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Auntie Litter IRISH SEED SAVER ASSOCIATION Monthly Draw Scariff Camogie Club. Scariff ICA Scariff News Direct Tidy Towns Report Tragedy in New York Tidy Towns Report Scariff Co. Clare OVERALL DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH The attached project work programme for 2001 was a very detailed response to the requirements laid out in the Competition. It is noted that Scariff has quite a high number of members on the Committee and this demonstrates the ability to have such an extensive programme. The introduction of a household payment per week would seem to be a very successful method of raising funds. THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT The built environment is essentially dictated through the siting of the town on top of the hill. It would seem as newer development is introduced into the town, it should be at the lower contours of the town, thus the important historical fabric is at the top and contains the greatest diversity of buildings. This compact nature at the top of the hill presents a very interesting experience because the town car park is an unexpected open space after climbing the hill. It must be stated that the petrol pumps at the edge of the car park are not a usual element to see in the centre of an urban square. The Bank of Ireland presents a very good entry feature on the road leading into the town from Tuamgraney. The Credit Union looks very well and most of the shops are very well finished which improves the quality of the main street. It must be stated that the wirescape on the road leading up from Tuamgraney to the centre of the village needs attention as it does destroy the streetscape. Would it not be possible to have the wires placed at the rear of the buildings or kept to one side of the street so that there is a reduction in the amount of wires crossing this streetscape. LANDSCAPING There would seem to be a minimal investment in long term planting. This is perhaps one of the most necessary areas in most villages because of the extensive amounts of development in the recent decade. All the floral arrangements and hanging baskets looked very well and were very well kept In particular, the street trees, with the flowers at the bases looked very well The village has a significant number of small park spaces and the general attendance varies. The Bank of Ireland presents a very strong front garden image to the main street, which offsets the disappointing design of the building. However, it is perhaps at the factory where the Committee should put some emphasis on persuading this facility to invest in some landscaping within the vicinity of the factory gates. WILDLIFE AND NATURAL AMENITIES The recent purchase of the six acre field adjacent to the riverside park on the Feakle road is a definite candidate for this category. The project works programme identifies future works for this town park and there is a need to submit future plans on how wildlife can be integrated. There is a need to present some of the information gained on wildlife in the next Development Plan as the project works programme would seem to provide an asperational direction of wildlife concerns for the village. LITTER CONTROL This category is raised because of the high standard that the Committee has ensured. This particular category has been noted on several visits to the village, over the past year. TIDINESS The new amenity centre, which contains re-cycling facilities at the outskirts of the town is a great asset and benefit to Scariff. However its visual impact on the surrounding landscape creates a rather untidy statement and consideration should be given to the use of coppicing plants or long-term screening. In general, the centre of the village is very tidy. However there is attention needed on some of the slopes, such as at the Y junction leading to Moynoe graveyard. RESIDENTIAL AREAS Scariff has a fairly compact footprint for the full extent of the village. The integration of the residential areas beside the commercial areas is quite successfully handled over a continual staging of development. There is a need for the residential areas to acquire a much better sense of character which has been associated with the streetscapes. This may be achieved through introducing a policy on colour. In general there is very good variation in the presentation of the residential areas. Perhaps one element that should be considered is the manner in which the residential areas invest in trees. At present distant views of the village indicate a very strong roof pattern which needs to be visually broken up in scale. Consideration should be given to establishing large mature trees at strategic locations so as to better integrate this urban image within distant views of the village. ROADS, STREETS AND BACK AREAS The Church is quite isolated from the village and presents a very crisp environment. There is perhaps a need for the on-street car parking to be more clearly defined. The entry to the G.A.A. grounds has a significant amount of space to allow for traffic movement. However, views into this facility should be more integrated with the surrounding countryside, such as through the introduction of native hedging or stands of trees. The road that by-passes the village, at the base of the slopes, between Tuamgraney and Mounthshannon needs to have the junctions better defined and imposes a stronger pattern of control. This must also be stated for the entrance to the factory. It is views from this lower road that require some attention to screening, particularly as the rear of many developments face this road. GENERAL IMPRESSION This village has always had a strong character which is associated with a small village. Perhaps the most charming aspect of this visit was the recognition of the converted house into a miniature "Odeon" cinema. This is a very interesting architectural project and demonstrated that even through the many visits made to this village, that there was always something new to be found. Scariff ICA are organizing a course in group development. This will incorporate group dynamics, leadership skills, organization, planning and relaxation techniques. The course will commence at 8.30 pm on Wednesday 10th October in the Teagasc centre in Scariff. Pat Donnellan will facilitate the workshops. The meeting of the ICA will be before the course at 8pm. All members please take note. The tragedy which took place in New York on Tuesday September 11th has been shocking in the extreme. We here in Scariff have, like people all around the world, been greatly moved by the awful scenes we have witnessed on our TV screens. Many of us have relatives and friends in the New York area and we were anxious to be reassured that they were well. In order to give ourselves an idea of how things are in New York and what people are thinking, Scariff News has asked Kathleen Geraghty-Barr, a New York resident and someone who counts Scariff as one of her favourite places, to update us on the situation there from her perspective. We are grateful to Kathleen for taking the trouble to keep us informed during this dreadful time. Tuesday September 11th ….this is a very, very sad day in America. ….We've been to Manhattan on many occasions and have been to the World Trade Center..........our hearts, just as I am sure yours, go out to the many, many victims of this terrorist act….. My cousin's (Margaret Geraghty - Kelly) husband Kieran Kelly is an officer with the NYPD and I am praying that he is okay .. according to the news we've lost 78 NYP officers and that is incredibly distressing .. by telephone I cannot get through to New York .. all circuits are busy. Please pray for him. We've watched the news since 8:50 A.M. when the first plane hit the WTC and believe me, it's a crushing feeling. Our County Executive closed the court building(s) where we work, and sent us home. We are "small town America" but just the same, I feel it was a good move. It gave us the afternoon to reflect, and to pray to God that this ends and those that are waiting to hear of their loved ones in the WTC, The Pentagon, and on flights bound for California will find the strength to handle their losses. Please pray for them, and for our law enforcement in New York and Washington .. and for our country. Later ... September 11th My cousin's husband (Lieutenant Kieran Kelly) .. is home safe. I just got through to his house in Long Island. He tells me that his building is located directly behind the WTC and he saw the whole thing collapse. He sounds very tired, but thank God he is okay.
Thursday September 13th I think you know our feelings about Ireland .. especially Scariff. Having had the pleasure of meeting Michael Ryan, and all those that frequent his pub and of course Geraldine and Tony, staying at their place was a pleasure. We feel a very close relationship to your town. I am not all that great at writing.. when the spirit moves me, such as the happenings of this week .. I have to let my thoughts out. It's times like this that make my blood boil .. for the very first time in my life I have to say that I have something to fight for in my own country ! I was too young to understand fully the impact of Vietnam .. ever since that time, I have fought for the love of Ireland .. now I have a chance to put my emotions into America ! We are a great country and I guess it's taken something like this to happen to make me realize it !
Friday September 14th ………watching last night's news, it is as depressing as the entire week and our police officers/firefighters, etc. are getting very tired and very frustrated. We have friends (not sure if I told you) that are due to leave tomorrow for Shannon via Newark Airport. They are scared to go .. but so far none on the tour have backed out. The tour guide said that if they do, they will not get a refund, which I find very wrong. They plan to go .. only good thing is that (PG) if they make it safe .. they will have 2 lovely weeks in the land I love so well.
Tuesday September 18th ….... it's been difficult for me to come up with words to describe the days events.
We are all very nervous about going to war. Also extremely nervous about another attack on our country. I feel very bad for parents with young children. It's hard enough for us to fathom what has happened let alone the young ones. I heard today that one of our law clerks has a brother missing at the WTC .. at Mass the priest invited us to stand pray for anyone that may have a friend or relative missing at the WTC and/or on the planes that crashed. It was mind boggling to hear all the people just in our little community who knew of someone. Another cousin of ours from Tuam wrote to me the other day of a man in their town that had a daughter who was missing and had worked in the WTC. They too had a service at the cathedral in Tuam and same as here at home, standing room only. There's been talk of rebuilding the WTC on the same spot where it once stood. I am not for that, nor are many that I have talked to. The only thing that could possibly go there should be a park, a park in memory of the victims. A place where their loved ones can go to seek some sort of solitude. At this stage it is reported that no one else will be coming out of there alive. It would take a miracle. One of the saddest things I heard was after hearing that 6 firefighters were rescued to then find that it was just a rumor. It's amazing to me that someone could start a rumor such as that. Friday 21st September I haven't much news to report .. we, as most everyone in the world, are feeling the heartache of loss of human life from these terrorist acts. Not a day goes by that I don't end up in tears ! It was a lovely speech our President gave last night .. he is a remarkable man. I fear for our young men and women as they go off to unknown lands ... it's sad to see their farewell pictures with their loved ones in the newspaper. I just received this poem from my uncle (Thomas Geraghty of Cambridge, Massachusetts) .. author unknown. This past week I have received many prayers and poems, but this one I particularly liked. THE RESCUE WORKERS I've always thought that angels wore halos and wings of white But now I find they wear hard hats and black coats with yellow stripes And angels, in my mind, wore long flowing gowns of light But now I see dark pants and shirts and badges shining bright And angels always floated with bare feet above the ground Not true! For they wear steel toed boots and go where death is found
Not all angels have smooth hands that look like porcelain Some angels have torn gloves and cuts and burns upon their skin
And while I thought all angels glowed within from heavens light I've seen an angel cutting steel his torch was shining bright
And while these earthly angels passed buckets of debris The angels up in heaven looked down on bended knee So while the smoke continued to rise into the sky I watched the rescue workers weep I've seen the angels cry _______________________________ . On the 10th June our u12’s won the U12’s title by beating Killanena in Bodyke. They were trained by Mary Rodgers and Catherine O’Brien and the panel consisted of:
Mairead Scanlan, Grace Shaughnessy, Rachel Madden, Sarah Myles, Carmel Clancy, Anne-Marie Thornton, Kate Minogue, Niamh Condron, Leanne Horan, Aisling Corbett, Elaine McMahon, Yvonne Pearl, Sinead O’Halloran, Aileen Thornton, Christine Bugler, Sandra O’Grady, Dervla Nash, Aideen McNamara, Sarah Madden, Emma Grisewood, Claire O’Sullivan, Ellen Collins and Eimear Bane. A good crowd attended the match and the girls had refreshments in the GAA Hall and a disco afterwards. County medals will be presented to the girls at a later date. We recently created a new membership database and in the course of doing that realised that whilst we had hundreds of members all over the country - there were very few in Scariff- where did we go wrong? In an effort to rectify the situation I went to talk to the Community Council and was overwhelmed by the interest and enthusiasm for our work displayed there. It also became clear that a lot of local farmers and gardeners have knowledge about old varieties and growing methods that we need to learn. Come and see the gardens and pass on your pearls of wisdom Our site at Capparoe is about 9.5 acres divided between apple orchards and vegetable gardens/polytunnels. our grain project is based in Kilkenny. We are open to visitors every Thursday afternoon - the guided tour starts at 2 p.m. and lasts for 1 hr approximately - and we'd be delighted to see you all. At this time of year there's a lot of work going on with seed harvesting, processing and apple identification. We look forward to seeing you. Bridget If you want more information on our work, we've left leaflets in the medical centre, credit union and bank in Scariff. Have Scariff News delivered to your door every month no matter where in the world you live. Why not give a year’s subscription to Scariff News as a gift to a loved one living away from home? Scariff News is of course free. You pay only for postage. Rates:- European Union £6 Rest of the World £10 Contact The Market House Raheen Hospital Support Group
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Friday we
went to a lovely prayer service at St. Mary's Church here in Rochester. It was packed,
with standing room only. There wasn't a dry eye during the service. I found it very
moving. It was suggested that all wear red, white and blue outfits on Friday .. when I got
to work I was so pleased to see that the majority of my co-workers followed along with the
idea. 