Our regular Traditional Irish Music Slow Session for Leithinis members, led by Erin, continued every second Friday evening in Donabate Parish Hall (shown in photo) and has become very popular with new members. The regular Fast Sessions for experienced musicians continued on the first Tuesday of the month in the Brook Pub in Portrane (shown in photo). This event is attracting musicians from all over the North County. The Leithinis AGM took place on November 13th and we were glad to welcome Mary Whelan from the Dublin County Board. Leithinis members, both adults and children, played a number of music sets at the annual Winter Fete in Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School which was very well received. The Leithinis Christmas Slow Session for members takes place on the 15th December. Our last music lessons before Christmas are on the 11th December and resume on the 8th January. The Leithinis Committee would like to wish Nollaig Shona to all our members.
Labour party local area representative Corina Johnston said recently that she and her party are monitoring the proposed travel infrastructure for Donanabte. She said, “As the population of Donabate is projected to grow to over 20,000 over the next 10 years it is imperative that the necessary infrastructure be prioritised and delivered. The Council received the following update at a recent meeting: “FCC recently appointed consultants for a number of schemes on the Donabate-Portrane Peninsula: (1.) Phase 2 of the Donabate Distributor Road project to improve access to Donabate and Portrane from the M1-Lissenhall Interchange for all road users especially pedestrians and cyclists; (2.) Active Travel Routes to increase local connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. (3.) Traffic study to examine efficiencies and safety issues at the M1 Lissenhall Interchange. (4.) A new greenway scheme alongside the existing Donabate Distributor Road. Preliminary design work is commencing on these schemes with further progress expected in subsequent years. Johnston went on to say “ A Works contract for the Broadmeadow Way Greenway have been finalised with other elements being procured and tendered shortly. Tender for the Pill River Bridge Kilcrea junction section of the greenway will go to tender in early 2024. -A tender process is underway to appoint a works contractor on the Donabate Pedestrian Bridge linking new residential developments at Corballis East and West with Donabate Train Station,Donabate Village and Newbridge Demesne. Work to commence early in 2024. -A CPO is under consideration by An Bord Pleanala for the Portrane Road Enhancement scheme from Carrs Mill to the National Schools. The tender process is completed for the Turvey Avenue Enhancement scheme where no footpath currently exists on Turvey Avenue with works to commence in the coming weeks. -The design report for walking and cycling infrastructure on R126 from the end of the Donabate Distributor Road to Seaview Park Portrane have been prepared. Subject to land take agreements and environmental screening, it is intended to proceed to planning in 2024. -Consultation and route option design continues on the Fingal Coastal Way and the Donabate Urban Framework Plan will be progressed by the Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department.”
Corina Johnston added, “It is my firm belief that vital infrastructure should be delivered either prior to or in tandem with development in our towns and villages. While I welcome the necessary design and planning work that has been carried out it will be of no benefit to the people of Donabate if they are not delivered. We in the Labour party intend to pursue these matters.”
Over the last months, Balbriggan Rugby Club adult players have been volunteering with our youth and mini teams. Our aims are to foster relationships across the teams within the club, to grow our internal support structures, and to highlight the pathway for within the club for our young players.
Join us for a Christmas Bingo night at The Milestone, 27 Drogheda St, Balbriggan K32 RD98 on Wednesday 6th Dm 8pm to 10 pm hosted by Balbriggan LGBT+ Peer Support Group and proudly sponsored by Outcomers LGBT Support Service. Embrace the festive cheer as we gather together the vibrant LGBT+ community of Balbriggan and its neighbouring areas. Newcomers, outcomers, and their allies are warmly invited to join us for an enjoyable evening of gay bingo and delicious finger food. Admission is free! Participate in 3 games of bingo for just €5. Let’s make it merrier by dressing in our most festive Christmassy clothes! Come along and celebrate with us in a welcoming and joyful atmosphere …see you there! Also do not forget….the Balbriggan group meets twice per month in the Flemington Centre. For any queries please contact Annie Blake, Regional LGBT Community Outreach Worker, Outcomers Office 042 932 9816.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides grant support to Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) to improve local energy efficiency and help with the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. We are working on a voluntary basis with ORS energy consultants on an Energy Master Plan for Balbriggan, which consists of an online Home Energy Survey, community building and business energy audits, a baseline energy use assessment and energy action plan. We are the link between the community and ORS and our main role is to encourage participation in the Energy Master Plan process. In the future, we hope to pursue further energy related projects in Balbriggan. Thanks to everyone who has completed the Home Energy Survey so far. We’ve had 70 responses but we would like to get to a 100 so please fill out the 5-minute survey and help inform the assessment of energy needs in the community. You can contact us on balbrigganclimateclub@gmail.com if you need help with it or would like further information. Five homes representative of different house types will be energy audited by ORS, along with three community buildings. ORS are also supporting a number of local businesses to apply for Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) vouchers worth €2,000. Please do visit us at this website for any and all further look up balbrigganclimateclub.wordpress.com. Balbriggan Climate Club is a sub-committee of Balbriggan Tidy Towns and a few members set up the Balbriggan SEC to avail of the grant to develop the Balbriggan Energy Master Plan. We wish everyone a lovely break. The Energy Master Plan should be finished in spring 2024, when we will have a public launch so keep an eye out for further updates in the New Year!
I am delighted that Fingal Co Council have confirmed in reply to my formal question that consultants will be procured for a site specific feasibility study at Castlelands Balbriggan with a view “to guide the Council’s next steps in terms of timelines and route through the planning process.” for a Balbriggan Public Swimming Pool and that €75,000 Hs been set aside in the Fingal Capital Plan for that purpose. “The previous swimming pool projects In Skerries and Balbriggan were complicated public private partnerships and failed for that reason. This public swimming pool will be built on council land by Fingal Co Council. The council must build and fund a Public Swimming Pool in Balbriggan for Balbriggan residents and the North Fingal catchment area including nearby Skerries. “ said Cllr Tom O’Leary. There are various Funding sources possible, Fingal Co Council, Government National Funding, and levies from new homes to be built in Balbriggan. The ongoing review of the options to deliver Swimming Pools in Ireland may present some new interest value for money models already in use in England and energy efficient models that make running costs of a public swimming pool more sustainable and affordable said Balbriggan Ward. Councillor Tom O’Leary said, “I look forward to more progress on this project, engaging with the consultants on the proposal for a public swimming pool in Balbriggan and also engaging with the North Fingal Swimming Pool group.” The Housing and Community Dept will be commencing the procurement process to engage a consultant for this study with an appointment likely in Q1 2024. “ said Fingal Co Council on 13th November 2023.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Balbriggan Branch of the Labour Party, Cllr Brendan Ryan encouraged the people of Balbriggan to shop local as much as possible this Christmas. He said that local businesses are an integral part of our town. They offer local employment and by supporting them we are ensuring that the money generated within their businesses is being reinvested directly into the town. He particularly called on people to support those businesses which are still surviving on Balbriggan Main Street in a very difficult trading environment and to actively consider buying at least one Christmas gift in the town Centre. “Let’s support our Main Street and Town Centre businesses as much as possible to help them survive” he said.
This message would equally apply to all our towns, but Balbriggan Main Street has had its own particular challenges. In a follow up, at the November Council meeting, Cllr Ryan called on the Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, and her economic development team, to initiate a strong Shop Local campaign across all its media channels to drive home the message. Cllr Ryan stated that he was delighted with her very positive response and looks forward to the roll out in the coming weeks.
EggHeadz CLG is delivering programmes and support services across Fingal and Dublin. Here is some of what we’re doing…
School Engagement: The recommencement of EggHeadz in-school, after-school programmes, drop-in evening and weekend classes is in full swing since September in Primary and Secondary schools throughout Fingal and Dublin City.
Youth Recovery Programmes: EggHeadz launched a Recovery through Activity Programme. A six-week program for teenagers living in Fingal who are having difficulties with their mental health which started in October and is currently underway. The programme is supported by the Health Service Executive and CAMHS.
Community Engagement: EggHeadz supporters and volunteers took part in the King of the Castle, Cycle Against Suicide event in August. October was World Mental Health month and we marked in distributing Green Ribbon’s throughout the community.
EggHeadz Youth Camps: Our Halloween Mid-term Sport4All camp was a great success and we’re really looking forward to our future camps where we will bring more fun, fitness, outdoor activity, relaxation, sport and therapeutic supports.
EggHeadz Activities and Events: Water Sports: Weekly kayaking, and Paddleboarding was enjoyed by teenagers during the summer. HER Outdoors was celebrated with Yoga, Dip, Paddle-boarding in Donabate, Portrane and Malahide Estuary.
EggHeadz Inclusion Programmes: EggHeadz support services take place in five different centres for Direct Provision in the Fingal area. Our engagement with the migrant community has been vital for integration and inclusion of young people in local sports clubs.
FREE Youth Counselling in Donabate: This is available free of charge to young people (aged 12-25) by appointment. It is available on Mondays in Donabate Portrane Community Centre and appointments are available between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Mairead on 086-329 6812 or by email eggheadzcounselling@gmail.com to book an appointment. For more follow us on social media visit our website or scan the QR code.
By Lusk Community Network
On our Facebook and Instagram pages ILoveLusk, we put up quick posts in relation to available grants and then point you back to our main website – lovelusk.ie. Even within the ‘Community Grants’ page, we provide a summary of the grants and a link to the full information. While our web page lovelusk.ie/home/community-grants/ may only give a brief description of the grant, don’t be put off by the wording. Click on the link supplied by us, bringing you to the relevant section of the grant providers’ website. If you need examples of how this grant was used by other groups, most websites provide a list of recipients in prior years and give brief descriptions about their projects. These descriptions are brilliant as you now have examples of accepted projects. You can decide if any of these projects would or could apply to your organisation. If you feel you need extra clarity, most groups have either a website or a Facebook page and so if you need to, you can contact them and from our experience, they are more than happy to talk. On our Facebook and Instagram page, we posted about the Community Water Development Fund, which is currently open. Examples of previous local recipients were provided – Balbriggan Tidy Towns, OWLS (Children’s Nature Charity) and Swords Tidy Towns, as well as the possibility of applying for this grant for a feasibility study into rain water harvesting systems, showing how St. Maur’s GAA received funding from LEADER to help with harvesting rain water from the roof of their clubhouse. In other words, this grant could be a stepping stone for further available grants. It would be very easy to miss this wide ranging grant. So, get into a habit of looking at the grants page on our website, clinking into the links provided and reading the extra information contained there. Don’t be put off by the wording and, with the examples provided of prior approved projects, think within and outside the box. Then don’t forget to apply! Check out our website lovelusk.ie, our Facebook & Instagram pages - iLoveLusk
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and one of the busiest times for our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs. Our merchandise stand was in SuperValu, Balbriggan on both Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th November and also up in Millfield Shopping Centre on Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th November for the arrival of Santa, where we had car raffle tickets, Christmas cards and calendars, all of which are still available and if you missed us at any of the events in November and would like to get the above merchandise, our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch will be at the Bremore Castle Crafts Fair on the 10th December so you can come along, get your goodies and say hello. If you are not in North County Dublin however and find yourself in Co Cavan at the Ballinagh Tractor Run on the same date, you just might run into Tom O’Neill and his guide dog Qeb who will be attending. Another way to support us this Christmas season is to donate any old Irish coins, old sterling and any other coins and notes from around the world, along with old postage stamps that you might have lying around, as our branch receives the money from everything that comes in.Finally, our counter boxes and large dogs are a very steady fundraiser throughout the year and we want to thank all the premises holders that allow these containers to be placed on their premises. We would love more help to empty these boxes and large dogs especially in the Rush, Lusk and Skerries areas of North County Dublin. If you would like to help, please contact us on the details below. We would also like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has volunteered, donated and supported our Branch throughout the year. We wish you a happy Christmas and a fantastic new year! If you are interested in volunteering with us, please feel free to contact us: Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, you can phone or text us on 085 7663107, email us whenever you can at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.