Hanging Basket Workshop with Aoife Munn - Tuesday 9thMay - 12-1pm Learn how to create different types of hanging baskets, including herb baskets that will last all year Booking is essential for this workshop, so please do contact the Library to book 01-8704401 or you can contact us by our email at our email address which is- balbrigganlibrary@fingal.ie

The Birds of Fingal with Dr Frank Prendergast of Birdwatch Fingal Tuesday 16th May 11am. Fingal has a diverse set of habitats from farmland to coastal islands, parklands to urban sprawl. These therefore also provide a diverse range of birds from the garden Robin to rare Roseate Terns. The talk will explore Fingal’s habitats, wild bird sightings and sounds and what we can do to protect these for the future generations. Booking is essential for The Birds of Fingal so please do contact the Library to book 01-8704401 or why not email us at balbrigganlibrary@fingal.ie

Caint Phoiblí - Researching your Family Tree - With Genealogist Claire Bradley - Saturday 20th May 11.30-12.30pm.This genealogy workshop will guide you through how to research your family history using any stories or records that you have . already, exploring the online resources available such as census, civil, church and burial records.The workshop will also include a demonstration of genealogy sites such as Findmypast, Familysearch and Irish News Archives Booking is most essential so please contact the Library to book 01-8704401 or book the workshop by emailing Balbriggan Library at balbrigganlibrary@fingal.ie
Regular Events weekly and monthly at Balbriggan Library - Grúpa Cniotála Knitting and Crochet club Every Monday 6.30pm All welcome but please note (Children must be accompanied by an adult) Scrabble - Every Monday 11-12.30 Grúpa Scríbhneoirí Turret Writers Group - Every Saturday 11.30-1pm Ukrainian Family GroupWe have moved our Ukrainian social group to Every Saturday Morning11-1pm - Club Leabhar Bookclub Wednesday 31st May 6-7pm New members are always really welcome Baby Bookclub - Wednesday 3rdMay 10.30am Storytime for pre-schoolers HSE Breastfeeding Support Group - With Jennifer from HSE - Every Thursday 11am - Warehouse Writer’s group - Every 2nd Friday - 5th and 19th May Contact the Library for more details - Always welcoming new members.

Congratulations to our U18 AB Girl’s team who won their Leinster League Final recently. What an incredible match between AB and Athy, two equally matched teams. This is the first League title for our girl’s section, and is the culmination of years of hard work and team building. Well done and Congratulations to all the team and coaches.

Blasters Cricket has started up again in Castlelands Community Centre !!!! Open to boys and girls aged 5-11. To Book your childs place please go to balbriggancricketclub.com/…/indoor…/…
Also our heartiest congratulations to our superb coach for his recent award from The Cricket Writers of Ireland who inducted our Senior Head Coach Andre Botha into the Cricket Ireland Hall of Fame, an amazing and well deserved honour for a true legend of Irish Cricket. Congrats Bothsy from all at The Brig

The students of Ardgillan College Balbriggan took to the stage on Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th of March to perform Footloose the Musical to a full house. The sold-out performances from talented and dedicated students wowed audiences made up of their friends, family, teachers and members of the local community. Students demonstrated their talents from singing, acting and dancing to set management, construction, painting and makeup that represented a real team effort on behalf of the school community. The cast was led by Jamie McGuffin Gresham, Tara-Rose O’Brien in 5th year and Alex Jackson from TY. A huge thank you to all of the staff who helped to put the show together.

This St Patrick’s Day in Balbriggan was a very special one for the town’s 35-strong brass and reed band, which bears the name of Ireland’s male patron saint. For St Patrick’s Brass and Reed Balbriggan Town Band, it marks the start of celebrations of its 140th anniversary, culminating in a gala concert in November. Founded in 1883, the band has taken part in every St Patrick’s Day Parade in the town since then. It was an emotional day for long-serving members, including band master Larry Dunne, Oboe and Clarinet player Damien Byrne and saxophonist Gary Tolan. Larry has been integral to the band since reviving its fortunes in the mid-1970s, while chairperson Damien, a native of Artane, where he was a member of the famous boys’ band, found a ready-made community when he moved to Balbriggan in 2003.But, in the late 1960s, numbers had dwindled and its instruments were put in the care of the town commissioners until Larry revived the band. Now, its make-up is representative of Balbriggan’s youth and cultural diversity, with a burgeoning beginners’ group and members and past members from across the globe. “When my wife Amelia, who plays trumpet, and I moved to Balbriggan we knew nobody until we joined the band after seeing it at the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Now, our daughters, Emily (12, clarinet) and Norah (9, trumpet), are in the beginner group, so we are basically replacing ourselves for down the line,” said Damien. According to Gary, the only language that should matter to any band is music. “We have had members from African countries, Italy, the Philippines, Spain and Ukraine. We are multi-cultural and integrational,” said Gary. Joining as a beginner will get you an instrument (if they have one spare) sheet-music and reeds all covered by €10 a-year membership and a €5 weekly subscription. Advancing years are no barrier to joining, members have been known to take up learning an instrument and playing with the band after retirement. The band meets each Wednesday night at the Cairde premises at the old St George’s School at Hampton Street, beginners from 7.00pm to 7.45, with band practice from 8.00pm to 9.30. There are thoughts of using another weekday or Saturday mornings to start another beginner group. It is on the lookout for a larger, more user-friendly base so if your interested we hope to see you soon!

Today the Four Seasons Hotel, Spa & Leisure Club Carlingford has announced their new Irish charity partner as SoSad Ireland. Since 2007, SOSAD has worked to raise awareness and help prevent suicide in Ireland. The new partnership, which will be in place for 2023 and at this moment in time the Four Seasons Hotel Carlingford are selling yellow branded rubber ducks named ‘Bernie’ aptly named after their Housekeeping Manager Bernie who has played a fundamental role within the hotel for over 12 years and who will be retiring this year. The ducks will be on sale from the hotel’s reception and are priced at €3.50 each, with all monies raised being donated to SoSad Ireland. So Sad Ireland have worked tirelessly in our communities to help those in need feel supported and know they are not alone on their journey. SOSAD offer support and services for people who are struggling with suicidal ideation, self-harming, depression, bereavement, stress and anxiety, or if you simply need to talk. With seven offices based in Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Laois from which they provide their services. Natalie Haake, Sales & Marketing Manager Four Seasons Hotel, Spa & Leisure Club said, ‘We are thrilled to announce our new partnership and we are hoping to run a coffee morning and small events throughout the year. As a business, we are committed to raising and contributing much needed funds to such a deserving charity.’

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels has been providing meals to the most vulnerable
members of our community since its establishment in 1975.Throughout the years the organisation relies heavily on fundraising and the generosity of the local Balbriggan community in the provision of its service. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels will be holding a bucket collection on the weekend of Friday 14 th to Sunday 16 th April. Please give generously when you meet their collectors. Please note all official collectors will hold the relevant permit. All money donated goes towards the vital ongoing Balbriggan Meals on Wheels work in our community.

A packed schedule has been put together for the third annual Our Balbriggan Loves Learning Festival, 2023 which takes place from Monday March 27 to Saturday, April 1. The festival provides an opportunity for a range of groups and services to platform learning opportunities available to local people in Balbriggan and surrounding areas.The Our Balbriggan Loves Learning Festival 2023 celebrates lifelong learning and promotes it through a wide variety of informative, creative and enjoyable activities.These include educational opportunities and workshops in the fields of arts, music and the community. All are welcome.The festival is one of the actions identified in the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme and was first organised in response to local demand for stronger adult learning opportunities and more information about education and training services available to local people.The Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme is led by Fingal County Council’s Economic, Enterprise, Cultural and Tourism Department and the festival offers both in-person and online events. A Loves Learning Festival section on Balbriggan.ie will operate as a central hub for information on all events as well as for pre-recorded videos with practical learning advice. For a full list of events why not check out balbriggan.ie/loves-learning-festival/Resource providers for the festival include Fingal County Council, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board, Balbriggan Adult Education, Intreo and Empower.Organisers are conscious that learning comes in all shapes and sizes, whether for creatives, aspiring entrepreneurs or those who just want to come along to learn and enjoy.The Our Balbriggan Loves Learning Festival has something for everybody.

Our ladies team is continuing to grow and develop this season. 13 new players of all different levels have joined the squad so far and we have also seen the return of some experienced players. The ladies are a huge addition to the squad and we are delighted Caroline has managed to get a few pictures of them in action. We are always recruiting and ready to welcome new players to our team. Training continues every Monday and Thursday at 7:30pm! DM our facebook page for more information or pop down to the club and give it a try!

Our Kids academy is currently underway and open to boys & girls age 4-7 from 9:45 to 11:00 am New players are always welcome.(see our poster for details). Our U17A -On behalf of all our players, coaches and parents we are extremely grateful to Mr Kevin O Neill ( Balrothery Pharmacy) for his generous sponsorship of a First Aid Sports Kit. Thanks again Kevin. The Club would also like to thank Keiths minibus hire Balbriggan for sponsoring our Under 15 team with a new training set. Thanks Keith. And indeed thanks to all our wonderful sponsors of all our teams in any way.

Finally please do not forget - SATURDAY, 11 MARCH 2023 AT 19:30 - Padraig Connor, Memorial Race Night - Hamlet Bar, Castlemill, Balbriggan. A night of fun and remembrance to kick off what was Padraig’s favourite time of the year Cheltenham Week! Horses and Jockeys will go on sale very soon. Horses €10, Jockeys €5 all proceeds will go to Nicole and Kids. Anyone interested in Sponsoring a Race €50 or would like to Donate a prize for a raffle please contact the club.