Saturday 25th May dawned clear and bright as a group from Peninsula Pacers set off from Donabate to do the Sandymount to Poolbeg walk. Sandymount village was looking pretty and bustling as we popped into Crudos for some delicious coffee and croissants to fortify us for the 11.4km walk.

En route a large information board enlightened us to the history of the South Wall, originally known as ‘The Piles’, and as we walked along it we marvelled at the construction of this wall by manual labour, no heavy machinery back then ! It was the longest seawall in the world when it was completed in 1731, and is still one of the longest in Europe. At the end of the wall is the Poolbeg Lighthouse, original built in 1767, one of the most distinctive landmarks in Dublin, its red colour serving as a navigation aid at the entrance to Dublin port.

After admiring the views of Dublin Bay, watching a few ships coming into harbour and encouraging the hopeful fishermen on the wall, we retraced our steps to Sandymount and some welcome refreshments in the Chophouse pub before training it back to Donabate after another enjoyable, and educational, walk done.

If you are interested in joining the Peninsula Pacers please call Breda on 086 8693243, or Carolyn on 087-9284307.

LSA proudly hosted the third edition of our Four Mile Peninsula Road Race on the 26th May. Over 400 adults took on the scenic route along the Broadmeadow estuary, Corballis and Balcarrick to the finish line on the Donabate Distributor Road. Our shorter kids races attracted over 100 young people. A course record was set in the Men’s race. Local Donabate resident David Rooney finished in a time of 20 mins 15 seconds, taking a huge 34 seconds off the previous men’s record.

Sincere thanks to our fantastic club members who volunteered to organise and help out on the day. Thanks to our main sponsor Glenveagh Homes and also Diesel Clothing for their invaluable support. Fingal County Council provided great support and help as always.

In other club news, we were very excited to see athlete Sineád Farrell don the green vest to join the Irish team in the European Off-Road Running Championships in Annecy, France. Sinead competed in two challenging Under 20 off-road races, with impressive performances in heavy rain and difficult terrain in the French Alps.

Sineád now joins Anna Gavigan (Discus) as the second LSA Under 20 athlete to have been selected for International representation at a European Championship.

Meanwhile closer to home, we had a great day at the graduation of our latest Couch to 5k group. Some of our graduates then went straight on to run the Women’s Mini Marathon and even take on Hell and Back!

Our Juvenile athletes have been taking part in the Dublin Championships in May and June. We’ve been delighted to see first-time participants taking on the challenge and many athletes achieving Personal Bests. It was our most successful Dublin Championships with a host of medals, a total of nine athletes qualifying for National finals and two athletes, Sinead Farrell (U19 3000m) and Cara Davison (U14 Discus) crowned Dublin Champion.

We look forward to seeing many of our young athletes at our summer camp in July. For everyone else training resumes at the end of the summer.

As many members were away, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed took a break in June from its Thursday get-togethers and the weekly exercise classes. Nevertheless, it was still a busy month for them. Tuesday mornings saw continued interest in croquet at Newbridge and of course the plots at Turvey Allotments still needed work. There were also a few special events.

As part of International Men’s Health Week, the Fingal branches of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, including Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed, organised a walking get-together in Newbridge Demesne on Wednesday 12th June. This was well-attended and enjoyable, with participants taking on different length walks to suit their different fitness levels.

In early June, members of Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed had a guided tour of 14 Henrietta Street, learning about Dublin social history as told through the lives of the house’s past residents from some of Dublin’s wealthiest families to people living in one of Europe’s most deprived slums – a fascinating story of contrasting lives.

Gerry & the Plonkers, the Men’s Shed music group, was busy last month with a concert for residents in St. Ita’s Hospital in early June and being delighted to help out with Donabate Sea Scouts fund-raising event later in the month.

To join us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.

Dear Resident,

I wish to take this initial opportunity of sincerely thanking each and every person and particularly the people of Donabate and Portrane for voting for me in such huge numbers on Friday 7th June last. As an unelected Local Area Representative for Donabate over the past 5 Years I received many comments to the effect that “I Had No Mandate”. I have received your mandate which I will always respect and have regard to.

I wish to thank the public for the courtesy shown to me and my canvassers during the campaign. I am extremely humbled and overwhelmed by the hundreds of messages of support received over the last few days. I want to thank my good friends Duncan Smith TD & Cllr Robert O’Donoghue for their support & assistance over the last 5 years, Sean, Francis and Brendan Ryan, Tony McDermott, Tommie O’Sullivan, my family, friends and many neighbours who encouraged and supported me every step of the way. I want to also remember the late Cllr Gerry McGuire who I have no doubt would be so pleased with this result. It has been said to me that I am the first woman from the peninsula ever elected to FCC since it was established in 1994 which if true makes this such an important milestone for me personally and for our community.

I wish to congratulate Cllrs Rob O’Donoghue, Paul Mulville, Cathal Boland and Eoghan Dockrell on their election. I look forward to working with you all. My Commiserations to all defeated candidates as I am aware of what you must be feeling as I went through this process 5 years ago.

As Your Councillor you can be assured that I will endeavour to implement policies that are in the best interest of our expanding communities. I intend to pursue a number of issues including the provision of a much-needed multifunctional Arts Youth and Cultural centre for our growing community. I look forward to working on your behalf as your elected Cllr. Please feel free to contact me on any issue.
Councillor Corina Johnston
Labour Party

Bhí ard oíche i gCumann Gailf Baile an Bhéibhearaigh, le déanaí ag Tráth na gCeist bliantúil Gaelscoil na Mara. Eagraithe ag coiste tuistí, Cairde na Scoile, chun airgead a bháiliú ar son na scoile. Ba mhaith leis an gCoiste buíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a thug tacaíocht don feachtas báiliú airgid, a cheannaigh ticéidí don chrannchur, a tháinig go dtí an tráth na gceist agus dos na gnó aitúil a rinne urraíocht ar duaiseanna álainn don chrannchur. Buíochas le Cumann Gailf Baile an Bhéibhearaigh freisin as an bhfáiltiú a thugadar dúinn.

Is pobal beag bríomhar sinn i nGaelscoil na Mara agus táimid ag dul ó neart go neart. Tá tacaíocht phobail an leithinis an-tábhachtach dúinn agus muid ag fás, ár mbuíochas libh.

The parents association of Gaelscoil na Mara, Donabate would like to thank the local community for their support in hosting a hugely successful Fundraiser Table Quiz held in Beaverstown Golf Club on May 10th. Gaelscoil na Mara has a small but thriving school community, with dedicated, enthusiastic teachers and parents who strive to support and encourage their children’s education through the Irish Medium.
It’s important to have these annual fundraisers to help the school and bring the school and local community together. Maith sibh, to all the table quiz participants.

We hope that the Table Quiz will become an annual event and we look forward to welcoming you again.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the various local businesses who sponsored prizes for our raffle, including: Lynders Mobile Home Park; Supervalu Donabate; Tesco Distribution Centre, Turvey; Stephen Hand; Páirc an Chrócaigh; Triangle Coffee Co; Life Pharmacy; Country Crest Farm Shop;; Jones Garden Centre; Newbridge House & Farm; The Sea Sauna; Good Vibrations Yoga & Sound; Beaverstown Golf Club; Moss Actuarial Ltd.

The foundation stone for the highly anticipated Broadmeadow Greenway between Malahide and Donabate was laid recently with plans for the new pedestrian and cycling route to be completed by 2026.
The granting of the foreshore license for the project has been signed and will see the 6km coastal walking and cycling route providing beautiful views of the Malahide Estuary.

As part of Fingal’s planned network of greenways and cycle routes, the Broadmeadow Way will also connect with the proposed Sutton to Malahide Greenway and the Fingal Coastal Way and will be an important link in developing the network of sustainable transport routes in Fingal.

The greenway will be comprised of new and existing sections of pathways and roads in both Malahide and Donabate, with new infrastructure also extending across agricultural lands to link with the Donabate Distributor Road and Corballis East lands to the south.

The Estuary itself will be bridged alongside the existing rail line by a new 180m long, 12-span bridge constructed on piers which were placed by Fingal County Council to facilitate future development following the rail line reconstruction after its 2009 collapse.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien said: “The laying of the foundation stone here in Malahide marks an important milestone in the construction of the Broadmeadow Greenway. This key piece of strategic infrastructure will benefit tourists, day trippers and locals alike, providing a welcome connection between Donabate and Malahide and giving people of all ages a great opportunity to explore the Fingal coastline.”

Construction of the Broadmeadow estuary bridge section will take place during the summer months of 2024, and the contractor, Jons Civil Ltd, has now commenced work on this part of the project. The greenway sections on the Northern and Southern causeways is planned to take place during Summer 2025 and Summer 2026 alongside landward works on both sides.

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly added, “The Broadmeadow Greenway is a significant investment that will see us deliver a high-quality amenity that will be a key part of the Fingal Coastal Way. Once completed, it will not only be transformative for Malahide and Donabate, but it will also open up greater access to the region and bring many health and wellbeing benefits.”

A huge thanks to FCC especially Shane Sutton & Martin from King Landscaping who laid the 2nd Boules Court last month. It is hoped that with the 2nd Court the game can be developed further. So come and join Active Age for All & or Men’s Shed and we will have a few sessions in July to get you going. It is great fun and a small bit of exercise! Please note the good work FCC are doing in the park eg the painting of the benches for the hub!

It’s been a busy time in LSA. Many of our adult members represented us at the Great Limerick Run, the Belfast Marathon, and the Drogheda 10k. In Track and Field our athletes have had a great start to their season in Schools Athletics and Dublin Leagues. Meanwhile we have also had athletes compete in Irish Mountain Running events.

Our Juvenile athletes had excellent performances at the North Leinster Schools Championships with a great haul of medal for our Juveniles who went on to compete at the Leinster Schools Athletics Championships. Our athletes secured top 6 places, winning valuable team points for their schools (Donabate Community College and Loreto Secondary School Balbriggan).

The Dublin Athletics League series is well underway. Our Under 16 athletes competed in the Juvenile League and our older teenagers and adults took part in the Dublin Graded Meets. We were particularly proud of the success of our Competition group athletes who train with coach Gerry Ronan.

Although Donabate isn’t known for hills, one of our athletes has had great success at Irish Mountain Running events. Under 19 Sinead Farrell has been selected to represent Ireland at the European Athletics Off-Road running event in Annecy, France following qualification at the Seefin Trials in Co. Limerick. Sinead also won the recent IMRA Leinster League Race at Argillan Demesne, Skerries, whilst Under 12 athlete Kate Jones was 3rd in a shorter race at the same event.

We are looking forward to welcoming 150 young athletes to our 2024 Summer Camp in July. Our sincere thanks to St Pats GAA for offering us the use of their grounds for our camp. Thanks also to our volunteer coaches who give us their time to provide three days of fun-filled activity and athletics.

We always welcome new members and volunteers. If you would like to get involved please contact us - details below:

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

Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA on our social media pages!

Preparations are well under way for the annual Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival in September. This year the festival starts on Thursday September 12th, and over the following 10 days the peninsula will be buzzing with a full timetable of activities to satisfy all cultural appetites.

The Bleeding Pig Cultural festival has been running for more than 10 years now, and is getting bigger and better every year, and this year promises to be no different.

The fun starts on Thursday 12th September with some ceol agus craic in the Brook Pub in Portrane, led by renowned Piper Eamonn Galldubh agus a chairde, and featuring members of Ceomhaltas Leithinis.

The organisers are very grateful to Mick and Bríd Moynihan at the Brook for hosting the launch. The 2024 festival will feature all the usual favourites including:

Workshops for Adults and Children; Gala Concert; Mol an Oige; Art and Photograph Exhibition; Short Film Festival; Walks and Talks; Any Voice open mic; Short plays from the Dramatic Society;

Sing-a-Long; PizzaTrad with complimentary pizza from DoughBox; September Miscellany; and plenty more.

This year there will be some new and exciting events including a car-based Family Scavenger Hunt, Expoloration Dome Planetarium experience, and more.

In an effort to highlight some local history, this year the festival will feature a forum, interviewing and chatting with some local residents who grew up on the peninsula, sharing their memories of Donabate and Portrane in times gone by.

After the festival, on Sunday 29th September, the Dublin Orchestral Players will visit the Parish Hall to perform a narrated production of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. This much-loved orchestral work is an age-old crowd-pleaser and promises entertainment for music-lovers of all ages.

Keep an eye on the festival Social Media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and Website for more details about all of the events.

The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival is always seeking new recruits to help with the arrangements and the events. If you would like to join the committee, or help out at any festival event, please contact Eilish McDermott on 087-7911833.

Fingal County Council has been urged to follow through on finding a new location for an Arts, Cultural and Youth Facility that is badly needed in the area with ever-increasing population numbers in the area of Donabate Portrane.

With 31% of the local population under the age of 19, and a projected increase in total population numbers expected to grow in the area to 20,000 by the year 2030, calls are being made for FCC to provide the new facility.

Speaking about the issue, Donabate Portrane Local Representative Corina Johnston (LAB) said FCC stated that the existing Community Centre could cater for the current needs of people in the area, something she strongly disagrees with.

“FCC stated at a recent follow up meeting with the Crossroads group that the additional community requirements could be met in the Community Centre when the Library is relocated to the Credit Union site. This proposal is unacceptable as it will not meet the needs of an expanding population of Donabate.”
“The LAP has an objective to provide a Multifunctional Community Facility which the Council seem intent to renege upon. It seems Donabate can have the 4000 houses but not the infrastructure, a situation that we cannot accept. We must demand infrastructure in line with development and a facility that caters for our youth population,” she said.

Despite the suggestion of a new location proposed on the Tilberry Site on the New Road, FCC stated there was ‘other plans’ for the site, something that has worried Cllr Johnston on the Council’s commitment to the Local Area Plan.

“I am deeply concerned that this objective in the LAP is being reneged upon. What is the purpose of public consultation when the council seems intent on reneging on this objective. If this site is not delivered while the land is still not built upon it may never happen. Having spoken to many residents throughout the peninsula they are not prepared to accept that this much needed community facility is being reneged upon. I intend to pursue this to a successful conclusion if elected on 7th June,” she added.