Recently Donabate Parish Hall as part of their Cultural Programme had or will have: The Through the Lens Photography Group put on an exhibition on the last weekend in February.-The Bleeding Pig Cultural Group are putting on a film early March to celebrate International Women’s Day -The Donabate Dramatic Society will have a production at the end of April. During the time slots for these events to take place the daily activities are suspended. This programming approach allows for blocked events and daily activities to co-exist to provide for the whole communities needs. The plan at present is to close the parish hall to weekly activities for a period of 3 weeks in October 2022 and a staggered closure during the period of February/March 2023 to allow cultural events to be held. There may be some other periods for Cultural Camps during the holiday periods.We hope and trust that you will support activities and events in your newly relaunched Parish Hall. On Friday 25th March all groups and individuals currently using and connected to the Parish Hall will be invited to the Parish Hall on that evening for a relaunch of all the activities & events with the Lord Mayor of Fingal County Council present, Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh and other Councillors in the area and Officials.The photographs are of the set up of the screens grant aided by FCC being set up and the painting of the railings at St Patricks Parish Church grant aided under the Village Renewal Scheme. We are proud and delighted so far with the work done on the Parish Hall and cannot thank Fingal County Council enough for the support in the form of grant aid towards these works. Your community Parish Hall at over 200 years old Is the oldest operating facility in the Dublin Diocese, isn’t that something to celebrate!
Lambay Sports & Athletics) is Donabate & Portrane’s busy vibrant athletic club, just emerging out of lockdown and ready to embrace an exciting future ahead! LSA is as rapidly growing local athletic club, established in 2011. We promote health, well-being, and physical fitness with a lot of fun for all ages and all abilities throughout the community. The club is growing from strength to strength with over 300 members. Our busy little club has competed in some recent events where our adult and juvenile members have excelled in their personal goals. Creating new records at our local parkrun to winning medals at the National Indoor Masters Championships 2022 in Athlone. Our adults also take part in events organized by other Athletics Ireland clubs such as the Raheny 5 Mile earlier this year, the Lusk 4 mile in March and the Dublin City Marathon in October. We cater for all abilities with groups starting from complete beginners with our walking and Couch to 5k group to intermediate and advanced intervals. Our juveniles age groups have recently competed in the Dublin Indoor Championships 2022 in Abbotstown. For many it was their first experience of the National Indoor Arena and they loved it and were wonderful ambassadors for the club. There were smiles and fun all around and new PB’s created. SAVE THE DATE - We are excited to announce that we are currently in the process of organizing our own race to take place on the peninsula on 22nd May 2022. Keep an eye on our social media pages for more details. We are looking forward to working with the local community and inviting our friends from other clubs from across the country to compete. Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA on facebook, instagram and twitter. Facebook : facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy, Instagram contact details are Instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/ and Twitter at Twitter.com/LSARunning For additional information on the above please visit our website lambaysportsathletics.ie /Registration for 2022 NEW Membership is now open and our new ‘Couch to 5k’ is starting at the beginning of March.
Cllr Adrian Henchy has said he is “ absolutely delighted to confirm the Capital Sports Grants announced for 2022 have been a very successful outcome for a number of Sporting clubs and organisations across the Donabate-Portrane peninsula. My sincere thanks to my colleagues Minister Darragh O Brien and Minister Jack Chambers who gave me the time on many occasions to strongly support my local clubs in their endeavours to improve on and off the playing facilities. I am especially grateful to Minister Chambers who met with me in recent weeks giving me the opportunity to strongly put forward my case on the merits of the clubs across Donabate Portrane. Sincere thanks and recognition to all of these individuals, you know who you are, your clubs know who you are and we as a wider local community are lucky to have you driving these enormous improvements in our sporting facilities across Donabate Portrane..With overall funding of well over €550,000 awarded across Donabate Portrane, congratulations to the following clubs:Donabate Portrane Community Centre Gym Adaptation Multi-sport, Balcarrick Golf Club- Balcarrick women into golf development.Donabate Golf Club - Equipment and Drainage, The St Ita’s AFC Multi-Sports Areas Soccer, St Patricks GAA Club, Donabate - Installation of fully drained sand based pitch for Gaelic Games, Portrane Hockey Club - Equipment project for Hockey.The overall record funding allocation both nationally and for Donabate Portrane was secured following negotiations between Minister with responsibility for Sport Jack Chambers and Michael McGrath, Public Expenditure Minister.These allocations are the country’s largest ever Sports Capital & Equipment Programme distribution.The assessment process for grant provision was adjusted for this year’s programme with greater marks awarded to projects which would increase female participation, as well as increasing participation for people with disabilities.Under the Sports Capital Programme over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1billion.Finally once again on behalf of everyone in our local community a massive thanks and recognition to all our local clubs for the incredible work you do and congratulations to all the successful clubs in been rewarded Capital Sports funding, an immensely proud time for the Club Executives, teams and club members.
Corina Johnston, Labour Party area representative has welcomed the resurfacing of the Ballymastone sports ground car park which was carried out recently. This follows on from an on-site meeting on 8th February arranged by Duncan Smith TD and attended by Duncan, Corina Johnston and senior officials from Fingal County Council. Johnston said; “At the meeting I raised my serious concerns regarding the condition and safety of the car park for children and adults using the sports facilities in Ballymastone. I also raised the need for public lighting especially in the winter when so many children/youths are entering and exiting the clubs grounds for training into a dark car park and the need for bicycle racks to facilitate those cycling to the sports grounds. “ Johnston continued; “ The officials stated they could not provide a hard surface given the huge cost involved, however the alternative temporary surface will be repaired whenever required. We also received a commitment that bicycle racks will be installed shortly.” Corina added; “Last year I made a submission to Fingal County Council as part of the Ballymastone Recreational Hub plan public consultation process that the existing car park and it’s upgrade be included in the project. Regrettably my submission and many others from concerned parents were rejected by Fingal County Council. A major error in my opinion. I firmly believe that the existing car park which is located adjacent to the existing grass and all weather facilities will continue to be required and upgraded. This can best be achieved by its inclusion in the Ballymastone recreational hub project. “ Johnston concluded; “ We will continue to campaign for this objective and to this end we have submitted a motion for the council meeting on 17th February next. The motion recommends that the existing plans for the hub be revised to include the existing car park and it’s upgrading. We will keep you informed of developments.”
These Sessions (see our poster) are ideal for a child to try a new sport , are open to boys and girls and the kids are absolutely loving the fun filled sessions. Our next block of sessions will run for 4 weeks and will be €20 for the 4 weeks which are Feb 20th , Feb 27th , Mar 6th & Mar 13th WhatsApp 0860644238 to reserve a place.Places are limited and are filling up quick !!
The Leinster Women’s Committee are delighted to announce the rollout of the U20s Women’s Area programme. This games programme will not be in place of existing Leinster Branch club competitions, but will be an addition specifically for this applicable age group. Training will commence in early March with the first of matches scheduled for the end of March. The programme is open to players who have reached their 18th birthday by the commencement of the games programme, and those who are under the age of 20 on January 1st prior to the season in which the games programme is played. All training will be hosted by Balbriggan RFC with Jeff Neville and Michelle Claffey taking on the coaching duties. For any queries please email footstown@gmail.com
Balbriggan Community Council are asking for the community to come together and support us.
Planning permission was recently granted by An Bord Pleanála, for a 95-unit, 6 storeys high ‘Build to Rent’ apartment complex, on the site of the old Tesco’s, High Street Market, and car park. Balbriggan Community Council (BCC) and local residents have expressed a significant number of concerns regarding the planning process and the planned development. BCC took the difficult decision to lodge a Judicial Review of the development. This is a landmark case for Balbriggan, being the first time that Balbriggan has fought a planning decision in the courts We are not alone in lodging Judicial Reviews of SHDs, up and down the country local residents’ associations, community councils and other voluntary organisations have lodged Judicial Reviews of SHDs in their areas. In the Dublin area alone, Ballyboden, Baldoyle, Balgriffen, and Donabate have lodged appeals in the courts. BCC would like to take the opportunity to thank the community for supporting us in taking this case on their behalf and to express its sincere gratitude for all the donations that have been given. BCC stated “we do however need more donations, the Judicial review is costly at €40,000, we’re at 30% of our target to date but the first payment of €20,000 is due and we are approximately €7,000 short. BCC is asking the community if they could assist by donating to the Judicial Review fund and if they could help spread the word about the campaign.”.
Please give what you can as this is to help your community and your families now and in the future. Balbriggan Community Council needs your help urgently ! Online donations can be made on the iDonate website,.idonate.ie/bcc or lodged into our bank account
Balbriggan Community Council
Permanent TSB
BIC: IPBSIE2D
IBAN: IE45IPBS99066928031495
We can be reached at balbriggancoco@gmail.com if anyone has any further queries.
Are you interested in volunteering? Do you have a few hours to spare a week? ‘Remember us’ are holding a Volunteer Recruitment Evening on: Friday 25th March 7.30 – 9pm at the ‘Remember Us’ Base, Unit 5 Balbriggan Retail Park, Dublin Rd. Balbriggan K32K002 . We have opportunities for: activity assistants .The Days and times we are looking for volnteers are - Monday mornings 10am – 1pm Monday afternoons 4pm – 6pm .Tuesday afternoons 4pm-6pm Wednesday afternoons 4pm – 6pm Thursday mornings 10am – 1pm and Thursday afternoons 4pm –6pm - Friday night’s 7 – 9 Saturday’s various times depending on what we are doing. We also require cleaners on a few days per week and helpers for fundraisng events , at various times during the year. Why not come along and have a chat with us, see our state of the art base and see some of our members in action.In the meantime, check out our website rememberus.ie. If you have any queries’ please contact Nora or Anne on 0860457003 or email hello@rememberus.ie .
Creative Writing for Kids with Maeve Devoy (5-weeks) via Zoom
Saturday 26/02/22 - to Saturday 26/03/22 - 1pm - 2.30pm
Suitable for 8-12years - The Hero’s Journey - In this workshop/course, the author, Maeve A. Devoy will take her students through The Hero’s Journey - a classic guide to writing adventure stories. She will detail each stage of the form and provide literary examples,before the students create their own heroes and set off on their own adventures. Focused on fun and creativity, this workshop promises to leave the students with a tried and tested remedy for the stories they want to tell. You can book the course on line at
Booking Eventbrite eventbrite.ie/e/the-heros-journey-tickets-252134971487
Monthly Creative Writing Circle for Teens with Orlaith O Sullivan via Zoom -
Second Monday of each month 7.30pm-8.30pm -14 February ,14 March, 11 April, 9 May, 13 June - Take time for your writing and yourself.
This creative writing circle is a safe, kind space to: strengthen your ability to create and develop your own written work (this can be journaling, fiction, prose, poetry or spoken word).You can work on a piece of your own writing, or you can use the prompt from Orlaith to explore something new and also earn practices to care for your mind and heart, so that you have the energy and courage to keep creating, Yo will also connect with other teen writers. For full details and to register see: orlaithosullivan.com/creative-writing-for-teens.
Balbriggan and District Historical Society Committee members delighted to attend the official opening of the Irish Institute of Music & Song and sod turning for new 400 seat theatre by An Taoiseach Mícheál Martin today in Balbriggan. Wonderful to see the historical buildings including Bedford House being developed into such a wonderful resource for the town. With the college, La La cafe, the accommodation and new event space this will be a fantastic venue of local, national and international importance.
