Corina Johnston the Labour Party Local Area Representative welcomes the provision of additional transport infrastructure on the peninsula which includes bus stops on the Hearse Road, a shelter and new stop in the village and a shelter at the bus stop at the end of Turvey Avenue.Johnston said;” ever since the first resident moved into Semple Woods estate on the Hearse Road in 2019, Duncan Smith TD and I have identified the need for bus stops adjacent to the estate to facilitate residents travelling to and from the peninsula. Since then we have been in ongoing discussions with the National Transport Authority (NTA), Fingal County Council and the bus company Go Ahead Ireland. I can now confirm that we have been notified by the NTA that the two bus stops will be installed during the month of August. This will be of great benefit to commuters travelling to and from Swords and Portrane.” Johnston added;” The NTA have also confirmed that the provision of a much needed bus shelter on the R132 at Turvey, which was granted planning permission late last year will be installed over the coming months. This is a direct result of our ongoing discussions with the NTA on behalf of the residents.”Johnston continued; “ I am very pleased that a planning application has been submitted by the NTA for the provision of a new bus stop within Donabate village. This will replace two existing bus stops and will incorporate a badly needed bus shelter and real time passenger information unit. This development is as a direct result of a proposal first mooted by myself and Duncan Smith TD at a meeting with the NTA in August 2019 and which we have vigorously pursued since then with the NTA, Fingal County Council and the bus company Go Ahead Ireland. I firmly believe that if planning permission is granted and the facility installed it will facilitate a free flow of vehicular traffic through the village. “Johnston concluded; “ these much needed facilitates when installed will improve the travelling experience for bus commuters on the peninsula. “
Cllr Adrian Henchy has said he is very pleased to see activity finally get underway on the repair and restoration of the historical and strategically important Newbridge House and Farm perimeter wall in Donabate. The Cllr said, “I Have been campaigning and calling for at every opportunity I have got within Fingal County Council on this important issue for the repair and restoration of the surround wall since I was first elected to Fingal County Council in 2014. I received confirmation this week from the Architects department of the Council that monies have now been committed to the repair & restoration and the contractor is presently setting up site to commence works. These works will comprise a number of phases and phase 1 will see the repair and restoration of the wall from the current main entrance in the direction of Cobbes lane and Turvey Avenue. These works will also comprise of restoring and installing the original main gates which have been in storage along with the pillars into Newbridge House & Park.” He said, “ The first phase traffic management wise should provide for minimal disruption to traffic given most of this section is off the main road but lessons will be learned from this phase regards the more challenging parts of the wall restoration into the future. My thanks to both the Architects & Operations department, FCC especially senior architect Fionnuala May on all her work in advancing these works and also the board of Malahide Castle & Newbridge House limited for supporting this major piece of infrastructural repair & improvement.”.
Recently Leithinis had a trial run at setting up their new gazebos. They did a small, socially distanced, sanitised event - adhering to all Covid guidelines - with a few members. It was the first time people had played together in over a year, so while a bit rusty they rattled of the trad tunes! We want to sincerely thank Fingal County Council for grant aiding our comhaltas group to buy two gazebos. FCC showed great vision in supporting this venture which permits events to take place safely outdoors as soon as lifting of restrictions allow. We hope to be able to allow some other groups, on certain special occasions, to be able to use them also on site at the Parish Hall. We are indebted to Donabate Parish Hall Committee also for their vision, in allowing us to put them up at this location and to hold events of this cultural nature. Keep playing your Irish Traditional tunes and we look forward to good times in the future; as Covid Restrictions abate to many good Gigs in our Gazebos! For further information contact E-mail us to eithinis@comhaltas.net- query to Secretary Jim O Donohoe. Further information re the Autumn programme in the August edition.
St Pats were delighted to chosen recently to feature in the LGFA County Board’s ‘Club Focus’ series. Pats have grown from a small North Dublin football club set up in 1924 to a 950+ member club covering Ladies Football, Camogie, Gaelic Football & Hurling operating on the ‘One Club’ model sharing Clubhouse and pitches. They are active in the primary and secondary schools where their players enjoy the best of Club & School coaching & fixtures. A Ladies team was begun in 2000 but unfortunately due to emigration, the team folded. LGFA was resurrected later in the 2000s with two juvenile teams A task force was set up to increase the number of LGFA teams with the aim of having a team every 2 years. Injections of fresh blood into the section over the last few years have seen the Club far exceed this goal. Their social media hashtag is #ProudToBePats and they now proudly boast LGFA teams at almost every year. LGFA is the fastest growing section of the Club! They’ve also increased their female representation on the Club Executive and committees; female player representation on player committees now accepted as standard. Their referees all learn LGFA, Football & Hurling rules ensuring that future players are aware of all sections of this growing club. Despite the restrictions, 2020 was a successful year for LGFA in the Club. Their Adult squad – mentored by Aidan Coppinger & Adrian Brophy – only missed out progressing to their Championship Semi Final on goal difference. They went on to beat a strong Kickhams side in the Shield Final. The minors in Division 4, U16s in Division 3 and U14s in Division 3 all fought their way through to their Championship Semi Finals before the season came to a shuddering halt.Their teams are delighted to be back training and that the season has begun for Cup, League and the Championship. The future is the Club is bright – the future is Green & Black! If you live in Donabate/Portrane and you’d like to get involved in LGFA – juvenile or adult – or G4M&O, just contact them at info@stpatsgaa.com. (NB: not accessible through this medium). Similarly if you’d like to get involved with GAA, just drop them a line as new members are always welcome in all ages and codes. Ní neart go cur le cheile.
The Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Seána Ó Rodaigh was delighted to make a presentation to St Patrick’s Boys National School Donabate this morning as winners of The Battle of the Book 2021. Fingal County Librarian Betty Boardman and author Brian Gallagher were also on hand to meet the winning class and their teacher Sarah Donohoe. The Battle of the Book is an annual competition run by Fingal Libraries. The programme is designed to encourage the children to read and gain confidence, to discuss a common book providing a shared experience of reading and to ignite a reading for life culture.Every year 6 schools in Fingal receive 30 copies of a book by a well know author, this year’s book was “Pawns” by Brian Gallagher to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the Sack of Balbriggan. The other schools that took part this year were Pope John Paul II National School, St. Oliver Plunkett School, St Patricks Boys National School, Castaheany Educate Together, Sacred Heart National School and St. Mary’s National School.
The Peninsula Pacers first walk in a very long time, due to Covid Restrictions, took place in early June on a glorious summers day. We walked through the Portrane Hospital Grounds down the Ladies Walk along the Cliff Walk to the Tower. At Portrane Green we stopped to rest on the new Bleeper Bikees so when we need a quicker way home we can hop on a bike! We ended at the Brook Pub - where we had cool drinks, ice cream & coffees and pizzas & pastas to round off a lovely day. Our next walk will be on Thursday 15th July and we intend maybe having 2 routes - a longer harder walk and a shorter easier walk to facilitate all levels of walkers. For further information please contact: Carolyn on 087 9284307 or Breda on 086 8693243.
Congratulations to Third Year students who were in attendance live and via Teams at the Third Year Awards ceremony recently.It has been a difficult time for all students, however our Third Year students adapted to online learning not once, but twice over the course of their Junior Cycle studies. We are very proud of them for how they have managed their learning and for the knowledge and skills they have shown. Ms Leahy and Mr Creevey both spoke to the group and praised them for all they had achieved over the course of their Junior Cycle and wished them every success as they moved into Transition Year and 5th Year.Awards were presented to students in subjects, a school spirit award, Student of the Year and Academic Awards.All students then got the opportunity to play some sport or relax with their classmates before being treated to Scrumdiddly’s ice-cream! Congratulations to Third Year students. We hope you have a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you back in the new term!
This years award winners were - English: Maksymilian Okuniewicz - Irish: Dara Heffernan - Maths: Laoise Howe - History: Hubert Wolanin - Geography: Caoimhe Murphy - Tech Graphics: Abigail Shevlin - French: Odhrán O’Connor - Spanish: Ava Pender - Business Studies: Eimear Davey - Home Economics: Lía Bracken - Art: Moya Bishop - Technology: Oscar Donohue - PE: Kyle Cumisky - Sport Award: Lauren Van Druemel, Aliyatt Badmus - School Spirit Award: Finn Donovan, Darragh Brogan, Katie May, Emma Walsh, Jasmin Egan. - Student of the Year Nominees: Aliyatt Badmus, Ruby Corcoran, Ella Nolan, Niamh Gaffney, Moya Bishop - Academic Achievement Nominees: Sophie O’Neill, Jamie Whelan, Odhran O’Connor, Hubert Wolanin, Ava Pender - Academic Achievement Award: Hubert Wolanin, Ava Pender - Student of the Year: Aliyatt Badmus.
When the Leaving Cert Class of 2021 began their Senior Cycle journey in September 2019, they could not have known how the following two school years were going to transpire.
Navigating online learning from March to May 2020 and again from January to March 2021 has without doubt proved challenging.However, the Donabate Community College Leaving Cert Class of 2021 have acquitted themselves admirably. They have developed their resilience, self-reliance, communication skills, all the while covering the Leaving Cert curriculum and looking out for their families and each other. Thus, it is with a great sense of pride we arranged this year’s Leaving Cert Graduation.While we could not carry out our normal ceremony, Sixth Year Year Head Ms Curran ensured no stone was left unturned to make this year’s Graduation special for this year’s graduates.While the year group remained in their classes, they tuned into speeches via Microsoft Teams from Mr Doyle, Mr Creevey, Ms Curran, Mr Henchy and 6th Year student Jessica Dolan. Students were also treated to a video of their memories, before collecting their graduation medal and a specially commissioned booklet. A huge congratulations to Jessica Dolan who spoke on behalf of students and reminded them that perseverance and determination are everything. On behalf of students, Jessica also thanked Mr Creevey, Mrs Flynn, Mr Doyle and the staff at Donabate Community College for their constant support and kindness. Many thanks to Chairperson of the Board of Management, Mr Adrian Henchy who congratulated the students on their achievements and wished them every success no matter where life takes them next. A big thank you to past students Jake O’Toole and Jodie Clinton from ‘The Balloon Basket’ for the wonderful balloon decorations and Megan Hogan of milisbymegan for the beautiful cupcakes each student received.We congratulate each member of this year’s Leaving Cert Class and wish them well as they move on to the next stage of their lives.
As with other community groups, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed has had to suspend its normal activities over the past year and a half. However, small groups of members have been able to tend our plots at Turvey Allotments while observing all public health protocols; this has been possible with the support of our many sponsors. Fingal County Council, who lease the plots to us, grant-aided materials for a patio so members who are not so physically active can join us; Fingal Chamber paid for our greenhouse and funding from Tesco was used to purchase seeds, plants and other materials.Recently, members have also met outdoors for coffee at the Shoreline Hotel. However, with increasing levels of vaccination and easing of restrictions, we hope in the not-too-distant future to be able to resume our weekly get-togethers at Donabate Scouts’ Den. With this in mind, a Men’s Shed sign, acknowledging all of our sponsors, has taken its place alongside the other signs at the Den. As our sign says, if you wish to join us, please email donabateportraneshed@gmail.com or phone Jim on 086-3694316.
The Keep Well campaign has been running since October 2020 and covers the following headings – Keeping active; Switching off and being creative; Eating Well; and Staying connected- staying connected with people, addressing isolation, supporting volunteerism and initiatives that support person-to-person connection is important to our wellbeing.It really has become clear since the start of Covid that we have a cohort of members who are not connected and who have not been able to stay in touch fully with the weekly emails or zoom classes. While committee members have been trying to stay in touch with everyone, it has been really difficult – and it is very hard to say much in a text message! AAfA were thrilled to hear that they have been successful in receiving funding for 10 ACORN tablets. We hope to start this project in the next 2 months and it will be an opportunity for members to have the use of one of these tablets and to be trained how to use them. You will then be able to see if it is right for your use. Donabate Portrane Community Centre are also working with us on this project and we really appreciate their assistance. The ACORN has been designed in Ireland specifically to be easier to use than a computer and to give the user real access to much useful information AND, perhaps most importantly, the ability to stay in touch with ‘smart phone’ style. You can read the local papers, see family photos and much, much more. The Companion app can be downloaded for free by family and friends and when this is used to call you, or you call them, you both can see each other. The companion app allows your family to add in appointments etc., into your diary. We already have members who have expressed interest in becoming more connected and we have members who are willing to assist with training. Some will be on traditional computers and now this will be available for those who may be complete beginners. More information will go directly to member over the next few months. PLEASE NOTE: NEW MEMBERS WELCOME (OVER 55) REGISTRATION JULY, CLASSES START AUGUST. QUERIES TO CAROLYN 0879284307, OR PHILLIPPA 0874118335
