Trevor Sargent TD

INTERESTED IN GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD IN SWORDS?

Inaugural Swords GIY Meeting on Thursday 10^th December in Scoil an Duinnínigh, Feltrim Road

The Grow It Yourself movement comes to Swords! GIY networks aim to take the ‘self’ out of ‘self-sufficiency’ by getting back-garden growers together on a regular basis to talk, learn from each other and exchange tips. The meetings are free and open to people interested in growing at all levels, i.e. from growing a few herbs on a balcony to complete self-sufficiency, from beginners to old hands. Hundreds of people are involved in existing GIY groups around Ireland. Last week, for example, 60 people attended a very successful launch of GIY Balbriggan.

The first such meeting in Swords will be on Thursday 10^th December in Scoil an Duinnínigh, Feltrim Road. Food & Horticulture Minister Trevor Sargent will be in attendance as well as Michael Kelly founder of the ‘Grow it Yourself’ movement and local man Mick Kelly who will be facilitating the meeting.

All of those interested are welcome to come along to Scoil an Duinnínigh on the Feltrim Road, opposite The Kinsealy Inn, at 7pm.

The weather in Swords at times I was doing my rounds with Ken, Etáin, Ciarán, Don and Paul was cold but dry with clear skies on the last weekend of November 2009. In spite of economic pressures, I have insisted in Government that the Metro plans to serve Swords via Dublin Airport remain on track. There are strong economic, social and environmental reasons to put this infrastucture in place as early as possible. The unfounded rumours forecasting no Metro  have to be scotched. This was a key reason to go door to door apart from the enjoyment of meeting people and stretching the legs.

I also wanted to tell the people of Swords about the new Grow It Yourself Swords group being established on Thursday next 10th December at 7pm in Scoil an Duinnínigh, opposite the Kinsealy Inn. The main driver behind this is local man Mick Kelly at giyswords@gmail.com or phone 086-8401456. Thank goodness for people like Mick who are prepared to help our communities become empowered and more self-reliant. I’m looking forward to seeing a good attendance.  The GIY Balbriggan organized by Sean Corrigan was packed out.

Met other local heroes too. Joan Hunt in the St. Columba’s area was recognised as Citizen of the Year by Fingal County Council for her Trojan work as a Tidy Town activist. There we met her again in her garden, hedge clippers in hand. Likewise in Park View, Fergus Hoare, the Chairperson of the Residents’ Association outlined the range of activities going on. Some needing help like Neighbourhood Watch, others are already sorted like the Santa Party!

A request from Abbeyvale householders for a hedge overgrowing a footpath to be cut back was passed to the Council who responded within a couple of days, fair play to Fingal County Council.

The main concern of people in Abbeyvale was education and the concerns of young people. Last week in Leinster House, I had met with Mr. Paul Rowe, CEO of Educate Together and his colleagues to discuss the merits of establishing secondary schools under ‘educate together’ patronage. The Green Party Education Spokesperson, Paul Gogarty TD and myself are very supportive of this proposal in Government. Coincidentally, a householder in Abbeyvale raised the need for an Educate Together Secondary School in the area last weekend also. This will add some leverage to the Green Party’s campaign to have such a school established as a matter of urgency.

Extra-curricular activities such as karate and a whole range of activities which could take place at a new Brackenstown Community Centre also came up in conversation. I’ll write  again to the County Manager to give the plans for a community centre here an extra push. I found many community minded people living in the Berwick, Park View, Abbeyvale and St Columba’s areas. One person wanted the footpath towards Swords village down to St Cronan’s Nation School relaid. The tarmac is uneven and floods, or ‘ponds’ as they say in the Council. This lady said it was like ‘Beirut’. I have not yet visited Beirut so I’ll have to take her word for it! Whatever the case I’ll add my voice to her call on the Council for a properly lit new path, by way of another letter to the Roads Department in the Council.

The call for a ’No Shooting the Wildlife’ sign at the Broadmeadow Estuary has to be pursued nationally with the Parks and Wildlife Service. In contrast to pleas to fix the economy and provide lots of jobs locally, the call for a public sign should be relatively easy to sort. (Famous last words!)

The loss of employment in so many households is heart rending as I make my rounds. My main way of helping is to help provide information about companies, some of which are expanding, believe it or not!  Dublin Aerospace is providing ex-SRT workers and apprentices with some hope that their skills may earn them a living again, for example. I have been speaking with Fás, with Teagasc and plan to speak again with the County Enterprise Board about providing training and new activities which hopefully will lead to job creation. Some people are saying to me ’a drop in pay is better than no pay’, ‘half a job is better than none’ and ‘ to be busy and meeting people is better than being at home all the time’. This can often depend on the mortgage repayments, I realise! The Money Advice Budgeting service provides valuable help too at times like this.

For those who find themselves with too much time and not much  money, ways to save money and keep the mind and body active are important. This is one of many reasons I believe the Grow It Yourself movement is proving so popular. It is worth taking a look at www.giyireland.com or www.trevorskitchengarden.ie before rushing out to dig up the garden or before planting up containers of soil on the balcony. One way or another, I hope to see you at Mick Kelly’s GIY Swords meeting in Scoil an Duinnínigh at 7pm next Thursday the 10th December 2009, opposite the Kinsealy Inn.