Labour Councillor Corina Johnston has voiced concerns about the reliability of the 33B Bus Service for Donabate, Portrane and The Burrow. “At a recent meeting with the CEO of Go Ahead Ireland I raised my serious concerns in respect of the following: the reliability of the 33B bus service; the current and future of contract; the impact unacceptable cancellations has on commuters in Donabate and the Burrow, Portrane with every second bus servicing this area with commuters late for school, work, college, hospital appointments and having to take a taxi at a huge cost; the need for double decker buses to be utilised on the Donabate peninsula given our growing population to ensure passengers are not left behind; concerns regarding buses bypassing the town centre ; need for improved communication with commuters; need for connectivity between trains and buses.”

Johnston continued; “in response Go Ahead Ireland confirmed: recent service issues as a result of issues with recruitment of mechanics and winter flu; Recruitment process for additional drivers underway; improvement in services over last week with further improvements and return to full services anticipated within 10 days; double decker buses used at peak with ongoing monitoring of service capacity; Go Ahead has entered into a letter of intent with the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a new contract for Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area (ODMA) North and South to commence in October 2025; anticipated Bus Connects roll out in 2026 with every bus to service the Burrow, Portrane with the 33B services operating to and from Dublin Airport, improved connectivity between trains and buses •investigation of buses bypassing Donabate town centre ; communications review underway

Johnston concluded, ”I will continue to raise the ongoing issues with the 33B service with Go Ahead Ireland and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to ensure a reliable bus service is provide for commuters.”

Last year the Donabate Portrane Darkness Into Light walk raised over €21k to help keep the wonderful work being done through Pieta going. This year’s planning and organising is already well underway for the walk which takes place on Saturday morning 10th May at 4.15am in Newbridge House. We had a wonderful group of volunteers and participants join us to deliver what was a moving, memorable and successful event both in terms of bringing our community out and together as well as from a fundraising perspective. We like to keep things simple so for this year’s event we are hoping to exceed the 450 participants we had last year and the amount we raised so we encourage you, your family and friends to sign-up, join us and help make the Donabate Portrane DIL walk another memorable one. The online link to register and fundraise for the walk is open and we encourage people to sign up as early as possible - https://www.darknessintolight.ie/#Signup. We will have an in person registration day in Donabate this year closer to the event for those who miss out online but as with everything the earlier you register the better. Thanks everyone!

The Donabate Portrane Darkness Into Light committee.

Active Age for All held it’s AGM on Friday 17th January this year and we were very pleased with the attendance, many of whom stayed for a cuppa and a chat when the business was done. Active Age continues to go from strength to strength due in no small part to the vision of the first committee and the dedicated work of following committees. None of this would have been possible without these volunteers and the support and cooperation of the community centre management and staff, a big debt of gratitude to all. Many committee members past and present represent AAfA on various organisations and groups: Valerie Henderson (Donabate/Portrane Liaison Group), Mario Mc Cormack ( PPN), Louis Gunnigan ( Town Centre First), Carolyn Smith ( D/P Community Council), Peig McManus ( Forum for Older People), & Mary Farrell ( DPCC Board)). This year we are delighted to welcome on board Adriana Ganet as tutor for Spanish 2 (intermediate) on Monday mornings. We are also very pleased to have two past committee members returning to the committee, Mary Farrell and Carmel Carey; and welcome to first timer Ann O’Hanlon.

Active Age is now entering its 10th year, and we plan to continue growing and developing with the community of the peninsula.

Through the Lens has had another successful calendar sale with the 2025 issue. The club has produced a limited edition of 300 calendars for the past few years with the help of the local businesses who take advertising space in it. It started as a fund raiser for the club whilst also being able to sponsor a local group, it is also a good exercise for the members and a promotion for the club. All photos selected for inclusion must be related to the peninsula and may probably be an historical reference in years to come given the rapid changes afoot in the area.

This year we are proud to sponsor Foroige a local youth group based in the community centre. Foroige caters for 12- to 18-year-old teenagers and they meet every Friday from 7.30 to 9pm. There are table games as well as snooker and table tennis, and drinks and snacks are available on the night. They do trips such as to the Awesome Walls and take part in activities like the Foroige Dublin & National talent championship.

Contact for Foroige: Kevin Barnes 087-9580129 and contact for Through the Lens: Mary McKenna 087-2321852.

Work has commenced on the new Donabate Library which is scheduled to open by the end of this year.
The development of the new public library at Ballisk House is one of a number of projects being undertaken by Fingal County Council that will enhance the provision of community facilities in the Donabate area as envisaged under the Donabate Framework Plan and the Capital Programme agreed by the elected members of Fingal County Council last October.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, said: “I am delighted that the contractor is on site and work has begun on Donabate’s new library which, when opened, will offer so much more to the local community than just books. The move from its present location in the Community Centre will also free up significant space which can now be used by different groups on the Donabate peninsula.”

Fingal County Council acquired Ballisk House in 2022 following the decision of the Progressive Credit Union to close its Donabate branch which had been located in the premises. The land had originally been owned by the Council but was sold in 1995 to Donabate Credit Union to facilitate the building of Ballisk House.

Vision Contracting were appointed last December to carry out the refurbishment works on Ballisk House and went on site at the end of January to commence phase one of a two phase project. It is anticipated that the new library will open to the public by the end of this year.

Phase one will deliver a contemporary library with children’s and young adult areas on the ground floor of the building. The installation of wheelchair accessible lifts will provide access to the adult lending area and a library events space on the first floor. The new library will also be a ‘My Open Library’, which will give registered members access to the building beyond normal staffed hours.

Planning has begun for Phase Two of the project which will consider the addition of an extension to the building to further enhance library facilities.

March promises to be a busy time for Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed. Work on our allotment plots has already started in earnest for the next growing season and our weekly HSE-sponsored Healthy Eating classes with Suzanne continue.

Our music group, Gerry and the Plonkers are set to play three gigs during March. On Wednesday 12th, they play a St. Patrick’s themed as part of their monthly FREE concert in Donabate Parish Hall, which we hope will be be as successful as last month’s Valentine’s themed concert. Light refreshments will be provided and adults are welcome. They are also honored to be invited to play at a function in Blanchardstown for a women’s group and at this month’s Memory Café in our local Community Centre on 26th March.

At the end of February, Men’s Shed members had a fascinating guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol, covering many of the main historical events in Ireland from the late 18th century to the early 20th. A fuller report will be included in next month’s article.

Needless to say, our regular weekly activities continue - exercise classes, croquet, music practice and Thursday get-togethers.

So, if you or someone close to you would like to join us, call our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316 or just drop in to Donabate Sea Scouts’ Den on Portrane Road between 11am and 1pm on Thursday mornings.

LSA saw 2024 close with record membership of over 500 adult and juvenile athletes. We aim to be a club for all the community, from age 8 and upwards, in a variety of athletics disciplines. So whether you’re starting out in your athletics journey, or you are a seasoned competitor, we would love to have you join us. We have adult groups for a range of abilities and interests.

Our full Juvenile athletics training program resumed last month as athletes returned to regular sessions preparing for the upcoming indoor season. Membership fees are now due for all of our returning athletes and we look forward to working with your child in 2025.

Our weekly Juvenile training sessions are as follows: - Monday:- S&C DPCC - athletes born 2014 (Under 12 & up)Thursday: - Thursday training at DPCC Astro Pitch 6-7 pm: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 7-8 pm: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 & Fit for Youth.

Friday - National Indoor Arena 6-7:15pm Development group training at NIA - Under 12 and up
Saturday - XC group training Meeting @ 2:30 pm at Newbridge Demesne - Under 12 and up
Indoor competition kicks off with the Dublin Championships and Spraoi Games which will be held throughout January and February at the National Indoor Arena (NIA), Abbottstown.

Details of all upcoming competitions were circulated by our competition secretary through our Club social media parent groups. If your child wishes to join our club please contact our Juvenile Registrar, Jennifer Tanner @ lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com. (please note there may be waiting lists in place for some groups.

We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our Program Managers, coaches and volunteers who continue to work with our Juvenile section and make it the great success it is.
Adult memberships queries: lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com. Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (7-18) :lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com

As part of launch events for Tradfest 2025 members of Leithinis CCÉ were invited to attended a recording of RTÉ Radio 1’s Céilí House in Donabate Parish Hall on January 9th.

The event was hosted by esteemed presenter Kieran Hanrahan, with guests Gerry O’Connor, Mike Hanrahan, Bernadette NicGabhann and Karan Casey supported by Dáire Ó Maoldeirg and Muireann Ní Mhaoldeirg and Leithinis Teachers Sadhb NicArtáin (Fiddle) and Iarlaith MacArtáin (Banjo & Mandolin). The show was broadcast on Jan. 11th, you can listen back to the show on the RTE Radio Website at https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/11686968/
day.

Kieran Hanrahan of Céilí House was presented with a painting from Fingal to honour his long involvement with Tradfest & Irish traditional music.

It was a great day for Donabate in having this event come to us in the Parish Hall. Thank you Martin Harte of Tradfest & all the team from Rte & the Parish Hall Committee.

As a reminder, the new term for traditional Irish music lessons with Leithinis starts back on Monday, January 20th. More details at https://leithinis.com/ We welcome all ages and stages. It’s a great way to meet new people and learn or relearn an instrument in a very relaxed setting.

Labour Councillor Corina Johnston has expressed her concern that commuters on the Northern Rail Line will not see a significant increase in seating on new Dart+ trains that are to come online in 2026.

“Along with Duncan Smith TD we have been raising this important issue on a regular basis at National level. From Ministerial Statements and Press releases especially before the recent GE, expectation was given to the public that the delivery of Dart + Trains on the Northern Line would provide an improvement for commuters in respect of frequency and capacity of service which would be forthcoming from the beginning of 2026 (especially from Donabate which is last Station before the Dart at Malahide). From the replies received to my specific questions submitted to Irish Rail it is apparent that there will be no significant increase in capacity on the Northern Line at peak hours for a number of years.”

Replying to Cllr Johnston’s query on current capacity, and the expected increase with the new hybrid Dart trains, Irish Rail stated, ‘The current 4 car commuter train has a seated capacity of 185, 2 wheelchairs and a standing capacity of 444 so a total of 629 passengers. The new hybrid DART 5 car train has a seated capacity of 208 and 2 wheelchairs and a standing capacity of 428 and 2 bicycle storage areas so a total of 636 passengers.’

Cllr Johnston stated that alternatives will need to be found to accommodate the increasing population in the area serviced by the Norther Commuter Rail Line. “It is obvious that further extensions of the direct bus services will be required to meet the demand for access to the city centre for workers along this line. Duncan and I intend to pursue this matter with the relevant authorities at national level as we cannot wait for an incident to occur due to overcrowding before action is taken,” she added.

January has been very busy for the Active Age for All committee with membership for 2025 and registration for classes for the spring term. We were heartened that over 100 people logged on to our website to book their classes and activities. This facility for early booking is available to existing members with a valid membership number. We always hold back places in classes for the ‘walk-in’ registration. In spite of the wintery conditions 85 people braved the ice to come to the ‘walk-in’ to sign up, and have a chat and a cuppa. If you haven’t renewed your membership yet you can text to 086-8806808 with ‘I want to renew my membership’, you will get a call back to do just that.

There are still a few places available in some classes, you can check this out on the website. You can also check where you can get a discount with your membership card, just scroll down to the bottom of the page.

At the end of 2024 we had 286 members which is an amazing number representing our cohort on the peninsula. We look forward to another year of exercising both bodies and minds, catching up with people and meeting new ones, staying active in every way!