Thursday, May 6, 2010

Let’s not turn ‘Recession’ into ‘Depression’!
Get out, get active - let’s get Ballymore into better shape

Each year the month of April is set aside for An Taisce National Spring Clean.

The objectives of the National Spring Clean are to:
Encourage clean-ups throughout the whole month of April
Galvanise the practices of recycling and re-use where possible
Increase the number of Events and Participants
Promote personal responsibility for litter
Heighten awareness of litter and waste issues
“Communities all over Ireland have recently been hit hard by the damaging effects of winter flooding, snow and ice as well as the negativities of the current economic climate. The National Spring Clean, Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative, is urging people to help to revive their community spirit this spring by volunteering some time” said a spokesperson for An Taisce.
Voluntary Impact Cleaned Up!
505,000 volunteers all over Ireland turned out in April 2009 and cleaned up their areas with 1,596 tonnes of rubbish and litter collected. In Ballymore Eustace, the Tidy Towns, pupils from Scoil Mhuire and others take part each year in litter-picking. This year, we would like to get the whole community involved in the Spring Clean.

If you have a few minutes to spare during the month of April why not join the Tidy Towns litter picks or, if you prefer, get out with a friend and clean up around your own area. If your property needs a paint touch up, get the paint brush out (there’s always someone passing by to have a chat with and get the local news and maybe a tip for Punchestown).

It’s great to hear that some of the Ballymore Eustace Punchestown Festival events are being revived. Let’s have the village looking its best for the Races and encourage people to stop and shop. Show that Ballymore Eustace is still a nice place to live and that Ballymore Eustace is still open for business.

Ballymore Eustace Tidy Towns

OFF THE CUTTING EDGE
By Pastor R. Dunlop
EASTER JOY
Among the many controversies in the history of Christianity, one of the most intense and divisive concerned the date of Easter. Ecclesiastical wranglings aside, it is a happy arrangement that in the Western church it
occurs in Spring.
As the natural creation is bursting into new life Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
In the immediate aftermath of Christ’s rising we are told that “the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord”. This sense of joyfulness from the living Lord has percolated down through the centuries. While it depends on faith, rather than sight, it is not unreal. In fact it is one of the kingpins of the Christian message. A notable thinker and writer sees it as pivotal.

“Without His Resurrection, the death of Christ would be of no avail, and His grave would be the grave of all our hopes (1 Corinthians 15: 17). A Gospel of a dead Saviour would be a miserable failure and delusion. The Resurrection is the victory of righteousness and life over sin and death” ( P. Schaff).
There is an unbreakable connection between the Risen Lord and the risen life of His followers. In short this means three things:
1. Easter people are formed and transformed by a relationship with the Lord of life and not only by rules and regulations. St Paul comes straight out and says “if anyone is in Chris, the old has gone, the new has come”.
2. Joy is a central ingredient of valid and vital faith. Gospel Choirs are frequently heard in modern Ireland. One of their best numbers is an old hymn, sung with new gusto. It runs like this:
O happy day that fixed my choice,
On Thee my Saviour and my God,
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And spread its raptures all abroad.
This leaves little room for gloom.
3. Easter 2010 comes at a time of downturn for most of our population. While it would be unwise and inappropriate to be drawn into artificial giddiness, we should not miss the opportunity to cheer each other up with authentic inner joy which rises out of hearts re-tuned by the Risen Lord.
4.
Happy Easter to one and all.





POULAPHUCA DAM 70th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION



The Wicklow Uplands Council in association with the Blessington & District Forum have organised a commemorative event to mark the seventieth anniversary of the creation of the Poulaphuca reservoir in Wicklow. The leading UCD archaeologist Dr. Chris Corlett and two local historians, Aidan Cruise and Seamus Balfe will present a “walk and talk” event in the Poulaphuca House from 11:00am until 1pm on Saturday 20th March 2010. Admission is free but sturdy footwear is required for the walking section.

Chris Corlett is an archaeologist and the author of the recently published book "Beneath the Poulaphuca Reservoir", an in depth study of the landscape and the people before the flooding of the valley. Aidan Cruise has lectured extensively about the history of the area and has recently published a book “The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tram”. Seamus Balfe, chairperson of the Lakeside Heritage Group, is actively involved in walking tours of the area. Aidan and Seamus will lead a short walk to areas of interest as part of the event.
The day is kindly sponsored by the historic Poulaphuca House Hotel seven kilometers south of Blessington on the N81 via Tallaght. Light refreshments are available.

The Wicklow Uplands Council was established in 1999 to promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of the local environment in partnership with the people who live, work and recreate there, by undertaking projects which benefit the community, environment and users of the Wicklow countryside. The Blessington & District Forum is an umbrella group that represents the social, political and cultural interests of the area through lobbying, organising cultural events and the running of a community theatre.

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