Active Age for All are very pleased to have been given the chance to collaborate with a class of transition year students from the community college on a 4 week project of intergenerational activities proposed by one of their teachers.

The first week was an hour of meet and greet, getting to know one and other, with the 3 elders outlining their life experiences and the students then telling us of their aims and ambitions. Then a bit of team work with a music quiz, quiz master Gemma was kind enough to put in some antique stuff for the ancients !

Also we were able to discuss with the students about what they would be interested in doing as part of the project; not really a surprise but sporting activities came out very strongly. The plan that evolved was the sports of pickleball, bowls and table tennis with a balance of jewellery making and photography.
On our second day there was a choice of pickleball or jewellery making with the majority opting for the jewellery making, our tutor Helen had her hands full with 17 girls and boys all eager to be creative.

Meanwhile Active Age members Joe and Noel were running the rest around the courts at pickleball.

The next session was on photography with members of the AAfA camera club giving a talk and practical session on the basics, with an emphasis on getting the best out of the mobile phone camera. We then gave them a variety of objects eg: shells, pottery figures, fabric and asked them to use different lights and angles to create pleasing photographs. The Bleeding Pig Festival have invited the students to put on an exhibition of their photos as part of the festival in May and I really hope that they do as a lot of talent emerged in this session.

The last session of carpet bowls and table tennis in the Sports Hall was good fun; the table tennis was very energetic but the carpet bowls, I think, was the biggest surprise for the students. Initially they viewed this as too easy, too quiet and gentle but they quickly discovered that it wasn’t as easy as it looked and presents quite a challenge, and some skill, to get that bowl going where you want it to !

These four weeks have been an absolute pleasure for the three of us and the willing helpers brought it for specific activities, we were all very impressed with the students, a lovely bunch. Many thanks to the teachers from the Community College and the Active Age members who took part, we do hope that this could become an annual (or bi-annual) event, there is a lot more scope there.

Table quiz fundraiser in aid of 16 local Special Olympic athletes who will represent our community at the Special Olympics Ireland Games in June!

16 athletes and 6 volunteer coach chaperones from Donabate Portrane Special Olympics Club will proudly represent communities across Fingal at the Special Olympics Ireland Games, taking place in sports venues around Dublin from 18th–21st June. This is a fantastic achievement for the Special Olympics club and one they are incredibly proud of.

The youngest athlete selected, Simon Smyth (aged 12), is very excited to represent his club and community. His mother Rebecca said ‘Donabate Portrane Special Olympics Club has been a lifeline to Simon. It has brought an immeasurable amount of fun, joy sport and friendships to his life!’.

Club coach Deborah McArdle said ‘Sending athletes and chaperones to the Ireland Games will cost our club over €10,000, so we are fundraising to ensure that all our selected athletes get to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. As part of these efforts, we are hosting a table quiz in Donabate Golf Club on Wednesday the 29th of April at 8pm and would love the support of as many people as possible by booking a team’.

The cost of entering a team of 4 is €50, and 100% of proceeds will benefit the club. There will also be a prize for the winning team, spot prizes and a fantastic raffle on the night. Why not support this fantastic local cause and secure your team today, by texting Louise on 087 7180324.

Special Olympics Ireland, provides year-round sports training, athletic competition, and developmental programmes for almost 7000 athletes annually. Giving our athletes continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

From 18th-21st June 2026, over 1,200 athletes and thousands of volunteers and supporters will come together for the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games - a thrilling competition and a celebration of the skill, determination, and abilities of athletes. See Ireland Summer Games 2026 | The Special Olympics for more information.

The Men’s Shed movement is based on the moto: “Men talk shoulder to shoulder”. This describes our core ethos, that men build social connections and improve well-being by working together on practical projects rather than through direct face-to-face conversation.

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed meets on Thursday mornings from 11am to noon in the Scouts’ Den on Portrane Road for a cuppa and a chat and to organise our many other activities. There is an exercise class before that at 10am, which many members attend.

So, any man who is free at that time would be more than welcome to join us and learn more about our many other activities and events (e.g. exercise classes, croquet in Newbridge Park, music sessions, outings to places of interest). Or you could contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316. Please pass on this information to a friend, neighbour or loved one who might like to join us. We are always open for new members.

The aim of the Lambay Cinema Club is to show interesting and entertaining films from around the world, and our latest cinematic travels take us from Argentina (the setting for last month’s film) to Paris for the tale of Souleyman’s Story.

This award-winning film (including wins at Cannes) focuses on Souleyman, a Guinean food delivery courier in Paris, in the 48 hours before a crucial asylum interview that could help him secure his future.
At the heart of the film is a riveting performance by Abou Sangré, a non-professional actor, whose performance brings to life the reality of seemingly invisible migrant workers trying to navigate society.

Shot on the streets of Paris with hidden cameras, the film follows Souleyman around the city revealing a unique new view of Paris from the perspective of some of its most under-appreciated inhabitants. During this journey we get to experience what The Guardian called “some of the hairiest cycling scenes since Buster Keaton.”

Join us to experience this pulse-pounding and heartrending view of modern Paris.

Nine Queens will be shown at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland church in The Square, Donabate (K36 Y521) on Thursday May 7th at 8pm.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday 30th April 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

Could all current & prospective Parish Hall users, please read this important message.

At the beginning of May, invitations will be sent out by email from the Parish Office to CURRENT GROUPS and individuals, to put in their request/wish lists by email for using the Parish Hall from June 2026 to June 2027. Please submit by the end of May to be sure of your continued use.

If there are any NEW GROUPS or individuals in the community that need space for their activities, we invite you to also email the Parish Office on or before the end of May.

Please specify whether you wish/request Weekly Activities - like Dancing, cards, art, yoga etc OR Special Events - like Music, History, Drama Meetings etc.

The email address for contacting the office is stpatricksrcdonabate@gmail.com
Then in early June, when all the request/wish lists are in, they will all be looked at & groups &individuals will be accommodated as best as possible.

The Parish Office will then be back to each group and individual before the end of June with a programme that works, as well as can be, for all users for the next year.

This approach works well, irons out the gaps and overlaps and everyone is on board and can plan their activities & lives. It reduces the workload for all! So, during the year there should be no chopping & changing of the programme, unless for a very special event or reason.

The Parish Hall is still busy - with the Drama Society, as part of their 90th Celebrations, putting on a production of a classic play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. Watch for the posters; it will on around the middle of May and is not to be missed!

After the 11am Mass in Donabate on two Sundays in the month, the Parish Hospitality Committee have a lovely cuppa & cakes over in the Parish Hall for a sociable chat.

Many of the weekly activities will come to a wind down soon. But The Senior Citizens will continue during the summer months & a few others also.

If you have any queries, please contact the Parish Office in the mornings on 01-8434574

Have a lovely summer all & we hope the sun shines.

Labour Councillor Corina Johnston has called for urgent action to restore visible community policing and rebuild trust in An Garda Síochána, warning that communities are being left behind as Garda numbers fall and resources fail to keep pace with demand.

Cllr. Johnston said, “People in Donabate can see the reality on the ground. Garda visibility has dropped and response times are under pressure. This is not acceptable. The government have failed to properly resource An Garda Siochána and the impact is being felt in Donabate and neighbourhoods across Fingal.

“We now have fewer Gardaí per person than we did just a few years ago. At the same time, our population has grown. In 2009 DMR North (which includes Swords, Balbriggan, Malahide, Garristown Rush, Lusk) had 832 Gardai, in December 2025 DMR North had 761 Gardai. That means fewer Gardaí covering more people, more communities and more complex policing demands. In Donabate this translates into less visible policing, less community engagement and more pressure on an already stretched force. Community Gardaí play a vital role in building relationships, preventing crime and supporting vulnerable people. Yet their numbers are falling. That weakens the connection between Gardaí and the people they serve. In Donabate, people want to see Gardaí on the streets, in schools and in their communities, not tied up in administrative backlogs or pulled away due to shortages.

Councillor Johnson is now calling on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to deliver a funded plan to recruit and retain Gardaí, restore community policing in Donabate to ensure the community has the, “visible, effective policing it deserves.”

“Morale within the force is also a serious concern. Gardaí who serve our communities deserve proper support, fair conditions and respect. Instead, many feel undervalued and overworked. That has real consequences for recruitment and retention. If we cannot attract and keep Gardaí, communities like Donabate will continue to lose out. The government promised thousands of new recruits but have failed to deliver. Training numbers remain too low, and there is no clear plan to reach the levels needed. Meanwhile, equipment and fleet issues continue, with outdated vehicles and inadequate resources affecting frontline policing in places like Fingal.

“People in Donabate deserve a modern, properly resourced police service that is rooted in the community and capable of keeping people safe. That means investing in recruitment, improving conditions, restoring community policing and ensuring Gardaí have the tools they need to do their job effectively,” Cllr Johnson added.

Following on from the sold out screening of Blue Road to celebrate International Women’s Day in March, we hope to see many of you at our April screening.

Our aim is to show interesting and entertaining films from around the world, and for April we will be screening Nine Queens, a classic Argentinian file from 2000 that was remastered and rereleased in 2025.
In this “deliciously cynical tale of swindling and double-cross”, we see the main character Marcos, an experienced con artist, witnessing Juan, a wannabe con artist failing to pull off a minor scam. Marcos rescues Juan by pretending to be a policeman and offers to make him a partner in a few other deals - including one involving the sale of a sheet of counterfeit rare stamps.

From this simple set up, the deal involving the stamps becomes more complex and as extra people become involved, true motivations and plans within plans are slowly revealed.

Nine Queens will be shown at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland church in The Square, Donabate (K36 Y521) on Thursday April 16th at 8pm.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday 9th April 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

Recently, the Parish Hall & its equipment were used for part of the wonderful St Patrick’s Festival in Donabate. Congratulations to the hardworking committee on a great event. The photos tell the story from the Parish Hall.

Earlier in February the Crossroads Group held their AGM; their aim being to further more cultural, arts & youth activities and extend the amount of facilities in the community.

Training took place by over 20 people for the set up & take down of the Parish Hall’s New Riser Stage, thanks to all those volunteers. There were at least 2 people from many groups who came to train so that their group could sign out the stage for events.

Our community is growing and we are here if you need us in the Parish Office from 9:30am - 12:30 Monday - Friday. Please phone 01 8434574.

The commencement of works to construct the €10 million Ballymastone Recreational Hub, Donabate has been officially marked with a contract signing. Designed to meet the needs of the growing and diverse population, the project will provide high-quality recreational amenities, promote sports and physical activity, and serve as a lasting community asset for generations to come.

Phase two of the works at Ballymastone will consist of the construction of state-of-the-art sports pitches, dedicated athletics infrastructure and play/skatepark facilities. The Recreational Hub will form a major part of the community and follows on from the continued delivery of 1,200 homes at Balmoston on a 32-hectare site by Fingal County Council with Glenveagh as developers.

Present at the contract signing were Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, as well as representatives from the appointed contractors, Kilwex Civil, St Patrick’s GAA Club, St.Ita’s AFC, Lambay Sports & Athletics, local councillors, and members of Fingal County Council’s Parks and Landscapes Department.

Speaking following the contract signing, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary said: “I’m delighted to see works progressing on this €10 million recreational hub for Donabate. The Hub will provide families, young people, and residents of all ages with a space to gather, play, and thrive. I want to acknowledge the hard work and collaboration that has brought us to this point, and I look forward to seeing this new community asset take shape and serve our residents for many years to come.”

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said: “At Fingal County Council we recognise the importance of not just delivering housing but creating communities. The Ballymastone Recreational Hub will be a fantastic and essential community facility for the Donabate area and will greatly contribute to the lives of the new residents in the area. I want to thank our Parks and Landscapes Team, local councillors, and members of the local clubs and wider Donabate community for their contribution to the delivery of this project”.

Also included in the plans for the hub is a new entrance from the Donabate Distributor Road, a car park, bleacher stands, as well as electric vehicle charging spaces and bicycle parking.

The gods were smiling on Donabate on Saturday 14th March with blue skies and warm sun in time for the St Patricks Festival Parade, the first one in living memory I’m told. Active Age for All were delighted to take part and came equipped with a banner, placards and much enthusiasm. There was a great buzz in the village and the mood of both walkers and watchers was happy and excited to be part of a community coming together to have fun and celebrate our fabled saint.

The Active Age committee have been busy of late with some more activities to add to our programme in response to suggestions from the membership. These are:

*Give the Gym a Go: an 8 week course being held in the DPCC gym on Friday mornings from 11 to 12 with Gym instructor Ross. It is geared towards instructing participants on how to use the gym equipment safely and effectively.

*Intergenerational project, a 4 week pilot scheme with AAfA and the Transition Year students from Donabate Community School. A full report on this will be in the next issue.

*Cards, games, crafts & chat is an informal, relaxed session every Thursday from 2 to 4pm in the Portacabin in the community centre where members can play a variety of games, such as, cards, scrabble or chess while the crafters sew, knit and crochet, all whilst enjoying a tea/ coffee, biscuits and a chat.

*Computer course: a laptop housekeeping course which will be coming on stream in the near future, more news on this at a later date.