Navan's Walking Bus

Over 1450 pupils from 10 primary schools in Navan took part in a record breaking attempt last Monday 26th April 2010.
They now hold the Irish record for the longest"walking bus" in the country.
Some 1454 children from second up to sixth class departed from the Fair Green and made their way around the town to set the record for Ireland's  longest walking Bus measuring 216.8m.
The record attempt was part of Navan Town's Council's initiative to promote the town's bid in the Smarter Travel Competition. Navan has been shortlisted along with 10 other towns in the Department of Transports Smarter Travel Competition and has the chance to share €50m in funding over the next five years. An integral part of the town's bid is getting the local community involved and finding out their ideas on how the town should develope in terms of sustainable transport.
Schools participating in the envent were: St Oliver's NS, St Paul's NS, Scoil Mhuire, Gael Scoil Eanna, St Anne's Ns, St Joseph's NS, St Mary's Special School, Scoil Naomh Eoin and Navan Educate Together.

For video   CLICK HERE

.

Part of the crowd assembled on the Fair Green

Click photo to enlarge and once more for full screen.

Well done to all involved.

With The Boyne Through Trim

I don't know where Tommy Murray gets his energy he has managed to do it yet again.  Tommy has just published his twelfth book ( With The Boyne Through Trim ).

It's obvious that Tommy has a great love for his home town of Trim.  Tommy has well and truly put Trim on the map through his writings and dare a Navan man say it, I think the people of Trim should name their next street or perhaps housing estate after him.
I was thousands of miles away when Tommy launched his book and on my return the first batch were sold out so I had to wait a while but eventually got a copy.
In his book Tommy takes the reader on a nostalgic journey of the river Boyne from Stoneyford River to beyond Bective Abbey, a short journey one might say but one steeped in history.
Tommy's book is beautifully written and the imagery is somethingelse, ( there's nothing more miserable than a hen standing on one leg at the front door on a rainy day ), if I could, I'd give the hen a hug I thought as I read.
Thanks to Tommy a lot of Trim's recent history survives. Who for instance, especially amoung the younger generation would know that one of Trim's parish priest's was a part time farmer?.
After navigating the Boyne, Tommy then takes the reader on a ghost tour of the town, so if you'd like to know more about Trim get a copy of Tommy's book.

The book can be bought in Trim Post Office and in Antonia's Bookshop, Navan Gate, Trim, and in Trim Visitor Centre in Trim Town Hall.

MERMAIDS

I spied a pair of Mermaids

on the Costa Adeje.

So beautiful were they

I decided to take them away

to the Emerald Isle with me.

For all of you to see.

Michael " The Sheriff " Sheils

My New Cap

Tommy Murray has told the world

about my new cap

so I thought I'd show you

the real thing.

Click to enlarge

Michael " The Sheriff  " Sheils

STRANGE

Strange

Strange when you're young

you never think that your father

was once young like you.

Mine passed away a few years ago aged 92.

I was in a local store the other day browsing.

The store was full of mirrors

I happened to glance at one

and who did I see?

My father glancing back at me.

He was wearing a moustache.

I never knew him to wear a moustache

and yet it had already turned grey.

I hadn't noticed before.

He seemed a wee bit sad

I thought!

Perhaps it was the realisation

that he was getting on in years.

Then I heard a familiar voice from behind

it was my beloved wife Josephine.

Just then a smile broke out on my fathers face.

I recognised that smile

It was the smile he always had for my mother.

Strange!


Michael " The Sheriff " Sheils