Latest News in 2009

29th September
Table Quiz, Kirwan's, Kill

A fund raising quiz night was held in Kirwan’s Bar in Kill on September 29th.
Jim Cullinane was the quiz master with Ann O’ Meara and Breda Colfer kept a
close eye on the score board. Teams on the night were:

Team: The Pratt's	Team: The Beachcombers
Team: Copper Coast Hair & Beauty	Team: John Galloway representing the Copper Pennies

Copper Coast Geopark would like to thank all those who took part and the main
sponsors:
- Dawn Meats of Carroll’s Cross,
- SCG Dungarvan
- Kirwan’s Bar, Kill.

Quiz nights will continue to be held in other venues along the Copper Coast
Geopark. Keep an eye out for one in an area close to you. Information from
office (Paula, 051-292828) or this website.

4th - 7th September
Bunmahon visits Strohn

Early September, a group of 12 from Bunmahon visited their twin village Strohn
in the Vulkaneifel Geopark Germany. They stayed with host families. During
their visit they attended the “Backfest”, (baking festival) which is held in the
village every second year, and took part in all the celebrations. They visited
the city of Trier, the oldest city in Germany. It is now five years since the
villages were officially twinned and since then many people from Strohn have
visited Bonmahon, including a group of children from their school. The bond
of friendship which was formed then has strengthened and grown like the tree
which was planted in Bonmahon to commemorate the signing of the twinning
agreement in 2004.

Twinning groups from Strohn and Bunmahon together in Strohn during the Backfest

2nd & 3rd August
2nd Flower Show

The 2nd Annual flower show, held in Monksland centre on the 2nd & 3rd of
August, was yet again a great success. The amount of entries was up
on last year. This years new Children’s category of Geopark Art was well
responded too. The Geopark theme Cake was a close call for the Judge as
two excellent cakes were entered.

Clare Meskill was the winner with her Monksland Cake.

The Anne Frisby Perpetual Sliver Cup for Rose of the show went to Clonmel
again, this year winner Maura McCarthy was delighted and set a challenge for
next year as she hope to retain the title.

Other Winners included:
Rena Foley for her Light Fruit Cake
Kathleen Power: White Soda Bread
Bridie Hatton: Perennials
Clare Meskill: Chocolate Cake
My Favourite Fairy Tale was won by Emer Meskill for her detailed description
of ‘Goldilocks and the three Bears’

Other winners were Liam Óg Corbett & Darragh McKeon with their “Jar of
wild flowers”.

The imaginations were flying for the categories of “Animal made from vegetable,
fruit and /or garden plant material”. The winner in this category was Victoria
Hammersley with her Dinosaur.

Vegetable Class winners were Pat Foley, Stephen Hatton, Ellis Wilkins and
Christy Crotty.

Herbs winner was Orlaith Hammersley.

The Display in Kitchen Utensil Class was won by Carol-Ann Wilkins.

8th July
Quiz Night in Hayes Bar

A great night was had by all who attended the Monksland Centre
Building Fund, Quiz Night held in Hayes Bar, Bunmahon in July. 12 teams
took part in the quiz that consisted of a very good range of questions.

Jim Cullinane was the quizmaster for the night and took to the roll very
professionally. Flahavan’s of Kilmacthomas donated a large hamper of their
quality products that was 1st prize in the raffle held on the night.
The Coast Takeaway and Bía Deli Bunmahon also donated prizes. Bruce
MacDonald donated a lovely hand carved Bread Board, which was also raffled.

Team: Damien's Divas	Team: Brain Powers
Team: Buddy's Better Halves	Team: Hayes Hopefuls

The amount raised was €462 that will go towards the refurbishment of the old
church. Copper Coast Geopark would like to thank all those who took part,
bought raffle tickets, Richie and staff at Hayes and all those who helped in the
organisation of this event. We look forward to seeing you all at the next quiz
night.

3rd June
Bunmahon Beach regains Blue Flag

See details on An Taisce website.

Bunmahon Beach in the summer

23rd May - 6th June European Geoparks Week See details of the special on week on the dedicated page of this website.

20th May
Italian Students visit the Copper Coast
Geopark

In May of this year contact was made with the manager of Copper Coast
Geopark by Academia Britannica, an Italian company, who is running a
summer camp in Waterford for the summers 2009 and 2010 for 600 Italian
students over 8 weeks (average 150 students every 2 weeks) from the
30th of June to the 24th of August.

Copper Coast Geopark and Waterford Institute of Technology worked
together in the coordinating of the students visit to the area by providing
guided tours of the Copper Coast Geopark. The students visited areas of
interest such as Fenor Bog, Kilfarrasy beach, Dunhill Castle, Tankardstown
Engine House and the Geological Garden in Bunmahon.

Italian Students visit Tankardstown	Italian Students visit Fenor bog

At each location they were led around the area by our trained guides who were
able to let them know the history of the area and able to answer any questions.
The WIT bus drivers were delighted to be showing off this unspoiled area of
County Waterford.

17th-24th May
Bealtaine Festival of Outdoor Science

Each year, Bealtaine Festival of Outdoor science is organised by CALMAST
(Centre for Advance Learning of Maths, Science and Technology) in Waterford
Institute of Technology to celebrate our Living Earth with events aimed at primary
and secondary school and the general public.

The Copper Coast Geopark took part in the festival with the following:
- visit of Fenor Bog with Alan Walsh (19th May, primary school)
- guided walk of Bunmahon, stage cove and Knockmahon beach with Sean
O'Connor (20th May, general public)
- guided walk of Annestown Beach with Kathryn Curran (21st May, general public)
- visit of Kilfarrasy beach with Sophie Preteseille (21st May, primary school)
- visit of Ballydwane beach with Tina Keating (22nd May, secondary school)
- making of a giant beach mosaic on Annestown Beach with Sinead Driver &
Tina Keating (23rd May, families)

Primary school visiting Kilfarrasy Strand

1st May
"The conservatory"

Run by Cherill at Radharc Alainn, "The Conservatory" opened to visitors in Ballydwane for freshly brewed tea and coffee served with delicious baked cakes. Coming from Bunmahon, take the turn to Ballydwane Beach, Radharc Alainn is located just before the turn to the beach.

11th & 19th April
The Copper Coast on YouTube

George Munday, who runs the Copper Coast Workshops (Digital Photography)
was the first one to open the trail, please see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLy-0Cwz1xA

Soon followed by Bruce MacDonald, local resident and guide with the Geopark,
introducing the Copper Mines at Tankardstown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzD8DMXsJKI

Easter week end
Art Exhibition

An art exhibition gathering paintings, photos and sculptures from local artists
was on display in Monskland Centre over the Easter Week End.

The Art Exhibition in Monksland Centre (photos Richard Cutbill)

17th March
Twinning

The village of Bunmahon, the centre of the Copper Coast European Geopark, is
twinned with the village of Strohn, located in the Vulkaneifel Geopark, situated
in the Eifel region of Germany.

Last week a small group of people form Strohn enjoyed a short stay in
Bunmahon and Boatstrand to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. They went to the
Waterford parade and enjoyed it enormously. The local pubs were visited
where a few pints of Guinness were well received. Johnny Murray gave our
visitors guided tours of areas such as Mount Congreve Gardens and other
areas of interests.

Our friends from Strohn visit Monksland Centre in Bunmahon

r

Karla and Ger Barron

During their visit we invited them to lunch in the Monksland centre; they were the first group to have a meal in the centre. Here they were received by Councilor Ger Barron. Councilor Barron himself has been to visit Strohn and was delighted to be part of the Twinning. Our Twinning friends were very impressed with future plans for the Monksland Centre and look forward to other Twinning events there. An early start for their journey back meant an early last night on the Copper Coast, but we still had time to enjoy a few pints at Hayes Bar, this marked the end to another friendly Twinning event.

Irmtraud, Erwin, Karla, Ingrid and Donald all got home safely and brought our
warmest best wishes back to all our other friends in Strohn.

8th March
Grow your own

A group of about thirty like minded people gathered in Monksland centre on a
Sunday afternoon to pick up some hints and tips on Growing your own
vegetables and herbs as well as planting up hanging baskets and flower beds.

Local horticulturist Ray Power gave a demo and answered questions on
growing, preparing and best variety’s to use. Advice came enthusiastically from
the knowledgeable gardeners in the group; amongst the group were some of
last year’s winners of the Copper Coast Geopark s Annual Flower show held
August bank holiday. It proved to be a popular, enjoyable and topical subject,
one that could develop in a network of local growers.

Anyone interested please contact Paula at the Copper Coast Geopark office.

Waterford Food Producer’s Network (WFPN) meet in the City Library in Lady
Lane every last Wed of the month, visit www.wfpn.net   

February
Temporary windows at Monksland Centre

The Monksland Church of Ireland in Knockmahon was purchased by Copper
Coast Geopark in early 2008, before this it had been lying neglected and
unloved for so many years, that it has been in real danger of falling down.
But now this lovely old landmark is now being conserved and renovated to
act in its new dual role as a centre for the local community and the Geopark.

So far, the roof has been restored, the vestry restored and an electricity
supply installed as well as connection to water and sewerage services.
A new floor was laid making the building more useable.

As a temporary measure, small recycled windows were installed into the
blocked up window frames to let in some natural light and heat. These
windows were kindly donated by Bridget Ng of Copper Coast Hair & Beauty,
Benvoy, Co. Waterford.

Temporary windows installed at Monksland Centre

Future plans to replicate the original windows will cost about €40,000 and
funds will need to be raised in order to do so.

14th January
Tourism Product Identification workshop
with CHL Consulting Group

Fáilte Ireland, the Geological Survey of Ireland and Copper Coast Geopark Ltd.
commissioned CHL Consulting Group to conduct a tourism product
identification study with the aim of identifying a financially sustainable
tourism product for the Copper Coast Geopark.

A workshop was organised by CHL in Monksland to meet with all
the representatives of all the communities along the Copper Coast as well as
Fáilte Ireland and GSI to brainstorm about the assets and potential of the area.