Better Ballymun Day 25

Well over a thousand men, women and children of all ages donned the the marigolds and grabbed wheelbarrows packed with plants and trees, as well as sweeping brushes, spades, hoes and large refuse bags to clean up their town on the Better Ballymun Day on Friday, March 14.  

With the weather staying cold but dry, the action began with a few rousing tunes from the Trinity Comprehensive School band at 9am.

The school’s sports hall would act as event HQ for the day.

For the next four or five hours, flower beds were dug and cleared, weeds and litter cleaned away, neglected bollards painted, and murals painted and touched up.    

On offer to all was a free bicycle service from the Rediscovery Centre while baked goodies were distributed to keep everyone’s energy high.  

Youngsters from the local primary schools also joined in the fun, helped by older students.

In Trinity Comp, they were introduced to Paula the Battery Hen, who they freed from her cage to join the fifteen rescued hens kept at the school.

In Poppintree Park, the older students guided them around a basic orienteering course, while nearby, they helped dig a wild life pond.   

In the Trinity Comp garden, the gardeners of the future were introduced to aromatic plants such as lavender and mint.  

Among the distinguished visitors to Better Ballymun Day were local politicians, and rugby pundit Brent Pope, who was representing his charity the Elephant in the Room.   

Towards the end of the morning, an Air Corps helicopter whirred in to say hello and all were invited to look around it and have a peep at the cockpit.   

It was a fitting end to a brilliant morning!