By Bríd the Cow, County Dublin

I read with great concern (Malahide Local, June 2026) that my sisters and I are once again being blamed for climate change. Apparently, after 10,000 years of providing milk, cheese, butter, leather, fertiliser, and the occasional scenic postcard, we have become Public Enemy Number One.

Now, I don’t wish to point a hoof at anyone, but while you humans are busy counting my burps, perhaps you could glance over the hedge at a few other developments.

Before I continue, let me be fair. Methane matters. No sensible cow would deny it. But climate debates become rather lopsided when cows are singled out while other major producers of emissions receive far less attention.

For example, data centres now consume 22% of all metered electricity in Ireland. Twenty-two percent!

That’s as if one greedy heifer guzzled more than a fifth of the farm’s silage all by herself. Even the sheep would start asking questions.

Those big blinking computers also need vast amounts of water for cooling.

I ask you: when was the last time a meadow needed air-conditioning?

A data centre may process information. We process grass.

And that grass, which humans cannot eat, becomes milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt, and countless other foods. Along the way, we help support farming families, rural communities, local businesses, and landscapes that millions of visitors come here to admire.
By all means, let’s talk about methane. Let’s invest in cleaner farming and reduce emissions wherever we can. All I ask is that the conversation be balanced.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a patch of clover over yonder with my name on it.

The club were delighted to hold a 24 hour relay for Charity in mid June. Multiple members completed a 5k run from the Hub in 30 minute segments throughout the 24 hours. There were some outstanding achievements during the month. Robyn Carey set a new Junior Leinster Championship record of 2:12.86 in the 800m. At the other end of the spectrum, Peter Doyle completed the 85km Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa. Congratulations to the Happy Couple, Justin and Aishling on their recent wedding. It’s time to register for our summer race, the Man O War Round. It’s a 7km route where you’ll get to experience some fabulous scenic views.

Did you know that over 1,700 people in Lusk work remotely? That’s 36% of the town’s workforce — a quiet but significant shift in how our community lives and works. Grow Remote Lusk exists to make that shift visible, and to turn it into something social.
We’re a volunteer-led local chapter of Grow Remote, an Irish non-profit social enterprise. Our mission is simple: give remote and hybrid workers in Lusk a reason to show up locally, connect with their neighbours, and feel part of the community — not just residents who happen to work from home.

Since launching in 2024, we’ve run free, informal events: monthly brunches at Skinny Batch Bakery, after-work socials at Murray’s Lounge, a guided tour of Lusk’s Round Tower and Belfry, and walks in the local area. Every event is free. Every event is open to all.

May was a particularly good month. On 24 May, we teamed up with the Lusk Camera Group for a photography walk and nature stroll at Turvey Nature Reserve — a lovely afternoon along the estuary trails, even if the birds had clearly decided it was too warm to make an appearance. It was our first collaboration with the Camera Group, and one we’re keen to build on.

The following Friday, our monthly brunch at Skinny Batch brought together seven people — including several new faces who found us through a local board games group forming in Lusk. The conversation ranged from remote work to community ideas, and one of our new attendees — an arts teacher — raised the possibility of running community arts workshops using Skinny Batch’s studio space. Exactly the kind of idea that starts over coffee and might just become something real.

In June, we’re co-hosting an after-work Board Games Night with the Lusk Board Game Group at Murray’s Lounge on 24 June, and our regular monthly brunch continues on Friday 27 June at 12:15 PM at Skinny Batch.

This is what Grow Remote Lusk is becoming: not just a brunch, but a platform for the kind of community connections that happen when people who live and work locally start actually meeting each other.

All events are free. Find what’s coming up at https://bit.ly/LuskCollection or email us at community@growremote.ie — we’d love to see you there.

Flavio & Conor, Local Leaders, Grow Remote Lusk

Pictured are the members of Lusk Senior Citizens at their Friday Morning Club. The members enjoyed their Art Classes and also celebrating Rose Hussey’s 90th and Mary Hogan’s 91st Birthdays!

The Celbridge & Straffan Pilgrimage to Lourdes tournaments and 10 of us enjoyed a fantastic trip lead by father Philip Curren and Kieran Troy

There was an international military pilgrimage with brass bands from all over the world.

We visited the village of Bartrès where Saint Bernadette spent her early years

The members of the Top Shop Golf Society recently had outings to Ballymascanlon and Swords Golf Clubs that were sponsored by Amble Storage and The Top Shop Bar & lounge for the Ballymascanlon outing.

The winners were, Bernard Grimes, overall, Category 1, Brian Sandford, Category 2, Tanya Mulligan, front 9, Padraig Lehany, Back 9, Graham Sandford.

Swords Open, was Sponsored by East Coast Blinds and Conrad Murray of The Top Shop. Another great day out. Winners were, overall Matt Byrne, Category 1, Robbie Moore, Category 2, Tanya Mulligan, Front 9, Padraig Lehany, Back 9, Ray Kelly, Birdie winner, Robbie Moore.

Thanks to all our sponsors. If you want to join us call Martin Russell 087 1923059.

The past few weeks have been nothing short of extraordinary for our club, with athletes producing outstanding performances across Ireland and Europe.

Anna Gavigan has enjoyed a sensational start to the summer, producing a huge personal best of 55.34m in the women’s discus at the Halpus Werfertag Meet in Germany on May 22nd. She followed that with an incredible silver medal performance at the Continental Tour Challenger Meet in Italy on June 2nd, where her throw of 57.38m not only marked another massive personal best but also broke Patricia Walsh’s Irish Under-23 record that had stood since 1982.

Our distance runners also shone brightly at the Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin and the Cork City Marathon and Half Marathon on May 31st. Mary MacNamara claimed a National silver medal in the F35 category at the Cork City Half Marathon, while Jen Carpenter received bronze after finishing third in the F50 category at the Dublin Half Marathon on May 3.

The Leinster Championships proved to be a memorable weekend, with the club collecting an impressive haul of medals and relay titles. Gold medals were secured in the Masters Women’s 4x100m, Senior Women’s 4x400m and Mixed 4x400m relays, with the mixed quartet also setting a new Leinster Championship record. Dara Carr stole the show with three individual gold medals, while Xavi Hubert claimed M45 High Jump gold and a personal best in the 100m. Reuben Capocci earned bronze in the U18 800m before adding silver in the U18 1500m at the Dublin Championships, where Daniel Minto also won discus bronze.

Internationally, Sinéad O’Farrell impressed with 34th place in Slovenia as the highest-placed Irish senior athlete in the elite races, while her mother Louise O’Farrell finished 24th in the women’s open race the previous day.

Congratulations also go to our Couch to 5K graduates, who completed their inspiring eight-week journey and celebrated a fantastic achievement together.

Huge congratulations also to Brian Kelly and his beautiful bride Michelle on their wedding day on the 14th of June. We wish them both a lifetime of love, happiness and every success together.

It has truly been a fantastic period of achievement, dedication and club pride for everyone involved.

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed was delighted to play its part in the special event in Newbridge Park organised last month by the Fingal Men’s Shed branches and supported by Fingal County Council and Sport Ireland, to celebrate and raise awareness of International Men’s Health Week with the theme: “One Step at a Time – progress, not perfection”. Our shed helped with organising and participating in the walks and our music group, Gerry and the Plonkers, provided the entertainment. A great day was had by all, with good weather, food, music and company, a chance for the various sheds to exchange ideas and learn from one another.

Earlier last month Ray, our “Outings Organiser”, arranged for our members to visit and have a guided tour of the GAA Museum in Croke Park and the opportunity of a photo with the Sam Maguire cup.

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed is taking a break for July from most of its weekly activities, apart from croquet in Newbridge on Tuesday mornings and of course the work in our plots in Turvey Allotments, where tending to our onions, tomatoes, courgettes and lettuces cannot be neglected.

We will be back with our full range of weekly activities in August and hopefully some more special outings organised by Ray. In the meantime, we are always open to new members. So if you, or someone close to you is interested in joining us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.

The Parish Hall provides, through their wonderful team of hospitality volunteers, refreshments In the Parish Hall at least twice a month which includes various special days e.g. Mothers’ & Fathers’ Day. This takes place immediately after the 11am Mass. Tea & coffee and delicious cakes & buns are served and people get to chat with other parishioners in a very friendly & welcoming atmosphere. All are invited to call in, Donabate is a very fast growing community & it is good to meet the new & old neighbours.
All users of the Parish Hall submitted there requests/wishes in May for daily activities & block events and the Parish Office has now responded with the best arrangements they can provide, for all.

There may be some changes, but in general this is the programme below.

Re Daily Activities: - There may still be some slots available, so if you need a space to do an activity or event in the hall between this July & next July please enquire ASAP.

Re Special Block Events: - Below are events that are taking place in 2026. The events for 2027 will follow in later editions. (There are still one or two events requested - awaiting final details to see if they can or will go ahead.)

July | Crosscare 1 Day Event | Wednesday 29th 12:30 - 3pm | The Drama House

July Summer Camp 2 weeks | Contact Shauna to Booking | shauna@thedramahouseireland.com
September | DP Crossroads ‘Culture Night’
Friday 18th

November | Donabate & Portrane Dramatic Society Saturday 7th - Sunday 22nd

Hospitality - Fr Pat will be remembered at mass on his 1st Anniversary & a cup of tea/coffee afterwards in the Parish Hall. | Sunday 22nd

Through the Lens - Photography | Friday 27th - Sunday 29th

The Parish Office wishes the community a good summer with plenty of fine weather - stay safe & well. If you need any further information or have a query - please contact the Parish Office on 01 8434574.

Key works will shortly commence on the Portrane Road Enhancement Project, a major investment aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety, improving accessibility and raising the overall standard of the road network in the Donabate area. The scheme has been designed to provide safer, more inclusive infrastructure for the local community, with a particular focus on schoolchildren and families travelling to and from St. Patrick’s Boys National School and Scoil Phádraic Cailíní.

The project includes a series of upgrades such as wider footpaths along the northern side of Portrane Road and new pedestrian crossings to support safer and easier movement for all users. Traffic calming measures, including junction tightening and a raised table, will help to reduce vehicle speeds and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. A new bus layby will also be delivered, allowing buses to pull clear of the main carriageway and improve traffic flow.

The scheme forms part of Fingal County Council’s ongoing commitment to active travel and the delivery of safer, more sustainable streets. It will facilitate safer school journeys, encourage walking and cycling and enhance the overall environment for residents and visitors alike.

Welcoming the project, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tony Murphy, said: “This is an important investment in the local area that will significantly improve safety and accessibility for the community. In particular, it will support safer journeys for schoolchildren and their families, while encouraging walking and cycling and creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment for everyone who uses this route.”

Donnelly Civil Engineering Ltd has been appointed to carry out the works, which are scheduled to begin in July and are expected to take approximately nine months to complete. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption throughout the construction period, with access to homes and businesses maintained wherever possible.

Director of Infrastructure and Transport at Fingal County Council, Matthew McAleese, stated: “The Portrane Road Enhancement Project reflects the Council’s strategic focus on delivering safer, more inclusive transport networks. By strengthening pedestrian infrastructure and introducing targeted traffic calming, the scheme will support a shift towards active travel while improving connectivity for all road users.”

Fortnightly updates on construction progress, including details of traffic management arrangements, will be available on the project webpage Portrane Road Enhancement Project | Fingal County Council and across Fingal County Council’s social media channels.