Carlingford Newsletter April Edition

Would you like to do a Landscaping project in your estate? If so please get in touch by phone or email before 7^th May. We are applying for funding for professional landscaping as part of Tidy Towns Project 2022. Email Joanne_mcmaugh@hotmail.com or 0429373686.

The Louth Contemporary Music Society is delighted to be returning to live music on Sunday May 8th at 3pm in Carlingford Heritage Centre. While Evelyne Bourton will perform an Operatic Concert on May 3rd in the Carlingford Heritage Centre.

Louth Live Performances will host its second concert in the series, Clann O’Connor will return to the Carlingford Heritage Centre May 22nd at 4 pm. See CLHT news for more information.

Carlingford Community Forum News

A very well attended AGM of Carlingford Heritage CLD heard Mark Mohan of Fáilte Ireland explain the implications for community & business of Carlingford Vision’31, Gateway to the Cooley Peninsula. This process, if fully engaged with by all, will have a positive effect on the economic life of the Peninsula in the coming years. The community will see upgrades to the public realm making the area more desirable to live in. There will be improvements in the tourism products available and this will benefit community & business alike. The success of these initiatives depends upon engagements by all.

Funding opportunities will need to be availed of and structures put in place to allow this to happen. Clustering, with businesses working together for greater effect, will be encouraged. Visitor experience plans will be created. The Steering Committee meets on a monthly basis and if you would like any information on the way forward please leave your name in the tourist office.

Carlingford Community Development ( The Foy Centre)

Carlingford Knights finished off their season earlier this month, with two youth games at home. Our Under 13’s played St. Marys from Dublin at home on Friday night, it was an end to end games with St. Marys just coming out on top. It was our very first year with an under 13’s team and the team has grown in numbers steadily throughout the year. We look forward to this team becoming Carlingford Knights under 14’s in September.

The Youth girls had their first game on the full pitch with a game against Dundalk. It was all square at half time, but Dundalk’s greater numbers meant they pulled away in the 2nd half. It’s been a great first season for the girl’s youth rugby and we now have over 20 girls in training. We hope to finish up with a final game for the girls later this month, before they go into full league action next season.

The knights under 15’s played a two-leg cup competition against our close neighbours Newry RFC. The Joshua Hill rugby cup was played over two legs, Carlingford Knights had a superb win away in the first leg,two weeks ago. Newry came down with a strong team in the 2nd leg, we had a few players missing with other sporting commitments. However, we still took an early lead with two penalties from Ciaran O’Hankon, and a try for Connal Quinn. Newry fought back and controlled the 2nd half, and took a two try win at the end. The Knights still hung on to take the cup, in what was a great way to end our Youth rugby season at the club. The mini section with teams competing in under 7s,8s,9s,10s and 11s, has now grown to well over one hundred players. Teams have competed from September right through to April with blitzes all- over the North-East and Leinster.

All the mini knights have competed so well against established clubs like Skerries, Boyne and Dundalk. Every 2nd Sunday the Foy centre can have one hundred plus mini rugby players from various teams competing and representing the area. The club have also been awarded a Leinster rugby camp, this will take place in Carlingford from the July 4th -8th 2022.

Carlingford Lough Heritage Trust

April was a great month for the centre we saw the return of live events and concerts. We would like to thank Mark Dearey for his talk on The Nuclear Shadow & Holding on to Hope. Also Seamus Murphy for his educational online talk 100 things to see in the Cooley Mountains. The trust held its AGM in April, with talks provided by Mark Mohan and a review of the past twelve month by the Chairman Gerry McAlinden.

We were delighted to facilitate the return of live music, and to welcome audiences back to the Heritage Centre once again. Conor & Cathal Masteron presented Brahm’s Violin Sonata D on April 9th, while The Boyne Music Festival presented Connections on April 10th.

” The Morning Side of the Mountain” a community project with Upstate Theatre & Carlingford Heritage centre, premiered the story of Peadar & Kathleen Elmore to a packed house on April 21st.

The first concert of our Louth Live Performances took place on Sunday April 24th, ‘ Airs & Arias’. The second concert in the series will see the return of Gerry O’Connor and family to the Heritage centre on May 22nd at 4pm. These concerts are funded by the Louth County Council, admission is free so book early to avoid disappointment.

The tourist office has continued to be open to visitors and tourists providing information on walks, activities, and tours in Carlingford and the peninsula. Our Castle & Town tours are available daily from the tourist office. On May 14th, our specialised Castle Tour with Ghan House will return. Discover the history of the King Johns Castle followed by tastes from the region at Ghan house. See link below for more information.

We welcomed our first happy couple to the Heritage Centre this month with a lovely wedding on April 30th

An Tain Arts centre in conjunction with the Arts council has launched Louth Culture Quest, an interactive app game that incorporates history, heritage and walks. Over the next four weeks different regions in Louth will become live on the app. North Louth is now active, download the app today and you can get busy playing the game. Ticketsolve – antain

For all ticket information on all upcoming events, concerts see www.carlingfordheritagecentre.com

“This project is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Pobal through the Community Services Programme”.

Carlingford Tidy Towns

FAO Residents Groups PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING HOUSING ESTATES

1. Would you like to do a Landscaping project in your estate? If so please get in touch by phone or email before 7^th May. We are applying for funding for professional landscaping as part of Tidy Towns Project 2022. Email Joanne_mcmaugh@hotmail.com or 0429373686.

The group will need to prepare the area for planting i.e. have it free from vegetation and rotavated before September. If we secure funding professional landscapers will plant the prepared area with biodiversity planting.

2. Please also email in any projects carried out in the last year (since July 1^st 2021) with pics so they can be in included in the National Tidy Towns competition. Please do so before 15^th May 2022 as the competition deadline is 20^th May and we are currently compiling our application.

Playground Renewal – Town and Village Funding

At the time of writing we have no updates from the Council, on if this project will proceed or when.

SpringBulbs

The 5,000 bulbs we planted last October are now in full bloom around the town. This was funded by Tidy Towns project scheme.

Painting Properties

If you are thinking of painting your property please do so before July 1st, as that’s when judging can take place from. Anyone who received free paint in the scheme last year, we would ask that they paint their property before the end of May so the pictures can be included in the application as part of the Streetscape improvements.

St. Michael’s Church

The garden has seen improvements thanks to planting from the participants of the Gardening Course. We aim to spread mulch and paint the railings in the coming week. If you can help please get in touch. If you can help with paintings the railings phone Julie on 087-06394889.