On Saturday 14th May the sun shone brightly and the Peninsula Pacers enjoyed a walk around Ardgillan Park. The views out over the sea to Skerries and Balbriggan were breathtaking as we made our way down the hill to explore the forest trail. We were very impressed by the signage on the trail and the information points that gave an insight into the history of the castle and its neighbours. Also noted were placards geared to the younger generations which are colourful and interestingly educational. After our exploration of the forest and the Ladies Bridge to the beach we all made our way to Brambles Cafe for some excellent refreshments. Suitably fortified and rested we then ventured into the wonderland that are the Gardens, how envious they made all the gardeners among us ! Having enjoyed a very pleasant day we were delighted to be told by one of our group that we had actually covered some 7.4km, that’s 9000 steps, I’ll go along with that kind of keep fit !

Active Age members got baking in May to contribute to this call for support for special equipment in the various childrens’ hospitals – Crumlin, Temple Street, Connolly and Tallaght. On the 9th and 10th of May there was the wafting smell of baking around the houses on the peninsula - and a great selection of goodies were produced. A raffle was held too and again, members were very generous with prizes donated for this. We had gorgeous flower arrangements and many and varied bottles and a large hamper. Members turned out in great numbers and it was almost a case of ‘now you see it – now you don’t.’ In the space of 2 hours everything was gone! We made just over 1000.00 euro! What a fantastic effort and congratulations to all who supported in any way. Pea and Pod did a special offer on tea/coffee and scones and donated all of that income to the sale as well. Thanks to the team there. One of the best parts of the day was meeting up again and having a group event where people took delight in chatting and catching up with each other. Thanks to DPCC who were happy to have us set up in the front-of-house – it certainly helped to make the sale such a success. Interested in joining Active Age for All? Just email activeageforall@gmail.com or text 086 8806808

By Carolyn Smith

One of Donabates’ senior Senior citizens, my mother Wendy Geary, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday 23rd April. She did so in Balcarrick Golf Club in the company of family and friends, many of whom had travelled, and will travel, from near and far to be a part of the festivities. Wendy was born in London, she spent her first four years in India where her father was a civil engineer, then she and her brother John were cared for in London by an aunt. In due course she did her nursing training in Bristol Royal Infirmary and on qualifying she joined the army nursing corps the Queen Alexanders Imperial Military Nursing Service as WW2 was raging at that time. She worked in a casualty clearing station on the south coast of England during the D-Day landings in 1944. Then she was posted to India where she met my father who was in the RAF. He had been posted there having completed two full tours with Bomber Command in England. She worked on the ambulance trains which travelled the length and breadth of the country collecting wounded personnel and caring for them as they were conveyed to hospital. At the end of the war she was posted to Germany where she witnessed the post-conflict devastation and deprivation. She and my father were married in London and subsequently came to live in Ireland (Dad was Irish) where she has lived since.

During her party she was surprised and delighted by the arrival of Brian Duffy Chairman of the Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland and Standard Bearer Geoff Berry to honour her as a war veteran. Many thanks to Brian and Geoff, they made her day extra special.

Many thanks to Balcarrick Golf Club for welcoming us all, and of course especially to Jacinta and her catering team who looked after us so well. Another important thank you goes to Fathers’ Pat and Augustine of St Patricks Church, Donabate. At 6.30pm Mass on Saturday Fr Augustine made a special mention of mums’ birthday, and Fr Pat brought out a beautiful cake to the singing of Happy Birthday in the church. All in all, a very well celebrated 100th Birthday.

The Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society were delighted to enchant the audiences once more following a three year hiatus due to covid. It has been a long time for the drama group to showcase their performances of ‘Melody’ by Deirdre Kinahan directed by Lisa Buckley & ‘Lockdown In Little Grimley’ by David Tristram directed by Noelle Corcoran two one act plays that have been on production since August 2021 and was postponed due to the restrictions that were in effect while the plays were due to be performed.

Each night the cast and crew were rewarded with a full house in the newly refurbished Donabate parish hall and standing ovations. The group, being one of Ireland’s oldest amateur dramatic society’s founded in 1936 was delighted to welcome mayor of Fingal to close the shows on the final performance Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh who gave a heartfelt speech to the group to congratulate them on their success. Followed by a speech by honorary guests from Ukraine who thanked the society for the invitation to the performance quoting it was “The first time we’ve laughed since February 21st”. If you would like to become a member or a patron of the Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society please feel free to get in touch on donabateportrane.drama@gmail.com

Our lessons for this term were wrapped up at the end of May. We hope to see all our members back with us in September. We offer lessons in Tin whistle, Accordion, Banjo, Bodhran, Fiddle, Concertina and Flute. If you are interested in classes with us please email us at leithinis@comhaltas.net stating name, date of birth ( if under 18), instrument and level ( beginner, or advanced) and we will get back to you. In addition to classes we have slow sessions lead by Erin every second Friday evening in the Parish Hall. We strongly encourage all our members to join in these sessions as playing music in a group is an enjoyable way to practice what you have learned at the classes. Some of our more experienced musicians take part in the Traditional Irish session lead by Denis in the Gin Bar in Keelings on the first Tuesday of the month. The next session will be on the 7th June at 7 30pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy a evening of great music.

The development of a Failte Isteach programme in Donabate has seen 26 volunteer tutors and over 30 students sign up to attend classes in Donabate Library, twice a week. Support from Fingal Community Office, staff at Donabate Community Centre & Library, Active Age for All and so many local people have helped create a fantastic class, plenty of laughing, chatter and of course the tea & biscuits. Classes are held Tuesday & Thursday Donabate Library 11am to 1pm. To register or volunteer email failtedonabate@gmail.com or just turn up. All are welcome.

Corina Johnston, the local Labour Area Representative has welcomed the recently installed public lighting in the public car park in Ballymastone. Johnston said; “Duncan Smith TD and I have over the last year in particular received ongoing representations from parents and club users on a number of health and safety grounds relating to the condition of the existing car park and the need for public lighting in Ballymastone. “Johnston added; “Duncan Smith TD sought an on-site meeting with Fingal County Council to discuss these important issues. This meeting took place on 8th Feb and was attended by Duncan, myself and officials from Fingal County Council. During the meeting I highlighted the safety implications with large numbers of children/youths entering and exiting the club facilities across an uneven surface with large potholes without any public lighting. The council officials undertook to carry out temporary resurfacing works on the car park with a permanent solution to be discussed at a later stage. Further consideration was to be given to the need for public lighting.” Johnston said; “We are delighted that in response to our ongoing representations the public lighting has been provided. This will be of great benefit especially during the winter months. We wish to thank Fingal County Council for taking on board the legitimate concerns of the parents and carrying out the work.“ Johnston added; “Last year the Ballymastone Recreational Hub was approved by Fingal County Council which we warmly welcome. However we were deeply concerned that this was approved with the existing car park excluded. At my request my colleague Cllr Rob O’Donoghue submitted the following motion to a recent council meeting: “That this Committee recommends the inclusion and the upgrading of the existing public car park in Ballymastone be incorporated into the Ballymastone Recreational Hub Plan. Johnston concluded; “We are delighted that our motion was passed unanimously and as a result should ensure the ongoing maintenance and upgrading of the existing car park which is so important given its proximity to existing facilities.”

Donabate has become the inaugural host for Ireland’s first ever pop-up swimming pool, with the Swim Ireland initiative set to bring swimming to communities right across the country. In partnership with Fingal County Council and Sport Ireland, Swim Ireland wanted to improve the opportunity and experience for all level of swimmers to access somewhere local, so found an innovative solution by bringing the first of its kind pop-up pool to communities. Every 12-weeks the pool will move to new locations on its journey around Ireland, with an ambitious target of providing 750 swimming experiences a week. Holding 45,000 litres of water, the 12m by 3.4m structure will remain in Donabate until mid-July before setting off to its next destination. The pool itself is sheltered from the elements in a hard sided marquee, and there is a ramp and a hoist meaning the pool can cater for all types of swimmers. Cllr Adrian Henchy says he is delighted at the new“ Pop Up” Pool. He said, “ It was a great honour for me today to be at the official launch of the first ever Pop Up Swimming Pool the first of its kind in Ireland that brings swimming right into the very heart of Donabate Portrane by been located on the grounds of Donabate Portrane Community & Leisure Centre A great privilege for me over recent months to play a part representing my local community through many discussions with Swim Ireland,Fingal County Council and Donabate Portrane Community Centre to get this initiative off the ground to its official launch today where I was immensely proud today to welcome Minister for Sport Jack Chambers on behalf of my local Donabate Portrane community.”

It’s great to be back to classes and socialising after our Easter break. Our classes will run till the end of May. Active Age members are now involved in the Failte Isteach Programme with DPCC and Fingal County Council. We put out a call to our members for those who wished to be involved in this programme for teaching conversational English and were surprised at the response – 20 members of Active Age are now involved. We are being trained by those who have worked before with this programme. We will be working primarily with those who have newly arrived in Donabate from Ukraine, but conversational English will be available to people from anywhere who are new to our area. At the first group meeting of Failte Isteach many teachers emerged and people who had worked abroad and taught English. The encouragement from those who had previously worked on this programme was most reassuring and it became clear that you don’t need to be a teacher particularly – that if you just want to contribute and communicate with people who have a real need to belong somewhere at this point in their lives. If you know of anyone who needs to feel more connected to their community by attending Failte Isteach classes, do let them know that they will be happening, and tell them to leave their name at the Community Centre. On the 10th of May we will hold a Coffee Morning for Sick Children with the Children’s Health Foundation and we hope that we will get the usual great support from our members and neighbours. We have started a new Acorn Tablet Try Out programme to digitally connect our older members. Having completed our first programme with many satisfied and new digitally connected customers. There are still some places available so please contact us. As always if you wish to join us or want any information about Active Age for All please email us at activeageforall@gmail.com / text us on 086 8806808 or take a look at our website www.activeageforall.com.

In late March the Parish Hall had an event to launch the newly refurbished Parish Hall. Due to covid concerns numbers were limited.Our Mayor of Fingal Seána Ó Rodaigh who arrived by train an active traveller! was the guest speaker. Fr Pat Reilly PP spoke on behalf of the Parish Hall Committee and the community. Both of them focused on the importance of community and places that cater for the depth & breadth of activities that take place in our area. The Parish Hall mainly caters for Cultural Activities, Recreational, Meetings & events.The Programme now runs with daily activities eg Senior Citizens, Flower Friends, Montessori, Bridge Club, Eggheadz Youth Yoga & Well-being, Leithinis Traditional Music, Irish Dancing, UkuleleUnited etc. Then on a few occasions during the year the daily activities are suspended for about three weeks to facilitate Drama, Exhibitions and special events to take place. eg Through the Lens Photography Exhibition, The Film Club marked International Women’s Day for the Bleeding Pig and the Dramatic Society production in late April.Fr Pat thanked all that had a part to play in the refurbishment particularly FCC who grant aided the works and our councillors who supported these grants being allocated in the chamber.The grants came from The Community Enhancement Scheme, The Community Facilities & Remedial Works Scheme, Covid 19 Emergency Funding, Community Activities Funding Scheme and the Village Renewal Scheme.A number of public representatives came on the night and a big thanks is extended to them Duncan Smith TD ( who uses the hall) Cllr Adrian Henchy, Cllr Paul Mulville, Cllr Rob O Donoghue, Cllr Joe OBrien & Corina Johnston. He particularly thanked the Parish Hall Committee, Bernie Guillespie from the Parish Office, Breda Dockrell & Jim O Donohoe for their efforts in bringing this project to fruition. He outlined all the people who keep the place going on a day to day basis with such incredible voluntary work. He spoke of all the tradesmen & suppliers who had gone beyond the call of duty in work done on the Parish Hall.On the night some Leithinis CCÉ played a few tunes & UkuleleUnited played and sang a few songs - all which was very much enjoyed! Contact Bernie in the Parish Office anytime with re activities & bookings.