With summer holidays now life was quiet for the month of August for the ICA ladies.
Two of our member Mary Hagan and Mary Hassett helped with the fundraising for Palestine, which was organized by Skerries Ukulele Strummers.
Currently the total stands at €12,822 raised for medical aid for Palestine… going to hospital staff and to supply equipment and food in hospitals who are working among the horrors and dangers in Gaza. Please keep supporting these fundraisers.
While there was no meeting in August, we continue to meet on Monday mornings in the Belfry Restaurant and the swimmers meet in Rush South Beach at 11:30 on Saturday morning.
We will resume again on Thursday 4th September in the Lusk Scouts Den. And look forward to another Active year. new members are very welcome to come along.
Pictured are members of Lusk Men’s Shed after the complete revamping & painting of the Church Gates & Railings for the Centenary Celebrations.
Pictured with Father Kevin Moore are Bob Tyrell, Paul Neville, Tom Cox & Brendan Kavanagh.
Join us from 11-13th September in the Bus Bar, Skerries for a festival of music, art, and unity as we come together to raise urgent funds for Gaza. In a time of crisis, creativity becomes a lifeline — a way to connect, resist, and rebuild. This festival brings together artists, musicians, and communities in a shared act of solidarity, with 100% of proceeds supporting humanitarian relief efforts on the ground.
Donations will go to:
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (permanent office in Deir al-Balah (in Gaza) that distribute medicine, prosthetics and infant supplies daily)
Palestine Red Crescent (medical aid, ambulance services and emergency care)
World Central Kitchen (kitchens in Deir al-Balah (in Gaza) which has restored capacity for up to 150,000 meals a day)
Experience live performances, visual art, and stories that amplify the voices of the Palestinian people and inspire hope through collective action. Whether you come to dance, sing, or simply stand in support — your presence matters.
Let art be a bridge. Let music be a force for change. Stand for peace. Stand with Gaza.
On behalf of the Lusk Senior Citizens committee, I would like to thank everyone who supported our recent bingo. I would also thank the following who sponsored our bingo and raffle prizes: SuperValu Lusk; Liam Fitzgerald local solicitor; Leo Neary Motors Lusk; Hoar Rock Construction Skerries; Boylan’s Butchers Rush; Village Vets Lusk; Gaynor’s allcare pharmacy Lusk; Alan Sweetman Lusk; Declan Cruise Lusk. Also, thanks to Eilish Monaghan who was our caller for the night and to Dorothy Murray for the use of the lounge ,it was a great night
Wow, what a summer it’s been for the LSA sports group! The athletes have been super busy, and their hard work really paid off in August. It was a month full of amazing achievements, with everyone giving their best.
One of the biggest highlights was our very own Sinead Farrell. Sinead represented Ireland at the World Youth Skyrunning Championships in Italy! Sinead had to run in the mountains against some of the best young runners from all over the world. It was a huge honour for her and for our whole club to see her compete at such a high level. Sinead has been selected to represent Ireland in the World Junior Championships in Canfranc, France in September.
But Sinead wasn’t the only one having a great month. Anna Gavigan won Silver in the National Discus U23, and also qualified to compete for Ireland in thU23 and an U23’s in Discus too.
The rest of the LSA team was also busy training and racing. Lots of our members were out at local races, like the weekly Parkruns in Newbridge Park, where they pushed themselves to get new personal bests. Whether they were running a short race or getting ready for the Dublin Marathon in the Autumn, everyone was cheering each other on.
The best part about LSA is that it’s a place for everyone. From experienced runners to people just starting out, the team is always there to support each other. With all this energy and success in August, we’re off to a fantastic start for the new season!
Adult membership queries; lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com
Little Athletics & Juvenile Athletics (7-18); lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com
Find us on Instagram lsadonabateportrane
Last month, there was a happy marriage of two of Donabate Portrane Men’s’ Shed’s interests – music and allotments. Gerry and the Plonkers provided the entertainment at Turvey Allotments Association’s AGM and family bar-b-que on a sunny August Sunday afternoon. This marked the second anniversary of the Plonkers’ debut, which coincidentally was at this same function in 2023.
Despite the frenetic schedule of watering, weeding, feeding and other jobs at the allotments, work there was abandoned for the day by all, not just by Men’s’ Shed’s members, The sun shone, and once the business of the AGM was completed, the bar-b-que was fired up, the music was enjoyed, and everyone had a great day out. We also have a photo from the Plonkers’ gig at Fingallians’ Memory Café, which took place at the end of July, too late to include a photo in last month’s article.
Our members have made the most of the recent summer weather with an impromptu gathering on Portrane Green for fish ‘n’ chips and Pipers’ and a pitch and putt outing to Deer Park in Howth…and we still found time for our regular Tuesday croquet sessions in Newbridge Park and our weekly Thursday get-togethers in the Sea Scouts’ Den on the Portrane Road.
If you, or someone you know, would like to join us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.
In August, Farmers Markets ran for some Saturdays these will now continue into September - check poster for the dates. It is a perfect central outdoor location for this type of market with a variety of products on sale. … Stands have a combination of artisan food producers from Fingal Food Circle, organic & local fresh producers … There will also be some eg hand crafts and trucks for refreshments on site. An initiative by Fingal County Council brought the Farmers Market to the grounds of the Parish Church in Donabate. Please support this your Local Farmers Market.
The Parish Hall will be in full swing again - with a variety of classes, activities & events taking place - Irish Dancing & Music, Bridge, Senior Citizens, Drama, Creche, Youth Groups and Political Clinics! There are still some limited slots available to rent a space - so if you or your organisation need a place to be - please give the Parish Office a call on 01 8434574as soon as possible.
On the 16th July Active Age for All ran their annual fun croquet day in Newbridge Park and were joined by members of Newbridge House Croquet Club and Mens Shed.
We are very fortunate to play in beautiful surroundings on the ground of Cyril Corbally the reknowned prewar international croquet champion, one of the ‘Irish Terrors’. The Irish Terrors were a group of skilled players from Ireland who dominated the sport in the early 20th century. They were known for their innovative playing styles and flamboyant personalities which brought a new level of excitement to the game. Cyril established the lawn in Newbridge House in the early 1920s and the estate became a hub for competitive play.
However the theme for our day was FUN which was had by all with some competitive play plus games such as the wobbly ball and shoot the hoop. To finish we had a thrilling play-off between three teams of two that had fought off all previous challengers. Congratulations to Paula and Rosaleen the winners and well done to runners up Mary and Noel in second place and Ger and Oliver in third.
The day had started fine and warm but the breeze grew a lot cooler as the day progressed which had everyone going for coats and sweaters begged or borrowed. This did not manage to spoil the fun or cool the enthusiasm and everyone enjoyed the day. Many thanks to all who helped out, especially Bernie, and all who brought donations of all sorts to the day. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the FCC grounds staff who keep the lawns in such magnificent condition.
Labour Party’s Duncan Smith TD and Cllr Corina Johnston are calling for the provision of additional schools to be prioritised in Donabate.
In a recent response to a Parliamentary Question raised by Deputy Smith, the Minister for Education confirmed that 132 Primary School Children from the Donabate peninsula travelled to primary school outside the area in the 2023/2024 academic year with 339 Secondary School children travelling to schools outside the area during the same period.
Deputy Smith said; “over the last 18 months my office has received an increased number of calls from parents of school going children who were unsuccessful in securing a primary school place in Donabate. While some parents choose to send their children to the schools of their choice outside of their area it is obvious from the many parents that have contacted myself and Cllr Corina Johnston that many primary school children from Donabate have to travel to Swords, Lusk and elsewhere to go to school. This is completely unacceptable especially given the level of planned development in the area.”
Johnston said: “I have been contacted by many parents of school going children who have recently moved to Donabate who were unsuccessful in securing a school place for their children locally. In some cases families with a number of children were able to secure places for some of their children locally with others having to travel outside of the area. This is a logistical nightmare for parents and causing huge stress for many families.”
Johnston added: “The Donabate Local Area Plan provides for almost 4000 additional housing units with planning permission for 90% already granted with many homes under construction. The Plan also includes the provision of 4 designated school sites in Donabate, 3 primary and 1 secondary, however it seems the provision of the much needed schools is years away. The Area Plan was adopted by FCC and then elected representatives in 2016 with no progress on the provision of permanent schools since then.”
In early July, the talented athletes from St. Mary’s Baton Twirlers made a remarkable impression at the 2025 EFBT European Championships held at the ALSSA Sports Centre in Dublin. The team showcased their skills and dedication, returning home with an impressive haul of medals: 1 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze and 6 prizes -4th to 6th place across various individual, pair, and team events.
The highlight of the competition was the presentation of the “Outstanding Performance Awards,” which recognized exceptional talent and hard work. This prestigious accolade was awarded to Eva Bergin (St. Mary’s) Ireland, alongside Izan Barroso Catalonia and Aneta Havlenová Czech Republic.
Ireland’s strong performance earned them a commendable 2nd place overall, a testament to the athletes’ commitment and teamwork. The excitement reached a peak when Hannah Reilly from Ireland ceremoniously passed the baton to Izan Barroso, marking the transition to Catalonia, the host of the 2026 Championships.
A special thank you goes to Deputy Mayor Cllr Grainne Maguire, who attended the event and presented the awards, as well as to Chloe Farrell, Acting Principal Sports Officer of Fingal County Council, for her presence at the finals. We also extend our gratitude to Fingal County Council for their support.
The achievements of St. Mary’s Baton Twirlers not only highlight their talent but also the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that defines the world of baton twirling. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for these dedicated athletes!
Pictures courtesy of Caroline McFadden
