It is estimated that about 1.9 billion drinks bottles and cans are consumed each year in Ireland, in-house and ‘on the go’. The Deposit Return Scheme aims to boost the recycling rate for these drinks containers by charging a small, refundable deposit for each plastic bottle or can. The Scheme will include PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans between 150ml and 3 litres. A deposit of 15c will apply to containers 500mls or less and a deposit of 25c for each container above 500ml.

The Scheme will be operated by Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG, trading as Re-turn, who were appointed in May 2022. All producers and retailers are legally obliged to register with Re-turn. Registration is open at re-turn.ie. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) encourages people to recycle drink containers. It works by charging anyone who buys a drink a small deposit for the plastic bottle or can that it comes in. Customers get this money back when they return the container to a retailer or other collection point to be recycled. The Deposit Return Scheme is a major project involving the development of complex IT, infrastructure and communication systems, which will be delivered by Re-turn over the course of 2023. The Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications will work closely with Re-turn on the implementation of the Scheme, which will start immediately with the registration of producers and retailers. The planned ‘go-live’ date for consumers is February 2024.

Fingal TD and Minister Joe O’Brien said recently, “I am Delighted with the announcement of over €33 Million from my Department to Upgrade Community Centres, including Skerries Community Association - SCA and Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Club. It is the Largest ever capital investment in Community Centres and will allow them to avail of extensions to existing centres, energy efficiency upgrades and improved access for people with disabilities amongst other works supported. This announcement will help community centres around the country and particularly those in Fingal that were awarded funding. Both Skerries Community Association and Portmarnock Sports & Leisure Club and others have done great work within their communities and this funding will help them continue to do so. Cllr Karen Power - Balbriggan, Balrothery, Loughshinny and Skerries said: “The funding for Skerries Community Centre announced by Joe today is very welcome. The Centre is the beating heart of our community here in Skerries providing a home for many sports and social clubs as well as educational facilities and it is great to see it supported in this way.”

YMCA Dublin was delighted to welcome Carlos Sanvee, World General Secretary of YMCA International, to its offices on Aungier Street this week.Earlier this year, the World YMCA Secretary General announced the Vision 2030 movement, which commits to igniting change, while daily activities through YMCA services continue to transform young people and communities. The visit to Dublin is one of many that the World General Secretary is making in Ireland, to launch the vision for the future. YMCA’s vision is a world where young people, their families and communities flourish in body, mind and spirit. Kathryn O’Mahony, CEO of YMCA Dublin said: “I am delighted to welcome World General Secretary of YMCA International Carlos Sanvee to YMCA Dublin. During Carlos’ time in Ireland he will launch YMCA Ireland’s new strategy for connecting with young people across Ireland. YMCA Dublin’s strategy was launched a few years back and we are excited to be part of a global vision to support our young people and families.” YMCA Dublin has an extensive history of working with young people, adults and their families in communities in need of support. Training and development opportunities have been facilitated for young people through their youth work department, Community Employment Scheme (CE scheme), and its Réidh programme. YMCA Dublin is a community-based charity operating as a social enterprise, providing services for children, young people and families. It is the second oldest YMCA in the world. Built on a social enterprise model, all income YMCA Dublin generates goes directly back into funding local community projects and initiatives, youth work, youth cafe, plus one mentoring, community work, community childcare and community employment. YMCA Dublin works with communities to support individuals, children and young people to develop the skills, experiences, relationships and behaviours for healthy, confident and successful futures. For more information on the work of YMCA Dublin and it’s programmes, please visit YMCA.ie

Congratulations to the Squad of 17 JKS Swords members who took part in the JKS Autumn Interclub Competition in Tallaght recently. They had a very successful outing bagging 7 Gold, 9 Silver and 14 Bronze medals overall. JKS Swords hosted the JKS Ireland Open Squad and Brown & Black Belt training session recently. Members of JKS Ireland from all over the country spent 2 hours training in Applewood Community Centre, going through ring craft for competition and also syllabus work for grading’s.Members of JKS Swords joined other JKS Ireland members on a competition squad and attended the Kanazawa Cup 2022 in Tallaght. The Squad had a very successful day with lots of medals won. Congratulations to everyone who took part. A big Well Done to Tadhg Comiskey and Harrison Beaumont on being selected as Students of the Month for November. Both boys train very hard and on a regular basic to develop their karate. Regular training continues weekly as we prepare for the Winter Grading. Students are putting the final touches to their kihon, kata and kumite in preparation for the Grading exam on 17th December 2022. If successful in their grading, the students will earn a new coloured belt and progress to the next level of their karate training.
We would like to wish all our members, Parents and Guardians and all our Supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) throughout the year. Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or alternatively contact us on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club.

St Colmcilles is currently recruiting for a Coaching/Management Team for their Junior Men’s Football team. These candidates should have an excellent knowledge of Gaelic football, Team Coaching and team Strategies. All applicants can call Marian 0876819540 or Aaron 0863888944. Or email their interest to secretary.st Colmcilles.dublin@gaa.ie.Annual Christmas Draw will take place Friday 16th Dec at 10pm. Tickets are available in the clubhouse bar and any committee member. Tickets cost €10 each with the main Jackpot Prize €1000. Juvenile Section - All teams will finish up for the Year at the end of November, to enjoy the festive season. All teams will return the first week in February 2023Training times for Feb - Saturday Morning’s @ 10.30am and Wednesday evening at 7pm (over 7 years) all sessions are 1 hour long. For more information, please call Cora 0833741305.Gaelic for Mothers And Others, is a great initiative from the LGFA, it is for women over the age of 25. G4M&O brings together women who enjoy learning Gaelic football (even if you’ve never played, this is for you) and having a bit of fun while exercising. Contact Deirdre 0879309962.We would like to take this opportunity to Wish you all a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year, and to Thank each of you for all your support throughout the year.

Congrats to our U13 Girls who won the SC final recently, well done to the girls and their mentors. Also Fingallians GAA will host our children’s Christmas party on Saturday 10th December. Great fun will be had with our DJ who will conduct our annual Christmas dance-off. We will have music, singing, dancing, jokes and other party pieces. Rumour also has it that a very special guest, a man with a white beard and red costume (Fingallians colours!) will be visiting and every child will have a chance to meet him. Fingallians GAA would like to thank Swords Local Magazine along with the parents and children of Swords for their ongoing support through 2022. We look forward to welcoming old friends and new members in 2023. Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh.

Article By Ken Duffy

Once again our hard working volunteers who are out in all weathers year in year out have been justifiably rewarded for their efforts. On Friday 28th Oct we attended the National Tidy Towns Awards Ceremony in the RDS Ballsbridge where we were awarded a National Silver Medal in our category. This makes five National Silver Medals in a row, as our member Gerry Brennan remarked afterwards, if we win another Silver next year, we will equal the Dubs six in a row, what an achievement that would be. The presentation of our award will most likely take place early in the new year in Trim as they were the regional winners. As I have written many times in the past, our success is down to a collaborative effort with Fingal County Council, in particular with the hard-working lads in their Operations Department who we work hand and glove with. Swords Tidy Towns have linked up with other Swords based organisations in our ongoing efforts to work with other like-minded groups to make Swords the best it can be, to help it achieve its true potential. No man or group is an island, when we collaborate together with determination and goodwill with a common goal, its amazing what can be achieved. New volunteers are always needed and very welcome, whatever your skillset it will be put to good use. Donations are also much needed and very welcome to help continue our great work which can be seen all around Swords town centre. We have come a long way since the 2003 Irish Business Against Litter report which designated Swords the 3rd dirtiest town in Ireland. With your help and backing we will continue to make strides in making our town the very best it can be. You can contact us by email at swordstidytowns@gmail.com.

All tickets sold go back to the club. €10 a ticket. Please support for a chance to win some fantastic prizes and help raise funds for your Club.

St Cronan’s Junior National school is preparing to celebrate 50 years this year. The school was established in 1972 and while the building on the Brackenstown Road did not open until 1974, the school took in its first class into temporary accommodation on North Street 50 years ago.The school has been led over the years by wonderful principals, Mrs Garvey, Anne McMahon, Brigid Manton and Edel Moloney and is now in the capable hands of Edel Blake. This year of celebration is a chance for our community to remember the wonderful work and dedication of the leaders and staff who went before us and who laid the foundations of the great school we have today. It is also a chance to remember and celebrate the pupils who have attended our school throughout the 50 years while also celebrating the wonderful school we are today. None of the great work achieved in our school would be possible without the support of the parents and the team of teachers, SNAs, secretaries, cleaners, bus escorts and caretaker who all work so hard together to be the best they can be for our children. All of this hard work is done under the guidance of the Board of Management who volunteer their time. As part of the celebrations, we would love to collect lots of photographs of the school and pupils over the years. If you have any photos you would like to share with us which we hope to display in the school hall please email them to anniversary@stcronansjns.ie and tell us something about the people in the photos. Follow our school on social media to keep up to date with celebrations @stcronans_jns Sarah Boylan, Deputy Principal.

This Christmas why not send a special ‘Greetings from Malahide’ card to all your friends at home and abroad. In doing so you will be helping us to fund needy projects in our area. The Christmas Cards, with six beautiful views of Malahide painted by local artists, have been professionally printed and are ready to go. The cards are of the finest quality and fantastic value at a pack of six for €5. You won’t get better value this year! If you’d like to get your order in early, contact us:-WhatsApp or text 0858172660 or you can email us at lionschristmascards@gmail.com or We will deliver locally FREE - pay on delivery.