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!
Happy & Healthy Walking for 2025
The Peninsula Pacers have organising three walks for winter/spring all are short to medium length and easy in terms of difficulty but a fairly good level of fitness is still required!
Saturday: January 18th - NEW Greenway Docks Walk 6/8km – Train It was a nice easy walk through the docks with a great lunch in The Yacht Bar afterwards!
February 1st - City Walk - La Féile Brįd - 6/8km – Train.
March 8th - Walk Short part of the Pilgrim Way in Armagh & Visit Navan Fort. 6/8km – Car.
If you are interested in walking please contact Carolyn 087 9284307
Donabate Portrane men’s Shed started the New Year with a flurry of activity. In addition to our usual weekly activities of exercise classes, croquet in Newbridge, music jam and practice sessions and Thursday morning get-togethers, we have managed to squeeze into our busy weekly schedule a six-week Healthy Food Made Easy course, a community cooking programme developed under the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme. Members of the Men’s Shed have participated in these courses previously and found them extremely interesting and information. See the photographs for proof of the newly learned cooking skills.
Gerry and the Plonkers have also been busy. As reported last month, they performed a Christmas concert for St Michael’s House to a very appreciative audience (see the photograph here) and, last month, they played a concert in Donabate Parish Hall. Two more concerts are planned for the Parish Hall on 12th February and 12th March, both Wednesdays at 12 noon to 2pm. All adults are welcome to come along to listen or dance! Light refreshments will be served.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining us, please don’t hesitate to contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.
As part of Tradfest in January ‘Céilí House‘ the Rte programme presented by the renowned Kieran Hanrahan took place in the Parish Hall. It was recorded as part of the lead up to Tradfest. It was a feast of Traditional Irish Music that afternoon with a full House with Kieran’s brother Mike playing and our own Gerry O’Connor. Two of the young teachers from Leithinis CCÉ took to the stage too.
Martin Harte CEO of Tradfest was interviewed by Kieran. The Mayor Brian McDonagh presented Kieran with a painting as a gift for his contribution to Traditional Music & Tradfest.
The Parish Hall was chosen as the perfect place to do this very special edition of ‘Céilí House’, it is old world and an ambience can be easily created. The acoustic panels give perfect sound & the newly refurbished floor again done by Kidds the best in refurbishing old floors was looking fantastic.
The Parish Hall thanks Martin Harte for bringing Tradfest to our community and especially for putting on such an appropriate and historic event in our Parish Hall.
We will also have a music event on for young people organised by Music Makers on Sunday 9th February - see more details in other article.
If you want further information about using the Parish Hall please contact the Parish Office on 01 8434574.
Open Mic Extravaganza – In Collaboration with the Parish Hall Donabate & Portrane, this one’s for you!
Hey, music fans aged 15 and over ready to rock your socks off? Whether you’re a budding musician or the next shower-singing sensation, Music Makers is the ultimate place to let your talent shine.
When? Sunday, 9th February 2025; Time? 2 PM – 5 PM; Where? Parish Hall, Donabate
No skill? No sweat. Don’t worry if you can’t tell a bass line from a clothesline—this event is for everyone!
Pick up your ukulele, guitar, drumsticks, or just your enthusiasm and join the fun.
Why come? Unleash your inner rockstar. Hang out with cool, music-loving people
Share some laughs (and maybe a few missed notes). Email musicmakersph@gmail.com for more details.
Grab your gear, bring your friends, and let’s make some noise! If under 18 please bring an adult with you
The Leithinis CCE played traditional Irish music at the tree lighting ceremony in Portrane on Sunday 8th December. We were delighted to have so many members and friends playing trad together. Though the conditions were challenging with biting winds and freezing temperatures, the hot chocolates and mulled wine provided by the Brook Pub warmed us all up nicely. The music and songs continued afterwards in the Brook where we thawed out and had a chance to warm up.
Leithinis CCE run traditional music lessons in DPETNS on Monday nights with a new term commencing mid-January. Keep an eye on our website for enrolment dates and further details. www.leithinis.com. We cater for juniors, and seniors of all levels. I would advise anyone who is interested to get in contact with us through the website and we’d be delighted to assist.
We run a trad session for our members on Monday evenings at DPETNS as well as Friday slow sessions in the parish hall 2 Fridays each month. There’s always plenty going on and playing together is a great way to learn new tunes, improve technique and enjoy music in a very relaxed and sociable setting.
The final slow session of this year, Friday 13th December was held in Keeling’s Pub. It was a festive and sociable gathering and a culmination of all the practice and learning throughout the year.
