Please join Balbriggan Sustainable Energy Community CLG and the ORS energy team for the launch of the Balbriggan Energy Master Plan on Thursday March 7th 18.00 - 20.00 in the Bracken Court Hotel. Hear about the home and community building energy audits and the results of our Home Energy Survey. Learn about energy use in Balbriggan and new projects that will help Balbriggan transition to a low carbon community. The launch is supported by the Progressive Credit Union and thanks to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for the grant funding. We hope to see you there.

Many thanks to all the dancers, parents and teachers for the wonderful support for Balbriggan Feis 2024. It truly was an amazing Irish Dancing weekend. Thanks to our adjudicating panel - Mr Eugene Smith, Ms Belinda Murphy, Ms Briege Crawford, Mr Damian O’Neill, Ms Catherine Maher and Ms Minette Kieran for working tirelessly and flexibly through the weekend. We were also delighted to have the wonderful music from Mr Kevin Warren. We had great help from family, friends and teacher colleagues - we couldn’t have done it without ye! Parents and dancers from the Mc FOS School (and former dancers) were also brilliant - thank you all. Clann Mhuire GFC are always great to work with and volunteers help set up the hall, look after the carpark and the shop and help in every way they can. We look forward to letting you know about the proceeds that go to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Thank you one and all and we look forward to seeing you again in 2025. All the best, Damien, Ann and all the team.

Councillor Brendan Ryan (Lab) spoke directly to the National Transport Authority (NTA) at a meeting in County Hall in February about the ongoing issues with the 101X/101 service between Balbriggan/Balrothery and the City Centre. “I welcome the improved service on the 101 but there are capacity pinch points at peak times which need to be addressed, particularly on the 101X” he said. “The three issues I want to raise with you today are: commuters waiting for the early morning 101X being regularly left behind, Flemington Lane stop being removed from the service, and the IFSC Stop 101971 being removed from the return service without consultation and without any sense of logic” he continued. “In your press release on 3th May, launching the East Coast Commuter Corridor, you indicated that double decker’s would be introduced on the 101X service but we have yet to see them and they would be the solution to the “leaving behind” problem at Balrothery.” Cllr Ryan also made the case for restoring the 101X stop at Flemington Lane which served the many estates off Flemington Lane before the introduction of the East Coast Corridor. “It’s hardly an enhancement of the service” he said. And, in relation to the IFSC stop being taken off the 101X return service he said: “This makes no sense at all. The majority of people using the service work in the IFSC and they have to leave early from work to walk the 10-12 minute journey to the alternative stops. The IFSC stop 101971 continues to be used for other Bus Eireann services such as the 100X. So, it definitely defies logic” Cllr Ryan urged the NTA to work with Bus Eireann to try to resolve these issues which are affecting commuters from Balbriggan and Balrothery.

Cllr Tom O’Leary has welcomed some good news for Balbriggan population 25,000 with 8000 in school-100 New Jobs and prospects of enticing a major FDI Foreign Direct Investment Business into Balbriggan from the Pharma and Med Tech sector. Cllr Tom O’Leary said, “ I am happy to have played a key role in facilitating the plans of HPL Hannon Pharma Link to establish a key base for this new high tech best practice Pharma Logistics Company HPL that can deliver “ door to door” anywhere in Europe within 72 Hours and door to door in the UK within 24 Hours. I expect this independent company to “ do a Ryanair “ on pharma distribution across Europe and beyond. I hope that with this key lean Pharma Distribution Co HPL located in Balbriggan along the North/South economic corridor that we can land a large Pharmaceutical Company into Balbriggan like the WUXI Vaccination company in Dundalk that employs 600 in top quality jobs. Cllr Tom O’Leary also continued, “Fingal Co Council along with local Councilors and key stakeholders are working on a plan via an EU Collaboration scheme with 8 EU cities as partners to develop a key landbank in Balbriggan for thousands of new jobs there. The location of HPL Hannon Pharma Link is a key strategic step on that journey to bring local employment opportunities to Balbriggan and Fingal.”

Cllr Tom O’Leary added, “This deal involves a land swap where Fingal Co Council will acquire a key strategic 12 acres at the Blakes Cross Junction R127Lusk Road / R132 Swords Road. I am calling on Fingal Co Council now to fast track the upgrade of this junction and make it safe for everyone. There have been too many accidents at this location.

Recently Balbriggan FC had the pleasure of hosting Balbriggan native Diane Caldwell, the talented and experienced Republic of Ireland and FC Zürich Frauen defender. Diane generously shared her knowledge and expertise with the players, providing invaluable insights and tips on the game. She also took the time to take pictures and sign autographs. It was fantastic to have such an outstanding player visit the club and a memorable experience for all of us.

Well done to Balbriggan men’s youth players Conor O’Grady, Max Downey and Seamus Whelan who represented Leinster North East in the Shane Horgan Cup against Leinster South East at Energia Park recently. It was a cracking match which saw both sides level, 22 v 22 with just minutes to go. A penalty kick saw the North East take the lead 25 v 22. And with seconds on the clock, the North East went over for their final try of the day, which, with the conversion added, brought the full-time score to 32 v 22 for the North East. Well done to the North East Squad and their coaches and the Balbriggan players on a great performance. Not to be outdone the U18AB girls played their first match of the 23/24 league recently with a win on the road against a strong Barnhall side. A very competitive game with strong carries, defensive lines and great communication. The girls kept their heads, worked very hard for each other and secured the well-deserved win. Special mention to Fiona Odige who went off injured in the last 10 minutes after a stand-out performance and we wish her a speedy recovery. Congratulations girls and keep up the good work. Last but definitely never least, congratulations to The Stingers Tag Team who lined out at half time at the Aviva Stadium recently. Many of the Stingers team also are members of Remember Us Balbriggan and are very special players within the club.

Councillor Brendan Ryan (Labour) has been highlighting the additional problems facing housing applicants with larger families in the Balbriggan area over the last number of months. “It is bad enough having to wait up to ten or twelve years on a waiting list to get to an offer zone before being told that you have to wait several years longer because there are no four bedroom units available” he said. “This is the reality for many housing applicants in Balbriggan today” he added. Cllr Ryan added, “I am pushing for more four bedroom units to be provided in every housing development that is planned for Balbriggan in the near future to ensure that applicants with larger families are not disadvantaged. I have also made the case that three bedroom houses could be offered, at least on a temporary basis, until the bigger houses come on stream.”

Balbriggan Feis syllabus and Bracken Court Hotel accommodation offer is now available (please see our attached photo) The Timetable of events will be confirmed on FB when WeFeis entries close on February 2nd 2024. The Organisers have also asked if all perpetual prize winners can please arrange to return their prizes to Damien & Ann before the Feis please? They have also asked that teachers are reminded to pre-enter figure teams.

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels were thrilled to be awarded 2023 Community Heroes of the Year at Balbriggan Town Awards at the end of the year. We would like to extend a huge gratitude to everyone involved in the Town Awards for this recognition. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work of our wonderful team of Volunteers who work tirelessly to help us out at all levels within our organisation. Our volunteer directors, drivers, kitchen assistants and our fundraising committee all donate their very valuable time to contribute to the smooth running of Balbriggan Meals on Wheels.We also would like to extend an enormous thank you to all those who, throughout the year, fundraised for us, gave us monetary donations, attended our fundraising events and contributed to our food appeals. To all those local businesses, organisations and individuals who helped us in any way, we are extremely grateful. Without your help we could not keep the service going. We look forward to serving the community of Balbriggan throughout 2024.

Another step forward in the delivery of projects under the €50m Our Balbriggan Regeneration project was marked recently with the opening of a temporary Pocket Park at 14 Bridge Street. The Pocket Park is part of the mixed-used development planned for the area which will create a vibrant, family friendly location in the heart of the town. With the demolition of 14 Bridge Street now complete, annexes and outbuildings to the rear of 6a-12 Bridge Street (De Bruns) are now also being demolished. The appointment of an Integrated Design Team by Fingal County Council to consider the next stages of development at this location will happen shortly. The plan is to link Millpond Park to a new park entrance at 14 Bridge Street which will facilitate a pedestrian and cycling route down to the transformed Quay Street and Harbour area. The opening of the Pocket Park coincided with Santa’s arrival in the town. Festivities will begin with the lighting of a Christmas tree at St George’s Square at 6.00pm.Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Grainne Maguire,invited those gathered to walk the short distance to the Pocket Park to meet Santa.Members of the cast of North County Dublin’s latest pantomime ‘Beauty and the Beast’ which tool place at The Lark, Balbriggan’s new concert hall, will joined the Deputy Mayor and Santa for the special festive occasion. According to the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, the opening of the Pocket Park is another milestone in the Our Balbriggan Regeneration project. “The Pocket Park forms part of the redevelopment of the DeBruns site, which will transform the area,” he said.The Our Balbriggan leadership group, formed at the outset of the regeneration programme, and chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, plays a key role in helping guide the town’s rejuvenation programme. “It is wonderful see the opening of the Pocket Park in time for the festive season and I encourage locals and visitors to visit the park and enjoy it,” said Professor MacCraith. “These works will form part of the transformation of the town through the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme.” Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said the opening of the Pocket Park stage is another key development in the delivery of the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme.“Fingal County Council is strongly committed to delivering the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme, with the aim of ensuring a great place to live, work and do business,” she said.