October saw a welcome return to activities for our athletes and volunteers, as well as the launch of our athletics club! 15 athletes have graduated from our Young Athletes’ Programme to the athletics club (and we have a waiting list already!) under the expert tutelage of Maria and Dara Carr from Lambay Sports and Athletics.We were delighted to be given a CovID Emergency Funding grant by Fingal County Council, which we put to use in purchasing a personalised bag of sports equipment for every athlete in our club; due to CovID safety protocols our use of equipment in sessions was limited so providing each athlete with their own equipment is a big help, thank you Fingal County Council. We are also grateful to Decathlon Ireland for their discount to make our fund go even further, and to our volunteers for sourcing and storing equipment, and assembling the packs. Having their own equipment also allows our athletes to practice their skills at home; we’ve been enjoying the photos and videos of the equipment being put to use all over North Dublin! There are some future coaches among our athletes judging from the brilliant obstacle courses they are building Lambay Sports Academy have also given a boost to the club via their recent anniversary race, where our club was their nominated charity. A fabulous sum of €885 was raised which will be used to support our new athletics club. Thank you to LSA and everyone who donated.

As you are aware Donabate Parish Hall has recently been undergoing repair & refurbishment. The electrics have been upgraded thanks again to grant aid received from The Department of Rural & Community Development operated by FCC Local Community Development Committee. The work was done by Karl Harte and his team.The Parish Hall has a long history of local businesses being involved in refurbishment work. Peter Conway of Keelings Pub is photographed in front of the main door; which he made over 40 years ago while he was working with Donabate Steelworks.We are open for most activities for the last few months; under Covid guidelines and look forward to full opening as soon as possible.

Leithinis Donabate Portrane CCE held a socially distanced Gig in the Gazebo session in the grounds of the Parish Hall in early October. It gave our members a chance to practice some tunes together before our new term of classes resumed and allowed some local residents to see what Comhaltas is all about. It was well attended and a great afternoon was had by all.We were granted €1,000 towards the cost of a laptop and 24 folding chairs from the Community Enhancenent Programme 2021 funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and operated by Fingal County Council’s Local Community Development Committee. We made great use of the chairs and the Gazebo (which was bought from a grant from Fingal County Council earlier in the year) at the Gig in the Gazebo session.Thanks again to Fingal County Council for their support over the last 2 years. Our classes in Tin whistle, Flute, Bodhran, Fiddle, Accordion and Concertina have resumed. If you are interested in learning a traditional Irish instrument please email us at leithinis@comhaltas.net. Further details about our teachers etc, can be found in our webpage leithinis.com

As we tentatively get back to normal, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed is extending our range of activities. Along with our regular Thursday morning get-togethers at the Scouts’ Den on Portrane Road, a group of shedders meet on Tuesday mornings for croquet at Newbridge House, where I’m told “no quarter is given” in highly competitive matches. On the other hand, the work at our plots at Turvey Allotments is a model of cooperation, where several members are keeping things going over the winter months using our greenhouse funded by Fingal Camber Community Fund and materials grant-aided by the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Community Enhancement Programme operated by Fingal Local Community Development Committee. In the new year, we hope to start our weekly exercise classes again and resume our occasional outings to places of interest. We also hope to get involved in a project to make owl boxes, but more about that next month. If you’d like to join us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.

Cllr Adrian Henchy has welcomed a report on the current status of the Donabate Malahide ‘Broadmeadow’ Greenway. The Fianna Fail Councillor said the report stated , “A significant amount of work has been ongoing on this project since the granting of planning permission:That work included: A full topographical survey of the route has been completed, a ground investigation contract has been completed along the railway causeway between Bissets Strand, Malahide and Kilcrea, Donabate and further elements of the ground investigation, which were delayed initially by Covid 19 is scheduled to mobilise to site in October. There has also been an Ecology walkover survey of the site has been completed. An Advance works contract for site clearance and fencing of the CPO lands is scheduled for October. FCC property, valuation and engineering team are engaging with landowners affected by the CPO. Application for a foreshore license and lease from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This process usually takes at least 12 months.Draft detailed drawings have been submitted to the Council by the appointed consultants RPS for the route from Kilcrea to Newbridge House, Donabate. Draft detailed design drawings for the route from Malahide Demense to Bissets strand are expected shortly. Irish Rail have indicated that the detailed design of the main estuary bridge should be complete by the end of October. A significant amount of time has been spent by the project team on the examination of the causeway, in particular the northern causeway where significant challenges remain in achieving the required greenway width. Noting all of the above, there remain significant risk items in particular around the foreshore consent process and resolving the northern causeway issue. Notwithstanding that, the current timeline is: Ground investigation contracts Q2 2022, 4 months duration, Landward works commencing Q1 2023, 6 months duration, Estuary bridge and causeway construction 2023-2024 (two years duration,allowing for ABP conditions with respect to works restrictions i.e. works only permitted during summer months).” Overall Cllr Henchy said he welcomes the progress so far and looks forward to the project continuing to be enhanced in the near future.

Corina Johnston, Labour Party Local Area Representative has called on Fingal County Council to prioritise the opening of the proposed pedestrian access to Newbridge Demesne off the Hearse Road adjacent to the Semple Woods Estate. Johnston said; “ a temporary entrance into Newbridge Demesne opposite Semple Woods on the Hearse Road was closed in July 2020. Since then an increasing number of residents now living in the vicinity of the Hearse Road have to walk along a narrow and dangerous footpath to access the Demesne. Hence the urgency for the new access.” Johnston continued; “The provision of this access is an objective in the Local Area Plan for Donabate and a condition in the planning permission for Semple Woods.The planning permission for the Semple Woods stipulates that prior to the 201st house being sold and occupied in the estate a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Dublin - Belfast railway line connecting the development to Donabate village via Smyths pub and a link to Newbridge Demesne on the Hearse Road via the toucan crossing shall be provided and operational.“Johnston said; “In response to our ongoing representations Fingal County Council confirmed earlier this year that the proposed entrance to the Demesne could not be opened until a safe access and crossing was provided as the sight lines along this stretch of the road were not sufficient to allow for safe crossing. Improvement works including the provision of a high level traffic light at the new toucan crossing on the Hearse Road were undertaken. A Road Safety Audit has also been undertaken, the results of which are still awaited.“ Johnston concluded; “Fingal County Council needs to publish the results of the Road Safety Audit so that any issues raised in the report can be addressed to enable the opening of the new entrance to proceed. Apart from meeting the requirements of the planning permission and objectives of the Local Area Plan the access will improve the health and safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists accessing Newbridge Demesne from the Hearse Road. Therefore it must be prioritised.”

Former Republic of Ireland international John O’Shea was the special guest at the launch of the sixth year of the Football and Fitness Transition Year Course which is run by Fingal County Council and the Football Association of Ireland.The course, which attracts participants from across Fingal, gives TY students an opportunity to sample full-time football training while also fulfilling their educational requirements and obtaining qualifications in coaching and fitness training.The 2020-21 course was officially launched by Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Daniel Whooley, FAI President Gerry McAnaney and Fingal County Council’s Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly at a special ceremony in Corduff Sports Centre where the course is based. John O’Shea, who won 118 international caps, and is one of Ireland’s most successful footballers ever, took part in a Q&A session during which he imparted plenty of sound advice to the young students who travel every day to Corduff from across the county. Ireland Under-21 assistant coach and former international player O’Shea said: “It was a pleasure to meet all the students and coaches at Corduff and to help them celebrate the launch of the sixth year of the Football and Fitness Transition Year course run by the FAI and Fingal County Council. As I explained to the students, I would have loved to have such an opportunity available to me when I was their age. This is a great programme which offers them a pathway into football and the fitness industry whilst continuing their studies at the same time. There are so many career opportunities now available in sport and I wish them all the very best of luck for the year ahead.” The President of the Football Association of Ireland, Gerry McAnaney said: “The transition year programme at Corduff offers an excellent opportunity for those players on the course to further their football career in tandem with their education. It is an exemplary programme that we would love to expand on across the country. Our thanks to Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and Fingal County Council for their ongoing support for this wonderful programme and my thanks to our FAI staff for their commitment to the development of these young players.”

Everyone at Balbriggan Cricket Club was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Karl Birch after a long illness which he quietly fought with incredible strength and dignity. Karl was a regular at our ground watching games and supporting his son Eoin who plays with our 1st team and has played for several Leinster and Ireland underage teams. Karl was a genuinely funny and generous man who always had a smile and a joke. He was someone you loved to meet at the ground and a brilliant bloke to chat and spend time with. The club would like to send our sincere condolences to Karl’s beloved wife Antoinette and their twins Eoin and Emma who Karl was so incredibly proud of in every way. May Karl rest in peace

We at Balbriggan Rugby hosted our first home Youth Leinster League match of the season lin mid October, when our U16’s played Lansdowne OB/DLPSP. It was a tough match, against very good opposition, with Balbriggan holding out for a win. Well done to all the team coaches and mentors.

Gemma tells us about assistance dog ‘Marco’, raised and trained by Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
‘We were matched to Marco in March 2017. Applying for an assistance dog was the best decision I ever made. I have a son who is on the autism spectrum and also has a learning disability.Marco has helped our family in so many ways, from busy airports, to crossing roads and best of all to my son gaining independence. He would get very stressed and anxious when travelling to the UK but since Marco came along my son is so much more relaxed and it helps me be less stressed too. When people see my son with his dog they no longer stare or make rude comments as they can see his hidden disability. We’ve been to playgrounds, the cinema and even visited Santa which is something I could never even attempt before we got Marco. I cannot thank Marco enough for what he has done for my family and I will be forever grateful to him. He is the sweetest, kindest and most beautiful dog in the world’. Adel, puppy in training, is now 9 months old. She has been busy out and about with her puppy raiser Anne Mulligan. In late August, on a beautiful sunny day, they visited Tully Nurseries, Co Dublin. In September along with Tom O’Neill and his Guide Dog ‘Qeb’ they returned to Skerries Community College to present a trophy to Johnny, Ellen and Daniel who accepted it on behalf of all the students who raised €1,223.55 for Guide Dogs.Next they travelled to Ashbourne to visit Specsavers and Chez Emily Chocolate Boutique. Both locations have our Tap to Donate €3 machine. Specsavers Ashbourne have raised €258 and Chez Emily €326. Specsavers, Balbriggan raised €1,050 from customers who have tapped and donated. Thank you everyone. Look out for our Christmas cards and calendar in Balbriggan and Skerries shops and stores, or you can contact us by phone/text: 085 7663107. Email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com