On a sunny Thursday in August over twenty people from the Peninsula Pacers met at the car park beside the Brook Pub and went on two different walks. One a Historical Ramble of the Burrow hosted by Peader Bates our local historian, The other was a Coastal Loop through Portrane Hospital out to the beach, then along the Cliff Walk on to the Portrane Beach and around by Rogerstown Estuary up Marsh Lane. Both groups met back at the Brook Pub - for cakes & coffee or pizza & pints. A really enjoyable day was had by all. Please see the photos of the walks recently forwarded from Carolyn of the Historical Ramble Short Walk Group with Peader Bates local historian; who told local stories of the Burrow area.The group enjoyed refreshments at The Brook, in the new outdoor space. It is hoped to continue with longer & shorter walks maybe one a month. If you are interested in walking please contact Carolyn on 087 9284307 or Breda on 086 8693243
June saw another round of virtual competitions run by Special Olympics Ireland.Our club saw twice the number of competitors this time around; with 24 athletes representing our club, in 4 of the 5 sports offered. DPSO club had at least one competitor in each competition (except the wheelchair races) offered, which included Basketball, Bocce, Golf as well as several athletics events.Well done Sorcha for taking first place in golf, despite the fact that we didn’t have any left handed clubs available for her. Special Olympica competitive events are open to athletes aged 8 and over -we had two of the youngest competitors as Liam and Tom had only just turned 8 by the qualifying date. There have been some very heavy post bags for our athlete’s post men as their medals were delivered over the past week.Some of our volunteers reminded us that they are also athletes and competed in the adult section of the challenges; Becca, Ciaran and Ruairí all winning medals in Bocce. We are especially delighted with this as we have plans for Bocce in our club. Several of our coaches are training as Bocce officials. Well done to everyone! No club sessions for a while as we enjoy the summer break. Looking forward to lots more fun and games in September and hopeful for real life competitions in 2021-2022.
Leithinis Donabate Portrane CCÉ will recommence classes for adults and children in traditional Irish music in late September or early October. Along with our classes in banjo, bodhrán, button accordion, fiddle, flute and tin whistle, we hope to also offer classes in concertina. A limited number of loan instruments will be available to those registered for classes. Due to the evolving public health guidelines, at the time of writing we do not know what format these classes will take. If you took classes with us last semester, we will email you about arrangements for enrolling. If you are a newcomer, please consult our website (www.leithinis.com) or, better still, register your interest by emailing us at leithinis@comhaltas.net.
Cllr Adrian Henchy has raised concerns over a proposed new development in Corbalis , Donabate. He said, “In recent days I received notification from Fingal County Council of a planned major Strategic housing development(SHD) for Corballis Donabate. While I fully recognise there is a housing crisis with a critical shortage of both homes to buy and rental properties it is still critically important that all new planning applications are underpinned by equal investment in both physical and social infrastructure. Donabate is already under going significant change and development with a number of planning applications currently been completed and others about to start so time needs to be given to allow these new homes fully integrate into the community.I make no apologies from the outset in declaring if this new application is in anyway both developer led planning and not in compliance with the local area plan, I will be using my voice within Fingal County Council on behalf of my local community Donabate Portrane to request that this particular application goes back to the drawing board.I will be closely studying and examining all the documentation to do with this application in the coming weeks to ensure it is in full compliance with both the Donabate Local Area Plan and the Fingal County Development plan and will be making representation to both Fingal County Council and An Bord Pleanala on behalf of my local community Donabate Portrane. I would urge as many local community groups and residents to carefully examine the plans which can found at www.corballiseastshd.ie. (NB: not accessible through this media) From my primarily review of these plans, I am very concerned at the scale of the proposed development, as it is, the largest planning application that has ever been submitted for Donabate. I will be meeting with Fingal County Council planning department and the Chief Executive to discuss this planning application in detail and to express my serious concerns and reservations in relation to the sheer scale and volume of housing given we already have a number of other planning applications currently active in the Donabate area.If you have any queries or you would like more details please do not hesitate to contact me Adrian.henchy@cllrs.fingal.ie. “ (NB: not accessible through this media)
Corina Johnston, Labour Party Local Area Representative has welcomed the installation of a much needed defibrillator in Portrane.Johnston said; “I am very pleased that a defibrillator has now been installed in Portrane especially as it can save the life of a person who has gone into Cardiac Arrest. The need for a defibrillator and signage in the area was first raised with me by a resident in Portrane during the first Covid lockdown in 2020. I discussed this locally and it was decided to go ahead and provide one. “Johnston added; “Liam Grogan, the owner of Grogan’s supermarket immediately agreed to locate the defibrillator within the shop, and for a notice to be erected on the outer wall. A local printer offered to do the design and print work the result of which is now on display in Grogan’s, The Brook and Pipers Take Away. “Johnston continued; “An outdoor display and information session on CPR and on the operation of a defibrillator took place on the Portrane Green. This was attended by a number of local people who were very impressed with the presentation. It was agreed that further sessions would be arranged in the coming months and the public will be invited.”Johnston said; “A huge debt of gratitude is due to the resident who initially raised this issue with me and to the Grogan family who have provided the premises . Also to Gerry Neville, our paramedic who presented the course, Jack Caverly, our printer ,Tom Kennedy the engineer for the occasion and to Sean Ryan. Without them, the defibrillator would not have been installed at least at this moment in time.”Johnston concluded; “In view of the potential benefit of a defibrillator where large numbers of people gather I firmly believe that all public houses, supermarkets ,our beaches and all sports facilities should be required to install one on their premises. I intend to pursue this objective vigorously.”
What to do if you come across someone in a Cardiac Arrest.
1 Call 999 or 112
2 Start CPR
3 Ask someone to get Defibrillator if nearby.
4 In the meantime, listen to emergency operator and follow instructions.
5 Turn on defibrillator and follow instructions.
6 Hand over to paramedic team when they arrive.
Defibrillators are located in:- Donabate Portrane Community Centre -Grogan’s Supermarket, Portrane. -Supervalu, Donabate and the grounds of a number of sports clubs and local schools.
For 5 mornings during July, we had registration times for our new term of classes. There was glorious weather and we were well equipped with the new seating outside the café at DPCC. This allowed plenty of social distancing and a time to catch up with our friends. Thanks to all the DPCC staff who have helped to make this happen.This is not the first time since March ’20 where we have prepared to commence classes and we really hope that we will not be in lockdown again and that by the time you are reading this, we will be seeing each other regularly. For those who have already registered, you will know that we cannot return immediately to any classes where we share equipment. However, that leave us with enough of a choice to keep our brains and bodies exercised! At the moment we have Art, Croquet, French, Spanish, Photography, Pilates, Sit & Get Fit, Stronger for Longer, Tai Chi, and Yoga classes. As soon as we can move to the others like Singing & Music, Bowls, Pickleball, Table tennis, Bridge and Cards, we will let you know. As soon as activities begin.
We owe you money… we still have quite a few members who have not renewed their membership during the July dates for doing this. We have many members who were with us in 2020 when we had to shut down classes. Many members are carrying a small credit balance with us and we would encourage you to make contact and renew your membership card by just using some of your balance to cover it. If you want to do this, please email us on activeageforall@gmail.com or text the AAfA mobile 086 8806808 and let us know. We will be able to leave your new card for you to collect at the desk of DPCC. Don’t forget that your new card will give you discounts in the usual suppliers.
Are you new to the area or new to retirement – you just need to be 55+? You can call in to DPCC and collect an AAfA New Member form and fill it out and leave it for us. We can make contact and we will do our best to include you in classes as soon as possible.
As reported last month, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed received a generous grant from Fingal County Council’s Community Activities Funding Scheme for the materials to install a decking area at our plot at Turvey Allotments, for which we are extremely grateful.
The materials have now been purchased – blocks and gravel for the base, pedestals and treated timber joists to support the composite decking, all the trims and fixings to complete the work and, most importantly, a new wheelbarrow to replace our old one which had given up the ghost. The on-site work has started and is progressing well, as can be seen in the accompanying photos. Next month, we hope to have some photos of the completed work, with members taking a break from their strenuous work tending the allotment – a brief break, we hope! Anyone wishing to join the Men’s Shed should call Jim on 086-3694316.
In July, we had two lovely walks on one of the hottest & most beautiful days of the year.The first walk was a short walk at a slow pace around the Farm at Newbridge. The focus was on learning how to take good photos on a mobile phone. Alain Rochecouste with his wonderful photography experience imparted some great tips on the day.The second walk was at a fairly fast pace around the Corballis end of the Peninsula. It started in Newbridge Park then via the Kilcrea Gate - on to Corballis - around the point at the Island Golf Course - up the Donabate beach to The Shoreline Hotel for coffee & food - then on up the Lady’s Walk & Reilly’s Hill onto the Portrane Rd - finally back to the start point at the Parish Hall. It was about 10miles (16kms).On Thursday 19th August we will again run two walks. A short easy one and a longer harder one. The short one will have a focus of history, bird or plant life. The long one will have a focus of pure walking & variety of landscapes to enjoy.We intend staying on the Peninsula again as we are so blessed with good places to walk! All walks are weather dependent and covid restrictions permitting.If you are interested in walking please contact: Carolyn on 087 9284307 or Breda on 086 8693243.
FleadhFest 2021 is a project by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to substitute for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which has been cancelled this year due to Covid-19. Through a series of videos, it tells the story of Comhaltas from the point of view of each County and Province - the story of the people, community and culture. The videos, which can be viewed at youtube.com/comhaltas/videos, are a treasure trove for anyone interested in traditional Irish music. Leithinis Donabate Portrane CCÉ recorded our contribution to this project at two local heritage sites, Newbridge House and Park, facilitated by Duncan Henderson and Cathal Dowd Smith (of Fingal County Council), and the Martello Tower at Tower Bay thanks to Terry Prone and Bryan Greene. Part of our video is included in FleadhFest Ath Cliath Episode 2, starting at 37:35. It features Bren Farley and Sinéad Cahill on whistles, Erin McGahon on fiddle, Evin Cuniffee on banjo and Michael Durkan on guitar recorded at the Martello Tower playing the jig, Sliabh Russell, over the background shots of Newbridge House. This is followed by a set played by Denis Stack on button accordion, Sinéad Cahill on whistle and Clíona O’Reilly on fiddle. Well done to all our musicians; they did us proud. A special thanks to Ian Butler who did a thoroughly professional job on ensuring perfect sound quality and on editing the video and to John Treanor for the drone footage.Thanks to a grant from Fingal County Council’s Community Activities Funding, Leithinis has purchased three concertinas to add to our expanding instrument bank. We wish to acknowledge the guidance and support offered by Rafe Costigan, Fingal County Council Senior Community Officer, in our preparation of this and previous grant applications. These concertinas will be available on loan to students registering for our classes next semester, starting in late September. The concertina classes will be taught by Rory Thornburg, who also teaches button accordion. Anyone of any age from seven up interested in joining our classes in traditional Irish music on banjo, bodhrán, button accordion, concertina, flute or tin whistle, check out our website, www.leithinis.com, and email us at leithinis@comhaltas.net.
Donabate Parish Hall Committee has been busy over these COVID times with restoring and refurbishing the Parish Hall and fitting it out with new furnishings. About half of the total cost of these works was generously grant-aided by Fingal County Council, the Department of Rural & Community Development and the Fingal Local Community and Development Committee (LCDC) under the Community Enhancement Programme 2020, the Community Facilities Remedial Works Scheme (Non FCC owned), the Covid-19 Emergency Funding Round 2 and the Community Activities Funding Scheme. These grants enabled the hall to be repainted, new floors to be put down, the old floor in the main hall to be restored, a new storage container to be bought and new tables and black out blinds. The Parish Hall Committee has put up the other 50% towards the cost of the works, which has been a considerable outlay during these difficult Covid times.All these improvements to our local Parish Hall are to the benefit of the entire community on our Peninsula, as it offers an upgraded space for mainly community, cultural and civic activities to take place in a warm welcoming environment. In order to satisfy a wide range of needs and activities from community to commercial, the Parish Hall Committee has produced a template for a Yearly Programme. This will have Weekly Activities (e.g., dance, cards, music) and will also have Blocked Activities whereby weeks will be set aside a few times in the year when weekly activities will be suspended to cater for other cultural and community activitie (e.g.exhibitions, dramas, films, craft fairs and cultural camps). Current users have been contacted with regard to their needs and wishes within this new framework. There will be a number of times available for new users; so if you wish to express interest in using the facility please contact Bernie and Fr. Pat Reilly ASAP email Parish Office: stpatricksrcdonabate@gmail.com with the name of your organisation or group, what activity or event you are involved in, what days and times you are interested in or blocks of time for an event. (Requests can only be taken in writing). If you want any further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Office on 01 8434574. We look forward to better times when we can return to “normal”!
