District news: Blackrock will add to festive cheer in village this coming Christmas
The very happy outcome on top of the enjoyment and entertainment generated on the day was that group was able to raise and distribute almost €10,000 among the three local schools and sporting and voluntary organisation.
The beneficiaries and sums received were Rock Celtic €4,000, Community Centre €1,200 and €750 to each of the following Saint Francis, Saint Fursey's and Saint Oliver Plunkett Schools, along with Blackrock Park, Blackrock Tidy Towns and the Geraldines.
This enabled for instance the Community Centre to put on extra classes for children.
The venture will also allow the Group to run Christmas lights along both sides of the village's Main Street for the annual Christmas Celebration and enhance the illumination of the promenade over the Christmas period.
Heretofore the Christmas Lights ran down the sea side of the street and was extended then to the end of the lower car park to the Scouts Den. Now a line of festive lights will be strung all down along the other side of the promenade.
Breakaways' swan-song
Popular Blackrock trio The Breakaways are set to perform their very last concert at Blackrock sundial this Friday August 22 at 6.30 pm, weather permitting.
The group, which consists Pat Breen on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Eamon Cooney on backing vocals and lead guitar and Paul Steeples on drums have been together for 62 years and have raised in incalculable amount of money for a whole myriad of charities since then, once turning down an opportunity to perform in the US as the three lads were all married and settled at home.
Don't miss what is sure to be an absolutely unforgettable evening. A set of Irish dancing and a performance by Castlebellingham Ukulele Orchestra will also be a feature of the show.
Should rain force a cancellation of the Friday performance, it is hoped to stage the show on the following evening, Saturday August 23 at the same time.
Gers lotto
Last week's draw again failed to produce a winner of the Geraldines lottery. So the jackpot this week was €23 400.
The numbers pulled out last week were: 14, 15 21 and 29
Road closure
Road diversions are still in place with only local access on old Golf Links Road. This is a result of the upgrading of foul sewage drainage facilities on the road.
Louth County Council issued a notice of the closure of the road for a fortnight from Monday August 11 to this Friday to facilitate the carrying out of the emergency works.
This entailed the prohibition of vehicular through traffic for the duration of the works.
Beach group
Amid the continuing disquiet and concern for health, water and wildlife a local groupcalling itself Friends of Blackrock Beach is inviting local folk to join them in a stand against the dangers posed.
The ongoing situation with regard to the local beach and the odour emanating from it has highlighted the impact on lives for years now, not least discouraging and denying even the simple pleasure of swimming on treasured sunny days.
Different times also there have been problems with the quality of public water flowing out of household taps.
The beach odour is something that has been in the air and attacking nostrils for various lengths of times. What is the cause and what it is doing to health has not been satisfactorily allayed as it annually keeps coming back during the summer.
There are strong suspicions in minds what is the reason for the terrible odour that pervades the village at times. The discharge of untreated sewage into the sea that makes its way onto the beach is right at the top end of the village.
The Friends of Blackrock Beach has initiated an online action campaign and distributed leaflets to homes, urging local people to complain to the Environmental Protection Agency with regard to the 'smell, the sludge and the fact the beach is unsafe. The group also urges to flush only essentials into the sewerage system.
The group as well has asked the local public to come out in a show of solidarity, showing they care by gathering on Saturday, August 30 at midday at the Community Centre on Sandy Lane and taking part in talk and walk for water to the Sundial on Main Street.
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The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
