Carndonagh Easter Parade

Press release

Easter Parade Returns to Carn

After too many years of absence the Carndonagh Easter Parade returns to the forefront this year on Easter Monday. Starting from Simpson’s Car Park at 3pm (sharp), the parade will proceed to the Diamond, down Bridge Street, onto Church Road and will then return to the Diamond via Station Road and Malin Street, before ending at Simpson’s.

The organisers, Carndonagh Easter Monday Parade Committee, have been very much encouraged by the support, financial and otherwise, that they have received from the local business community. It is hoped that the many clubs and organisations in the town will join the parade on the day and make it a celebration of the extent of community involvement in Carn. All businesses are asked to join in the spirit of the day, enter floats and promote the town. Entries however are not confined to the town so, if you fancy a good day’s fun, come along and enter.

There will be a competition for the Best Easer Bonnet with; if possible, accompanying Fred Astaire and for the best entries and floats in terms of fancy dress and endeavour. So get the artistic side going and be creative. (If you don’t know who Fred Astaire is then Google it or get the DVD / video of the film “Easter Parade”.)

Inishowen Vintage Cars and Tractors will be taking part and entries are invited from far and wide.

Along with the Buncrana Accordion Band, the Inishowen Carnival Group will also be in attendance and there will be live entertainment from the reviewing platform in the Diamond.

Visitors to the town and participants are asked to comply with traffic and parking restrictions and abide by direction from the Gardai and parade stewards. There will be ample designated parking available around the town and on the outskirts. Detours will be in place for through traffic.

The organisers are asking for more volunteers to assist with stewarding and would ask anyone interested to please contact Aidan Wilson at Carndonagh Rural and Community Development Offices- Tel. (074) 93 29969. Or Tommy Cunningham – (086) 35 66 333.

Finally, it is hoped that this will be a great revival for the Easter Parade and a few prayers for good weather on the day would not go astray !!!.

For further information contact Mary McCallion (087) 2905922

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 100

Councilor Michelle Bradley and Martin Malone outside of the old fort at Neds point. The area is going to undergo regeneration with a plan to introduce a bird sanctuary and cafe.


The Water Beetle

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top.

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew.

So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!

FIRE

Photo's of the remains of a fire that came within ten metres of the house this week. Inishowen News covers the story

My account of the day

EDUCATION AND TRAINING FAIR INISHOWEN

Attending the Options Inishowen day at the Gateway Hotel on March 24th were:

Inishowen Jobs Club
DSFA
Donegal County Childerns Commission
National Learning Network
Tuath
Tyrone-Donegal Partnership
FAS
EURES
Community Workers Co-op
Clonmany Y+C Centre
Teagesc
CAFRE
VEC Adult Education
BIM Fisheries College
Playhouse
Kieren McShane Training
Inishowen Community Radio
Swilly Drive
Street Driving School
Inishowen Development Partnership
Carn Community School
North West Regional College
University of Ulster
LYIT
HSE-WNO
Moville FRC
Scoil Mhuire
Donegal County Council
The Nerve Centre
Crana College
Gardai
Second Chance Education

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 99

Three Visitors

Three visitors called to the home of a poor family. They were all invited inside but one of the visitors spoke. “Only one of us can come in. I am Love and with me are Success and Wealth. Go and check with the family which of us you would like in the house. The mother, father and daughter sat down to talk about it. The mother said, “I think we should invite Success in, you can get the promotion you are after and our dear daughter will get accepted into the best college.” The husband disagreed, “I only want the promotion for the extra money. Let us invite Wealth into our home, then we will not be concerned about promotions and colleges, we will already be prosperous.”

The daughter looked up at her parents and spoke softly. “Mum and dad, I appreciate that you want us to be wealthy and successful, but in the long run I feel it would be better to have Love.” Her parents smiled at her wisdom and went out to invite Love into their home.

To their surprise Success and Wealth followed Love inside. The mother said, “I thought only one of you could come in?”

Love explained, “If you had chosen Wealth or Success, they would have entered alone, however where Love goes, Success and Wealth always follow.”

FREE prize draw

MAGIC SEEDER

This week I have been using the Magic Seeder seed sowing tool which is based on the principles of automatic seed dispensing machines that large growers use, but this fits snugly into one hand and only cost €6.90.

The Magic Seeder can be used to sow seeds of all shapes and sizes up to 2mm. One problem when sowing seeds is getting compost and water onto our fingers, which makes the smaller seed sticky and hard to spread out properly. The Magic Seeder keeps the seed dry and accurately spreads the seeds out in trays, pots or plugs.

It took a bit of time for me to get used to the device as I have to figure out how hard or gently to press down my thumb on the syringe like plunger that frees the seed from the chamber. Once I had mastered this I tested the device on seed as small as lobelia to the size of lettuce seed, laying them out neatly in straight, even lines. Another benefit from using the Seeder is that it can reduce seed wastage and cut down the chance of disease through sowing too thickly. The Magic Seeder also is used by the Royal Horticultural Society with great success. See them in action on the magicseeder site.

To win one of two Magic Seeders I have to give away, just go to gardening.ie and leave your e-mail address, mentioning the name Magic Seeder. Good luck

Closing date March 31st 10

Transition Event

PRESS RELEASE

PR Contact: Kathleen O’Hara Farren for Transition Inishowen Initiative
Tel 086 1211898 and 074 9381000

How can you save money and discover new ways of working with your
local community? To find out more, all are welcome to “Transition
Inishowen's Day of Events”, Saturday March 27th. The two free events
are organised by the voluntary group Transition Inishowen Initiative.
In the morning there is a talk and slide show with practical examples
of DIY solar thermal (domestic water heating). Then after a light
lunch there is a film screening of “In Transition 1.0”, in which you
meet inspiring individuals and groups from around the world who are
learning ways to live more sustainably, whilst saving money and having
a good time.

Transition Inishowen is a member of the national group Transition
Towns Network of Ireland and Northern Ireland which is a group helping
people help themselves to adjust to a future with less fossil fuel and
increasing effects of climate change. “In the face of fluctuating oil
prices and the fact that global oil supplies are due to peak and then
decline in the near future and also with the ever more obvious effects
of a changing climate, every community needs to adapt to become more
resilient and better prepared.” said group member, Claire Gilmour.
Since February 2009, Transition Inishowen have been raising awareness
of Peak Oil and Climate Change by having film screenings, slide shows,
skills workshops and giving one-on-one support to help strengthen
individuals and building resilience in the community, resilience being
the ability to withstand shocks and crises.

All are welcome to one or both events which take place in the IDP
(Inishowen Development Partnership) offices on Pound Street Carndonagh
(opposite ICRFM) The Solar workshop is at 11am. Light lunch is at 1pm
and the film “In Transition 1.0” is on at 2pm. Admission is free.

If you have ever thought about installing solar panels but felt
daunted about finding the most suitable system for your house, and by
the cost and the installation process, then come to the Solar Workshop
presented by Cye Bannon. Cye has recently installed a solar evacuated
tube setup at his own house in Belfast, and has trained in the other
main solar thermal technologies. He is keen to share his knowledge and
experience. In this workshop he will be explaining his idea for a
solar co-operative aimed at supporting DIY installation of solar
thermal (domestic water heating). He will have a slide show and some
examples on display. Self relience and thriftiness are central to
this workshop.

The film “In Transition 1.0” features professional and amateur footage
of communities around the globe who have taken steps to “walk the
talk” of living more sustainably. You can see how much optimism and
empowerment is gained by doing this. Many issues are covered such as
renewable energy, public transport, green businesses, local food
production including growing your own, and learning or relearning
basic skills such as baking your own bread and mending your own bike.
A slower more meaningful lifestyle is embraced, community spirit is
fostered, and also an awareness that you are living more in harmony
with the environment.

The group would also like to draw your attention to the fact that
March 27th is Earth Hour day, established by WWF (Worldwide Fund for
Nature). We are all urged to switch off all lights (if not all
electricity) for 1 hour at 8.30pm. Last year hundreds of millions of
people around the world took part.

Transition Inishowen anticipates a big turn out for these events on
this special day! Contact email: transitioninishowen@gmail.com.

UPDATE PRESS RELEASE

April 1, 2010

From Kathleen O'Hara Farren tel 086 1211898 and 074 9381000 for
Transition Inishowen
PR and photo attached with pr text below also.

RE; Transition Inishowen Initiative two firsts on one day – solar
power workshop and film screening.

Transition Inishowen Initiative held a successful Day of Events on
Saturday March 27th with a full house of people from across Inishowen
attending the peninsula's first DIY Solar water heating workshop in
the morning. The afternoon audience enjoyed Inishowen's first public
screening of the film “In Transition 1.0” which gave a clear
explanation of “Peak Oil” and presented people who are embracing 'the
transition' – learning about alternatives to fossil fuel use in many
areas including energy, food production and transport.

In the film, which can be seen for free on-line, town councils to
sewing groups are seen learning and sharing skills – all with the aim
of making a positive change to their oil dependent lives. We saw that
Transition Towns is a world wide movement and it's methods are
explained well by the TV News report from the States. Workshop
facilitator, Cye Bannon said, “The afternoon film was great & further
reinforced the importance of community initiatives such as Transition
Inishowen in promoting self-reliance & small-scale renewable energy
generation.” Afterwards the group discussed one of the issues brought
up by the screening – local currency – citing the Buncrana Christmas
voucher scheme as an example of local currency in action here.

The good turnout for the Solar Workshop shows the interest and need
for this kind of knowledge in Inishowen. It will be followed up by a
second, more practical lesson in installing solar panels for heating
water. Cye Bannon, from Belfast who presented the workshop said, “I
was greatly encouraged by the well-informed Inishowen audience and by
the keen interest they expressed, and look forward to seeing them
again at the next Transition Inishowen workshop (date TBC) , at which
we can discuss & agree ways of working together to support DIY
installation of inexpensive solar water heating.” He explained the
value and methods of a working co-op to install these panels to ensure
they are easily wide spread throughout the community. His approach
was non-commercial and DIY.

Transition Inishowen would like to thank the Inishowen Development
Partnership for providing the room, the local media, libraries and the
many who are showing an interest in making the transition. A national
group welcome online participation –
www.transitiontownsireland.ning.com Transition is for everybody. The
idea is to become a more resilient community by, over time, learning
many useful skills together and adapting to new forms of transport,
energy and every aspect of society. It is a positive response to
these changing times.

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 98

Grace of the Elephant

There was once a huge elephant crossing a wooden bridge high above a raging river. The bridge was old and rickety and it shook under the weight of the elephant. As the elephant was crossing the bridge he heard a voice, “Son, son” the voice said. The elephant looked around him, but he was all alone. “Son, son” the voice continued. When the elephant reached the other side of the river, he saw a small ant crawl onto his nose. “Son” the ant cried. “We almost collapsed that bridge, didn’t we? Our weight was so great, so immense that the bridge almost collapsed beneath us, didn’t it son?”

Of course the elephant knew that the ant’s weight had been completely irrelevant to whether the bridge collapsed. And of course he knew the tiny ant was not his mother. However what good would it have done to engage in battle of egos with the ant? Instead the wise, calm elephant simply said, “You are right, Mother, our weight almost broke the bridge.”