Lusk Heritage Group are planning a Storytelling night in Murrays, the Square, Lusk for Friday 8 th
September. The format will be similar to their previous very successful evening, with a range of well known people, stories, memories and local history. We will give more details of speakers and topics in the September issue of Lusk Local. A big turnout is expected if their last storytelling night is anything to go by, so mark Friday 8th September into your diary and watch out for further details. You can also keep up with Lusk Heritage news by checking out their Lusk Heritage Group Facebook page. They recently reported on the funeral ceremony of Sir Reginald Barnewall and his wife Maureen whose last wish was to be transported all the way from Australia to be buried in Curraha, a little graveyard in County Meath. The Tombstone of his ancestor, Christopher Barnewall, is in the tower of Lusk Church since 1575. At the memorial ceremony in Curraha Aidan Arnold, chairman of the Lusk Heritage Group, presented Joseph Barnewall, the present head of the Barnewall family worldwide, with a copy of his forthcoming book Barnewall de Berneval, 800 Years a Norman-Irish Family. No date is fixed yet for publication but it is the final stages of checking before going to print.

Lusk AFT were delighted to be chosen along with AsIAm as a beneficiary of some of the monies raised by Lusk United during their fantastic 24-hour football fundraiser in June. Lusk AFT committee and Friends of Lusk AFT were there to raise awareness and provide information to the many club members and supporters who stopped by. It was great to see supports for our autistic members at the event with the club providing a lovely Quiet Area. After welcoming Adam Harris of AsIAm to Lusk, Lusk United Chairperson Niall McGuirk signed the Autism Champions commitment making Lusk United the latest club in Lusk to join the journey to become Autism Champions. Adam then headed over to The Twisted Clipper to be interviewed by hosts Pierce Keegan and Stephen Daly for a (Between Cuts) podcast on Autism – available on Spotify. A massive thank you to the Lusk United 24-hour fundraising committee and club for their generosity and welcome. Lusk Summer Festival proved to be another fabulous day out and Lusk AFT
were there again this year to provide a social story, information stand and a Quiet Area. We were delighted to be able to offer kids and teens a quiet space to relax away from all the excitement and stimulation of the festival. The committee are grateful to Lusk Bridge Club for their very generous donation in May which will be used to buy a gazebo for events like the Summer Festival. A big shout out to Rush and Lusk Educate Together PGTA who gave a presentation at the incoming Junior infants’ parents evening on becoming an autism-friendly association and the importance of making those small changes that can make a big difference to autistic pupils, staff and parents/guardians. Finally, please help us to raise awareness of autism by following us on our new FB page Lusk Autism Friendly Town. For more information on Lusk AFT email Lusk Community Network at info@lovelusk.ie . LCN are kindly facilitating us until we set up our new email address. We will keep you posted!

The Lusk ladies attended the ICA annual garden Party which was held in An Grianan an on the 7th July. It was a wonderful day with lots of beautiful style, a scrumptious lunch, fine music, a stylish fashion show,and to top it all, Teresa Killoran from Lusk was presented with first prize when she was voted best dressed lady of the day. Recently also Lusk ICA participated in the Flavours of Fingal Horticultural competitions, We are delighted to say we were awarded prizes for our scones and tarts and displayed centrepieces for the picnic table

The Lusk Summer Festival 2023 took place on June 24th and was a huge success. with an estimated attendance of over 8000 people. Lusk Action Group is immensely grateful to the Lusk community, the organizing committee, Fingal County Council, and the Progressive Credit Union for their support. The recently released CSO report places the population of Lusk at nearly 11,000 and nearly 8,000 in the town itself. This has grown even since the census was taken. Responding to the continuous growth of the town, Declan Ryan, the new Town Regeneration Officer from Fingal County Council gave a presentation to 11 Community Pillars/Groups who are nominated representatives on the Lusk Vision 2030. The message from the presentation was to adopt a ‘Town Centre First’ approach policy for Lusk. The Town Centre First policy aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service(s), social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community.Further, it explains that the Town Centre First approach vision will be coordinated through policies, actions and cross-government support that puts the Town Centre of Lusk at the heart of decision-making through which funding will be leveraged to deliver on actions from the various pillars with representation from the Community. Some of the immediate challenges facing Lusk include lack of vibrancy in the town centres, dwindling employment opportunities, out of town/online shopping, poor pedestrian/cycling access, lack of parking, limited access to green spaces and no social amenities, especially for young people. However, the town is projected for various opportunities to look forward to in the Lusk Vision 2030, like climate change adaptation of the city, digital transformation & remote working, demographic change, experience-led blend of retail, and regeneration of public spaces for modern use. Every town is unique, with unique strengths, the Town Centre First policy creates the perfect platform for community ownership of Lusk. Please consider taking on active roles in the community Pillars of the Lusk Vision 2030.

Cllr Rob O’Donoghue has welcomed the inaugural meeting of the Community Pillar of the Town Centre First scheme in Lusk this month. The Town Centre First policy aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community. The Town Centre First scheme will build on the Lusk Vision 2030 document produced by Lusk Community Council to aid in the regeneration of public spaces, improve parking, access to amenities and green space and seek to improve the vibrancy of Lusk town centre. To facilitate this, a consultant will shortly be appointed to produce to add to the recommendations of the Lusk Vision 2030 across three pillar groups, the Community Pillar, the Business Pillar and the Public Realm Pillar. These documents, which will form a Lusk Town Plan, will allow Lusk to seek funding for funding under schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Villages Scheme. The Community Pillar will have the objective to allow for the collaboration of Community groups in Lusk, with FCC to support the building of the structures and capacity to implement projects identified in the Lusk Town Plan.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting Cllr O’Donoghue stated, “There are 11 community groups, across all ages and demographics that have agreed to join the Community Pillar which I am proud to be the Chair of. There are many excellent community groups in the town whose goals are to bring improvements to Lusk and I am excited to see how this committee can contribute to the positive development of Lusk Town Centre.”

What a successful May and June for the Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs. We are delighted to say that between our merchandise stand on Guide Dog Day the 26th May in the magnificent Millfield
Shopping Centre, Balbriggan and also on SuperValu, Balbriggan on 27th May, our branch raised a truly wonderful fundraising total of €1,433.78. Skerries Community College also organised a sponsored dog walk for Guide Dog day on the 26th May where the teachers and students walked and raised a wonderful €330 in aid of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. We also attended Summerfest festival on the 4th June, there was sunshine and smiles all around and we are delighted to say, we actually raised €337.70. On our Guide Dog funding page we also raised €355 throughout the month of May, a massive thank you to Ms Reilly and also Ms O’Neill’s class at Scoil Chormaic CNS who raised €320 of that for our Branch. We also want to say a massively big thank you to those who supported us and continue to do so. We appreciate it. There will be more events coming up over the following months, so make sure to keep an eye on our social media pages and feel free to contact us if you would like to volunteer or help out. We have a request for an old usable iPhone if anyone has one they would kindly like to donate to the Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch. We currently have an iPhone 5 but are looking for an upgrade, preferably sim free. This is used for events which is in conjunction with the Sum Up machine, which makes it possible to tap your card at our own merchandise stands. If you have an old iPhone you would like to donate to us, you can contact us through our own Facebook page at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs or indeed call us or text us on 085 7663107. 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, email us at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.

Despite running a rigorous recruitment campaign over the last few months, the Council will be unable to put lifeguards at all its designated bathing areas. This shortage of available lifeguards will leave some beaches exposed during the summer, with patrols not possible on all popular beaches. Beachgoers are reminded that if there’s a red over yellow flag flying from the lifeguard station, a lifeguard is present and it is safe to swim. A red flag means there is a lifeguard on duty, but it is not safe to swim. No flag means there is no lifeguard on duty. A lifeguard is only on duty in the summer months from 11am to 7pm as follows: Every day during July & August (N.B. locations will be dependent on staffing availability), - The first two weekends in September (Blue Flag Beaches only. To maximize beach safety and minimize potential hazards, Fingal wants beach goers to keep the following tips in mind: (1) Swim in designated areas: (2) Keep a close eye on children: (3) Follow lifeguard instructions: (4) Please do not bring inflatable toys to the beach:(5) Avoid alcohol and drugs: Drinking alcohol is forbidden under Fingal County Council beach bye- laws. Remember that alcohol and drugs also impair judgement and coordination, increasing the risk of accidents in the water. Stay sober and alert while enjoying the beach. (6) Be aware of weather conditions: (7) Learn basic water safety: If you’re not a confident swimmer,please consider taking swimming lessons or familiarise yourself with basic water safety techniques. (8) Stay hydrated and use sun protection: Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays by wearing sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoid heat-related illnesses.(9) Leave No Trace: Respect the environment by cleaning up after yourself and disposing of trash in designated bins.Take your rubbish home with you, if our bins are full. Also, please do not bring BBQs to our beaches, as they can lead to serious burns if left behind. (10) Be alert: Where an area is not being lifeguarded and you get into trouble or see someone else in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. By adhering to these guidelines and being responsible beach goers, we can all contribute to a safer and more enjoyable summer experience.

In his inaugural address after his recent election as Mayor Of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy promised to be a “Mayor for All”. This is an excerpt from that speech: “Is mór an onóir dom bheith tofa mar Mhéara Fhine Gall inniú ag sibhse mo chuid comhghleacaithe anseo inniú inár Seomra Comhairle.Buíochas ó chroí le gach duine a thug tacaíocht dom, agus buíochas freisin le gach comhairleoir is gach ball foirne den ár gComhairle a oibreann go dian gach lá ar son na saoránaigh áitiúla.Geallaimse do mhuintir Fhine Gall go ndéanfaidh mé mo dhícheall gach lá ar bhur son, agus mar Mhéara, ní hamháín ar son muitir mo thoghcheantair féin, Port Reachrainn, Domhnach Bat, Rois Eó, Lusca, Baile Bachaille, Baile Gháire, An Seanbhaile, An Aill agus Baile Scadán, ach as son gach duine a chónaíonn, a oibríonn agus a thugann cuairt i gContae Fhine Gall.

It was both humbling and a great honour for me to be elected as the 18th Mayor of Fingal and to also receive such a strong mandate from my fellow Councillors who entrusted me with their support for this highly respected and prestigious role.

At this time I of course want to especially thank my family for their encouragement and unwavering support at all times.I also want to very much remember the last person who served as Mayor of Fingal from Donabate and that was Gerry McGuire in 2011. Sadly Gerry passed earlier this year and is greatly missed by his family, relatives, friends and wider community. It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the first ever Mayor of Fingal, a Portrane man Sean Ryan who went onto be an outstanding public representative and TD for Fingal. I want to welcome Seáns brother Brendan whose first meeting was the election of Mayor in his new role of Councillor within the Skerries/Balbriggan ward having replaced Seána O Rodaigh. It has been one of the privileges of my life to serve the good people of Portrane, Donabate over the last 9 years within Fingal County Council and I now look forward to serving all of the people of Fingal over the next 12 months.

I fully believe in truly been a Mayor for All where every citizen has a right to not only have their voice heard but to also achieve their dreams & aspirations. I am passionate about making our communities not only better places to live, but to be safe and wonderful to visit. Fingal is an incredible place, full of incredible people which means we can continue to build an incredible future. We have so much to be proud off and yet so many opportunities to build an even brighter future. I promise to give it my very best every day, and as Mayor, not just for the people of my own electoral area, Portrane, Donabate, Rush, Lusk, Ballyboughal, Garristown, Oldtown, the Naul, & Balscadden, but for everyone who lives, works and visits Fingal. Go Raibh Mile Maith Agaibh.

Just like that our 5th year in operation has come to an end and what a year! Our Young Athlete Program continues, and we welcomed many new members throughout the year. This group cater to athletes aged 4 years + and focuses on gaining gross motor skills and introducing the basic skills of various sports e.g.,running, throwing, catching, balancing, turn-taking, striking, etc.,all through fun and games. Our three basketball groups started this year, and they have all progressed so well. We have a ‘Come and try’ basketball’ team and a girls’ preteen/teen team training on Thursday evenings. On Fridays, our teen boys’ team meets up. The athletics club meets on Saturday mornings. Over the past year, their members have been introduced to the rules of athletics meets and have been training hard to master them. They have recently trained on the ALSAA track and in the National Indoor Arena and tried out new events like the high jump and the long jump. Our wonderful gymnastics club has gone from strength to strength and the progress of the gymnasts is very impressive. It is hard to believe that they have only been training for less than 10 months. They finished off their fantastic year by hosting an interclub gymnastics competition with Tivoli Tigers Special Olympics Club.None of these clubs could exist without our amazing volunteers and coaches. We would like to publicly thank each and every one of them and look forward to seeing them and all our athletes when the club starts back in September. We are always looking for volunteers to give just a few hours a week with our club or if you would like to enquire about your child joining our club, please email us at dpsoclub@gmail.com

The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival people are hard at work putting the preparations in place for the upcoming festival in September. From Thursday 7th to Sunday 17th September, venues across the peninsula will play host to lots of cultural activities for festival-goers of all ages and all cultural tastes. This year, the programme for the festival will include all the tried and tested favourites including: Short Film Festival, a feast of film for fans of the silver screen; Mol an Óige, showcasing some fun-sized talent on the peninsula; PizzaTrad, or Céilí dancing and Pizza in the sun; A Gala Concert, featuring the Young Dublin Symphonia and more;Art and Craft Workshops for children and adults; Casino Night, with gambling fun and music and dancing till late; Short plays from Donabate/Portrane Dramatic Society; Guided tour of historic St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland; Sing-a-longs featuring any singer, any song; and lots more.

This year the festival is embracing technology with 2 workshops called “Make a Movie on your Mobile Phone”, one session for 12-18 year-olds and one session for adults. A hand-held Gimble worth €165 will be presented to the best movie in the 12-18 year-old workshop. Most of the events of the Bleeding Pig Festival are free of charge, however there is a small fee for some of the great workshops and events. The number of attendees for most of the workshops is limited and reserving a place is essential. Booking is through Eventbrite and reservation opens on August 18th 2023. Full details of all the workshops and events that require booking are on the Bleeding Pig website and Facebook page. The first event in the Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival will be a fund-raising Pub Quiz in Keelings on Wednesday 23rd August. Tickets are €10 per person. Tickets can be reserved in advance from Emer on 0863691871. A raffle will be held throughout the festival, with prizes of some beautiful works of art by local artists.Tickets for the raffle will be on sale at all festival events. The Bleeding Pig Festival will hold a bag-pack on the weekend of 25th August, and brochures for the festival will be available at that time. Keep an eye on the Bleeding Pig Festival website and Facebook for details of all events. The organisers would like to thank all our generous sponsors, without their support the festival could not happen.Check out bleedingpig.ie and Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival Facebook page for full details about all the events in the festival, and come along in September and enjoy some local culture!