Meath's Helen will police her department with dedication, says former teacher

The new Minister for Justice was eager to dig deeper for more detail on topics she found interesting when she was a pupil at her local national school in North Meath, one of her former teachers said today. 

Mrs Rene Maguire, who taught the young Helen in 3rd and 4th classes at Heronstown National School, Robinstown, was commenting on her former pupil 's promotion to one of the State's top ministries. 

The school got its name from a colony of birds nesting in the trees on the bank of a stream "The Killary Water" at the back of the school. 

New Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD.

This is what Mrs Maguire said about her former pupil - "good attendance and attentive student; liked challenges as in table quizzes on core subjects and general knowledge; in Friday morning tests on curriculum areas she tried to achieve full marks or improve on previous results; she was eager to dig deeper for more detail on interesting topics; she completed her tasks efficiently and all were neatly presented." 

The retired teacher said that Helen McEntee's interest in politics emerged in secondary school at the Mercy Convent by leading the student council and later when she was Dáil assistant to her father Shane, the late Fine Gael TD.

The appointment of Meath East Fine Gael TD Helen McEntee as the new Minister for Justice has received a warm welcome in her home area of North Meath with congratulations coming from across the political divide and also from one of her former teachers. 

Fine Gael Cllr Eugene Cassidy said that the Minister had carved out a successful career, first as a junior health minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. It was a testament to her ability that she should be promoted. His party colleague Cllr Paddy Meath also congratulated the Minister. 

Fianna Fáil Cllr Sean Drew said that Helen McEntee's appointment was a great honour for her, her mother Kathleen and extended family and the people of Meath and was a testament to her hard work in the Brexit negotiations. 

One of the Minister's former teachers at Herronstown National School, Mrs Rene Maguire, said that while the ministry would be knew to her, she knew that she would manage her department with great dedication. During her time at the school, Helen liked challenges , always tried to achieve full marks or improve on previous results, she said. Mrs Maguire said that her former pupil was always eager to dig deeper in interesting topics.

Severe lack of community facilities in Johnstown criticised

The provision of recreational facilities for a fast-growing area of Navan were at the centre of a call for prioritisation of the project by a councillor at a meeting of Navan Municipal District Council.

Sinn Fein Cllr Eddie Fennessy said that there was a severe lack of community facilities in the Johnstown/Athlumney area A playground and sports facilities should be provided within the Farganstown development site North of the R153 Navan-Kentstown Road. This should take place immediately after the construction of the LDR6 road, he said.

Cllr Eddie Fennessy with his son Ned.

“These facilities would be located on land directly owned by Meath County Council within the site or as a condition for an y future private building developments given approval”, Cllr Fennessy said.

Council officials said that in recent years it had tried to provide a playground in the Johnstown area. It had had discussions with representatives of the People’s Park to locate a playground in this area but these plans had not come to fruition.

There had also been a plan in 2019 to locate a playground in the Johnstown Wood area. This had gone to the planning stage but the councillors rejected it.

The officials added that within the Farganstown development, 80+ accommodation units were to be built and play equipment will be incorporated into that. On privately-owned lands at the ssame site, 400+ units were being planned and incorporated into this will be a neighbourhood centre with a community/sporting facility. Cllr Fennessy was also told that on the completion of the private development, the Grandbrind Athlumney Ltd would transfer 1.69ha of open spaced to the council for recreational and community use.

Meath councillor claims lack of democracy

A decision to cancel meetings of Meath County Council because of the Covid-19 crisis has come in for sharp criticism from an independent councillor at a meeting of Navan Municipal District Council today.

Early in the Covid crisis whips from the various political groups on the council met to discuss the situation and came to a decision to call off meetings. However, Cllr Alan Lawes said that while he was glad to see the council reconvening, it was time for Meath County Council to reflect on what had been done. He did not think it as right to “cancel democracy” during the coronavirus crisis.

Cllr Alan Lawes

He said that people needed to reflect on why democracy had been suspended. It was a bad thing that the majority of the councillors had not been consulted about the decision. As a public representative he objected to this decision and also protested at the fact that councillors were only told about the decision after it had been made. In the middle of a health emergency such as Covid it eas even more important that councillors could meet to discuss the needs of the people who had elected them. It was something he did not want to see such a thing happening again, he said.

Fianna Fail Cllr Tommy Reilly congratulated the council officials for their work during the pandemic and said that he had had no problem accessing information that he needed. Aontu Cllr Emer Toibin said that she felt councillors should have been consulted about the decision to cancel the meetings. 

Congratulating council staff on their work during the pandemic, Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said that perhaps there had been a difficulty in communications. Cllr Yemi Adenuga said that some people did not know that the meetings had been cancelled. She aid she would like to have had more information about the cancellation. Council official Larry Whelan said that hew would not accept that there had been any cancellation of democracy. The decision had been made in accordance with strict guidelines and safety measures.

Outgoing Navan Mayor lashes proposed programme for government

The outgoing Mayor of Navan Councillor Tommy Reilly lashed the proposed programme for government negotiated between Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party for its failure to include the Navan to Dublin rail line proposal and a regional hospital, also suggested for the Co Meath capital.

The Mayor was addressing Navan Municipal District members today (Wednesday) on his last day in office as Mayor. He said that as a public representative he felt "bitterly disappointed" at the outcome of the talks to form a new government. Not only was there not a mention of the rail line in the voluminous document published by the three parties, but the regional hospital which was to be planned for the town had also disappeared from any future plans. "Navan has been forgotten about and I am deeply concerned about all those young couple who have to get up at six in the morning, drop children off to creches or to grandparents, and have to spend up to four hours a day travelling to and from Dublin. There is nothing for us in this programme for government".

Outgoing Navan Mayor Cllr Tommy Reilly.

He said that Meath consisted of urban and rural settlements. Rural schools were suffering badly and he said he expected more to be outlined in the programme about the future of rural settlements and how they could be supported.

In the election for Mayor, independent Cllr Francis Deane was proposed by Sinn Fein Cllr Eddie Fennessy and seconded by Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons. He was unopposed for the position and was duly elected.
Cllr Fennessy was elected unopposed to the position of Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Deane said that there would be a tough task ahead in the coming year and he said that everyone should do their bit to get footfall back into the town to help small businesses. They would all do their best to create confidence in the town. He said that another priority was the development plan for the Johnstown area which had a population of 10,000 people.

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons congratulated Cllr Deane on his election, saying that he knew the new Mayor ahd the interests of the community at heart. Council official Larry Whelan also congratulated Cllr Deane and thanked Cllr Tommy Reilly for his hard work for the community during his eyar in office.

Meath inquests proceed without families present

A backlog of inquests in Co Meath created by the Cocvis-19 crisis in Trim today was dealt with when 10 inquests were conducted by the county coroner Nathaniel Lacy.

The last previous inquests to be held took place at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan on 27^th of February and today’s inquests were transferred to Trim Courthouse to conform with Government guidelines on social distancing. Just five people were present including the coroner and his assistant, two Gardai and a press representative and Mr Lacy said that the inquests were conducted by documentation only and that the families had all waived their right to be present and had agreed that the process could proceed in their absence.

Nine of the inquests dated back to occasions last year and one case went back to 2017. In each case, Inspector Alan Brady read out witnesses’ depositions while the coroner’s assistant read out post mortem results compiled by a pathologist. Verdicts of suicide were recorded in eight of the cases, one death was related to pneumonia and alcohol misuse while one was related to alcohol misuse solely. The coroner said he would continue to deal with a backlog of cases in the coming weeks.

Decision to give Newgrange land to OPW for €500 criticised by councillor

A decision by Meath County Council to give half an acre of land at the Newgrange complex to the Office of Public Works for €500 has been sharply criticised by a local councillor who said that the council should have looked for much more money to help with badly-needed road works in the general Donore area.

Council members agreed at a meeting last week to give two parcels of land totalling 0.686 of an acre at the entrance to the complex and across the road for use as a bus pull-in area and a tourist information office. In gifting the land to the OPW, the council said that it was no longer required by the council for any of its powers and duties and the proposed price for the disposal would achieve economic or social or tourist benefits for the area.

However, Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Meade said that while everyone loved Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth for what was being done there, local people would be very disappointed that such a low price was being sought for the land. He said that locals had been campaigning for some time to have improvements made to the road structure in the area because of the heavy bus traffic coming to and from the Bru na Boinne site. He said that the land would have been worth e100,000 on the open market because of its location but he would have expected OPW to pay at least e20,000 of “goodwill money” to help with local road improvements. He said that a meeting of the Bru na Boinne Steering Committee set up some years ago to guide development around the megalithic sites had not been convened for the last five years.

David Gilroy is new chair of Meath County Council

The readers of this blog might like to know a little more about the newly-elected Cathaoirleach (Chairperson for those of you without the first official language) of Meath County Council, Councillor David Gilroy who won the election for the post which was also contested by the indefatigable and indestructible independent Cllr Joe Bonner. He succeeded Cllr Wayne Harding.

David Gilroy is the new Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council.

David is the son of Paddy (now deceased) and Nora, and brother of Fr Tom Gilroy (now Kinnegad and formerly St Mary’s, Drogheda), and John (former councillor and Senator), and Martina Gaffney (a midwife who has been working right through the pandemic), and healthcare professional Paula Lynagh. He is 44, a reminder to some of us that when the councillors start looking younger, it means the rest of us are getting older! 

Athboy is his home place and was educated at the Convent of Mercy before going on to study electronics in the 1990s and then worked for 16 years in manufacturing/process engineering until 2012 when he became a professional photographer, a calling he has followed since then. Both his parents were heavily involved in all aspects of community life and that seems to be in the blood of the rest of their family. David was first elected to the county council in 2014 for the Kells Municipal District. He is the current chair of Boyne Valley Tourism and here’s the list of everything else he’s involved in (where DOES he get the time?) – chair of Meath Climate Change strategic policy committee; founding member of Athboy Hub; Chair Athboy Community School Board of Management; member St Oliver’s PPS BOM, Oldcastle; member Meath Traveller Accommodation Committee; Director of Athboy Social Needs and Development Company; Director Meath Partnership; Director of Athboy Creche Company; Director Athboy Development Company; Participant Development Officer Athboy Community Employment Scheme; Chair of Athboy 100 Heritage Group; former member  Meath Heritage.

In his speech following his election he said: “Being an elected member doesn’t make you an expert but it puts you in the room who are. I’m not afraid to ask questions and bring what I leasn with me. By working together we can accomplish more than we can alone and I believe that a significant part of the role of the councillor is to bring people along with you. To strive to make our communities better places, I have yet to meet a councillor who does not have that belief at the centre of their work. While we may disagree on how thing should be done, our objective is the same.”

At the same council meeting, there was something of a “changing of the guard” when two new members were co-opted to the council. Annie Hoey of the Labour Party had been elected to the council in last year’s local elections and then she was whizzed off to the Seanad (by election of course) and she is being replaced by Elaine McGinty (of whom more anon). 

Independent Cllr Sharon Keogan who was also elected to the Seanad is being replaced by her sister Geraldine who was co-opted to the Meath council on Monday. Keogan’s (Senator) electoral organisational abilities are sometimes underrated. She’s had a remarkable few years, having been elected to the county council in 2014. Last year, she stood in two separate municipal district (Laytown-Bettystown and Ashbourne) and managed to achieve a personal target of landing two seats. She can only represent one at a time and opted for Laytown-Bettystown and had her Duleek office colleague Amanda Smith co-opted to the county council. Smith aims to hold onto the Ashbourne seat by establishing an office in Stamullen. 

Sharon Keogan could lay claim to having a formidable “political party” at this stage. Her tactic of organising the country’s independent councillors into some form of fighting force made the difference when it came to hauling in Seanad votes.

Labour’s fortunes on Meath County Council have waned since the heady days when they had three councillors sitting in the council chamber in Railway street – Dominic Hannigan, Eon Holmes and Niamh McGowan. The tide turned last year when Annie Hoey was elected for Laytown-Bettystown. Now she has been replaced by Kerry woman Elaine McGinty who was co-opted on Monday. As she took her seat she was watched from the public gallery by her husband Cathal and sons Conor, Senan and Padraic. In her speech, she said she was a proud trade unionist, champion of workers’ rights, equality, and supporting the marginalised. She has watched, with others, the extraordinary events of the last few months when Covid-19 hit and she says she is proud of our communities who have shown such decency in the middle of the crisis. “I recognise and believe that these shared experiences have been transformative. I recognise and believe that the transformation into a more community-base society has already begun.”

And finally, as they used say on ITN News, there were generous tributes to two long-serving public officials who are retiring from the county council, Kevin Stewart, Director of Services, and Pat Gallagher, Senior Planner. In one of the many tributes from councillors one member told Kevin “on yer bike”, not in the Norman Tebbit style, but in recognition of Kevin’s well known love of  cycling. Thanks to new Government guidelines, he has now been given the freedom of the county – otherwise he might have been cycling round in circles!

Navan band's lockdown performance is a YouTube hit

The sweet tones of “Beyond the Sea”, that tune most memorably sung by Bobby Darin wafted over the internet last Sunday courtesy of Navan Silver Band whose members organised a special musical treat for those of us who are at home, which is almost everyone at the moment.

Francis Duffy, Honorary Secretary of the Meath capital’s brass band (79 years in existence this year) generously agreed to an interview for “How are you coping?” and gave some insight into how the idea germinated and ended up with last Sunday’s recital. Of course, the lyrics include “those golden sands”, reminding us all of those faraway places we are all missing this year – or perhaps the musicians were thinking of beautiful Bettystown!

Navan Silver Band playing Beyond the Sea.

The idea was mentioned by band conductor Stephen Murray about four weeks ago and all the band members (about 20 people in the senior section) unanimously agreed to it. They relied on the technical know how of Holly Roynane and John O’Byrne and the input of Stephen to put the online recital together. In my ignorance of how these things are done I had thought the musicians might wait for a given signal and then all start playing together, That might have been a recipe for chaos. Instead, a “click track” was created, the musicians all listened to that in order to keep the time and then all recorded individually. The individual pieces were then all put together by the technical team.

The event was such a success that they’re planning another recital, this time “Everybody loves Somebody” which would seem a very apt piece for the strange times we are living in at the moment. It’s a strange time indeed for volunteer band musicians at the moment. They had been used to meeting regularly at their headquarters near the old Spicers bakery in Navan where they have a fine bandroom and the best of facilities. All that had come to a halt in the lockdown but Francis says they’re hoping to get back together again sometime next month, starting with quartettes and quintettes.

Bands need musicians but they also need administrators and the committee is led by Chairperson Denis O’Halloran, Treasurer Pat Masterson and Francis Duffy. The main source of income comes from major concerts ion Spring, Autumn and December. This year, it will be fingers crossed that the Autumn concert can go ahead but plans are being laid for it, and the Christmas concert. A church gate collection also helps the coffers and perhaps the committee might be able to nudge local councillors to allocate some cash to the band from the “discretionary fund” in which councillors are allocated e15,000 each to distribute among community groups. Hint, hint! Every September, the band aims to bring in recruits so the committee is appealing to those who would like to play an instrument and at the same time get an excellent musical education to contact them. Francis will take calls on 0879222303.

Keogan nominates sister for Meath County Council seat

Senator Sharon Keogan is to nominate her sister as her replacement on Meath County Council when the council meets next Monday (June 8).

Geraldine Keogan, a self-employed IT specialist, is expected to get the support of the majority of councillors for the co-option and will sit as an independent. The vacancy on the county  council arose when Senator Keogan, who spent the last six years as a councillor for the Laytown-Bettystown Municipal District, was elected to the Senate earlier this year.  

Senator Sharon Keogan (centre) with her sister Geraldine (left) and Cllr Amanda Smith.

She had already won council seats in two areas, including Ashbourne and Laytown-Bettystown when she contested last year’s local elections as an independent candidate. While Senator Keogan opted to continue to represent Laytown-Bettystown, Councillor Amanda Smith was co-opted to  the Ashbourne seat.

Announcing the choice of her sister for the council vacancy, Senator Keogan said that she was proud to have served the people of Meath as a councillor and added that it had been very fulfilling for her. She had started her work as an independent councillor in 2014 and would continue to service and nurture the community with two full-time offices in Duleek and Stamullen. She said that she had spoken to a number of community activists about taking on the role as her replacement on the county council but unfortunately no one had the time to commit to it. It was important to her that whoever she co-opted would be committed and be there when people needed them.  Her sister was a workaholic like herself an she had no doubt that the people she represented would be well looked after.

The other vacancy on the council, created by the election of Cllr Annie Hoey to the Senate, is expected to be filled by Elaine McGinty who represents the Labout Party.