Newtown Hall

Work has commenced on the refurbishment of the kitchen in the Newtown Hall.  The work is being carried out as a Training Project by the local FAS C.E. Scheme.  The co-ordinator of the work is FÁS’s trainer Dave Corcoran.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Josh Rose was always keen to have a chance to express a few ideas he had for a parade float.  Tir na Mona fresh from its success in the Naas Easter Parade in 1998, decided to give Josh the brief to design the float. On calling in to Josh’s yard over the past month, I saw a few great novel items take shape.  Every spare piece of binder twine, straw, cloth and metal was deployed to shape this gent’s ideas into substance.  A beautiful Thatched House with a half-door emerged.  A Washing Stand with Bath-pan, Clothes Wringer and Wash-board was the next item to appear.  With great skill, he created a holding frame for cutting sticks with a Cross Cut Saw.  He had his Bog Barrow and Turf Basket at the third item for the float.  With Bunny Mangan supplying good Timahoe Heather, things looked like shaping up well.  Pat McLoughlin and Aidan Murphy, the Mackeys, the Gills, the Maguires and others of the Tir na Mona crew, all helped Josh to put the final touches to the float.  Patrick’s Day arrived, a beautiful summer like day.   Blue skies, heat, a day for T-shirts and short sleeves.  We lined up outside Kilcock with Mick Mooney, from Moyvalley with his "Bog Mobile," joining our float.  Mickey Harris from Cloncurry also joined up, Una Nolan and her "washer woman" from The Newtown Choir were all ready for the fun.  The basins, pots, pans and poes all rattled and glistened in the bright sunshine as we moved off.  The Bog Bicycles first followed by Mick Mooney’s Bog Mobile, the two women holding the Tir na Mona Banner next, then David Flood driving the truck that drew our float was next.   Good cheers from our neighbouring floats started what was a most pleasant reception from the people of Kilcock.  The Parade route was lined with hundreds of people and they cheered and waved us on.  "Golly" Cleary as M.C. gave us a great welcome as we passed the "Viewing Stand". The women were washing, the men were sawing, the turf cutters were cutting.  All to the great amusement of the crowd.   Thank-you Kilcock for the "Great Reception".  Next, on to conquer Enfield with our "Earthy Charm".  As we entered Enfield, hundreds of people lined the long street on the main N4 route west.  The crowds responded to Alan Byrne’s song  "It’s a long way to Tir na Mona".  With great applause and cheer - we knew we had won their hearts!!  Billy Carey as M.C., gave "Tir na Mona" a great description as we faced the viewing stand.  The float stopped at the stand and our "Washer Women", "Bog-cutters", musicians and "Lumber Jacks" gave a great display of "Old Working Ways".  Mick Mooney at this stage had pushed his wheel barrow longer than "Molly Malone", and he was very much "Alive! Alive! O!"  When the parade was over some of our group got down to the serious business of "Drowning the Shamrock". Back to Roches Pub and we were all celebrating our victory in Kilcock - we still did not know how we fared in Enfield?  Mick Mooney went to the function in Enfield and he was presented with our prize "Most Humorous Float" in Enfield Parade.  Well done Tir na Mona - we had scooped 2 prizes in 1 day.  Already Josh Rose is planning next year’s float.  Watch out for it as it should be worth seeing!!  Well done to all who participated and especially David and Nora Flood for providing the transport.  A "Celebration Night" for all involved in the float is arranged for Roches Pub on Monday 19th April at 8.30pm.  Please come along!

Friends Of The Forest, Donadea Group

up-date

We have been beavering away at various meetings and gatherings since our last up-date. On 24th February, we met with Charles McCreevy at Government Buildings.  This went very well and subsequently Mr. McCreevy will be going on a Walk-about in Donadea Forest as a guest of ourselves and Coillte. The Walk-about will take place to show Mr. McCreevy the beautiful amenity.  He will also plant a tree and we hope join us all for refreshments afterwards. On 9th March, we met with Coillte and the Lime Avenue was discussed yet again. Mr. George Hipewell, on that night, undertook to resurface the Lime Avenue to an easily maintained standard. Great news indeed!  We have since then, received the report on this beautiful avenue from the experts, and are delighted to report that all is well, though some trees may need to be topped and trimmed. We plan to plant Daffodils and Aconite all the way up the avenue for the Millennium. We will keep you informed. Congrats to Tir na Mona on your success on St. Patrick’s Day with the float. Well Done.

P.R.O.  N. Walsh.

Coffee Morning

A Coffee Morning will be held on Sunday 2nd May in Donadea Forest (in offices at the back of the castle) from 11am onwards. Proceeds are in aid of St. Peters Church Fund, Donadea. The event is being hosted by "The Friends of Donadea Forest" who will also be holding a Sale of Work at the event. Come along for a Coffee Morning with a difference.

Sympathy

Sincere sympathy is extended from the community to Andy Noone and family on the recent and sudden death of Mai Noone. May she rest in peace.

Dead-line

The dead-line for the next issue of the Mona is the last weekend of April, Saturday 24th. If you would like anything published in the next issue, you can ring any of the names on the back page or leave your items at their respective houses. Any item left after that date may not be included in the next issue. Remember too, that all the schools will be able to submit articles, poems and stories for inclusion in the next issue and at the end of the year the best item will receive a prize. So get writing.

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