By Pat Kelly.

Spring is in the air!. Daffodils are appearing, the birds are tweeting and covid pandemic is almost at bay. This signals the start of The Tidy Towns committee work programme for 2022 with our dedicated team of volunteers cleaning, tidying up, planting shrubs and litter picking. Your support in our many endeavors in Keeping Lusk Tidy is very much appreciated. Lusk is ever changing and growing at a rapid pace due to the various housing developments and expanding population. Lusk Tidy Town Committee has produced many cards and verses by local residents over 30 years and with the popularity of these cards we are producing a book for the Tidy Towns Archives reflecting on a changing Lusk. Thanking you for your continued support and Happy St Patricks Day from Lusk Tidy Towns Committee.

Following the announcement that most Covid-19 restrictions were being lifted, Fingal County Council have been quick to confirm that they are ready to welcome a return of the annual St Patrick’s Day Parades to the streets of Fingal after a two-year absence. The Council has outlined that while official parades are set to take place in Swords, Blanchardstown and Balbriggan, community groups in Rush, Lusk and Skerries will also host celebrations on 17 March via the Council’s Festival and Events Funding Scheme. The theme this year is “Essential Workers”, chosen to thank the thousands of frontline staff for their tremendous hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic. The Council is also looking to make it a truly green parade by making it a carbon neutral event. Announcing the parades, Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh said: “The annual St Patrick’s Day parades held across the County have always been a highlight on the events calendar, so I am absolutely thrilled that we are able to get the crowds back once again where they can enjoy a full day of music, song and dance. “Reducing carbon emissions is very much at the heart of our thinking and to that end we want to be the first local authority in Ireland to go non-combustion engine in our parades. That’s why we are asking that only electric or hybrid vehicles be used on the routes, along with anyone who is choosing to run, scoot, cycle, or walk. “Táim ag súil go mór le gach duine a fheiceáil ag ceiliúradh don chéad uair le cúpla bliain anuas. Ocáid iontach a bheidh ann!” Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “After such a long wait, this is a fantastic opportunity for Fingal residents to come together to celebrate. It’s also a time for the many local groups and businesses we have to get involved in creating a wonderful atmosphere at what is always one of the most popular events of the year.” The Council is inviting local businesses, organisations, youth clubs, sports clubs, schools and other groups from across the County to participate in these parades and help make this year’s celebrations truly memorable.Groups are being encouraged to incorporate the “Essential Workers” theme as part of their parade effort. Anyone interested in taking part in any of the parades should contact Davis Events at fingal@davisevents.ie or register via fingalparades.com. Participation is free and applications close on 17 February.

The second phase of meetings for the Fingal Development Plan has took place this January/February for the new Plan 2023 – 2029. Councillors signed off on the new Draft Plan and had the opportunity to submit motions to change the future growth of the towns in Fingal. In the Lusk context Cllr O’Donoghue says he was able to resist attempts by Councillors from outside of the Rush-Lusk Electoral Area who proposed a motion which sought to develop the usage of the lands around the Rush-Lusk train station. Speaking at the meeting Councillor O’Donoghue railed against the whittling away of the green space between Rush and Lusk, ensuing traffic chaos and the potential delivery of unsustainable development proposed by Councillors from outside the area at the location and that passing the motion would be tantamount ‘to changing Rush and Lusk forever and a hell of a legacy to bequeath the towns of Rush and Lusk.’He continued, ‘the Draft Plan will be out for public consultation from the end February until May 2022. This will be the final public consultation and the last chance that people from Lusk will have to get their voices heard. I would urge anyone who has an interest in the future development of the town to make a submission on the new Draft Plan.” In other Council news, the annual Programme of Works will be announced later this month with Cllr O’Donoghue looking for improvements in drainage in Ministers Road area, resurfacing of roads in Lusk, including the R132 and the fixing of footpath infrastructure in the Treen Hill area among other works.

We look forward to our 2nd AGM on Monday 7th March. This will be open to the community as we are looking for new LAG committee members. If you have drive, enthusiasm, care about the future of our town and have some time to spare, please consider joining us. You can email us on luskactiongroup@gmail.com or contact us on 0863017842 for details. There is currently a public consultation open for the Fingal County Council draft development plan. We urge the community to engage with this process. We cannot stress the importance of this enough. These are the plans that shape the future of our town until 2029, and this is our opportunity to ensure that it looks how we would like it to look, especially considering housing development and land zoning. See consult.fingal.ie or get in touch with FCC on 01 8905000. In February, we had the first of the Lusk Vision 2030 Implementation meetings. We look forward to our continued involvement with the committee and to beginning to bring to fruition the comprehensive 2030 plan. This is reliant on the time, enthusiasm and talent of many people involved in many different clubs and committees in Lusk. It is also reliant on the support and involvement of our local councillors, TD’s and senator. And we would like to thank them for their support to date. Siobhan O’Connor is looking for volunteers for Junior Park Run weekly event in the Hub on Sunday mornings at 9.30am. Event is a free 2k walk/run for children ages 4-14. Volunteers will assist with set up and running of the event which should take approx. 1 hour from start to finish. Please contact Siobhan at 0868405952 if you are interested. We very much look forward to our Lusk St Patrick’s Day parade and festivities this year! We would like to thank Lusk Community Council for organising this. Wishing you all a very happy St Patrick’s Day! Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona Daoibh go Léir!

With almost 1,200 members, St Pats is the biggest sports club in Donabate Portrane. They’ve been going from strength to strength year on year. They now field 9 adult teams in Mens & Ladies Football, Hurling, Gaelic For Mothers & Others along with social football for Dads & Others.

They have Juvenile Football for boys & girls at all ages and Hurling / Camogie from U13 / U11 downwards. Their Academy for children born 2015, 2016 or 2017 takes place on Saturday mornings. No doubt, you’ll have seen their social media tag #ProudToBePats; well 2022 was certainly a wonderful reflection of their plan and purpose! Their first Mens Football squad enjoyed a fabulous season winning the Dublin Intermediate Football Championship breaking through to the Senior Championship ranks! Their second squad won back-to-back Junior Championships gaining promotion. While their Ladies & Hurlers were unlucky to bow our at Semi-Final stage. All this along with their recent success receiving the maximum amount in the Capital Sports Grant means the Club is certainly on the up. They’ve always had a great tradition of welcoming new members to all their teams but having added additional Mens & Ladies football teams this year, they’d be particularly pleased to hear from adult players at all levels - hurling and football - whether you’re returning to play or taking up Gaelic Games for the first time. Now’s the perfect time to join in! If you or your friends / family would like to join the Club, just contact Órlaith on info@stpatsgaa.com and she’ll direct you to the right team for you.

Active Age for All started their year with a very successful AGM in January and a new Committee was elected. Registration for classes took place at the beginning of February and we had a great response with most classes nearly full. People are delighted to get back to in-person classes once again. They started on the 14th of February, but we do have some places left in Chair Yoga, Singing, Music, and Bridge. So come along and try a new activity this Spring! If you are interested in joining classes or just becoming part of AAfA please contact us, details given below. Application forms are also available from reception in DPCC.At present we are running a program for our members to improve their digital skills. We are using Acorn Tablets, which are simplified computer tablets for older people. This is a Try & Buy program, whereby members are loaned a tablet for three months to enable them to learn how to do email, connect to family, use WhatsApp and send and receive photos. We are providing classes free as part of the programme. At the end of three months they are returned and then they are loaned to a new cohort. If you are interested in joining this programme please contact us or leave your details at reception in DPCC.We are all looking forward to a more normal Spring and the start of our outside activities Croquet and Boules. Contact details: please email us at activeageforall@gmail.com or text 086 880 6808.

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed has now resumed our pre-Covid activities, albeit with caution, withexercise classes on Monday mornings, croquet & boules on Tuesday mornings, coffee & chat on Thursday mornings and plans being made for an outing soon. We are also exploring how to get involved building owl boxes, under the guidance of the Barn Owl Project. Recently, we held our first proper AGM in two years, at which a new committee was elected, with Seán Buckley as our Chairman. We also completed our self-assembly storage shed, which proved to be a greater challenge than the instructions implied. Now that we are back to our “new normality”, we are actively recruiting new members. If you are interested, please contact Jim on 086-3694316.

After a year and 11 months of lessons over zoom our face to face classes resumed on the 7th February. We now have 49 students taking lessons in 9 different instruments. In addition to our classes our Grupai Cheoil Gatherings for members are back up and running. The next session will be on the 4th of March in the Parish Hall which will be a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. We would strongly encourage all our members to partake in these sessions as they allow our students to play the tunes they have learned at the lessons with other students who are at a similar level.We have alot of experienced and talented traditional Musicians living on the Peninsula. If you are interested in seeing them showcasing their skills come along to the Traditional Irish Music Sessions led by Denis Stack in Keelings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 9pm. An enjoyable night will be guaranteed. Further information about our classes, teachers and sessions can be found on our website leithinis.com or our FB page Comhaltas Leithinis Donabate Portrane. Or contact us on leithinis@comhaltas.net.

On the Boules Court recently installed by FCC Parks Department nearly thirty people turned up for the Boules Coaching Course organised with Tom Donnellan (Bayside Boules) in early February for people to learn the basic rules and techniques of the game.

They came from various organisations Active Age for All, Men’s Shed etc and as individuals, to learn how to play, so we would all be on the same page! FCC have been active in building courts in various parks in Fingal recently and when this is well underway, we hope they will consider a second court for Newbridge Park. This would complete a recreational hub with the Croquet area which already allows for two games to take place at the same time. It was a great success - Tom a true professional and in the past a PE Teacher, along with his good wife Eileen - delivered a great course - easy to understand with everyone getting a go, it was also great fun! Can we especially thank Lourda Darcy from FCC - for pulling out all the stops to get not just one but two seats in place in the perfect location, sitting at right angles to the court promoting good socialising! Also, the Boules Rules signage board is excellent.Congrats again to all at FCC for the Court and to all the people who turned up to learn & play! Breda Dockrell 086 8693243

On Monday 24th January The Tower Singing Circle celebrated the songs, poetry and music of Scotland’s poet Robert Burns.The Donabate/ Portrane peninsula has quite a few residents who are from Scotland and we welcomed them to join us in our celebration.Local piper Mick McNamara started off the celebrations with a rousing “Scotland the Brave” and this was followed by the traditional “Address to the Haggis”. Janey Wylie wielded her knife with great gusto as she said“An’ cut ye up wi’ ready slight,Trenching your gushing entrails bright,” to loud applause.Anne Condon read “The Selkirk Grace” and “To the Immortal Memory” was given by Hugh Carroll who read “The Birl for Burns” by Seamus Heaney. Former Portrane resident but now living in Calgary, Canada, Sean Buckley, gave a very complimentary “Toast to the Lassies” and Eilish McDermott gave a less than complimentary “Reply to the Toast to the Lassies” We were joined by our guests for the evening - Angela and Jack Plunkett. Originally from Glasgow, Angela and Jack have a huge repertoire of songs.We were delighted to welcome Emily Peart full time Highland Dance Tutor from the Sollus School of Highland Dance based in the Sollus Centre in the village of Bready just 7 miles from Derry. Emily performed the Highland Fling.Margaret Godwin introduced members of The Tower Singing Singers and visitors who sang a variety of Burns and Scottish songs.