Wednesday 28 December 2011

Sadness leaving 2011.Remembering Donald Rennicks

Don Rennicks, Bohermeen

The late Mr Don Rennicks in his Irish clay pigeon shooting team blazer.
The death occurred on 29th August last of Mr Don Rennicks, Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Navan.
He was born on 2nd May 1952, a son of the late Johnny and Kate Rennicks. He attended Bohermeen National School and went to St Patrick's Classical School in Navan. As a teenager he was involved in cross country running and he became a founder number of the Bohermeen Athletic Club in 1969. He served as its first secretary and treasurer and in 1972 he played a leading role in acquiring a site for the club from the late Peter Bishop. The site was developed as the Bohermeen AC rooms and still serves as a local landmark to this day.
In the early 70's, deceased wore the black and amber of both the Athletic Club and Bohermeen GAA Club with pride. During his time with the Athletic Club he helped them win many novice, junior and senior Meath cross country titles and was a playing member of the local GAA club which won a county title at intermediate level. Without his vision, imagination and youthful drive, Bohermeen AC would never have become the major force in athletics that it is today. Until his sudden passing, Mr Rennicks was a trustee of the club.
In his early years, he worked in Clarke's Supermarket in Navan and later with McDermott Bros. He went on to start his own successful fruit and vegetable business in Grange, Bohermeen. He expanded the business into food processing and at its peak employed thirty people. The business continues to flourish.
From a young age, his passion was game shooting and clay pigeon shooting. He was an active member of many local gun clubs, Ardbraccan, Dunderry and Cortown and was the driving force behind the annual Dunderry Clay Shoot. He was a founder member of the Forest Clay Pigeon Club.
In the sport, deceased represented his province and country at the highest level. He won many of the top prizes in the British Isles and Junior High Gun of Ireland. He went on to become a qualified trap coach and referee in the sport.
His friends from his football, athletic and shooting days turned out in large numbers for his removal and burial. Wearing their green blazers, his Irish team colleagues formed a guard of honour in respect and admiration for a good friend.
Don Rennicks lived and loved life to the full. He had a great love of nature and all the changing seasons. His sense of humour, laughter, story telling will be remembered by all who knew him. He was generous with his time, a kind and loving man who would go out of his way to help anybody in need. Always selfless he will be remembered by all who knew him.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mairéad; brother, Sean; sisters, Marie and Patricia; his nieces and nephews. He is sadly missed by his loving family, the community he loved, the many friends and colleagues who had the pleasure of his friendship and humour.
Bohermeens loss is Heavens gain

Monday 26 December 2011

Set your Running Goals for 2012-----Meath Spring Half Marathon March 4th

Set your Goals for 2012 now
Meath Spring Half Marathon in Bohermeen Co Meath March 4th at 12Noon and 5k Fun Run
and two other great promotions June 9th Patrick Bell memorial 5k & Bar b Que ,40th Rennicks cup 5 mile sept 9th all 3 Just 50 Euro

Happy new Year to all our friends and Supporters

Bohermeen Parish------- Down memory lane



Meath senior football final programme from 1974
Bohermeen GFC were defeated by Summerhill GFC who went on to win 4 in a row
 

Martry Minor team 1932
  
The oldest known photo of any Gaelic team in Bohermeen parish dates from 1888 we believe
Ttiled St Ultans Ardbraccan


Bohermeen GFC Meath Intermediate football champions 1973
 

Bohermeen GFC Beaten senior finalists 1974
  

St Ultans First team line out 1991




Football match durting the Bohermeen parish festival Circa 1984



Team Captains on the night Tom Murtagh left and Francie Rennicks right centre John Hand

Harps In Intermediate Football Final 1980 beaten finalists



Rennicks family Gaa team mid 1970s
 
Martry GFC Feis cup winners 1925

Bohermeen GFC Under 14 1960 ?

Martry Meath junior football champions 1964


Bohermeen GFC League Final 1953 ?
 

Martry GFC Meath senior football champions 1931
This was the last team from the parish of Bohermene to win the senior title
 
Bohermeen GFC Meath junior football champions 1965


Martry GFC Meath junior champions 1908 or 1915


Tuesday 20 December 2011

Bohermeen Parish Christmas reading


Bohermeen is a Roman Catholic parish in the Irish Diocese of Meath. Its English name is a corruption of an ancient Irish language name, Án Bothar Mín, which meant the smooth road. Originally one of the five famed ancient roadways that led from the mediæval capital of Ireland, Tara, approximately 10 miles away cut through the area. The quality of the roadway, in an era of dirt-roads, earned for it the nickname of the smooth road, Án Bothar Mín.


For nearly fourteen hundred years the local area went by the name of Árd Braccan or Ardbraccan, meaning the height of Braccan, the hill on which St. Braccan located his mediæval monastery and which in the 9th century became a diocese with its own bishop. Even when the diocese of Ardbraccan joined with other small dioceses such as Fore and Kells to form the Diocese of Meath, Braccan's hill became the location of the palace of the Bishop of Meath.
Following the establishment of the (Anglican) Church of Ireland Ardbraccan became the seat of the Protestant Lord Bishop of Meath. Anglican bishops continued to live in the area until 1958. When in the nineteenth century the Roman Catholic Church re-established a local parish in the area, it was decided to use a different name to the local Church of Ireland parish of Ardbraccan. 'Bohermeen' became the chosen name. A curate in the parish of Navan, the large town nearby, Dean Cogan, who himself had once served as a curate in Bohermeen, and who wrote the acclaimed History of the Diocese of Meath (2 Vols) in the 1860s bemoaned the choice of the secular Bohermeen (or Bohermien as he wrote it) as the parish name ahead of the more religious Ardbraccan name.

Ardbraccan, Ardbraccan House, Allenstown House, Book of Kells, Dean Cogan, Diocese of Meath, Navan, Niall of the Nine Hostages, Tara, Ireland

Bohermeen - Population and landholdings

The area known as Bohermeen has had a predominantly Roman Catholic according to every census done. It did however have a sizeable Church of Ireland population (see below), though that dwindled significantly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The population was hit to a minor extent by the Second Great Famine in the mid-19th century. Local folklorists record the disappearance of entire pre-famine settlements in, for example, the townland of Greetiagh within the parish. Though the records of the period are scant, folklore recorded anonymous deaths of parishioners in some of the ancient mediæval graveyards, notably at Markiestown, where the last burials in the ancient (now destroyed) cemetery were believed to have occurred in the famine era.
The landholdings of the era were recorded as part of Griffith's Valuation, a major land survey carried out in Ireland between 1848 and 1864.
The major land reform of the late 19th century changed the landownership pattern. The breakup of the large estates of the gentry saw most parishioners move from being tenant farmers to small landowners in their own right.
As late as the 1930s a project carried out by the Irish Folklore Commission, in which school children were asked to write down their description of their areas, recorded that most houses in the area were thatched cottages. However almost all the traditional thatched houses were knocked down in succeeding decades. The last thatched house in the parish was demolished in the 1990s.

Bohermeen - Environment

The parish of Bohermeen contains within its boundaries Faughan Hill, a relatively high hill on the flat plains of Meath, where it was claimed the ancient Irish king Niall of the Nine Hostages was buried. It also contains one of Ireland's most highly regarded Palladian country houses, Ardbraccan House, until 1885 the residence of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath.
It also contains an ancient tower house known as Durhamstown Castle, which was once owned by the Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth I's Lord Deputy in Ireland, and which is still lived in.

Bohermeen - St Ultan's Church

The main parish church, St. Ultan's, was first built in the pre-Catholic Emancipation era, in 1817. It was built in cruciform form. The cultural and class divisions of 19th century Ireland were reflected in the usage of the building. In the aftermath of the Roman Catholic revival of the 1850s, Catholic social and gender mores were reflected in the usage of the building, with different sides of the aisle described by the community as men's and women's.
The building underwent periodic renovations. A new roof was added in 1897 while the wooden altar was replaced by a new set of marble altar, altar rails and reredose (all shown in the photograph above). A set of new stained glass windows were installed, notably a Harry Clarke window of the crucifixon over the reredose and main altar.
The church was clumsely re-ordered in the aftermath of Vatican II. In the mid-1980s a complete rebuild of the church was undertaken. It was squared instead of remaining cruciform, with its high stained glass windows (with the exception of the Harry Clarke window) relocated. The reredose and altar rails were removed, while the tabernacle was re-located. The re-ordering remains somewhat controversial.

Bohermeen - Organisation of the parish

Bohermeen parish itself consists of three sub-parishes; Bohermeen itself, Boyerstown and Cortown, each with their own church, St. Ultan's (formerly called St. Cuthbert's), St. Cuthbert's and Christ the King respectively. It covers an area once served by a large number of mediæval parishes, including Moyaher, Killenagolach (later called Grange) and Markiestown (also called Durhamstown - which over the centuries was spelt variously as 'Dormstown', 'Durmstown' and 'Dorreanstown'). None of these have surviving churches, as all were destroyed during the Reformation and the Penal Laws. Some old graveyards do survive, notably at Moyaher, which contains rare surviving examples of pre-Irish Great Famine gravestones and their unique carvings. The remains of cemetery at Markiestown, (a large mound in the centre of a very large field) having survived the reformation and the famine, was controversially bulldozed in the 1970s to create land for tillage.

Bohermeen - Decline in the Church of Ireland community


Bohermeen - Disestablishment & land reform

The Ardbraccan/Bohermeen area contained a thriving Protestant community until the early twentieth century. However a series of unrelated economic, social and religious changes led to the large-scale disappearance of the Church of Ireland community.
These changes included the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland in 1871 which undermined the financial viability of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath's landed estate and led to the laying off of his mainly Protestant staff and the land reforms of the 1880s to the early 1900s, which saw the breakup of the large Protestant estates such as the Waller estate at Allenstown House, and their sale to their Catholic tenantry, again costing many local Protestants their jobs running the estates.

Bohermeen - The Great War & Ne Temere

The impact of the First World War, when many Irish Protestant families lost some or all of their sons at Ypres and the Somme left large numbers of families without heirs and Protestant daughters without Protestant potential husbands, had a devastating impact, an impact augmented separately by Pope Pius X's Ne Temere decree, which demanded that all children of Catholic-Protestant marriages be brought up as Catholic (previously, the tradition had been that the boys would be brought up in the religion of their father, the girls in the religion of their mothers). This resulted in a situation where a marriage of a Protestant to a Catholic meant the end of the Protestant line in the family.
In addition, The Troubles during the Irish War of Independence lead many Protestants, who had identified with the ancien regime of British rule in Dublin Castle to move to the United Kingdom. A combination of changing economic structures, changing class structures, changing religious structures, changing political structures, changing marriage patterns and the First World War produced a terminal decline in the numbers of Protestants in the area. Whereas once the Protestant community counted among its number one bishop, two churches, all the landed gentry, many of their staff and a local rector, as well as a local Protestant primary school, all have gone, with the ancient St. Ultan's Church of Ireland in Ardbraccan ceasing to be used for Divine Service in 1981. One of the last members of the Church of Ireland in the locality, the former owner of Durhamstown Castle, Samuel McClelland, died in 2003.

Bohermeen - Today

As a result, a community of mixed religious heritage and identification had become almost wholly Roman Catholic. However the Roman Catholic community today has shown a notable concern to preserve the area's Protestant heritage. When in the mid 1980s the former owner of Ardbraccan House, Colonel Foster, decided to spend much of the money he had received from the sale of the house and lands on replacing the dangerously decayed roof on the thousand year old church spire at the deconsecrated Anglican Church, local Catholic timber merchants supplied timber for the work free of charge, along with staff to do the reroofing. When Colonel and Mrs Foster, who had moved into the old schoolhouse at the entrance to the Anglican Church grounds, decided to take on the task of restoring the derelict cemetery, in which both Anglican and Catholic people from the area were buried, the local Catholic parish joined the efforts, offering resources and manpower. The communities sought and received state assistance so that the historic burial ground could be fully restored and preserved.

The Parish of Bohermeen today consists of three Catholic Churches and over one thousand Roman Catholics, with a handful of members of other religious faiths. Just as its nearest town, Navan, has become a dormitory town to Dublin 30 miles away, so it has become a collection of dormitory townlands to Navan, which itself is expected within a generation to reach city size. Whereas most of its employment was once farm-based, over 40% now would in urban centres, Trim, Kells, Navan and Dublin, commuting long distances.
A controversial new N3 motorway linking the towns of Cavan and Kells with Dublin is scheduled to cut through farmland within sight of Ardbraccan House and the ancient monastery site in Ardbraccan, before slicing through the archaeologically sensitive site of Tara, the capital of Ireland under the Árd Rí (High King of Ireland) in mediæval times.
Though the proposed route of the motorway at Tara has been the subject of an international outcry from academics, historians, environmentalists and others, the Irish government under Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has publicly supported the plans, and condemned those who criticise them. A legal challenge is being planned to try to force the National Roads Authority to select an alternative route.

Thursday 15 December 2011

Bohermeen in Frosty times

As enter the season of Good Will and the season of the annual visit of Santy.
We expect to see more of the winter humour and regular chat  about nothing but the weather,but in Bohermeen we ignore the weather and get on with the usual chores of life school work eat and sleep.
Activities are winding down for the 35 different organisation within the parish of the  Bohermeen Pale including the areas of Bohermeen,Boyerstown and Cortown .35 groups you may ask to name a few off the head .Bowls ,Badminton, Cycling , Athletics,Pride of Place group. Friendship club ,Active retirement group.Parent and toddler group.An Tobar in Ardbraccan,Pioneer association,Legion of Mary,Athletics club  ,4 Gaelic clubs ,Boyerstown choir, 3 school parents associations,various political parties have also local groups.St Ultans historical group and more to be included in the coming weeks with contacts if you wish to join them .
Beware January1st is the day to get off the rear and commit to something in the parish,ask not what your community can do for you but what you can do for your community in the words of JFK.
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This week in the community ,we had Cortown children and Boyerstown children singing Christmas carols and Bohermeen athletic club ended their winter training for juvenile with a Chip party thanks to Ezio,s .There last competition of the year is on Sunday in Dunboyne in the Meath juvenile cross country relays .

On Tuesday night in the community centre 82 people attended a meeting called for St Cuthberts Gaa club juvenile parents and was very constructive to overcome the current uneasiness's with the various Gaelic clubs .
Wednesday night sees the Community cenrte AGM .

SEND BEST WISHES TO ALL ABROAD THIS CHRISTMAS  POST MESSAGES THROUGH THIS SITE
Email directly to me and the Seagull will post the message
stephenball@iolfree.ie  086-0792580

Saturday 10 December 2011

East European Team Trains in Ardbraccan Quarry for London Olympics

Follow the link to reveal how 12 months ago an East European team were caught on camera ,training for the London Olympic games.In the Old Ardbraccan quarry now 2/3 full of H2o.
Seen are young men using the 200 million litlres of good old rain in the quarry.Dont believe watch the clip 11-30 minutes long .
Or were they looking for the Bull McCabes DONKEY
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DY3WQm_3FHBg&h=VAQHbbl3DAQEe5v2VJsgdD3Yp7v2O--qcDLZNETACzC6SCQ

Friday 9 December 2011

St Ultans GFC AGM

At the recent AGM of St Ultans GFC ,the following officers were elected .





Bohermeen runner in the mud

Bohermeen runner Kevin Reilly in action .

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Historical Society Fields of Dreams

The 3rd meeting of St Ultans Historical society inc Bohermeen-Boyerstown -Cortown .
Took place in the community centre on monday night Dec 5th at 8pm ,their was a good attendance and those present were given a presentation on the Field name project currently being under taken by volunteers all over Co Meath.
Bohermeen area is only slightly done at present .
The presentation was given by Joan Mullen and was delivered with interest and ease.
Field names you may ask, just imagine looking for the Fairy wee field or Logans paddock, or event Kellys corner .These all and many more recollect those whoose footprints have fallen and stepped before our own on  local green fields. The intention  is to record fields with walls dykes and other unique items of interest.
Locals are sought to help the project contact any member of the historical group,if can help.
Next meeting is in January so over the christmas dig up thiose old photos of parish times past a knock may come to your door retracing our ancestors footprints  

Willie Hodgins chairperson thanked Joan for her attendance

Sunday 4 December 2011

Rennicks wins in Monaghan

Darragh Rennicks easily won the Castleblaney 5k from a field of 500 runners in bitterly cold conditions ,with temperatures hovering close to the - mark.
Other runners in action were David O,Connell 8th overall .Darren Brady clocking 20-12 PB .Sonya Reilly kmaming her debut for the club posting 20-25 PB.Deirdre Shine also a debut for theclub posted 24 .Cora Bennett ,Terese Codd, Tina Ball and Kevin McGeough also took to the roads of Castleblaney.
Also well done to Dunboynes Fiona Reid who won the ladies race.The reward for both the Meath runners victory was a small plaque,costing a few euro .

Saturday 3 December 2011

Weekend in the Bohermeen region

What a weekend it promises and prosed to be .
The Navan St Marys Credit Union car was won in the parish by a man from Betaghstown and well done to him.Big 30th birthday night out in Mick Ryans Navan
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Friday evening in Sean Newman park hall was jammed to the foundations with the annual St Cuthberts Gaa presentation ,the club caters for all boys underage football in the parish since 1983.
The Meath senior footbal manager attened Eamon McEnaneny was in attendance as was Kevin Reilly of  Navan OMahonys and Irish comprise rules team
The various teams were presented with the medals and awatrds,(Awaiting full report from St Cuthberts on various teams ) But full credit to all involved it was a great night with refreshments for all children and their parents.
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Saturday Eveing Bohermeen community centre Bohermeen NS Parents association are holding an underage disco and we await the next stars of the X Factor to emerge
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Saturday Evening
Watch Winning streak as a local lady Carmel O,Callaghan a  native of Neilstown bids her luck against the tyranny of the magic computer .Best of luck to her.
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Boyerstown 9am.. An Tobar 10-30am.Cortown 10-15aSunday .Mass m .Bohermeen 11-30am
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Sunday afternoon Bohermeen AC Race in the Castleblaney 5k report to follow,
Bohermeen Celtic entertain Boca rovers at the bogside at 11-45am report to follow.
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Craft Fair in Durhamstown Castle the oldest lived house in  Ireland for over 700 years continously
Today Dec 4th come along and view whats on offer
The Castle once owned by the Thompson family who are mostly are buried in Ardbraccan.Feel the mood of John Thompson who walked the halls of the old Durhamstown in 1811 .

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Sunday afternoon St Ultans Gaa AGM Sean Newman park 5pm all members and new members invited .report to follow.
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Sunday evening Blotto in McHughs and in Navan Arts Centre Solstice the children of Boyerstown NS will perform and again a report to follow on their awaited performance .
The week ahead
Monday
Adult runningnight Bohermeen track 7-30pm   32 there last week just arrive further details
Damien Hilliard 086-1685293
Tuesday
Cortown Gaa club AGM in Hall.
Wednesday
St Cuthberts Gaa club AGM Sean Newman Park 8pm



SINCERE APOLOGIES IF WE FORGOT ANYONE ,BUT WE ARE HUMAN

Tuesday 29 November 2011

St Cuthberts Gaa AGM

St Cuthberts GAA Club who look after all boys football up to and including minor garde in the parish of Bohermeen a huge task by any grasp of imagination.
Are holding their Annual General Meeting on wednesday December 7th at 8pm in the Sean Newman park clubrooms .Out going Chairman George Ryan is urging everyone to come along and especially parents and  members of both adults clubs Cortown & St Ultans to attend and get involved

Senior Citizens Party

Last Sunday Bohermeen community centre was packed for the most welcome party of the year .The occassion was the annual Senior citizens of the community Christmas get together.Held annually since the late 1960s ,unfortunately cancelled twice last year because of bad weather snow and ice. But of course icebergs and tornadoes couldn't stop this years party.
135 attended along with helpers and caterers the attendance swelled to close on 200.
The whold day was magic witht the christmas tree adding great flavour to the day music a few drinks and of course a beautifull meal brought christmas early to many.Stories are rekindled each year and some pass on sadly .Thanks to all the hard working committee led by the new Chairperson Jennifer Reilly who took over from the retiring Phill McDonnell who held the helm for many a year also retiring this year was Sean Reilly who stepped down as treasurer after many years minding the vault and he was replaced by Mary Ball but the unmentioned may take a bow .In every parish this party doseent take place .
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RIP
Sadly the day missed one of the past attendees as Mary Kate Vahey of Martry passed away at the weekend and many parties she attended with her late husband Joe .Mrs Vaheys funeral took place to Cortown church on sunday evening and was packed with family and friends .her funeral mass took place on monday in Cortown church and was buried in Martry cemetary afterwards..
Sympathy is extended to her family .





















































 

Thursday 24 November 2011

St Cuthberts GAA Presentation night

St Cuthberts GAA annual presentation night is on Friday December 22nd in Sean Newman park hall.
The various successfull teams will receive their reward for their team efforts,during the past year.
Special invited guests on the night are Meath senior team manager Seamus McEnaney and Kevin Reilly of Navan O,Mahonys and a regular on the Meath senior team .Kevin was also the only Meath player to play in the recent compromise rules series in Australia .Both are sure to inspire our young GAA stars of the future to keep up the good work..The presentation takes place sharp at 7-30pm all parents are asked to attend .

St Ultans Historical Society

Next meeting Dec 5th at 8pm in Bohermeen community centre open to all. hoped to have a guest speaker on the night .
Know your parish history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ardbrtower.jpg

Bohermeen Celtic Table Quiz

Date error the Bohermeen Cetic table quiz is on Wednesday December 28th .Time to relax with a pint after the turkey has been slain and eaten
Flowerhill Lodge more notice in the coming weeks

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Bohermeen Athletic Club AGM

Bohermeen A-C AGM

The clubs annual meeting takes place this friday Nov 25th in  the community centre at 8pm.
Present past and new memebrs are very welcome .
Ardbraccan Quarry Workers Approx 1930

St Ultans AGM

St Ultans GFC who I  believe are celebrating their 20 anniversary having been formed in 1991( to be corrected  ),will hold the annual general meeting on Sunday Dec 4th at 5pm in their clubhouse in Sean Newman park they invite present past and new members to get involved for the coming season.

Monday 21 November 2011

St Ultans Historical society launched

St Ultans Historical Society
Inc 
Bohermeen-Boyerstown-Cortown
The adopted name of the new parish history group has a strong alignment with the old St Ultans well Ardbraccan ,whoose history preceeds penal and pagan times

Bohermeen community centre was the venue for the launching of the new parish historical society on monday evening .With an attendance of 25 plus the meeting was given some advice  by Frances Tallon of the Meath Co Library in Navan about common goals and targets of some similiar groups.
The committee was elected from those present elected were Chairperson Willie Hodgins ,Secretary Tom Wall ,Treasurer Henry O,Callaghan all in attendance were deemed the active committee.
An annual membership fee of 10 Euro was set.The next meeting was set for monday december 5th at 8pm ,it is hoped to have an invited guest to speak at the next meeting .
New members are invited to join ,it is hoped long term to produce a history of the community and short term to display a photo history of the community .

Bohermeen Celtic hit Trim Town for 3

Bohermeen Celtic in Div 3a of the MDL had a great win at the weekend in their home ground at the bogside.
Managed by David Fay & Patrick Kavanagh comparable to Brian Clough & Peter Taylor .
Their win moves them up the table at a crucial time of the year ,their hits came from Kenny Smith twice and from Shane Gretan.Watch the Celtics in the coming week look in here to hear more .
Further report and team line out to follow

Sunday 20 November 2011

Monday evening in Bohermeen whats happening

WHAT YOU MAY ASK
PLENTY
Not like the dark old days of the 70s 60s and beyond ,when Telifis Eireann bad spelling  was king only Christy Brady had a tv on the Newline then
Monday evening in Bohermeen childrens athletics att the centre 6-30 till 7-30pm
7-30pm Adult running night all grades men and ladies turn off the tv and get to the community centre and prepare for the great Meath running challenges in 2012 from 5k to half marathon .Damien Hilliard ,Kevin McGeough and Stephen Ball will be there to help you along the Goal trail
Inside the community centre the Bowls club who celebrate 25 years in existance are always playing and invite new members .this monday Bohermeen history group meet and 8pm to elect and direct their new committee foward ..
Or chill out and relax only 6 or 7 mondays left till january
PS Bargins in Getchins stores Spuds 3-99 a bag

MONDAY MORNING

Did I  win the Blotto in Greetiagh funny spelling for something that sounds like GREEKAGH.
I won 2 euro in Newgate stores and saw a grey squirrel in Ardbraccan on the way home
He was worried he though my wife was driving
 

Saturday 19 November 2011

Bohermeen History Group Meeting Monday Nov 21st 8pm Community Centre


SOME LOCAL HISTORY TO GET STARTED
St. Ultan's Church, Ardbraccan - history
The Ecclesiastical Register of 1820, lists Ardbraccan as: "being a Rectory united to the Rectories of Liscartan, Rateyne, Churchtown, Clonmacduff and the Vicarage of Martry. The Parish contains one Church and a Glebe House with 33 acres of glebe land, the Incumbent being the Hon. and Reverend Henry Packenham." The 'Register' for 1830 mentions the same information but gives the Hon. and Reverend Packenham's date of admission to the Cure as 1818, the Patron of the Parish being the King.
Lewis lists Ardbraccan as once being the site of a monastic community founded by St. Braccan, who died in 650 CE. The monastery became the seat of a small Bishopric, until the twelfth century. Ardbraccan was united to the Sees of Clonard, Duleek, Kells, Trim, Dunshaughlin, Slane and fore, all of which, except Duleek and Kells, were consolidated at the Great Synod of Kells, held by Cardinal Paparo in 1152. The Sees of Duleek and Kells were afterwards annexed to the rest to create the newly established Diocese of Meath.
Lewis states: "The Living is a rectory in the Diocese of Meath, united by Act of Council in 1771, to the Rectories of Liscarton and Rataine, the Chapelry of Churchtown and the Vicarage of Martry, and by the same authority, in 1780, to the Rectory of Clonmacduff, which six parishes constitute the Union of Ardbraccan, in the Patronage of the Crown. The tithes amount to £433.16.10. the gross amount of tithes payable to the Incumbent is £820.15.5. The Church is a handsome edifice, erected in 1777, under the auspices of the late Bishop Maxwell. The Glebe House is situated about half a mile from the Church". Bishop Maxwell was also responsible for building the Bishop's Palace, 'one of the most elegant Ecclesiastical residences in Ireland'.
The Church, built in 1777, stands beside a large bell tower, part of the fifteenth century Church building. The tower is surmounted by an unusual slated spire, believed to be the only slated spire in the Country. Lewis describes the tower and spire thus: "a square tower with a spire and vane, forming a pleasing object." The Church itself is entered through a fine portico leading into a lofty entrance hall. A Vestry room on the left is matched on the right by a small room containing a staircase leading up to a large gallery and down to the crypt beneath the Church. The main Church itself is a large spacious building with a chancel at the east end. Its magnificence can be attributed to the fact that Ardbraccan Church adjoined the grounds of the Bishop's Palace. Its handsome and lavish furnishings were also indicators to the importance of this Church in the Diocese. The historic graveyard contains the graves of several Bishop's of Meath, including that of Bishop Montgomery, who died in London, on January 15th 1620.
Although a monastic site and a place of importance the village of Ardbraccan declined in population, and by the 1830's, only contained the Church, Palace and a few cottages. The parish school, beside the Church, was aided by a legacy of £500 left by Dr. Chetwood and Dr. Stearn, Bishop of Clogher left £30 per annum, for: "apprenticing the children of Protestant inhabitants of the diocese to Protestant Masters and Mistresses". Lewis notes that: "about thirty children were annually apprenticed from this fund." Although the Parish was in decline, the Ecclesiastical Commission, of 1868, mentions the fact that the Rector of Ardbraccan, J. Brownlow, was assisted by a Curate who received £80 per annum. The Commission also noted that there were 267 members of the Established Church resident in the Union of Ardbraccan.


I

Money in the Silver Tankard

A fundraiser took place in the Silver Tankard on friday Nov 18th in aid of the Senior Citizens christams party for our community ,which incidently takes place in the community centre on sunday november 27th.
The quiz itself  was compared by Martry man adopted from Cavan Michael Reilly a real living legend in local quiz folklore ,due to his faireness and equality of questions .He is right and thats that only joking .
Poorly supported only 8 teams but thoses who attended raised 500 plus euro .But those who came enjoyed the night and thanks to Marie and team for more lovely finger food.
Roll on next quiz
Welcome to the window of our community from the cows arse to the cows head.
News and items from our community from the nitty gritty to the tabkles of Dail stardon .
Anything goes in and out no bias or liable intended
Whats on where and when ,who,s doing what and who,s doing NATHING