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.

 Fingal County Council is to hold a series of public consultation events to promote a greater understanding of the Draft Development Plan 2023-2029.

A webinar was held online on Tuesday, March 22, followed by four drop-in events in different locations across the county. At each event staff from the Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department was available to brief the publicand answer questions on the Draft Development Plan.The Malahide Drop-In event will take place between 4pm and 8pm on the following date: April 20 -The Lecture Room, Malahide Library, Malahide.The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh said: “The webinar and drop-in events are excellent opportunities for members of the public to learn more about the Development Plan from members of the Fingal County Council Planning Department. The Development Plan will affect every individual, family and community so it is important that citizens are aware of it and make submissions on what they like and don’t like in it.” Fingal County Council’s Director of Planning and Strategic Infrastructure, Matthew McAleese, said: “Going out and explaining the Development Plan to citizens is a very important part of the consultation process and we look forward to meeting people at the drop-in events or speaking to them on the webinar. I am sure they will have plenty of questions and our planning team are looking forward to engaging with them over the coming weeks.Queries can be also forwarded to Fingal.DevelopmentPlan@fingal.ie.” The Draft Development Planis available for download from the fingal.ie/developmentplan website. It can also be inspected at Fingal County Council’s offices in Swords and Blanchardstown or any Fingal Libraries branch. Submissions on the Draft Development Plan must be received by 11.59pm on May 12 and can be made online at www.consult.fingal.ie or by post to the Development Plan Team, Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main St., Swords, Co. Dublin, K67X8Y2.

In recent months our National Governing Body , Taekwondo Ireland, in conjunction with Junsa Taekwondo and other member clubs have put together a series of small tournaments for beginners right through to the higher grades. As an NGB we are starting to focus on the grass roots players and hopefully future Olympians. Have a look at our clubs competition preparations here!

Junsa Taekwondo train in the Lusk scout den three times a week and we have Specific classes for each age group and also programs that suit everyone. At the moment our beginner and intermediate classes only have a few spaces and the advanced is filling up fast.Please contact Master Stuart Russell for further class details. We hope that everyone had a well deserved St. Patrick’s holiday and are all looking forward to Easter.

It has been a very busy and successful February and March for Lusk Athletic Club as our Juvenile and master’s athletes competed Indoors in Abbotstown and Athlone in various Track and Field events with great success. Lusk AC athletes also competed in cross country in Dunleer on what was a memorable day for the horrible weather conditions, on the road at the Dungarvan 10 Mile and we had an amazing 33 athletes run the Bohermeen Half Marathon on the 13th March. Sunday 6th March saw the welcome return of the LUSK 4 Mile race with close to 600 runners taking part on what was a fantastic day for the club. Lusk AC had close to 60 members running the race and another 100 members volunteering to ensure the race went smoothly. The club received many compliments on the great hospitality afforded to all competitors and on the excellent Medal, T-Shirt and goodie bag for all finishers. Lusk AC would like to thank everybody who helped with the race, the local community, race sponsors and most especially the athletes who came and ran the race.

Fingal County Council welcomes the award of €48,600 in new funding for the Cultural Centre project in Lusk. The funding is provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme Project Development Measure. The funding is aimed at helping communities through the planning and identification of enhancements in public spaces together with an emphasis on supporting remote working options in rural communities. Fingal County Council looks forward to working with Lusk Community Council in the delivery of the project which will benefit the wider community in Lusk and surrounding areas. The funding is provided to conduct preliminary site investigation works and planning studies to facilitate the advancement of a Phase Two Development of the Lusk Cultural Centre project to planning and construction stages. Welcoming the announcement of the new funding by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphries, TD, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh, said, “I welcome the announcement from the Minister. Funding from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to help progress worthwhile projects is very helpful in the ongoing enhancement of the public realm in the county.” The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is provided through the Department of Rural and Community Development to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.