Groups & individuals in the Donabate Portrane area including Active Age for All, Men’s Shed & Senior Citizens warmly welcome a Boules facility to the area. Over the last year or so they have sought the addition of Boules as an activity, locations such as Newbridge Park, Portrane & beside the Catholic Church were identified.Contact was made with Fingal County Council namely Lourda Darcy & Therese Casey, officers in the Operations Section of the Parks Department, who liaised with the community. Thanks to their vision & hard work and the councillors & public representatives who supported the initiative it was included in the Works Programme for the coming year 2021.The place chosen was Newbridge Park, so when COVID restrictions are lifted and contractors return to work they will be installed at a suitable location. We have requested that the boules be put, maybe beside the fantastic new gym equipment and create a recreation hub, this is still reasonably close to toilets and the car park or one can walk. We also asked that seating & benches be put in this area to facilitate older users and ramps be put in courts for wheelchair users.A special thanks to Tom Donnellan, seen here In the photographs, demonstrating to Carolyn Smyth & Jim O Donohoe last Autumn, who was the driving force behind Bayside Boules. He was a great help in pointing us in the right direction & in how to organise the Boules and play it properly! While the boules are for the wider Community. We have asked that locals will be able to have access, so that groups can use it in an organised way, which will benefit them & also the further development of the activity!
Finally, it is cheap & cheerful and anyone can give it a go!