On a beautiful Saturday morning in November a group of 12 from the Peninsula Pacers met at Rivervalley Community Centre to walk the ‘Jacko’ in the Ward valley. It was organised by Rosaleen O’Reilly, one of our members who lives in the area. She brought along friends Dominic and Margaret to share some of the interesting history of the area.

We set off by the very busy sports pitches and it was great to see so many youngsters out training and playing games. Along our route, led by Dominic, he pointed out some of the local landmarks so we could get our bearings and we marvelled the fact that we were so secluded in nature yet in the middle of a busy urban area.

Our route took us to the Knocksedan bridge, a historic meeting spot for volunteers of the 1916 rising, passing the old mill race on the way. The mill race once provided power to run a flour mill and a saw mill but went out of use when steam and electricity took over.

After nearly two hours of pleasant walking along the Ward river in the lovely autumnal woods we all arrived at Peacocks restaurant for a very welcome drink and some lunch. A lovely day enjoyed by all.

Johnston said: “Since elected I have been raising the need for dedicated youth services in Donabate and have been working with Crosscare youth services for the provision of such services. Donabate has a very young population with 31% of the population under 19 years of age (census 2022). This will continue to grow with so many young families moving into the area.

A recent UNICEF report found that Irish teenagers have among the lowest life satisfaction scores in high-income countries, despite excelling academically with nearly one in three 15-year-olds reporting low life satisfaction research commissioned by the Department of Children and Youth, published last year, found play and recreation amenities for adolescents are under-resourced and under-facilitated.

Johnston continued; “Our young people have no dedicated indoor space. Many are bored with nothing to do but hang around which can lead to anti social behaviour. The Minister for Justice recently confirmed in a response to Duncan Smith TD that 22 youths have been referred to youth services from Donabate in the last year.

A dedicated youth services centre can provide Youth Cafes & Group Education, Training and Employment Support, Life Coaching, Counselling Services, Summer Programmes, Mental Health and Well Being Programmes, Drug and Alcohol Awareness, Film , Photography, Performing Arts as well as a drop in space with a music and games room, snooker table, kitchen area, chill out space with support from fully qualified youth workers.”

Johnston added ;”In response to a recent question raised with the Minister of Education and Youth on this matter the Minister confirmed that supporting the provision of youth services is a priority for her department and that she is committed to developing and implementing a policy for youth spaces at local level with an action plan currently being worked upon.”

Johnston concluded; ”The young people of Donabate cannot wait for plan after plan to be published with no action. A dedicated youth services centre must be provided as a matter of urgency. Early intervention is vital. It’s the very least our young people deserve. I will continue to pursue this very important matter.”

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed activities will continue through the run-up to the forthcoming festive season. We have our music practice most Mondays, croquet at Newbridge House on Tuesdays, weather permitting and our regular get-togethers for tea or coffee and a chat on Thursday mornings at the Scouts’ Den on the Portrane Road. Our plots at Turvey allotments have been winterised but some work continues in the polytunnel. So, if you, or someone dear to you, would like to join us, please call Jim, our PRO, on 086-3694316.

Last month we had a fascinating tour of Dublin Castle; hopefully we’ll have photos of that for next month’s edition. Our annual dinner will be held in Keeling’s on 5th December, where we’re sure of a great singing session.

Gerry and the Plonkers have been busier than ever, with three gigs last month for Lusk ICA, Donabate Memory Café and for International Men’s Health Week. This last event, organised by the Dublin Men’s Sheds, was held in Donabate Portrane Community Centre, with Jim Hawkins as MC and the Mayor of Fingal, Tom O’Leary and local councillors Eoghan Dockrell and Corina Johnston in attendance. Paul Fleming, a movement and yoga coach, spoke about the need to keep active and demonstrated several simple exercises. John spoke to us about his personal experiences of addiction and suicide ideation. His message was simple: it takes bravery to ask for help! Eric Lawlor, a comedian, and the Plonkers provided the entertainment.

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed wishes a Happy Christmas to all our members and to our community for all their support over the past year.

Get ready for a fantastic evening of music, fun, and community spirit!

Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School is delighted to host a Parents’ Night Out on Saturday, 22nd November 2025 at the beautiful Shoreline Hotel, Donabate.

The night will feature live performances from the amazing Killer Ceol and Kim Gallen, guaranteed to bring energy and entertainment throughout the evening.

Tickets are only €25 and include: Live show entertainment; Finger food buffet; Tea and coffee. Drinks will be available to purchase at the hotel bar, and don’t miss the raffle on the night with great prizes up for grabs!

This will be a wonderful way to enjoy a night of great music and laughter while supporting our local school. Tickets are limited, so book early and join us for a truly memorable evening!

Tickets are available online—secure yours now at:
https://donabate-portrane-educate-together-national-school-pta.sumupstore.com/product/killer-ceol-and-kim-gallen-concert

A complimentary shuttle bus will collect guests at 8:00 PM from Donabate Church and drop everyone back at Donabate Village at 11:00 PM, courtesy of the Shoreline Hotel. This convenient service ensures a safe and easy journey to and from the event.

Thanks for helping us spread the word!

To help drive improvements in Donabate, Fingal County Council has announced the establishment of a new Town Team and launched the Donabate Town Centre First Health Check Plan. Together, they aim to make Donabate’s town centre a more viable, vibrant, and attractive place to live, work, socialise, and do business.

The Town Centre First policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into town centres. It advocates for a holistic, place-based approach to sustainable urban and rural development.

In September 2024, local residents, community groups, business owners, and other stakeholders in Donabate worked with Fingal County Council’s Town Regeneration Office to create a 15-point Action Plan to help guide the future of the town centre. The actions cover public realm improvements, tourism, better use of existing infrastructure, future strategic planning, placemaking, and arts, heritage and culture.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O Leary, said: “This Health Check has been made possible only by the time and energy given by the Town Team and others. Many local community groups, stakeholders, businesses and residents have shown their commitment to improve the town centre of Donabate by participating in through this process that benefits their town and all its residents.”

A Town Team has been established in Donabate chaired by Dr. Louis Gunnigan PhD, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. Speaking at the launch Dr. Gunnigan thanked those who have given of their time to date to set up a Town Team and prepare a plan for the town: “The new Town Team is up and running and is making progress already with applications for funding for some of the actions identified.”
John Quinlivan, Director of Services for Economic, Enterprise, Tourism and Cultural Development in Fingal County Council added: “I welcome the establishment of a new Town Team and commit Fingal County Council’s ongoing support to the delivery of the Health Check Plan.”

Declan Ryan, Town Regeneration Officer for Fingal County Council commented: “I wish to thank the new Town Team and all those who participated in the capacity building workshops. The Town Regeneration Team in Fingal County Council will support, where possible, the work and ambition of the new Town Team.”

The Town Team are now actively seeking local volunteers who may wish to assist with the delivery of the Town Health Check plan. Anyone wishing to get involved can contact the Town Regeneration Office: townregenerationoffice@fingal.ie

The Donabate/Portrane Community First Responder team has been active for over two and a half years, responding to life-threatening emergencies within both communities.

All members are volunteers and rely entirely on donations to purchase additional defibrillators—both for responders and for public access points across Donabate and Portrane.

The group is currently exploring new ways to raise funds for this vital equipment. One of the latest initiatives is a poster campaign featuring a QR code that makes it quick and easy for people to donate. These posters will be displayed in local shop windows, in the hopes to encourage more residents to contribute.

Cllr Corina Johnston and Duncan Smith TD have welcomed the announcement by Dublin Bus that it intends to commence an additional 33D direct return express bus service from Portrane to Dublin City Centre on 28th September next.

Johnston said; ”over the last 2 years Duncan Smith TD and I have been campaigning for an additional 33D Bus Service following representations received from commuters. Many commuters who frequent this service on a regular basis highlighted the need for an additional bus service as the current bus is full to capacity on a regular basis with many commuters standing. Despite our many representations the NTA and Dublin Bus refused to provide an additional service on this route. Last year we provided statistics of daily capacity on the current service with the assistance of commuters which we then provided to the NTA and Dublin Bus. We were delighted to be informed in November last year that Dublin Bus intended to provide an additional bus service this year. At a recent meeting with the CEO of Dublin Bus, on this and other issues, Duncan was informed that an additional 33D express Bus Service would commence on 28th September next”

Johnston concluded; “while welcoming this additional return direct bus service from Portrane to the City Centre, I believe that additional express bus services will be required to meet the additional demand as the population continues to grow. Notwithstanding the recent publicity in respect of proposals to introduce new hybrid trains on the Northern Commuter Line in 2026, and proposals to extend the DART to Drogheda, I understand there will be limited capacity increases for commuters at peak times. We intend to vigorously pursue this issue and will keep you informed of developments.

Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society is delighted to announce the upcoming performances of the comedy “Wife after Death” by Eric Chappell, from the 6th to the 8th of November 2025 at 8PM in Donabate Parish Hall.

Hopefully you won’t laugh yourself to death at this reprehensibly irreverent story of finding out, and falling out, but we give no guarantees!

DIRECTED BY PAUL KEOGH, The story begins with the funeral of comedian, TV personality and National Treasure, Dave Thursby. Dave’s glamorous widow has arranged a ceremonial to remember, complete with horse-drawn hearse and an attendant dog. A mystery female guest arrives, dressed in a flamboyant outfit, and upsets the proceedings with a devastating announcement.

As the days progress other revelations come out of the woodwork and friends and colleagues begin to realise that they really didn’t know Dave at all!

The cast are: Karen Parker as Laura, Claire Humphreys as Kay, Jill Murray as Jane, Marissa Magner as Vi, Dave Costello as Kevin, and Paul Keogh as Harvey.

Performances will be in Donabate Parish Hall on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th at 8PM
Tickets are €12 per person and can be purchased online on TicketSource.eu or at the door.

Donabate Dramatic Society is also extending an invitation to all people in the community to become patrons of the society and support the local arts. The annual fee for patronage is €60 per person, and it includes two tickets for to their biannual productions along with light refreshments.

If you want to become a member or a patron of DPDS do not hesitate to contact donabateportrane.drama@gmail.com. And don’t forget to follow Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society on Facebook and Instagram!

The arrival of winter hasn’t slowed the activities of Donabate Portrane Shed. After a bumper crop this autumn, the plots at Turvey Allotments are being prepared for the winter with a major clean-up. But time is also being found to plant winter crops of onions, sprouts and even winter lettuce.

The Men’s Shed music group, Gerry and the Plonkers, has also been busy, with several gigs in October. They started the month with a concert for the lovely people - carers and service users - at the BASE Community Centre in Mulhuddart and a couple of days later for Lusk Seniors’ coffee morning in the Community Cottage. They finished the month by playing at the Active Age for All 10th anniversary celebrations in the Shoreline Hotel. In mid-November, the Plonkers will be providing the entertainment at a Men’s Day organised by the Irish Men’s Shed Association in Donabate Portrane Community Centre and at the St Michael’s House Christmas fundraiser in mid-December.

As the winter approaches, the Men’s’ shed is organising some outings for the group, starting with a visit to Dublin Castle towards the end of November. We will also be continuing our regular weekly activities, exercises classes, croquet at Newbridge House and Thursday morning get-together for tea/coffee and a chat. So, if you, or a loved one, would like to join us, please call Jim on 086-3694326.

Recently, the new Donabate Town Team launched the Donabate Town Centre First Health Check Plan in Donabate Parish Hall. The Town Team, along with FCC, aims to make Donabate’s town centre a more viable, vibrant, and attractive place to live, work, socialise, and do business.

In September 2024, local residents, community groups, business owners and other stakeholders in Donabate worked with Fingal County Council’s Town Regeneration Office to create a 15-point Action Plan to help guide the future development of the town centre. The actions covered public realm improvements, tourism, better use of existing infrastructure, future strategic planning, placemaking, and arts, heritage and culture. Earlier in March 2024, the Donabate Portrane Liaison Group produced the Donabate Framework Plan in consultation with the local Community which had ideas for the centre of the village. The new Town Team, building upon these ideas, has taken on the challenge of working with the community to deliver a rejuvenated town centre. We wish them the very best.

The launch event was organised by the Town Team committee, led by their Chairperson, Dr. Louis Gunnigan. Members of the original group and current group members attended. The Active Age for All Photography Group and friends put on a great display of photographs of Donabate Village - Town Centre then and now.

Present on the day also was the Lord Mayor, Tom O’Leary, and FCC officials John Quinlivan and Declan Ryan along with our Community Officer Rafe Costigan. Local Councillors Corina Johnson and Eoghan Dockrell and Fr. Pat Reilly PP were also present at the event.

A very different event took place recently in the Parish Hall. Indie-folk band ‘Djouce’ has been hard at work on a new project called “Change & Continuity”, supported by Fingal Arts Office. Over the past few months, the band has been writing and recording right here in Donabate and Portrane, creating four new songs on the topics of folklore, change, community and the future of the peninsula.

They recently gave the community a sneak peek with a performance in The Brook Pub, and followed it up with a recording session in The Parish Hall. Each of the songs will be released over the coming months, and the full film of the project is planned for Spring 2026.

Again, we wish our local musician Denis Cahill and his group the very best. djouceband@gmail.com
Our community is expanding and the Parish Hall is working hard to meet some of their needs as best as possible, with additional Daily Activities and Block Events. In the first few weekends in November, Through the Lens Photography Group will have a photography exhibition and Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society will perform a play, neither to be missed.

If you have any queries please contact the Parish Office on 01 8434574