POSSIBLE DUMP AT DREHID HOUSE.
As reported in the media a month ago, Kildare
County Council are left with three remaining potential landfill
sites to replace Silliot Hill near Kilcullen. One is at
Usk, south of Kilcullen and another is at Newtowndonore
between Robertstown and Caragh. However the site on agricultural
lands very close to Drehid House is what concerns Tir na
Mona most. Though Kildare needs to have a dump somewhere
and though the waste buried there would have been tied in
bales first, much of the traffic to this site would certainly
pass through our are and would be unacceptable. The surveyors’
report on these three remaining sites (of an original 80
odd) will be given to the County Council Environment Dept
in June. Environmental Impact Statements for each site will
be drawn up and submissions from interested parties in the
various communities welcomed. We must be prepared with such
a submission by then. A strong case against any such development
must be ready, based squarely on planning grounds.
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
This situation has been responsible for
the cancellation of the St Patrick’s day parade which he
had hoped to be represented at. It ahs also caused the postponement
of the Annual Clean-up Day, scheduled for Sat March 10th.
We are hoping to reschedule it for sat. April 28th, with
the agreement of the County Council who provide the 9 skips.
TIMAHOE/DONADEA GROUP WATER SCHEME.
Congratulations to all concerned, chiefly
Shirley Higgins and Dessie O’Leary, for all the years of
organisation and planning which is finally about to bear
fruit. Last Friday (March 30th) I witnessed the unloading
of seven bales of 4” and 6” plastic piping outside the entrance
to Donadea forest Park. The pipe-laying work will hopefully
have started by the time you read this. Feargal Mac Eoin,
Chairman, Tir na Mona
COMMUNITY & DEVELOPMENT
NEWS
FOOT AND MOUTH PRECAUTIONS
Due to the continuing threat
of F.M.D., it is important for us all to do our best to
keep this awful disease out of our country. We should adhere
to the strict guidelines of The Dept. of Agriculture.
Do not visit farms
Do not go on country walks through fields, woodlands, bogs
or hills.
Do not allow your dogs or other animals to stray about from
place to place
Put down disinfectant mats or disinfectant straw at the
entrance to your house or farm.
Have a footbath available at your premises
Alert visitors to dip their footwear in the footbath on
arrival.
Keep yourself updated on the daily announcements regarding
restrictions and guidelines.
As a weak acid or a strong alkali kills F.M.D., old products
such as Hydrated Lime (Builders Lime) and Citric Acid have
emerged as low cost-effective disinfectants that are in
good supply.
Either product can be obtained from your local hardware
store or chemist. Hydrated Lime should be used at a 2% dilution
rate (200 gms.in 10 litres) Citric Acid at £3/Kg should
be used at 0.2% dilution (20gms in 10 litres) Handle both
of those products with care, avoid contact with skin, and
protect eyes from splashes. Replenish footbaths daily with
fresh disinfectant, dispose of spent solution away from
watercourses and ditches. With each of us playing our part,
hopefully we will be successful in keeping this disease
out of our country.
HAVE YOU LOST A DOG?
A brown cocker spaniel has been found in the Derry area.
Contact Anne @ 863543
THE MAGIC OF SPRING
The poet priest Gerard Manley Hopkins grabs our attention
by opening a poem with the words “the world is charged with
the grandeur of God”. Hopkins, it seems, did not have any
problems about belief in the goodness and beauty of God.
He saw God’s glory in the world around him. God’s creation
and the beauties of nature constantly reminded him of his
Maker. We are blessed here in our own locality with so much
natural beauty - Donadea forest is such a singular blessing
at our doorstep. Walking in the woods is journeying into
the womb of time. Advance along any one of a myriad of avenues,
overhung by tall stately trees; take an eyeful of the mossy
banks, listen to the gentle breeze and soothing sweet sounds
of spring-time birdsong. Inhale the rich aroma of the spring
plants and early flowers.
In the recesses of the woods you feel close to beginnings,
to the beauty of the plan for human kind; to the sublimity
of human destiny. What a privileged moment this temporary
retreat from noise, hassle, crowds, transistors, T.V., mobile
phones. We are close to God when so much alone with His creation;
soothing, restful and serene. To walk in the countryside is
therapy, healing, reassuring. The land and man are partners.
God’s glory fills the earth. Pat Ramsbottom
MOLLY DELANEY
It was with great sadness that the community said a last
goodbye to Molly Delaney recently. Molly was a stalwart in
the community and always had a welcoming smile for all she
met. She was involved in many strands of life in the community
and took great pride in being involved in the church through
the Altar Society and the choir. She was the first president
of Tir na Mona and continued to take an active interest in
community development. Her presence will be sadly missed in
all areas of the community from the youngest to the oldest.
To all her family and friends we extend our deepest sympathy.
Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam dilis.
ALCOHOL AND YOUNG PEOPLE
– A FEW FACTS
It is not unnatural for young people to be curious about alcohol.
They are growing up in a society in which most adults drink.
They become used to alcohol from early childhood and are themselves
beginning to drink at relatively young ages. Drinking is frequently
seen by the young as a mark of adulthood. Young people who
have already begun to drink may exert pressure on their friends
to keep them company. As you know, peer pressure can be a
powerful weapon SUPPORT.
Young people may make comments
such as “Everyone drinks, there’s nothing wrong with it”.
Many believe being able to drink makes them more grown-up.
You can support young people in resisting pressure from
others to drink by letting them know that it’s more adult
to make their own decisions and not be led by others. Reassure
them that it’s okay to say “No”. RESPECT
It should be emphasised
that it is wrong to force or trick other people into drinking.
Drinking contests, dares, or “spiking” (secretly adding
pills or alcohol to someone else’s drink) are dangerous
practices. If a friend doesn’t want to drink alcohol, this
choice should be respected.
Promoting discussion on alcohol is important, as many young
people are misinformed about it. They may not be aware of
its potential harm long and short term. It is important
to facilitate discussion in order to hear what they are
saying and thinking.
Research shows that teaching about alcohol does have effects,
and is most effective when done bit by bit over a period
of time. Having listened to what these young people have
to say about alcohol, you could make the points that
A good social life can be enjoyed without alcohol.
No substance has the power to confer maturity, success or
popularity (contrary to what some Drink Ads. Promote!)
Maturity is something we grow into and work towards by facing
up to life’s challenges. There is no short cut to growing
up. Using alcohol as an escape can, in fact, delay the maturing
process.
You could also make them aware that too much alcohol consumption
can lead to weight problems, spoil good looks, reduce fitness,
affect school work, cause embarrassment, hangovers and sickness.
DEATH
Alcohol is a drug and taken in excess, it can impair judgement,
co-ordination and self-control. More young accidental deaths
are caused each year by alcohol than by all other drugs
put together.
ADDICTION
Alcohol can be addictive when used regularly over a long
period.
BEHAVIOR
Alcohol makes people less inhibited, so they sometimes say
and do things they wouldn’t think of doing when sober.
PERMANENT DAMAGE
Excessive long-term use of alcohol can damage the liver,
heart, stomach, pancreas and brain.
DEPENDENCE
People who drink habitually may start to rely on alcohol
as a crutch to escape from their problems.
DRINKING AND DRUGS
Mixing alcohol with drugs, whether prescribed, over the
counter or illegal, is highly dangerous. The cumulative
effect when taking them together is magnified, and unconsciousness
even death can occur.
THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller
buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower
viewpoints. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more
conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less
sense; more knowledge, but less judgement; more experts, but
more problems; more medicine, but less wellness. We drink
too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too
little, drive too fast, get too angry quickly, stay up too
late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much,
and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but
reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and
hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not
a life; we’ve added years to life, not life to years. We’ve
been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing
the street to meet the new neighbour. We’ve conquered outer
space, but not inner space. We‘ve done larger things, but
not better things. We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted
the soul. We’ve spilt the atom, but not our prejudice. These
are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men,
and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier
houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable
diapers, throw- away morality, one night stands, overweight
bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet,
to kill. and a time when you can choose either to share this
insight, Or to just hit delete. (Anonymous)
THE UNCOMMON PROFESSIONAL
‘The only certain measure
of success at work is to give more and better service than
is expected of you’. Og Mandino I went to the dark end of
the storehouse, pressed my forehead against the wall and
indulged myself in a few moments of quiet despair. Was this
the way it would be for the rest of my working life? Here
I was, two years out of school, working at yet another mindless,
low-pay, dead-end job. Up to this point, I had avoided asking
the question by just not thinking about it, but now, for
some reason, the awful possibility had come crashing down
on me. The thought drained every bit of energy from my body.
I clocked out sick, went home to bed, pulled the covers
over my head, and tried to forget about tomorrow and all
the tomorrows that would follow.
By morning I was a little more composed, but no less depressed.
Dejected, I went back to work and resumed my hopeless drudgery.
There were several new guys
on the job that morning — temporary workers that were even
lower down the ladder than me. One of them caught my eye.
He was older than the others and wearing a uniform. The
company didn’t issue uniforms — in fact, the company didn’t
care what you wore as long as you showed up. But this guy
was decked out in smartly pressed trousers and work shirt,
complete with his name, Jim, embroidered on the pocket.
I guess he supplied himself with the uniform.
I watched him all that day and the rest of the days he worked
with us. He worked at a steady, unhurried pace. He was friendly
to everyone he worked with, but rarely talked while he was
working. He took the designated breaks at mid-morning and
afternoon with everyone else, but unlike many others, he
never lingered past the allotted time.
At lunchtime, some of the crew brought their lunch in plastic
bags, but most of us got our meals and drinks from the vending
machines. Jim didn’t do either. He ate his lunch from an
old-fashioned steel lunch box and drank his coffee from
a Thermos flask - both of them well-worn with use. Sometimes
people would be a little careless about cleaning up after
themselves. Jim’s place at the table was spotless, and,
of course, he was always back on the assembly line exactly
on time. He wasn’t just odd, he was outstanding! He was
the kind of worker employers dream of. Despite that, the
other workers liked him too. He didn’t try to show anybody
up. He did what was asked of him, no more, no less. He didn’t
gossip, complain or argue. He just did his job - common
labour - with more personal dignity than I had thought possible
with this kind of manual work. His attitude and every action
proclaimed that he was a professional. Labouring work might
be common - he wasn’t.
When the temporary work was finished, Jim left for another
job, but the impression he made on me remained. Even though
I had never talked to him, he had made a huge impression
on me. I did the best I could to follow his example.
I didn’t buy a lunch box or a uniform, but I did start setting
my own standards. I worked like a professional fulfilling
a contract, just the way Jim had done. To my great surprise,
the managers noticed my new productivity and promoted me.
A few years later, I promoted myself to a better-paying
job with a different company. And so it went. Eventually,
many companies and many years later, I started a business
of my own.
Whatever success I’ve had has been the result of hard work
and good luck, but I think the biggest part of my luck was
the lesson I learned from Jim so long ago. Respect doesn’t
come from the kind of work you do - it comes from the way
you do the work.
Kenneth L. Shipley
(Article from Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work, by Jack
Canfield p 283)
TABLE OF EVENTS, IN THE
COMMUNITY
11th April Raffle in Staplestown
School
20th April Table Quiz in St. Kevin’s, Staplestown @ 9.30
p.m.
25th April Final date for articles for the May issue of
the MONA
25th April Timahoe Active Age Social, lounge, Kelly’s Bar,
8 p.m.
27th April Table Quiz in Kelly’s Lounge @ 9.30 p.m
29th April Sale of Work, St. Kevin’s starting at 2 p.m.
3rd May Timahoe Ladies Club, Kelly’s Bar @ 8 p.m.
Articles for the MONA Newsletter can now
be dropped into the TIR na MONA office in the Bord na Mona
Works, Timahoe. If possible please supply articles on
disc in Microsoft Word format. If you have an event
happening during the first week of the month please let
us know about it in time for the previous issue as
it take approx. 10 days to produce the MONA. The April issue
was put together by David Curtiss, Hugh Maher, Sarah Higgins
Paula Kelly and Lisa Ward.
If you have an article,
advertisement or news item you would like to include in
this newsletter, please contact:
Staplestown, Mary Murphy
869416,
Timahoe, Hugh Maher,
Timahoe, Sonia Higgins,
Timahoe, Bernard Owens 863676,
Coill Dubh, Rosaleen 860023
(school),
Donadea, Bernadette Crean
869118.
The
views represented in this Newsletter are not necessarily
the views of the MONA committee. While every attempt
is made to print factual information, we are not
responsible for third party information that may
be incorrect at time of going to press. Where
errors occur, every attempt will be made to redress
and amend. All parties have the right to reply
within the MONA Newsletter.
Thank
you.
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