The monthly meeting of the Community Council was held on Monday, 28 April 2003. Before the meeting commenced the Chairman called for a Minute's Silence in respect of the recent death of a former member of the Dalkey Community Council and previous King of Dalkey, Mrs Vera Loughran.

TIDY TOWNS:
The Tidy Towns Committee is hoping to put in place improved signs on the approach roads to Dalkey. It is hoped (funds allowing) that an improvement of the wide part of the path at the junction of Castlepark and Ulverton Roads will take place shortly. This will be a joint venture with the County Council, Dalkey Business Association, the Community Council and the Tidy Towns Committee. The pressure is mounting for improvement of all approach roads to Dalkey as we enter the judging stages of the Tidy Towns Competition. Trees were planted at the back of SuperValu and two planters will also be placed here. A request is being made to the County Council to paint the litter bins. The shop keepers are contributing to the flower baskets on the lampposts and streets for the coming months.

HERITAGE:
The figures show a slight reduction in the number of visitors to the Centre and consequently revenue for the last quarter as opposed to this time last year. However during the same quarter last year the hugely successful Eine Blicke Exhibition was taking place. The Centre is now open seven days a week for the summer. A project is underway to see how the entrance/reception/lobby area could be improved. Consultations must take place with the County Council as it is a listed building, once plans have been finalised fundraising will take place. Unfortunately the Heritage Council rejected the Centre's application for the Graveyard Project. The new maps have now been installed and the casings painted (located at the entrance to the carpark at the Church of the Assumption, outside the DART station and at Coliemore Harbour). There are leaflets at the DART stations advertising a favourable deal for entrance and travel to the Centre.

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT:
Draft Development Plan - is available for inspection. The Planning and Environment Committee of the Dalkey Community Council would encourage as many residents as possible to view this plan and submit your observations/objections to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. It is currently available at the County Hall in Dun Laoghaire but it is hoped it will also become available at the library. It is believed that a particular element of the County Council would like to see an increase in the density in the Dalkey and Killiney areas with the removal of the protection on some conservation areas. The County Councillors rejected this proposal but Dalkey's residents should show their concern at this possible development in the future.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH:
There have been some burglaries in the area, however an individual was apprehended due to a very vigilant member of the public.

FUNCTIONS:
Garden Competition and Outing details were given - see inside Ed.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Traffic Plan - no response has been received as yet.
Pedestrian Crossing - a request for a pedestrian crossing at Archbold's Castle was made, however requests have been made for some three other crossings in the traffic plan already.
Dog Fouling - the availability of 'pooper scoopers' at the County Hall on Marine Road was mentioned. It is hoped that these 'pooper scoopers' will be made available at the library. It was also stated that statistics show some 85% of people use some form of bag while out walking their dogs. As there was no further business the meeting concluded.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has a Recycling Facility at George's Place, Dun Laoghaire (opposite the Old Fire Station).
Here you can recycle at one time: glass, drink cans, paper (newspaper, junk mail, magazines, telephone books, cards), cardboard packaging and plastic containers (drink and milk bottles, shampoo bottles)
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 8am to 4.30pm, Friday 8am to 3.30pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm (closed Sundays and public holidays).
Please do your part to help the environment, we all have a vested interest

Q...I heard that there have been some changes to the Dental Benefit scheme. Will I still be able to get my teeth checked and cleaned for free?

A... Yes. Under a new agreement negotiated between the Irish Dental Association and the Department of Social and Family Affairs basic preventative dental treatment including examination, scaling and polishing are still free. Dental Benefit under the Department's Treatment Benefit Scheme is available to those who are insured and satisfy certain Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. You are also eligible if you are the dependant spouse of an insured person or a dependant widow(er) whose spouse was qualified at time of death. If you satisfy the PRSI conditions when you reach age 60 you will remain qualified for life. Under the new agreement, which is effective from the 25th February 2003 there are still two sets of charges, one for those whose annual income is under €45,000 and the other for those whose income is above €45,000. For those whose income is above €45,000 the Department pays a contribution and the patient pays the balance (apart from the free treatment mentioned previously). The fees they will have to pay have increased by 10% under the new agreement. Those whose income is below €45,000 per annum will have to pay 10% more on all treatments apart from fillings. For instance, extraction of a tooth under local anaesthetic has increased from €10.67 to €11.75. Fillings will be charged at the dentist's normal private fee less 15% and also less the Department's contribution of €29.20. Dentists are obliged to display their charges for fillings. Medical Holders aged 16 or over are eligible for dental services from their Health Board. They are covered free-of-charge for emergency and routine treatment. The service may be provided through private dentists or dentists employed by the Health Board. Before availing of a particular treatment under the Health Board scheme you should check with your Health Board to see if the treatment is covered. Further details available from the

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

When the moon sits above the Island,
There is Dalkey.
The sea like glass looks silver and low-key
A blood red sky at early dawn,
Silhouettes the tower and church long gone.
As that morning light shapes the hills,
Life from the sea, and Island spills.
From Bray to Howth a breeze blows free,
To cool the air over Dalkey.
The sun now sets in the West,
Lights form the boats on Dalkey rest.
Shadows that end a day that's blessed,
The Island sleeps, by the sea caressed Night over Dalkey gently falls,
Till the dawning sun, To the Island calls.
Island big Island small,
Island there on the High Sea.
Island Here Island Near,
My beloved Island Dalkey.

M. Keogh

The following are just a few ideas of places to go during the summer holidays.
PARKS: Dalkey/Killiney Hill, Dillon's Park, Sorrento Park, Dun Laoghaire People's Park, Cabinteely, Bushy Park - band performances, sports fields, pavilion, playground, Marley Park - cycle track, playground, sports fields, nature walks, Terenure - pond, shelter, tennis, wildlife, nature trail, Harolds Cross Park - band performances, playground, floral schemes, Iveagh Gardens, Clonmel Street, Dublin 2 quiet and secluded in the city centre, floral displays, play areas, St. Stephen's Green, Garden of Remembrance, Merrion Square. (Note: Dublin City Council runs a series of concerts and recitals in the parks in the summer months)

SWIMMING POOLS: Monkstown, Crumlin, Templeogue, Cheeverstown House.

PLACES/ACTIVITIES WITH/WITHOUT CHARGES: Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park Adult E11.00, Child E7.00, family tickets available, playground and restaurant there too, telephone 6771425. Powerscourt Gardens, Wicklow Adult E8.00, Child E4.50. including gardens and house. Restaurant, craft shops, garden centre, interiors gallery, telephone 2046000. Powerscourt Waterfall, Wicklow Adult E4.00, Child E3.00. Including nature trails, playground, sand and water play area, picnic and barbecue area, telephone 2046000. Malahide Castle Adult E6.00, Child E3.00, family tickets available, guided tour, gardens, playground, model railway, picnic tables, Museum of Dolls/Toys, restaurant, telephone 846 2516. Fort Lucan, Dublin Adult E3.00, Child E7.50, including slides, maize, trampolines, suspension bridges, water slides, crazy golf, go-carts telephone 6280166. Viking Splash Tours Adult E13.95, Child E7.95, family ticket available, departs St. Patrick's Cathedral (on the half hour), amphibious (land and water) boat that drives through Dublin and out into Dublin Bay, tour lasts 75minutes, telephone 8553000. Newbridge House, Donabate extensive grounds, large playground, open farm (small charge), guided tour of house (small charge), picnic tables and barbecue area, telephone 8436534. Glendalough lakes, forests and walks, large open areas for play, picnic tables, historic monuments. Blessington lakes and walks, picnic areas.

Beaches:- Sandymount designated bathing area, good for paddling, rock pools, football, kites. Killiney designated bathing area. Seapoint designated bathing area. Sandycove good for paddling and digging and rock pools.

Forests:- Pine Forrest in the Dublin Mountains, including picnic tables. Devils Glen, Wicklow, including picnic tables, river, waterfall and sculptures. Wicklow Gaol adult E5.70, Child E3.59, family ticket available. Coffee shop, picnic tables, telephone 0404 61599. Kilmainham Jail adult E5.00, Child E2.00. Tour consists of museum and guided tour of Victorian cells, tea rooms, telephone 4535984. Dalkey Heritage Centre adult E5.00, Child E3.00, telephone 2858366. Dublin Castle adult E4.75, Child E1.75. Tour of State Rooms and medieval under-croft, two restaurants and gardens, telephone 6777129. Abbottstown Aquatic Centre adult E9.00/10.00, Child E7.00/9.00, family tickets available, raging water rides, wave pool, toddler pool, water slides, water roller-coaster, splash pools, telephone 6464300. Lambert Puppet Theatre adult E9.50, Child E8.50, puppet show for 3 - 8 year olds, coffee and sweet shop on premises, telephone 2800974. St Patrick's Cathedral adult E4.00, Child E3.00 including entrance to Cathedral plus brochure with historic details, playground and gardens, telephone 4754817. Marsh's Library adult E2.50, Child E1.50, telephone 4543511. Christ Church Cathedral adult E5.00 (donation), Child free. telephone 4781797. Dublinia adult E5.75, Child E4.25 including self guided tour of reconstructed mediaeval village, streetscape, interactive market, scale model of Dublin, museum with artefacts from Wood Quay excavations, telephone 6794611. National Wax Museum adult E7.00, Child E4.00 telephone 8726340. Museum of Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks there are a variety of workshops (storytelling, arts & crafts etc. relating to the exhibitions taking place each week during the summer months, specifically for children and all free-of-charge! Telephone 6777444. Museum of Natural History, Merrion Street includes a wide variety of specimens from both the animal and insect kingdom, telephone 6777444. National Art Gallery houses the national collection of Irish Art and European Masters telephone 6615133. National Museum of Archaeology & History there are a variety of workshops and exhibitions taking place during the summer months, telephone 6777444. Enfo, St. Andrew Street, general information on all areas of the environment, children's corner with mini library and educational games and videos, telephone 8882001. Courtesy of B Hughes
Every effort was made to ensure all information was accurate at time of going to press - Ed.

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT……. The largest planet in space is Jupiter and is some 85,680 miles in diameter. It got its name from the Roman king of the gods and ruler of the universe. It consists of, predominately, hydrogen and helium and its core is believed to be hotter than the sun at 3,000°C.

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT……. The tallest tree in the world is the Coast Redwood. It can reach to heights of 400 feet and its trunk diameter could be anything up to 30 feet. It is an evergreen tree and native to the Pacific coast of North America. DID YOU KNOW ABOUT……. The largest diamond is the Cullinan Diamond at 3,106 carats (one carat is 200 mg in weight). It was mined on 26 January 1909 in Pretoria, South Africa.

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT……. The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, USA is the largest government office at 34 acres. It was designed by George Bergstrom and constructed between 1941 and 1943. It is made-up of five concentric pentagons (five-sided buildings) with connecting corridors. Each pentagon has five floors in addition to a mezzanine floor and basement. It is the headquarters of the United States Defence department of the army, navy and air force.

June is normally a month when it is clear of frosts and the sun is at its strongest, so ensure that moisture is maintained and weeds are suppressed early.

Mulching when the ground is wet will conserve moisture as well as suppressing the weeds.

Lawns: mow regularly (at least once sometimes twice a week) if you want a really good lawn. If the weather is very dry, set the mower blades to 2.5cm to allow the grass to grow a little longer. Water occasionally but do not feed lawns when the weather is hot.

Flowers and Plants: deadhead faded flowers regularly, this prolongs flowering and also helps the plant build-up strength. Apply some fertiliser, roses should be given a rose fertiliser feed if it has not been done already, look out for aphids, mildew and black spot.

Hanging baskets need watering at least once a day in hot water. Continue to protect plants from slugs and snails.

Fruit Garden: protect ripening fruit from birds with nets, prune plum trees to reduce overcrowding and remove any damaged or diseased branches, continue to harvest rhubarb, raspberries, blackcurrants and strawberries, continue sowing vegetables to ensure ongoing supplies, plant out leeks, winter cabbages, brussel sprouts, sweetcorn, tomatoes, marrows, courgettes, ridge cucumbers and celery.

Greenhouse: continue feeding tomatoes and other plants once a week, keep watering plants twice a day in hot weather and damp the floor, ventilate and shade. Check for whitefly and other aphids.

If you are going away on holidays or even for a long weekend ask a friend to water your garden beds and lawn.

Dalkey, in the seventeenth century was included in the barony of Newcastle and consisted of the townlands of Dalkey and Dalkey Commons, together with Dalkey Island, Lamb Island, Maiden Rock, The Muglins and Clare Rock and nestles between the lower slopes of Dalkey Hill and the sea at Dalkey Sound overlooking Dalkey Island.

Our town today occupies the site of a previously fortified town, which began to decay some 400 years ago. The port was not only the equivalent of Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire) for travellers but was also the place for the importation of merchandise for Dublin.

Dalkey has a very colourful history. Until the beginning of the 19th century, rock monuments dating back several hundred years could be seen near the town. One of these, a cromlech, surrounded by a circle of upright stones, stood upon Dalkey Commons, the other a great rock, known as Cloch Tobair Gailline or the Rock of the well of Gailline could be seen overhanging a sacred well on the top of Dalkey Hill.

During the 8th century Dalkey was the stage of a battle between two Irish tribes. Forgartach, son of Niall, King of Ireland, fell by the hand of Cinoeth, son of Ingalack on Dalkey plain.

It is pretty much accepted that Danish invaders frequently landed at Dalkey port and it was through them that our Irish name Deilginis or Thorn Island (the name supposedly deriving from low bushes on the Island) was changed to Dalkey, which is Scandinavian in its origin. The original Irish name refers to St. Begnet's Church - Kilbegnet on the mainland and Inisbegnet on the Island.

The English it appears disembarked near Waterford and Wexford but in 1171 while the Irish were besieging them in Dublin a detachment of the Irish force was stationed here to guard our port where the Irish allies, the Danes, were expected to land.

After the Conquest Dalkey was granted by Henry II to Hugh de Lacy, Constable of Dublin who subsequently passed it on to the See of Dublin. Under the auspices of the Archbishops Dalkey rapidly grew. It was allowed to hold a market every Wednesday and a fair on the Feast of St. Begnet, the patron saint of our town. Power was also given to levy tolls to do such things as improve the walls of the town and the harbour. Dalkey was ruled by a provost and bailiffs who also had authority over the port and who were sometimes appointed by the Archbishop or by the English crown.

More to follow ………. Ed

June sees the very busy time of exams and we wish everyone taking exams the very best of luck and every good wish for future happiness.

Courtesy of the European Commission What are the first five things that spring to mind when you think about Ireland? Green Irish Pub Celtic Design James Joyce U2 GREEN: Also known as the 'Emerald Isle' most people associate the colour green with Ireland. Many visitors come to Ireland in the hope of seeing beautiful green landscapes. No part of Ireland is more than 110km from the sea and this combined with the high precipitation rates means that the grass is very green. Less than one eighth of the land is actually arable, however it is highly fertile and 81% of our total land area is used for agriculture. Green is also associated with 'The boys in green', our national football team.

IRISH PUB: The pub has always been the focus of our social life and because this 'pub culture' has developed our drinking habits differ from the wine-drinking countries of the Mediterranean. It is becoming more and more commonplace to find an Irish pub in many overseas cities. In part due to the number of expatriates living abroad but also very much due to the reputation of being a place of having a friendly ambience and good live music, a place for 'craic'.

CELTIC DESIGN: For many centuries we have been enriched by our people's instinct for design and craftsmanship. The Tara Brooch, dating from the mid-eight century is an exquisite example of metalworking technique and The Book of Kells the illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels is another medieval treasure of calligraphic design. Traditional materials and techniques are still used in Irish design today.

JAMES JOYCE: James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was born in Dublin in 1882 and died in Zurich in 1941. He is noted for his experimental use of language and new literary methods. His most well-known works are Dubliners (1914), A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), Ulysses (1922) and Finnegans Wake (1939). In general, it is widely accepted that literature by Irish authors has profoundly influenced the whole of English literature. Writers such as Jonathan Swift, Edmund Burke, William Butler Yeats, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett are all part of the English-speaking Irish literary tradition. In 1995 Seamus Heaney, the poet, became the fourth Irishman to win the Nobel prize for Literature.

U2: Possibly our most famous rock export with a couple of the band members living here in Dalkey. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Junior formed the band in 1977 after Larry put a notice up at school about starting a band. They played to their first audience of 400 at a concert in Dublin in 1979 a far cry from the tens of thousands they now play to.

Curach (traditional Irish dessert) - 1½ cups oatmeal, cup chopped rhubarb, 2 cups raspberries, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 cups cream, 4 tablespoons whiskey. Preheat the oven to 400ºf, 200ºc, gas mark 6. Spread the oatmeal on a baking tray and bake until golden brown, stirring frequently.

In a saucepan add the rhubarb and half of the raspberries with two tablespoons of honey. Cook over a medium heat until the rhubarb is tender. Cool. In a large bowl whip the cream until stiff, fold in the remaining honey and the whiskey. Layer in a trifle bowl or individual glasses some of the cream mixture, some toasted oatmeal, the rhubarb mixture and some fresh raspberries. Then repeat. Garnish with fresh raspberries and mint leaves if desired. Serve at either room temperature or chilled.

Saint Clement's Cake - ½ cup self-raising flour, 4 tablespoons of butter or margarine, 4 eggs, ½ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon curd. Sift flour into a bowl. Melt butter in a small pan. Set aside to cool. Whisk eggs and sugar until very pale and creamy. Fold in flour and melted butter. Pour into an 8 inch greased baking tin. Bake at 350ºf, 180ºc, gas mark 4 for 30 minutes. Turn out on a rack, cool. Cut cake into three layers. Sandwich with lemon curd. Pour icing (see below) over cake so that the top and sides are coated, leave to set, decorate with strips of orange and lemon.

Icing - 1¼ cups icing sugar, juice of ½ lemon. Sift the icing sugar mix with lemon juice and a little water to make icing stiff enough to coat the back of a spoon.