Donabate Parish Hall autumn programme starts at the end of August with a large array of activities taking place every day, these range from Irish Dancing to Cards, from Montessori to Senior Citizens, from Traditional Music to Bridge. In October/November daily classes will be suspended for a number of weeks to facilitate Cultural & Creative events. These will include Photography Exhibitions and an Active Age for All Display to name but a few! There are still a few spaces available on the programme but it is filling up fast - we hope the addition of the new acoustic panels will create an even better ambience for all our activities & events to take place in! For further information please contact Bernie in the Parish Office

At Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed, we are continuing our activities over the summer months. We have exercise classes on Mondays, croquet at Newbridge House on Tuesdays, a cuppa and a chat at our Thursday morning get-togethers at the Scouts’ Den and work on our plots at Turvey Allotments at other times as the need arises.We also have regular outings to places of interest, most recently to the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, the Custom House Visitor Centre and the National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire, three very different but interesting venues. These outings usually end with lunch at a local eatery. If you are interested in joining us, drop down to the Scouts’ Den any Thursday morning between 10:30am and 12:30pm or call Jim on 086-3694316. We look forward to seeing you.

We belong to the Walking Ireland Group which is part of Sports Ireland. There are over 400 groups in the country.We do SHORT EASY WALKS/TRIPS - 5km for most people require average fitness & we also do LONG MODERATE TO DIFFICULT WALKS which are 10/12km and can be hard so one needs to be fairly fit and able to keep up with the group.We try to vary the walks but sometimes we will repeat them especially as we try to be environmentally & cost friendly; we use trains & buses as much as possible! We are out to keep fit but also to have fun!!!! Our most recent outing with 15 people was after taking the train from Donabate to Balbriggan, we walked from there to Laytown some 11/12km along the beach with the tide out, going through some forest area which emerged near a great pedestrian bridge which lead directly into the Village Inn for some good food and well deserved refreshments! We returned by train from Laytown to Donabate after a great day out! Our next walk coincides and links with the Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival, so it is local - Saturday 10th Sept- starting at 12noon at The Parish Hall - walking to the Shoreline then on to Tower Bay short stop at Wayne’s Coffee Box - then down to Portrane and the Burrow walking along Rogerstown Estuary up Marsh Lane and back to the Brook for Pizza and Trad at 4pm! Bus or walk back to Donabate for the train ! Sound good - put in your diary and contact Carolyn 087 9284307 or Breda 086 8693243 if interested!

Pacers Trip to Epic Museum and the Custom House - On Saturday the 18th June the Peninsula Pacers embarked on a slightly different trip. Eight of us ventured into Dublin to visit the Epic Museum and the Custom House. Both venues being on Custom House Quay and an easy walk from Connolly Station it was more about exercising the mind rather than the legs! First stop was the Epic Museum in the CHQ building which tells the story, or rather a lot of stories, about the emigration of the Irish to all parts of the world. Beginning with the defeat of the Irish at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, which resulted in the ‘Flight of the Earls’ from 1607, to the present day. The departure of the Earls was a watershed in Irish history, symbolising the end of the old Gaelic order. You won’t find leprechauns and pots of gold here but you will learn the stories of Irish emigrants who became scientists, politicians, artists, poets and even outlaws.Following a relaxed lunch in the CHQ building we strolled down the quay to the Custom House where we were delighted to find that admission, and an official guide, were free.After a very interesting and informative hour, and having plumbed the long-suffering guides’ knowledge to the depths, we left him in peace, did the obligatory photo shoot and wended our way back to Connolly Station, There we were pleased to discover that we had time for a little refreshment before the train home. All in all a very enjoyable outing a great easy paced walk albeit in an urban setting and we can strongly recommend visits to both of these venues.

It is that time of year again when you get to decide what exciting classes you will choose for the coming winter. Hard to think about it now with the sun shining outside, but we in Active Age have been working hard preparing our programme for 2022/2023. You will see many of your old favourites there such as Pilates, Yoga, Sit & Get Fit, Stronger for Longer Art and Singing and Music.Our free activities - Croquet, Boules and Bowls and Table Tennis will of course continue. We are also adding some classes for those who are not as interested in the more physical activities, with Drama and Crafts and hopefully Cooking to be added to our programme.The full programme will be available online for you to see in August with a date of 5th of September for Registration for classes. As you all know classes fill up fast so you need to mark the date and come and register, even for the free activities as we have waiting lists for some of these.Enjoy the rest of your summer, looking forward to seeing you all in September! The photo competition theme is Positive ageing and it is open to people of all ages and abilities.DCU are looking to find rare gems of local talent from our communities to showcase our intergenerational engagement throughout Ireland. The closing date is 28th August 2022

What an end to a busy, fun, and successful year! We concluded our year with a wonderful end-of-year party. We had face painting, music, bubbles, tug-of-war, races, and medals. Garda Michelle and Garda Colm, from Clontarf Garda station, joined us for the fun. The athletes loved their car,especially the siren, lights, and car horn. Thank you to all the volunteers, fundraisers, and supporters who helped make this happen. This year, we have welcomed many new members into our Young Athletes Club this year. We have also started our new junior basketball club for athletes from 8 years to 16 years old. Thanks to our fabulous fundraisers and to our volunteer coach Ciara, we were able to offer swimming lessons to many of our members in the Pop-Up Pool.The first two athletes to ever compete for our club came away with 4 medals between them. We are so, so proud of Tim and Becca.Finally, one of the first athletes to join our club is moving to Wexford. We’ll miss you Noah. We will see you when you are competing for Munster and Ireland in the future. Thank you to Eamon, Susan, and Lottie for all your support throughout the years. It’s not goodbye, it’s au revoir.

Local Labour representative, Corina Johnston recently said, “I was contacted by a number of local residents last week regarding a potentially significant archaeological find on lands in Donabate which are subject to a live planning application.”I met the residents on site, who confirmed that they had been alerted to the find by a local farmer who stumbled upon the opening while sowing in the field. They immediately visited the site and unearthed what appears to be an underground tunnel with writing on one of the walls similar in nature to Ogham writing an early medieval alphabet.In view of the potential significance of the find Duncan Smith TD and I contacted the National Monuments Services and Fingal County Council and requested an urgent visit and an interim inspection of the site. In the meantime the entrance needs to be protected and closed off. The manner of the demolition of Turvey House a building of historical importance in 1987 must never be allowed occur again. National Monuments have confirmed to Duncan Smith TD and I that “this matter is currently being followed up on and an entry will be added to the Sites and Monuments Record in due course.” I have ascertained that the find is located on land that is subject to a current planning application with An Bord Pleanála and I have notified the board of recent developments on the land which may have implications for the planning application. We will keep you informed of developments.”

A massive thank you to the sponsors of Flavours of Fingal. We appreciate your support so much. Thanks for making the weekend the best it could possibly be! Joeduffybmwmotors, keelingsfruits, 7upfreeireland, keoghsfarm, CountryCrest, noel_group, annesleywilliamsskoda,
johnmccabemotors, geodesic_domes_ireland, bespokealuminiumgates.ie,shorelinehoteldonabate
yrsauceire , and fiveriversireland. Thank you also to each and every one of you who came along and made Flavours of Fingal 2022 so special from our incredible traders, entertainers, staff and the public, we couldn’t have such a great event without any of YOU!

We recently hosted a fantastic week at Glebe North FAI summer camp with 110 kids enjoying football while learning new skills. Big thanks to all coaches involved, Megan, Denis, Sean, Eoin, Lee, Michael, Alan and Emma. Glebe north will host another camp in August, 15th to 19th. Only 30 places remaining, book online at bookings.summersoccerschools.ie/s/

On Saturday 18th June, Balbriggan Meals on Wheels held a get together to celebrate the launch of their newly developed Outdoor Area.

The occasion was also used to dedicate the new Outdoor Area to Eoghan ó Ceallacháin, in recognition of his tireless work over the years, not only for Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, but also for the whole Balbriggan community. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels would like to acknowledge Dublin Rural Leader for grant funding of €24,063.75 towards this project. They are also grateful to their Fundraising Committee and those who supported them in raising the balance of €10,000. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels would also like to thank Christopher White for the donation of flowers and shrubs. The support of St Peter & Paul’s Parish is also acknowledged.The Outdoor Area is a great additional space for those who use the services of Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, Order of Malta and many other community groups. It will be a space where people can sit outside and have a cup of tea, a chat and enjoy the art work provided by Youthreach, Foroige and Fingal Lighthouse Art Group. It is also used as a lovely area for serving teas & coffees at the Pop-up-Shop, currently hosted by Balbriggan Meals on Wheels on Friday mornings. All in all the Outdoor Area is a very beautiful space. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels prepare and deliver meals to the most vulnerable people in the local community who for whatever reason are unable to provide meals for themselves; they are people who are referred by Public Health Nurses and Social Workers. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels operates six days per week and currently provides in the region of 80-100 meals per day in the wider Balbriggan Community. They also host a Dinner Club three days per week which provides a meal and an important social outlet to members. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels can be contacted during business hours at 14 Hampton Street, Balbriggan, K32 P793. Tel : 01 8416743. Email: mealsonwheelsbalbriggan@gmail.com

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels surprised Eoghan ó Ceallacháin on the day by announcing that the Outdoor Area was to be dedicated to him in recognition of his tremendous work for the Balbriggan community over the years. This is a short background to all his involvements over the years but by no means a complete list: Balbriggan Meals on Wheels:

Eoghan is one of the founder members of Balbriggan Meals on Wheels. He, along with a number of volunteers, helped build the first kitchen, following the death of a woman in Quay Street from malnutrition in 1975. The first kitchen had to be rebuilt and the sum of €120,000 was raised in order to do that. Eoghan has always put the community first, and particularly those who are most vulnerable. St. Peter and Paul’s Parish: Eoghan is very committed to the work of the Parish. Over the years he has worked hard to have laity involvement in the Church. In 1971 he established pilgrimages to Lourdes with his brother Tommy. He was also instrumental in establishing the readers for Masses. During this time he started to visit local people in hospitals. He gave much needed support to patients and families. Order of Malta: During his years with the Order of Malta, Eoghan fundraised and refurbished this building. The Day Care Centre was opened in 1977 as Thomas ó Ceallacháin Centre. The Day Care Centre provides activities for people with disabilities from North Fingal (Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk). It hosts training for young people in First Aid, monthly parties for the elderly and other events for people with disabilities. During these years he also worked extremely hard to raise funds to purchase an ambulance, which collected people for the Day Care Centre. Also he established the Summer Camp which enabled People with disabilities to go on a camping holiday. Balbriggan Breakaway Festival: In 1975 Eoghan had the vision to establish a festival in the town. He and other members of the community, including businesses agreed that it was time to promote the town and its natural beauty as a coastal town. It was a great family affair, and with the inclusion of M’Lady Erin the festival had an international flavour.Town Commissioner: A bit frustrated at the lack of development for the town, Eoghan stood for election for the Town Commissioners as a Community Representative. He was a Commissioner from 1979 to 1985. During this time he argued for the health and welfare of the community. He particularly raised the need for sewerage treatment plant. It is now being built. Citizens Information Centre: With a growing Community he saw the need to establish a community based information centre. With other local people who worked hard the Citizens Information Centre was established in 1993. Balbriggan Youth Development: Again identifying a growing need in the Community, he worked for many years trying to establish a service for young people, with a view to helping them with employment and training. And again enlisting the support of local people this service was established in 1991. Irish Language and Culture: His personal passion is the Irish Language and Gaelic. He was a prominent member of O’Dwyers GAA and played at one time for Dalcais Hurling. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels wish to thank Eoghan for all his dedication and service to the community.