By Mike Power

With longer days and (hopefully) sunnier skies, this time of the year is ideal for giving you and your family the ‘walking habit’. Beginning walkers prefer to have definite starting and ending points, while making the walk a ‘heritage hunt’ gives the kids something to collect and examine later. They can collect ‘magic’ stones to examine at home. Walking and exploring is healthy, interesting and ‘bonds’ a family together. The whole Swords area is rich in interesting heritage walks. I’ve chosen these particular strolls both for their enjoyment, and to safely avoid the ever-present danger of the traffic that swirls everywhere around our village nowadays.

Walk 1. The Ward Heritage Park Walk

Most Swords folk are familiar with the ‘Jacko’ but have you ever continued your walk past the children’s playground and into the park ahead? If you do, you will be rewarded by the discovery of an area full of interest for all family members to explore, especially your dog !

This fabulous but little-known park lies to the west of Swords. If driving there, Park at the Brackenstown roundabout down from the Manor. The entrance to this park lies on your right, past some iron railings and down the hill to begin your walk. Continue to explore the area, walking around a pond which locals call ‘Ushers’ but which was actually dug out by a local nobleman Viscount Robert Molesworth in the 1710s.

You can do short, (3/4 hr) medium, (1 hr), and long ( 2hr) walks in this park. Further information at:

Walk 2: The Brackenstown Road/Swords Village Heritage Walk

Again, drive to the Brackenstown roundabout, park and walk straight ahead. This small track was the original road into Swords! Emerge onto the Brackenstown road proper and walk ahead until you see on your right a set of wooden stairs leading back down to the park. The kids will love this! Descend into the ‘Jacko’ and walk back along the path to your right. Let the kids play in the playground, before ascending the path opposite. When up this path, walk ahead to your left to rejoin your car at the Brackenstown roundabout.

Happy Walking!

Look out for Mike’s book on Swords: Swords History and Mysteries. A Community Guide, to be published in August.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped at our Marram grass event on the South Beach in April. It was also great to meet Heidi from Malahide Tidy Towns and Catherine from Donabate Tidy Towns, both of whom helped out. We also got a great talk from Aidan Clean Coasts representative on the importance of the dunes and the unique properties of Marram grass, and finally the kids were transfixed our by Liane, Clean Coasts biodiversity officer who showed them how to identify mermaids, purses and other examples of marine life.

Let’s Play Easter
Thank you to everybody who came along to our free Let’s Play Rush Easter Event in Kenure Woods today in conjunction with Rush Tidy Towns, 38th Rush Scout Group, Rush Community Council and funded by Fingal County Council & Progressive Credit Union Ltd. In particular thank you to all the volunteers with special mention for the Scouts who were fantastic. This is yet another circular economy event as all the props used for the trail, and all the toys are reusable.

Best Kept Town
Rush has a unique opportunity to shine on the National stage. We are one of only 3 towns nominated in the large town category of the national Best Kept Town competition. See the flyer to see how you can contribute to the efforts to put our best foot forward. Judging happens during May.

Courtesy of Rush Tidy Towns.

The 2025 Inclusion Games are set for the 5th and 6th of July! Watersports Inclusion Games VII is an award-winning free multi-watersports event for all abilities/disabilities from the physical, intellectual, sensory and learning spectrums and those who experience barriers accessing mainstream sport.

Aimed especially at young people but catering for all ages, participants together with family and friends can access the exciting sports of Sailing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Powerboating, Motorboating, Dragon-boating, Snorkelling and much much more!

The event showcases the latest adaptations and innovations for optimised watersports delivery and promotes the benefits to health and wellbeing of accessible inclusive watersports participation. All activities and equipment are provided and no experience is necessary.

Watersports Inclusion Games is organised by Irish Sailing and Malahide Yacht Club in association with Canoeing Ireland, Irish Wakeboarding and Waterski Federation, Diving Ireland, Spinal Injuries Ireland and many others.

Our landmark multi-activity event, in its 7th year, will be hosted by Malahide Yacht Club. Located on the beautiful Broadmeadows, Co. Dublin, this wonderful venue will offer a wide range of watersports and wonderful accessible on shore facilities right beside the lake. There will be all the usual exciting offerings of Sailing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Powerboating, Motorboating, and Waterskiing, on offer with Snorkeling and Dragon-boating returning, following the successes at the Ramor Games in 2024.

All in all, there will be a fine spectacle of activities over the weekend and a fun-filled event is in store for all participants and volunteers.

On the Malahide Village Green, Saturday 17th May the Malahide Reusable Cup Project will be launched by the Fingal Mayor – Brian McDonagh. The project aims to remove the disposable cup completely from Malahide by introducing a voluntary ban. The project is being driven by Fingal County Council working with VYTAL, VOICE Ireland, Malahide Lions Club, Malahide Tidy Towns and St. Sylvesters parish committee.
But why? What makes the disposable cup the focus of such a coordinated attack?

Well, the Quantity of waste is one good reason. In 2018 a Dail report declared that over 20,000 cups were being disposed of in Ireland every hour!

Secondly, the Carbon Footprint of a disposable cup is quite substantial. The raw materials (paper and plastic) go through several phases of processing and transport before the cup spends 15 minutes or so in use, then it begins its end-journey to landfill or incineration.

These are good reasons, but there are other reasons emerging from studies across the world.

When plastic breaks down tiny bits of plastic break off. These are called microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), and they are poisoning the world at an alarming rate. The effects of these particles on the human body is now the subject of studies around the globe. In Turkey in 2024 scientists looked specifically at disposable cups. They showed that the intake of MNPs of an individual who consumed 2 cups per week could be up to 18,720–73,840 particles every year.

But are MNPs harmful?

A study published in July 2024 from Wenzhou University in China reported the particles increasing cell death. MNPs cause inflammation and they predicted effects on the Heart, Bowel, Immune and Stress responses. More research into the long-term effects has started.

The website of the National Library of Medicine in the USA outlines the effects of MNPs on human cells.
The Malahide Reusable Cup Project aims to remove disposable cups by November this year but they will need the support of everyone in Malahide to succeed. Land and sea are already riddled with MNPs and it’s impossible to avoid them, but it might help if we stop pouring them down our throats!

For more information on this and other projects check our Tidy Towns Malahide Facebook page

The Malahide Young Musician of the Year Competition (MYMY) took place on March 29/30th. Established in 1981, it has seen over 40 years of young musicians perform as soloists and groups. Many professional musicians have won the competition as youths, including Malahide-born Ailbhe McDonagh, who was invited to be this year’s adjudicator. Open to local young vocalists and piano, guitar, string and woodwind players, this year’s competition included a rock and pop section for Electric guitar. There were a record 74 hopefuls competing across the 12 categories. The overall competition was won by talented young Maeve Farrelly, a student in the Malahide School of Music who sang Almost Nearly Perfect from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical with aplomb. The main sponsors of this year’s competing were Evara and the Malahide Active Retirement Association (MARA). The chairperson of MARA, Marion Hayden-Doherty is a local music legend, her own children having participated in and won the MYMY in past years. She was central in championing the fundraising with MARA, and also in coordinating a special Prize-winners recital which took place in Malahide Library for MARA members on Saturday April 5th. It was truly wonderful to see the older generation supporting the local young talent, and the joy that music brought to all. A new trophy was required this year as the former one had been damaged beyond repair. Dedicated to Derek and Rhona Keogh, who founded the original competition in 1981, all names of previous winners have been engraved with plenty of space for the next 45 years for future winners.

After a hugely successful event in 2024, Malahide Lions Club, organisers of the Malahide Classic and Vintage Motor Show, are delighted to announce that their sponsorship partner for the 2025 Show will again be Carole Nash Insurance, one of Ireland’s largest motorcycle and classic car insurance specialists.
The Malahide Classic and Vintage Motor Show will again take place at the Grand Hotel in Malahide on Sunday 18 May and will feature some rare and expensive cars. This will be the eleventh running of the event which attracts car lovers and families from across Leinster and further afield.

Expect to see up to 100 beautiful old cars on display ranging from American brands to old British classics like Austins, Triumphs and Jaguars and sports and continental marques like Mercedes, Porsche, Renault, Volkswagen, TVR… the list goes on. There will also be one or two special featured vehicles as well as ice cream and games for children.

Colm Tully, Managing Director of Carole Nash Ireland, said “We’re really proud to be supporting The Malahide Classic and Vintage Show again this year. It’s a great event for the local community and one not to be missed for Classic Car enthusiasts. There’ll be a fantastic range of vehicles on display, with all the proceeds from the event going to two very worthy causes!”

Brian Dooley of Malahide Lions Club commented “We are hugely grateful to Carole Nash Ireland, the leaders in classic car and motorcycle insurance, for their continued support which will once again ensure a high-quality family and enthusiasts’ event while also raising funds for two very important charities”.
The Show will open at 11.00am and admission will cost €10 per adult, no charge for children under 16, with the entire proceeds going to two vital causes – Bumbleance Childrens’ Ambulance Service and Jack & Jill Foundation.

There will also be a Carole Nash team in our function room so you’re more than welcomed to say ‘hello’ to the team and get a free goodie bag!

Celebrating Tradition, Friendship and Generous Support. Centrally located on the Swords Road, within sight of Dublin Airport, Sportslink Bowls Club stands as a beacon of camaraderie and friendly competitiveness. With 25 years of history behind us, our club has grown to become a cherished gathering place for enthusiasts of all skill levels.

The club is thrilled to announce that they have recently received generous funding from Fingal County Council, a gesture that has invigorated our club. This support has enabled us to purchase new equipment, including special equipment for our older and less vigorous members, who are a hugely important part of our club. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Fingal County Council for their invaluable contribution which ensures that our club will thrive for many years to come.

The club story begins 25 years ago, when a group of bowlers just gathered on the Sportslink bowls green, united by their shared love of bowls. Over the years, we have expanded our membership, with limited facilities, to become the thriving friendly club that we are today.

The Bowls Club is more than just a sports facility.It is a vibrant social centre, where lifelong friendships are forged. We take part in league, cup, championship and practice sessions, with social events that bring together families and friends. Our club prides itself on its inclusive atmosphere, encouraging everyone to take part, regardless of age, ability or disability.

Whether you are a seasoned bowler, or a curious newcomer, we invite you to join our Bowls Club. Come and experience the joy of the game, the warmth of our community, and the beauty of our surroundings. Together we can continue to build on our proud history, and to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Would it be possible for the parent’s association of MCS to advertise our upcoming plant sale in your magazine please? The details are as follows-

The Parents Association of Malahide Community School are holding their annual Plant Sale on the second weekend in May. The times are as follows: Friday 9th - 3pm to 6pm, Saturday 10th - 10am to 6pm &, Sunday 11th - 11am to 3pm.

It will take place in the school canteen and there will be lots of colourful flowers, window boxes, hanging baskets, compost and more for sale. Everyone is welcome so please come along and support this fundraising event. All profits will be spent by the PA to improve the school facilities and support the students in various ways. We hope to see you there.

Congratulations to the students at St Sylvester’s National School, Malahide who were recently presented with €2,000 worth of O’Neill’s sports equipment by Shiel’s Londis Malahide as one of the five winners of Londis’ nationwide competition to coincide with the airing of Ireland’s Fittest Family on RTÉ One television, proudly sponsored by Londis.

Londis shoppers were simply asked to nominate their local Primary or Secondary School to be in with an opportunity to win the O’Neill’s sports equipment, further reflecting Londis’s ongoing commitment to supporting local communities and rewarding shopper loyalty.

John Shiel of Shiel’s Londis Malahide is pictured with St Sylvester’s National School Malahide representative Donna McGinty receiving their prize.

Fingal County Council will move immediately to complete detailed design of the public realm changes to New Street in Malahide following a recent High Court decision to dismiss a challenge to the scheme
At last night’s monthly meeting, councillors welcomed the High Court decision and were told that the Council will now engage with all stakeholders to complete the detailed design as quickly as possible before going out to tender for the €6m project which will take around 16 months to complete. A detailed timeline for the project is being drafted and will be circulated to councillors when completed.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, said: “Councillors past and present have supported the plan to pedestrianise New Street and they will be delighted to see the project finally getting the green light to move ahead. The public realm improvements will enhance New Street and create much needed space in the centre of the village for people.”

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: “Planning permission for the New Street project was granted in January 2024, so it is our intention now to complete the detailed design, allocate the funding, and go to tender as soon as possible. The New Street project links in with both the Broadmeadow Greenway and the Sutton to Malahide Greenway and is a key competent of our active travel plan for the area.”

David Storey, Director of Environment, Climate Change, Active Travel and Sport, said: “We continued to work on the detailed design over the last number of years, so we have a lot of the work done. The funding will come from the active travel allocation given to us each year by the NTA who have been strong supporters of the project.”

The New Street project, which was commenced in 2020, is designed to bring an open air, European-style feel to the heart of Malahide village.

View a 3D visualisation of the reimagined New Street in Malahide: https://fingal.live/3kscfecv
Further information on the New Street project is available at: fingal.ie/newstreet