/ Townland <500 � Small Town 500 - 1500 � Large Town 1501 - 4000 � Extra Large Town >4000 � Residential Streetscape � Heritage � Community Group � Volunteer of the Year � Green Kilometer � Community Age Friendly
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm FRIDAY 31 MAY 2024 Application forms and further details are available from the Community Department, Meath County Council, Buvinda House, Dublin Road, Navan, Co Meath, C15 Y291 or by e-mail prideofplace@meathcoco.ie or online https://www.meath.ie/council/council-services/ community/community-grants-and-initiatives/pride-of-place
Email: paul.mccabe@members.meathcoco.ie Tel: 086 235 7879
The Meath Herald February, 2024
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Other Dublin-based universities also attracted applications from Dunboyne, with DCU offering 54 places, followed closely by UCD with 36 offers, and 20 offers from Trinity College. While geographical location influences the majority of offers and acceptances, DCFE's reach extends to universities and colleges across the country, from Carlow to Cork, Letterkenny to Limerick, Sligo to the new South East Technology University in Waterford, and across to Galway. Mr. Leonard identified a noteworthy trend among DCFE students securing offers for Level 8 degree courses requiring over 500 points. Offers extended based on QQI results rather than Leaving Certificate points included places on DCU’s Athletic Therapy and Training and Sports Science and Health courses, as well as Law and Commerce in UCD. DCFE students also secured places in Law, BESS, and Biological/Biomedical Sciences in Trinity, Sports Science, Health, and Architecture in TUD, along with Psychology and Law in Maynooth University— courses traditionally demanding well over 500 Leaving Certificate points for a Round 1 offer. The Dunboyne College Principal expressed concern about the trend of PreNursing students accepting offers to complete their training in UK universities and urged a heightened focus on retaining such talent within Ireland. The DCFE Principal emphasizes that these progression figures align with the initiative by Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, to enable
students to start their thirdlevel experience in further education and complete the remainder in higher education colleges. “Dunboyne College is working closely with Maynooth University and TUD to enhance pathways in teaching, nursing, engineering, and other areas. This approach makes economic sense and supports student welfare by allowing them to explore their interests at the further education level before committing to a full 4-year degree.” Mr. Leonard acknowledges that not every student knows their preferred field of study upon completing secondary school. "Nor should we expect them," he says. "Opting for the further education route allows students to explore their options, and SOLAS data indicates that students with under 300 points have a 50% chance of completing a higher education degree, increasing to 75% for those who complete a further education course. After a FE course they are better placed to complete subsequent level 7 or 8 degrees," says Leonard. Statistics show that overall third-level dropout rates for students who complete a Level 5 QQI course are less than 3%. Mr Leonard also highlighted that approximately 50% of DCFE graduates complete Pre-Employment programs, entering the workforce successfully in sectors like childcare, healthcare, animal care, airline/tourism, business/IT, hairdressing, beauty therapy, and professional cookery. Dunboyne College will be holding its Open Day on Thursday 29th Feb and information is available on www.dunboyne.ie
The Meath Herald February, 2024
Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8.00am - 5.00pm Closed on Sundays & Bank Holidays
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
Meath County Council Launch New Six-Year Plan To Guide Economic And Community Development In The County The LECP shapes the development of Meath over the next six years On Friday, January 27, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Tommy Reilly and Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education Thomas Byrne TD, launched the Meath Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP), 20232029. The LECP shapes the development of Meath over the next six years with the aim of making Meath a vibrant, sustainable, progressive, and climate-resilient county underpinned by inclusive, healthy, empowered communities and a dynamic economy. The Meath LECP sets out the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the economic development and the local
and community development of Meath, both by Meath County Council directly and in partnership with other economic and community development stakeholders. In terms of local community development, the LECP aims to meet the needs of individuals, groups, and organisations by developing community infrastructure, programmes and services. From an economic perspective the LECP will provide a framework to guide local economic growth and stability in specific geographical areas through retaining and attracting new business, creating employment, and supporting people to start their own businesses and social enterprises. Speaking at the launch, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr. Tommy Reilly said, “We want to make Meath an
Pictured at the launch was Cathaoirleach Cllr. Tommy Reilly with Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, Meath County Council Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe, Meath County Council Director of Services with responsibility for Community Development, Fiona Fallon and Chairperson of Meath Local Community Development Committee, Suzanne Brady. even better place in which to live, work, and visit by creating new opportunities, improving connectivity and access between rural and urban areas, and protecting and enhancing services in the community.” “This plan gives Meath County Council, busi-
nesses, community and voluntary groups, and local communities a roadmap to follow. It also helps to ensure that everyone is working together towards the same goal”. Chief Executive of Meath County Council, Kieran Kehoe, added, “The plan sets out seven high-level
goals, which were developed following extensive public consultation and build on the foundation of the first LECP (2016 2021), including new elements which support the vision set out in the Meath County Development Plan. I would like to thank everyone who has contrib-
uted to the development of the Meath LECP, it is a plan for the improvement of the county, and I look forward to seeing the benefits of its implementation.” Suzanne Brady, Chairperson of Meath Local Community Development Committee, said, “The delivery of this LECP will require leadership from the various agencies, and I look forward to working with these agencies, many of whom are represented by my colleagues on the Local Community Development Committee.” “The LCDC members are committed to empowering and participating in the continued development of their communities throughout the county”. The plan is available to view by logging to the website www.meath.ie, just search for Meath Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP), 20232029.
Helen McEntee TD
My constituency office located on Cannon Street Kells is here to help with personal or business related issues. Contact me by phone or email if you are unable to visit in person so that I will be able to assist you. Always remember, when you can, please Shop Local.
C o n s t i t u e n c y O ff i c e :
Cannon Street, Kells Te l 0 4 6 9 2 5 2 9 5 5 Email: helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie
The Meath Herald February, 2024
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Meath Garda Garda Reserve Recruitment Welcome but Youth Awards Government Must Implement Full Sinn Féin Community Safety Proposals – Guirke JOHNNY GUIRKE TD has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Justice that a Garda Reserve recruitment campaign will commence soon. This was a key proposal by Sinn Féin. However, he warned that this must only be a first step and that government must act on other measures Sinn Féin has called for as well. The information was supplied to party spokesperson on Justice Pa Daly TD in reply to a Parliamentary Question about the Garda Reserve regulations. Guirke said “Communities deserve to feel safe and protected. However, we know here in Meath that the reality is that many
Johnny Guirke TD communities feel badly let down. They want to see more Gardaí on the streets and to know that when they need help Gardaí will be there to protect them. In my Constituency of Meath-West ( covering parts of Westmeath) there are 10 garda stations with only 2 of them open full time. Gardai themselves
have told me how they are under resourced.” “The Minister has finally confirmed to Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Pa Daly TD that she will bring Garda Reserve regulations to cabinet for approval within the coming weeks. This is a key issue that Sinn Féin have been demanding action on for months.” Deputy Guirke further stated “This is welcome and long-overdue news. I welcome that the Minister has finally heeded these calls, as communities in Meath-West have been desperately seeking support for some time now.” “Although Reserve members cannot replace full time, highly trained and sworn Gardaí, they can offer a capacity to cover
events and other duties which would otherwise occupy full time Gardaí. “With news that the removal of the upper age limit, something Sinn Féin also called for, has seen an increase in applications to the latest Garda recruitment drive, progress in this area needs to be seen soon.” Deputy Guirke continued “Communities deserve to feel safe and protected. But the reality is that communities feel badly let down by Fine Gael’s soft-touch approach to crime. People in Meath feel abandoned by this out of touch government and they need to see urgent change.” “Sinn Féin will continue to hold the government to
account, with recruitment targets needing to be met and exceeded to restore service levels by An Garda Síochána to what is required to ensure public safety. A Sinn Féin government will ensure communities can feel safe and protected in Meath and across the state.” “I will continue to push for the implementation of all Sinn Féin’s other proposals on getting to grips with policing, including delivering a public transport police unit and a recruitment and retention taskforce.” “A Sinn Féin government would stand up for communities in Meath to ensure they can feel safe and protected” teachta Guirke concluded.
FOUR STUDENTS from Beaufort College, Navan, were awarded Meath Garda Youth Awards at a reception in the Ardboyne Hotel. These awards celebrate outstanding young people living in Meath. Receiving awards on the night were Lena Beale, Rajerre Rodriguez, Brooklyn Duke and Maciej Cichocki. The students are pictured here with their principle Ken Flynn, Superintendent Martina Noonan, Inspector Alan Roughneen and Community Garda Frank Scully. Congratulations to all the winners who received their awards on the night. A fantastic night was had by all.
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
First Of It’s Kind “Real” Mermaid Experience In Ireland THE BEAUTY and magic of Mermaids have been popular in the U.S and Asia and some parts of Europe for a few years, but we have never been able to visit them here in Ireland, but all of that is about to change! Lynn Harvey noticed the huge increase in popularity in all things mermaid and saw a huge gap in the market here for this particular attraction. Lynn said “For two years I have been preparing to launch MerMazing and I have faced huge challenges along the way such as trying to figure out how to make a pool that was
safe, portable, affordable and custom made with display windows was a task in itself.” “Then there was my own training. I had to teach myself to swim up in Ballymun pool (gatecrashed the senior citizens morning sessions) every day for a month until I could swim a kilometre.” She continued “After that I needed a level 2 swim instructor certification, before travelling out of Ireland to get my Mermaid and monofin instructor certification as well as multiple business, marketing and social media courses. Learning about Mermaids, Mermaid tails,
monofins, finding insurance, it's been a lot of learning but I believe in it with all my heart” So what is MerMazing and what can visitors expect? Based at Puddenhill, Co Meath (less than 10 minutes from the Ashbourne roundabout Lynn says “Each of our shows has limited guests in the Mermaid room (approx. 40 max ) the room to create an intimate and atmospheric vibe, our 30 foot long mermaid display swim tank will have windows running along one side for viewing.” “Our Mermaids will swim and do routines and tricks and
some interaction with the children. Guests will be seated and show will last around 30 minutes.” She concluded “This will be like nothing our guests will have ever seen. Truly magical. “ “We have a mermaid themed waiting
room where treats and souvenirs will be available to purchase.” “This will be a ticket event and tickets will be released on Eventbrite. All updates can be found on our website and social media platforms. For fur-
90 GORT FIONNBARRA, COMMONS ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH. C15 NV6P INFO@LWSI.IE 083 384 3971
The Talbot Group are leading providers of adult and children’s intellectual disability services in North County Dublin, Meath, Louth, Cavan, Kildare and Wicklow. We are excited to announce we are opening a new residential service in Trim, and require the following staff to join our team.
Person in Charge Senior Social Care Workers Social Care Workers Direct Support Workers If you would like to work with the Talbot Group and make a difference to the lives of our residents, please come along to our Walk-in Interview Day Venue: Trim Castle Hotel, Castle Street, Trim, Co. Meath Date: Wednesday 13th March, 2024 Time: Any time between 9.30am and 4pm
Please bring an up to date CV with you. Email: elainehr@talbotgroup.ie for further details.
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
11
St Colmcilles (Kells) Credit Union host their Schools Quiz Night St Colmcilles Senior National School was the venue for Kells Credit Union’s annual Credit Union Quiz night on Friday January 26th. Local schools such as Kells Parochial, Cortown, Carnaross, Oristown and St Colmcilles Senior National School took part in the hotly contested event with the reward for the winners of moving onto Chapter Level. Quizmaster Ronan Leonard got things started at 7pm aided by a number of kind helpers from the Board and management of the Credit Union. Questions were thrown at the kids covering areas such as Burker King, Niall Horan, Jamie McGrath, Table Mountain and the Tower of Loyd. The contestants dealt with the challenge set out admirably with high levels of concentration and competitiveness shining through. The Junior Quiz reached its climax with all six teams still in the running going into the tenth and final round with Carnaross eventually edging out Oristown by a point with St Colmcilles Senior National School grabbing bronze. The seniors carried on for another two rounds with Oristown National School sneaking it ahead of St Colmcilles National School. Third place went to a tie breaker with St Colmcilles Senior National School just edging out Kells Parochial by virtue of knowing how many toes a sheep had. All teams who participated performed amazingly well and were accompanied by proud teachers and guardians. Everyone earned a well-deserved popcorn and drink while the victors picked up medals and vouchers. St Colmcilles Senior National School were once again the perfect hosts and Kells Credit Union would like to thank everyone who took part. We wish Carnaross and Oristown the best of luck as they now move onto Chapter Level in the Lakeside Manor Hotel, on March 1st.
Carnaross Junior Winners Joseph Kirk, Darcy O'Reilly, Saoirse O'Reilly, James Shortt
Oristown NS Senior Champions Paddy Norris, Thomas Kelly, Kaitlin Curtis, Fiachra Farrelly
St Colmcilles SNS Junior Third Place Alexandra Reid, Grace Farrelly, Elliot Heasley, Eire Smith
St Colmcilles SNS Senior Runners Up Luke Byrne, Charlie McEntee, Cillian Dixon-Rae, Noah Musolo
Oristown Junior Runners Up Saide Morris, Alexander Radins, Emily Walsh, Xedrick Adajar
St Colmcilles SNS Senior Third Place Tara Hunt, Alison Monaghan, Sam O'Neill, Mia Flanagan
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
Students Impress At Drogheda Credit Union School Quiz 2024 n the morning of Saturday, 27th January, over 130 children took part in the annual Drogheda Credit Union Primary School Quiz 2024.
O
Credit Union in the second stage of the Credit Union School Quiz in March. Congratulations to all the teachers, pupils and parents involved.
Drogheda Institute of Technology was filled with eager students from Drogheda, East Meath, Dunleer and Trim got ready to test their knowledge and claim the coveted 2024 school quiz champions title, overseen by Quiz Master, Declan Collins.
THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Children as young as the age of eight were flying their way through questions in each round. Commenting, Credit Union Director Aidan Gibney said “It is so wonderful to see how much work each of the children have made in preparation for the quiz today.” He continued “It’s a credit to the teachers and schools in organising their teams to be with us, and we thank them all for their participation in what was a fantastic compeition”. In Category A (under 11), St Mary’s Parish Primary School claimed the top spot with a three way tie for second place and in category B (Under 13), Scoil na spioraid Naoimh secured the win for the school. Students were treated to some close up magic by Drogheda Credit Union Junior Ambassador, Cillian O’Connor, who also presented the awards to the winning teams. The first place winners in each category will go forward to represent Drogheda
Competition A (Under 11) 1st Place: St Marys Parish Primary School, Drogheda: Team: C. O’Connor, F.Smith – Levini, E.Woodhouse, C.Collins. Teacher: Mr. Callan 2nd Place : Kilbride NS, Trim: Team: L.Mc Mahon, N.Dixon, A. Jennings ,N. Byrne. Teacher: Ms. Mallee 2nd Place : St Peter’s NS, Drogheda Team: C.Wan Klade, C.Baher, A.McArdle, D. Black. Teacher: Mr. Jenkinson 2nd Place : St Kevins NS, Dunleer Team: S.Ward, L.Carver, A.Byrne, H.Taaffe. Teacher: Mr. Keane
St. Mary’s Parish Primary School, Drogheda
Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Laytown Competition B (Under 13) 1st Place: Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Laytown Team: A. Burke, J. D’Porzio, D. Doyle, J. Casey. Teacher: Ms. D’Arcy 2nd Place: Tullyallen NS, Drogheda Team: Z. Burke, C.Dolan, N.Murphy, J.Wogan. Teacher: Mr. Winters 3rd Place: St Marys Parish Primary School, Drogheda Team: G.Lochaden, A.Synnot, C.Sullivan, E. O Connor. Teacher: Mr. Callan
St. Mary’s Parish Primary School, Drogheda
St. Peter’s National School, Drogheda
Kilbride National School, Trim
Tullyallen National School, Drogheda
The Meath Herald Febuary, 2024
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
Cloth Nappy Library to Launch in Trim AS PART OF ITS ongoing efforts to reduce its use of plastic, Trim Tidy Towns are delighted to announce that with the help of Meath County Council a Cloth Nappy Library is coming to Trim. The Cloth Nappy Library (CLN), which will be hosted by Cult:Zero Organic Shop on Emmet Steet, will offer parents of newborns and infants the opportunity to move away from costly and environmentally unfriendly disposable nappies. Cllr. Ronan Moore, Social Democrats and ViceChair of Trim Tidy Towns explains “Disposable nappies for many parents, me included, became one of those necessary evils when your children are infants. I was all too aware of the environmental impact of using them not to mention the cost.” “From birth to potty training most babies will use on average 3,800 disposable nappies, which all end up either incinerated or in landfill and can take up to 500 years to break down*, while the economic cost is estimated to
be up to €1,500 per child**.” He continued “Cloth nappies offer an alternative to that. Just 24 cloth nappies are needed to get your baby from newborn to potty training and they can then be reused on subsequent siblings or sold on when you’re finished. This means that the final cost could be realistically anywhere from €500 down to €250 depending on whether you buy your initial set new or pre-loved and if they can be used for future siblings.” Unfortunately, the biggest barrier to cloth nappies is that there is no one perfect nappy. What fits one baby well may not be as good a fit on another baby. As a result, it can be demoralising and costly for new parents to invest in a full set of cloth nappies, only to find out that they just do not work for your infant. But this is where the Cloth Nappy Library steps in. CNL Kits offer you a ‘try before you buy’ service so you don’t have to invest before you know what works best for you and
Darren O’Rourke TD Sinn Fein spokesperson for Climate Action and the Environment
failure to reign in the chaos in Ireland’s energy markets and furthermore to continuously prioritise the profits of big business over ordinary workers and families.”
us two loan kits for Trim. I would have loved2 this resource as a new parent.
that is not even the worst part. Households were in fact overcharged by over €100 million , an error which was only discovered when a review of the subvention was conducted.” He continued “To add insult to injury, Minister Ryan who introduced the measure in the first place wasn’t even bothered showing up in the first place. Despite the session already having been postponed to accommodate him, he sent Minister Ossian Smyth in his stead. Given the scale of this error, he should at a very minimum be willing to answer questions on it.” “While the CRU has instructed ESB has instructed the CRU to pay households back, increasing network charges almost wipe-out the €54 repayment. In fact, its real value is just €6 euro to
ordinary workers and families. Moreover, the refund will be concealed in other components of the bill instead of being shown directly. A lack of transparency caused this in the first place and should not be repeated. “€6 will hardly provide the relief needed for Ireland’s exorbitantly high energy costs. While there have been some small decreases lately, they remain 90% above 2020 levels and remain some of the highest in Europe.“ “They’ve also fallen much slower here on the back of falling wholesale prices than they have in other EU states. “The latest arrears figures (up to October 2023) published in late December show that a staggering 435,033 households can’t afford to pay their energy bills. The number of do-
mestic electricity customers has risen by 20,000 alone! To put this into context, that is nearly half a million homes, and 1 in every 8 across the state. The figure for domestic gas customers in arrears is particularly worrying at 23%.” Teachta O’Rourke concluded “With the moratorium on disconnections due to come to an end in a week, the government desperately need to get to grips with this situation. Chaos has reigned in the energy market for far too long now. Sinn Féin has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to address these issues.” “I am calling on the government to introduce them with immediate effect in order to bring much needed relief for Ireland’s workers, families and small businesses.”
Anne McCartney-Cutbill proprietor of Cult:Zero. Below: A Cloth Nappy Pack your baby. Not only does it give you the chance of finding out if reusing cloth nappies works for you, but there are also a host of different brands included in each set meaning once you find out the perfect style and fit for your baby, you can then invest in a specific set of cloth nappies, safe in the knowledge that they will work. Anne McCartney-Cutbill who is the proprietor of Cult:Zero on Emmet St. Trim where the Cloth Nappy Loan Kits will be
O’Rourke - Questions Remain for Domestic Energy Customers Ripped-Off for 12 Years Due to ‘Accounting Error’ SINN FÉIN SPOKESPERSON for Climate Action and the Environment, Darren O’Rourke TD, has criticised the Government, the Regulator and ESB Networks for overseeing ‘an accounting error’ in the Large Energy User (LEU) subvention which saw domestic customers overcharged for 12 years on their energy bills. Commenting on a recent session of the Oireachtas Climate Committee attended by representatives from the CRU and ESB Networks, as well as Minister Ossian Smyth, Teachta O’Rourke said “Today’s session confirmed nothing more than this government's complete
based added: “I am delighted that Cloth Nappy Library Ireland has given
The nappies are beautiful too and we hope they will help as many local families move over to the fluffy side as possible” Ann continued “The CNL kits need to be booked online at https://clothnappylibrary.ie/ where a deposit of €20 is paid centrally, before the parent comes into us to collect. In store, there will be two nappy loan kits.“ “The first is for newborns, which are suitable from birth. This loan kit is for 6 weeks and includes 25 nappies and a selection of accessories to cover you for the early weeks.” “These are ideal if you already have some One Size or Birth to Potty nappies but don’t want to invest in the cost of buying your own Newborn nappies. “ “The second set are the 10 lbs cloth nappy loan kits. These are suitable for babies who are 10lbs +. These loans are for 3 weeks and include 15 nappies and a selection of accessories. These loans are full of One Size or Birth to Potty nappies” Anne finshed.
“Despite assurances that answers would be provided, that clarity would be forthcoming and that confidence would be restored, serious questions remain about just how this error was allowed to happen. Furthermore, it remains totally unclear if sufficient corrective measures have been carried out to ensure consumers are adequately protected from such serious blunders.” “For 12 years, the government instructed the CRU and ESB to charge additional fees to households to provide relief to LEUs - data centres, pharmaceutical companies, and other industrial plants. However,
The Meath Herald February, 2024
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Kilcarn Bridge Which Carried the Toll Road from Dublin to Navan
Noel French Local Historian WITH THE INCREASE in the tolls on the motorways kicking in it is an appropriate time to look back and see that tolls are not new and in fact the original main overland routes were first developed as toll roads. The coach road from Dublin to Navan was made by a trust set up in 1729. In
that year there was a postal service in Navan on Monday and Friday. Letters arrived from Dublin on a Tuesday and Saturday. There was a daily postal service by 1800. The Navan Dublin road was completed in 1729. Two years later in 1731 an Act was passed for a road from the Navan road at Blackbull to Trim and Athboy. The junction of the Trim and Navan roads at the Blackbull was a renowned resort of highwaymen. In 1733 the Navan road was extended to Kells and Nobber. The Navan Long Coach left the Sun Inn, Queen St., Dublin on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at noon and arrived at Navan at 5:30p.m. The inside fare
was 7s 7d and the outside fare was 5/5. The names of the Inns of Navan at the time are recorded – George Inn, Bull Inn and Blacklion Inn. All vehicles were to be charged at tollgates. The tolls in 1731 were “for each coach, berlin, chariot, calash, chaise or chair drawn by any less number of horses than six and more than one, the sum of 6d, for every wain, cart or carriage with two wheels having more than one horse, mare, gelding or mule the sum of 3d: for every carriage commonly called a chair or chaise with one horse, mare or gelding the sum of 2d: for every cart or other carriage having but one horse….1d: for every horse, mare,
gelding, mule or ass laden or unladen and not drawing 1/2d: for every drove of oxen or near cattle the sum of 10d per score…. And for every drove of calves, hogs, sheep or lambs 5d per score”. The coach road was to support itself by the payment of tolls at the tollgates. There was a tollgate at Kilcarn Bridge where the road crossed the Boyne. There was a tollgate at the “Round O” for the Nobber – Kingscourt road. The road to Slane was not a toll road and could be freely travelled. At the other side of town at Bannon’s Cross at the northern end of Canon Row
there was a tollgate for the Kells – Cavan coach road. This was also the road for Enniskillen. Part of this tollgate was taken to Rathaldron Castle and used as a fence when the road was made toll free. A bridge over the Boyne was built at Navan sometime between 1733 and 1756. Bishop Ellis in 1733 notes the fact that people had to ford the river to get from Athlumney to Navan Church. The bridge appears in the map of Navan in 1756. This bridge was the first to connect Navan to the east side of the Boyne and is known as the New Bridge. It is thought that the cor-
poration of the time was against the building of the bridge. Toll roads declined in the early part of the 1800’s. The railways speeded up this decline. In 1842 there were six tollgates on the Dublin – Navan road each receiving 16s per week. The company could not survive on such low incomes and so in that year the Board of Works took over the Navan road. But this was not successful either and in 1855 a final inquiry into the remaining Coach Road Trusts was held. The tolls were removed and the roads made free and put in the control of the Grand Juries.
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
Coming Out Of The Dark Supporting Your Local
with Sinead Burke Granny was a great woman for the signed mass cards. Whatever deal she had going with the Columban Fathers, led to her having an old USA Biscuit tin fully stocked with them and ready to be put into action. No-one in the Kilmessan and Bective area was going to have any trouble getting in through the pearly gates. Not on her watch. Granny took pride in sorting out their paperwork. There’s nothing more impressive than witnessing someone who is organised in action. Obviously, there are certain careers that demand a level of conscientiousness. I’d prefer not to think about surgeons just winging in the operating theatre or barristers in the High Court simply playing things by ear. But what really impresses me are those people in normal daily life, and at the risk of offending half the population, it’s generally women who are operating at a more diligent level than the rest of us. These are the women who have umbrellas in
their cars. They have spare trolley tokens in their handbags and put money aside for Christmas. They order oil, even when the tank is not fully empty. Quiet contingencies carried out calmly and seamlessly. In July 2018, I nearly joined their ranks. For years, despite much derision from the rest of the family, I always put raincoats in the suitcase for the annual jaunt to Spain. Then finally, on an overcast and thundery day on the Costa Dorada, my moment finally came, along with torrential rain. And sure, you know what it's like when it gets going over there. The holiday park flooded. Hundreds of disappointed Irish heads peered out their doors with “What will we do now?” faces on them. But not the Burkes. Triumphantly I pulled the case out from under the bed and passed around the pac-a-macs. We had the run of the place. Honest to God, it’s still a personal moment I think about when I’m at a low ebb. So obviously, thanks to the Granny being God’s personal gatekeeper and the fact that I did once prove myself capable of meticulous planning 6 years ago, being on top of my organisational game is in my genes.
So there was no-one more surprised than me by how shockingly ill prepared we found ourselves during the recent storms. Our electricity went off twice, each for a substantial length of time. At no time during the intervening 12 hours between the two blackouts, when every single weather person was blue in the face saying “Lad’s, there is another one coming”, did I even think to go out to buy a flashlight. It never even occurred to me that perhaps the comedy of errors known as “Where are the batteries, and can I take two out of that thing?” would be having its second showing in the house the following night. Granny, I’ve let you down. I wasn’t raised to have my family stumble around in the dark, multicoloured fairy lights valiantly, but ultimately ineffectually twinkling around their necks two nights in a row. So enough, I’ve come up with a plan, drawing on my grandmother’s capability, and in a nice homage to my father’s many years underground in Tara Mines, I’m getting the whole family mining helmets. Illuminous yellow hard hats with flashing lights on the front. The next electric outage won’t see us wanting. I might even order oil as well.
Great News On Rail Fares For East Meath Commuters - McKee CATHAOIRLEACH of the Laytown-Bettystown Municipal District, Cllr Stephen McKee, has warmly welcomed the recent announcement by the National Transport Authority that Drogheda and Laytown Train Stations have been included in the new lower-fares ‘Dublin Commuter Zone’. McKee stated: ‘The creation of the new ‘Commuter Zone’ will see the
introduction of a fair and equitable pricing system for rail commuters by means of new distancebased fares. According to the NTA, Drogheda & Laytown train stations will see the largest reductions in fares. The new fare system announced is due to come into effect by the Autumn this year.’ ‘Over the last few years, I have repeatedly called on Irish Rail to review their
Hospitality Business My name is Helen Leddy, MD of Back Office Marketing, I provide marketing services for the hospitality and tourism industry. This month we are talking about how we can support our local hospitality businesses in County Meath. Over the past 6 months, we have seen an unprecedented number of businesses close around the county. Increased labour costs, increase in the VAT rate, and an increase in costs overall have led to the closure of some of our favourite bars and restaurants. We are all feeling the pinch when it comes to the cost of living, but we can do small things to support our local businesses. Here are my top tips. 1. LEAVE A REVIEW Even if you have only visited them once and it was a year ago- go onto Google or social media and leave a review of your experience. This could mean the differ-
ence of someone visiting them in the future or not. 2. ORDER DIRECT If you are planning on ordering take out- order from the restaurant directly. Some third-party apps charge a hefty commission and you know you can collect it yourself! 3. CALL THEM TO BOOK Sometimes restaurant booking apps can cost a lot also, commission is sometimes charged per person booking so give them a call instead of booking online. 4. ORDER LOCAL DISHES As well as supporting local restaurants, we should also be supporting local
rail fare structure from Drogheda and East Meath’ continued Cllr McKee. ‘As the County with the highest proportion of people leaving it daily to go to work and with the roads getting much busier with traffic, we need to incentivise and encourage people to use public transport but the reality is that rail travel, in particular, is very expensive. The rail ticket situation has been neither equitable nor fair to Meath commuters so it is great to see this situation finally change’ concluded McKee.
Cllr Stephen McKee at Laytown Train Station
producers. If you see a local dish on them menu then make it your business to try it! 5. LEAVE A TIP If you receive good service then don’t forget to tip! A lot of restaurants are closing as staff aren’t sticking around. Give them a reason to keep serving you into the future! We have a great reputation of hospitality in County Meath and we want to see this continue well into the future. Get out and about over Valentines and Easter and make sure your local restaurants and bars stay where they are!
The Meath Herald February, 2024
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Kells Family Resource Centre Programme 2024
A BROAD RANGE OF PROGRAMMES This year, Kells Family Resource Centre is a hive of activity, with a broad range of programmes designed to suit the interests and needs of different age groups. The centre offers something for all ages, encouraging both personal development and community involvement. The centre offers a wide range of volunteer options for community people to volunteer their talents and experience. There are lots of ways to become engaged and change the world, like directing young clubs, helping with kid-friendly events, or serving on committees. All things considered, Kells Family Resource Centre remains a centre of activity and assistance, enhancing the lives of residents and fostering a feeling of empowerment and inclusion within the community.
The following activities are available in Kells Family Resource Centre and are free or low cost. Please enquire at 046 9247161 or email info@kellsfrc.ie for details of costs, subsidies, and bookings.
‘People Helping People’ Children and Youth Programme Baby Massage / Baby Yoga: Tuesday mornings Kells Foróige Youth Café For young people aged 12-18 Monday evenings 6.30pm to 8pm Hang out, enjoy social & fun activities Kells Angels Youth Club Fun activities, challenges and side quests for ages 8-12 years on Fridays at 5pm. Enrolling new members Little Folk - Music with Kyle: Music for babies and toddlers at 10am and 11am every Wednesday
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 2024 “Women are the real architects of Society” - Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland Excitement is building as we get closer to International Women's Day, and our community is gearing up for a special event that is all about celebrating women's strength and success. It is happening at Kells Family Resource Centre on the 8th of March, and everyone is invited to join in the fun. We have got lots planned for the day to help women feel special, inspired, and empowered. First up, there will be workshops on all sorts of things to do with women's health and happiness. You can learn about managing menopause with experts from HSE Ireland or find out about the best supplements for women's health from Lynch Pharmacy. We know that money matters, so we have got the local Credit Union hosting a workshop on how to manage your money better. They will share tips to help you budget and save, so you can feel more confident about your finances. One of the most exciting parts of the day will be the Empowering Women Panel. Women from all walks of life will share their stories of overcoming challenges and achieving their goals. It is sure to be inspiring for everyone who hears it. And if that is not enough, there is also a Self Defence Workshop delivered by Krav Maga Ireland where you can learn how to stay safe and strong, and a Bingo Loco Extravaganza with fun, prizes, and music from some amazing female singers. We cannot wait to celebrate with you and show just how awesome women are! Keep an eye out for more details on how to get involved. For more information on the events and to register to workshops, please visit the website: https://www.kellsfrc.ie/ internationalwomensday or call us on 046 924 71 61
Brickx Club: Creative brick building and social activity for children 4-12 years - last Thursday of month at 5pm Cool Dudes & Teen Cookery Programme Cookery for 9- 12-year-olds and teens Mid-Term & Summer Kells Parent, Baby & Toddler Group: enjoy social time with other parents & little people on Mondays 1011.30am - new members welcome! Chaos Art Academy Teens Programme: comprehensive 8-week art course is designed to introduce teens to a variety of art techniques, from basic drawing and painting to more advanced mixed media and digital art. New programmes for 8-12s and 5-8s coming soon. Kells Coder Dojo: Explore creativity through coding, programming, and technology for young people 7-18 years on Saturday afternoon. Maths Grinds: Maths support for 2nd level students
Parenting & Family Support Family Support Service: Individualised service, working with a family providing a listening ear, practical assistance, information, support and guidance to help families to address issues of concern. Parenting Plans – Mentoring: Tailored parenting plans and support of an accredited creative psychotherapist to help parents address specific needs or difficulties. Family Mediation Service: Help to come to agreement on important life and family matters. Family Therapy: Space, support & opportunity to work through family challenges with a family therapist – subsidy may apply Parents Plus – Parenting Adolescents: 6-week prog is practical, solution-focused and draws on parents’ strengths – for parents of adolescents (incl. ADHD) Parents Plus – Parenting When Separated: - 6-week prog for parents who are preparing for, going through or have gone through a separation or divorce Parents Plus - Healthy Families: Support to ensure your family thrives in all areas of modern family life – routines, screen-time, mealtimes, sleep patterns, selfesteem, play-activities and positive relationships. Non-Violent Resistance: Prog for parents to address child-to-parent violence and achieve a calm violencefree home and relationship. Circle of Security: Develop a secure attachment between parent and child, understand and support your child’s emotional world, learn to read emotional needs, enhance your child's self-esteem, honour your innate wisdom & desire for your child to be secure.
Kells Family Resource Centre, Lord Edward St, Kells, Co. Meath, A82XN75. 046 9247161 info@kellsfrc.ie
Support Services (including outreach services)
Wellbeing Programme
Alcoholics Anonymous: Support group and fellowship for people living with alcohol addiction -Tuesdays 1pm
Wellbeing Support Programmes: Support wellbeing though creative therapies and community activities.
Narcotics Anonymous: Support & fellowship for people living with narcotics addiction. Sun & Thurs 7pm
Counselling for Adults: Affordable and accessible counselling for adults – subsidy may apply.
Al-Anon: Support group for family members of people living with alcohol addiction – Mondays 8pm
Adolescent Counselling: Affordable and accessible counselling for 12-17 years – subsidy may apply.
MQI Family Support: Support service for family members of people in addiction 086 1366870
Play/Creative Therapies: for children aged 7 upwards, help with a range of difficulties - subsidy may apply.
Pieta Outreach Service: Support for family members bereaved by a loved one’s suicide 085 738 0444
Confident Me! Prog for 8-10 and 10-12 year olds to develop within children the ability to recognise and understand their emotions and introduce strategies to manage and address emotions effectively.
Job Matters: Service assists people with a disability to secure and maintain employment 046 906 0717 Job Path: Job seeking support by Seetec 046 907 1270 SMART: community-based youth programme promoting positive community interactions and preventing ‘at risk’ behaviour.
Social Programme Neighbourly Coffee Morning- Fridays 10am-12pm Welcome new community members joining us from Ukraine, find a buddy and lend a hand. All welcome! Improve Your English: Every Monday 10am to 12pm Informal 1 to 1 / small group classes to practice and improve conversational English. • Formal classes on Thursday mornings • Practice with Friday Friends – Fridays 10am -12pm Make positive community connections.
Rainbows: A nine-week peer support programme to support children through separation or bereavement Working Things Out Programme for Young People: A practical CBT prog. equipping young people with skills to cope positively & overcome mental health problems such as anxiety, depression & poor self-esteem. Family Food Support: Provision of food supplies and support to individuals/families - help make ends meet. Healthy Food Made Easy: 6-week cookery & healthy eating course for adults Senior Alert: monitored alarms to enable older people to live securely in their own homes. Yoga 4 Health: Weekly yoga with Martina Baby Massage/Yoga: Programme for baby & care-giver
One Voice Kells: A multicultural singing group for fun & community connections on Mondays at 7.30pm
SafeTALK: Suicide Awareness Workshop on Thursday 11 April 10am to 2pm
Neuro-Space: A safe, friendly and fun space for neurodivergent young adults on Weds evenings.
Bowen Therapy: By appointment 087 1745581, bodywork for pain relief, relaxation, and wellbeing.
Teens Neuro-Space: A safe, friendly and fun space for neurodivergent Teens.
Living Well Programme – Thurs 2pm -4.30pm 6-week-programme for adults with long-term health conditions, develop skills & confidence to manage your condition, anxiety & mood.
Women’s Group: A time for friendship, wellbeing and fun for women on Tuesday mornings 10am to 12pm Slimming World: Group-based support to reach and maintain goal weight – Tuesday morning & evening.
Admin, IT & Space Admin Services: Printing, scanning, form-filling etc is available between 9.30am and 1pm Monday to Friday Computer & Internet Access: 9.30am-1pm Mon-Fri One-to-One Digital Support: Get the best out of your phone, tablet or laptop Room Hire: For meetings, services, or activities €25 per hour (discounts for block bookings)
Volunteer Opportunities English Tutors: chatty friendly volunteers enabling learners to practice English & make community connections – no experience necessary Food Bank & Programmes – practical support needed Children’s Activities – helpers for fun activities Youth Club Leaders – training to work with youth Committee Members – join a Sub-Group or Project Committee to share your skills and get things done!
Kells Family Resource Centre, Lord Edward St, Kells, Co. Meath, A82XN75. 046 9247161 info@kellsfrc.ie
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
JOE’S JOTTER: HOW YOU AS A PARENT CAN HELP YOUR CHILD IN MATHS
PARENTS, I would advise you not to stand idly by in relation to Maths; you can’t afford to. You may or may not have had a good experience in your own school days with Maths, but you need to leave that to one side now and get stuck in, as “you can help!” It is important to introduce Maths to your child from an early age so that they carry good habits with them into their teenage years. Maths appears in so many different tasks we do during our day; we are performing Maths calculations constantly and aren’t even aware of it. Young children are like sponges who love soaking up new information and experiences, so there are always opportunities to pass on lifelong skills to them in this subject. By involving them centrally in some of the activities and experiences listed below, you can turn them into amazing future Mathematicians and infuse a love for the subject, without them even knowing. As time passes, they will hopefully view Maths as a fun and challenging subject. The word Maths isn’t mentioned once in the below list, but it is intrinsically linked to them all. Many of these can be reinforced up to the early teenage years. Try opening discussions and involving them in the following day-to-day tasks: Setting the table for four people • Wrapping presents • Sorting and
matching socks • Thinking about quantities and percentages in recipes • Reading the labels on food products • Organising notes and magnets on the fridge • Spotting shapes in the kitchen/garden • Adding up number plates when travelling • Noting where basic shapes exist… rectangle, triangle, parallelograms etc • Spotting shapes in books • Introducing days of the week • Introducing time of the day and minutes in a day • Introducing hours in the day and week • Introducing months and days in the year • Introducing yesterday, today, tomorrow, next week • Clocking numbers on cars, busses, shops, and houses • Measuring your child’s height and discussing sizes • Converting their shoe size measurements i.e. between mm/cm • Regularly using the ‘measure’ words: tall, short, wide, narrow etc • Playing counting games: Bingo, Snakes and Ladders and Dice • Making shapes with pasta, crayons, and cutouts • Showing them how to use a little ruler • Setting them little calculation challenges with rewards • Playing shop with kitchen products and money • Buying them a toy cash register • Using full and empty containers to introduce volume in baking • Comparing toys under size, weight, and shape • Making patterns with buttons or clothes pegs • Quizzing them on shapes around the home • Allowing them to scan the bar-
codes at the supermarket. • Teaching them to divide treats evenly with their friends • Asking them to colour in bar charts and graphs • Showing them labels on food • Grouping clothes buttons together under size and shape • Giving them measuring tapes, rulers, watches, jugs, and scales • Challenging them to add and subtract basic numbers • Looking out for patterns and linkages in everyday life • Helping them to work out the change when you buy something • Downloading simple numerical games and apps for their tablets. • Using food products to teach them about various shapes • Cutting paper to show how new shapes emerge from original ones • Setting them little calculation challenges with rewards given for effort • Discussing about the chance (probability) of an event happening • Making numbers fun. Parents can ease future Maths anxiety with these chats… Careers Maths is the most widely used subject and language in the world. Statistics are used now in every walk of life. Every career now demands a certain level of mathematical ability, whether it is in engineering, accounting, finance, science, medicine, trades, transportation, commu-
nication, technology, construction, fashion, event planning, furniture design, etc. Telling the time We all use clocks or watches to tell the time, but these only make sense if you know how to interpret them, which of course need Maths. Remember, we all learned how to tell the time during Maths in primary school. Driving a car We use Maths to work out how long it would take us to get to our destination. For example, if you have meeting or a football math in Cork and your living in Dublin you can use the following algebraic expression to calculate how long it would it take to get there. Time = Distance/Speed. Sport We use Maths to analyse the 100 m race in the Olympic Games and other track and field events. Whenever we hit a sliothar or a football we are using Maths to estimate and calculate distance. Even keeping the score in our favourite sports, we use Maths, such as converting goals into points or tries and conversions in overall scores. Computers In our technologically advanced society, just about everything involves Maths of some sort. The computer you use is a machine that does binary arithmetic incredibly fast.
Shopping Shopping involves many calculations. How much change would you get for a €25.99 t-shirt with two twenty euro notes? How would you calculate 30% VAT on a computer game? Fashion industry Fashion designers and tailors use geometry and trigonometry to work out their designs for new dresses and to calculate how much fabric they need. Your house Your house was constructed by architects who had to specify its dimensions. Engineers had to determine weight loads generated by the ceiling and roof on the walls, so the house wouldn’t collapse. Many of the above examples can be integrated
into a child’s life from an early age and the sooner they are exposed to this type of learning the better. The secret to you being successful at improving your child’s innate Maths is to take every opportunity to seamlessly introduce it. You do not need to be good at Maths to influence and enjoy these links with your children. Try not to let your own experience of the subject colour the fun and enjoyable learning they can extract here. The key is to allow them to create, complete, think and compute daily, without even thinking it’s actually Maths they are doing. Good luck with it.
JOE
More details about Joe as a Maths Tutor for 5th and 6th Year Leaving Certificate Students (23/24) and his Award Winning ACE Maths Solution Books can be found via the links below. ACE Maths Classes: acesolutionbooks.com/ace-mathstuition ACE Maths Solution Books: acesolutionbooks.com/buy-mybooks
The Meath Herald February, 2024
MOTORING
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MOTORING
The Meath Herald February, 2024
New Generation Skoda Kodiaq Prices Revealed WIDELY PRAISED as the model that made Škoda a true global player, the Kodiaq has been one of the Czech brands most successful models with more than 850,000 sales worldwide. Škoda unveiled their second generation Kodiaq, in Berlin last October. The new model promises to pick up where the original left off, with a powerful
new look, innovative features and even more practicality. Physically, the new Kodiaq is even bigger and more imposing. It has grown by 61mm in length and now stretches to 4,758mm. Boot volume has increased by up to 75 litres over its predecessor. Meanwhile, the Kodiaq’s aerodynamics have also been improved, with a new drag coefficient of just
0.282. From the outside, the new generation Kodiaq demonstrates its new Modern Solid design language with a protruding grille that can be ordered with 14 light elements forming a striking light strip between the LED headlamps. A revised Škoda logo sits atop the reshaped bonnet while, shiny chrome makes way for Unique
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Dark Chrome matt surrounds. LED Matrix headlights and rear LED dynamic indicators will feature as standard on the majority of models. NEW 13” INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY Inside, a new 13” infotainment display takes centre stage and provides the driver with essential information, navigation and infotainment. Škoda Smart Dials feature for the first time in a Škoda. These three, intuitive multifunctional controls are positioned below the infotainment display for ease of access and feature small colour screen displays. Measuring 32mm in diameter, Smart Dials are functional and physical, providing the driver with instant access to essential functions such as climate control without having to delve into multiple menus on a touchscreen. In addition, the automatic transmission gear selector has been repositioned to the steering column, creating more space in the centre console. All the practicalities of the seven seat configurations have been retained from the outgoing model. POWERTRAINS Concerning powertrains, the second-generation Kodiaq showcases a versatile range of modern and highly efficient engines, including petrol, diesel and hybrid options. For the first time, the Kodiaq is available with hybrid technology. The plug-in hybrid powertrain for the Kodiaq
iV offers a system output of 150 kW (204 hp) and an all-electric range of more than 100 kilometres on the WLTP cycle. Meanwhile, mild-hybrid technology comes in the entry-level 1.5 TSI with 110 kW (150 hp). DIESEL ENGINES Today, diesel engines account for 96% of Irish Kodiaq sales and this trend is likely to continue. The new Kodiaq is available with two 2.0 TDI diesels, with 110 kW (150 hp) and 142 kW (193 hp), the later mated to a 4x4 all-wheeldrive transmission. Diesel versions of the Kodiaq are HVO (Hydrated Vegetable Oil) ready. Used in combination with diesel fuel or exclusively, HVO fuel has the ability to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% John Donegan, Brand Director, Škoda Ireland commented “The Kodiaq first went on sale in Ireland in 2017 and became an instant success, finding 11,500 happy homes over a six-year sales period.” “It received a light cosmetic facelift in 2021 and even outsold the Octavia model the following year. The Kodiaq has always remained in high demand and, even with the new model on the horizon, there are very few unallocated current generation Kodiaqs available for immediate purchase. Therefore, I would advise interested customers to discuss the next generation Kodiaq with their local dealer at their earliest convenience.”
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
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Ford Reinvents Bestselling Kuga SUV FORD is inspiring drivers to embrace the electric future and new Kuga, Europe’s bestselling Plugin hybrid in 2021, 2022 1,2 and on track for 2023 according to the latest available data, will play a key role on the journey. Bold and assertive new Kuga offers surprising performance from hybrid powertrains, the convenience of seamless connectivity, and a full range of latest-generation driver assistance systems that make it the ideal companion for everyday adventures. The new Kuga range, built in Europe and designed for European drivers – offers up to 69 km 3 of pure electric driving for Kuga Plug-In Hybrid customers who can take advantage of home or public charging. Kuga Plug-In Hybrid significantly improved acceleration, with the reduced emissions of an electrified
driving experience. Offering up to 2,100 kg 4 of towing ability, pulling power beats all rivals and means new Kuga is able to take everything from a large caravan to a horsebox in its stride. Fresh design and seamless connectivity New Kuga has evolved both inside and out, with a fresh, confident design. The smart Titanium and sporty ST-Line models
have unique design features and distinctive personalities. An eye-catching full-width LED light bar is available as part of the optional Technology Pack and frames the new front grille design, which proudly displays the Ford Blue Oval, underlining its strength and purpose. Inside, new Kuga features Ford’s latest-generation SYNC 4 5 infotainment offering twice the
computing power of the previous system. Integrating seamlessly with smartphones, it has 5G connectivity for fast access to information, cloud-connected navigation to help stay ahead of the jams, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 6 for cable-free access to key apps and information. Alexa Built-in 7 is also standard, so drivers and passengers can ask questions or
make commands even without a smartphone connected. SYNC 4 also supports drivers in making the most of new Kuga’s towing ability, with the Trailer Connection Checklist helping to support safe and secure connections. Trailer Tow Navigation enables drivers to enter the dimensions of their car and trailer so that SYNC 4 can select a route to help avoid tight turns, low bridges and other obstacles. Cutting-edge tech from factory to driveway. Advanced driver assistance technology supports an effortless, comfortable drive in even the most challenging conditions. The new generation Adaptive Cruise Control 8 can now apply the brakes automatically for curves and junctions as well as other traffic, while the 360degree camera system 9 offers an aerial view so that
parking, preparing to hitch up a trailer or even using an automatic car wash are a breeze. Advanced lighting technology helps to improve comfort and confidence for the driver, with full LED headlights including Automatic High Beam Control 10 as standard. Optional Dynamic Pixel LED headlights 10 use navigation data and a windscreen-mounted camera to read road signs, altering the light pattern at curves, junctions and roundabouts to better illuminate pedestrians and cyclists New Kuga is built in Europe at Ford’s advanced Valencia plant in Spain, where 3D printing of parts delivers highly accurate and sustainable manufacturing. Artificial intelligence works hand-inhand with engineers to ensure the highest standards of quality and production.
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NAVAN OPEL. LISCARTON IND. EST, KELLS RD, NAVAN. T: 046-90 23456 W: NAVANOPEL.IE Opel Combo Cargo Komfort 2000 1.5 100hp. Finance Example: Retail Price† €25,695. Customer deposit / Trade In €10,145. Finance Amount €15,555. 48 monthly payments of €354. Total Cost of Credit €1,568.98. Fixed APR 4.9%* (Annual Percentage Rate) as at 17/10/2023. †Includes delivery & related charges. Model is shown for illustrative purposes only. *Lending criteria and conditions apply (Over 18s only). APR is inclusive of a documentation fee and purchase fee of €63.49 each. To qualify for this Finance Offer a minimum deposit of 30% is required. Rate quoted is correct as at 17/10/2023 and is subject to change. Offer available on all new Opel Combo Cargo models registered from 1/1/2024 until 31/1/2024 at participating Dealers. This is a Business Hire Purchase agreement provided by Bank of Ireland t/a Bank of Ireland Finance. Ownership remains with Bank of Ireland until the final payment is made. Warning: You may have to pay charges if you pay off a hire purchase agreement early. Warning: If you do not meet the repayments on your hire purchase agreement, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit, a hire purchase agreement, a consumer hire agreement or a BNPL agreement in the future.
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
Essential Spring Gardening Tasks WITH CHOICE - A HOME FOR ALL SEASONS
OUR EVENINGS are getting brighter, days longer and weather warmer, so let's get active in your garden this Spring. It's time to get outdoors and prepare our garden beds, tidy the surrounds, prune and move & start this growing season off the right way. Here are some essential tasks our gardening team have compiled to set you off on the right note. Inspect your garden Put on your inspector’s hat and head out to the garden with a notepad. It’s time to see what happened in the garden while you were indoors all winter. Take note of: Damage on plants from cold weather, Flower/Plant beds that need to be cleaned out, Any
sheds, fences, walls, or hardscape elements that may need moving, replacement or repair, Hardscaping elemens walls, fences, benches, sheds, trellises that have shifted, bowed or rotted. Work on hardscape issues first Before the ground is ready to be worked, focus your energy on hardscaping. This is the time to repair damaged retaining walls, level out your stepping stones, clean out your gutters, and fix fences, benches, decks, sheds, trellises, window boxes and raised beds. These tasks are easier to accomplish while your plants are still resting safely dormant. If you have some trellises or fences in storage, you can now take them out and give them a coat of paun Test & feed your soil Horticultural experts recommend testing your garden soil every 3-5 years
to see what nutrients or organic materials it needs and which it has too much of. When you know what your garden soil needs based on these results talk with someone at your local garden centre about which specific products to use. Prune Prune Prune Spring is an ideal time to prune some woody shrubs and trees. Here are some best practice pruning tips: Prune out any damaged plants, shrubs or trees as a result of the winter weather. Follow the general rule that flowering shrubs which bloom on new wood (this year’s growth) can be trimmed in spring. It is also a great opportunity to shear back evergreens, once their initial flush of new growth has finished emerging. DO NOT prune early flowering shrubs and those that bloom on old wood (last year’s stems). If you do, you’ll risk cutting off
this year’s flower buds. You might not be able to see them, but they are there, so please resist the urge to prune. Divide & transplant any perennial shrubs Early in Spring, when beginning to pop up, divide and transplant any perennials that have outgrown their space or grown too large enough to split. In most cases, it’s best to divide and move perennials in the opposite season of when they bloom. Plant your spring containers and borders. Though most annual flowers need the soil to
Donna Farrell - Director Marsh Mackey IN TODAY'S COMPETITIVe environment, retaining good staff is crucial for long-term success. High employee turnover can be costly and disruptive. Fortunately, there are several strategies that organizations can implement to keep their top talent engaged and satisfied. Firstly, creating a positive work environment is paramount. Employees want to feel valued, respected, and appreciated. Encouraging open communication, and while it can be difficult for some SME’s to find the time,
vancement paths. Employees who are clever enough to see a clear trajectory for growth within the organization are more likely to stay long-term. Furthermore, promoting work-life balance is crucial for employee retention. Encouraging employees to take time off when needed, implementing flexible scheduling options, and promoting wellness initiatives can help prevent burnout and improve overall job satisfaction. A STRONG SENCE OF COMMUNITY Lastly, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging can significantly impact employee retention. Organizing teambuilding activities, company outings, and social events can help employees develop meaningful connections with their colleagues and feel a sense of camaraderie.
tender emerging buds or foliage if freezing temps are in the forecast. If the buds haven’t begun to open yet, there’s no need to cover them. Old sheets and towels that have been relegated to the rag pile are a good option. Spring is the best time to get out and begin preparations for s perfect garden.
CHOICE STORES LOCATIONS NAVAN: Navan Town Centre & Blackwater Retail Park KELLS: Bective Street TRIM: Market Street ASHBOURNE: Unit 8/9 Ashbourne Retail Park, Ballybin Road.
Strategies for Retaining Top Talent providing constructive feedback, and recognizing achievements can go a long way in fostering a positive atmosphere. Of course, offering competitive compensation and benefits is another key factor in retaining good staff. While salary is important, other perks such as health insurance, retirement plans, and flexible work arrangements can also contribute to employee satisfaction. Conducting regular salary reviews to ensure that compensation remains competitive with industry standards is essential. PROFESSIONA DEVELOPMENT Additionally, providing opportunities for professional development and growth can help employees feel invested in their careers. This can include offering training programs, mentorship opportunities, and career ad-
warm up a bit before planting, some cool weather loving plants like pansies won’t mind if you plant them in the garden early, for most others its wise to wait until the last frost date where possible. Be ready to take cover for freezing temperatures If late spring frost is a possibility, be prepared to cover up plants that have
In conclusion, retaining good staff requires a multifaceted approach that addresses various aspects of the employee experience. By creating a positive work environment, offering competitive compensation and benefits, providing opportunities for growth, promoting worklife balance, and fostering a sense of community, organizations can increase employee satisfaction and reduce turnover rates. Investing in employee retention ultimately leads to a more productive and successful workforce. This is something Marsh Mackey Recruitment are acutely aware of and are always available to assist our clients retention of staff. If you require assistance in this area, please all one of the team on 0469028205. Thanks for reading!
The Meath Herald February, 2024
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Safe Routes to School Scheme completed at Ashbourne Community School A NEW safe route to school scheme (SRTS) has been completed at Ashbourne Community School. An initiative of the Department of Transport, the SRTS programme is coordinated by the SRTS Team, which is part of the Environmental Education Unit at An Taisce, in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the local authorities. Ultimately, Ashbourne Community School wished to create a safer environment for students, leading to the project being selected by An Taisce for the Round 1 pro-
gramme in County Meath with funding provide by the NTA and Meath County Council. The project, designed by consultant engineers Jacobs Engineering Ireland Ltd and delivered by Davis Civil Contractors Ltd., saw the improvement and widening of the footpath connecting the school to Milltown Road with new public lighting installed. This link is a key nontraffic route to the school and is also on the existing Ashbounre Slí na Slainte route. New and wider paths, additional bike parking as well as a safer pedestrian crossing was
also provided at the front of the school. The new infrastructure presents an immediately identifiable and colourful friendly school zone, creating a safer, calmer and more attractive school gate environment. Cathaoirleach of Ashbourne MD, Cllr. Connor Tormey welcomed the implementation of the scheme, saying: “It is great to see the safety improvements at Ashbourne Community School which have been carried out as part of the Safe Routes to Schools program.” “I would like to thank all motorists for their pa-
Ashbourne Community School Safe Route To School Scheme tience while adjusting to the changes and we look forward to the construction of more school zones across the Municipal District and the county.” Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Ke-
hoe said, “Meath County Council is pleased to have facilitated this project, which makes an important intervention in the daily school commute for our youngest citizens by providing a safer journey from
home to the school gate and then back home again.” He concluded by saying “With a safer front of school, active travel is now both facilitated and encouraged.”
St. Vincent De Paul Kells Accept Could Meath Produce Ireland’s Over €700 Cash Injection From Next County Music Star? Shannen Carroll to compete on Season 20 The judges will be RTÉ Local Business Raidio na Gaeltachta’s Jó of hit TG4 music series, Glór Tíre
OVER THE PAST SEVEN years McKeon’s Love Fresh, Bective Street, Kells have raised almost €7,000 for the local St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP). This was done through a fundraising programme set up in 2017 where €0.50c from every customer transaction in the store on Christmas Eve would be donated to the local SVDP. On Wednesday January 17th a cheque from the proceeds of Christmas eve 2023 of €711.75 was presented to Tony Byrne and Peter Meehan, representatives of the local SVDP, by Micheál McKeon, McKeon’s Love Fresh. Tony Byrne, representing the local SVDP, said “St. Vincent de Paul is the largest, voluntary, charitable organisation in Ireland and we really value donations like this one for over €700 from the team in McKeon’s Love Fresh. This will go to help local people who are in need, like helping them pay a utility bill or for basic food, it will give some people a happier start to 2024 than if we had not received this do-
McKeon’s Love Fresh, Bective Street, Kells presented a cheque for €711.75 to the local St. Vincent de Paul, the proceeds of a fundraising campaign on Christmas Eve. Pictured L-R: Tony Byrne, SVDP: Micheál McKeon, McKeon’s Love Fresh and Peter Meehan, Treasurer, SVDP Kells nation. We thank Micheál, Damien and the team in McKeon’s Love Fresh who have fundraised for SVDP every Christmas with their Christmas Eve appeal. On behalf of the St. Vincent de Paul Kells Conference, I thank them very much for their continued support”. Micheál McKeon, McKeon’s Love Fresh said, “It is great to be able to support the great work of the local St Vincent de Paul volunteers to make a difference in people’s lives in the local area.”
“Our annual Christmas fundraiser for this very worthy charity is something that our staff and customers are very proud of and we are delighted to be able to help in some small way. I would like to thank our valued McKeon’s Love Fresh customers and our own staff for supporting our store’s fundraising campaign for St. Vincent de Paul over the past seven years, together we have raised almost €7,000, and I am more than proud of that”.
SHANNEN CARROLL from Co Meath, is among eight emerging Country & Irish singers who will be fighting for the title of Ireland’s Glór Tíre Country Music Champion 2024. Shannen will appear on the 20th season of TG4’s hit Country music show, Glór Tíre, which begins broadcasting in March. The Duleek-based singer describes her influences as Miranda Lambert, The Chicks, and Carrie Underwood. Shannen’s episode will be aired on TG4 on Tuesday 2nd April at 9.30pm. “My life revolves around music and country music especially,” she said. “Glór Tíre is an excellent platform for up-and-coming musicians to be heard.” For this series of Glór Tíre, Shannen will be mentored by multi-awardwinning Country singer, Johnny Brady. “I’m so excited to be mentored by Johnny,” said Shannen, “One of my favourite artists in the scene.” Glór Tíre, broadcast on Ireland’s national Irish
language station, TG4, and produced by Galway production company, Gael Media, is widely regarded as the premier platform for new and emerging Country and Irish talent, and as essential to the lifeblood of the genre. Season 20 will be presented by Aoife Ní Thuairsig.
Singer Shannen Carroll
Ní Chéide and Caitriona Ní Shuilleabháin, along with guest judges, Eddie Rowley from the Sunday World and Trudi Lalor, singer and editor of RSVP Country. Broadcast dates for Glór Tíre Season 20 are 12th, 19th, and 26th March, and 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd April at 9.30pm on TG4.
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The Meath Herald February, 2024
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