Headford News and Community Spotlight - Communism in Headford

Ecologist, Janice Fuller, will be speaking about 'Managing Our Hedgerows' at Anglers Rest on Wednesday, 16 April 2014 at 8 pm. Admission is free, so come along and learn what you can do to help improve Headford's bio-diversity. If you'd like to know more about what Janet does, check out this article about her from the Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/the-ecologist-who-gets-locals-to-say-yes-to-biodiversity-1.1588639 

Green Sod Land Trust wants to remind us that Tuesday, April 22nd is Earth Day. They are having 'Wild Awake' Walks. These are guided walks over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate biodiversity. They include guided walks through castle grounds, along rivers, sea shores, mountains and cityscapes--everywhere nature can be celebrated. The walks take place April 19th through the 22nd and you can register and donate here:  http://contact.greensodireland.ie/fundraising 
and read full programme details here: http://www.greensodireland.ie/wildawake-walk-where-you-are.php?--=5

Green Sod's purpose is to save this land for present and future generations. In holding land in trust, we acknowledge and respect it for its own sake, thus protecting its indigenous life from destruction.


COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT 

Communism-The People's garden party-is alive and well in Headford.

Now, before you get nervous, ask yourself, Do I know what Communism really is? For those who aren’t one hundred percent sure, Communism is a system structured upon common ownership of a means of production.

So, what, you may ask, is our communist means of production in Headford? Why, the Headford Community Garden, of course.

Thanks to Louise Morrow and Kathleen McMahon, you can get a big, fat dose of communal horticultural therapy right here in Headford for just €10 a year. That €10 investment (which goes to cover public liability insurance), can help you grow your own dinner, make friends, swap harvests with other gardeners, store your personal gardening equipment in a locked shed, or just sit on a bench and listen to the wind chime while you watch others pull weeds. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, that €10, and a little elbow grease, can go a long way to putting food (and flowers) on your family’s table.

One year ago this week, this Community Garden was born when Kathleen and Louise were inspired by the Headford Environmental Group Bio-Diversity Scheme.

‘We found out that community land was available,’ Louise says.

‘And the Kilmaine Community Garden helped us organise,’ Kathleen adds.

The Headford group meets Mondays at 10:30 am, Thursdays at 7:00 pm and Saturdays at 11:00 am, but the garden is open all the time and gardeners are welcome. You can contribute to the larger space or have a personal space. Everyone pitches in and all supplies, from boards to build the raised beds to bags of soil and bulbs, to seeds and seedlings are donated by members. Even the fence was put up, ‘out of community spirit,’ the ladies tell me.

Both Kathleen, who says she’s grown roots in Headford literally, as well as figuratively, and Louise, who’s been an avid gardener for over ten years, have big goals in mind. ‘We want to provide a space that the entire community can enjoy,’ Louise says, ‘so new members are welcome.’

‘There are a lot of wonderful, interesting people involved in this,’ Kathleen says, ‘a great social aspect.’ It’s clear, there’s loads of help and inspiration available here. The ladies even want to involve schools so that kids can learn where food actually comes from.

‘We’ll be having get-togethers for holidays,’ Kathleen tells me. Those will include the upcoming Easter egg hunt at 2:00 pm on the 19^th of April, as well as a Summer Solstice gathering, a market stall at Headfest, and a Harvest Festival.

The crops grown at the Headford Community Garden include strawberries, leeks, parsnips, French beans, runner beans, peas, pumpkins, lettuces, beetroot, kale, cabbage and brussel sprouts. In addition, there will be three double-height raised beds, including one to attract butterflies and bees, and a sensory garden with herbs for scent and touch.

When I ask if the garden is organic, the ladies tell me that they encourage people to leave their chemicals at home, but the garden itself is not 100% organic. For instance, corn seeds are always genetically modified.

And if the cheap food and social aspect of a community garden aren’t enough for you, then consider this: According to the Daily Mail, ‘Gardening is Healthy!’ That’s right. Researchers have now proven that pulling up weeds, planting seeds or seedlings, smelling roses, and pretty much any gardening activity can lower blood pressure, increase brain activity and produce a general optimistic feeling.

During World Wars I and II, victory gardens were a part of daily life on the home front. Why? Because they were considered a civil ‘morale booster.’ Gardeners felt empowered by their contribution of labour and rewarded by the produce grown.

Anyone who’s plunged their hands in the dirt to plant a tiny pansy from Tesco, or yanked out weeds ‘til their back ached, knows the joy of helping to coax life from the earth. Now there's proof. The Daily Mail article mentioned above cites a study reported in the Journal of Environment Psychology. Researchers took 112 stressed-out adults and split them into two groups. The first group sat in a room with a view of trees and then strolled through a garden. The second group sat in a windowless room and then walked in an urban environment. The group that relaxed in the garden showed decreases in blood pressure and a positive change in feelings. Researcher. Dr. Terry Hartig, from the University of California in Irvine, said: ‘Some of the changes could be measured within minutes.’

When I ask if people wanting to participate in the Headford Community Garden need to have experience or plant knowledge, Louise gives a negative shake of the head and flashes her perpetual smile. Kathleen answers with the quiet calm of a Buddhist monk who’s spent a lifetime raking sand. ‘You don’t need to be a gardener,’ she says. ‘New members, new participants, are always welcome.’

The garden is located next to the Headford Mart. After you turn left into the Mart, take the road that forks to the right and follow it until you see the raised beds and polytunnel. If you’re interested in joining the Headford Community Garden or finding out more, contact Louise at: 086.0849863.

And if you feel like you need a few gardening tips so you can use a space allotment efficiently, here’s a short programme to help you get started:

Headford News and Community Spotlight - Between the Covers

May 17th will be IDAHOT Day, so wave a rainbow flag. That's the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. It's recognised in over sixty countries around the world. The reason it takes place on May 17th is because that's the day (in 1990) when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

The main purpose of the May 17 mobilisations is to raise awareness of violence, discrimination and repression of LGBT communities worldwide, which in turn provides an opportunity to take action and engage in dialogue with the media, policymakers, public opinion, and wider civil society. This event does not require any specific type of action, just global awareness. This decentralized approach is suitable due to the diversity of social, religious, cultural and political contexts in which rights violations occur.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT 

Between the Covers

It’s a beautiful, sunny day, and Edel Talbot is spending it inside the Headford Library. That’s because it’s her job. As Headford’s librarian, she drives all the way from Oranmore to keep us in books. And she’s proud of her small literary dominion.

“We have a new scanner and copier,” she says, showing me the countless options on the machine. Recently, this library became computerized, so now Edel can access memberships and book due dates as quickly and efficiently as they can in the bigger libraries in the city.

On this Tuesday afternoon, the Headford Library is surprisingly busy. In the span of ten minutes, the patrons include an overprotective mom with three children, a Presentation student who uses one of the computers to research a project, an elderly gentleman, three more people with two children, and a desperate-looking woman asking for the loo key.

Edel tells me the library loans, on average, 300 books a week. Even at the limit of four books per adult and six for children, that represents a lot of visitors. Clearly, Headford area residents like their books.

Edel Talbot, Headford's Librarian

‘We have two book clubs,’ Edel says. One is a group of ten to twelve year olds who meet one Saturday a month. The other is a book club for adults that meets the first Wednesday of each month. Everyone in the group reads the same book and then discusses whether or not they liked it, what they thought of the characters, what personal experiences they may have had in their own lives that are like the story, and other points of interest.

Every summer, there’s a ‘Reading Challenge’ programme to encourage young people aged five to thirteen to continue reading while they’re on holiday from school. ‘We usually have good participation,’ Edel says.

In this tiny library, ‘children are seldom quiet,’ Edel says. One borrower describes that fact as ‘frustrating.’ Another person tells me the behaviour of ‘bold’ children in this confined space is ‘maddening.’ But Edel points out, ‘The library belongs to the people of Headford.’ Though she admits, it ‘needs to be in a larger space.’ She says many libraries are venues for craft lessons, language lessons, local meetings, but the Headford space is too small to accommodate such things. Although, in the past, there have been readings and lectures inside the library after hours.

Edel says she likes working with books. ‘I’ve always been a reader and encouraged my own children to read and to use the library as they were growing up. I always felt at home in libraries.’ And this one does feel ‘homey.’ That might be due, in part, to the fact that it’s about the size of most people’s sitting rooms. The shelves are completely full, with more books stacked in boxes, on a cart, and leaning precariously at the edge of Edel’s desk. This prompts me to ask her if the library will go digital soon, as many have in other countries, or if e-book licensing is being considered. But she’s not heard of any such plans.

One of the great things about the Headford Library is that it’s part of the Galway system, so the card catalogue is accessible online at: http://www.galway.ie/en/services/library/ Books can be found and reserved from home.

Edel would also like to make sure that everyone knows about the excellent resources available for genealogy research through the Galway library site. ‘So many people come in asking about tracing their roots.’ They come into the library when they’re on holiday, looking to find out about ancestors who might have lived in the Headford area. ‘But there used to be mostly businesses in Headford,’ Edel says. Most families lived outside the village. ‘People need to do some research before they come,’ she says.

If you’re interested in doing genealogy research, the site to visit is:

http://www.galway.ie/en/Services/Library/LibrariesForms/FilesTable/TheFile,10260,en.pdf

Alternatively, you can visit the Galway library site: http://www.galway.ie/en/services/library/, click on ‘Local History,’ then ‘Research Guide’ and follow the link. There you will find nine pages of information on ‘Family History and Genealogy.’ Specific resources are listed including the census returns, primary valuation, land records, newspapers, etc.

This year, the Headford Library turns ten years old, which means Edel has assisted and encouraged a whole generation of readers. And if the traffic in and out of the place is any indication, Edel and the library will be around for a long time to come.

Headford Library Opening Hours:

Tuesday 2:30-5 & 6-8

Wednesday 11:30-1:30

Thursday 2:30-7:00

Friday 11:30-1:30 & 2:30-5:00

Saturday 11:30-3:00 (closed on Saturdays that precede Bank Holiday Mondays)

Headford News and Community Spotlight - Feeling Better

Good news! The date has been set for Headfest 2014. Our community festival will take place this year from Friday August 22nd to Sunday August 24th. The event is in the early planning stages so anyone who'd like to be involved in any way is encouraged to attend the next meeting at Cloughanover on Wednesday, 30th April at 9 pm. If you'd like to send an email, the address is headfest@gmail.com. Show the Love(fest), Headford! 


COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT  

Feeling Better 
Anyone who’s walked into Flanagan’s Pharmacy has probably noticed the dark-haired, soft-spoken man behind the high counter. If you’ve been in there, you may be sure he’s noticed you. For over ten years, Jarlath Phillips has been one of Headford’s community pharmacists. Back in 2003, he bought the pharmacy, and then the building. The Health Shop next door used to be the Mayo Bar, but now sells everything from tinned beans to scented soap.

When I ask Jarlath why he became a pharmacist, he says he always liked science, but he also likes meeting people. ‘I enjoy the interaction,’ he says. ‘I’m definitely not a lab or hospital type person. This [pharmacy] was a more appealing route.’

Back when Jarlath decided to become a pharmacist, he had to go out of the country to study. ‘Because,’ he says, ‘back then it was Trinity or die.’ And there weren’t very many available openings at Trinity, so after studying science at NUIG, he went to Liverpool to get his pharmacy degree. Now, there are three colleges in this country where those who want to can get pharmacy degrees. 

His early career was spent in the U.K. too. ‘I liked the unique situations,’ he says. In seven years there, he saw some drug abuse issues, but also did some compounding against prescriptions, as well as monitoring medications, counselling customers on drug use, and the usual duties of a pharmacist.

Jarlath Phillips of Flanagan's Pharmacy

The toughest thing about his job here is that pharmacy is ‘a very regulated sector,’ especially since 2007. Most of us remember the heated debates that hit the news seven years ago when everything changed in the Irish pharmaceutical world. According to the Pharmaceutical periodical, Counter Intelligence, ‘The Pharmacy Act of 2007 signalled a new era for Irish pharmacy. Up to this point, pharmacy in Ireland was governed by a variety of acts and regulations dating from 1875. The 2007 Act became the one document governing the profession.’ And with it came a lot of time-consuming criteria that has to be met. ‘It involves a lot of box-ticking,’ Jarlath says, ‘and working evenings and weekends, coming in early, staying late.’ It also involves keeping books scrupulously up-to-date with revenue.

Jarlath says, in his line of work, ‘sometimes you just have to be a listening ear for somebody, maybe after a bereavement or a personal tragedy.’ Yet, at the same time, he confides that trying to spend time with everyone is one of the most challenging aspects of his job. He also sees himself as the middle man, so to speak, between the patient and their G.P. ‘When you know the patient,’ he says, ‘the G.P. is the point of contact. In that case, I might be the bridge between the two.'

As a pharmacist, Jarlath seems keenly observant, intuitive almost. He admits he notices physical things, behaviour, and of course he’s aware of prescriptions and watchful for reactions. ‘Sometimes, you just know what’s going on,’ he says. If he knows someone’s personal situation, and is aware they are in trouble, he might discuss different non-drug related treatment options with their G.P. The personal attention he gives is far from the anonymous dispensing of drugs that would happen in a large city. ‘That’s the luxury of being a small town pharmacist,’ he says.

Although, coming to work on a Sunday doesn’t seem like much of a ‘luxury.’ Flanagan’s alternates with Ryder’s Pharmacy so that one or the other of them is open each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s important, Jarlath says because, ‘Often, on the weekends, you might be the only point of contact for somebody.’

Pharmacy has become a family affair for Jarlath, who met his wife, Clodagh, in college. Clodagh works at their other shop, Flanagan’s on Shop Street in Galway. They now have one son and two daughters and swap working every other Saturday so they can each spend time with the kids.

When I ask Jarlath if there’s anything he’d like people to know, he says, ‘If someone wants to talk to me and I’m busy, they should always try to ring back later.'

‘So, do you ever get time off?’ I ask.

He flashes a shy smile and nods. When he responds it’s in that same, subdued voice he uses with customers. ‘When you help people out, it’s rewarding. You feel better going home.'