Lorna and Joleen from the Henry Girls provided the entertainment.
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Monday, 10 March 2008
WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 8
OUR HISTORY
If we imagine that our 15 billion year history was compressed into a single year:
The Milky Way galaxy self-organised in late February;
Our solar system emerged from the elemental stardust of an exploded super-nova in early September;
The planetary oceans formed in mid September
Earth awakened into Life in late September;
Sex was invented in late November;
The dinosaurs lived for a few days in early December;
Flowering plants burst upon the scene with a dazzling array of colour in mid December;
The Universe began reflecting consciously in and through the human, with choice and free will, less than ten minutes before midnight on December 31st
On this scale of 12 months, Jesus would have been born on December 31st at 11:59:45 pm.
The major scientific discoveries of this century would be in the final second before the end of the year.
In the contemporary scientific worldview we are latecomers to this planet. Not only are we latecomers, we are totally dependent on an ecological system that nurtured us very slowly into existence through a long process of adaptation, changes and upheavals in the development of life on this planet.
If we imagine that our 15 billion year history was compressed into a single year:
The Milky Way galaxy self-organised in late February;
Our solar system emerged from the elemental stardust of an exploded super-nova in early September;
The planetary oceans formed in mid September
Earth awakened into Life in late September;
Sex was invented in late November;
The dinosaurs lived for a few days in early December;
Flowering plants burst upon the scene with a dazzling array of colour in mid December;
The Universe began reflecting consciously in and through the human, with choice and free will, less than ten minutes before midnight on December 31st
On this scale of 12 months, Jesus would have been born on December 31st at 11:59:45 pm.
The major scientific discoveries of this century would be in the final second before the end of the year.
In the contemporary scientific worldview we are latecomers to this planet. Not only are we latecomers, we are totally dependent on an ecological system that nurtured us very slowly into existence through a long process of adaptation, changes and upheavals in the development of life on this planet.
Saturday, 1 March 2008
INDIAN CHARITY GETS A BOOST
CARNDONAGH CHARITY SHOP RAISES MONEY FOR INDIAN CHARITIES
Last Friday, the Action With Effect charity shop in Carndonagh, closed after successfully raising over €8700 for Indian charities. The Independent spoke to Catherine White about her efforts to raise money for the organisation, which provides humanitarian aid to lepers, orphans and destitute children.
“I became involved with the charity after taking part in a historical fundraising walk around Carndonagh,” Catherine explains. “I had been talking to Anthony Conaghan from Carndonagh on the walk, who is involved in Action With Effect. Later I met Eamon Melaugh from Derry, who invited me to visit India in September 2006 to volunteer with the work that is being supported over there,” she tells us. “The project works in three areas north of Delhi; Derhadun, Hardwar and Rishakesh, where there is great work being done and of course, loads more to do,” she continues.
Action With Effect works with the very poorest and most destitute people, including lepers and children. Lepers are considered untouchable and are outcasts. They are physically unable to work and even if they could no one would employ them. Their only means of support is begging and they live in degrading misery in conditions of abject squalor where they face a bleak future of shame and humiliation. Millions of destitute children never go to school and face a distressing future of stunted social and economic deprivation.
BUILDING HOUSES
Action With Effect has so far build over 50 houses for lepers, as well as 12 schools for impoverished kids. So far they are putting 2000 children through education, which is the way for a child to break out of the poverty cycle. An orphanage has been built as well as a hospice to provide more humane conditions for lepers.
Having seen the conditions that people are living in first hand, Catherine is only too happy to put in a bit of graft to raise money for the charity. “The children have such terrible lives,” she tells us passionately. “Some of them are no better than slaves and have been sold into bonded labour and expected to work 15/16 hours a day in exhausting physical work such as breaking rocks. The charity rescues as many children as possible, but of course they need money. They are completely reliant on the generosity of people here in Inishowen and Derry. They receive no other funding from anywhere and every penny raised goes straight to those that need it,” she continues.
MOTIVATION
So what made her decide to run a shop? “Well, I got the idea of running a charity shop from Mary McCallion from the IRDL who had successfully raised money for breast cancer before Christmas.” Catherine informs me. “I was able to take the shop over with all the fittings intact which was great. It has been very successful and I have been overwhelmed by the level of support I have had. Inishowen people are so generous, visiting the shop often and making donations. It was also great fun, meeting people and having the craic,” she smiles. “I am absolutely delighted to have raised this money to send out to India. I know it makes such a difference” she concludes.
For more information about the work of Action With Effect or to make a donation call 048 71364029 or e-mail action with effect
Last Friday, the Action With Effect charity shop in Carndonagh, closed after successfully raising over €8700 for Indian charities. The Independent spoke to Catherine White about her efforts to raise money for the organisation, which provides humanitarian aid to lepers, orphans and destitute children.
“I became involved with the charity after taking part in a historical fundraising walk around Carndonagh,” Catherine explains. “I had been talking to Anthony Conaghan from Carndonagh on the walk, who is involved in Action With Effect. Later I met Eamon Melaugh from Derry, who invited me to visit India in September 2006 to volunteer with the work that is being supported over there,” she tells us. “The project works in three areas north of Delhi; Derhadun, Hardwar and Rishakesh, where there is great work being done and of course, loads more to do,” she continues.
Action With Effect works with the very poorest and most destitute people, including lepers and children. Lepers are considered untouchable and are outcasts. They are physically unable to work and even if they could no one would employ them. Their only means of support is begging and they live in degrading misery in conditions of abject squalor where they face a bleak future of shame and humiliation. Millions of destitute children never go to school and face a distressing future of stunted social and economic deprivation.
BUILDING HOUSES
Action With Effect has so far build over 50 houses for lepers, as well as 12 schools for impoverished kids. So far they are putting 2000 children through education, which is the way for a child to break out of the poverty cycle. An orphanage has been built as well as a hospice to provide more humane conditions for lepers.
Having seen the conditions that people are living in first hand, Catherine is only too happy to put in a bit of graft to raise money for the charity. “The children have such terrible lives,” she tells us passionately. “Some of them are no better than slaves and have been sold into bonded labour and expected to work 15/16 hours a day in exhausting physical work such as breaking rocks. The charity rescues as many children as possible, but of course they need money. They are completely reliant on the generosity of people here in Inishowen and Derry. They receive no other funding from anywhere and every penny raised goes straight to those that need it,” she continues.
MOTIVATION
So what made her decide to run a shop? “Well, I got the idea of running a charity shop from Mary McCallion from the IRDL who had successfully raised money for breast cancer before Christmas.” Catherine informs me. “I was able to take the shop over with all the fittings intact which was great. It has been very successful and I have been overwhelmed by the level of support I have had. Inishowen people are so generous, visiting the shop often and making donations. It was also great fun, meeting people and having the craic,” she smiles. “I am absolutely delighted to have raised this money to send out to India. I know it makes such a difference” she concludes.
For more information about the work of Action With Effect or to make a donation call 048 71364029 or e-mail action with effect
SPRING INTO THE GARDEN
The sight of daffodils and crocuses dancing in the wind is the sign that spring is upon us. This glorious season brings with it the beauty and promise of new beginnings and longer days. And of course, spring is the time to kick start the gardening year. So what are your plans for your garden this year? Whether you are re-vamping your established plot or starting from scratch, it is worth taking a bit of time to plan. What are your requirements for your garden this year? Perhaps you might expanding your vegetable plot, planting a few fruit trees or reshape a bed? What about adding a new feature; maybe a patio or even a pond? And when you get out in the fresh air to prepare for the season, remember, Inishowen has everything you need to build, maintain and plant our prized plots.
GARDEN DESIGN
If you are thinking of a total design package for your garden then Gareth from the Lifestyle Garden Centre in Newtowncunningham has a complete garden design and build service. With a team of professional, experienced landscapers behind him, Gareth says that there is no time like the present to bring your garden up to it’s potential “Now is the perfect time to get your garden sorted for the year to come” Gareth advises. “Don’t put it off until the summer! Thorough planning and designing now will pay dividends as your site matures.”
BRINGING IN THE HEAVIES
If you are the type of gardener who just likes to do a little sowing, weeding and pruning, but you aren’t keen on the heavier jobs then A&M Landscaping from Moville provides a great service. They are happy to do the jobs you hate, from groundworks, fencing, drainage, lawns and garden maintenance, as well as building and stonework. The company also have a digger and dump trailer hire available.
VERSATILE WALL BUILDING
If you are thinking of building a new boundary or feature and the price of a wall scares you, think again. You could use moulded stone. “The cost of building a wall can be kept to a minimum with the moulded stone,” Brendan McKinley from Templemoyle Concrete Products tells us. Brendan produces the versatile moulded stone and concrete slabs from his company in Culdaff. “There is no limit to the size of wall you can build and they age beautifully”, he tells me “They are great for retaining the sides of steps too and will finish off the edges of a patio perfectly”.
FENCING AND DECKING
Grianan Precast Concrete, who are based in Burt, supply a comprehensive range of concrete products for the garden and they also supply fencing and decking. Eddie McBride from the company realises the importance of good quality products which can cope with our climate. “We supply a wide range of quality products from kerb edging to fencing, decking and patio slabs, which make up the structure of any garden” said Eddie. “Spring is the perfect time to be building new features in the garden.”
NEW PLANTS FOR THE GARDEN
Garden centres are stocking up with spring plants and flowers. Jacqueline from Willowhill Nursery in Fahan loves the riot of spring colour that these bring. “Daffodils, primroses and pansies are perfect for brightening up any rainy day and they cope with our climate so well!” she tells us with great enthusiasm. Besides the spring flowers, Jacqueline is also receiving new plant stock in daily. “We have a fine selection of trees, alpines, roses, heathers and climbers for our customers to enjoy” she says. If you are in any doubt about what to plant, Jacqueline, with her vast horticultural knowledge will be more than happy to let you know the best plant for your site.
REGULAR LAWN CARE
As the ground is drying out we can start repairing any damage the winter has done to the lawns. Regular maintenance of your green space is important and if you need a contractor to take the effort of lawn maintenance, Stephen Proctor from SP Landscapes is here to help. Stephen from Buncrana stresses the importance of booking early to get the lawn maintained. “ The lawn is growing all of the time and regular cutting is very important to keep it looking good,” he advises. “It’s never too early to think about the lawn and I am taking bookings now for the coming season. I am also very busy doing the last cuts of hedging” And as Stephen says, the growing never really stops.
WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 7 - STARFISH
A man and his grandson went for a walk down to the beach. It had been a rough day and the tide had been high. When they arrived they found that hundreds of thousands of starfish and been thrown onto the beach by the storm and they were all dying. Immediately the man started to pick the starfish up and throw them back into the sea. The boy, copying his grandfather’s example, started to do likewise. After about half an hour the boy was getting tired. He straightened up and looked around him. He was struck by the amount of starfish still on the beach. He turned to the old man. “Grandfather, what is the point of this,” he said. “Look at all those starfish dying. What difference can we possibly make?” His grandfather, who was picking up a starfish, turned and looked at the boy right in the eye. “It makes a difference to this one,” he said as turned and threw it into the ocean.
Sometimes, when we look at all the sorrow and suffering in the world, we can feel overwhelmed. Whatever we do to bring a bit of joy into another’s life, we can never erase all the troubles of the world. Instead of getting caught up in the misery, just remember, when we do what we can do, we do make a differen
Monday, 25 February 2008
DIARMUID GAVIN WELCOMED IN CARNDONAGH
Diarmuid Gavin talking in Carndonagh
Diarmuid Gavin with the playground committee in Carndonagh
The stage in the Áras, Carndonagh Community School last Wednesday was lush and brimming with the best plants the season had to offer. The plants and shrubs were supplied by Carndonagh garden centre and set the scene for one of the most innovative garden designers in the world of horticulture, Diarmuid Gavin.
Fresh from his success at last weekend’s Irish Film and Television awards where he won the IFTA for ‘Best Factual Entertainment Show,’ Diarmuid arrived in Carndonagh this week to begin a series of consultations with local schools and community groups. These sessions will form the design concepts for the Barrack Hill town park taking into consideration the thoughts of over 130 participants from the area.
The celebrity gardener and landscape architect was asked to take on the challenge of satisfying a whole community by the playground committee in the town. Together they have teamed up with the Public Art Office and the Community and Enterprise Section of Donegal County Council to design and create what will be one of Ireland’s most imaginative and ambitious community spaces and play parks.
Denis McGonagle on behalf of the Council welcomed Diarmuid and commented that the park was a long time coming. “It’s amazing to have someone of Diarmuid’s calibre involved in the park, which will be a flagship for Inishowen. Everyone will get the chance to contribute on the project and it is important to remember that this park, when completed will belong to and be maintained by the community”
Aideen Doherty from Donegal County Council was extremely positive about the open evening. “The talk gives everyone a chance to see who Diarmuid is and where his influences come from,” she said.
Besides hearing from people at the open meeting, Diarmuid will be consulting with groups of children and teenagers from schools as well as older members of the community. Dermott is used to dealing with exacting clients but not 130 at one time. “This is the most clients Diarmuid has ever had to deal with!” Aideen exclaimed, “But if anyone can get the community to agree on the finished project, it’s Diarmuid”.
His contributions to the Chelsea flower show have given him the reputation of being innovative and a little controversial especially with his “Colourful Suburban Eden” also known as the bubble gum garden, where he placed hundreds of brightly coloured plastic balls on sticks around a foliage backdrop. “Some of his ideas can be a bit frightening,” said Mary Reilly from the Inishowen Organic Network “but I love his work. It gets your mind going and his ideas are never boring or conventional,” she stressed.
A relaxed and casually dressed Diarmuid addressed the attentive crowd. “ This is by far the most people I have ever consulted with on a project,” said Diarmuid. “Satisfying a whole community is top priority and listening to everyone’s needs will be the key to the success of the project,” he continued “There are three main issues for this project – budget - practicality and safety. Some of the school children have come up with fantastic ideas and it is a question of taking these on board and making them a reality. There are a few issues on ideas such as the iPod docking station and the possibility of making the park look like the set on I’m a Celebrity- Get Me Out of Here, which relies heavily on rope bridges and tropical trees, but I am sure we will come to a suitable compromise!”
It is apparent that Diarmuid will no doubt get a few tongues wagging with his ideas but this is something that excites him in his development as a designer. “When I left the Botanic gardens in Dublin, I came across a book called “Paradise Transformed, the Private Garden” by Guy Cooper and Gordon Taylor. The radical imagery of their designs really had a big influence on me and I knew that that I was better suited to garden design than any other aspect of gardening,” he said enthusiastically.
“The completed Barrack Hill Park will have to feel real and be rooted in the soul. It cannot be imposed on the town.” He emphasised.
Diarmuid will be returning to Carndonagh in April and will have a rough draft of the plans to run past everyone who is involved in this fantastic project which will help to lift the profile of not only Carndonagh but the whole of the peninsula.
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