Our village (2002-03)

We were honoured by a visit from The President of Ireland . Stradbally won the gold medal in the Entente Florale and a plaque was unveiled marking this achievement. We hope you enjoy looking at these photos , taken on the day . The weather was heavenly and Stradbally was glorious . It is a day none of us will forget . A living moment from the history of our village.

Gizzmo and Ninja wrote about The Presidential Visit;
Mary McAleese was born on 27 June 1951
She was the First Irish President from Northern Ireland.
She became President on 11 November 1997 Her philosophy is 'building bridges between communities.
She was a barrister before becoming President of Ireland
Cónaíonn uachtarán na hÉireann in Áras na Uachtaráin I mBaile Átha Cliath
She visited Stradbally to commemorate Stradbally winning the Gold Medal in the European Competition - Entente Florale last year.
Her husband Martin was with her.
We both shook the hand of our President and got our photo taken with her.
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Share The Feeling- Special Olympics 2003

Our Village has already run some very successful fund-raisers for our own local athletes and now we will join with Dungarvan ( host town ) to welcome Athletes from………

The Bahamas

The team, their coaches and families will be in town from 16-20 June to relax and soak up the atmosphere. There will be a special ceremony on 19 June 2003 when the torch will be passing through Dungarvan. We have accepted an invitation to form part of a guard of honour for the athletes who will carry the torch through the town. One of our pupils will also run the one and a half kilometres with the Torch Party. We are grateful for this honour and again another moment in living history Location
TheBahamas is situated in the Caribbean. The country itself is a chain of islands., in the North Atlantic. It is just south east of Florida. Some of the islands are Abaco, Grand Bahama, New Providence, Andros, Cat Island, Rum City, Crooked Island, Little Inagua and Great Exuma.
Look in your atlas to find even more!!

Area and Land
The country is 13,940 km sq. including water. 10,070 km sq. is land.The coastline is 3,542 km long.

Climate and Terrain
The Bahamian’s climate is Tropical Marine.It’s terrain is long flat corals and low hills. Their resources are salt, timber and aragonite.

Economy
The Bahamas are a stable developing set of islands. Their economy is based on tourists and off-shore banking.The unemployment rate was 13.9% 1993. The budget revenue is nearly 700 million dollars. The exports are 270 dollars.
Pharmseuticals, cement, rum, crawfish and refined oil products.
They export to USA 51% UK 7% Norway 7% France 6% and Italy 5 %

Imports
The Bahamas import 1.15 billion dollars worth of materials – Electronics, vehicles, crude oil and manufactured goods.

They spend 455 Dollars on weaponery!

Land Use Meadow 0%
Arable 1%
Crops 0%
Forest 32%
Other 64%

Environment
Reef decay
Hurricanes
Tropical Storms
Flood and wind damage

Hazards
Ship Pollution
Nuclear Ban
Ozone
Endangered Species
Biodiversity

Bahamas Ethnic Divisions Black 85%
White 15%

Religions Baptist 32%
Anglican 20 %
Roman Catholic 19%
Methodist 6%
Church of God 6%
Protestant 12 %

Languages English and Creole

Literacy
90% of population can read. 90% men and 89% women can read.

Occupation
Government Jobs 30%
Hotels and Resraurants 25%
Business Services 10%
List researched 1989

Drugs
Cocaine and Marijuana Age and Population

In 1995 the population was 256,616.
0-14 Years 28 % of population
15-64 Years 66% of population
65 Years + 6% of population
The birth rate is 12 to 23 per 1000 and the death rate is 5.79 per 1000

24.4 Babies die before they reach three years.
Men live to 67 years.
Women live to 76 years.

Transport
Railways 0%
Highroads 2,400 km
Ports - used for passenger and merchant ships.
Merchant Marine ; 936 Ships transport ore and oil, as well as chemicals.
Passengers also travel by air to and from the Airports.