Fingal has a new leader after Cllr Adrian Henchy (Fianna Fáil) was elected by fellow Councillors recently to become the region’s 18th Mayor. Originally from Portrane, and representing the Rush-Lusk electoral area, he joined Fingal as a Councillor in 2014.
From his role as a Councillor to his involvement in numerous local initiatives, Mayor Henchy’s focus has always been on making a positive difference in the lives of the people he serves. A dedicated health professional with a passion for public service, he said he is ready to usher in a new era of progress, collaboration, and innovative leadership for the County. Henchy succeeds Cllr Howard Mahony, who handed over the chains of office at today’s AGM.
In securing the role as Mayor, Cllr Henchy was nominated by Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF) who said it was a privilege and an honour to nominate him for the position.The nomination was seconded by Cllr Brian Dennehy (FF).
“I am humbled to have been elected to serve in this prestigious post,” said Mayor Adrian Henchy. “I am committed to working tirelessly to build a stronger, more inclusive, and vibrant Fingal. Together, with the support of our community, we can achieve great things and help build a Fingal that thrives economically, socially, and environmentally. I would particularly like to focus on delivering more houses, not just the bricks and mortar of the homes themselves but also ensuring we are building sustainable communities around them.”
Cllr Grainne Maguire (Ind, Balbriggan) will serve as Deputy Mayor of Fingal for the second time. She was nominated by Cllr Tony Murphy (Independent) and seconded by Cllr Karen Power (Green Party Comhaontas Glas). Joining as a Balbriggan Councillor in 2013, Cllr Maguire had previously served on Balbriggan Town Council from 2009. She has extensive experience in local government and is a well-known figure in Ireland’s youngest town for the work she does across many different groups and for her passion around local issues.
At the AGM, praise was given to the outgoing Mayor and also to Deputy Mayor, Cllr Cathal Boland, for their unwavering service to the people of Fingal across the last year.A strong advocate of Dublin 15, former Mayor, Cllr Howard Mahony, has undertaken a large number of activities during his term, attending 365 community and Council related events across the year.
Donabate/Portrane Tidy Towns were busy over the last number of months doing a clear out along the perimeter walls and the hedging and ditch areas behind the cemetery. Over the years, these areas had become a bit of a dumping ground for a lot of waste plastic materials from the graves and had accumulated to an unsightly mess. Many volunteers spent a number of evenings emptying the ditches of refuse and bringing it to the front of the cemetery for collection by Fingal County Council. The rubbish collected was primarily plastic flowers, candles, grave ornaments and grave maintenance items, such as paint and left over marble. There was however evidence of domestic waste dumped with full rubbish bags, parts from chairs and suitcases among what was removed.
Quite often these ditches were water logged and not very accessible but perseverance saw the clear out through to the end and we would like to thank all volunteers who participated in the clean up.
As a result of the clean up, the hedgerows and ditches have become a more pleasant home for some of the plants and animals that may call this area of Donabate their home. Hedgehogs, badgers, foxes, birds, insects, etc do not have to be moving, feeding and living in an area with large sacks of rubbish and bits of plastic from the cemetery. We hope wildlife and biodiversity will improve as a result. There are two rubbish bays located in the cemetery, one in the middle part at the top perimeter wall and the second just on the right hand side as you enter and we would ask all visitors visiting the cemetery to leave any refuse in one of those bays for collection by Fingal County Council. Our pictures show the same spaces before and after the clean up, well done to all concerned.
Donabate Parish Hall has the Programme for Daily Users e.g Cards, Senior Citizens, Wellness Group, Irish Dance just organised. The Block Users Programme is also just organised at this point e.g: Photography Exhibition, Dramatic Society Plays and Youth Camps. Both Daily Users and Block Users programme of activities and events will run for the remainder of the year 2023 & until the summer of 2024. If you are interested in either Daily or Block bookings please contact the Parish Office immediately - as there may be some limited availability that would suit your needs. We accept bookings from groups or individuals - our main focus is on serving the increasing requirements of our growing community. The Parish Hall recently had the local Irish Traditional Music Comhaltas Branch - Leithinis CCÉ using the outside space for a music event in a gazebo! Please do not hesitate re any query to contact the Parish Office 018434574.
Tuesday morning, 6th June, saw a group from Through the Lens Camera Club boarding the ‘Fish & Trips’ boat in Malahide Marina to go on a day trip to Lambay Island. The weather was fair but the seas a little choppy which resulted in a few bodies being well salted before we reached the island ! However the welcome there was warm and we soon dried out. Skipper Eamonn gave us a potted history of the island then we set off, accompanied by the lovely Saffy, to climb the hill for the views. She was full of interesting information about life on Lambay, and the best places to spot wallabies, deer or bird life. A pleasant couple of hours was spent taking lots of pictures (with our 2024 calendar in mind) and trying to spot the elusive wildlife. We were fascinated to watch, from the hilltop, an aerial battle between a grey crow and a kestrel..too far away for photos unfortunately. On return to the harbour we grabbed a snack and a rest then Eamonn brought us around the buildings there including the Bothy and cottages, living quarters originally for coastguards more recently for the workers; the tennis court for ‘real tennis’ a game beloved by King Henry 8th and the forerunner to the modern game of lawn tennis; the 19th century church which was restored around 1916. We were also allowed a peep into the whiskey store where barrels of Lambay Whiskey lie maturing in the sea air. After all the exercise and photo opportunities we returned to the harbour where Skipper Eamonn was hard at work on the boat putting together a delicious BBQ which we all enjoyed on the way back to Malahide. Thankfully the seas had calmed so no extra salt was added ! The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all and I think we may feel the need to explore again.
A beautiful walk was held recently in Skerries - from the Train Station to the Old Mill for Coffee & Market - then out to the coast along the promenade up around Red Island and then a lovely lunch and walk back to the Train Station - the walk was about 8km a slightly shorter route than usual but great! Our next walk is on Saturday 9th September - and is our original Peninsula Pacers walk around the Parish starting in Donabate Village, Corballis, Tower Bay, Portrane Green, (& The Burrow for a longer route) ending up in The Brook Pub. The walk is planned again to coincide with the Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival which has Traditional Music & a Ceile on that afternoon at their Pizza & Pint event. Last year the walk & the ceile were great craic in the beautiful sunshine enjoyed by all young & older! Contact Carolyn on 087 9284307 or Des on 087 7846813 for further information re Peninsula Pacers and types of walks to suit you!
On Friday 2d June the Active Age for All camera club went on a field photographic trip to Malahide Castle. The day was overcast but, most importantly, dry and warm and we spent a happy 3 hours or so around the grounds, the gardens and the butterfly house. The butterfly house is very warm and humid so it takes a while for the camera lenses to acclimatise and stop fogging up, but it’s well worth the wait as there is a lovely selection of different butterflys. Unfortunately the Castle itself was closed for filming (ironically) that day so we had to content ourselves with the outdoors. The trip gave us the opportunity to practise different camera settings and photography styles from Landscape to Macro (close-up) and to sharpen our ‘camera eye’. We finished up with lunch in the Avoca cafe, all in all a very enjoyable trip. There are already plans afoot for the next outing.
At the moment, AAFA is on a well deserved holiday, but your hard working Committee is still working away on your behalf planning for September. Our new Programme will be available in August. Croquet and Boules still continues on the usual days and is enjoyed by many enthusiasts,and Paul is running his normal Pilates class independly for the summer but not under AAfA banner. We would like to Congratulate Peig McManus on the successful publication of her new book ‘I Will Be Good’ her Dublin memoir What a great achievement, it is a brilliant funny book! We are very proud of her! Peig (pictured below) was one of the founding members of Active Age and it’s first Chairperson, she is one of our staunchest supporters. We are very grateful for all she did for AAfA and we are delighted at her success! If you are interested in joining AAfA or are looking for information please email activeageforall@gmail.com or see our website activeageforall.com Or Text only 0868806808.
Members of Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Aideen Hoey last month. Despite a break in our activities because so many members were away, a few of us were able to attend her funeral mass in the Church of the Nativity, Beaumont to say a final farewell to our friend and to express our condolences to her family.
In 2019, Aideen delivered two HSE-sponsored Healthy Eating courses to members of our shed. She is fondly remembered not just for the professional, informative and entertaining delivery of the courses, but more importantly for her good humour and ability to join in with the banter of the Shed. Aideen will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.
After a short break last month, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed is resuming our normal activities this month. Anyone interested in joining us should contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.
Corina Johnston, Local Area Representative is calling for the bad bend road realignment works on the Hearse Road to urgently proceed. Johnston said; “ The bad bend on the Hearse Road, Donabate is a notorious accident black spot with many regular road traffic incidents resulting in numerous injuries, and sadly a fatality on this stretch of road. “Johnston continued;”In October 2019 Fingal County Council’s Hearse Road Bend Realignment project went through a public consultation process and was approved by the council in 2020.”Johnston added;”Ever since we have highlighted the need for this project to commence on health and safety grounds. In response Fingal County Council have recently informed us that “This project will be assessed for consistency with the Donabate Distributor Road Phase 2 (Donabate- Lissenhall) project. A consultant is currently being appointed to begin the feasibility and options assessment process for this project, and options for implementation will follow on over the course of the next 12-18 months.” Johnston said;” While welcoming the upcoming feasibility and options assessment for the much needed Hearse Road upgrade it is obvious to me that this major project is at least a decade away. On health and safety grounds we cannot wait for that length of time before resolving the issue at this location. Last week another traffic accident occurred at this bend which reinforces the need for action. “ Johnston concluded; “On health and safety grounds It is totally unacceptable that this stand alone scheme approved by the council in 2020 is now being considered as part of the main Hearse Road upgrade project which is many years away. This position is totally unacceptable and we intend to pursue it until this urgent scheme is prioritised and approved by Fingal County Council.”
Softball Ireland and Fingal County Council have officially launched the Women’s Softball World Cup Group A, which will be held in Bremore Castle, Balbriggan from July 11th to 15th 2023. Ireland’s national women’s softball team will be joined in Group A by the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Botswana and Chinese Taipei, with some of the biggest names in the sport descending on Fingal to take part in the competition. Tickets start from €15 and can be found and purchased on softballwcireland.ie/
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy was on hand to officially launch Ireland’s hosting of the Women’s Softball World Cup Group A at Bremore Castle, Balbriggan. On the field, Great Britain and Australia will get the event underway from 11am on Tuesday July 11th, followed by the United States v Chinese Taipei from 2pm, before the hosts take on Botswana from 6.30pm.Tickets for the Women’s Softball World Cup group stage are available now and day passes are €15, weekly passes are €60 and a weekly family pass (2 Adult & 2 Children) is €145. For more information and for tickets check out our website softballwcireland.ie or tickets.ie.
Over 300 kids attended the ground recently for a school blitz as kids from St Theresa’s NS and Balbriggan Educate Together NS who have had weekly sessions in their school enjoyed the experience of playing at a cricket ground. We hope to see many of them down to our rapidly growing Blasters on Friday evenings at 6pm Massive well done to Lara Maritz for organising it along with our huge team of club coaches.