Whilst walking around Swords recently a passerby asked, “Do you have the time?”. Once a common question but something seldom heard since we evolved to grow that appendage known as the smart phone. The random encounter with the time seeker got me thinking about how much daily life has changed since we Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964) cast a youthful shadow upon the earth. Not everyone had a watch and those who did had to wind them on a regular basis. The local phone box was our digital hub. To use the facility, the speed of an Olympian runner and the cunning of a wise old fox were mandatory in order to reach its door before a certain neighbour. Should she cross the finish line before you, a battle of the irresistible force and immovable object ensued, as she attempted to break the world record for the longest phone call in history. We didn’t get a landline till the early nineties. Years earlier when my father was in hospital, I rang to enquire how he was doing. Instead of the stock reply “As well as can be expected”, a helpful nurse put him on to me. As he had never heard my voice on the phone before, it took all my diplomatic skills to convince him I wasn’t an imposter.

Today shopping is a leisure activity. Back then it was a necessary chore to replenish the basics. Before self-service, we queued at a high counter and timidly asked the shopkeeper (some could be grumpy and hadn’t the customer is always right) for what we wanted. Food hygiene was not in their vocabulary, as cooked and uncooked meats were cut on the same slicer. School lunches are in the news at the moment. Our mothers sent us forth with jam or soggy tomato sandwiches accompanied by a Tupperware beaker of milk to wash them down. We didn’t carry designer water bottles (that other modern day appendage) and survived drinking water of dubious quality water from the roadside pump. We learned to write with a nib pen and ink, and became highly skilled in the art of ducking - a crucial skill to avoid the incoming blackboard duster on a collision course for our heads.

Perhaps the real answer to the passerby is -A very different time!

The 18th Annual Valley Walk in aid of Irish Cancer Society took place on Saturday and within just a few days over €8,000 was already raised!

People come from far and wide every year meeting at Peacocks pub car park in River Valley for registration and refreshments, and the scene quickly became a sea of yellow with the walkers’ Irish Cancer Society t-shirts as they started the 5km walk around the lovely park and woods.

The total raised so far since 2008 is 130 thousand. Further details are available from Margaret Harris on 087 221 3605.

By Ken Duffy

Swords Tidy Towns have been up and running for over twenty years now, in that time the face of Swords has changed dramatically. This change is due in no small part to the hard work put in by our volunteers over that twenty-year period who contributed their time and energy to that change. Many volunteers have passed through our doors in that time and many the long-time friendships blossomed.

A town is much more than bricks and mortar, it’s the community that thrives within, they are its heart and soul, they breathe life into it, they give it it’s character. It is their willingness to volunteer and contribute to the betterment of their community that pushes our town forward.

Swords has come a long way since it was designated a litter black spot in 2003, today it is a 2024 national Gold Medal winner. This speaks volumes about the commitment of our Swords Tidy Towns volunteers, and the many other community volunteer organisations who strive to do their best for Swords.

Swords Tidy Towns waits with bated breath for this year’s National Tidy Towns medal results, did we or did we not once again achieve Gold Medal status. All we can do, is keep our fingers crossed.

Swords Tidy Towns offers a friendly welcome to new volunteers, a nice cuppa with biscuits and a chat after each Saturday morning work. We are very well taken care of by Willie and his wonderful team at the Old Schoolhouse.

We meet each Saturday at 10am in the car park of Cove & Co previously known as Colourtrend which is opposite the Swords Garda Station, we would love to see you there, just turn up. If you require any further info contact me Ken Duffy Chairperson on 086-6008313

On Tuesday morning 4th of November in skinny batch Coffee Shop Lusk a fundraising coffee morning will be held to raise money for the Balbriggan\North County Dublin Branch of Irish guide Dogs for the blind.
Running from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, there will be guide dogs Xmas cards, 2026 calendars for sale and a car raffle ticket costing euro5 each to win a Ford Puma later in the year

All money raised goes for the training of guide dogs for blind people and assistance dogs for children with Autism. All involved in this fundraiser are total volunteers and we wish to thank Sharyn Hayden of Skinny Batch Food Ltd Lusk and her team for organizing this lovely event.

Should any reader of this article wish to volunteer with the branch or indeed become a puppy raiser from the readership of this article please contact us on below details. We can never have enough volunteers and without puppy raisers no guide or assistance dog can be trained. We need you.

More details on www.guidedogs.ie To contact our branch of guide dogs’ email guidedogsbalbriggan@gmail.com or call 085-7663107.
Tom O’Neill, guide dog owner and co-chair of the branch

On Friday the 10th of October Rush Tidy Towns held their 2025 Volunteer of the year awards at a lavish ceremony at Rush Golf Club. Fingal Mayor Tom O Leary was the guest of honour and he presented all the awards to the deserving recipients culminating with the announcement of Neil McKeown as Volunteer of the Year. Other award winners included project of the year which went to Carl Jones and Chris Rooney for their Vintage Pump refurbishment project, and the Clean Coasts award which went to Paul Moore and Richard Spenser for their river cleaning pursuits. In all 9 awards were presented to 16 different volunteers. The awards meal was kindly sponsored by Rush Community Council.

Commenting on the occasion, Brendan O’Reilly, Chairperson of Rush Tidy Towns said, “it is very important we recognise the dedication and commitment displayed by so many loyal volunteers, as they are the lifeblood of our group, and without them the committee would not get though a fraction of the work done for the betterment of the town which we are all so proud of”

If you would like to become a volunteer and be involved in the community, please contact tidytownsrush@gmail.com for more information.

Xmas Jumper Swap

Rush Tidy Towns are delighted to announce the annual Christmas Jumper Swap held in Rush Community Centre. This is your opportunity to bring your preloved jumpers and swap them for a different one for the festive seasons. See flyer for further detail.

The magic of Christmas is returning to Rush! Join us on Saturday, 29th November 2025, from 4–6pm in Echlin Court for the Rush Christmas Lights Switch-On — a festive celebration that marks the true beginning of the holiday season in our town.

This much-loved annual event brings our whole community together for an evening of sparkle, song, and smiles. Expect joyful music, plenty of festive treats, and a special visit from Santa himself as we light up Rush for Christmas 2025! Families, friends, and neighbours are all invited to gather in Echlin Court and share in the warm, welcoming spirit that makes Rush so special at this time of year.

But we need your help to Keep Rush Lit. Each year, it becomes more challenging to raise the funds needed to power, maintain and safely install our beautiful Christmas lights. These lights don’t just brighten up the streets — they brighten up hearts, bringing festive cheer to residents, visitors, and local businesses alike.

The truth is, without enough donations, we won’t be able to put up the lights this year. We know times are tough, but every contribution - big or small - truly makes a difference. Your generosity keeps the spirit of Christmas shining bright across our town.

So, mark your calendars, wrap up warm, and bring your Christmas spirit to Echlin Court on November 29th. Let’s make this year’s light switch-on the brightest one yet — and help us Keep Rush Lit!

Thanks to Fingal County Council Events Team, Rush Tourism is delighted to bring a Christmas Market to Kenure Woods on Saturday November 29th and Sunday November 30th, creating a magical weekend filled with festive fun, family entertainment, and community spirit.

This year’s market promises something for everyone — young and old alike — with an exciting lineup of local crafters, food stalls, live music, and free children’s entertainment sponsored by Progressive Credit Union

Rudolph and his friend will make an appearance, ready for festive photos and fun. Juggling Jack Frost will amaze the crowds with his spectacular skills, while two of Santa’s playful elves hop through the woods spreading cheer and posing for pictures.

Mrs. Claus, sponsored by Carroll Estates and Bellyngham Projects, will be there each day sharing enchanting stories about how the elves are busily preparing for Santa’s big night

Don’t forget to drop your letters into Santa’s Postbox for express delivery straight to the North Pole!
On Sunday, families can hop aboard the Elf Express Train for a free, magical ride through the woods — an experience not to be missed. Get your photo taken with our hopping happy Elves as the train rambles along.

The Kenure Woods Christmas Market is more than just an event — it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and Christmas joy.

So come along and enjoy a fun-filled shopping experience surrounded by festive cheer.
And remember the local motto:

“Keep your business in Rush to keep Rush in business!

What started out as an idea by Declan (Cj) to raise €500 for the Irish Cancer Society has grown into an uplifting and inspiring month of camaraderie and fun, as we Twalked with CJ for 30 days in September.
Every day, CJ was joined by groups of people for early morning, lunchtime, and evening walks. We laughed, chatted, reconnected with old friends, and shared many happy childhood memories along the way. People who have recently moved to Rush — and who might not have been aware of its rich history and heritage — joined the walks and will now see the village in a completely new light!

We talked about pirates, the Tideway Cinema, the day Johnny Cash rolled into town, and countless other fascinating stories from Rush’s past.

CJ’s “Twalk” has truly united our community in a fun and meaningful way. The connection and friendship felt as everyone walked together each day were beyond anything he could have imagined. People battling cancer, along with friends and families who have lost loved ones, came together — walking side by side — to support Declan and to stand for a common cause.

In total, over €6000 was raised for the Irish Cancer Society — a true testament to the power of community spirit and togetherness.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined the walks, donated, and supported Declan throughout the month. Your kindness, laughter, and generosity have made this journey truly special. What began as a small idea has become a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together. Here’s to keeping that spirit alive — one step at a time

Fingal Festival of Children’s Literature has been running for a number of years and is organised by Fingal Libraries. The festival is a fantastic celebration of children’s literature and a great chance to meet local authors such as Shane Hegarty, writer of the Darkmouth series, who is from Skerries and in 2024, Rush resident Derek Landy (of Skulduggery Pleasant fame) spoke about his writing and signed copies of the latest book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series.

This year, the festival included a new short story writing competition, ‘Every Story is Magic’. Entries, which had to be under 400 words long, were shortlisted by staff at Fingal Libraries and three winners were selected from the shortlisted entries by Eoin Colfer, legendary author of the Artemis Fowl series. Amongst the winners was Rush resident Charlotte Semple who won third place in the competition. Charlotte has recently started secondary school at St Joseph’s Secondary School, having previously attended St Catherine’s National School.

Charlotte’s story was 397 words long and described a magical evening where four friends flew over the moonlit Fingal countryside.

The prizes were announced and presented by Eoin Colfer at Swords Castle on 27th September at the Fingal Festival of Children’s Literature. Eoin was also on hand to sign copies of the first book in the Artemis Fowl series.

Whilst walking around Swords recently a passerby asked, “Do you have the time?”. Once a common question but something seldom heard since we evolved to grow that appendage known as the smart phone. The random encounter with the time seeker got me thinking about how much daily life has changed since we Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964) cast a youthful shadow upon the earth. Not everyone had a watch and those who did had to wind them on a regular basis. The local phone box was our digital hub. To use the facility, the speed of an Olympian runner and the cunning of a wise old fox were mandatory in order to reach its door before a certain neighbour. Should she cross the finish line before you, a battle of the irresistible force and immovable object ensued, as she attempted to break the world record for the longest phone call in history. We didn’t get a landline till the early nineties. Years earlier when my father was in hospital, I rang to enquire how he was doing. Instead of the stock reply “As well as can be expected”, a helpful nurse put him on to me. As he had never heard my voice on the phone before, it took all my diplomatic skills to convince him I wasn’t an imposter.

Today shopping is a leisure activity. Back then it was a necessary chore to replenish the basics. Before self-service, we queued at a high counter and timidly asked the shopkeeper (some could be grumpy and hadn’t the customer is always right) for what we wanted. Food hygiene was not in their vocabulary, as cooked and uncooked meats were cut on the same slicer. School lunches are in the news at the moment. Our mothers sent us forth with jam or soggy tomato sandwiches accompanied by a Tupperware beaker of milk to wash them down. We didn’t carry designer water bottles (that other modern day appendage) and survived drinking water of dubious quality water from the roadside pump. We learned to write with a nib pen and ink, and became highly skilled in the art of ducking - a crucial skill to avoid the incoming blackboard duster on a collision course for our heads.

Perhaps the real answer to the passerby is -A very different time!