Clean-up blitz in Oldcastle

Around 40 volunteers gathered at Primrose Lane in Oldcastle on Sunday 11th October to carry out a much-needed clean-up and repair blitz of the popular walking trail around the town.

The sunshine drew out the crowd and lifted spirits as participants from seven to 70 years of age cut back overgrown vegetation, filled potholes, removed litter, and cleaned signage. They repaired three benches made unusable after they were vandalised in August – an attack that remains under investigation by local gardaí.

The event was organised by Oldcastle Community Development Association and Oldcastle Tidy Towns supported by groups including Oldcastle Men’s Shed, and Oldcastle Gun Club with funding from Meath County Council and sponsorship from Prior McAllister Solicitors, Flood’s Butchers, and Meat at Emmet’s. Local welder Daragh Clogher volunteered his time to repair the benches’ metal frames.

The clean-up was part of Climate Action Week, a nationwide initiative supported by Meath County Council to involve communities in the protection of the environment.

Organisers took a circular approach to the event, choosing to repair the damaged benches with recycled plastic materials rather than replace them.

No pesticides were used in the control of vegetation.

Primrose Lane encourages active travel and provides a traffic-free walking trail within Oldcastle town, where residents can exercise and enjoy nature without having to drive to other walking tracks at sports grounds outside the town. It is also suitable for wheelchair users.

A constant stream of walkers congratulated volunteers during preparatory repair works and during Sunday’s clean-up. Volunteers gathered in Farrelly’s pub for well-deserved tea and sandwiches after the event and discussed plans to repeat the effort on a regular basis to maintain Primrose Lane and other outdoor locations in the best possible condition for the local community.