Apr

17

As a seaside village, Strandhill has an awful lot of cordylines but they have been badly hit this winter. Coming into the middle of april and most people are now looking to their gardens – can you save the cordyline and have it for years to come? Read more

Mar

5

There seems to be a severe litter problem on the corner of Buenos Ayres Drive and the top road (just opposite Kellys).

This is a shame as the local tidy towns committee has been doing sterling work over the past 12 months or so in organising clean ups around the village.

So – what can be done about this? The first thing might be to talk to the local councillors and see what advice or pointers they might have. Also – it might be a good idea to contact the owners (a development company I think based in Galway) about how they might make the lower entrance secure – currently the double gates are off the hinges.

Feb

4

Yesterday evening (wednesday) – just before dark – I decided enough was enough. Went over to the airport road and took a few photos of the road surface after the recent cold weather. This photo does not really give full justice – on this section of about 250 metres – both wheel tracks had begun to disintegrate

Potholes on the Airport Road

Did someone see me take these photos or something? This evening – thursday – the potholes have been patched up. Certainly better than it was, but still no great shakes.

In fairness to the council workers – they have been doing much work of late in the Strandhill area; new pavements are being laid in a number of locations – in front of the school, a section leading to Strand Celtic as well as an estate just off the roundabout.

Thing is – it’s a poor as well as dangerous first first impression for any visitors.  Let’s hope resurfacing can happen soon.

Anyone else got any potholes of doom that are worth a mention? Have you rung the council or talked to local councillors about them?

Aug

5

Had an email from Cliodhna this morning.

Volunteers wanted for the Strandhill Tidy Towns on Thursday 13th August from 6.30pm-8.30pm meeting in the main car park, can you help out by giving even a half an hour of your time ?

We will start with tidying up the flower beds, gloves & litter pickers will be provided. Please come along & give a little bit of your time to help out.

ALL WELCOME, Young or Old, any help will be gratefully received.

Feb

23

Do you want to grow your own fruit and vegetables?

A number of people in Strandhill have already expressed an interest, and it would seem that the next natural step would be to discuss an allotments project for Strandhill with  local elected representatives.

Failing that – we might be able to make contact with a local land owner who might be interested in a short term rental or lease?

For more details, please contact Kevin at  071-9168825.

Update : The Get Ireland Growing website (from the Green Party) launched this morning – lots of resources and information about growing your own fruit and vegetables.

Feb

6

A little bit off-topic perhaps. Are people out there wondering the same thing as myself? The improvements – road widening and new pavements – between the first and second Sea Roads, is taking forever.

I stand to be corrected, but I believe this work to be in progress now at least 4 years. The current phase of development – new walls, pavements, etc – is ongoing for at least the last 18 months.

I wonder how many people actually ring the Borough Council and enquire as to finish dates for projects like this? Frustrated, I took some video footage on my mobile a few weeks back (travelling into Sligo town).

Disclaimer : Yes I know – I should not really be doing this while driving…

Nov

13

Last night while driving along the top road (the roundabout side of Kellys on the top road, and across from the former Barracks) I spotted a non-roadkill badger, sniffing its way casually along a wall and footpath.

Just recorded the sighting to Biology.ie

Jul

17

A recent trip (well, before the last 2 months of rain) to the Glen revealed this fern monster. Each frond is approximately 2 metres long – the blurry photograph does not really do it justice.

Giant Fern 2

It has been suggested to me that this is the Broad Buckler Fern (Dryopteris austriaca) – information like this is difficult to pin down online.

Last weekend I purchased Complete Irish Wildlife in an effort to have a backpack friendly reference for walks. It’s pretty comprehensive guide to all things relating to wildlife, flora and fauna on the island of Ireland. For example, did you know that we have over 70 different types of moths?

Anyway, according to page 276 of this guide this fern is “favouring damp woods, heaths and mountain slopes, usually on acid soils.” Sounds right, though the description of frond length up to 1m does not tally.

If this is not a Broad Buckler Fern, could someone put me straight?

Jun

8

Over the years, the cairn at the top of Knocknarea has suffered a fair amout of abuse – mainly from climbers removing rocks and making their own mini-”cairns”, building towers, spelling their names. The last time I climbed a few years ago it was bad – judging by comments over the past few months – not too good.

Local archaelogist Martin Timoney, and the Warriors festival committee have highlighted their concerns in the local media, and this weekend everyone gets a chance to help.

The annual climb in aid of the Sligo branch of the Diabetes Federation takes place this Sunday, June 10th at 2pm. All are encouraged to bring a stone to the top of the cairn to replaces the ones that have already been removed.

There will be refreshments and drinks at the car park after the climb – get climbing, get picking!

Mar

16

What with St Patrick’s Day almost upon us, it seems timely to mention the legend surrounding the founding of the early Christian Church at Killaspugbrone (the Church of Bishop Bronus).

The eponymous Bishop was the son a local chieftain, and a companion of St. Patrick. Patrick seemingly lost a tooth on the site, and Bronus took it upon himself to build a Church on the site.

Ask about Ireland have a good piece on this history, including the fact that the Shrine currently resides in the National Museum of Ireland. This description comments that the shrine is

“…a handsomely decorated shrine of wood, in the form of a horse shoe, satchel, or reticule, eleven and a quarter inches wide by nine wide, and somewhat wedge-shaped..”

A reticule is a small bag for money or other small items, and it does seem like that Patricks teeth (when they fell out..) were prized.

Nice story – and a good illustration of the local heritage that is all around us.

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