St Colmcille’s GFC welcomed players, families, friends and the wider community for its annual charity blitz in aid of St Francis Hospice held on Saturday, 19th September.
The club has been holding the popular fundraising event almost every year since 2016 in honour of two of the players’ mothers who passed away and spent some time in St. Francis Hospice.
Following the action on the pitch, players and supporters came together in the club hall for refreshments, a raffle, and the real fun which continued into the evening.
Marian O Neill, Club Secretary, St. Colmcille’s, said: “Over the years, this blitz has become a really special event for our club. It brings people together for a great afternoon of football and plenty of fun, but most importantly it gives us an opportunity to support the incredible work of St Francis Hospice.”
“We have raised thousands of euros for the hospice since we first started holding the blitz, and that is entirely down to the generosity of our players, families, friends and the wider community.”
About St. Colmcille’s GAA Club
This small but busy and ambitious club has been part of the Swords Community since 1935. They are looking to grow their teams and offer the following opportunities to join in the fun.
Nursery training Saturdays 10.30 am Sponsored by Glenveagh homes.
U6’s training Saturdays 10.30 am
U8’s team Wednesday 6.30-7.15 and Saturday 10.30- 11.30
U10’s team train every Wednesday 7.15-8.15 & Saturday 10.30-12
U13 girls training every Tuesday and Thursday 6.30pm and Saturday at 10.30.
Adult men’s team are training every Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30 Sponsored by Members First Credit Union.
Our Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others team are training every Monday at 7 p.m.
Media enquiries:
Pamela Kavanagh – 085 8022707 or Pamkavanagh@gmail.com
Swords Tidy Towns has been winning awards for many years as they work during all weathers to keep our community clean. They also put fantastic efforts into decorating Main Street and other areas with summer flower arrangements. Not so well known is an STT member who works on removing the graffiti that pops up with annoying regularity. Delivering a cleaner town on this front is Eric Duffy, a resident of Carlton Court. Given how this work has required constant attention he has a new process for anti-graffiti efforts that he thinks will work out well.
“I first got involved with Swords Tidy Towns when my neighbor, Matt Cullen, chatted to me while he was tidying a flower bed in Carlton Court, he explains. I soon decided to get involved, and after a bit with the litter picking, quickly became passionate about cleaning as much Graffiti as I could.” He is quick to point out that Tidy Towns always earn a lot of respect for wall murals and flower baskets, the work on removing graffiti can go un-noticed.
“Usually when the school holidays begin there is an uptick. I’d say there are only a few kids leaving graffiti but they make the town’s environment look awful.”
Eric has found that a wall might be repainted as soon as he cleans it. “I discovered they throw in the towel once we get to the third round”. In the same breath he worries that what he firmly considers to be vandalism, will surge back into popularity. “I believe we need to encourage the youth to develop their Art through art competitions, a more positive opportunity to show an artistic talent”
As part of a new Council funded project to combat litter and graffiti (ALAG), a mapping and tracking system is being developed for Swords. This offers a new way of identifying areas where graffiti causes a persistent nuisance. This new “public realm awareness” tool is nearly complete. Swords Tidy Towns is one of several Swords based organisations contributing to the design and improvement of this system. Browse www.swordlive.ie to see what is on offer.
The remarkable variety of beautification provided by Tidy Towns over the years is truly inspiring. https://swordstidytowns.com/completed-projects/
“New volunteers are certainly welcome to become part of our team” Ken Duffy, STT Chairperson.
Who are North Dublin Toastmasters?
North Dublin Toastmasters is a club that helps members become more confident by developing a range of social, communication and leadership skills. We provide our members with a relaxed, friendly, fun and professional environment to help them achieve these goals. You can volunteer for a variety of roles at our meetings and each role helps you to develop a varied range of skills. Members get an opportunity to grow at their own pace with no pressure to take on any specific role until they are ready. We also give regular, supportive feedback to help each person achieve their full potential.
Why the name change?
Our club has been established for over 30 years. Until recently, we were known as East Coast Toastmasters. Although we are all proud members of “East Coast” we feel that this name was a little too broad and vague for members looking for clubs in their own location. Whilst we welcome members from all areas and all counties, we believe that “North Dublin Toastmasters” will help potential members find us and give them a better understanding of our location.
Are guests welcome to attend?
We are delighted to welcome any guests who would like to attend our meetings and there is no charge. Most members who join the club first attend as a guest to see how a typical meeting runs. They often join us when they see how our club can help them achieve their own personal goals.
Where and when do we meet?
North Dublin Toastmasters meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month. We alternate between in-person meetings in St Cronan’s Parish Hall, Swords (first Tuesdays) and online meetings (third Tuesdays). Online meetings are another increasingly relevant way to develop and broaden your communication skills.
To get more information about our club you can email NorthDublinToastmasters@gmail.com or phone our President Mick Rock at 0877686069
Rush Tourism has been overwhelmed by the response to this year’s Heritage Week programme, Rush 1926–2026: A Walk Through Time, with large attendances at every event and an extraordinary reaction both locally and from much further afield.
Throughout the week, residents joined a series of walks and talks exploring the people, families and places that have shaped Rush. But perhaps the greatest surprise was the response on social media. Stories and photographs reached former Rush residents now living in far-flung parts of the world, as well as descendants of people whose grandparents and great-grandparents once lived and worked on the Kenure Estate.
And with those connections came some remarkable pieces of Rush history.
We met people who still hold rent books dating from the 1840s for land rented from the Palmer family, while another family has opera glasses purchased at the final auction of Kenure House. One particularly special connection came from the grandchild of Lady Palmer’s goddaughter, who still treasures Lady Palmer’s Bible as a precious family possession.
These are the personal connections that bring local history to life. They remind us that the story of Kenure and old Rush is not something confined to history books—it survives in families, photographs, documents, treasured possessions and memories passed from one generation to the next.
One of the highlights of the week was hearing John Walsh trace the story and connections of families who have lived in Rush for generations. John himself is a direct descendant of the Walsh family whose connection with Kenure stretches back to the 1700s. Hearing how these families developed, intermarried and remained part of the fabric of Rush—and how many of their descendants are still living and running businesses here today—was fascinating for everyone who attended.
The walks led by Niall Gossan and Declan “CJ” Costello also demonstrated the huge appetite that exists for Rush’s local history. Familiar streets, buildings and landmarks took on a completely different meaning when the stories of the people who once lived and worked there were brought back to life.
A very special part of the programme was Kenure Church, where Valerie and Anna proudly welcomed visitors and shared the story of this remarkable building, one of the great surviving legacies of the Palmer family and a very different era in Rush.
Rush Tourism would like to sincerely thank John Walsh, Niall Gossan and Declan Costello, who gave their time, knowledge and enthusiasm freely and made the week such a success. We are also hugely grateful to Christine Baker of Fingal Heritage, whose support from the very beginning helped make the programme possible, and to Valerie and Anna for their wonderful welcome at Kenure Church.
But our biggest thank you is to everyone who came along, contacted us from near and far, shared a memory, produced an old photograph or opened a box containing a treasured piece of their family history.
We were genuinely blown away by the response.
Heritage Week may be over, but the stories certainly aren’t. Every photograph, memory and family treasure shared with us adds another piece to the story of Rush—and shows just how strongly the Rush of today remains connected to the Rush of generations past.
For more than a decade, Rush juniors has welcomed children aged 4 to 14 to Kenure Park on a Sunday morning for a fun 2km run. We were actually the first ever junior parkrun event in Ireland and have hosted thousands of kids at 470 events since our launch in late 2015. There are now 47 junior parkruns across Ireland every Sunday morning, so we like to think of ourselves as trendsetters!
Despite cheering on around 30 young runners each week, we’ve recently struggled to fill our volunteer roster and have come very close to cancelling the event on several occasions. We have a very dedicated core group of Run Directors - thank you all - but are in need of additional casual volunteers who can help with tasks like marshalling, timekeeping, tail-walking and barcode scanning.
There is no pressure to commit to helping out every single week; even volunteering once every few weeks would make a big difference. The time commitment is very small - we meet just before 9.30am and are usually packed up and heading home before 10.15am.
So, what’s the benefit of volunteering? Firstly, a big hit of Sunday morning dopamine! What’s not to love about cheering on a big group of kids as they storm through the woods? You’d be supporting your local community, meeting new people, and encouraging the next generation to stay healthy and active.
If you’d like to come and help out – whether it’s once, twice, or on a regular basis – please drop us an email at rushjuniors@parkrun.com. We’d love to welcome you.
You can find out more about Rush junior parkrun at www.parkrun.ie/rush-juniors/ , or on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/rushjuniorparkrun/ .
Rush Cricket Club recently celebrated a remarkable milestone — 50 years of consecutive women’s cricket, from 1976 to 2026.
The occasion was a wonderful celebration of the many players, past and present, coaches, volunteers, families and supporters who have contributed to this incredible chapter in the club’s history.
The celebrations began with a Youth Cricket “Give It a Bash” session, giving the next generation an opportunity to enjoy the game and experience the sense of fun and community that cricket brings.
This was followed by a very special ladies’ cricket match, with Rush women’s players from across the decades returning to the field. Past and present teammates joined together for a fun-filled game, reconnecting with old friends and creating new memories along the way.
The day concluded with a lovely afternoon tea and celebratory speeches, reflecting on the history of women’s cricket at Rush and recognising the many people who have helped it flourish over the past 50 years.
Rush’s contribution to women’s cricket has also reached the highest level, with a number of players who represented Ireland having played their cricket at Rush during their careers. We are incredibly proud of the Rush connection to Collette McGuinness, Caitriona Beggs, Ciara Metcalfe, Carole McGuire, Clodagh Conway and Aoife Beggs — all of whom represented Ireland and were part of the Rush cricket story at different stages. These players are a wonderful reflection of the talent, ambition and opportunities that women’s cricket at Rush has fostered over the years.
Perhaps the most special part of the day was seeing players reconnect with teammates — sharing stories, reminiscing about matches and memorable moments, and celebrating the friendships that have lasted long beyond their playing days.
Cricket brought us together — and 50 years later, it continues to do just that.
Rush Cricket Club looks forward to continuing this wonderful legacy and inspiring many more generations of girls and women to pick up a bat, take the field and become part of the Rush cricket family.
Another summer begins to draw to a close a the Let’s Play Rush Summer Sports Day takes place at Tayleur’s Point. The old-school style sports day filled with fun, laughter, and a wide range of sporting games and activities is open to all families in the area.
Developed as part of the European URBACT Playful Paradigm Project, Let’s Play Rush continues to create opportunities for people of all ages to engage in play and community activities. Supported by Fingal County Council and delivered in partnership with Rush Tidy Towns, the 38th Rush Scout Group, local representatives, and community organisations, the initiative highlights the town’s many public spaces including Rush’s beaches and harbour, Rush Library, the Millbank Theatre, Kenure Woods, and local playgrounds and green spaces.
This year’s event brought the community together through a variety of playful activities. Participants enjoyed youth and adult races, tug of war, egg and spoon competitions, and had the opportunity to play Giant Jenga and Connect 4. Families also engaged with local street artists and face painting, adding colour and creativity to the celebration.
Cllr Tony Murphy, Mayor of Fingal, who presented medals on the day, said, “What a wonderful event for the people of Rush and a massive word of thanks must go to Rush Tidy Towns, the 38th Scout Group Rush, members of the Let’s Play Rush Initiative and Fingal County Council who have made this a fun day for all. It further highlights what can be achieved with community participation and the positive contribution it makes to all our towns and villages across the county.”
Niall Mc Guirk, Healthy Fingal Coordinator with Fingal’s Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel and Sport Department, praised the project’s impact:
“We’re delighted to see the Let’s Play Rush Project going from strength to strength with the dedication and support of the local community in organising and running playful events in the town. The project encourages people of all ages to embrace play and enjoy the public spaces in Rush together, promoting a healthy, sustainable lifestyle and an inclusive environment for everyone.”
With strong community participation and growing enthusiasm, Let’s Play Rush continues to strengthen connections across Rush while showcasing the power of play to bring people together. Brendan O’Reilly, Chairperson of Rush Tidy Towns said, “the Let’s Play Rush Committee take great pride and satisfaction from delivering this free annual summer event, and the feedback we get from the community is nothing but positive. We couldn’t do this without the support and advice from Fingal County Council, and a massive thanks to them for their involvement”.
Rush farmer Shane Halpin has made history after he was named the 2026 FBD Young Farmer of the Year, becoming the first winner from Dublin in the competition’s history.
Shane runs Welgro Produce with business partner Sean, growing seven acres of cucumbers across multiple sites in North County Dublin. Having been involved in farming, particularly horticulture, from a young age, Shane established Welgro in 2021 on a leased three-acre nursery.
The enterprise has expanded each season, with an additional nursery purchased in 2023 more than doubling the growing area. Welgro now employs 10 full-time staff, rising to 35 at peak times with seasonal staff. The business supplies retail, wholesale and food service customers with fresh Irish-grown cucumbers from March to November and won the Teagasc Newbie Award in 2021.
Chairman of the FBD Trust Michael Berkery expressed his congratulations to all award recipients on the night.
“On behalf of FBD Insurance, I am delighted to congratulate Shane, our Young Farmer of the Year, and six category winners on this significant achievement. This competition, now in its 28th year, continues to attract enthusiastic and dedicated young farmers and Macra members from around the country. FBD Insurance is honoured to continue its long-standing partnership with Macra and support the FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards, which celebrate and recognise the vital role young farmers play in shaping the future of Irish farming. We hope these awards continue to inspire the next generation to build thriving, sustainable businesses that will strengthen rural Ireland for years to come.”
Malahide has been chosen as part of a new €20 million Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund. The village will receive €7 million for the pedestrianisation of New Street.
The projects in Fingal were included in a list of almost 120 projects across every local authority in the country which was announced this week by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD. A total of €409 million is being made available to local authorities who meet targets.
Projects supported under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund fall into two categories. One category focuses on projects that can be delivered in the short-term with shared funding available for projects that can be on-site by September 2027 while the other category will support longer-term projects that will be delivered in the later years of the National Development Plan (NDP).
Benefitting from the €20.1 million funding along with Malahide are: Swords Cultural Quarter has been allocated €7.5 million while €5.6m is earmarked for the Skerries Harbour Road project
For many of our athletes, October sees the culmination of a summer and early autumn of a tough block of training. There are other marathons but the majority will take on the 26.2 miles of the Dublin City Marathon on Sunday 25th October. It’s something that most will look forward to with excitement and a little nervousness but with the training miles in the bag the marathon itself is just the final piece of the jigsaw. We wish everyone the best of luck and rest assured there will be plenty of Lusk members out on the course to cheer you on.
Well done to all involved in the successful Juvenile Cross Country event held at Newbridge House. Congratulations to club members who completed a race in recent weeks with many taking on a Half Marathon. Our latest Fit4Life group started on 24th September but it’s not too late to join.
