Fingal County Council’s Waste Enforcement Section has taken part in a multi-agency checkpoint operation recently to tackle illegal waste activities and to ensure compliance with waste regulations in terms of movement of waste materials. Dublin City Council in its role as lead authority for the Eastern Midlands WERLA (Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority), coordinated yesterday’s operation on behalf of An Garda Síochána’s Dublin Metropolitan Region’s Multi-Agency Forum. This intelligence led vehicle check point was conducted in Fingal, in an area known for significant waste activity. The check points were located both northbound and southbound on a main artery within close proximity to the M1 to capture waste movements within the area and en route to other counties outside of Fingal. Representative agencies for this joint operation included An Garda Síochána, Fingal County Council’s Waste Enforcement Section, Dublin City Council’s Waste Enforcement Section, the Road Safety Authority and the National Trans Frontier Shipment Office (NTFSO). The Dublin Metropolitan Region is one out of four of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s multi-agency regional networks, which, enable a multi-faceted enforcement approach by bringing together key stakeholders. The participation of different agencies proved to be very beneficial. Multi-agency operations such as this have a positive deterrent effect on criminality, help to raise awareness and lead to positive outcomes relating not only to waste but other offences also. Fingal County Council supports this collaborative approach and will provide any and all further assistance through multi-agency operations to help combat illegal dumping and tackle unauthorised waste collectors.

With the summer drawing to a close and the children returning to school, many parents are busy organising the important after school activities for their children. September is a time of year when Swords Karate Club recruit new students. The club has a range of classes for children starting from 4 years up and also for adults. Our Tigers classes are suited for 4 to 7 years old where the big emphasis is on having fun with karate and developing fundamental movements. Our classes for our Tigers are on a Thursday or Saturday. Our Junior Classes are for those aged over 7 up to 12/13 years old. In the junior class students are introduced to the basics of karate and also Kata and Kumite. The focus in these classes is to develop good technique that will stand to the student as they progress upthe belt grades. Fun is also an important part of these classes as the students develop new karate techniques. These classes are on held twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Our Senior classes are best suited for those over 13 years up to adult. The focus is on developing good karate technique and fitness through a range of punching and kicking techniques. Kata and Kumite are also important parts of these classes. These classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We take new members (Children, Young People and 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

Are you looking to get involved in a local GAA club ? St Colmcilles GFC Swords, located on Glen Ellan Road has the answer. Weekly training for boys and girls from age 4 years upward. All coaches are fully trained and Garda vetted. This is a fun way for children to get active, make friends and have fun. Contact Cora for more information 083 374 1305. #getbehindyourlocalclub

A fantastic time was had by the Fingallians children while they practiced their sports trí Ghaeilge at the 2023 Fingallians GAA Campa Samhraidh.88 primary school children registered for the camp that ran from 31st July to 4th August. Weather overall was good despite a few passing showers.The highlight of the week was the visit of two special guests, Fingallians and Dublin Stars Emer Ní Éafa and Niamh Crowley. Both Emer and Niamh were busy preparing for the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football final to be held in Croke Park on Sunday 13thAugust when Dublin faced on Kerry. The excitement amongst the children was palpable when the girls arrived. They received a rapturous applause as they settled in for a Q&A session that proved to be insightful and informing. Both Emer and Niamh started in the Fingallians Saturday morning Academy as young children and are now playing at the highest level. Some great questions came from the younger children such as “Do you play Mario Brothers?” and “Are you friends with Ronaldo?”. All questions were skilfully dealt with by the girls who then went on to sign autographs and played a while with each team in the camps mini-league. Fingallians GAA are grateful to Emer and Niamh for taking time out from their busy schedule to visit the Campa Samhraidh. We are very fortunate to have such role-models for our younger members. The club would like to thank Naoise, Anne, Donagh and Liam for organising the Campa Samhraidh, all of the coaches and coaching assistants who put in such a tough week’s work, Jamie Ó Tuama ó Pháirc an Chrócaigh a thug cuairt orainn agus ár nUrraitheoirí Foras na Gaeilge. Níos tábhachtaí fós, special thanks to all the boys and girls who participated in the camp and who ensured that a great time was had by all. Maith sibh!

By Ken Duffy

In the month of July Swords Tidy Towns took advantage of the many events organised in the Castle by the fabulous Events Team of Fingal County Council headed up by Paul Barnes. All the hard work and preparation put in by our volunteers for this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition was deserving of celebration, and boy did we celebrate.

We didn’t allow the bad weather to put a stop to our planned July 15th Bar B Q at our poly tunnel 5pm to late. We held a Pizza Party inside the tunnel instead, 70’s 80’s and 90’s music was blaring and sing along galore, bring your own fancied tipple. It was a great night, when the darkness crept in, it was time to leave as we didn’t have lighting in the tunnel.Our next trip out was July 27th to the Vintage Picnic Festival in the Castle 2pm until 6pm. What a fantastic event that was, three bands in all, food vouchers and a goodie bag. We were first treated to a very talented Ukulele band whose enthusiasm got the crowd going. Then we were entertained by Niamh Kavanagh our Eurovision winner and local lass, she came on with her wonderful classical accompanists, boy can that girl work a crowd. Finally, to finish off a wonderful day, the Swing Cats came on, now this band really got our feet moving, jiving, tango and the rest. We stopped off at the 44 for a couple on the way home just to finish off a perfect day.

The final get together was on July 28th 7pm to10.30pm to see Nathan Carter in the Castle, what a night. There was about twenty Tidy Towners there, we managed to get a couple of tables with a high view next to the beer tent, it was done with military strategic planning, the early bird and all that. It was a brilliant night, everyone was in great spirits dancing away, Nathan, he did not disappoint, nor did his support act. If you are interested in joining Swords Tidy Towns we can be contacted at swordstidytowns@gmail.com or call Ken on 0866008313

by Jon Kavanagh

On a sunny Saturday in the late 1960’s, my father returns home from work at lunchtime. As a farm labourer he works a five-and-a-half-day week and today is the day I have been looking forward to all week. Rejecting any attempt to display table manners. he hurriedly downs his spuds, bacon and cabbage before announcing “We’re going to the Big Smoke!”. I am precariously perched on the cross bar of his three speed Hercules bicycle as we wobble out of Oldtown. The bike remains stubbornly stuck in one gear. causing my father to pepper our journey with a generous helping of expletives, as we embark on stage one of our expedition. We take a less travelled route down the Wrens’s Nest Lane to Rolerstown. Here, we place said bike in dry dock at a friend’s house and climb aboard the open back 41B double decker. I’m enjoying stage two of our journey as the navy and cream Leyland splutters and belches its way along the Ashbourne Road, contributing generously to the destruction of the ozone whilst producing more decibels than a Rolling Stones concert. Deafened by the roar of the engine and perfumed by diesel fumes we reach our destination, the town of Swords or as my father calls it “Swurds”. The Main Street (one of the widest in Ireland) forms part of the Dublin Belfast Road. Traffic is bumper to bumper. Parking is a free for all, as Morris Minors, Minis,Volkswagen Beetles, Ford Anglias and the odd Mercedes double and even sometimes triple park. Swords Castle lies unloved as pigs rummage on its grounds. Local shops include Taylor’s Hardware and Drapery where the owners and staff are on first name terms with the customers, a cake shop run by Maggie Kenny where we buy iced buns for our tea and Mrs Heavey’s newsagents. She is ahead of her time and has a sit-down area where I enjoy a packet of Tayto and a bottle of red lemonade as my father chats and buys an Irish Sweepstake ticket. Paddy Weston, a former ship’s radio operator, has a television repair and rental shop where we pay the monthly charge for a black and white set with rabbit’s ears. No trip to Swords is complete without a visit to Clarke’s Stores – an Aladdin’s Cave of toys, comics, ice cream and sweets. The day passes all too quickly and soon, clutching the Beano, a toy machine gun, and a bag of liquorice allsorts I once again climb aboard the 41B and embrace the journey home for tea and Maggie Kenny’s buns. A perfect day still remembered all these years later.

Swords Women’s Shed has been set up for women of all ages to re-connect with the community. It is a safe place where women can interact with each other and participate in various learning projects. We will offer arts and crafts, flower arranging, crochet and needle skills, and most importantly companionship. This is a new project which gives women a sense of empowerment personal growth, also improving mental health and well being through social interaction. A place to share knowledge and of course a cup of tea. Meetings are held in Colmcilles GAA club on Thursday evenings, and attendance is strictly by registration due to limited space. Registration is posted each Monday evening 7pm sharp, for the following week.

Champions of All Ireland! Wow!!!!! Congratulations to Syl’s Kate, Sinéad and Dannielle, with Mick and the Dublin_Ladies Gaelic Football squad on a their recent All-Ireland win! Congratulations also to Sinéad Aherne who now holds the Ladies Gaelic Football record with 6 All-Ireland titles. The Dublin Double is complete in 2023 so well done once again and enjoy the party ladies!

Congratulations to our u9 Boys who won the Claremont Cup in Navan recently Beating a really strong st Kevin’s side in the final. Congratulations also to their coaches, their team management, mentors and their parents, Surely this is a sign of even greater things to come.

Meanwhile the club hosted the Coastal Cup competition in recent weeks and all the competing teams had a fantastic day of football today in Gannon Park, well done to Shelbourne who beat a very good Shamrock Eovers team in the final.

There are still supplies of ‘My Little Library Book Bags’ available in Malahide Library. To help children to navigate starting school, libraries have put together a bag of books just for them that can be collected at any library. If you would like to have one, just ask at the Lending Desk. Further details about the contents of the bags are given below. Each My Little Library Book Bag contains: (1) Three books on starting school, making friends and being comfortable to be yourself (2) A story card on going to the library (3) A postcard the child can write or draw on and send to their new teacher, or bring to give to the teacher on their first day at school (4) Their very own library card and special ‘My Little Library’ cardholder. Malahide Library can’t wait to welcome all the 4 and 5 year old children in to collect their book bags and begin their library membership journey. We hope that once they visit the library to pick up their book bag, our new library members and their families will come back regularly to keep their bag filled up with borrowed books and to take part in story times, classes and all the other events we have to offer at the library.