The monthly meeting of the Dalkey Community Council was held on Monday,1st November.

NEIGBOURHOOD WATCH:

There have been a few occasions of larcenies from unlocked cars and the Gardai would like to remind everyone, particularly as the Christmas Season is upon us, to always lock your car when it is unattended and not to leave anything on display in the car.

TIDY TOWNS:

The upkeep of Dillon's Park is being put out to contract. The Dalkey Business Association is extending this year the lovely lighting that was on the premises last Christmas.

HERITAGE:

The Annual General Meeting was held during the previous month and the Centre is starting to break even. The St. Begnet's Graveyard Project is also progressing.

PLANNING:

Coliemore Road:

There is a planning application for the demolition of a bungalow and the development of apartments, the Community Council is concerned that the view will not be lost to the Community.

Corner of Castle Street and Dalkey Avenue:

Concern has been raised by a number of Dalkey residents with regard to the width of the pavement. The Community Council is looking into the matter.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Atmospheric Road:
Atmospheric Road: There appears to be some incidences of fires being lit here, along the Metals, with drinking at night time and a lot of graffiti. This situation will be brought to the local gardai's attention.

Laneway between Our Ladys Hall and the Library:
Concern was raised with regard to the lack of lighting here and the possible dangers, a solution is to be sought. Fireworks etc: The Friday before this meeting was Halloween and it appears there were many incidences of fireworks which caused a number of residents problems especially as some carried on into the small hours of Saturday morning (4.30am). The position with regard to the use of fireworks is to be clarified.
There being no further business the meeting concluded.

THE MOW SENDS OUT AN SOS

The Dalkey MOW (the Meals-on-Wheels) a few months back sent out an SOS about the parking problem at Kilbegnet Close where the MOW Kitchen is located. However it seems not everyone got to see the last note so the Dalkey MOW is pleading: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, WILL COMMUNTERS WHO DO NOT LIVE IN KILBEGNET CLOSE NOT PARK THEIR CARS IN THE VERY LIMITED SPACES OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN.
Please leave the few parking spaces there are for those wonderful volunteers of the Dalkey Meals-on-Wheels -Ed

Readers are aware that the church car park in Castle Street is freely available for the use of the community whenever it is not expressly required for church services. Our parish policy is that the car park should be available to our parishioners attending church at times of Mass and church services generally. At all other times we are happy to make the car park available to the public and to commercial life in Dalkey. The parish would wish to continue this service to the town and its community, if at all possible. Overnight parking is not permitted in the car park and a notice to this effect is displayed at the entrance. In spite of this we have had an ongoing problem in the number of cars left overnight. The position is particularly bad on Saturday nights when up to 30 cars are typically involved. It results in about one third of parking spaces being consistently denied to parishioners attending Mass on Sunday mornings.
Similar problems arise routinely at the 6pm Mass on Saturday, 7.30pm Mass on Sunday and at times of funerals and weddings. We appeal to all users of the car park to respect the regulations stated on our displayed notices, to avoid overnight parking and to be sensitive to the primary right of parishioners coming to church services so that this facility can continue to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

John McDonagh P.P.

Wed. 3 Dec.
Dorothy Donnelly will present her lecture 'Upstairs-Downstairs in Foxrock 100 Years Ago' at 8pm to the Rathmichael Historical Society in Shankill €2.

Wed. 10 Dec.
The Ballybrack-Killiney Local History Society meets at 7.30pm in the Parochial Rooms of SS Alphonsus and Columba Chuch, Ballybrack. Three short talks will be given on local topics.

The Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society meets at 8pm in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. A 'Collectors/Treasure Night' will take place.

Wed. 7 Jan.
The AGM of the Rathmichael Historical Society takes place at 8pm All members are requested to attend.

Wed. 14 Jan.
James Scannell will present his talk 'From Poor Law Infirmary to General Hospital -St.Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown' to the Ballybrack- Killiney local History Society which meets at 7.30pm in the Parochial Rooms of SS Alphonsus and Columba Church, Ballybrack. All welcome. Adm. €2.

And 1 do come home for Christmas.
We all do, or we all should. We all come home, or ought to come home,
for a short holiday the longer, the better -from the great boarding school,
where we are for ever working at our arithmetical slates, to take and give a rest'.

Charles Dickens -Dr Marigold's Prescription

A very warm welcome home to everyone who is returning to spend Christmas with us in Dalkey and a very hearty Céad Míle Fáilte to any visitors. And for those who could not be here, you are truly never far away -Ed

YULE

Yule, is when the dark haIf of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the autumn and winter in the ground. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider.

MISTLETOE

In ancient times, both Druids and Romans hung sprigs of mistletoe in their homes and places of celebration to bring good fortune, peace and love.

IVY, LAUREL, ROSEMARY AT CHRISTMAS

Ivy has been a symbol of eternal life in the pagan world and then came to represent new promise and eternal life in the Christian world. Among the Romans who remained pagan, the laurel leaf was sacred to the sun god Apollo. To Christians it came to symbolise the triumph of Humanity as represented by the Son Man. Bay is also a name used for laurel. Rosemary is yet another Christmas green. Though now it is used to mainly season foods. During the Middle Ages it was spread on the floor at Christmas. As people walked on it, the fragrance filled the house. The story associated with the shrub is that Mary laid the garments of the Christ Child on its branches and caused it to have such a wonderful aroma.

THE CHRISTMAS ROSE

The Christmas rose, is a true Christmas flower. It is sometimes called the Snow or Winter Rose. It blooms in the depths of winter and legend links it with the birth of Christ and a little shepherdess named Madelon. As Madelon tended her sheep one cold and wintry night, wise men and other shepherds passed the snow covered field where she was with their gifts for the Christ Child. The wise men carried the rich gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense and the shepherds, fruits, honey and having nothing, not even a simple flower for the - Newborn King. An angel, seeing her tears, brushed away the snow revealing a most beautiful white flower tipped with pink -the Christmas rose.

1911:'The foundation of the government ofa nation must be built on the rights of the people, but the administration must be entrusted to experts: not grand ministers and presidents, but chauffeurs, guards at the gate, cooks, physicians, carpenters and tailors'. Dr Sun Yat Sen -Chinese Revolutionary Leadet:

1930 -'Victory gained by violence is tantamount to a defeat' -Mahatma Gandhi launching Indian Civil disobedience.

1945- ' All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others' George Orwell animaI Farm'

1948 -'I know of no other man in our time, or indeed in recent history, who so convincingly demonstrated the power of the spirit over material things' -Sir Stafford Cripps of Gandhi when assassinated.

1961 -'I want to manage those four boys. It wouldn't take me more than two half- days a week' -Brian Epstein, record shop ownel; later manager of 'The Beatles '.

1981 -'If we resign today we will bury our hopes for freedom for many years to come. Several thousand people cannot overcome ten million' -Solidarity, a message to Polish workers.

On this day in 1914 the British and German troops who were bogged down in the trenches on the western front during the First World War began to fraternise and swap presents in no man's land. At midnight, they began to shoot each other again.

Not everyone may be aware but we would like to bring it to the notice of Dalkey that we had our very own Olympic Medals Winner a few months back when Brian Cork won three medals in the Special Olympics.
Brian works two days a week in the Parks Department of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the rest of the time in the gardens at Dunmore.
He represented Leinster in the National Games and Ireland in the European Games playing Soft Ball and Soccer. However it was at the Special Olympic World Games, playing Table Tennis, that he has excelled winning three medals -silver for singles, another one for doubles and a bronze in the mixed doubles.
His other hobbies include snooker, music, swimming and drawing -where does he get the time considering the training he must have to do! Quite rightly the McCabe Cup for Sport was presented to him recently at the Dalkey Community Council Presentation Night. Well Done Brian and here's to the next Games!!

Dalkey girl, Rosanna Davison is representing Ireland at the Miss World Finals on Saturday, 6th December in China. We'd like to wish Rosanna every success and our best wishes as she and some 110 other girls compete for the coveted title of Miss World. Whatever result 6thDecember brings to Rosanna we wish her well in the most promising career she has ahead. Hopefully the 6th will not be too nerve-wrecking ot least for Mum, Dad and the rest of the family!!

Do you know the neighbour who lives in your block;
Do you ever take time for a bit of a talk?
Do you know his troubles, his heartache, his cares,
The battles he's fighting, the burdens he bears?
Do you greet him with joy or pass him right by
With a questioning look and a quizzical eye?
Do you bid him 'Good Morning' and 'How do you do',
Or shrug up as if he was nothing to you?
He may be a chap with a mighty big heart,
And a welcome that grips, if you just do your part.
And 1 know you'll coax out his sunniest smile,
If you'll stop with this neighbour and visit awhile.

Courtesy of The only Book of Party Pieces by Nuala Harnett

Let's never forget our neighbours and friends, especially at this time of year, this Editor was reminded of this when a note was received.from a lady called Olive wishing to thank her very good neighbour Eileen for all that she does and says she is one of the best'.

One kind word can warm three winter months

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveller back to his own fireside and quiet home!!!

"I intend taking parental leave in periods of one day a week. Will it affect my holiday entitlement? No. It will not affect your entitlement."

The Parental Leave Act, 1998 allows either parent to take leave in order to care for a child
Normally the child must be under 5 years of age, however, this upper age limit can be extended in certain circumstances. The Act provides parents with an entitlement to 14 weeks leave per child. However, unless a multiple birth is involved, no more than 14 weeks may be taken in a 12 month period without your employer's consent. Both parents have an equal entitlement to 14 weeks. The leave may be taken in one continuous block or, with your employer's agreement, separated into periods of days or even hours. You are not entitled to pay from your employer while on parental leave nor is there any social welfare payment similar to Maternity Benefit. Apart from the loss of wages your position as an employee is unchanged. It is as if you have not taken parental leave. The time taken on such leave can be used to accumulate annual leave entitlement. If annual holidays fall due during parental leave, they may be taken at a later time. A public holiday, that falls during parental leave and on a day when (but for the leave and the holiday) you would have been working, is added to the period of parental leave.
A dispute concerning parental leave can be referred by either yourself or your employer to the Rights Commissioner in the: Rights Commissioner Service, The Labour Relations Commission, Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road, Dublin 4. Tel: (01) 6136700
Further details available from the

Citizens Information Centre,
85-86 Patrick Street, Dun Laoghaire.
Telephone 284 4544

From December to March, there are for many of us three gardens -the garden outdoors, the garden of pots and bowls in the house, and the garden of the mind's eye. Katherine S. White

Dublin Suburban Towns 1834-1930' by Seamas O Maitiu. The Four Courts Press

Up to 1930, Dalkey was an independent township, controlling its own affairs until amalgamated with Blackrock, Killiney, Ballybrack and Dun Laoghaire under local government reform to form Dun Laoghaire Corporation. This book looks at the various independent townships that existed outside Dublin City, including Dalkey and tells how they managed their affairs, the problems they encountered, the work they undertook and the steps taken by some of them to prevent being absorbed into Dublin Corporation. Those interested in the history of Dalkey will find this book extremely interesting as it covers an aspect of the town's history previously not covered. Those interested in the history and development of local government will also find it very interesting. A really excellent book.

J Scannell

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

The Cracked Bell
How bittersweet it is, on winter's night,
To listen, by the sputtering, smoking fire,
As distant memories, through the fog-dimmed light,
Rise, to the muffled chime of church bell choir.

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love.

God gave us our memories so that
we might have roses in December.

Viennese Biscuits:

Ingredients:
1lb butter, 4oz icing sugar, 1/1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence, 12ozs flour, 4ozs cornflour.

Method:
Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla essence together until light then fold in remaining ingredients. Place on baking tray and bake until slightly brown at the edges at gas mark 4, 350°f, 180°c. You can also decorate these with a little chocolate.

Cranberry Delight:

Ingredients:
l2oz cranberries, I0oz sugar, 8ozs crushed biscuits, 3oz melted butter, 8ozs cream,l/2 teaspoon vanilla essence, 8oz cream cheese.

Method:
Place cranberries and 8oz of the sugar over low heat until the cranberries pop and sugar is dissolved. Let it cool. Mix the biscuits with the melted butter and press into freezerproof dish. Whip cream and add the vanilla essence along with the remaining 2oz of sugar (if desired). Beat the cream cheese and add to the whipped cream along with the cranberry mixture. Pour over the biscuit mixture and freeze until firm. Decorated to your own liking.

Lemonade:

Ingredients:
4 lemons, water, caster sugar.

Method: Remove the zest from the lemons and squeeze the juice into one bowl. With another bowl add the caster sugar (to your liking) to the lemon zest along with about 2 pints of boiling water, stir until dissolved. Allow to cool then add the lemon juice and if desired remove the zest. Chill and serve.

This is the first day of the Roman festival Saturnalia. It was a period of great feasting and festivity, with a lot of drinking and eating. Slaves would become masters for the festival, and everything was turned upside down. This part of the Roman festival survived into the 17th Century.

CHERRY TREE

In central and northern Europe it is the custom to break off a branch of a cherry tree at the beginning of Advent and keep it in water in a warm room; the flowers, hopefully, should burst into bloom at Christmas time.

THE GLASTONBURY THORN

This Thorn connects to Christ's death as well as His birth. The legend says that soon after the death of Christ, Joseph of Arimathea came to Britain to spread the message of Christianity. He brought with him from the Holy Land his staff. Tired from his journey, he lay down to rest and pushed his staff into the ground beside him. When he woke up he found that the staff had taken root and had started to grow and blossom. It is said he left it there and it has flowered every Christmas and every spring. It is also said that a puritan trying to cut down the tree was blinded by a splinter of wood before he could do so. The original thorn did eventually die but not before many cuttings had been taken from it. It is one of these very cuttings that is in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey today.

SOME HITS DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS
1907 -If those lips could only speak
1912- It's a long way to Tipperary
1913- You made me love you
1926 -Bye Bye Blackbird
1928- Old Man River
1936 -When I'm cleaning windows
1939- Over the Rainbow
1942- White Christmas
1952 -I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus
1954 -Rock around the Clock
1957 -Love Letters in the Sand
1961 -Wooden Heart
1963- She loves you
1970- The Wonder of You
1977- Don't Cry for me Argentina
1981 -Imagine
1988 -I should be so lucky
1991 -(Everything I do) I do it for you

The Recycling Facility at George's Place (opposite the Old Fire Station) takes glass drink cans, paper (newspaper, junk mail, magazines, telephone books, cards), cardboard packaging and plastic containers (drink, milk and shampoo bottles).

Open Monday to Thursday 8 am to 4.30 pm, Friday 8 am to 3.30 pm and Saturday,8 am to 4 pm {closed Sundays and public holidays).

Christmas Tree recycling is taking place in Eden Park at Glasthule DART Station.

Postage stamps and cards {birthday, Christmas etc.) can be brought to Our Lady's Hall.

Always turn off outdoor, indoor, and tree Christmas lights before you go to bed or before leaving home. Keep heaters away from the tree, presents, curtains, bedding etc.. Remember to turn these off before leaving your home. If you do not have one already purchase a smoke detector and fire extinguisher.

The ceremony for the lighting of the Christmas Tree will commence at 4.30pm on Sunday, 14 December at the Church of the Assumption car park. Santa Claus will not be arriving by DART this year but he is coming. He told the Editor he's looking forward to seeing all the boys and girls of Dalkey again this year.