Donabate/Portrane Community Council were delighted to host a special event in the Shoreline Hotel on Friday 2nd October to present grant cheques from the Community Fund to the successful applicants.
The Community Fund arose from a community – mandated agreement with Cairn Homes in 2024; €50,000 has been allocated now with a further €50,000 to follow in 2028.
Congratulations to: Donabate Sea Scouts: €10,000, Donabate/Portrane Drama Society €5,000, Donabate SEC €5,000, Donabate/Portrane Summer Festival €5,000, Lambay Cinema Club €5,000, Portrane Hockey Club €5,000, St Patricks Boys NS €5,000, St Pats GAA €2,500, St Pats Girls GAA €2,500, Lambay Singers €2,500, Tower Bay Swimmers €2,500.
These grants recognise the dedication and community spirit of the organisations that make Donabate and Portrane such a good place to live.
To our wider community thank you for your support of the Donabate/Portrane Community Council and your understanding that progress takes time, care and constructive co-operation. Finally, thank you to Cairn Homes for their help in administrating the fund.
Active Age has now settled into the autumn term for the start of its’ 11th year in action. We now offer 16 different classes and activities with multiples of some due to their popularity. Our membership is now over 300 and given the growth of population in the area we want to prepare ourselves for increased demand for membership and an expansion of subjects on offer.
With that in mind the committee thought it would be a good idea to gather the information that we will need going forward. So we would love you to join us for a relaxed and friendly evening in the Shoreline Hotel on Wednesday 11th November from 7 to 10.30pm. The evening is open to all 55+, you do not have to be a member, so if you know someone who would enjoy a lovely evening out do come along. Your voice matters, we want to know what you think we’re doing well, what we could do better, and what you would like to see in the future. After we have picked your brains we will move on to the social part of the evening with music, chat and light refreshment.
Transport will be provided by Leonards Coaches starting at Marsh Lane at 6.30pm, picking up at all bus stops to the Shoreline Hotel with return at 10.30pm.
You can register to attend (we need to have an idea of numbers) with Eventbrite, or email us on www.activeageforall.com to let us know you are coming and we will register you.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fingal Co Co very much for all the support they give to us at every level be it grant aid, advice or any help we need at the time. Also a big thank you to my hard working committee who do so much behind the scenes to enable out organisation to be the success it is.
The special 90th anniversary year of Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society continues! After the very successful run of The Importance of Being Earnest in May The society is delighted to be presenting another Irish classic, the very moving and much-loved story of SIVE by John B Keane, running Thursday, Friday Saturday the 12th,13th,14st and 19th,20th,21st November.
Now that she’s finishing school what will become of the orphaned Sive, who has been looked after by her uncle and his wife, and how much say will Sive and her loving Grandmother have in her fate?
SIVE is essentially a battle between Love and money; Love, and the costs it can ask; versus the sordid choices people are drawn to by Money, or the lack of it. Though written in 1959, the story still resonates. As Conor Cruise O Brien said : “The very young and the very old have a lot in common; they’re both kicked around by the middle-aged”.
Last performed to packed houses on our 70th anniversary in 2006, it looks like it’s as popular as ever. Thursday 12th November is sold out, but tickets can be booked at https://www.ticketsource.com/donabate-portrane-dramatic-society.
Drawing towards the end of this great year the society would like to thank everyone who helped and came out to join in our special events during 2026, from leading the first Donabate-Portrane St Patrick’s day parade followed by readings from the group and the unveiling of a plaque in the Parish Hall commemorating our first performance, to our 90 minutes for 90 years miscellany in Triangle Coffee, in July, and in September our very special Gala Dinner in the Donabate Golf Club, attended by, oddly enough, 90 guests including long-standing members, former members and those with personal or family connections going right back to the start in 1936, ably interviewed by Charlie Weston to share reminiscences and stories of DPDS, celebrating not only its theatrical achievements but also the friendships, community connections and countless memories created along the way.
Mary Byrne provided a wonderful selection of songs spanning the 1960s right through to the present day. Her incredible voice and engaging performance made for a memorable evening, with everyone thoroughly enjoying the entertainment. A special mention must go to Rita McDermott, whose dedication, hard work and enthusiasm were instrumental in bringing this wonderful celebration to life. Working alongside fellow members of the society, Rita put an enormous amount of effort into making the evening such a success. She was also at the Shoreline to receive our award from the Donabate Community Council, with thanks to all who helped us in our bid;. another great fillip for DPDS in this year of years.
If we can we’ll try and squeeze in one or two other happenings before the year’s out, but here’s to 90 years of drama, laughter and friendship — and many more to come
Glorious weather was had in Skerries for an 8km walk to celebrate National Walking Day - led & organised by Margaret O’Brien walkers enjoyed a walk past the Mill, down to the coast along the beach & up to Red Island then to the Harbour for food in one of the many restaurants.
Our Halloween Walk is to the Docks from Clontarf and the following one is the Dodder River walk so a bit of contrast in them All!
In October after a very fruitful harvest, members of Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed worked hard preparing our plots at Turvey Allotments for the winter. The raised beds were dug over, manure provided by Fingal County Council was spread and the beds were covered with Mypex weed membrane. Hopefully, next year’s crop will be as good as this year’s.
Last month, Gerry and the Plonkers, the Men’s Shed group, provided the entertainment for the 60th anniversary celebrations of Lusk ICA in the Bracken Court Hotel. By all accounts, a great time was had by the audience of 100 or so, as they danced the night away to the sounds of 60s and 70s hits from the Plonkers.
The Plonkers will also perform at the Men’s Wellness Day being organised by the Fingal Men’s Sheds and due to be held in Donabate Portrane Community Centre on Thursday 19th November. This event, with an expected attendance of 80 or more, will feature talks about men’s physical and mental health and will include a guided exercise session.
Between now and Christmas, Ray, our Events Organiser, hopes to arrange a couple of outings to places of interest to members. So, if you or someone close to you, would like to join the Men’s Shed, please call our PRO, Jim, on 0863694316.
To mark Fingal Inclusion Week, we present The Blue Trail, a favourite on the film festival circuit and winner of the Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival.
Focussing on a feisty 77-year-old fighting against an ageist system, this film shows that you should never underestimate the older members of society. Part adventure film, part dystopian sci-fi and part coming of (old) age story, The Blue Trail is a vibrant and playful new film from acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Mascaro.
In the near future, the Brazilian government has created ‘colonies’ where older people are sent to live out their last few years to free up space for the more productive younger generations. Teresa, however, refuses to accept that fate. She is instead determined to fulfil her ultimate dream - to fly in an aeroplane.
After escaping from the authorities, she embarks on an eventful boat voyage down the Amazon river to find a willing pilot who will fly her. Encountering new friends and experiences along the way, she discovers a freedom she never knew she was missing.
Critics have described the film as “visually striking”, “subversive and bittersweet”, and “amazing, captivating, exciting and authentically beautiful.” It shows that people over 70 are as capable of rebelling as much as those decades younger.
The Blue Trail will be shown at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland church in The Square, Donabate (K36 Y521) on Thursday November 19th at 8pm.
Tickets go on sale on Thursday November 12th at 9am and cost €10 (€8 for students/OAPs)
For more information and to buy tickets, please visit lambaycinemaclub.com
Bring your own cup for free tea and coffee – we even supply the biscuits!
If you want to get in touch, email us at info@lambaycinemaclub.com.
Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you on the 19th.
For anyone interested in practicing or improving their Irish language skills there is a group that meet at Cate’s Cafe (beside Supervalu), Donabate each Saturday at 14.00
There is no cost involved. The group is an informal get-together to let participants improve their Irish in a supportive environment.
All levels are welcome. Bíonn fáilte mhór roimh cairde nua i gcónaí. There is always a big welcome for new friends.
Tuilleadh eolais / Further info: Liam @ 086 3814422
In September the Peninsula Pacers celebrated National Walking Day - they went to Skerries by train - visited the Mill & Markets - then went on a long circular route towards the beach, went left along the sea up to Red Island & back by the Harbour for food - a good walk!
The next two walks are on:
Saturday 31st October - Halloween!
The Clontarf Greenway a 7/8km walk up & down to the Port - then food after in the Yacht. Travel by train to and from
Donabate Station.
Saturday 21st November - City Walk!
The Dodder Way is a 8/10km walk along the River Dodder - with food along the way. Travel by bus & train to and from Donabate Station.
For further information please contact
Margaret O’Brien on - 086 1956058
Jim O’Donohoe on 086 3694316
At the recent first screening of out Autumn/Winter season we revealed something new for December – The Lambay Cinema Club Audience Choice. You get to choose what film you want to see at our December screening. We have hand picked four films to choose from. Reflecting the range of movies we show, these range from “exhilarating and funny” to “profoundly tender”. See Lambaycinemaclub.com for more details.
Meanwhile we continue our Autumn/Winter season with Blue Heron, a festival award winner set in the 1990s. It introduces us to Sasha – an 8-year-old girl who has recently moved, along with her family, from their native Hungary to Vancouver Island.
While Sasha and her other siblings get used to their new environment, their parents become increasingly concerned about the unpredictable behaviour of their eldest son, Jeremy.
As the parents keep attempting to help Jeremy, Sasha struggles to understand what is happening around her. This uncertainty will return to her as an adult when she works on a deeply personal filmmaking project.
This autobiographical film from first time director, Sophy Romvari, opened this Summer and has been described as “One of the best of the year.”
Other critics have called the film “A bold and intimate stunner”, “An extraordinary debut feature”, “An unexpected triumph” and “Surprising and tremendously moving”
Blue Heron will be shown at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland church in The Square, Donabate (K36 Y521) on Thursday Oct 15th at 8:00pm.
Tickets go on sale on Thursday Oct 8th at 9:00am and cost €10 (€8 for students/OAPs)
For more information and to buy tickets, please visit lambaycinemaclub.com
Bring your own cup for free tea and coffee – we even supply the biscuits!
If you want to get in touch, email us at info@lambaycinemaclub.com.
Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you on the 15th.
Early last month, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed had a fascinating tour of St. Michan’s Church in Dublin, built in the late 17th century. Led by our knowledgeable and chatty guide, John, a local man from the Liberties, we started in the church itself. John explained that, although a new organ was installed in the 1940s, the original one, on which it is reputed Handel composed, or at least practiced, his Messiah, and the original wooden organ gallery depicting 17 different musical instruments, have been preserved. However, the most unusual aspect of St. Michan’s is in the crypt underneath the church. Here the mummified remains of the great and good (and not-so-good) of 17th, 18th and 19th century Dublin are interred. Thanks to Ray for organising this visit.
Two members of our shed, Gerry and Paul, represented us at the recent networking event for all 17 of the Men’s Sheds in Fingal. As one of the main topics was the availability of grants, the meeting was attended by Cllr. Tony Murphy, Mayor of Fingal and by Rafe Costigan, Senior Community Officer. It was also an opportunity for the various sheds to share their experiences, but probably the most unusual aspect was the attendance of a delegation from South Korea on a fact finding mission as they are starting up sheds in South Korea. Many thanks to Balbriggan Men’s Shed for hosting this event and for their warm welcome and much appreciated catering.
Gerry and the Plonkers, our music group, were delighted to play in Donabate Portrane Community Centre at September’s Memory Café, a monthly event for people with dementia and their carers. As The Plonkers will be providing part of the entertainment, our shed has been involved in the planning for the forthcoming Men’s Health Week event in Newbridge Park in November. We hope to have more information about this for next month’s issue.
If you, or someone you know, wishes to join us, please call Jim, our PRO, on 086-3694316.
