A PARK - for All Ages

The other day, finding ourselves with time on our hands, we visited the newly opened park at Dún na Sí - The Heritage Centre and Amenity Park, Moate, Co. Westmeath.

It is a place where the fabulous sculptures and art pieces by our friend, community artist, Patsy Preston in conjunction with local Third Year students and their teacher James Hatton, have uniquely decorated a wonderful local amenity.

The sculptor Ann Meldon Hugh designed the impressive bronze and stainless steel statue of Grainne Óg which stands on a mound near the entrance and welcomes visitors. 

Despite some light rain we spent hours wandering the paths, discovering art and learning about turloughs and wildlife.

When summer arrives next year we hope to visit again when the 

fairy thorns will be covered in blossom and the bare earth will be green and lush.

Patsy Preston

Grainne Óg

The Triskle - a place for any age!

The Centre Piece of the Triskle

 At the edge of the turlough is an ornate observation screen

from which the bird life can be seen through viewing ports

of various heights and sizes.

One of the side screens.

A Turlough: is a vanishing lake that fills up in Winter

and then disappears over a few days or weeks in the Springtime.

Over the Summer, there remains only a small permanent wetland

and the rest of the lakes basin is grassland. The name 'turlough' comes

from the Irish 'tur loch' meaning 'dry lake'

I could not resist the Heron!

The black pole is an exercise toy

for aged people.

These plaques were made by the third level students, depicting various legends and myths,

Every bench end had a completely different

design on them and they are very attractive. 

(Would make an interesting feature in my 

front garden!)

A butterfly has landed!