Ballycoog PURE Mile 2016

Litter Picking

Over 100 bags were collected over a 6 month period from the roadsides of the Mile. These were carried out by Committee members, schoolchildren and local volunteers. Bags were collected by PURE.

St. Kevin’s Church

The church celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2016. A book was published chronicling its history with the launch held in the Woodenbridge Hotel. Many fundraising events were held to repair damp patches, replacing of some stained glass and also the painting of both the inner and outer of the church.

The grotto area has also been improved greatly with the planting of flowers and frequent weeding.

As part of the church celebrations, there was a mass to celebrate all couples who were married there over the years and were all invited to attend. One of the couples planted a tree in the grotto area to commemorate this occasion. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin also planted a tree in the old graveyard.

Before and after improvements

Tree Planting

Archbishop of Dublin planting tree

Road Sign Area

A stone wall was built in keeping with the theme of the walls in the area. Plants and flowers were also planted to keep the focus from the bottle bins nearby.

New stone wall with flowerbeds

Church Carpark

Ongoing maintenance of this area is being carried out on a regular basis. Planting of heathers along the ditch of the old graveyard has improved this area somewhat. Plans are also being made to restore the old mass path which was used by the people of Monteigue to travel to mass.

Maintenance of carpark

Local School

The children have started work on their 3rd Green Flag which is Travel. One of their projects was to organise a ‘Walk to School Morning.’ Some of the local children who live nearby are now walking to school when the weather permits.

The butterfly garden in the school is performing well and the children are noting the amount of bees and butterflies that are attracted to their site.