The recent AGM of the Sandymount & Merrion Residents' Association gave details of another successful year of operation. The commitment required to serve on this important community initiative certainly takes up a lot of time. In trying to straddle the two roles of community development and environmental protection the workload is ever increasing. The support of the community is vital. Sadly membership has dropped in the last year.

From a high of 300 members last year, it has dropped to 233 this year. The highlight of the year's activities was the Bloomsday Weekend. The potential of this venture to put Sandymount on the cultural map is vast. Valid suggestions for its development were taken from the floor. Again it requires work and a lot of effort. The traffic calming plan for Sandymount is close to seeing the light of day. The total banning of three ton lorries from the village is also very welcome. The lorries can now only use Strand Road or Bath Avenue. It will be difficult to use Bath Avenue with the low railway bridge. Traffic calming is being brought to Strand Road with its recent resurfacing, with speed ramps to follow.

The tenacity of the Association along with our public representatives have brought this long sought after traffic plan to fruition. Again the Tidy Towns workers who are affiliated to the Residents Association have done the Village proud. For the second year on the trot Sandymount has won the Tidiest Village in Dublin.Their hard work was recently honoured by a Seán Moore Community Award. The retirements of Hon. Sec. John O'Neill and Hon. Treasurer Mary Whooley bring to an end trojan work over the last number of years. Also retiring is Eamonn Collins who has been Honorary Auditor for over thirty years, bringing an end a contact with the original founding committee. The recently deceased Harry Mapother was also acknowledged for his contribution to the Association in its early days. Chairman of the Residents' Association, Ciaran O'Loughlin, needs your support for the continued successful operation of the Association. He can be contacted at 2698467.Why not make a New Year resolution to join the Association, it costs only £10 per year.