Tidy Towns Clean Up @ 40 Acres

On 30th June, as part of the BME Tidy Towns regular clean‑up sessions every Monday evening at 7pm, the TT clean-up team, with a few other helpers, scoured the “forty acre” field, along the Ardenode Road, and left two large heaps of rubbish for collection by KCC. The rubbish consisted of much debris from bonfires and large amounts of dumped material.

It is important that Ballymore Eustace looks its best, particularly now that the judging for the 2008 Tidy Towns competition is in full swing. Keeping the village free of litter and tidy is a daunting task, but everybody – residents and visitors alike – can do their bit to help. Please, do not drop litter; place it in the bin or take it home with you. Dispose of rubbish correctly – please don’t dump it. Residents of the village can be a great help, providing they are able, if they maintain the immediate area around their doorstep litter and weed free.

Don’t forget! The Ballymore Eustace Tidy Towns Group carries out a clean-up around the village every Monday evening, weather permitting, throughout the summer. We meet in the Square at 7pm. All are welcome to join us and lend a hand! Bring gloves, a trowel, and yourselves to help us pick up litter and rubbish, and to remove weeds along the walkways and paths.

What do you think of it so far? – Rubbish!
Heap No. 2


Tommy, Gary, & Michael – part of the clean‑up team – stand by the results of their efforts.

Eric Firth – Secretary, Ballymore Eustace Tidy Towns.
In or Out?

So Lisbon has left the front pages and the only mention it now gets is hidden away somewhere in the middle pages of our daily’s, or letters to the Editor, and not before time. I voted Yes for the simplest of reasons; we can’t afford not to be in the EC. There was a lot of blather leading up to voting day about loss of sovereignty, having to join a European army, and blah an blah and more blah. Some time before voting day RTE sent a roving reporter around the country to get a reading on how people felt about Lisbon. The reply from one countryman was succinct and to the point. Asked how he felt about possible loss of sovereignty he replied; “I wouldn’t give a bugger about sovereignty, so long as they keep sending the money”. I don’t know his reasons for that answer but I can give you one or two. Today with a recession upon us people keep referring back to the ‘80’s and making comparisons and saying how dreadful those times were. You can take it from me, and those of my vintage, that the 80’s were a doddle compared to the times before joining the EEC as it was then called. I was a chiseller during the Hungry Thirties when nobody had twopence to spend and clothes worn were hand me downs. Next came the war years and rationing, followed by the dismal 50’s and on into the 60’s. Eventually a bright spark in the civil service, yes they do have the odd one there, T K Whitaker got an idea or two and ran them by Sean Lemass, the Taoiseach at the time. One could say that Whitaker had the brains and Lemass the balls, and between them they made the first genuine effort to get this country up off its arse since Independence. Before that we had emigration and bureaucratic State run outfits that soaked up money and had little or no productivity. They were little more than expensive ways of paying out dole, but they did give the people who worked in them the dignity of a job. And so to 1973 when we joined up with Europe and haven’t looked back since. Money makes money we’re told and sovereignty makes nothing only trouble, unless you’re big enough to hold your own with other nations of the world. Since Independence we’ve had forty years of begrudgery and poverty, and forty years of prosperity, roughly speaking. The first forty years we were left to our own devices and made damn bad use of them, the second forty in the comfort zone of Mother Europe. You don’t believe me? Well consider this. Europe holds the purse strings, our own Central Bank having little or no say in these matters. We are left in control of Health, Education, Roads and Railroads, and other departments. People travelling miles to get treatment for cancer and other problems, more trolleys than beds it would appear, schools in some cases waiting ten years to get a promised new one, pupils in port-a-cabins and overcrowded class rooms, potholed roads and railroad neglect. Where you do see a new road improvement scheme being carried out you will see a large sign, which says, “This project is funded by European funds”!! Can anyone put their hands on their hearts and say they are satisfied with the conditions of the above mentioned departments that are in the tender loving care of our benighted politicians?
Don’t get me wrong, I recognise that membership of the EU is not perfect, no country or union is, and some of the ‘directives’ that emanate from Brussels are asinine, but very useful for any politician here who doesn’t want to, or can’t give a straight answer to, an awkward question; they can always duck behind an EU directive! We have to take the rough with the smooth in life, and that includes membership of the EU. Perhaps I’ve been a bit long winded explaining as to why I voted Yes, but I think by now, having witnessed both sides of the coin that I know which side our bread is buttered on.
And so to present times. The F—word is shelved for the moment and we now have the R—word. Our new new leader, Biffo for short, tells us he has a ‘strategy for going forward’. The other Brian tells us all is under control, -- ‘no problem’, a few cuts here and there and all will be well. Have no fear the Brian’s are here is the cry. We can only live in hope. I read some time back that in the ten years of being in office this present crowd have employed 200 agencies to help them run the show. I re-read the piece to make sure I had the figure right. God help me in my ignorance but if I employed someone (or elected them) to do a job for me I wouldn’t expect him or her to turn up next morning for work with two others at his/her side to help out; not at my expense anyways. Any chance that we the ordinary Joe Soap/ taxpayer could have a list of these ‘agencies’ and what exactly they do to earn their crust. Maybe they are necessary, but being kept in the dark as to their usefulness only creates suspicion in the minds of those who meet the wage bill. Perhaps some of these ‘agencies’ can take a hit in the ‘slash an’ burn’ policies about to be undertaken. Are our elected politicians so intellectually challenged that they can’t think for themselves? I sure hope they’re not thinking of employing another ‘agency’ or two to help them out of the hole they have been assiduously digging for themselves over the past number of years.
Some of this recession has been brought about by two much reliance on the construction industry and the banks must shoulder some of the blame. Handing out loans without proper collateral to support them was a form of madness that signified a degree of greed but nobody shouted Stop. Tax incentives to build more only added fuel to the furnace. Couldn’t some of these tax incentives been directed elsewhere, say manufacturing for starters; an industry needing a bit of a push in the competitive times we live in.
Greed is good has been the mantra for the past number of years and now we’ve been called to account. Grin an’ bear it. Yrs Jeffers.


The News:
The Duck race took place on Sun. 30th June and fortunately there was no tips 'announced' for the race, the winner came in at 100 to 1. Thanks to all who supported the race, bought ducks etc. and a special thanks to Janet, Stephen and Garry Deegan for organising and running the event (See details).
The very popular annual summer camp from the 30th June to 4th July with over 100 children attending. The weather was very mixed ranging from scorching sun on the Monday to torrential rain on Thursday and everything else in between. The week ended with glorious sunshine on Friday and everybody enjoyed themselves. Thanks to Tadhg Fennin and his team of coaches and special thanks to Áine O’Neill, Jenny Sheridan and the other parents who helped out during the week, without them we would not be able to run the camp.
Both the U10 & U12 teams have been in action in the South Board league
The U12 hurlers played in the South Board hurling finals in Eire Og
The U10 & U12 girls were out with the U12's playing a challenge game against Dunlavin and the U10's in a Go games blitz in Eadestown.
The U8's had Go Games in Two Mile House.
The West Wicklow U8 & U10 hurling Blitz to be held in Blessington was called off on two occasions due to heavy rain, next blitz is on the third Sat. in August.

Juvenile Training Shirts
Juvenile training shirts are now available for €20. Adult polo shirts (€30) and rain jackets (€35) are also available.

U10 Football League
The under 10 boys football team have played in their league and have improved with every match. To date the lads have lost to Rathangan, Monasterevin and Kilcullen while recording a well deserved win over Two-Mile-House. This is the first time that this team has played together and is getting better with every outing.

U12 Football League
The under 12 boys football team have acquitted themselves very well in the league to date and have had wins over Castledermot and Monasterevin and 2 narrow away loses to Rathangan and Ballyteague.

U10 Girls Go Games
The girls travelled over to Eadestown on Sat. 7th July where they played three very good games against Eadestown, St Laurence's and Kill. Most of the girls had played with the U12 girls and this experience showed. Keep up the good work everyone.

Steve Deegan rounding up the ducks


U8 ‘s Two Mile House
Korey Waters, Evan Keogh, Jordan Deegan, Jamie Mahon, Luke Maguire, Darragh Gilroy, Sean McNally,
Katie Gilroy, Jack Murphy, Simon Murphy, Tadhg Barrett, Ben Noone, Conor Gilroy, Malachy Salmon, Caoimhe Winder.

Summer Camp
Jordan Deegan, Killian Barrett, Stephen Davis, Mark Barrett, Tom Carter, Aaron Deegan, Tommy Marsh and Ciaran Kelleher
Shannon Doyle, Lucy Field, Hazel Stewart Byrne, Grace Kerr, Natasha Murphy, Ellen Carter, Amy Mahon

U12 Hurlers in Eire Og

Back row: Shane Barrett, James Noone (Coach) Niall O’Neill, Tom Murphy, Hugo Mc Dermott, Kevin Mc Loughlin, Declan Davis, Dylan Waters,
Joshua Burke Hayes, Martin Kelleher (Coach) Seamus Kelleher (Mascot)
Front row: Tadhg Dooley,
Tony Og Sheridan, Darragh Kelleher, Craig Byrne, Robbie Noone.



U12 Southboard hurling finals
On Saturday 28th June Ballymore U12 hurlers took part in a South board hurling tournament in Eire Og. Six teams were involved with each team playing each other in short 10 minute games. Ballymore had wins against Nurney, Castledermot and Athy. They lost against St Laurances and Eire Og. This result put Ballymore into a semi-final with St Laurances. Firstly though, every one was treated to a tasty Bar-B-Que. This was very welcome after all that hurling and shouting. The semi-final was a very exciting game with two skillful sides, the sliotar travelled at great speed from one end of the field to the other. In the end St Laurances won by a single point. The Ballymore lads were disappointed but they recovered very quickly when each of them received a sliotar to bring home. In the final Eire Og won, this was well deserved as they had hosted a very enjoyable day for everyone.
U10 Girls in Eadestown
Katie Gilroy, Ciara Fennan, Heather Sammon,
Savanagh Fisher, Abby Foster, Eve McGuire (The birthday girl), Beth Doyle
Cloe Fisher, Evie Carter, Oonagh Deegan, Korey Waters, Mayah Sammon













St Oliver Plunkett's.
The U14 team have finished up for the moment after getting to the semi final of the league. With just 15 players an under strength squad lost to St. Coca's 2-9 to 3-11, St. Coca's went on to win easily over Sarsfields in the league final.

The U18's played St.Coca's in the first round of the championship and were beaten 2-3 to 0-10. The next round will be against Confey and this is a crunch game as the first two matches are qualifiers and then knock-out from there on, best of luck to the lads.