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Looking forward to the Aontas Concert in St. Patrick's next Wednesday night - really getting into the spirit of Christmas.
Christmas Fair in Lucan House grounds this Sunday - should be fun!
And still no Swimming Pool as we near the end of another year ....
PLEASE NOTE: We have several items on hold due to pressure of space, but we'll get to them all in the coming weeks ....
Above, the front cover of Ireland's Own, from October 10th 1980, when we had a Village Green!
In truth, we called it The Park, at that time. Plenty of soft grass for kids to play on, and trees and plants to be enjoyed by all. Some will recall catching Pinkeens in the Griffeen, using jam jars on long strings.
From the drawing, we can see it was pre-thatch days at Courtney's.
The artist (signed at the bottom), was Charles Mac Neill, and like the slogan at the bottom of the page, it prompts one to say that the village wouldn't be the same without it - the Village Green.
Thanks to Triona Walsh, for this Ireland's Own.
Village Green, Now Village Grey
Once Lucan had a village green,
A quiet heart, a timeless scene,
Where willow branches used to sway,
Now village green is village grey.
The trees that framed our every view,
Ghosts of the past that we once knew,
Concrete spreads where roots once lay,
And all the colour's drained away.
An amphitheatre by the river,
Steps descending where leaves would quiver,
Now edges hard where soft had been,
And steel where branches once grew green.
Bretland's diggers came and stayed,
Nine million euro cash was paid,
Stop-go traffic rules the way,
With narrowed roads and long delay.
Footpaths widened, roads squeezed tight,
A bus stop blocking half the site,
Courtney's thatch still stands today,
But poor Old Willow's gone away.
Residents watch with weary eyes,
The cost too high, the loss unwise,
A village changed beyond repair,
Its gentle heart now stripped and bare.
No village green for children's play,
Just village rock where grey slabs lay,
And though they say 'improvement's due',
Lucan feels less Lucan and more brand new.
By Rory Thynne
St. Mary's Camera Soiree
The members of the Soiree enjoyed their Christmas lunch last Friday in the Springfield Hotel.
Some of our photos this week have a Christmas flavour with a reindeer and a Santa submitted by Josie.
She submitted a photo of the ruins of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and its graveyard which can be found at the back of O'Neill's pub in the village and which may date from the late 12th century. The church was in ruins from the 1630s but the graveyard continued in use into the 20th century. Josie also submitted a photo of the Prospect Tower, also known as the Tyrconnell Tower, which is in the grounds of Carton House and which was allegedly built by Richard Talbot, the 1st Earl of Tyrconnell (c.1630 to 1691). Richard was an Irish politician, courtier and soldier who was made Viceroy, or Lord Deputy of Ireland, by James 11 of England. Richard was one of 16 children!
Donal submitted one of his efforts from our recent workshop on still life photography and a nice photo of autumn leaves which he calls Gold Leaf.
Finally, Joe submitted a photo of a branch of a tree laden with red berries that he found in Chalet Gardens last week. Not being a gardener, I cannot identify the tree. There is a belief that such a crop of berries signals a harsh winter, apparently a myth not supported by science. The berry abundance is due to favourable growing conditions in the preceding spring and summer!
Until next week stay safe!
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