The old Howth Tramline was our walk in February, led by Audrey Sherlock one of our leaders. It has great variety weaving up the hill from the Train Station on the Tramline one arrives to The Summit, where you can then take part of the Cliff Walk to descend back down to the village of Howth. The day ended with a lovely meal in the Abbey Tavern. We try as much as possible to use public transport. With good timing one can go from Donabate to Howth by train in less than an hour ! Our walk in March was planned for Rush to Loughshinny (and return) by beach and cliff. It has fantastic views in/out but is dependent on the tides so one must take care. Our April walk on Saturday 22nd is by train Southside and then walk to the Pidgeon House & Lighthouse and return for food to Sandymount Village.These long walks 10/12km approx can vary in difficulty and require good health and a fairly good fitness level. Also, one must be attired properly with walking shoes with vibram soles (not runners) and layered up for all weathers with rain coat and rucksack a must! Please contact Carolyn Smith on 087 9284307 or Des Carthy on 087 7846813

Active Age for All will take a two week break from classes over Easter,starting the 3rd of April.
We hope that the weather will be fine and we can have an opportunity for some gardening and some nice long walks with the walking group.We will be hosting an event on the 5th of April at 10.30 a.m. in Donabate Portrane Community Centre with Danielle Monahan from Fingal Age Friendly Healthy Homes. She will give a more in depth presentation, as to what grants and help is available to make your home more age friendly and healthy. All with the idea of keeping people in their own homes for as long as possible. Danielle will be available to answer individual queries privately after the presentation. If you want to book a slot Text only 086 880 6808.We are excited to be involved in planning an event on the 9th of May for the Bealtaine Festival to celebrate creativity in the older person. We are hoping to involve our singing group Caintóirí, the writing group and some of our Ukulele players, so it should be a very enjoyable morning. so please ‘watch this space!’

To finish I would just like to wish our members A very Happy Easter! If you need information about our classes or our organisation please go to our website www.activeageforall.com. or why not email activeageforall@gmail.com. Or TEXT only 086 880 6808

The death has occurred recently of the former Mayor of Fingal, Gerry McGuire. He served as Mayor of Fingal in 2011-12. He was co-opted onto Fingal County Council in July 2003 to replace long-serving Labour Party Councillor and TD Seán Ryan, who was obliged to stand down following the abolition of the dual mandate which allowed members of the Oireachtas to also serve as councillors. Mr McGuire was subsequently elected to the Council in 2004 as a councillor for the Swords Local Electoral Area which, at that time, included his Donabate base. He served as the Chairperson of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee from 2004 to 2009. He was re-elected as a Councillor in 2009 but lost his seat in the 2014 local elections. He served on the Eastern Regional Authority and the Northern Area Health Board and was also a member of the Donabate and District Sports Association and the Donabate Housing Co-Operative. Originally from Tullamore, Co Offaly, where his father also served as a Labour Party Councillor, he moved to Donabate in the 1960s and worked in St Ita’s Hospital where he was a founder member of the Psychiatric Nurses Association. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony, said: “It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of former Mayor, Gerry McGuire, who served as a Councillor on Fingal County Council for 11 years and was a dedicated representative for the people of Donabate. On behalf of all my fellow councillors, past and present, I would like to extend our sympathies to wife Mary, sons Brendan and Alan, and daughters Ciara and Darina.” The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council. AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “Gerry McGuire was a dedicated community activist who worked very hard over the years for the people of Donabate, and also represented the people of Fingal for one year when he was elected as Mayor. I would like to extend the sympathies of everybody at Fingal County Council to his family and friends.” His funeral mass took place on Wednesday 15th March at 11am in St Patrick’s Church, Donabate. A minute’s silence, in memory of the former Mayor, was held at the March monthly meeting of Fingal County Council.

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed continues to expand its range of activities. Over the past two months, a group of members partook in a HSE-sponsored Heathy Eating programme, an enjoyable and information hands-on cooking course focusing on producing nutritious meals. We also started a weekly music jam session. All of this is in addition to our regular tea-and-chat get-togethers, our croquet and boules sessions at Newbridge House, our exercise classes and our occasional outings to places of interest.So, if you are interested in joining us for any or all of these activities, feel free to call or text our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316 or just turn up to our weekly Thursday morning get-togethers in Donabate Sea Scouts’ den on the Portrane Road. Either way, you’ll be warmly welcomed.

Corina Johnston, Area Representative has welcomed the commencement of the upgrade works on the access to The Brook Beach, Portrane. Johnston said;”I am very pleased that our ongoing campaign for a safe and accessible access for everyone to our beach at the Brook, Portrane has been successful as it was the worst entrance to any beach in Fingal. Following an on-site meeting last July, with officials from Fingal County Council, arranged by Duncan Smith TD, We received a commitment from the Council that the funding for a scheme at the Brook would be included in this year’s programme of works. This came in the form of direct communication with Duncan Smith TD and to the council meeting dated 8th September last. Prior to this we were in contact with the National Parks and Wildlife Services who had no difficulties with our proposals. “ Johnston continued;” my colleague Seana O’Rodaigh submitted the following question to September’s Council meeting on my behalf: “To ask the Chief Executive if consideration could be given, in respect of the entrance to the Beach at the Brook Portrane, to design and install a much-needed improvement scheme which could include a tarmacadam surface, kerbing, fencing and to note that such a scheme would both enhance access for people with disabilities, parents with buggies and the physical appearance of the sole access within the village?” In their reply the Council said: The following works at the entrance to the beach at the Brook, Portrane will be included in the 2023 works programme:• The path will be tarmacked, and drainage works will be carried out at the entrance. • The existing fence will be removed, and a solid bar railing will be installed. • The area to the right will be landscaped which will include the installation of a kerb and planting. Johnston concluded; “ We are very pleased that this work is nearing completion which would not have been possible this year without our ongoing campaign and the persistence of Duncan and I. This will enhance access and will improve the appearance within the village. We wish to thank Fingal County Council for taking on board our proposals which will enhance the great work by the Portrane Village Renewal group.”

The Fingal old IRA Commemorative society is getting ready for the Easter Sunday celebrations which takes place this year in Oldtown on Sunday 9th of April . The Chairman of the society Paul O’ Brien said that it is the society’s 6th time to hold the Easter Sunday event in Oldtown , formerly in 1959 , 1969 ,1977 ,1992 ,2002 and lastly 2012 . The event will start with Mass taking place in St Mary’s church at 9.00am in Oldtown, followed by a parade lead by the Colour Party and the Black Raven Pipe Band and Volunteers to the Molly Adrian Plaque on the Bridge, at the Bridge the proclamation will be read and various speakers will talk on the day, also the last post and Reveille and National Anthem will be played. Afterwards back to the Oldtown House Pub for tea or coffee and sandwiches , followed by the showing of the society’s award winning film ‘Who Shot Sergeant Kirwan’ directed by Society member Cathal Boland. Everyone is welcome to attend and if you need anymore information you can contact The Society Chairman Paul O Brien on 086 3518927. A Company of Volunteers was established in Oldtown back in 1918 it was formed by Thomas Peppard on the instructions of Michael Collins. Jack Smith was one of nine men who joined and it was Jack’s daughter in law Margaret Smith who wrote from Soloheadbeag to Sovereignty: The Oldtown Connection and it’s a fantastic read and very well written, Margaret is married to Jacks son Pat who has kept his Father’s memory alive throughout the years along with his sister Eileen. Society Member Robin Bollards Grandmother was Catherine Smith the sister of Jack together they managed Sheridans farm and assisted in the setting up of Mooretown camp. The Society would also like to take this opportunity to Express our deep felt appreciation to Peter Rooney and the people of Oldtown for the work they have done to keep alive the memory of the Men and Woman from the area who took part in the fight for Independence 1916 – 1921.

Be it washing a neighbour’s windows, mowing someone’s grass, picking up medicines each week or caring for the environment, Fingal County Council wants to hear about what extraordinary lengths people have gone to in their local area as they look to help others.

We know there is a remarkable amount of thoughtful consideration going on, and now we want to recognise those individuals with a heart of gold as part of our Mayor’s Community Champions Awards 2023. That is why we are calling on everyone to share with us the stories of what is being done and for nominations to be put forward for consideration by an independent panel of experts.

Announcing the focus of this year’s awards, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony said: “I am constantly amazed by the incredible amount of volunteer work undertaken by so many people across Fingal. From cleaning a neighbour’s house, to looking after someone’s garden, running errands or planting trees, the County is exceptionally fortunate to have people going to such extraordinary lengths to truly make a difference to the lives of others.

“Now, we want to find, acknowledge and honour the achievements of these unsung heroes who work so selflessly by asking the people of Fingal to join us as we say Hands Up for Community Champions.”
This year we are keen to recognise those working tirelessly in so many locations and in varied roles. These are people making a positive contribution to their local community and are inspiring others to do the same. They could be an older person proving that age is not a barrier to giving back to others, somebody who is helping make a positive impact on sports or the environment in their local area, or someone whose dedication to Irish is raising the profile of the language throughout Fingal.

Whatever it is, these inspirational individuals are enhancing the lives of others across the County and we want to hear their story. Nominations are now open and can be made at any time up until 5pm on Thursday 20th April. Details on the Mayor’s Awards and how to nominate someone can be found via the Council’s website: https://www.fingal.ie/mayors-awards-2023. Community Champions will be announced at a special gala dinner on 1 June.

Learn more about the Mayor’s Awards here: https://youtu.be/LkrL8sPCGjE

Congratulations to our U18 AB Girl’s team who won their Leinster League Final recently. What an incredible match between AB and Athy, two equally matched teams. This is the first League title for our girl’s section, and is the culmination of years of hard work and team building. Well done and Congratulations to all the team and coaches.

Blasters Cricket has started up again in Castlelands Community Centre !!!! Open to boys and girls aged 5-11. To Book your childs place please go to balbriggancricketclub.com/…/indoor…/…
Also our heartiest congratulations to our superb coach for his recent award from The Cricket Writers of Ireland who inducted our Senior Head Coach Andre Botha into the Cricket Ireland Hall of Fame, an amazing and well deserved honour for a true legend of Irish Cricket. Congrats Bothsy from all at The Brig

The students of Ardgillan College Balbriggan took to the stage on Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th of March to perform Footloose the Musical to a full house. The sold-out performances from talented and dedicated students wowed audiences made up of their friends, family, teachers and members of the local community. Students demonstrated their talents from singing, acting and dancing to set management, construction, painting and makeup that represented a real team effort on behalf of the school community. The cast was led by Jamie McGuffin Gresham, Tara-Rose O’Brien in 5th year and Alex Jackson from TY. A huge thank you to all of the staff who helped to put the show together.