In a major boost for plans to ensure Balbriggan becomes one of Ireland’s leading arts destinations, the town has been officially designated a ‘Creative Place.’It has received Arts Council funding of €330,000 over three years, under the Creative Places programme, to provide local people access to the arts in their own community. The funding has been secured by the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation programme, led by Fingal County Council’s Economic, Enterprise, Cultural and Tourism Department. The Creative Places funding allows towns build local arts programmes for the benefit of all, building on existing cultural strengths and enabling local artists to lead a programme rooted in socially engaged practice and community development.
The award of Creative Places funding means sustained and vibrant cultural activity can continue to grow in Balbriggan. It will enable Balbriggan - based artists to work with local businesses, and community groups and individuals. According to the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, the funding will form a plinth of the plan to make Balbriggan a national destination for the arts. “It will provide key funding for a strategy which will ensure the town develops a very strong artistic identity,” he said.Eamonn Donlyn, a key partner in the application and co-founder of the local Scéal Arts Collective, said the award would boost the creative arts in a place already teeming with talent.“Balbriggan has a huge number of creative people. The funding is a wonderful opportunity to bring them together and make the town a destination for the arts.” Balbriggan is recognised as Ireland’s youngest town, as well as being one of the most culturally diverse. And the opening of a 400-seater sate of the art concert venue in the town is set to transform the local economy, as well as further boosting its artistic credentials. The Irish Institute of Music and Song’s (IIMS) Lark Concert Hall, is part of a €12m investment by the Dawson family, in the IIMS campus which will create 150 jobs and attract 250,000 visitors annually.
Shopfronts around Balbriggan are looking great as is the boat flower bed on the Naul road thanks to the efforts of some people who have given their time and energy to improve them. During the month of June this year, Our Balbriggan and Fingal County Council opened up the Shopfront Improvement Scheme. 23 applications were accepted and each applicant received up to €1500 in support of repainting, repairing or replacing signage to their shop front. The purpose of the scheme was to improve the Main Street of Balbriggan by giving back to local businesses and supporting them. We think they all look great! As does the boat flower bed on the Naul road which has been refurbished and replanted by Balbriggan Tidy Towns leaving it a most welcome sight on the approach to the town. Thank you to all involved.
Swords Karate Club would like to welcome two new Shodan (Black Belts) to its ranks. Amelia Miller and Sophia Guildea passed their Black Belt examination recently under the watchful eye of Kagawa Shihan 9th Dan JKS. The two girls had to demonstrate a certain level of ability in Kihon (Basics), Kumite (Fighting) and Kata (Forms) in order to be awarded the prestigious black belt. Both girls have been training in Swords Karate Club since they were very young and reaching this milestone is a big achievement. We are very proud of them both and hope they continue with their training and achieve even greater success in Karate.
Swords Karate Club attended the 3rd JKS Ireland Inter-Club competition recently hosted by JKS Tyrellstown. The 17 strong squad put on a great display of karate at the event and came second in the medal table taking home 6 Gold, 2 Silver and 7 Bronze medals. There were notable performances in Kumite from Sophia Guildea and Danny Aguilar in the Brown & Black Belt divisons, while Amelia Miller was on top form taking Gold in the Girls Brown & Black Belt Kata. Lola Whalley did the double taking Gold in Kata and Kumite in the Girls Green to Purple Belt Section while siblings Harrison Beaumont and Lilia Beaumont took home Bronze medals in their Kata divisions.
Next up for the club is the Summer grading where students will be examined on their Kihon (basics), Kumite (fighting) and Kata (forms) to progress to their next colour belts. It will be the culmination of 6 months hard training.
We are alway happy to 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
Over 200 Hurls, Helmets , boots and Fingallians wear have found new homes with members of the club in recent times. However, the club needs lots more of all of the above items. Lots of old Hurls, helmets , Clean boots and items of Fingallians wear / Dublin wear needed. All items donated can be bought for €5 each. €1,000 raised to date. All funds raised go towards buying equipment for Fins All Stars which is greatly appreciated and supports this great group on an ongoing basis. Thanks all for supporting us. Contact anyone on the Committee or any club member to see how you can donate or help in any way.
All at Swords Boxing Club are absolutely delighted and proud of the recent success of one of their Junior female boxers recently. It was a brilliant day for Swords boxing club when Danielle Smithers was crowned 32kg National Junior Cadet Irish Champion, Well done Danielle, and congratulations also to all your coaches and clubmates on this wonderful achievement. We are certain everyone at Swords Boxing Club are super proud of you, and rightly so. It seems there is a very bright future ahead for Danielle. Congratulations once again.
Swords Lions Club have recently announced they raised the remarkable sum of €15,937 in their efforts on Daffodil Day this year. Each year Swords Lions Club organises Daffodil Day in Swords for the Irish Cancer Society. Locations included the Pavilions, Swords Central, JCs/Dunnes and Tesco Holywell Supermarkets. Our photos show local Lions/ Volunteers taking part. We thank the donors for their wonderful and generous support for this very worthy cause. We also want you to meet the Swords Lions team who organised our Daffodil Day for the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) sen here handing over the cheque. The Lions wish to thank our group of volunteers who man the desks for the day most of whom join us each year for this excellent charity day.
Swords Meals on Wheels is an entirely voluntary organisation that has been in Swords for the past 40+ years. We do always need funding to continue to support all those in the greater Swords area with meals and more. Therefore we were delighted to learn that Swords Manor Residents Association are having a Quiz night on our behalf on July 6th at 7,30pm in St Colmcilles GAA club and it is supported by Cllr Ann Graves . A table of 4 is €40 and you can book a table by email at swordsmanor@gmail.com. Or by DM through the SMRA facebook page. Please if you can directly support this or organize a team, Swords Meals on Wheels would be delighted and thank you to Swords Manor Residents Association for organising it.
Swords Women’s Shed have said recently we should all get ready for an amazing opportunity to boost our fitness levels and have a blast outdoors. Lots of local groups will take part in the Fingal ParkFit 2023, the 10-week outdoor exercise programme designed to help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
What to Expect: Fun-filled outdoor workouts - Engaging group exercises - Certified trainers and fitness experts - Varied supervised training sessions and a supportive community atmosphere. So go on why not Register by clicking: Swords, Holywell Park bit.ly/ParkFit2023Holywell. Also just to ensure as many people as possible get the message why not spread the word? Do you know someone who would love to join
Fingal ParkFit 2023? Let them know about this truly fantastic opportunity to get fit, have fun, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors together! For any inquiries, contact Noel.McManus@Fingal.ie.Let’s kickstart our fitness journey together and make 2023 our healthiest year yet! See you at Fingal ParkFit 2023!
Fingal ParkFit programme for Summer 2023. Free Exercise Classes started in Holywell Park on Wednesday 14th June 7pm and are continuing – check out the Fingal County Council website or contact Noel.
By Ken Duffy
Failte Ireland in association with the Department of Rural and Community Development and SuperValu invited four members of Swords Tidy Towns to the presentation of the Midlands and East Regional Awards of the 2022 SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition. The presentation was held at St Lomans GAA Clubhouse, Newhaggard Rd, Trim on Wednesday June 28th from 5.45pm onwards. Mr Damien English TD and SuperValu presented the awards.
It was a great honour to be there to pick up our award, that makes five National Silver Medal in a row for the beautiful historic town of Swords. In attendance on behalf of Swords Tidy Towns were Ken Duffy Chairperson, Grace Dunne Residents Association Liaison Officer, Matt Cullen School Liaison Officer and Ramune Kuzminiene Bio Diversity Officer.
Swords Tidy Towns would like to thank Trim Tidy Towns for making us and everyone there feel so welcome, a fantastic night was had by all. We are now in the process of preparing for these years judging which takes place during the months of June and July. These two months are extremely busy for us so new volunteers are very welcome to come along and help us in our endeavours.
Swords Tidy Towns meets each Saturday morning at 10.15am in the car park of Colourtrend opposite the Garda Station and on a Wednesday night at 6.45pm in the car park of the Castle SC on Bridge St opposite the park gates. Just turn up and we will kit you out, if you have skills you think would benefit us please make contact. Our contact details are Phone Ken on 0866008313 or email us at swordstidytowns@gmail.com we look forward to hearing from you.
The Malahide United Mini Leagues came to an end recently with The Finals kicking off for all The Boys & Girls. It was an amazing week of football, we hope all the volunteers, coaches, mums and dads and especially the wonderful participants enjoyed it as much as we did.
Thank you to all the participants, parents & volunteers for making The Mini Leagues happen.
Many thanks also for your continued support to our sponsors: Charlie’s Childcare – Chickeroo - Gibneys Malahide - Future Learning - Platinum Gyms - Kinara Group - Avenue19 - Londis Malahide - Old Street Malahide - Clear Currency – QBM -Malahide Social - ERP Ireland - Siam Thai Malahide - Rooney Shoe Repairs - That’s Amore Malahide - Kerrigan’s Craft Butchers.Your sponsorship is greatly appreciated. The Mini Leagues Committee
