There has been a card playing group in Donabate for as long as anyone can remember, for at least the last forty years. Every Monday night the group gather at 7.30 pm in the parish hall to play whist. Every player pays €7, and the amount collected is paid out in winnings after hall rental expenses are deducted. We did have eighteen months down time during the pandemic lockdown, but we are delighted to be back again and fully operational. We are of course always looking for new members, and you can be sure of a warm welcome to our group. If you play cards at all you will quickly get the hang of Whist as whist is the cornerstone of so many card games.

Corina Johnston, Labour Party Local Representative has welcomed the recent announcement of funding by the National Transport Authority which will facilitate an extension of the existing cycle path on the Donabate Distributor Road to Portrane. She said; “I am very pleased to have been informed that €1,225,000 has recently been allocated to Fingal County Council by the National Transport Authority(NTA) as part of its Active Travel Investment Grants 2022.” Corina continued; “ In response to representations from Duncan Smith TD and I the NTA confirmed that this project includes the development and implementation of cycle protection measures at various locations along the relevant stretch of road. These measures will include the installation of uncontrolled crossing points, junction build outs and the construction of kerb protected cycle lanes.”Johnston added;” Fingal County Council in response to a question submitted to a recent council meeting on my behalf by my colleague Cllr Robert O’Donoghue confirmed that this project proposes to link the existing cycle path from the West along the newly constructed Distributor Road to the junction of Portrane Avenue in Portrane. The funding allocated for this scheme is for the development of design options, preliminary & detailed design and implementation of protected cycling infrastructure on the ground. The Council’s Active Travel Unit is currently procuring a consultant to work on this among other projects in the programme of works for 2022. Once the options report is available, this will progress to detailed design and implementation by year end.“ Johnston concluded;”I am very pleased that this project has been prioritised and funding awarded by the NTA and look forward to its implementation. When completed this will enhance cycle links between Donabate and Portrane and ultimately provide a direct cycle link to Malahide and Newbridge Demesne via the Broadmeadow Way Greenway which is projected to be delivered in 2025. “

It was with great sadness that we at Balbriggan RFC have learned of the passing of our former member and Trustee, Gerald Gallen. Gerald had a life long love for rugby from his playing days at school in Belvedere College to his many years involvement in Delvin RFC where he was the Club International Ticket Secretary. Gerald was a regular at Old Belvedere AIL matches and for many years at Balbriggan games too. Gerald will be very sadly missed by his many friends in our wide rugby family. Our condolences to his wife Ann, son Gerald, daughters Ruth and Rachel, daughter-in-law Carol, grandchildren and many friends.

Balbriggan is a Senior Cricket club located in Balbriggan Town Park , Balbriggan. New playing members of all ages and abilities and pavilion members are always welcome.

Balbriggan Cricket Club is based in the heart of Balbriggan and has 5 Senior Men’s teams , 2 Senior Women’s Teams , 2 Social cricket teams and a big underage section of boys and girls teams for all ages. The Men’s and Women’s Adult Senior teams range from Premier league level down to the lowest league so if you are interested in joining you can be sure we will have a team that suits your playing level. We have excellent facilities with top class wickets and nets and you will find people practising most days of the week. The underage set up in Balbriggan is thriving , our ground and nets is a hive of activity every day from April to Sept in Balbriggan Town Park when underage coaching and Practice takes place. Kids from 5 years up can come along and experience cricket and will learn how to play the gace with our experienced coaches. Regarding our recent Easter Camp the rain was against us but that didn’t stop the Easter camp going ahead. The kids had great fun indoors as you can see from these photos. We also went to the local schools to teach kids the basics of the game during Jan, Feb and March. To enquire about membership or training call or text 0860644238 or via balbriggancricketclub.com/contact.

The All Ireland Community & Council Awards 2021 presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA took place on Saturday 9th April 2022. The event, which was rescheduled from November 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was held at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport and was hosted by RTÉ broadcaster Marty Morrissey. For the past fifteen years, these awards have celebrated the valuable collaboration between councils and communities and are seen as a benchmark of excellence. Over 160 nominations were received for the awards and following an in-depth judging process, over 100 projects nationwide from 30 counties were shortlisted across 24 categories. Ten Fingal projects were nominated for awards in nine categories including ‘Best Business Working with the Community’, ‘Best Public Park’ and ‘Best CSR Community Programme’. Fingal County Council has had considerable success at the LAMA awards in previous years and this year is no exception as four of our initiatives were recognised with awards in their categories.

The Fingal County Council winners on the night were: Best Business Working with the Community (Sponsored by An Post) Silver Award: Fingal County Council Public Wi-Fi Roadmap - Best CSR Community Programme.

Bronze Award: Weather Station for Schools-Climate Change
Best Heritage Project Winner: Swords Castle Conservation Project – Preserving a National Monument and Heritage Facility for present and future citizens to enjoy
Bronze Award: Clean Up! - Best Waste Management Programme (Sponsored by Eastern-midlands Waste Region). Speaking on the awards, Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh said: “On behalf of myself and the Elected Members, I wish to congratulate the nominees and those who accepted awards on behalf of Fingal County Council. It is a source of great satisfaction and pleasure to see so many of our initiatives acknowledged for the value and importance they represent for us all. In Fingal, we pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation, best practice and collaboration and these awards are a testament to our ongoing work to support and enhance communities across the county.”

It’s that time of year again, our national fundraiser for ‘Guide Dog Day’ is on the 27th May and since last years ‘#100K4GDD’ was such a success, it is going ahead again. You can sign up as an individual or as part of a team by visiting GuideDogs.ie or if you would like a sponsorship card you can contact us by email at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or phone/text 0857663107. You can walk, run, swim or cycle your way through the month of May or why not change it up and do 100 dances for Guide Dog Day or bake 100 cakes? Whatever you decide to do, do please make sure to tag us on our new Instagram @BalbrigganBranchGuide and Twitter @BranchGuide page so we can share and get the word out. If you would like to support us in person or purchase any of our merchandise you can find us in SuperValu Balbriggan on Friday 6th May and in Millfield Shopping Centre the following Friday on the 13th May. You might even meet one of our lovely assistance dogs or puppies in training. We also have our Tap to Donate machine in Specsavers in Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan, where a single tap donates €3. It was just over a year ago on 13th April 2021 that Yarrow left puppy raiser Anne Mulligan and went to Cork HQ for training to become an Assistance Dog. Yarrow’s family keeps in contact with Anne and have been sharing updates. We’re delighted to hear that he is settling in very well and is already making a huge difference. In May 2021 Anne welcomed another puppy into her home, golden Labrador Adel who is now 14 months old and went to Cork HQ on 20th April to start training on the Guide Dog Programme. Would you like to become a Puppy raiser or volunteer with your local branch of Guide Dogs? Further information is available from the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind website guidedogs.ie or by email support@guidedogs.ie .

You can also find out how to contact your local Guide Dogs support branch on Facebook at facebook.com/Balbriggan.Branch.of.Guide.Dogs/

By Liam Ó Culbáird

A great day was had at the of Scór na nÓg Dublin County final which was held at Fingallians GAA in Swords on 13th March 2022. It was encouraging to see new clubs from across Dublin participating that had no previous experience of the Scór competitions. Dublin GAA will be well represented as we head towards the Leinster finals. The Scór competitions are talent competitions for GAA members that include areas of Irish culture outside of our national ball games. Bhí na buaiteoirí mar seo a leanas / The winners were as follows: Tráth na gCeisteanna / Table quiz: Cumann Uí Dhuibhir / O’Dwyers, Rince Foirne / Ceilí dance: Fine Ghallainn / Fingallians GAA dancers from Swords, Amhránaíocht Aonair / solo singer: Na Gaeil Óga, Aithriseoireacht /Scéalaíocht Recitation / Storytelling: Gaeil Raghnallach / Ranelagh Gaels, Bailéad Ghrúpa / Ballad group: Gaeil Raghnallach / Ranelagh Gaels, Nuachleas / Novelty act: Na Gaeil Óga and Ceol Uirlise / Instrumental music: Gaeil Raghnallach / Ranelagh Gaels.Bhí an-caighdeán ar taispeáint and well done to all who participated. It is great to see the Scór competitions back running in the capital and we look forward to progressing through the provincials towards the finals.Our Tráth na gCeisteanna winners, Cumann Uí Dhuibhir, now progress to the Leinster final that will be held on Sunday 3rd April at St. Patrick’s GAA Club, Lordship, Dundalk, An Lú.Quiz: 11am. Stage competitions 2pm. Our other winners will compete in the Leinster semi-final on Saturday 26th March at 2.30pm at The Downs GAA, An Iarmhí

In a gesture of solidarity with the people and the country of Ukraine, the Ukrainian national flag was raised recently at County Hall, Swords, by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Seána O Rodaigh, in the presence of the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland, Her Excellency Ms Larysa Gerasko.The ceremony was also attended by members of the Ukrainian community in Fingal who had earlier been hosted by the Mayor at a special reception in The Atrium at County Hall. Fingal councillors and Oireachtas members stood in solidarity with them as the flag of Ukraine was raised and the Ukrainian national anthem was sung by those present.The Mayor expressed her solidarity with the Ukrainian community and spoke of those she met earlier, saying: “Many relationships have been fostered today and many of us listened and we will continue to do so.” Ambassador Gerasko thanked the Mayor for inviting her to the ceremony and added: “Ukrainians are facing a dark and terrible time, parts of country are destroyed including hundreds of schools and hospitals in this unjustified and terrible war. We need your support and we are grateful to the Government of Ireland for their huge support and solidarity and to the Irish nation for the many messages of support and offers of accommodation and humanitarian aid.” There was a discussion on the situation in Ukraine at the March monthly meeting of the Council before motions relating to the Russian invasion were unanimously passed. These motions were:“That this Council unreservedly condemns, in the strongest possible terms, Russia’s totally unprovoked and despicable attack on the free and sovereign nation of Ukraine and call on Russia to immediately withdraw and make reparations.” – proposed by Councillors Darragh Butler, Brigid Manton, Tom Kitt, Tony Murphy, Brian Dennehy, Joe Newman, Robert O’Donoghue, Grainne Maguire, Howard Mahony, Pamela Conroy, Daniel Whooley, JK Onwumereh, Ian Carey and Tania Doyle. “That Fingal County Council calls on the Government to ensure sanctions are imposed to end Russian aggression against the Ukraine and that this Council calls for the expulsion of the Russian Ambassador. The Irish Government needs to play its part in forcing a complete withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine. Fingal County Council stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine” – proposed by Councillor Anne Graves. “That this Council condemns the use of violence to achieve political aims, calls on Russia to withdraw from all Ukrainian territory and make full reparation to Ukraine.” – proposed by Councillors Tom O’Leary, Anthony Lavin, Aoibhinn Tormey, Siobhan Shovlin, Punam Rane and Ted Leddy.The Ukrainian flag was also raised at the Council’s offices in Blanchardstown which were lit up in yellow and blue along with Swords Castle in solidary with Ukraine and its people.

As we approach the more clement weather, Swords Tidy Towns are busy preparing for a very busy few months ahead. Plans are already afoot to bring a variety of colour to our beautiful town centre, our members forward planning has always been the key to our success with planting projects. Our executive committee have been meeting regularly via Zoom to plan our strategy for this year and beyond. The contributions of the committee and Swords Tidy Towns members has been invaluable over many years in getting Swords Town and Swords Tidy Towns to where they are today. We have reached out and worked with many other groups in our town to further our commitment to community involvement. The groups we now work with are Swords Woodland Ass, Mens Shed, Peter McVerry Trust, St Michaels House, The National Learning Network, Prosper Fingal, Anew, Youthreach, Crosscare, (FEN) Fingal Ethnic Network. We have also linked up on various projects with local schools, such as Colaiste Choilm, St Finians, Fingal Community College, Swords Community College, Holywell Educate Together, St Colmcilles, Loreto College. We will continue to work with those listed and hopefully add more to that list over the coming years, in our effort to improve Swords Tidy Towns community involvement and assess what its future needs might be. We are blessed to live in such a wonderful community with such generous and friendly people. If you have time to spare each Saturday morning or Wednesday evening, please come join us, we can be contacted via email at swordstidytowns@gmail.com or at 0866008313.

Malahide Historical Society are pleased to announce the launch of our new website at malahideheritage.ie. The new, more modern format, as well as being easier to navigate, will facilitate the addition of more content as the Society plans to share more from its extensive archive of material on the history and heritage of Malahide, Portmarnock and surrounds. Click on the link above and save us to your Favourites. The Society is open to new membership. For an annual fee of only €15 members will get priority access to our winter/spring series of monthly talks on local and national historical topics (shortly to recommence in person) - receive three issues per year of our Newsletter - get opportunity to take part in occasional field trips - support the society in its work of promoting interest in local history, carrying out historical research, running talks, maintaining the website and running a museum in the Steward’s House, Malahide Castle Courtyard (due to reopen this summer). Come join us - email us at malahidehistoricalsociety2@gmail.com PADDY RYAN, President.