St. Mary’s Baton Twirlers have had great success at the 2023 EFBT 10th Anniversary European Championships in Teplice in the Czech Republic. After an absence of 3 years away from the International Competition Floor 11 athletes from St. Mary’s Baton Twirlers travelled with Team Ireland at the beginning of July to the Championships in Teplice. The athletes competed in 25 events included Freestyle, Solo 1 Baton, Solo 2 Baton, Pair, Team and Group. As part of team Ireland, the club took home 13 awards :2 x 1st place – 1 x 2nd place – 2 x 3rd place - 2 x 4th place – 3 x 5th place - 3 x 6th place and in the Overall Country Placement - Team Ireland placed 3rd.. For more information about joining contact 086 3270636 Or do check us out on our Facebook page: StMarys Baton Twirlers. Instagram: Stmarysbatontwirlers.

As I enter my third month as Mayor of Fingal, I am immensely proud of all we have done, as a community, to create a month filled with cultural significance and sporting success. There are so many people to congratulate, from both the Dublin ladies’ and men’s GAA teams who were successful in their respective All-Ireland Football Finals, the Irish Women’s football team, the Irish ladies’ and men’s Hockey Teams.
I had the pleasure of attending so many sporting events this month, including the TY Girl’s Mini World Cup, the Balbriggan Beach Volleyball, The Croquet Cup, St.Ita’s Mini Euros, the Morton Games, the Donabate and Swords Parkrun, the Women’s World Cup Watch Party, the Euro Hockey Championships and the Under 23 Swimming European Championships.

That’s why I was honoured to open the Rathmore Park in Lusk. This 20 Acre Town Park is within easy walking and cycling reach of the centre of Lusk and close to residential areas and local schools making it very accessible to the local community.

Another highlight of the past month was the Swords Castle concerts,with Nathan Carter and Martin Kemp each putting on a fantastic show in this amazing venue in the heart of our County Town. Part of our vision in Fingal is to make this a great place to do business in and it was great to attend the opening of Keeling’s new flower processing facility in St Margaret’s, Keelings are one of the top businesses in Fingal and it is great to see them continuing to expand. News that construction of fast-charging facilities at Drogheda Station for new DART+ trains will commence this year is a major step to improving the rail service to Donabate, Rush-Lusk, Skerries and Balbriggan. The Dart+ Service is due to commence in 2025 and Irish Rail have 95 electric carriages on order. This is going to lead to passenger capacity and improved services for residents and is extremely welcome.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone to ensure they are registered to vote! Whether you are a recent resident to Fingal, or have been living here your whole life, it is imperative to check the register and update your details when needed.

Paddy O’Callaghan and his daughter Niamh Kelivanova completed their Skydive in aid of Balbriggan Meals on Wheels on Friday 4th August at The Irish Parachute Club in Clonbullogue, Co Offaly. Having been postponed a couple of times, due to injury and the weather, they were thrilled when they finally got to take to the skies. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels would like to extend a huge thank you to Paddy and Niamh for choosing to fundraise for them and are extremely grateful to everyone who sponsored them. Well Done to Paddy and Niamh! To donate to Balbriggan Meals on Wheels visit our facebook page balbriggan.mealsonwheels/ and click the donate button.

Fingal Rowing Club, based here in Balbriggan, were in Wicklow recently competing and celebrating a successful final Regatta of the season. The honours achieved by the members is truly fantastic including: The Intermediate Mens 1st, Intermediate Womens 1st, Novice Womens ‘A’ 2nd, Novice Womens ‘B’ 3rd, Junior Women 2nd, Mixed 2nd and Vets 2nd. What a day for our wonderful club! Every single member did us proud. Congratulations to all rowers, coaches, coxing and supporters, a wonderful addition to the town.

A recent TG4 Cúltír Fingal programme featured Balbriggan including the Bremore Passage Tombs and music from the Irish Institute of Music & Song. CÚLTÍR focussed on Fingal on TG4 on Sunday 28 August. The new exciting series, Cúltír (“Hinterland”) on TG4 has been supported by Fingal County Council as part of its Creative Ireland Programme and will featured Fingal on Sunday 28 August at 9.30pm. The Fingal programme explored Fingal’s priceless Neolithic heritage at the Bremore Passage Tombs with Fingal Co Co Heritage Officer Christine Baker, as well as showing the contemporary, modern, urban, vibrant Fingal. Singer Pauline Scanlon and violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain celebrated the music and ancient culture of Co. Fingal. For Aoife, it’s a happy homecoming to her native county, as she performs with her father, legendary piper Mick O’Brien. A lively and diverse night of music from the Irish Institute of Music and Song in Balbriggan saw the great Leslie Dowdall host on-stage, while dance troupe ProdiJIG, rapper JyellowL and balladeers Sean Fitzgerald and Daragh Lynch headed up an eclectic line-up which also included folk fusion quarter Pontún and young fiddler Róisín O’Connor, supported by her parents Paudie O’Connor and Aoife Ní Chaoimh . Meanwhile, Aoife went in search of Fingal’s ancient roots, including visiting Garristown Mill and the Hide Sculpture and met the county’s famous “Mummers” as well as David O’Connor, Seán McPhilbín and Garett Phelan along the way.

Fingal Poetry Festival returns to Skerries on the 15-16th September 2023. This year we are thrilled to launch The Big Poetry Day Out — a trail of events that showcase emerging and established poets from across the island. Our mission is to connect people with the written and spoken word in an inclusive and celebratory way. With readings, music, seaside walks, and children’s open mics, there is something for everyone. It is set to be a memorable weekend, with poetry performances from Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Stephen James Smith, Jessica Traynor, Paddy Bushe, Sheila Ryder, Harry Clifton, Caitríona Ní Chléirchín, Lucinda Jacob, Maeve O’Sullivan, Victoria Melkovska, Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin, Anne Tannam, Marcus Mac Conghaíl, Enda Coyle-Greene, and the winners of our regional community slams. Over the festival weekend we will also be joined by local musicians RVE, Naoise Mac Conghail, Lucy Killian, Lola Coady, Sarah May Rogers, and Oscar Churcher and Diarmuid Slattery. At the Fingal Poetry Family Festival, Jane Landy will read from ‘Claus Clamhsánaí’, the new translation into Irish of her successful children’s book ‘Gringer the Winger’.

Tickets now available to book: fingalpoetryfestival.com. Join Enda Coyle-Greene for a seaside walk punctuated by poetry from featured poets Maeve O’Sullivan, Victoria Melkovska and Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin. From 2-4pm, Floraville Park will transform into a hub of family-friendly fun. There will be something for all ages with featured poet Lucinda Jacob, art activities, games, and even an open mic for children and young adults. Local author Jane Landy will read from ‘Claus Clamhsánaí’, the new translation into Irish (by Gabriel Rosenstock) of her successful children’s book ‘Gringer the Whinger’. As the evening approaches, the Bridge Club will see readings by Jessica Traynor and Paddy Bushe, judges of the 2023 Fingal Poetry Prize and An Fiach Dubh, and the unveiling of the winning poems. If you would rather spend an hour or two chatting away, come along to The Gladstone Inn for Craic agus Comhrá, a casual Irish language conversation group that takes the old saying “is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste” to heart. Finally, we will bring our festival home to Skerries Mills — the place where it all began four short years ago. This is set to be one of our most special Poetry at the Mills events to date, with wonderful featured poets Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Harry Clifton, and Caitríona Ní Chléirchín.We are guided by a strong-held belief in inclusivity. Everyone is welcome at Fingal Poetry Festival. A limited number of assisted listening audio sets will be available for our Poetry Walk by the Sea. Some events include ISL interpretation. Fingal Poetry Festival is supported by Fingal County Council, Fingal Libraries, Poetry Ireland and DHL Global Forwarding.

Another busy month for the Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs. Tom O’Neill and his Guide Dog Qeb and volunteer Maebh Mitchell had an exciting visit to Google Headquarters who invited them along to attend a cake sale in aid of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Google Headquarters kindly said they would match the funds raised. Both Tom and Maebh answered a lot of questions from the international staff, one person even told Tom that Qeb was the first dog they had ever touched! It’s safe to say, a fun and most tasty afternoon was had by all and we would like to thank the Google staff and management for their support.

The Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs has been graciously given a beautiful canvas photograph of the sunset over Balbriggan harbour by local photographer Martin McNamara and it has been suggested that we could use it to fundraise. The value has been set at €250 and the measurements are width of 90cms and depth of 60cms. If anyone is interested in buying it or has any suggestions as to how we could use it to fundraise please get in touch with us via the below contact details.

If you would like to support us, Skinny Batch Coffee Shop in Lusk Co. Dublin has recently added a new Tap to Donate machine, this means you can find our Tap to Donate machines in Oakes Pharmacy in Skerries and also Specsavers in Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan. You can also come along to the open day in Balbriggan Garda Station on Saturday 9th September from 12pm – 3pm.The first hour (12pm-1pm) will be a sensory hour. We will not be fundraising but there might be some fluffy four legged friends with us that want to say hello. Make sure to keep up to date with our Facebook page as more details are to follow. If you are interested in volunteering with us please feel free to contact our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/text 085 7663107, you can email us at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.

We had our summer grading examinations at the end of June. Over 50 students presented for the belt grading examinations in front of a grading panel of JKS Ireland Senior Sensei’s. They all performed their kihon, kumite and kata very well and everyone passed with flying colours to their next coloured belt. Dermot Sensei was very proud of everyone’s achievement. JKS Swords on Tour: We set all students the challenge of wearing their club hoodie on holidays this year to see how far the club hoodies travelled. We had club hoodies pictured in Slieve Gullion in Northern Ireland, in Dingle in Kerry, in Paris France at the Eiffel Tower and in Disneyland Paris. We also had the club hoodie pictured at the Brandenburg Gate and at Universal Studios in Orlando, USA!

The club continues to train over the summer months with a small break at the beginning of August. The focus is on developing the new techniques, kata and kumite for the next belt grading examination. We take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

By Ken Duffy

The Main Street and surrounds of Swords are looking vibrant and alive with a multitude of flowering colours, which is a joy to behold. The array of flowering plants was provided by Swords Tidy Towns and planted by our hard-working volunteers. Our partners Fingal County Council have played their part also with their wonderful colourful displays, a big thank you to the hard-working crews within the Operations and Parks Departments.Our preparation works for this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition was well underway as our preparation work started months in advance of the competition, this work will carry on throughout the summer. Our Swords Tidy Towns volunteers work throughout the year only taking a break over the busy Christmas period. These hard working individuals are deserving of everyone’s applause, their trojan work has resulted in Swords winning five National Silver medals in a row.

Preparation works have already started on the new Swords Cultural Quarter, which is great to see. This long-awaited development along with the continuing restoration works at the Castle will only further enhance the beauty of our wonderful town and its surrounds. As stated in previous articles, Swords Tidy Towns are always in need of your help and support in keeping our highways and byways clean and litter free. We know by your many complimentary comments posted over the years on our multimedia pages that we have that support, so please let vigilance be your buzz word.If you have some spare time and would like to get involved in community work, we would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact our Chairperson Ken Duffy at 0866008313 or email us at swordstidytowns@gmail.com Besides the usual skill sets we are always looking for people with other skills that would benefit the group, IT, Gardening, Carpentry, Fund Raising, Art, Machinery Repair, Painting etc. If you feel you have a skill that would benefit the group we would love to hear from you and of course anyone else who would interested in joining us.

St Colmcilles GFC are seeking participants who are eligible under the current Community Scheme Employment. All training will be given. 19.5 hours per week. Weekends or Weekday work optional. Call Marian 0876819540. ALSO PLEASE DO NOT FORGET!!!!!

ST COLMCILLES GFC - FAMILY FUN DAY - AUGUST 19th - Join us for a Fun Filled Day for all the Family. Come along and take part in what is bound to be a great day! We have Paul’s Pet Farm, Children’s Entertainment, DJ, Kiddies Play Area, Slime station, Bubble Station, Face Painting, Mary’s Bottle stall and Games Galore.There will be a BBQ and Ice Cream Van on site also. Admission is free for children and €5 per adult.