Our club members have been enjoying the beautiful weather recently. Some of our Juvenile athletes have had the opportunity to have their first experience on a full-size outdoor track facility when they competed with almost one thousand other young athletes in the Dublin Track and Field League at Tallaght Athletics Club, right where Rhasidat Adeleke started training just over ten years ago.
Our athletes competed in Shot Putt, Discus, Turbo Javelin, Javelin, High Jump, Long Jump and track events from 60m to 800m. Very soon we will have our own track and field facility, right here in Ballymastone.
We are very grateful to our volunteer coaches and to the parents who volunteered to help run the events.
Our secondary school aged athletes had great success in the North Leinster Secondary Schools Championships, with a total of six medals and some of them progressing to Leinster Championships. They represented their schools, Donabate Community College and Loreto College Swords. Congratulations also to Sara Dolczak who won the intermediate 400m at the Loreto Games.
Meanwhile our Under 20s, Seniors and Masters athletes have been participating in the Dublin Graded Meets. Congratulations to Xavier Hubert who won a Senior Dublin Championships Silver Medal in High Jump and Anna Gavigan who won Senior Gold in Discus.
Out on the roads and in the parks, club members have had some incredible performances in the London and Copenhagan marathons, and in the Dublin Race Series. Closer to home we had some notable Park Run milestones with Willie Cahill completing his 200th Park Run in glorious sunshine at the Donabate Park Run.
Save the Date for the LSA Peninsula Race on Sunday 16th November 2025. More details will be available shortly on our social media channels.
On a sunny Saturday at the beginning of May a group of Peninsula Pacers and Active Age for All members did a walk to explore Donabate beach and ‘The Island’. We set off from the Shoreline Hotel and walked to the top of the beach, incidentally you are at the top of the beach when you can see the Malahide church steeple ( and nowadays the Marina) down the river. On the way we remarked on the frightening degree of erosion visible at the top half of the beach, it is very concerning.
At the top of the beach we crossed over into ‘The Island’ so known because of the well-known golf club there of that name. This is an area of marram grass, scrub and tidal inlets which at this time of the year is home to nesting skylarks whose distinctive singing was lovely to hear as we watched them soaring into the blue sky.
Further on we passed the remains of the bridge and landing area of the golfers’’boat which was used to bring golfers over and back from Malahide until the 1970s. The old clubhouse sat above this area on what is now a tee box.
After a trudge down the ‘stoney beach’ we crossed back over to Donabate beach by way of the right of way between the Island and Corballis golf clubs. Then it was back to the Shoreline Hotel for soma welcome food and drink.
The need for a permanent Gardaí presence and Garda station in Donabate has been raised by Councillor Corina Johnston who recently met with senior Gardaí to raise her concerns.
Johnston said;” Myself and Duncan Smith TD met senior gardai in Ballymun recently following my request to the Garda Commissioner for a meeting in regarding Garda resources in the district and in particular the fast-growing Donabate area. At the meeting we highlighted the urgent need for permanent Garda resources and the need for a Garda clinic to commence on the peninsula immediately. We also raised the need for the provision of a Garda station in the long term.
“We raised our concerns regarding the increase in Anti Social Behaviour in Donabate and referrals by Gardai/Juvenile Liasion officers to youth services (Crosscare) who run projects that are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives that aim to divert young people from anti-social or criminal behaviour. We believe with the growing young population permanent youth services and a centre must be provided as a priority to support our youth on the peninsula.”
Johnston said; “In response the Gardai acknowledged our concerns and need for Garda resources and a station on the peninsula and confirmed the following: ongoing issues with recruitment and retention of Gardai which is compounded by increasing retirement numbers. As a result an increase in Garda numbers in the district is not envisaged in the short to medium term.
‘Peninsula Voices & Friends’, led by Áine & Tony, will host a Fundraiser Charity Concert in Aid of UNICEF - in Donabate Parish Hall on:
Friday 27th June (Doors Open 7 30pm), starting at 8 00pm
Available Tickets on Eventbrite - No Ticket Sales at the Door - Adult Only Event - Raffle on the Night!
This will be a great concert & is for a very worthy cause – children.
There will be a variety of musical genres over the two days e.g. pop, rock, trad & folk! something for everyone!
Friday 27th June
‘Peninsula Voices’ - see separate article.
Saturday 28th June
‘Music Makers’ will hold a special event for over 15’s to play & perform under their leaders, Noel Dowling & Seán Collins. From 2 - 4pm the younger performers will play & from 6 – 7:30pm the older performers will play.
These bands and soloists will include e.g.:
- Sophie Victoria & friends
- Either Side of The City
- Reminisce
- Nj & the Makers
- Graham Kenny
- And the one & only Adam Farrelly
From 4 - 5pm
‘Leithinis CCÉ’, our local Comhaltas group will play some Irish traditional tunes.
From 5 - 6pm
‘Festival in a Van’ will take to their outdoor moving stage, with their own performers from outside the area & with some local guests joining them!
From 8 - 10pm
Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich – see separate article.
It should be a great two days of music for a good cause & another chance to display some local talent. There can never be enough opportunities, especially for young people, to participate in Cultural events – e.g. music, singing, dance, drama, photography, art….!
School is over … so start the holidays with a bit of fun for all! Put the dates in your calendar now, on the phone & or at home.
We hope to have food and refreshments available on the day.
We wish to thank FCC in advance for their support for the ‘Music Fest’. We especially would like to thank Niall from The Music Outlet in Swords, near The Plaza, our music equipment supplier who sponsored extra equipment for the ‘Music Fest’.
Please note the events are aimed at older children, teens and adults. Parents, we ask you please to be present to celebrate your kids and/or keep an eye on them. Thank you.
We look forward to having a safe and enjoyable day!
Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed aims to provide a safe environment for men to socialise and connect with one another while participating in activities and projects of mutual interest. Along with our weekly get-togethers on Thursday mornings at Donabate Scouts’ Den on the Portrane Road, we have a wide variety of activities and outings.
We have two plots at Turvey Allotments which require tender loving care at this time of year, with a rota of members tending to watering and weeding to ensure a bumper harvest later in the year.
There are weekly exercise classes using equipment, some of which was donated and more purchased with HSE and Fingal grant-aid. These classes are ably led by our own Fintan Delaney and tailored to suit the needs of our members.
Gerry and the Plonkers, our music group, have weekly practice sessions in the Scouts’ Den. These are obviously paying off, as the Plonkers have created quite a name for themselves with recent gigs in Beaverstown Golf Club and Donabate Portrane Community Centre and up-coming gigs at Swords Castle (as part of Vintage Picnic) and Newbridge House, which is part of Fingal Men’s Sheds Walk and Talk on Monday 9th June organised by the Irish Men’s Shed Association and Fingal County Council.
We also have occasional outings. The most recent late last month was a pitch and putt morning at Deerpark in Howth.
We are always open to new members and new ideas for activities. So, if you or someone you know would like to join us, please call our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316, or drop in to the Scouts’ Den on a Thursday morning. You’ll always get a warm welcome and a cuppa.
Join us on Saturday June 28th at Donabate Parish Hall for an intimate concert with Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich. This special event in Fingal is part of a nationwide tour marking the launch of the famous Irish traditional accordion player Breanndán Begley’s autobiography. It is available in English as Of My People and in Irish as Clann na Seanmhuintire.
In this intimate and powerful memoir, Breanndán reflects on a life rooted in the wild beauty of Corca Dhuibhne and shaped by the rich traditions of the Kerry Gaeltacht. Born into a family of musicians, he shares vivid memories of a childhood steeped in song, music, dance, and folklore - and of carrying that tradition to stages around the world.
With warmth, humour, and fierce honesty, he recounts a lifetime of performance, adventure, and cultural activism in defence of language, land, and music.
This is a heartfelt celebration of Irish tradition and the community that shaped and sustained him throughout his life.
Tickets available on eventbrite. This is a unique event, in our Parish Hall, not to be missed!
It’s not every day LSA members gather at the airport to welcome home a European Athletics medallist, but that’s just what happened on St Patrick’s Day when LSA’s Anna Gavigan arrived back in Dublin from the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus with a Silver medal for Under 23 Women’s Discus.
Anna was in good company and it was an added bonus for LSA to meet Olympian Nicola Tuthill who took Gold in the Women’s Under 23 Hammer, and Oisin Joyce who took Bronze in the Men’s Under 23 Javelin, at the event in Cyprus
Anna won her European Silver Medal with a massive new Personal Best throw of 53.91m. She is coached by Donabate resident Gerry Ronan. Anna joined LSA as a 10-year-old and she also coaches younger athletes at our Thursday sessions.
Our Under 20 athletes have been busy competing in the Schools Cross Country and the National Indoor Championships. As the focus moves to outdoor Track and Field, our Juvenile groups are taking advantage of the bright evenings and moving to different training venues around the peninsula.
Our club members were out on the Dublin roads at the end of March, providing valuable support for our Dublin City Half Marathon athletes, whilst other members travelled to Dundalk for a Half Marathon.
eanwhile our latest Couch to 5k group had a fun graduation. We’re very proud of their commitment and enthusiasm and looking forward to following their progress.
We will shortly announce details of the 2025 LSA Road Race, scheduled for November - follow us on social media for details.
Congratulations to all our athletes, coaches & supporters.
Socials: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/ - https://lambaysportsathletics.ie/
Adult memberships queries: lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com - Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (7-18): lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com
We at Donabate Portrane Special Olympics club would like to express our sincere gratitude to The Carriage and Wayne and Eithne Hand for their generous and wonderful support they have shown our club.
They, along with their very generous customers and community raised €4,000 for our club during their Christmas Day appeal where they supplied free hot drinks with all donations going to the club.
It was lovely to stop by recently in person, to thank them and of course to enjoy their hot coffee and treats. So, if you are around Tower Bay for a cliff walk, sea swim or a hot sauna we recommend you stop by The Carriage and enjoy one of their delicious treats and hot drinks!”
Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed has been very active over the past month and has plenty arranged for the coming months.
This is a busy time of year at our plots at Turvey Allotments where tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage and cucumbers need regular attention. Work parties were organised for clean-ups and rosters for daily watering.
Gerry and the Plonkers, the Men’s Shed music group, continue to play for community groups. They entertained enthusiastic audiences at two recent concerts for Memory Cafés, the first in Skerries GAA clubhouse and since then in Donabate Portrane Community Centre.
The Irish Men’s Shed Association, to which our shed is affiliated, is holding a large event in Newbridge Park in early June as part of Men’s Health Week. Our shed is honoured to have been asked to play a major role in helping to organise it and Gerry and the Plonkers will provide musical entertainment.
A course for members is being arranged on the correct use of the defibrillator that was bought with a HSE grant for the joint use of the Men’s Shed and the Sea Scouts. Hopefully, we’ll never have to use it, but if an emergency arises, it is vital that it is used properly.
All of this is alongside our regular weekly activities – exercise classes, croquet in Newbridge, music practice and not forgetting the all-important coffee mornings on Thursdays. So, if you or someone you know would like to join us, call our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.
