As part of Fingal Inclusion Week AAfA were delighted to join DPCC in hosting a Dementia Friendly Coffee Morning. We had a great attendance for a most interesting talk by Geraldine Mc Graffery from the Alzheimer’s Society on Dementia and the services that are available.
Citizens Information also gave a short presentation outlining the entitlement for over 65s. We hope to have a longer presentation from them in the New Year. This was followed by lunch and music from the Caintóirí and Gerry & The Men’s Shed Plonkers who enticed our ladies to show their jiving skills as they rocked the room. It was a very pleasant and informative morning! Thank you very much indeed to all who participated!
We are looking forward to our next event which is our very popular annual Christmas Carol Concert with our singing group Na Caintoiri. This will take place on the12th of December at 11.00 a.m. with mince pies and mulled wine to follow. By popular demand they will be joined by The Men’s Shed Plonkers who will rock us into the Christmas spirit. We will have our usual Monster Raffle and a collection for St Francis Hospice. So please come and support this very worthy cause. Wishing you all a very Healthy and Happy Christmas and we will see you all in the New Year!
The musical narrative of ‘OCEAN CHILD’, is composed by Neil Martin, and is wrought from the tragic sinking of the RMS Tayleur off Lambay Island on January 21st, 1854. This is the world premiere of this newly commissioned work and it will be performed in St Patrick’s Church Donabate for the very first time ever on Sunday 28th January 2024. In this suite, a spoken narrative, drawn from contemporaneous newspaper reports and witness accounts, marries with an original score embracing string quartet, uilleann pipes, harp, flute and concertina. The performers include the world-famous actor Stephen Rea, The West Ocean String Quartet, Louise and Michelle Mulcahy. It was Commissioned by Templebar Trad Fest and made possible through the generosity of Fingal County Council. Remember the time and date: The Concert is at 6pm on the Sunday January 28th in St Patrick’s Church Donabate, tickets on sale Thursday November 16th on tradfest.com
The Peninsula Pacers recently headed to Deerpark Woods in Virginia Co Cavan for a 6/7km medium length walk through the woods around the Park Hotel & beside Lake Ramor. It was a beautiful, interesting walk with all the colours of autumn. The day began with rain but soon cleared and was bright & sunny. We did a car share & it only took just over one hour to the start of the walk - toilets available in supermarket in the town - free parking in this area & at the lake - coffee truck at the lake also. We ate late lunch in the Riverside Hotel - which was delicious & very well priced! Our next walk is on Saturday 6th January 2024! to Carlingford. This was the walk that had been planned before the poor people of that area were flooded, we hope they will be able to rebuild their lovely village. Further details from Carolyn Smith 087 9284307 or Des Carthy 087 7846813. We wish you a Happy Christmas & a Healthy and Fit! New Year.
As reported last month, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed had a fascinating visit to Leinster House in October, arranged for us by Senator Clifford-Lee. Our guide, Fidelma, related the history of the building from its use as a townhouse for the Fitzgerald family to its acquisition by the state for use as the seat of the Oireachtas and explained the rules and working of both houses of the Oireachtas. In November, the Men’s Shed continued its visits of historical buildings with a tour of Dublin’s GPO, where our guide, Caitríona, told us about the details of the use of the GPO as the headquarters for the 1916 Rising and we watched a short film which graphically presented the rising from the reading of the proclamation to the execution of its leaders. In early December, the Men’s Shed will be holding its annual Christmas dinner for its members. And speaking of Christmas, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed wishes all its members and the wider Donabate Portrane community who have supported our activities over the year a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Anyone who is interested in joining us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 0863694316.
Donabate Parish Hall is almost 220 years old. For the first 100 years it was the Catholic Church, then the new red brick Catholic Church, St Patrick’s was built opposite and the Parish Hall became a community hall just 120 years ago. Since then a number of dedicated volunteers have assisted in the day to day running of the hall as caretakers of the building & the grounds. In the past, about 50 years ago there were the two Gavin sisters, Kathleen & Bridget who ably looked after the day to day running of the hall.Some of the most recent caretakers who work or have worked tirelessly for the Parish Hall and by extension for the community include, Martin Naughton from Portrane & Vincent Kearns from Donabate As the oldest working hall in the Dublin area, so many people have been involved with its running & caretaking. If you have old photographs or information of the Parish Hall & the centre of Donabate and or of any people who may have been caretakers etc please contact Parish Office.The Parish Hall wish all of their users a Happy & Healthy Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.
Our regular Traditional Irish Music Slow Session for Leithinis members, led by Erin, continued every second Friday evening in Donabate Parish Hall (shown in photo) and has become very popular with new members. The regular Fast Sessions for experienced musicians continued on the first Tuesday of the month in the Brook Pub in Portrane (shown in photo). This event is attracting musicians from all over the North County. The Leithinis AGM took place on November 13th and we were glad to welcome Mary Whelan from the Dublin County Board. Leithinis members, both adults and children, played a number of music sets at the annual Winter Fete in Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School which was very well received. The Leithinis Christmas Slow Session for members takes place on the 15th December. Our last music lessons before Christmas are on the 11th December and resume on the 8th January. The Leithinis Committee would like to wish Nollaig Shona to all our members.
Labour party local area representative Corina Johnston said recently that she and her party are monitoring the proposed travel infrastructure for Donanabte. She said, “As the population of Donabate is projected to grow to over 20,000 over the next 10 years it is imperative that the necessary infrastructure be prioritised and delivered. The Council received the following update at a recent meeting: “FCC recently appointed consultants for a number of schemes on the Donabate-Portrane Peninsula: (1.) Phase 2 of the Donabate Distributor Road project to improve access to Donabate and Portrane from the M1-Lissenhall Interchange for all road users especially pedestrians and cyclists; (2.) Active Travel Routes to increase local connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. (3.) Traffic study to examine efficiencies and safety issues at the M1 Lissenhall Interchange. (4.) A new greenway scheme alongside the existing Donabate Distributor Road. Preliminary design work is commencing on these schemes with further progress expected in subsequent years. Johnston went on to say “ A Works contract for the Broadmeadow Way Greenway have been finalised with other elements being procured and tendered shortly. Tender for the Pill River Bridge Kilcrea junction section of the greenway will go to tender in early 2024. -A tender process is underway to appoint a works contractor on the Donabate Pedestrian Bridge linking new residential developments at Corballis East and West with Donabate Train Station,Donabate Village and Newbridge Demesne. Work to commence early in 2024. -A CPO is under consideration by An Bord Pleanala for the Portrane Road Enhancement scheme from Carrs Mill to the National Schools. The tender process is completed for the Turvey Avenue Enhancement scheme where no footpath currently exists on Turvey Avenue with works to commence in the coming weeks. -The design report for walking and cycling infrastructure on R126 from the end of the Donabate Distributor Road to Seaview Park Portrane have been prepared. Subject to land take agreements and environmental screening, it is intended to proceed to planning in 2024. -Consultation and route option design continues on the Fingal Coastal Way and the Donabate Urban Framework Plan will be progressed by the Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department.”
Corina Johnston added, “It is my firm belief that vital infrastructure should be delivered either prior to or in tandem with development in our towns and villages. While I welcome the necessary design and planning work that has been carried out it will be of no benefit to the people of Donabate if they are not delivered. We in the Labour party intend to pursue these matters.”
What a month for LSA all across the club. Our membership has now reached 435, with 200 adult members, 235 Juveniles and Under 20s.Our Juvenile coaches have been busy returning to training with the focus on the Cross-Country season and looking ahead to the Indoor Track and Field season. Our Juvenile athletes took part in the Dublin Cross Country League series with races in Lusk and Tymon Park. Well done to all. Congratulations also to our coaches who have successfully completed Athletics Ireland Coaching courses. Our Juvenile coaches have also been inspiring our younger members: Dara Carr and Eimear Caulfield both have represented Ireland in the recent European Masters Athletics Championships in Pescara, Italy. Dara competed on the track in 100m, 200m and as part of a 4x 400m relay team that placed 4th overall. Eimear was the proud winner of a Gold medal as part of a winning Cross country team! Our adult members have been in top form. Our Fit4Life group is making sure to #nevermissaMonday. Many of our Intermediate and Advanced groups of athletes are now focused on the Marathon, inspired by recent top performances by our Berlin Marathon participants. But whether it’s a 2 hr 38-minute marathon, a 38-minute 5k, or helping out at our Juvenile training and events, there’s the Power of Support in LSA.
Last year Tradfest came to Fingal as it extended & embraced not only Dublin City & Temple bar but Dublin County & Fingal. The launch was held in the Seamus Ennis Centre in the Naul and then Tradfest put on other wonderful Trad Music events in Malahide & Swords Castles. This year they are celebrating the roots of Irish Trad Music by also hosting events in smaller and unique buildings and locations in Fingal, like the Parish Hall in Donabate. Traditional music came from Homes, Halls & Hostelries! or Parlours, Parish & Pubs! In list of venues, we are in there with Dublin Castle & The Button Factory! Donabate Parish Hall is one of these special places, beautiful and old world and which thanks to the assistance of FCC Community Dept. has fantastic acoustics which enable it to be used as a great venue. Martin Harte a Parish man, CEO of Temple Bar Company is the driving force behind bringing Tradfest out to Fingal and Donabate Parish Hall. We are steeped to have Gerry O’ Connor another Parish man and legendary world-famous Banjo player perform two separate concerts in the Parish Hall - lunchtime & late afternoon - on Sunday 28th January 2024. This is a very exciting happening for the Peninsula & Donabate Parish Hall & Tradfest so check out their website for all events & booking for other venues in Fingal & Temple bar - it is a great festival and we are truly delighted to be a part of it. Contact Parish Office re queries re availability of Parish Hall for use for classes, activities, events & public meetings on
Ph: 01 – 8434574
It has been a very busy month for AAfA getting members settled into classes. We still have places left in Chair Yoga, Yoga and Singing & Music. As you know AAfA is for those aged over 55 years and all are welcome. We had a great response to our event for Positive Aging Week, a free singing class followed by refreshments and a lunchtime concert. It was a resounding success! The Caintóirí, Gerry & The Men’s Shed Plonkers, Peig McManus and Enid Hughes also took part. Members danced home to the lively music of the Plonkers as the band played us out. Proving that all are aging positively! This event was sponsored by DPCC and Age Friendly Fingal. Another event is planned for Inclusion Week on Wednesday November 15th. In conjunction with The Bleeding Pig and DPCC we are organising a Dementia Friendly Coffee Morning. Starting at 11.00 a.m. with an informative talk followed by refreshments and music by The Caintóirí and Gerry & The Men’s Shed Stompers. Hope that you can come along and support Inclusion Week. All are welcome. For Information about Active Age for All please visit our website activeageforall.com or email us at activeageforall@gmail.com or TEXT only 0868806808. Our photos are from the Positive Aging Week Concert.
