Chairman's Report 2005 - A.G.M.

I saw my first swallow on the 2nd April over Killiney Bay. It was during that spell of very cold northerly winds that made this Spring such a cold one and as is often the case when the winds blow from the north the Bay around the Vico Road has its own warm, sun drenched, mini climate. There weren't going to be any insects in the cold air on the exposed side of the hill but probably lots around there for a hungry swallow.
Once it was thought Swallows hibernated underwater during the winter before emerging again in the Spring. In late summer or early autumn the birds were seen swooping low over the water and soon after they were gone, not to be seen till the following year when they reappeared.
Of course what the Swallows were doing in late summer was gathering in large groups before migrating, often at lake side reed beds catching insects or actually scooping up water to drink as they skimmed the water's surface.
We might think it ridiculous now that a couple of hundred years ago people believed swallows could survive a winter underwater but the thought that these little birds were about to fly to southern Africa and then return next year to the same spot would have been equally unbelievable to them.
But that's what they do, flying across Europe, crossing the Mediterranean, down past the vast Sahara desert to spend the winter in the warm insect filled air of southern Africa with lions, elephants and zebras as neighbours then doing the same trip in reverse the following spring. Being totally dependent on insects caught in the air, which are missing from our colder climes in the winter, they have to follow the food south in Autumn, returning north in the Spring. Coming here in the summer also gives them much more daylight in which to find food for their young.Swallows will rear two broods (families) during the summer and have been known to have three broods in long warm summers. There are seventy-five types of swallows found worldwide but our summer visitor is known as the Barn Swallow because of its habit of traditionally nesting on rafters in barns where it can fly in or out at will. The Barn Swallow is also found in the United States and Asia. They can be found nesting in outhouses and ruined buildings as well and a few years ago it was in a derelict roofless room of an old house in Galway, where a family of swallows had nested on a roof beam, that I was lucky enough to witness a family of young swallows taking their first flight. With much chattering the young birds took to the air circling and swooping before perching on another beam calling to their parents all the time. Apart that is from one young bird which was still clinging on to the outside of the nest as if it lacked that little bit of confidence to launch itself into its first flight. One of the parents decided to speed up matters, flew over and gave the young bird a gentle but firm push, launching it into the air where its instinct kicked in, its wings spread and it was flying instantly, hesitantly at first but with confidence growing by the second. After fledgling young swallows will be fed for four days as they perch on rafters or telegraph wires after which the parents will encourage them to take food on the wing flying after the parents or flying out to meet them. After a week they'll be catching their own food.
One of the latest migrant birds to arrive is the Swift, again often seen over the Vico Road and sometimes nesting in the Heritage Centre in Dalkey where they often fly around in noisy little groups late on warm summer evenings. They usually arrive in early May and are gone by mid August being totally dependent on high flying insects. These birds, apart from when they are on the nest, spend all their lives in the air and their legs are so far back on their body if they are forced to the ground, which may happen during thunderstorms, it is very difficult if not impossible for them to take off again. They take brief snatches of sleep while they are in flight and have been picked up on radar many hundreds of feet up in the night sky.
Thousands of years ago they would have been exclusively cliff dwellers but as with many birds they have evolved to become almost totally dependent on human habitats and many of the crevices under roofs of buildings they may have nested in before are being filled in or insulated and very few new buildings being constructed have suitable niches for them to nest in. With their high pitched shrieks, often in towns and cities on warm summer nights, they are to me, along with the Cuckoo, one of the most evocative sounds of summer.
I heard my first Blackcaps singing in early April. These birds are often known as 'Northern Nightingales because of their exuberant melodic song. Increasingly common at garden feeders in the wintertime (they love apples) research has shown that the birds we have in winter are probably birds that will return to breed in Eastern Europe in the summer to be replaced by our breeding Blackcaps which will be returning from migration in southern Europe or Africa. Due to milder winters in Britain and Ireland and provision of food in gardens these wintering blackcaps have changed their migration journeys cutting down the distance they have to travel and any dangers they face on the way. They also get back earlier to their breeding grounds ensuring they get a good territory to nest in. they have done very well in Dalkey in recent years with seven or eight different male birds singing from dense cover on Dalkey and Killiney Hills.

Dalkey joined in the worldwide celebrations of Mozart's 250th anniversary on Saturday 25th March in St.Patrick's Church with the DALKEYMOZARTFEST 2006. The Inspired by Mozart audience were treated to a historical, musical journey from Each to Verdi. The concert was stylishly compered by RTE Prime Time's Mark Little. Our musical journey began with Dalkey's own John Dowland which was fittingly performed by Dalkey tenor, Karl Scully, whose sublimely lyrical voice resonated throughout the church. Stunning mezzo soprano, Alison Dunne graced us with arias from Mozart, Eizet and Gluck. Cellist and brain-child behind the DALKEYMOZARTFEST2006 Tara-Lee Eyme swept the stage with Haydn and Each. The Kurdanza String Quartet delivered youthful and polished performances of Mozart's legendary string quartets. Pianist, Mary McCague's accompaniment was both scintillating and sensitive throughout the evening. Duets were a strong feature of the second half after a fantastic raffle and wine reception during the interval. Alison's and Karl's voices blended perfectly in Donizetti and in Verdi's legendary "Brindisi" they toasted the audience for coming out in such strong numbers to support the first DALKEYMOZARTFESTT2006 concert, of which we hope to see more of in 2006! It was very encouraging to see so many local businesses supporting the arts in Dalkey.
MAMI Music Artists Management Ireland are delighted to announce that Karl Scully has just joined The legendary Irish Tenors along with Finbar Wright and Anthony Keams. Karl, with The Irish Tenors will be undertaking two coast to coast American tours this year and recording a nine part television series for RTE next month. Karl has just returned from his performances in The Wexford Opera Festival Young Artists Programme.
For further information or bookings for Karl Scully or MAMI please contact 087-6096736 or musicartistsmanagementireland @ gmail.com

Walking through the Back Meadow (on Killiney Hill) last week a fellow-walker told me he had never heard this name before or any of the other place names on the Hill which were familiar to us -local kids -sixty and more years ago.
I agreed to write a note on these names and others may wish to add their recollections. Walking from the car park (at the top of the Burma Road) to the Obelisk, one passes through what we called the Back Meadow and then the Church Wood. The hillside to the left of the car part and up Dalkey Hill was then the Burnt Wood for obvious reasons. It had been an old wood (it appears on the 1860's Ordnance Survey Map); when it burned I do not know but it was replanted from the 1950s on and is now a mature wood again. Over to the left through the meadow, through the old granite gate pillars and down towards the Vico is ( or was! ) the Primrose Wood and on the other side of the walk to the right -the only intact stretch of wall remaining on the hill -is the Back Wood, beneath the cliffs of Killiney Hill.
Theses old names, I imagine, were those used by the former owners of Killiney Hill, the Warrens of Killiney Castle. "The Back Meadow" would be the obvious name for the part of their park outside their back door. (For some of us, before we get the lawnmower going, a similar name might be appropriate!)
The Primrose Wood was, in fact, full of primroses sixty years ago. In the meantime it has become a wilderness of brambles and ivy and two well-made pathways leading down to the Vico Road have become submerged and forgotten. The gates where these paths opened onto the Vico Road are still there -one beside the entrance to Mount Eagle, the other where the fine granite wall a bit further down the Vico Road descends to road level. However, walkers on Vico Road will have noticed that another old pathway, long buried, has reopened, leading up through the Primrose Wood -old granite steps and all. And remarkably, beside this steep pathway, where ivy and brambles have been pushed aside, the primroses have reappeared.
Some other places on the quarry side of Dalkey Hill have less romantic names -the Forge Yard; the Machine; the Firm Bank. These recall the time when up to 800 men worked the quarries. (They went on strike in 1826 because the employers wanted "to curtail our small pittances which we often find too small to support ourselves and family in this dear neighbourhood" (Dalkey a 'dear' place?)
A final word about walls -the "walls about these hills" built to give employment to the poor after the famine of 1741. They were mostly still in good condition until the end of the War. One ran from Dalkey Avenue, near the Castle gates to the top of Dalkey Hill and down the southeast side to the Vico Road, with a fine set of steps alongside in the steeper places. Remnants of the original walls can be seen here and there (on the Green Walk, for example) but many have been reduced in height and stabilised with concrete copings.
I must admit that the free-range kids of the area started the process of dismantlement of the walls. A seven or eight foot wall at the top of the Burma Road, which enclosed the Back Meadow and the rest of the original private demesne, was a challenge -a few stones dislodged at first, climbing over; then a growing gap to climb through, now a roadway into the car-park.
The old names, the walls, the forgotten paths and wells and (minor) mine shafts are now perhaps matters for historians and archaeologists -but knowledge of them can enhance the enjoyment of what is a truly wonderful public amenity.

This competition is open to everyone in the Community Council area. There are several prizes including four Perpetual Cups. In addition to nomination for the "Surprise" Garden section there are the following categories.

Best Overall Garden -
Best Display - window boxes, hanging baskets, flower troughs and pots
Best Communal - Garden/Open Space
Best Front Garden - visible from the road

Judging this year will take place on Wednesday, 28th June and entries should be submitted not later than Friday 16th June 2006 on the form below and placed in the box in Our Lady's Hall (presentation of prizes will take place on Friday 15th September)

'Dalkey Delights' and 'Dalkey Cleans up in National Survey'. These were the headlines in local newspapers following a recent ibal survey (Irish Business Against Waste). Even the Irish Times and RTE radio news gave us a mention. In January we sent photographs of litter black spots to the County Manager and several depts. in the CC which resulted in a huge improvement in road cleaning during February. This must have been when ibal made their inspection. Unfortunately this state of affairs did not last but proves that it can be done.
Next Tuesday IIth April we are having another clean up at the Ramparts. This picnic area, which was derelict, should be ready for use in a few weeks. .
We are currently on the case of the public car park behind Eurospar; the shabby library; the worn out litterbins; the graffiti and dumping along the railway line, etc. etc. Yes we are very busy on behalf of Dalkey. We are disappointed with the results of interesting our school children in environmental projects but will persevere.
Do you remember last year when I announced that we had won an award from the Tidy Towns Competition? We said we would donate any prize winnings towards renovating the ancient Dalkey Graveyard. Tonight with great pleasure I hand over a cheque for €500 to the Heritage Centre for the Graveyard Fund with our best wishes.
Thank you. June Barnett