The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival was last held in 2019. Covid restrictions meant that it could not be held in 2020 or 2021. BUT we are delighted to say that we are working on Festival 2022. The Festival will be launched in The Brook, Portrane on Thursday 8th. September and finish on Sunday 18th September.Festival favourites are back on the programme.The Dublin String Quartet is performing in our Gala Concert and they will be supported by The Blanchardstown Brass Band, Skerries Strummers and David Scott.Films for the 3 Day Short Film Festival are being sourced by Emma Fagan from Fillum.We have workshops for adults and for children, tours of Portrane Martello Tower, St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland and Newbridge House, Biodiversity Walk and Talk led by Hans Visser, biodiversity officer with Fingal Co. Co. Family events - “Go Fly Your Kite” and walking treasure hunt. Health and Well Being workshops in The Community Well and Tai Chi on Portrane Green.These are just SOME of the events.We will be back with a more comprehensive list next month.We have 2 fundraising events during the summer – A Quiz and a Raffle and we ask you to support these. Most of the events in the Festival are free and even though we have generous sponsors, we haven’t had any fundraising opportunities for 3 years. September is Festival time again on the Peninsula!

We are delighted to see the return of our Dinner Club three days per week at our centre in Hampton Street, where our clients can enjoy a meal and socialise with their friends; something which they really missed out on during the Covid pandemic. Our Pop-up-Shop is open again every Friday from 10am to 1pm. This year we are also serving Teas & Coffees, so you can enjoy a cuppa after you browse for some bargains. We would like to thank Christopher White of Three Gates Garden Centre and Nursery, Naul for donating some fabulous flowers, bedding plants and compost to us for our Outdoor Area. We took part in a Food Drive in Tesco in April, with another planned for 17th & 18thJune. All food donated will be used within our service or donated to our clients and those in need in the local area.

We would like to congratulate Tommy Murray of Derham Park, Balbriggan, Co Dublin who is the recipient of this years Ned and Máire Maguire Perpetual Trophy. Back in 1986 our Guide Dogs branch formed and began fundraising. One of our biggest fundraisers was a sponsored walk in the late 80’s to 90’s and one couple who did the walk every single year was Ned and Máire Maguire from Delahasey just outside Balbriggan. The couple would go door to door with their sponsor card and inform people of what a guide dog was and what they did. This was long before we could spread the word with a simple text via mobile phone or by sharing a post on social media. They were doing the work that social media does today and getting the word out there. So, when Ned and later Máire passed away, a trophy was sourced, featuring a mother with a litter of puppies. It is named after them to reflect the extraordinary commitment they gave to our branch. The trophy is given annually to someone or some business that does something that stands out in the past year to help our branch. This year we were delighted to award it to Tommy Murray who joined our branch in the late 80’s and has given over 30 years of service to us, including but not limited to, helping at dog walks, emptying counter boxes, church gates, selling Christmas cards and calendars to name a few. We extend our congratulations to Tommy and thank him for all he has done for our branch. If you want to support our Branch, you can find us at Summerfest in Quay Street Car Park, Balbriggan on Sunday the 5th of June from 10am – 6pm. If you would like to join our Branch or become a volunteer? You can contact us by phone or text on 085 7663107. You can also email or contact us on Facebook at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com.

Bremore Castle Food & Craft Village returned as a monthly fixture, starting on Sunday May 1st when the gates opened from 11am until 4pm. Based on the grounds of the magnificent Bremore Castle at the heart of the Balbriggan community in North County Dublin. The market brings together local businesses & artists to showcase a variety of local produce, artisan food and handmade crafts in an open-air family and pet friendly environment. The market will be running on the first weekend of every month (subject to planning and permission), and dates will be posted well in advance on all social media channels. With work nearing completion on Bremore Castle restoration, it is also an opportunity for the public to get a closer view of the incredible work that has been done on this amazing structure. Bremore Castle is a large tower house located in Balbriggan, County Dublin. Estimated to have been built in the 14th century, the Norman Barnewalls family held it from the time of construction till 1727, the year in which it was sold. However, the first mention of this castle or its location was in reference to William Rosel De Brimor, who held land in England and Ireland at the end of the 13th century. Its deterioration began much before the sale, and by 1783, it was termed as “not many years ago inhabited” by Austin Cooper, a prominent antiquarian of that time. For any enquiries regarding the market, please contact our email bremorecastlefcv@gmail.com or visit us on Instagram by contacting us at instagram.com/bremorecastlefoodcraftvillage) or you could Facebook us at facebook.com/BremoreCastleFoodCraftVillage.

Fingal’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has approved over €300,000 in grant funding to community and voluntary groups across the county under the 2022 Community Activities Fund (CAF). Funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, the 2022 scheme was launched nationally by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD.Over 200 grants will be paid to groups across Fingal under the scheme. This will help with running costs such as utility bills, insurance and in some cases rental or leasing costs. They will also be supported with funding to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities, and the purchase of equipment such as defibrillators, furniture, tools. signage, laptops, printers, lawnmowers, canopies, among others. The Community Activities Fund provides a flexible and targeted approach to funding those communities most in need. The fund is aimed at addressing disadvantage, as identified in the Fingal Local Economic and Community Plan and also at this time supports local community and voluntary groups with reopening costs resulting from COVID-19. Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Seána Ó Rodaigh, welcomed the large number of grants approved, saying: “The Community Activities Fund provides invaluable support to a broad range of organisations, particularly at a time when operating costs for many groups are rising sharply. The amount of funding made available reflects the vital role played by those groups making a real impact on the ground right across Fingal, be it community centres, Scouts and Guides, childcare providers, sports clubs, support services for older people or drama societies.” Mary Harford, Group Leader of the 89th Bremore Scout Group said: “The grants will enable us to buy much needed equipment for our young people and will also help us cover our operating costs for the year without worrying where the money will come from.”

Last month we welcomed Brown & Black belt members of JKS Ireland from all around the country to a National training session in the dojo.The 2-hour session covered important Kihon (basics) required for Brown & Black Belt grading examinations as well as an in depth study of Unsu Kata. It was great to see all our karate friends from around the country and train together again after such a long time in lockdowns. The next National Brown & Black Belt training session will be in May. Black Belt Award: Conor Kinsella of Swords Karate Club was presented with his Shodan Diploma (Black Belt 1st Dan) by the head of JKS Ireland, Dermot Keeffe Sensei, 6th Dan JKS, at the recent National Brown & Black Belt training session. Conor (18) has been studying karate since he was 9 years old and took his Black Belt examination in December 2021. The tough examination covered Kihon (Basics), Kata (Forms) and Kumite (Fighting). The results were then sent to Japan to be ratified by the JKS Headquarters and his Diploma arrived from Japan last month. The JKS Karate Diploma is recognised worldwide. Online Training Seminar from Japan: Members of the club took part in an online training seminar with JKS World Chief Instructor Masao Kagawa Shihan, 9th Dan JKS recently. These seminars usually take place once or twice a year in person, but the online seminars are being used at the moment because of the Covid19 pandemic.The seminar over 2 days enabled club members train with one of the world’s highest ranking karate experts. Class Report : Juniors, Seniors and Tiger classes were well attended during the month with all students working hard on their techniques needed for the upcoming grading (belt) examination.Tigers and Juniors focused on Kihon (Basics) and Kata, while Seniors worked on more technical aspects of how Karate can be used in real life self-defence situations. We take new members all through the year. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club.

By Ken Duffy

Swords Tidy Towns pledged fifty percent of their annual St Patricks Day bucket Collection in support of Ukrainian refugees. We presented Lt Annie Carroll (Area Director of Units for Dublin Fingal) and Sgt Claire Dignam of the Swords Red Cross with a cheque for 500 euros to go towards their Ukrainian Refugee fund. Also in the picture are Rose Brennan STT and Darren Breen STT. Our donation was made possible firstly by our hard-working members who volunteered to do the Bucket Collection and by the generosity of the people attending the St Patrick’s Day Parade on the day. Swords Tidy Towns wish to thank each and all for their support and friendly banter towards our volunteers, it made our day, as always you did your town proud.A big congrats must also go to Fingal County Council particularly Paul Barnes and Fiona O’Reilly for their organisational skills in putting on such an enjoyable St Patricks Day Parade. The crowds that thronged the streets were cheering everything, they were in massive form, we were blessed with the weather, it turned out to be, a perfect storm, if you’ll excuse the pun.

The funeral of Frank Lawless in Rolestown Cemetary on April 18,1922 was one of the last occasions at which Michael Collins, Eamonn De Valera, Arthur Griffith and many who later fought on opposite side during the Civil War would stand together. This iconic moment and the life and legacy of Frank Lawless will be commemorated by Fingal County Council as part of their Commemorations Programme with an exhibition and Commemorative film Peace to the Ashes. Frank Lawless was born in October 1870 to Joseph and Mary Anne Lawless in Saucerstown, Swords. He was the driving force of republican activity in Fingal taking part in the 1916 Rising as Quartermaster of the Fingal Volunteers. He spent much of the years between 1916 and 1921 in prison and was elected as MP for Dublin County in the 1918 election while incarcerated, taking his seat in Dáil Éireann when released. He was present for the pivotal Treaty debates and voted in favour of the settlement, before being tragically killed in an accident outside Swords in April 1922. Broadcaster and filmmaker Donal Dineen was struck by a powerful photograph that emerged from the research on the funeral’s significance carried out by our Libraries department which extends not only to Fingal but to Ireland where we see among the mourners Arthur Griffith beneath the large Celtic cross marking the Lawless family plot. He uses this as a starting point to his collaborative commemorative film titled –Peace to the Ashes a work commissioned by Fingal County Council Arts Office. The exhibition and film will be available to view in the Atrium in Fingal County Council Offices Swords from April 25th as well as online on Fingal.ie and on the Council’s Social media channels. The iconic image of the funeral of Frank Lawless reproduced here is Courtesy of RTE Archives.

The Photo Artist John Byrne who created the Italian Quarter Mural the Last Supper in Dublin City has been commissioned by Fingal County Council to do a mural in Swords. John is looking for six local men aged between 19 and 39 with long hair to partake in his photo shoot at the end of June for his Swords mural, he asked if Swords Tidy Towns would put out feelers for him, hence my post. No monies will change hands just the opportunity to be immortalised within John’s mural. If you are interested or you know of somebody who might be interested, please contact me Ken on 0866008313

The Parents Association of Malahide Community School is holding a Plant Sale on Friday May 6th from 3pm to 6pm and on Saturday May 7th from 10.30am to 5pm. It takes place in the school canteen and there will be lots of colourful flowers window boxes, hanging baskets and more for sale. Everyone is welcome so please come along and support our first fundraising event in over 2 years.