Leithinis Donabate Portrane CCÉ resumed Traditional Irish Music classes on Monday 2nd October in DPETNS. We are delighted that 65 members are taking classes in Tin Whistle, Flute, Bodhrán, Guitar, Fiddle, Concertina, Banjo and Accordion. Our Friday Grúpaí Cheoil slow and intermediate sessions for CCÉ members took place in Donabate Parish Hall during October and the next are on November 10th and December 1st and 15th. Traditional Irish Music sessions led by Denis continue as usual in The Brook Pub, Portrane on the first Tuesday of every month at 7.30 pm. All are welcome to come along to listen and enjoy a great evening of music by some of our talented local musicians. We are delighted that Donabate Parish Hall has been confirmed as one of the venues for Tradfest 2024 featuring the very talented local musician, Gerry O’Connor, and friends playing on January 28th. This will be a great gig!

Gubbio is a town in Umbria, Italy, nestled in the foothills of the Apennines. It’s peaceful and picturesque now, but once in the 1200s it was terrorised by a wolf that killed any of the residents that ventured outside of the town walls. Saint Francis of Assisi was asked to intercede on behalf of the residents and famously made a pact with the wolf that if the residents of the town fed the wolf it would stop killing. The wolf indicated its agreement by placing its large paw in Saint Francis’ hand. Thereafter, the wolf lived quietly with the villagers and they fed him and cared for him. The point of the story was that mankind needs to live in harmony with nature and that when the two are not in synch mankind suffers. Today the proverbial wolf at our door in Donabate and Portrane as coastal communities is climate change and also the broader issue of the ecological devastation that has been wrought on our common home. Pope Francis has tried to emulate his namesake by making climate change, ecological issues and care for the poor central to his pontificate. One key action was the publication of his encyclical whose title borrowed from Saint Francis’ words and was entitled Laudato Si’ - care for our common home” and Laudato Si’ calls on people to recognize the urgent need for ecological conversion and sustainable living. In our own community the call in Laudato Si’ has been answered by the establishment of a group in the Parish of Donabate, Portrane and Balheary dedicated to helping achieve Pope Francis’ ecological vision in the parish and wider community. Father Pat Reilly, P.P. who convened the group said “ For ecological conversion to take place we all need to think using our hearts as well as our heads.” The group has launched an initial plan with actions for our parish in the key areas highlighted in Laudato Si’. Details are available on the parish website. The group welcomes new members and more details can be obtained by emailing laudatosi2023@yahoo.com

On Sunday 26.11.2023, Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School will open their doors between 12 and 4pm to welcome you to their annual Winter Fete. This event is a great day out for the entire family. 2€ entrance per adult. Kids and senior citizens go free. Enjoy a great atmosphere, some lovely food, local crafts, games and music. Being the school’s largest fundraising event, there are preloved games, toys, books and clothes available for you to purchase. The entire family gets a chance to compete head-to-head in the game room, or can get their picture taken in our photobooth. Or you can get your nails done or face painted in our beauty room to name only but a few of our activities. Additionally, we hold a raffle, with some incredible prices including cash, voucher, hampers and gift baskets. Tickets can be bought on the day as well as in SuperValu on the 11/12 November 2023.

Recently the Peninsula Pacers went to Clogherhead. So for the first real walk of the season we did a nice short one - suitable for all abilities. There are great views on this short walk of cliffs, sea and sandy beaches. There is a great fish shop at the harbour and when the fish & chips trailer cafe is open, it is second to none for fresh & crispy food. This time we ate in The Forge in Termonfeckin set in a lovely garden and trinkets shop. Our next walk is Saturday 4th November to Carlingford for a longer hike! 90% on the flat! Out on the Greenway & back by the forest. We hope to stop in Fitzpatrick’s on the way home a great eating house closer to Dundalk. If you are reasonably fit & interested in walking, please contact Carolyn Smith 087 9284307 or Des Carthy 087 7846813

Last month, a group of musicians from Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed, jokingly christened Gerry and the Plonkers! by one member, played a short set at the Positive Aging event organised by Active Age for All in Donabate Portrane Community and Leisure Centre. The event also included other music and readings. The Men’s Shed choice of songs, hits from the 50s and 60s, reflected the age of the musicians and most of the audience. The well-attended event was enjoyed by all. And to confirm the wide range of interests covered by the Men’s Shed, we also had a visit to Dáil Eireann. A full report and photos of this will be available for the next issue of Donabate/Portrane Local. If you are interested in joining us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.

Corina Johnston Area Representative said; “I am delighted that the provision of a much needed Cultural, Arts and Youth facility was endorsed at our recent well attended public meeting held by Duncan Smith TD and I in Donabate. At the meeting we outlined that the Local Area Plan provides for 4000 homes with the population to exceed 20,000 in the next 10 years with no indoor community facility for the growing Cultural, Arts and Youth Groups. These groups have no permanent home to support their growing numbers and activities with no stage, inadequate parking facilities, no facility for permanent exhibitions or storage of equipment. “Johnston continued; “A number of Crosscare youth workers addressed the meeting and confirmed that they have no permanent home to provide the vital youth services needed in Donabate. According to Census 2022 31% of the Donabate population is under 19 years with 41% aged under 30. Given the huge youth population with an increase in anti-social behaviour it is imperative that a permanent youth facility is included in such a facility.” Johnston continued;” it was great to see so many people and especially our young people enthusiastically addressing the meeting in support of this multi-functional facility in Donabate. The Local Area Plan provides for a community facility on lands at Ballymastone, the provision of a community/cultural/exhibition and performing Arts centre for Donabate- Portrane and encourages the development of multi - functional community buildings.”

Johnston concluded;” it now appears that the people of the Donabate Peninsula will get the housing units but not the Purpose Built Cultural and Community facility. The meeting soundly rejected this proposition with a committee set up to commence a campaign for this facility. The first priority is to secure a site in the Ballymastone/ Corballis area. A Motion will be submitted to the next council meeting (hopefully a cross party one) on this issue. . A local authority site needs to be identified for this purpose before all the suitable land either secures planning permission or is built upon.”

The Parish Hall has most groups and activities fully up and running again - there were some took short breaks for the summer period. Classes such as Irish Dancing, Pilates, Mother & Baby Breast Feeding, Flowers Friends - to name a few are taking place. Groups such as Senior Citizens who provide a great meeting point for older people & organise the best trips ever! and Leithinis Grúpaí Cheoil Trad Sessions for members are also going strong! The Parish Hall Programme sets aside some blocks of time for events & activities to take place to ensure that cultural & creative activities take place which enrich & serve our fast-growing community. This term it is hoped that a youth or children’s camp will take place at October break followed by the fantastic exhibition of Photography by Through the Lens in mid-November, then the ever popular Donabate Dramatic Society Production will take place towards the end of November. The calendar would not be complete without the Christmas Fair on the first Saturday in December. There is still some limited availability to book the Parish Hall for activities & events so if you wish to do so please contact the Parish Office 01 8434574immediately!

After a successful summer, Autumn is shaping up to be a busy season for Lambay Sports & Athletic Club. In August we saw an exciting milestone in the history of our 12-year-old club when the first sod was turned on the Ballymastone Sports and Recreational hub. Club co-founder Jennifer Tanner and Club Chairperson Steven Rice were present to witness this landmark moment. The Club also had great club success in Tullamore in August. Our Ladies Track and Field Team placed 6th in Division 1 of the National League Final. Later that month, also in Tullamore, Shane O’Farrell placed 8th in his age category in the National Half Marathon, in a time of 1:15.57.

Our men’s M50 team placed 8th overall, with Pat Cussen and Ken Spratt both placing 13th and Donal Kerr placing 20th in their respective age categories. Mary McNamara and Eimear Caulfield placed 12th and 17th in their respective age categories. LSA Masters Track and Field athletes are preparing for the European Masters Athletics Championships in Pescara, Italy in late September, whilst our distance runners are continuing their preparation for the Dublin City Marathon at the end of October. Our younger athletes are participating in the Dublin Cross Country Leagues. Our Little Athletics, Juvenile and Fit4Youth groups have returned to Thursday evening training on the Hockey Pitch and our Saturday Cross Country group for older Juveniles resumed with Hill training on Reilly’s Hill. Meanwhile, our Track and Field Competition group has recommenced training with coach Gerry Ronan. As you can see, we have a growing, diverse club and we aim to cater for everyone! We always welcome volunteers, especially the parents or guardians of our younger members. If you can help out, even occasionally, we will be delighted to welcome you to the team. Please talk to a coach at one of our training sessions.

At the end of August, a group from Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed visited Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin. After the fascinating audio-guided tour of the historic building, members moved on to partake in fish and chips at another historic venue, Leo Burdock’s on nearby Werburg Street. By all accounts, an enjoyable day was had by all at these two iconic Dublin landmarks.Earlier in August, Turvey Allotments Association held their annual bar-b-que at the allotments for members, their families and friends. Several members of Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed performed a short set of well-known songs at this open day. These outings were in addition to our regular weekly activities, exercise classes on Mondays, croquet on Tuesday, Music jam session on Wednesdays and Tea and chat get-togethers on Thursday. So, if you’re interested in joining us, please call our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.

The Pacers had a great walk in September we did our Annual Peninsula Walk to coincide with the Bleeding Pig Trad & Ceili event at The Brook Pub with Pizza at the Dough Hut.

We started from the Donabate Parish Hall around by the cliffs with a stop at Wayne’s for coffee and cake enroute to the event. Some of us took in an extra leg by going down to the end of the Burrow and back up by the marsh. It was the best day! The trad music, ceilidh dancing and just brilliant weather with good craic all day! The walks are usually on Saturdays so the next two are:21st October Clogherhead Short Walk and 4th November Carlingford Long walk. This is an informal group that come together to do walks and have a chat and coffee etc. The short walks are about 5/7km and the longer ones 10/12km. Of course, all are weather dependant, as they say there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothes and footwear choices! For further information please contact: Des Carthy on 087 7846813 or Carolyn Smith on 087 9284307