Remember us would like to wish all our families. Staff and Volunteers a very happy Christmas and a happy new year. We would also like to wish all our grantors and all who have supported us during 2022 a very happy Christmas and a million thanks to all for their generosity to our charity.
As we approach year end, Balbriggan Meals on Wheels would like to thank, most sincerely, all those who supported the service throughout 2022. Huge thanks to all the volunteers and staff who enabled Meals on Wheels to continue providing meals throughout the year.In the run up to Christmas Balbriggan Meals on Wheels is seeking donations to help with the continuation of their service. You can help by making a monetary donation through the Balbriggan Meals on Wheels Facebook page or you can send your donation to Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, 14 Hampton Street, Balbriggan. You can also assist in the annual Food Drive in order to prepare hampers of food and essential items for distribution within the wider Balbriggan community. Donations of non-perishable foods and essential hygiene items can be brought to Balbriggan Meals on Wheels from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 1pm.Balbriggan Meals on Wheels is looking forward to continuing to provide meals for those in need in our community throughout 2023. They would like to wish all their service users and supporters all the very best wishes for Christmas and hope 2023 will be a great year for everyone. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, 14 Hampton Street, Balbriggan.
Tel : 01 8416743 or Email: mealsonwheelsbalbriggan@gmail.com
Balbriggan RFC hosted 11 school teams in the Leinster Rugby Junior 3A qualifiers blitz today. A great morning of rugby including our local Ardgillan Community College Junior team.
Well done to Ardgillan Community College and Malahide Community School who have qualified for the Cup.
We are delighted to tell you all that Adel, who was puppy raised by volunteer Anne Mulligan has officially qualified as an Assistance Dog and has been matched with a young boy in Co. Kildare. We wish Adel and her new family the best of luck in the future and we want to thank Anne for all her hard work. We are also happy to announce that our Balbriggan Branch attended the Bremore Castle Food and Craft Village back on Sunday the 4th September and a total of €161.50 was raised. A big thank you to all the volunteers and all who came over to support us. Jacqui Madden was the winner of our Guide Dog Hamper, a big congratulations to Jacqui again and thank you for supporting us. Are you looking for ways to support your local Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs? Well, we are hoping to hold a Quiz night in November/December, be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook/Instagram for updates on that. Another way you can help us is if you have any old coins or stamps that are no longer in circulation. Annually our branch puts out this request, ‘If you have any used postage stamps, stamp albums, or coins which are no longer in circulation, please give them to us. We will turn them into Euros and lodge them to the guide dogs account.’ We receive coins from all over the world and old postage stamps. In our guide dog boxes and large collection dogs we find coins from all over the world and from Europe that are no longer legal currency since the Euro came into place. We get paper notes of all sorts of denominations, coins and used stamps from our branch volunteers and friends.If you are interested in volunteering with our Balbriggan branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, please feel free to contact us by call or text: 085 7663107, email guidedogsbalbriggan@gmail.com, or you can find us on Facebook: Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.
Balbriggan woman Nina McGowan set a new world record in the Masters category of the No Fins discipline at a prestigious international free diving competition. She went on to secure a gold medal for Ireland in the FIM (Free Immersion) category during the CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) Outdoor Free diving World Championships in Kas, Turkey. McGowan, 50, from the Harbour area of the town, also set two national records over the course of the Championships. She beat the existing world record by three metres to log the deepest ‘no fins’ dive in CMAS history for a woman aged 50-54. She dived to 43m, with a dive duration of two minutes, ten seconds at the competition’s warm-up event. McGowan is one of the world’s leading exponents of free diving, which involves competitors diving deep under water without breathing equipment. “When my coach suggested a world record was within my reach, I thought it was a crazy,” she said. But because water is both my sanctuary and playground, anything is possible. The limitations of the land do not apply.To become a world champion and a world record holder in one week is simply fantastic. I had many doubts and failings along the way, but I have achieved what I set out to do and I am very proud Ireland is now represented at this level in freed diving. I hope the sport will grow in Ireland and that next year we will have an Irish team going to the World Championships. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in this adventure. Diving Ireland, Sport Ireland and Dublin City Sports and Wellbeing Partnership for their support and belief in me. Also, my Go-Funders, friends, family and the wonderful community of freedivers who have encouraged me from the beginning and continue to cheer me on.”
Fingal County Council has been given the go ahead for a €10 million transformation of the Balbriggan town centre which will deliver a unique public civic space in the heart of Ireland’s youngest town. The proposed new public space is the first and largest signature project to be brought forward under the Council’s Our Balbriggan 2019-2025 Rejuvenation Plan. The multi-purpose plaza area and linear park is designed to host markets, events and festivals and to provide enhanced play, leisure and tourism opportunities in the town. The approval by Councillors means revitalisation plans for the area will now move forward, with the re-development of the 19,300m2 site expected to commence in early 2024 and the works completed on a phased basis by the end of 2025.Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony said: “This project will help transform the area into a much more people-oriented public space. Along with enhancing the appeal of the location, a new commercial building and two new kiosks will be built on the site of a former nightclub in the harbour area to accommodate visitor and leisure activities.”The public realm redevelopment will see areas of Quay Street, Mill Street, Harbour Road and Balbriggan Harbour become an integrated space which links the town centre and River Bracken with the harbour. The canalisation of the River Bracken will also be undertaken, opening it up as an amenity for residents and visitors to experience and enjoy. Broad steps will lead down to the water, which will feature increased planting, improved biodiversity and enhanced flood protection. 75% of the funding for the €10 million project will come from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, with the remainder financed from Fingal’s capital spending programme. Professor Brian MacCraith, chair of the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group, said the development is the most significant step yet in the town’s rejuvenation plan. “The granting of planning permission is wonderful news for Balbriggan and will help secure its future. Our consultations with the people of Balbriggan, clearly demonstrated support for reimagining the harbour area. The approved proposals will do just that, creating an exciting, lively pier and waterfront that will help link leisure and tourism opportunities in the town and significantly boost Balbriggan’s offering,” He paid tribute to all who contributed to the public consultation process: “I am delighted that not only have we reflected the public’s view of the reimagining of the harbour area, but also that the feedback and local insight gleaned from the public consultation process was critical in progressing plans and is ultimately reflected in the project.”
There were great scenes – and lots of great football – at Balscadden FC Girls U14s tournament which took place on Sunday 28th August in Ringcommons Sports Centre Balscadden, Stamullen, Raheny United, Skerries Town, East Meath, Lusk United ,Kilmore Celtic and Kilkenny FC took part in the competition which ran from early morning until the afternoon.It was the first time the tournament was held and a highly successful day was enjoyed by all..Kilkenny FC won the tournament, beating hosts Balscadden in a cracking final. Former Republic of Ireland international Olivia O’Toole presented all the players with their medals. “It was a fantastic day and we’re delighted with how everything went,” said Balscadden manager Michael Holohan. “We’re always looking for girls and boys to come out to the club to play with us so hopefully this will help us attract more young players.“It was great to see the players show their quality, and we’d like to thank Ringcommons Sports Centre for all their help too.”
Balbriggan has a Senior Cricket club located in Balbriggan Town Park , Balbriggan. New playing members of all ages and abilities and pavilion members always welcome.Balbriggan Cricket Club is based in the heart of Balbriggan and has 5 Senior Men’s teams, A Senior Women’s Team, 2 Social cricket teams and a big underage section of boys and girls teams for all ages.The Men’s and Women’s Adult Senior teams range from Premier league level down to the lowest league so if you are interested in joining you can be sure we will have a team that suits your playing level. We have excellent facilities with top class wickets and nets and you will find people practising most days of the week. The underage set up in Balbriggan is thriving , our ground and nets is a hive of activity every day from April to Sept in Balbriggan Town Park when underage coaching and Practice takes place. Kids from 5 years up can come along and experience cricket and will learn how to play the game with our experienced coaches. We also go to the local schools to teach kids the basics of the game during Jan, Feb and March To enquire about membership or training call or text 0860644238. Congratulations to our 2nds who secured promotion recently to the highest ever league we’ve been in after a very hard fought victory against Civil Service. Well done guys and girl, you had some super performances all year.
The weather may not have played ball with us, recently but it was great to see the return of the Beachy Cup to Balbriggan after a three year Covid induced absence. This Leinster North East competition, named in memory of John Beachy McCreanor took place at Balbriggan RFC. Teams from Ardee, Ashbourne, Balbriggan, Boyne, Navan and Ratoath took part. Despite the heavy rain the day was a great success. Balbriggan won the Beachy Cup, Boyne won the shield and Ashbourne won the bowl. The competition was played in great spirit with old friendships renewed. Thanks to Beachy’s family, Tanya and daughters Kasey and Iona who were on hand, with Kasey and Iona making the presentations.Thanks to our North East referees who officiated over all the matches that took place. Thanks also to Area President, David Rowland from Ratoath and Chairman of the Leinster Junior Committee, Pat Carolan from Wicklow who were also present. Finally, a special thanks to North East Hon Sec Cathal Myles for all his work in organising the Beachy Cup this year. It simply would not have happened without all his efforts. Here are some photos from the day including the traditional North East Group photo of all the players and match officials.
