It has been a very busy and fruitful 2021 for Swords Tidy Towns considering the country is going through a major pandemic. We worked on and completed our Frontline Workers Commemorative Garden. We linked up with both Fingal and Swords Community Colleges to accommodate 23 of their TY students each Saturday for a 20-week period. We were finalists in this year’s Pakman National Awards, our mural on the Brackenstown Road is on its way to completion. Swords Tidy Towns linked up with the Swords Woodland Association on a 3000-tree planting project. The Rock Garden on the Rathbeale Road which is a collaboration between ourselves and Fingal County Council achieved yet another Green Flag Award. The icing on the cake for us was winning yet again a Silver Medal in the National Tidy Towns Competition making it four in a row, maybe Gold next year, fingers crossed.Swords Tidy Towns are very grateful for all the financial support received through the year from local business, without whose generosity we would have had to cut back on our projects. Thanks must also go to Fingal County Council and the various Dept Heads who have worked with us and who have provided us with their expertise when needed. A big thanks to our local Public Representatives for always being there for us. Finally, to you the wonderful Joe Public who have at all times been complimentary to our members when out working on our streets and for doing the same on our Facebook and Twitter pages. It is the support we get from all of you that feeds us, uplifts us and empowers us to do better things. To all the aforementioned, the volunteers of Swords Tidy Towns wish you all A Very Happy Covid Free Christmas and New Year.

Cllr Darragh Butler said recently that, “ MetroLink has been in the news quite a lot in recent days and weeks and unlike the national media and many other commentators, I would like to take the positives out of what was announced. The good news is that the planning application should go in next year, 2022, better late than never and depending on permission being granted, if work could then potentially start by 2025 with a delivery as early as 2031, that would be as good as we could hope for at this stage and I’d do cartwheels down Swords Main Street if this could be delivered as media reports back in October were saying 2034 or later. The positive news is that MetroLink remains a committed part of the National Development Plan and I will continue to work as hard as I can to get this project back on track and delivered as soon as possible. In terms of COP26 and getting to net zero carbon omissions and achieving the 1.5C temperature goal set, MetroLink and other large scale transport projects are vital as part of these solutions, to get traffic off our roads and to make public transport more attractive to commuters.”

Councillor Darragh Butler, Eilish Monaghan (Cousin), Councillor Brigid Manton and Councillor Cathal Boland attended the unveiling of a plaque on Sunday 7th November 2021 at Prosper Fingal School, Swords to honour Pte. Matthew Farrell who lost his life in the service of peace at Niemba, Congo on 8th November 1960. Prosper Fingal School, Swords.

In 1960, a civil war broke out in the former Belgian Congo. The United Nations intervened and an international force of army peacekeepers were sent there. This force included a contingent of Irish Army troops. On 8 November 1960, a patrol consisting of 11 members of the 33rd Battalion of the Irish Army, was ambushed by the local secessionist Baluba tribesmen. 8 of the patrol were killed, some clubbed to death and three survived by hiding in the bush. 1 was killed the following day, and 2 survivors were found later that day. Those who died at the spot were: Lt Kevin Gleeson from Terenure; Sgt Hugh Gaynor, Leixlip; Cpl Peter Kelly, Templeogue; Cpl Liam Dougan, Cabra; Pte Matthew Farrell from Swords; Pte Thomas Fennel, Donnycarney; Pte Gerard Killeen, Rathmines and Pte Michael McGuinn from Carlow were posthumously awarded medals in 1998.The two survivors were Trooper Thomas Kenny and Private Joseph Fitzpatrick.

The news that Riot Games, the developer and publisher best known for League of Legends, has chosen a location in Swords for its new Remote Broadcast and Content Production Centre has been welcomed by Fingal County Council. Announcing that the new digital broadcast and production facilities will open in Airside Retail Park by January 2022, the decision by Riot Games to expand their operations means over 120 new jobs will be created locally. Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said: “This is a fantastic win for Fingal. It helps highlight the fact that we are well placed to attract international business and reaffirms our ambitions to provide sustainable economic growth and opportunities across the county. Our team have worked hard to secure this as a viable option for Riot Games as they look to expand their global esports capacity, so we are thrilled that they have chosen Swords as the first of three facilities that they will establish around the world as part of their follow-the-sun model.”

St Sylvester’s U12’s boys have just completed a cracking season. Having received the support of new jerseys courtesy of Joe Duffy BMW at the start of the season, they represented Syls with pride and determination. All four football teams and all three hurling teams finished the season in the top half of their respective leagues. They proved more than a match for all that their opponents ( and Covid ) could throw at them. Certainly, one of the highlights will be the boys who went unbeaten all season and were TOP of their Football A division group. The boys enter the Christmas break having earned a well deserved break, and we look forward to what the future holds for them all.

By MARK HENRY

If you follow the headlines, you could be forgiven for thinking that things in Ireland in 2021 are worse than ever. In fact, we live longer than ever before, we have never been healthier or better educated, we earn five times more than our grandparents did, our personal freedoms exceed those of any previous generation, and the lives of women and children have been transformed for the better. At a time when some good news is welcome, this uplifting book tells our national story through facts and stats, placing Ireland under the microscope to chart 100 undeniable achievements of the past 100 years.When the State was formed, Ireland was one of the most poverty-stricken nations in Europe. Now ithas the second-highest standard of living in the world. While there is still more to be done, ‘In Fact’ illustrates that Ireland, for all its imperfections, is in a much better state than you might think.This is an ideal Christmas gift from a local authorMark Henry has spent a lifetime analysing trends and what drives them. He trained as a psychologist and led the research and strategy functions of Irish technology companies before turning to do the same for the tourism sector. Having spent the past two decades telling people all over the world what a great country Ireland is, he is passionate about sharing the incredible progress we have made.

www.markhenry.ie.
For further details contact Fiona Murphy at Gill Books: 086 8389611

Malahide struck gold at the Tidy Towns competition recently, picking up a €900 prize and a gold medal with a score of 335. Two more towns finished over the 300 mark this year in Fingal, with Balbriggan racing past that milestone with a score of 303 points while Swords’ Silver Medal performance netted them even more, finishing on a score from the judges of some 329 points and edging closer to Malahide. However the big prize has went to Malahide and all the hard work of their volunteers throughout the year has been recognised nationally once again!

Say hello to Scouting Irelands newly crowned Venture Master Mariner, Kate ‘Champion’ Campion!
Kate is our 4th ever member to receive this accolade and our first ever female!Congratulations Kate! We are equally proud of both Niamh Lynch & Emma Taylor who were awarded 2nd & 3rd Venture Master Mariner awards.Néala are on fire at the moment!And not to forget Evan Banable from Wednesday Troop who came in close 2nd in the Rover Master Mariner category! What am impressive group of young competitors who displayed some impressive seamanship as they were examined on boat handling skills, navigation and collision regulations.Ventures 1st – Kate (9th Port Malahide), Ventures 2nd – Niamh (9th Port Malahide), Ventures 3rd – Emma (9th Port Malahide), Rovers 1st – Daragh (7th Port Howth), Rovers 2nd – Evan (9th Port Malahide) and Rovers 3rd – Holly (7th Port Howth). Thanks to our hosts1st Port of Dublin Sea Scouts – Ringsend, and to Dublin Port Company for supporting skills assessment with use of their pilot boat also to Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club for facilitating us and all our examiners and friends of the Irish Institute of Master Mariners

This Christmas why not send a special ‘Greetings from Malahide’ card to all your friends at home and abroad. In doing so you will be helping us to fund needy projects in our area. The Christmas Cards, with six beautiful views of Malahide, have been professionally printed and are ready to go. The cards are of the finest quality and fantastic value at a pack of six for €5. You won’t get better value this year! If you’d like to get your order in early, contact us:-lionschristmascards@gmail.com, WhatsApp or text 0858172660. We will deliver locally FREE - cash or card, pay on delivery. We would also like to mention our Christmas Appeal. It takes place on two weekends. On 4/5th Dec it’s at the Diamond in Malahide. We’ll be cycling and walking to raise funds for the food appeal. Also we’ll be outside local supermarkets on the 17/18th December. These funds are raised to help struggling families and local charities. Donations can also be given through malahidelions.com

Now that we have our new premises and can train in our pods indoors we have begun to concentrate on our sparring skills and preparing for our Christmas grading. Due to all the restrictions this year we were unable to have our summer graduation so hopefully we can have one this coming December. Junsa would like to wish all their members and friends a very Happy Christmas and a safe new year.We are always looking for new members young and old to take part in our wonderful Martial Art and sport. Merry Christmas everyone.