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

Balbriggan and District Historical Society would like to thank Anthony McMahon who presented the Society with the Medal awarded to his brother Terence for his part in the Siege of Jadotville in the Congo 1961. The medal was presented to us following the unveiling of a memorial plaque on Terence’s grave. The Society looks forward to the time when we can display the Medal with our other artefacts in a Museum in Balbriggan. Also the society recently presented a Sack of Balbriggan commemorative medal to President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain. The society is this year celebrating its 40th Anniversary following its foundation in 1981. Last year the society organised a number of events to mark the centenary of the Sack of Balbriggan which occured on the night of 20th September 1920.

Fingal County Council has appointed Leah Walshe as the new Community Development Officer assigned to the Balbriggan area. She succeeds Mick Dunne who had held the post for several years.Leah, who has worked for Fingal County Council for the past five years, had been based in Dublin 15. She has over 20 years’ experience of working with a broad range of communities in the Philippines, the Caribbean, Australia and in Ireland and has a social justice background with an emphasis on upholding standards of honesty, ethics and integrity.She has academic qualifications in International Community Development, Journalism and Housing and has extensive experience in the social sector with a focus on vulnerable migrant families and children as well as having a firm understanding of the asylum system internationally and the situation of migrants in Ireland.Speaking, following the announcement of her appointment, Leah Walshe said: “Balbriggan is the youngest and one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in the country. This brings with it many strengths, but there are also many challenges that come with rapid change over a short period of time. As the Community Officer in Balbriggan I want to create opportunities for meaningful interaction between people from all backgrounds. I want to mitigate prejudice whilst increasing constructive attitudes. I want to support the process for building trust and understanding and I want to help create a common identity.”Leah has commenced her role in recent weeks and is currently preparing for the full easing of COVID-19 restrictions by Government on 22 October with plans being drawn up for a reopening reception and launch of the Fingal Community and Sports Hub in Balbriggan which will include a series of open days showcasing a range of community groups, and community support services.

Our TIdy Towns project “Turning Grey to Green” began yesterday as part of FCC’s Anti-Litter; Anti-Graffiti initiative.With the help of TYs from Loreto, phase one involved painting over a lot of unsightly graffiti. The next phase will involve planting pollinator friendly ivies and other climbers to increase the biodiversity of this sterile wall. Changing graffitied walls to green walls, which provide food and habitats for our pollinators, is a much more environmental and sustainable way of dealing with this anti-social problem. We plan to implement this idea at other locations too.
Thank you to our wonderful Loreto team, their teachers, our own volunteers and FCC for the necessary funding

Councillors have approved Fingal County Council’s €784m three-year Capital Programme which provides for significant investment on projects across the County during period from 2022 to 2024. It represents a €17m increase on the previous Capital Plan with the 2022-2024 programme identifying 237 individual projects with an estimated spend of €783.73m over the three years. The Programme projects a capital spend in 2022 of €237m, followed by €265m in 2023 and a further €282m in 2023. Just over half of the €784m has been allocated to Housing with the €393m budget underpinning the Council’s commitment to delivering a significant housing programme under the Government’s new housing plan, Housing For All. resources and to provide good quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price. The Council expects to construct 239 homes in 2021 and 2022 while continuing to progress plans for the development of landbanks at Church Fields in Dublin 15, Ballymastone in Donabate and Hayestown in Rush. A total of €20m has been set aside for Community and Sports programmes. Almost 20% of Capital Plan expenditure is earmarked for Planning and Strategic Infrastructure projects with the Church Fields Link Road and Cycle Scheme due to go to construction soon while the Donabate Pedestrian Bridge, which will be constructed over the main Dublin-Belfast rail line, is due to commence construction next year. A sum of €12m has been set aside for the development of a new Regional Park at the former Baldoyle Racecourse, which will be co-funded by the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), while €2.2m has been allocated for the Porterstown Park Recreational Hub. Projects by the Economic, Enterprise Tourism and Cultural Development Department will account for 15% of expenditure with €23.1m being set aside for the Civic and Cultural Centre element of the Swords Cultural Quarter project which is due to go to planning in 2022. Works on the Carnegie Library in Swords is expected to begin in early 2022 following public consultation with €1.2m allocated to this project. A total provision of €23.5m has been made for a number of projects under the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Scheme with extensive works planned to commence during the three-year lifespan of the new Capital Programme. A further €58m has been allocated to Environment Climate Action and Active Travel projects which will include Protected Cycle Lanes, Road Safety and Active Travel Mobility.

Fifteen Fingal County Council projects have been short-listed for prestigious national awards.A total of ten Fingal projects and initiatives have been nominated in nine categories for this year’s LAMA Awards. The All Ireland Community and Council Awards, presented by LAMA and sponsored by IPB Insurance, are an opportunity to highlight and promote the work carried out in our communities. Now in their 15th year, the awards have consistently showcased the successful collaborations between communities and councils over the years and have provided a platform for recognising and acknowledging unsung heroes.In 2020, ten Fingal County Council led projects were also nominated in eight categories in the Commuunity Awards with ‘Community Car’ Age Friendly Sustainable Transport Service in Fingal winning for ‘Best Community Based Initiative’.The nominations for this year’s awards are:Whitestown Estate Management – Community Environmental Initiatives in Best Environmental or Ecological Project or Initiative, Contactless Bottle Filling Station and Fingal County Council Public Wi-Fi Roadmap in Best Business Working with the Community. Re Clean Up! In Best Waste Management Programme, Free Outdoor Wi-Fi in Best Connected Council, Millennium Park in Best Public Park, Weather Station for Schools in Climate Change and in Best Education/Training Initiative, Weather Station for Schools in Climate Change in Best CSR Community Programme, Swords Castle Conservation Project in Best Heritage Project, Fingal Festival of History in Arts/Culture (inc. festivals & events.The awards ceremony, which will be hosted by RTÉ presenter Marty Morrissey, will take place on 27 November at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport.

Fingal County Council projects have also been nominated in five of the 16 categories in the Chambers Ireland 2021 Excellence in Local Government Awards.Only 90 projects from 20 councils have been short-listed. The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, 18 November. Last year Fingal County Council won the Supporting Sustainable Communities Award for the Shop Local Website.