Wow, what a summer it’s been for the LSA sports group! The athletes have been super busy, and their hard work really paid off in August. It was a month full of amazing achievements, with everyone giving their best.

One of the biggest highlights was our very own Sinead Farrell. Sinead represented Ireland at the World Youth Skyrunning Championships in Italy! Sinead had to run in the mountains against some of the best young runners from all over the world. It was a huge honour for her and for our whole club to see her compete at such a high level. Sinead has been selected to represent Ireland in the World Junior Championships in Canfranc, France in September.

But Sinead wasn’t the only one having a great month. Anna Gavigan won Silver in the National Discus U23, and also qualified to compete for Ireland in thU23 and an U23’s in Discus too.

The rest of the LSA team was also busy training and racing. Lots of our members were out at local races, like the weekly Parkruns in Newbridge Park, where they pushed themselves to get new personal bests. Whether they were running a short race or getting ready for the Dublin Marathon in the Autumn, everyone was cheering each other on.

The best part about LSA is that it’s a place for everyone. From experienced runners to people just starting out, the team is always there to support each other. With all this energy and success in August, we’re off to a fantastic start for the new season!

Adult membership queries; lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com
Little Athletics & Juvenile Athletics (7-18); lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com
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Last month, there was a happy marriage of two of Donabate Portrane Men’s’ Shed’s interests – music and allotments. Gerry and the Plonkers provided the entertainment at Turvey Allotments Association’s AGM and family bar-b-que on a sunny August Sunday afternoon. This marked the second anniversary of the Plonkers’ debut, which coincidentally was at this same function in 2023.

Despite the frenetic schedule of watering, weeding, feeding and other jobs at the allotments, work there was abandoned for the day by all, not just by Men’s’ Shed’s members, The sun shone, and once the business of the AGM was completed, the bar-b-que was fired up, the music was enjoyed, and everyone had a great day out. We also have a photo from the Plonkers’ gig at Fingallians’ Memory Café, which took place at the end of July, too late to include a photo in last month’s article.

Our members have made the most of the recent summer weather with an impromptu gathering on Portrane Green for fish ‘n’ chips and Pipers’ and a pitch and putt outing to Deer Park in Howth…and we still found time for our regular Tuesday croquet sessions in Newbridge Park and our weekly Thursday get-togethers in the Sea Scouts’ Den on the Portrane Road.

If you, or someone you know, would like to join us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.

In August, Farmers Markets ran for some Saturdays these will now continue into September - check poster for the dates. It is a perfect central outdoor location for this type of market with a variety of products on sale. … Stands have a combination of artisan food producers from Fingal Food Circle, organic & local fresh producers … There will also be some eg hand crafts and trucks for refreshments on site. An initiative by Fingal County Council brought the Farmers Market to the grounds of the Parish Church in Donabate. Please support this your Local Farmers Market.

The Parish Hall will be in full swing again - with a variety of classes, activities & events taking place - Irish Dancing & Music, Bridge, Senior Citizens, Drama, Creche, Youth Groups and Political Clinics! There are still some limited slots available to rent a space - so if you or your organisation need a place to be - please give the Parish Office a call on 01 8434574as soon as possible.

On the 16th July Active Age for All ran their annual fun croquet day in Newbridge Park and were joined by members of Newbridge House Croquet Club and Mens Shed.

We are very fortunate to play in beautiful surroundings on the ground of Cyril Corbally the reknowned prewar international croquet champion, one of the ‘Irish Terrors’. The Irish Terrors were a group of skilled players from Ireland who dominated the sport in the early 20th century. They were known for their innovative playing styles and flamboyant personalities which brought a new level of excitement to the game. Cyril established the lawn in Newbridge House in the early 1920s and the estate became a hub for competitive play.

However the theme for our day was FUN which was had by all with some competitive play plus games such as the wobbly ball and shoot the hoop. To finish we had a thrilling play-off between three teams of two that had fought off all previous challengers. Congratulations to Paula and Rosaleen the winners and well done to runners up Mary and Noel in second place and Ger and Oliver in third.

The day had started fine and warm but the breeze grew a lot cooler as the day progressed which had everyone going for coats and sweaters begged or borrowed. This did not manage to spoil the fun or cool the enthusiasm and everyone enjoyed the day. Many thanks to all who helped out, especially Bernie, and all who brought donations of all sorts to the day. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the FCC grounds staff who keep the lawns in such magnificent condition.

Labour Party’s Duncan Smith TD and Cllr Corina Johnston are calling for the provision of additional schools to be prioritised in Donabate.

In a recent response to a Parliamentary Question raised by Deputy Smith, the Minister for Education confirmed that 132 Primary School Children from the Donabate peninsula travelled to primary school outside the area in the 2023/2024 academic year with 339 Secondary School children travelling to schools outside the area during the same period.

Deputy Smith said; “over the last 18 months my office has received an increased number of calls from parents of school going children who were unsuccessful in securing a primary school place in Donabate. While some parents choose to send their children to the schools of their choice outside of their area it is obvious from the many parents that have contacted myself and Cllr Corina Johnston that many primary school children from Donabate have to travel to Swords, Lusk and elsewhere to go to school. This is completely unacceptable especially given the level of planned development in the area.”

Johnston said: “I have been contacted by many parents of school going children who have recently moved to Donabate who were unsuccessful in securing a school place for their children locally. In some cases families with a number of children were able to secure places for some of their children locally with others having to travel outside of the area. This is a logistical nightmare for parents and causing huge stress for many families.”

Johnston added: “The Donabate Local Area Plan provides for almost 4000 additional housing units with planning permission for 90% already granted with many homes under construction. The Plan also includes the provision of 4 designated school sites in Donabate, 3 primary and 1 secondary, however it seems the provision of the much needed schools is years away. The Area Plan was adopted by FCC and then elected representatives in 2016 with no progress on the provision of permanent schools since then.”

Cllr Corina Johnston has welcomed the commencement of a Garda Community Engagement Initiative in Donabate town centre. Johnston said;” I am very pleased that a Community Engagement Initiative as part of Operation Irene commenced in Donabate on Friday 13th June in response to ongoing representations by Duncan Smith TD Smith TD. This is a positive step for our growing community. “

”As part of this initiative the Garda community engagement vehicle will be parked in the car park in the Parish Hall from 6pm -9pm every second Friday until the end of August to meet local residents and discuss any issues or concerns that they may have. This initiative will also include a Garda presence around the town centre. I wish to thank Superintendent Barry and Inspector Clune for their support for this initiative and Fr Pat and Bernie for facilitating the use of the Parish Hall car park. It is of vital importance to the people of Donabate and Portrane that a permanent Garda presence be provided in Donabate and Portrane and that a Garda station be provided in the long term especially given our growing population. Duncan Smith TD and I intend to pursue this vigorously,” she added.

What a summer so far! In May and June we had Dublin Track and Field Championships for our Juveniles, Leinster Track and Field Championships for Senior and Masters, road races for adults, and training all around our beautiful peninsula from Newbridge House, to Donabate Beach and Ballymastone.

LSA members took part in the Bob and Mary 5k in Enfield, the VHI Dublin Women’s Marathon, the Irish Runner 5k in the Phoenix Park to name a few.

Back in April Ciara Cullen and Ali Conway represented LSA as part of Sonia’s Squad in the Sonia O’Sullivan Cobh 10k. In Athy, our own Michal Kowalski was the overall winner of the “Try a Tri” triathlon category, with members of our Fit4Life group also competing!

Little Athletics finished up their season with a great evening on the Mondo track in Morton Stadium. There was great camaraderie and team spirit, and the icing on the cake was when it was announced that Ollie Sheridan had won the Silver medal in the Under 10 500m in the Dublin Championships. Eliza Hussain also won Silver in Under 16 Discus, with Léa Hubert’s Under 16 Gold in Javelin completing the trio of LSA medals.

Our younger juvenile groups have now finished regular training until September, and our older Juveniles continue training towards competing in Dublin Graded Meets and National Championships. Our volunteer coaches enjoyed a well-deserved night out in Keelings to mark the end of Thursday evening training for this season.

Dara Carr was our sole Masters athlete in the Leinster Championships in SETU Carlow where she won her 100m sprint category. At the same event Anna Gavigan set a new Championship record in Senior Discus with a best throw of 52.3m.

Our adult groups continue training and competition throughout the summer. To get involved send us an email - we always welcome new members.

Adult memberships queries: lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com. Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (7-18) : lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com

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Save the date for our Peninsula Road Race - Sunday 16th November 2025.

We will have photos & article on our Bloomsday Trip to Dublin in the next edition.

In the meantime, we are planning for our next few walks in the Autumn/Winter.

We hope to have walks in September, October, & November & maybe December to include Rogerstown Park & Estuary - Rush, The Ward River Heritage Park - Swords, The Dodder Park Walk - Dublin (Southside.)

These will be walks of about 2hrs each and fairly easy 7/8km - we stop for food before heading home!

Enjoy walking & keeping fit over the summer!

Last month, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed was proud to play our part in participating in a special event for Men’s Health Week in Newbridge Park, attending by over 80 members from 10 of the sheds across Fingal. Gerry & the Plonkers, our music group, provided the entertainment on the day.

As well as that, Gerry and the Plonkers had a busy June, playing at Vintage Picnic at Swords Castle and Memory Café in Donabate Portrane Community Centre and they have more concerts for local community groups lined up over the coming month.

But Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed is more than just music, with several members active in our two plots in Turvey Allotments. This year has already produced a bumper crop of garlic. The tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage and cucumbers are also coming along well. We also have our weekly exercise classes, croquet at Newbridge and our Thursday morning get-togethers for a cuppa and a chat.

We are always open to new members and new ideas for activities. So, don’t be shy.; come along and join us. Call our PRO, Jim, on 086-36944316.

A group from Active Age for All and others from Failte Isteach ( kindly supported by Fingal Co Co) enjoyed a trip to Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library at the end of May. We departed Donabate/ Portrane Community Centre on a dull drizzly morning but happily the day improved by the time we got to the castle and spirits were in no way dampned.

At the Castle we met our lovely guide Ellie who led us on a very interesting and informative tour. She explained that the site is at ( now over) the dark tidal pool where the Poddle river joins the Liffey, this was called Dubh Linn ( black pool) and is the origin of Dublin city’s name. Originally a Gaelic settlement then taken over by the Vikings, who called it Dyflin, then from 1204 to 1922 it was the seat of English rule in Ireland. It was developed into a medieval fortress by King John which remained largely intact until a major fire in 1684. In the 1980s during remedial works to some of the buildings part of the original wall and Viking structures were discovered and can be explored by visitors today. On the 16th January 1922 the last Viceroy of Ireland handed Dublin Castle over to Michael Collins and the government of the new Irish state. Since that historic moment a tradition of state ceremony has continued at the Castle and from 1938 each one of Ireland’s presidents has been inaugurated in St Patricks Hall, the grandest of the State apartments.

On our tour we visited the cellars contained the remains of the Powder Tower and the original castle wall; the Chapel Royal and the State apartments which are very impressive.

We lunched in the Chester Beatty library at the Silk Road cafe before exploring the treasures of the library. Then a quick cup of coffee before we had to head back to our bus and home. All in all a very enjoyable day, plans for the next outing are in being worked on already !