Balbriggan-based M & I Lead Contractors Ltd has been honoured with a prestigious award for its craftsmanship on the recently completed restoration of Drogheda town’s historic Tholsel Building. The project, which included intricate work on the building’s dome roof and clock tower, has revitalised one of the town’s most important heritage landmarks and reaffirmed its role as a central feature of the community

Presented annually by the Lead Contractors Association, the Murdoch Award honours the finest leadworking projects across the UK and Ireland. The recently completed restoration of Drogheda’s Tholsel Building earned M & I Lead Contractors Ltd this prestigious award. The recognition highlights the company’s commitment to preserving historic architecture and showcases the expertise of its Balbriggan-based team in delivering high-quality, intricate leadwork on heritage buildings.

Commenting on the award, Ian Whelan of M & I Lead Contractors Ltd said:
“As a Balbriggan-based company, we are very proud to bring this award home to our town. The Tholsel is a landmark deeply tied to Drogheda’s history, and we are honoured that our craftsmanship has been recognised at such a prestigious level.”

About M & I Lead: Founded in 1999, M & I Lead is a Balbriggan, North Dublin–based company specialising in the craft of leadwork. The company is renowned for delivering exceptionally high standards of craftsmanship across Europe and has previously won the Murdoch Award for McKee Barracks, Dublin, as well as the Murdoch Sponsors Award for the Lake House, Oakfield Estate, Raphoe, Co. Donegal.
For more information: www.leadroofing.ie, phone 089 983 1940

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels has lots going on at the moment and is looking forward to the support of our local community with a number of events they are hosting.

Annual General Meeting
All members of the local community are invited to the AGM of Balbriggan Meals on Wheels which will be held on Wednesday 12th November at 7.30pm in 14 Hampton Street, Balbriggan K32 P793. Please come along and learn more about this important community service and see how you can get involved.

Food Drives
Friday 7th November: Food Drive in Millfield Shopping Centre
Friday 7th & Saturday 8th November: Food Drive in Supervalu

Christmas Fair
Saturday 29th November: Christmas Fair at Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, 14 Hampton Street
Please support the work of Balbriggan Meals on Wheels in our local community.

Donate
If you wish to make an online donation to Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, you can do so by visiting: https://www.idonate.ie/cause/BalbrigganMealsonWheels

A group of young people from Really Cool Adventure, a local youth organisation based in Balbriggan, recently travelled to Antalya, Turkey, to take part in week long a European Erasmus+ project called Games United.

The project was hosted by the Turkish partner school Antalya Kapez Mahmut Celalettin Okten Anadolu Imam Hatip Lisesi, together with organisations from Ireland, France, and Poland. The aim was to learn and teach traditional games from each country and use them to promote teamwork, inclusion, and friendship among young people from different cultures.

During the week, the Irish participants shared favourite games from home Gaelic Football, Rounders, Bulldog, Duck Duck Goose and learned many new ones from their international friends. Together, all teams created a booklet of traditional games to be used later in schools and youth groups. The week also included workshops on communication, cooperation, and respect, as well as cultural exchange full of music, dance and traditional food. We also explored the stunning Turkish coast, visiting the ancient city of Side, travelled to Kemer and of course enjoyed the beauty of Antalya beach and Old town.

Really Cool Adventure opened shortly after COVID-19 to create more opportunities for young people in Balbriggan to learn through non-formal education, build confidence, improve social skills, and take part in local and international projects.

So far, the organisation has visited over 15 countries and participated in more than 50 Erasmus+ projects covering a wide range of topics — from climate change and digital skills to art, sport, and healthy living.
Project coordinator Marzena Stronska said:

“Erasmus+ projects give young people the chance to grow, travel, and make real friendships while learning important life skills. It’s inspiring to see their confidence bloom day by day.”

The Games United project was co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.
For more information or to join future youth exchanges, follow @ReallyCoolAdventure on Facebook and Instagram.

Our Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch held a coffee morning on 23rd of September in the Senior Citizen Hall in Balbriggan. Our raffle last year was a huge success at the event, and this year was no different! We gave away some fantastic spot prizes. Rosie Russell was our first prize raffle winner, Geraldine Keenan was our second prize winner, Ann Walsh was our third prize winner, Catherine Martin was our 4th prize winner and our fifth and final winner was Damien Doyle, a great morning was had by all and we can’t wait for our next coffee morning at Skinny Batch Bakery on Tuesday the 4th November. We hope to see you there.

We want to say a big thank you to Anthony Reilly of the Harvest Inn, Balbriggan who hosted a Quiz Night Fundraiser in support of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. The first prize winner won a €150 voucher, and a number of spot prizes were given out on the night. Check out our social media pages for more information on this event and make sure to follow us to be up to date with all upcoming events. We also had a great day at the Pumpkin Patch over the bank holiday weekend on the 25th and 26th October in Bremore Educate Together. Thanks to all who came along and said hello.

As Christmas time approaches, you might want to keep a lookout for our merchandise stand over the next couple of weeks as we will be out and about. Our Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch will be at SuperValu on both Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th November. If you miss us there, you can catch us in Millfield Shopping Centre on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th November where we will have car raffle tickets available for €5, with the chance to win a 2026 Ford Puma, 2026 calendars, Christmas cards and a host of other merchandise for purchase. We can’t wait to see you.

You can contact Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/text 0857663107, email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.

We would like to thank all estates who entered our Best Presented Estate competition this year. It gets harder every year to judge. Ravenswell came in first position this year as they are not only the neatest and cleanest estate we visited this year, they also added more biodiversity and sustainable features to their area. They include water butts for watering, a composter for their grass cuttings and some more berry bushes to add to their fruit trees. Each flower bed has pollinator friendly plants and they have poo bag dispensers hanging for anyone who is caught out..

Second place is St Catherine’s this year. They continue to lead the way when it comes to biodiversity within their community. Their community garden is thriving and the sunflowers are pushing to the sky. Their flower beds are stunning and their new area which has benches for people to sit and chat are a really bonus for the community. The estate has a bit of everything for everyone.

Third place this year is a newcomer. Woodland Park has proven simplicity can be just as beautiful and award winning as busier estates. Their edging cannot be beaten and their namestone is stunning with a fabulous mix of bedding and perennial pollinators. It is eye catching for all who pass by. They have a beautiful area with a lovely tribute to one of their residents and the new fruit trees are a fabulous addition.

We look forward to seeing how anyone can top this next year. Thanks again to all who entered. Thank you to Rush Community Council for sponsoring the competition.

Rush Best Presented Businesses 2025
Here are a few photos of the winners of the best presented Rush Businesses 2025.
1st Rush Community Centre
2nd The Harbour Bar
Best Newcomer Bird of Paradise

It has to be said though that so many businesses are making a huge effort to make Main Street look lovely and colourful during the Summer and we are very grateful for all your efforts. Thank you to all the volunteers who walk the Rush beaches daily and pick litter along the way. There wasn’t a whole lot to pick this evening during a walk on the South Beach.

Malahide Basketball Club has been chosen winners of the Dublin County award in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative. EUR5,000 has been presented to the Club to fund additional equipment and training sessions to cater for the increasing rise in membership numbers.

Founded in 1977, Malahide Basketball Club is one of the largest in the country, playing out of six gyms in the locality, with over 500 members and 32 teams. The only club to have attained the Basketball Ireland Platinum Award for best practice and governance, it caters for boys and girls of all ages from 8 upwards, along with a senior section too. With a 65% female membership, one of its key goals is to keep teenage girls playing sport.

Congratulating the county winners on the immense contribution that they make to the heart of community life in Ireland, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited was particularly praiseworthy of the unstinting work of club officials and volunteers, and noted that “since its inception, we are proud to have distributed almost €650,000 to a variety of more than 125 sports clubs under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative.”

Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and well-known broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan. Describing the Dublin club as ‘a truly deserved recipient’, he went on to add: “Malahide Basketball Club is an amazing club with a fantastic membership base – reflected in the number of teams it produces. I’m delighted the Texaco funds will be used to purchase additional equipment that will leave a legacy in the Club for the next generation. Well done all, you slam dunked it!”

Entries for the 2026 Texaco Support for Sport initiative will open again in the New Year for all clubs, including those whose application may have been unsuccessful previously.

Every Thursday 10.30am | St. Benedict’s Road Malahide

What is a mens shed?

It is a community based organisation open to all men regardless of age or background. Mens Sheds are grassroots, member focused spaces which offer men a pressure free environment in which to share skills, make new friends and connect with the community.

What Happens,

Everything and anything! The activities are decided entirely by the members and participation is the decision of each member. At the shed, each man is a teacher and a learner, each having different levels of skills, professional and practical, to share collectively or just come and have a chat and a cuppa if that is all you are looking for. Men can talk about things important to them, and can improve their own wellbeing by keeping physically, mentally and socially active.
Who runs a Mens Shed?

Each shed is run by it’s own members. The members elect a committee to manage the affairs of the shed. The shed is connected to all other sheds via the Irish Mens Shed association

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MALAHIDE MENS SHED

St Benedict’s, Estuary Road, Malahide, Co. Dublin

Every Thursday 10.30am.

Contact Liam – 0872214431

Ample Parking

42/102 Bus, stop outside both

Portmarnock Irish Countrywomen’s Guild is having an Open Evening on Wednesday 8th October at 8pm at The Arch Club in the grounds of Portmarnock church. There will be a crafts display, a raffle and tea/coffee will be available with cakes. Our guild provides a warm welcome for new members which offers friendship, fun activities (line dancing, chair aerobics, fitness to music, ceili dancing) and crafts (Christmas decorations, wreaths and cards, painting on silk, decoupage, knitted angels) and day and weekend away trips,

The Malahide Lions Art Exhibition and Sale will take place this year in the Gaffney Hall, at the rear of St. Sylvester’s Church, Malahide, over the weekend of the October Bank Holiday.

The principal beneficiary of funds raised this year will be St. Michael’s House, Special National School, Baldoyle (www.smhbaldoyleschool.ie ), with support also to local charities.

Baldoyle Special National School enables pupils in our region to flourish in a caring and stimulating environment. Emphasis is on learning and achievement for all pupils with a focus on everyone’s level of ability, and all progress is celebrated and rewarded. Additional funds are urgently required to upgrade specialist developmental support equipment.

The Lions are so fortunate and indeed extremely grateful that the Art Exhibition and Sale is again receiving the wonderful support from many renowned artists and our own celebrated Malahide artists to provide a stimulating and entertaining collection for public viewing over the holiday weekend. Several artists have donated to a raffle which will take place on Monday 27th. For further information contact malahidelionsclub@gmail.com

All are welcome and admission is free.

Details:
The Art Exhibition will be held in The Gaffney Hall, at the rear of St. Sylvester’s Church, Malahide, K36 HR63, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 25-27 October 2025.

Hours are as follows -
Saturday 25th October, 5pm to 8pm.
Sunday 26th October, 11am to 8pm.
Monday 27th October, 11am to 5.30pm.

Wishing club members well in the Dublin City Marathon which takes place on Sunday 26th October. You’ve put in the miles over recent months so it’s time to enjoy the day and the whole marathon experience. As usual we will be organising a Marathon bus to and from the event. Please contact the club to book your seat.

Well done to our juveniles on the Cross-Country season to date and to our club members who volunteered at any of the events. Well done also to club athletes who were in race action during recent weeks.