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Slaney News
Enniscorthy at Christmas The run up to Christmas in Enniscorthy was packed with activity with Delightful Dollies Linedancing, Fairytales and Santa at the Castle, Bui Bolg parading through the streets, the switching on of the Christmas Street Lights and markets, markets everywhere. On Saturday 6th December after watching the Delightful Dollies kick their heels at Market Square I headed to the IFA Centre to take in the Christmas Craft Market organised by the ebullient Maura Flannery. Maura, a constant supporter and promoter of all things crafty, artistic and local had an array of colourful, festive and innovative stalls to delight even the most selective shopper with everything on display from exquisitely designed
7 January 2015
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Christmas decorations by the lovely Sarah McClean (Lihua Zou) from China and Aneta Opolska and Mateusz Magdziak from Poland to felted knitwear by Blanka Davare from Switzerland and handmade cards by artist Marja van Kempen from Holland – all now living in the Enniscorthy area but adding a wonderful cosmopolitan element to the Christmas Fayre. PJ Furlong from Herbalife was there promoting all things healthy and energetic as was Sarah Byrne from Aloe Inspired Forever with Clean 9 – a 9 day nutritional body cleanse to kick start a weight management programme – one that we will no doubt need after all the indulgence of the festive period.
Mark Kavanagh displays his pens in the IFA Centre.
The Country Markets had a huge display of beautiful edibles on display as did Sarah Nolan Murphy with her colourful cupcakes and traditional puddings. Guidedogs for the Blind had their stall with an array of goods ideal for Christmas pressies along with Diane Murphy who had handcrafted everything on her stall herself over the past year and Carrig Crafts were there with a stunning array of handcrafted jewellery. Several Transition Year students had stalls displaying their wares including Niamh Crowhurst promoting her face and body scrubs and Sean Morrissey and Odhran Stynes who had produced fabulous slate cheeseboards for sale but my favourite I have to say was Mark Kavanagh from Davidstown whose innovative idea really impressed me – Mark is making pens from old and broken hurls belonging to some of the most famous hurlers of our time including Henry Shefflin, TJ Reid, John Mullane, Nicky English, Pat Fox, Tom Dempsey, Damian Fitzhenry, Billy Byrne, Larry O’Gorman and many, many more. Your pen comes in a beautifully crafted box which say this pen was crafted from the hurl of…… A most excellent idea and what a way to recycle old and broken hurls – top marks go to Mark not only for coming up with this idea but also for the wonderful sales pitch he gave me – he didn’t have to of course I was sold at the word hurl – and all
Bui Bolg participants in the Enniscorthy Christmas Parade. Pic: Maria Nolan.
The ebullient Maura Flannery at the Craft Market in the IFA Centre. Pic: Maria Nolan.
the more sold when he told me that all proceeds were going to The Irish Hospice Foundation – you will not get better value for your money than that. What a perfect gift for that man in your life who has everything – well he won’t have one of these! M a r k i s o n Tw i t t e r @markscwcrafts and on Facebook at Marks Custom
Wood Crafts and online at markscustomwoodcrafts@gmai l.com. Go on give him a shout and view this stunning gift. Compliments once again to Maura Flannery for bringing the Craft Fayre back to the IFA Centre and to the Enniscorthy Business Association (Enjoy Enniscorthy) who organised stalls on Rafter Street and who were responsible for Stephen
Murphy and all the other entertainment in the Square and the Bui Bolg Parade through the streets and the switching on of the Christmas lights by the ‘big fat man with the long white beard’. These people are to be highly commended for doing their utmost to make it a prosperous Christmas at and for Enniscorthy. – Maria Nolan
The Delightful Dollies Linedancers – entertaining the crowds in Enniscorthy. Pic: Maria Nolan.
Enniscorthy Community Information Services Can you help with We’ve Moved… Meals on Wheels?
Enniscorthy Community Service Council has been in existence for 45 years serving the community of Enniscorthy and its environs. Delivering Meals on Wheels to about 60 people six days a week they always need volunteer drivers. Drivers are asked to be available between the hours of 11.45am–1.00pm Monday to Saturday for one week of the year. The Council also operates an information service (Enniscorthy Community Information Services) for the general public. This service has been running for the past 35 years offering FREE and CONFIDENTIAL information on social welfare, health services, housing, tax, education, consumer affairs, etc. The Enniscorthy Community Service Council sponsors a Care of the Elderly Community Employment scheme funded by Solas (FAS). The work on this project is a communication
Enniscorthy Community Information Services has moved from Duffry Hill to 6 Main Street We continue to provide Free and Confidential information on Social Welfare, Health Service, Employment, Taxation, etc. Open Monday to Thursday 10-5, Friday 10-4 (Closed Lunchtime 1-2pm)
Telephone: 053-9233746 one, visiting the elderly in their own homes and trying to help alleviate some of the loneliness experienced by many of the senior members of our community. An annual party is held in Bellefield complex which is
always very well attended. Various training is done by the participants on the project and many get employment as a result. The Enniscorthy Community Service Council has recently
moved address from Duffry H i l l t o 6 , M a i n S t re e t , Enniscorthy. You can drop in anytime. The Information Service is open Monday to Thursday 105, Friday 10-4 (closed lunchtime 1-2pm). Tel: 053-9233746. n
Volunteer Drivers are needed to deliver Meals on Wheels to householders who are very much dependant on this service in the Enniscorthy town area. Drivers are asked to be available between the hours of 11.45am–1.00pm Monday to Saturday for one week of the year. Driver schedules will be issued well in advance and can be changed to suit. If interested in participating in this vital community service, please speak to one of the o ff i c e t e a m i n Enniscorthy Community Services Council or please ring them on 053 9233746. n