DPSO Club held their AGM in June; this always gives an opportunity to reflect and review club activities and achievements since the last meeting (which was closer to 2 years ago thanks to COVID). As our accounts were presented to the members, the thing that really stood out for us is how well supported our club is by our members, Fingal County Council and the Donabate Portrane Community. Since our club was established in 2018, our income is over €15,000. We have been supported by Fingal County Council to the tune of €4,750. Tesco Distribution Centre have selected us twice to receive a donation from their Community Fund. Local student Ella McDonagh nominated our club to receive €557.50 from Donabate Tennis Club’s stepathon challenge last November. Local athletes have run thousands of miles for our athletes; two of our parents have completed marathons for our athletes raising over €3000. Local club Mojo Fitness chose us as their charity for their marathon runners in the Dublin City Marathon 2019 raising over €4,000 for our club. We’ve also been the recipients of funds from cake sales (thank you Maisie!), bag packs, raffles, donations of pocket money from our athletes and gifts from individuals. In addition to all of this were also the recipients of a prize of sporting equipment from Decathlon who had a national “like” competition on Facebook. Despite our small size, we have so many supporters that we were among a few large well established clubs to be awarded prizes! We are proud and grateful to be part of this community; thank you everyone. In July local club LSA are hosting their first race as part of the summer Dublin Race Series.This will be a virtual event, with distances of 5km, 10km and 10 miles.We are delighted to be selected as their chosen charity for 2021. Thank you LSA! As we look forward to the launch of our athletics club and our first competitions in 2021/2022 season we are looking forward to putting all these donations to good use.

Balbriggan Senior Cricket club is located in Balbriggan Town Park , Balbriggan. New playing members of all ages and abilities and pavilion members are always welcome.Balbriggan Cricket Club is based in the heart of Balbriggan and has 5 Senior Adult teams , a Social cricket team and a big underage section of boys and girls teams.The Adult Senior teams range from Premier league level down to the lowest league so if you are interested in joining you can be sure we will have a team that suits you’re playing level. We have excellent facilities with top class wickets and nets and you will find people practising most days of the week.The underage set up in Balbriggan is thriving , our ground and nets is a hive of activity every day from April to Sept in Balbriggan Town Park when underage coaching and Practice takes place. Kids from 5 years up can come along and experience cricket and will learn how to play the game with our experienced coaches.We also go to the local schools to teach kids the basics of the game during Jan, Feb and March. To enquire about membership or training call or text 0860644238

Congratulations to Aitzol King, who has been called up to the Leinster U20’s squad. This is just reward for years of hard work and dedication on Aitzol’s part. He is really striking out on his own now as this is the first time he has made it to this level without one or more of his fellow Balbriggan team mates with him. He will especially miss Abdul who he has played alongside with at Balbriggan, the North East and Leinster.We at Balbriggan RFC are all so proud of Aitzol and all that you have achieved. Best of luck Aitzol. We look forward to seeing you in Leinster blue again soon.

Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Robert O’Donoghue, launched the initiative today at the Rusk and Lusk Educate Together National School when he presented Third Class with the first rain gauge. The Council plans to distribute rain gauges to 100 primary schools across the county in time for the start of the new school year in September. For the second phase of the project, the Council are seeking champion schools across the seven Local Electoral Areas to host an automatic weather station, which will be visible on Met Éireann’s website and will provide real-time weather data. Schools interested in having an automatic weather station installed should send an email Kevin.Vallely@fingal.ie before Friday, September 10. The launch was also attended by representatives from Met Éireann, the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, and Fingal County Council Executive Engineer Kevin Vallely who is leading the project. Cllr O’Donoghue said: “This is a great initiative as the information gathered will be used to provide a more accurate understanding of river response to different rainfall depths and can be used by the OPW, Met Éireann and Fingal’s flood sections. Most importantly the project will help to further students’ knowledge of the key challenges faced by society including climate change and flooding.” The Weather Stations for Schools project is being supported by the Chief Executive’s Innovation Fund which was set up earlier this year by the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly.“ The Innovation Fund facilitates staff submitting innovative ideas that can bring greater value to the Council, support new ways of working and create a positive impact for public services. It was launched in January and there were 14 applications from which four projects were subsequently chosen to be funded this year. This is the first of the four projects to be launched and, as well as providing valuable information, the data collection process by teachers and pupils will help to promote an appreciate of the water cycle and climate change challenges faced by the community,” said Ms Farrelly.

The first Dublin Climate Action Week (#DCAW21), will take place from Monday, September 13 to Sunday, September 19, and is being planned to demonstrate the ongoing efforts, ambitions and the collaborative approach of the four Dublin local authorities, in addressing climate action.The week is being organised and delivered by the partnership of Fingal County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, Codema – Dublin’s Energy Agency and the Dublin Climate Action Regional Office (CARO). Dublin Climate Action Week 2021 will comprise of a range of online and in-person events, in compliance with COVID-19 measures in place at that time. In August 2021, the full programme of events will be available for registration on the DCAW21 website, at www.dublinclimateactionweek.ie. (NB: not available through this medium). The overall vision of Dublin Climate Action Week 2021 is: “To showcase Dublin’s Climate Action progress to its citizens and demonstrate the leadership role of the four local authorities in conjunction with other partners.” The agreed shared objectives of the initiative are: to Demonstrate progress on the implementation of the four Dublin local authority Climate Change Action Plans, and a regional approach to climate action; to Engage with a full range of partners to share knowledge on efforts and innovation across sectors; to Make Climate Action a ‘reality’ allowing citizens to see what Climate Action looks like; to Promote this initiative so as to fully engage with EU and international cities and our climate peers; and to Create a legacy so that this initiative can carry forward to subsequent years in a variety of ways.

Fingal County Council is delighted to announce the expansion of its popular bike sharing scheme to five coastal towns in the north of the county. Bleeper bikes are now available in Balbriggan, Rush, Donabate, Portrane and Skerries.The scheme allows cyclists to ‘grab & go’ on a Bleeper bike. These GPS enabled bikes are easy to use with no need for complicated docking procedures. Users simply download an app and register for the service. They can then pick up any available Bleeper bike across Fingal by scanning the QR code on the bike to unlock it. Once cyclists arrive in an area where Bleeper operates (see app for full location map), they can park at any cycle parking stand near their destination and lock the bike manually using the provided bike lock. With no need for special docking stations the scheme offers maximum flexibility to cyclists with the freedom to park their bike where they need it.Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Annmarie Farrelly, says that cycling schemes like Bleeper are key to Fingal’s transport strategy. “Offering sustainable and healthy modes of ‘Active Travel’ to Fingal residents and visitors is vitally important. We live in a rapidly growing county and that can provide challenges for busy town centres. Bike sharing, and cycling in general, facilitates people visiting towns while also reducing traffic congestion. It is just one element of an overall approach to travel that gives priority to cyclists, pedestrians and public transport with an aim to make Active Travel the mode of choice for all journeys under 5km.”At the roll-out of the extended bike sharing scheme on Wednesday, David Storey, Director of Services for Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel said: “The scheme has been hugely successful since its initial launch in 2018.Hugh Cooney, CEO of Bleeper, hailed the expansion as a sign of the growing demand for cycling in Fingal: “We’ve worked closely with Fingal County Council to grow Bleeper’s coverage within the county over the past few years and we’re delighted to bring our service to a new set of communities.”Bleeper bikes are now available across Fingal in Swords, Malahide, Howth, Blanchardstown, Skerries, Balbriggan, Donabate, Portrane, Rush, Portmarnock, Sutton, Baldoyle, Castleknock, Ongar, Clonsilla and throughout the Dublin 15 area. A full list of operational locations can be found in the Bleeper app. For further information on how the scheme operates, visit bleeperactive.com (NB: not accessible through this medium)

We are a voluntary group which promotes the Tidy Towns competition and ideals in Balbriggan aiming to enhanGeorge’s Square was looking really well this morning. The flower towers and hanging baskets, provided by FCC, and the window boxes on the courthouse and McGowan’s really add a splash of colour. ce the beauty of our town. So why not get involved in Balbriggan Tidy Towns by joining our works party any Saturday morning @ 11am on Balbriggan beach.

Or why not adopt a patch? Choose a public area which you think you could maintain, tell us about it and we will provide you with some resources and support.Balbriggan is a fabulous, sea-side town, steeped in history and natural beauty; we aim to promote and enhance its charm, making it an even more pleasant place to live and visit. In the national Tidy Towns competition we have increased our score year on year and have won two Endeavour Awards in the last 5 years.

Looking for work? There are currently some Community Employment Vacancies in the Balbriggan Area, including a Kitchen Assistant position at Balbriggan Meals on Wheels. To apply for any of these positions, please check eligibility with DSP Employment Services/Intreo Office; or contact Mary Tormey CE Supervisor 01 8412253. Please do not contact Balbriggan Meals on Wheels directly.

Fingal Libraries annual Summer Stars Reading programme was launched by Mayor of Fingal David Healy & County Librarian Betty Boardman recently in Malahide Library. Summer Stars is an exciting, reading-based programme available free of charge to all children across the country. It will run in all Fingal libraries until 31st of August with the ultimate goal of encouraging reading during the summer holidays. All children are invited to register for the summer reading challenge with rewards and incentives along the way and a grand finale event at the end for all participants.As part of the programme, a range of children’s events will be held online during the summer to suit all interests – including author visits, technology workshops, creative writing, arts and crafts, storytelling, gardening workshops & biodiversity videos.Mayor of Fingal Cllr David Healy praised the Programme saying: “I am delighted to launch the Fingal Libraries Summer Stars Reading Programme which, as well as encouraging reading, has a wonderful and varied list of events to entertain and inspire children throughout the county this summer.” County Librarian, Betty Boardman, commented: “The Summer Stars Reading Programme is a fun way to keep children reading over the school holidays. Library staff have organised a great selection of events to tie in with the Programme which will keep children occupied whatever the weather.” For details of activities and events, please pick up a copy of Fingal Libraries’ summer brochure at your local library or view it online at Fingal Libraries’ website. You can also keep up to date with summer stars’ events by following Fingal Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.

Guide Dog Day and the 100K challenge for the month of May raised a total of €207,127. Students from Loreto in Balbriggan raised €210, students from Skerries Community College did a sponsored dog walk which raised €725. Georgina, Luke & Assistance Dog Milo’s Team raised an incredible €4,470. Luke’s teacher explains ‘Luke is in our ASD Class in Scoil Chormaic CNS, Balbriggan. We have seen the amazing impact that having Milo has had on Luke and his whole family’. The class of six boys were joined by Guide Dog ‘Qeb’ with Tom O’Neill, puppy raisers Adele Halpin with Lola and Anne Mulligan with Adel on their final walk. These 6 inspiring boys raised €1,755. Adele and Lola raised €423. Volunteer Dana Kelly raised €350. Thank you all for your support.

Our ‘Tap to Donate’ machine, is located at the door of Specsavers, Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan. Just tap to donate €3. Simple to use it has raised €650 since February. For cash there are large collecting dogs located at the escalator near Tesco and one in Cuddles Pet Store while others are located in Balbriggan, Skerries, Lusk and Rush. Other technology helping raise funds are our new posters with a QR code on them. QR stands for Quick Response. Just scan the code with the camera on your mobile phone. A payment app will open which shows ‘Make a payment to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind’. Key in the amount you wish to donate and select your bank, then follow the on screen prompts. Options are AIB business and personal, Bank of Ireland, business and personal, Revolut, Ulster Bank business and personal and Fire. The amount you donate is sent direct to Irish Guide Dogs in Cork. New volunteers are always welcome. We can be contacted by phone or text: 085 7663107 or email us at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook at Balbriggan.Branch.of.Guide.Dogs