Coolmine Lodge and Rivervalley Community Centre were the big winners for Fingal at the 2025 IPB Pride of Place awards. Supporting the Fingal nominees on the evening were Mayor of Fingal Cllr Tom O’Leary, Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and members of the Community Development team.

Swords’s Rivervalley Community Centre was runner up in the Urban Neighbourhood and Housing Estates category as they showcased the thriving centre and its importance in the local community. Thrive Balbriggan also represented Fingal in the Health and Wellbeing category, centred around the Great Places and Spaces Mapping Project.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Tom O’Leary commented: “It is inspirational to be here at the Pride of Place awards with the fantastic Fingal groups whose dedication and pride in their local areas is being celebrated for making a really positive change in their communities. I want to congratulate everyone involved.”

Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly said: “Huge congratulations to the Coolmine Lodge and Rivervalley Community Centre on their success at this year’s Pride of Place Awards and also to Thrive Balbriggan who represented Fingal. These awards are particularly special as they celebrate the invaluable role of the voluntary and community sector and the fruits of their efforts, with the support of our Community Development team, is very evident to me in the vibrant communities in Fingal.”

The awards, hosted by comedian and broadcaster Dermot Whelan, took place in Limerick’s Strand Hotel on November 7th, with 400 community volunteers in attendance.

2026 will be another year of growth for St Colmcille’s. Full schedule of return dates for 2026 will be posted on our social media.

Cilles cubs: As we come to the end of busy year in nursery, we welcome new children age four years upwards to either start or continue their Gaelic footballing journey with us. We will return Saturday 10th January 2026 at 10.30am with new and exciting games and skill learning.

The academy is completely free of charge for first 2 weeks which allows families to come down and have a go, see if it’s for you!. All our coaches are fully qualified and vetted. We are a growing club and always welcome new children, players, and mentors .

We also are in the planning stages of the “Gaa all-stars Inclusive Club Initiative- “All-Stars Club Program” which we hope to have running in January. Proudly sponsored by Glenveagh Homes

For more information contact Cora 083-3741305. Along with Nursey the under 8’s group will return January 10th.

Swords local Ken Duffy had such a great response his debut into poetry that he has decided to publish a second collection of poems.

“Welcome to my second book of poetry. I write my poems in the main for those of a certain generation, basically, my generation. I have so many wonderful memories of my formative years I felt the urge to share them with those I knew would relate and appreciate them. Since my last publication I have received numerous requests for another collection of my poetry. So here it is, I hope you get as much enjoyment reading my poems as I did writing them,” Ken said.

Ken’s two books, ‘Growing up way back when’, and Finglas way back when
Are both available to purchase on amazon.ie.

Returning for its third year, the Christmas Fair at St Catherine’s National School will be taking place on Sunday 7th December from 1pm to 5pm, where you are guaranteed to be met with a warm welcome even if the weather outside is frightful! Over 20 stalls are already confirmed, including the very popular Ros Eó Soap Company, so this is the place to find fantastic stocking fillers and other gifts. Expect to find candles, soaps, face painting, jewellery, paintings and frames and much more.

Also confirmed, Santa Claus will be at the event greeting children (and their parents) in his grotto. As well as the chance to speak with Santa, you will be able to meet his elves, write a Christmas list and watch a Christmas movie. For just €6 per child, you can visit Santa in his grotto and all children will receive a chocolate selection box. There is no charge for parents or grandparents, and the elves will be on hand to take photos of you with Santa. Slots to meet Santa will be available from the St Catherine’s Parents’ Association, on sale outside the school in the week before the fair and via their Facebook page.

The committee and volunteers from Rush Tidy Towns were overjoyed on the announcement that they had secured a bronze medal at the National Tidy Towns awards at Croke Park in October. Committee members Matt and Siobhan were at the event, again a first for this generation of committee.

To qualify for a bronze medal you have to be within 35 points of the winner of your category. This year that was Skerries who had 395 points, so on 364 points, Rush actually had four points to spare. Overall we increased by 19 points in 2025, following on from an increase of 18 points in 2024. Neighbours Lusk increased by 14 points, as did Skerries.

Gaining the medal has been the culmination of work done by the countless volunteers and committees over the years, and it is now our job to push for Silver.

The judging criteria is based on 8 categories with a total of 550 points up for grabs. Community – planning and involvement (80 marks), Streetscape and Public Spaces (80 marks), Green Spaces & Landscaping (80), Nature & Biodiversity (55 marks), Sustainability – doing less with more (55 points), Tidiness & Litter Control (90 points), Residential Streets and Housing Areas (55), Approach Roads Streets and Lanes (55 points)

The judges visited the town on Monday 16th June, and provided some really good feedback. They commented positively on the new notice board advertising many upcoming Tidy Towns events, the mural on the Scout Den, the new landscaped area in front of Tayleurs Point, the new hedging at the side of St. Catherine’s School and the planting on the Whitetown Road. Some feedback was also provided such as, we should use more perennial plants in the hanging baskets and three tiered planters, to remove redundant stakes from trees, to not cut the grass as low in the summer, and some weeds were observed.
Irrespective of the result, residents and visitors get to reap the benefits of our work all year round, and we will continue to work with that objective in mind. Thank you to everybody who has contributed however small to enable us to achieve what we do.

A brand-new housing development for north Dublin has officially been opened, marking an important milestone in the delivery of housing to the local area. The opening of The Paddocks located at Ballygossan Hill, Skerries was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, Minister for Housing, James Browne, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins, and representatives from Tuath Housing.

The Paddocks, a collaboration between Fingal County Council, Tuath Housing, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Finance Agency, and the Housing Agency, is a 111 home development in the popular seaside town of Skerries, made up of 97 social homes and 14 Cost Rental homes.The Cost Rental homes provided at The Paddocks will be the first of this tenure type in Skerries, offering an affordable solution to rising rents and supply pressures.

Mayor of Fingal County Council, Cllr Tom O’Leary, said: “The completion of these exceptional new homes highlights Fingal County Council’s commitment to meeting its ambitious housing targets. It is thanks to strategic collaborations with trusted partners like Tuath Housing that we can meet the diverse housing needs of our growing population. The Paddocks is another great example of what can be accomplished by working together. As a long-time resident of Skerries, I know just how appealing the town is. With its beautiful coastline, its vibrant community, and expanding infrastructure, it’s no wonder that developments like The Paddocks have attracted such strong interest.”

The 111 new homes are made up of a mix of one, two, and three bedroom apartments, along with one and two bed duplexes, each with a private balcony. Residents have access to landspaced open spaces, communal gardens as well as excellent transport links.

Sonya Meekel, Tuath Voluntary Board of Directors, added: “We are proud to help deliver this high-quality, affordable housing. It’s an exciting moment for the community and the residents who are settling into their new homes by the sea. It is very gratifying for everyone at Tuath to see the result of the strong collaboration of all stakeholders.”

Congratulations to all at the club on our 50th anniversary. The club continues to grow and we look forward to the future with great excitement. The autumn months were full of fantastic achievements with over 60 club members completing a marathon. The Dublin City Marathon was particularly memorable and our runners were grateful for the amazing support. A big thank you to all who volunteered at the event. The cross country season is now in full swing and we encourage athletes to give it a try. We would also like to thank all who have donated prizes for our Christmas raffle. This is an important fundraiser for the club so please buy a ticket if you can.

The Balbriggan\North County Dublin branch of Irish guide dogs for the Blind on December 5th Friday in the Strand Bar rush will be selling Xmas Cards, 2026 calendars, Merchandise and car raffle tickets costing €5 each, from 11am to 5pm.

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is dedicated to enriching the lives of blind and visually impaired people, and children with autism, by providing them with the freedom to travel safely, thereby assuring greater independence, dignity, and new horizons of opportunity.

Lusk ICA hosted a fun Halloween fancy dress group meeting and invited the Rush, Balbriggan and Donabate guilds with music from Gerry and the Plonkers.

Rosanna Darby presented our National presented Mary D’Arcy with a fresh fruit and vegetable hamper.
All the ICA ladies dressed up for Halloween group meeting, followed with a beautiful supper organized by Alma Farrell, Mary Hagan and team.

We enjoyed a fantastic night out in the Millbank Theatre at the play “Lend me A Tenor” by Ken Ludwig a fast-paced door slamming farce, set in a luxurious Hotel suite - in aid of the Lusk twinning.

Our thanks again to the Lusk choir and father Kevin who celebrated a lovely mass in memory of the deceased members of Lusk ICA.

Soccer Stars – Free Trial alert at Corduff Attention Soccer Stars Lusk!

Football lessons for toddlers aged 1.5 to 5-years-old at Corduff National School – Lusk takes place every Saturday from 10am – 12pm. Come and join us for a morning of fun, engaging, and pressure-free games!
It’s not just about football – it’s about the friendships we build along the way. Why choose Soccer Stars? The only toddler football school that truly understands parents’ needs, flexible make-up classes if you miss a session, safe, fun, and supportive environment for your little star. DM us or email info@soccerstars.ie for a Free Trial this weekend! Don’t miss out – spots fill fast! For more information go to www.soccerstars.ie.