When a mix-up between metric and imperial measurements caused a NASA climate orbiter to crash on Mars some months ago, a retired Garda sergeant in Mayo was intrigued. "Let's say, it struck a chord," says Mr Stephen Clancy, a former Balla garda, whose mathematical mind has taken him in all sorts of directions.
Modest though he is, no man in middle Mayo could have more knowledge than he of weights and measurements. For 20 years up to 1997, he was inspector for same in the county, a full-time job which had been done by the Royal Irish Constabulary before independence. "The 1927 Weights and Measurements Regulations book was our bible, and it was a very important service, both for the customer and the trader."
It also had its safety dimension. "You take that recent space accident. If a weigh-bridge was calibrated for metric standards, and even the smallest imperial error crept in, this would be multiplied by the time the construction was finished."
When he retired in Balla, the sergeant continued to indulge his fascination with figures, resulting in one of the most innovative events to mark this coming New Year's Eve. Last Christmas severe storms caused major destruction in Balla's ancient oakwoods. The community of about 1,200 was devastated; Balla has historical links with the patron saint and the new Tochar Phadraig pilgrimage route is intended to revive the link with Croagh Patrick. However, the oak forest was the village's very identity, as en capsulated in its Irish name, Ros Daibhreach - the oakwood headland.
Perusing the felling licence to clear the damage, the sergeant noticed the condition - that 2,000 new trees be planted. "Coming into the year 2000, it seemed logical that this should be how we should mark the turn."
And so, come hail, rain, sleet, snow and even hurricanes, about 100 hardy souls will spend the night of December 31st planting oaks in Balla Town Park which has been held in trust for the community since 1929.
"We'll have the site prepared and fenced and the trees ready, but we will still be hard put to make it," Mr Clancy says. The Balla Town Park Committee wrote to the Guinness Book of Records for the conditions and got the radio control clock.
The voluntary committee has spent long hours posting out brochures far and wide, seeking £100 donations from 2,000 participants.
In return, donors' names will be recorded in calligraphy in a Balla Oak Commemorative Book, which will be kept in the town, and a millennium scroll.
This is the worst time of year to be planting new trees, so there will be an attrition rate. But The average survival rate is 400-500 years, "and some may even make the next millennium," the sergeant says.
Dawn Oak 2000, as the project is known, recently received £59,700 in Government funding. Another Mayo recipient was the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, which hopes to use £35,000 to create a "millennium haven", incorporating a sculpture yard and community arts workshop.
"We have a disused yard we aim to revive, and we hope to have some permanent works and some outdoor sculpture pieces on loan," Linenhall's director, Ms Marie Farrell, says.
Last Friday the Linenhall's latest exhibition, "Mountains and Bays: Recent Mayo/Sligo paintings" by Harry Vince Coulter opened.
Harry Vince Coulter's show continues in the Linenhall until December 22nd, opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Saturday (tel: (094) 23733).
Dawn Oak 2000 can be contacted at Balla Town Park, Balla, Co Mayo, tel (094) 65823 and email: balla@esatclear.ie