Glorious weather was had in Skerries for an 8km walk to celebrate National Walking Day - led & organised by Margaret O’Brien walkers enjoyed a walk past the Mill, down to the coast along the beach & up to Red Island then to the Harbour for food in one of the many restaurants.
Our Halloween Walk is to the Docks from Clontarf and the following one is the Dodder River walk so a bit of contrast in them All!
In October after a very fruitful harvest, members of Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed worked hard preparing our plots at Turvey Allotments for the winter. The raised beds were dug over, manure provided by Fingal County Council was spread and the beds were covered with Mypex weed membrane. Hopefully, next year’s crop will be as good as this year’s.
Last month, Gerry and the Plonkers, the Men’s Shed group, provided the entertainment for the 60th anniversary celebrations of Lusk ICA in the Bracken Court Hotel. By all accounts, a great time was had by the audience of 100 or so, as they danced the night away to the sounds of 60s and 70s hits from the Plonkers.
The Plonkers will also perform at the Men’s Wellness Day being organised by the Fingal Men’s Sheds and due to be held in Donabate Portrane Community Centre on Thursday 19th November. This event, with an expected attendance of 80 or more, will feature talks about men’s physical and mental health and will include a guided exercise session.
Between now and Christmas, Ray, our Events Organiser, hopes to arrange a couple of outings to places of interest to members. So, if you or someone close to you, would like to join the Men’s Shed, please call our PRO, Jim, on 0863694316.
To mark Fingal Inclusion Week, we present The Blue Trail, a favourite on the film festival circuit and winner of the Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival.
Focussing on a feisty 77-year-old fighting against an ageist system, this film shows that you should never underestimate the older members of society. Part adventure film, part dystopian sci-fi and part coming of (old) age story, The Blue Trail is a vibrant and playful new film from acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Mascaro.
In the near future, the Brazilian government has created ‘colonies’ where older people are sent to live out their last few years to free up space for the more productive younger generations. Teresa, however, refuses to accept that fate. She is instead determined to fulfil her ultimate dream - to fly in an aeroplane.
After escaping from the authorities, she embarks on an eventful boat voyage down the Amazon river to find a willing pilot who will fly her. Encountering new friends and experiences along the way, she discovers a freedom she never knew she was missing.
Critics have described the film as “visually striking”, “subversive and bittersweet”, and “amazing, captivating, exciting and authentically beautiful.” It shows that people over 70 are as capable of rebelling as much as those decades younger.
The Blue Trail will be shown at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland church in The Square, Donabate (K36 Y521) on Thursday November 19th at 8pm.
Tickets go on sale on Thursday November 12th at 9am and cost €10 (€8 for students/OAPs)
For more information and to buy tickets, please visit lambaycinemaclub.com
Bring your own cup for free tea and coffee – we even supply the biscuits!
If you want to get in touch, email us at info@lambaycinemaclub.com.
Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you on the 19th.
The Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs had a coffee morning at the end of September in the Senior Citizens Centre where a total of €529.70 was raised and then our Branch had a quiz night on the 2nd October where a fantastic night was had by all and €1,350 was raised for our Branch. A big thank you to Tina for arranging, to Claire Ann for organising the questions, to the Harvest Pub, Balbriggan for having us and of course to the people who came and supported our Branch.
Our merchandise stands and events are very important to our Branch as it is where we generate the majority of fundraising for Guide Dogs. As the year is nearing the end we have a couple more events and we would love if you came along and supported us so we can end the year with a surge for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. We appreciate all the people who come out and support us or stop and say hello. We also appreciate the support of the staff in Millfield Shopping Centre and SuperValu who continue to let us fundraise at their premises,
If you would like to come along and support us, make sure to drop by SuperValu, Balbriggan on Friday 6th November and Saturday 7th November or if you miss us there you can catch us again at Millfield Shopping Centre on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November where we will have plush guide dog teddies, Christmas cards and raffle tickets to win a car. We will also be in the Central (Mr’s O’s), Balbriggan on Friday 27th November for a music bingo night where Tulips band will be playing for puppy in training Tulips. Come along have a sing song and a drink all for a good cause! And you might even get to see Tulips at work!
If you would like to volunteer with us or simply get in contact; you can contact our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/text 0876489479, email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.
If you have walked past Balbriggan Clubs Community Centre or Martello Tower, you may have noticed the bright yellow banners advertising Takemusu Aikido Society. Perhaps you have heard about aikido, or read about it in the pages of Balbriggan Locals, and maybe even considered joining a free trial lesson. But did you know that those sunny yellow banners, bringing a little reminder of summer to the grey Irish winter, were made possible by an organisation called As Darragh Did?
As Darragh Did was founded by Andrew McGinley in memory of his son Darragh, who died alongside his brother Conor and sister Carla on 24 January 2020. Darragh was only seven, but he was an active member of his community, taking part in football, GAA, scouts, athletics, drama and other activities. He was always involved in something.
Andrew had promised Darragh that he would get involved as a coach with his football team. He kept that promise and went much further by finding a way to encourage others to follow Darragh’s example. Since 2020, around 300 small organisations, often run by volunteers, have received more than half a million euros in support of local projects across Ireland. Behind those figures are clubs, volunteers and people whose lives have been touched by that generosity. Takemusu Aikido Society was fortunate to be part of that story.
Last November, our club received support from As Darragh Did because we wanted to help local people discover aikido and, more importantly, encourage them to keep practising after their first few classes.
Our aim has never been simply to attract as many people as possible to a class. It is to help people find an activity they enjoy and a group they want to remain part of. We are deeply grateful to Andrew and everyone behind As Darragh Did for helping us make that possible.
Andrew has recently announced that As Darragh Did will be winding up. It is sad to see an initiative that has helped so many communities come to an end, but its legacy lives on in the hundreds of projects it supported and the people who benefited from them. We hope the spirit behind it will continue: people giving their time, sharing what they can and helping others take part in local life.
Meanwhile, Andrew has been working on a very different project. He has become an author, publishing a children’s adventure for readers aged 8–12. His first book, Prestin and the Booger Oath, is a wonderfully silly, unapologetically ridiculous story meant to make young readers laugh. Its origins, however, are deeply personal.
Among the things Andrew’s children left behind was a homemade comic created by Conor and Darragh, with Carla also inspiring the story. Its central character was a boy called Prestin. Andrew has taken that original idea and expanded it into a much bigger adventure, in which Prestin and his best friend Dara discover an imaginary world of rebellious boogers and a rather explosive plan involving a giant snot explosion. Writing the book has given Andrew an opportunity to reconnect with something his children created while they were alive, celebrating their humour and imagination. But Prestin and the Booger Oath is not a book about tragedy. As Andrew explains, it is “about bringing something my children created to life and allowing their imagination to make other children laugh”.
Writing has also given Andrew a way to step away, for a while, from the more difficult parts of life, and immerse himself in a world where almost anything can happen. He has already completed two further books about Prestin’s adventures, as well as another book based on one of his children’s creations. His first book is now a reality, growing from a homemade comic into a story other children can enjoy.
Andrew will present Prestin and the Booger Oath on 5th November. The book is available for pre-order from amazon.ie and buythebook.ie.
Balbriggan natives Sarah and Natalie McCormack have set themselves the challenge of competing in TRYKA - a hybrid race that includes both strength and endurance based exercises as a personal challenge and to raise funds for Arthritis Ireland, a cause that is close to Sarah’s heart who has lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age of 14.
Speaking about the event Sarah said, ‘This is a challenge that means a lot to us personally. At 14 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis- an autoimmune disease that affects the joints in painful flares. It had felt like growing pains at first, spiralling into a full body flare that resulted in me missing almost 8 months of school, damaging joints in my hands and feet from the aggressive flare, and having to depend on family for simple daily tasks, like brushing my hair, or walking more than a few feet.
Natalie from a young age has always been a strong advocate for physical exercise, health, and in believing people are more capable than they realize. When she first got her personal trainer degree, her first client (target) was Sarah and Natalie helped her to reclaim the physical abilities Sarah had thought would be for ‘regular’ people
‘We’re doing it for everyone in Ireland affected by the disease, Sarah continued, ‘Arthritis is a disease that affects the body and mind, and that can be really lonely for a lot of people. Constant chronic pain, fatigue, restlessness, discomfort, uncertainty, depression, feeling misunderstood, feeling ‘less than’, and sometimes feeling treated that way, can impact people in all sorts of ways, and Arthritis Ireland does tons of brilliant stuff to help. But, we are also aware that they aren’t the only people that suffer. The families of those diagnosed can feel a lot of those things too. Unwell people (speaking from some personal experience here) can be hard on the people around them.’
‘Our parents took the brunt of the worries away from me and quietly hid their sleepless nights over doctor appointments and fears for my future, while they also made sure that I was as comfortable as I could have been, even when I couldn’t say thank you for that. I was fortunate to have sisters that never treated me differently (even when I wished they would sometimes), and I think anyone like that deserves to be recognized when it comes to coping with arthritis as well,’ she added
Donations close on 6th November and to do so readers can visit: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/natalieandsarahmccormack.
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 25th November at 7.00pm at 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 13th & Saturday 14th November: Food Drive in Moriarty’s Supervalu
Friday 20th & Sat 21st November: Food Drive in Millfield Shopping Centre
Christmas Fair
Saturday 28th November: Christmas Fair at Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, 14 Hampton Street from 12 noon – 2.00pm
Donate
If you wish to make an online donation to Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, you can do so by copying the following link into your browser: https://www.idonate.ie/cause/BalbrigganMealsonWheels or by scanning the QR code.
St Colmcille’s GFC welcomed players, families, friends and the wider community for its annual charity blitz in aid of St Francis Hospice held on Saturday, 19th September.
The club has been holding the popular fundraising event almost every year since 2016 in honour of two of the players’ mothers who passed away and spent some time in St. Francis Hospice.
Following the action on the pitch, players and supporters came together in the club hall for refreshments, a raffle, and the real fun which continued into the evening.
Marian O Neill, Club Secretary, St. Colmcille’s, said: “Over the years, this blitz has become a really special event for our club. It brings people together for a great afternoon of football and plenty of fun, but most importantly it gives us an opportunity to support the incredible work of St Francis Hospice.”
“We have raised thousands of euros for the hospice since we first started holding the blitz, and that is entirely down to the generosity of our players, families, friends and the wider community.”
About St. Colmcille’s GAA Club
This small but busy and ambitious club has been part of the Swords Community since 1935. They are looking to grow their teams and offer the following opportunities to join in the fun.
Nursery training Saturdays 10.30 am Sponsored by Glenveagh homes.
U6’s training Saturdays 10.30 am
U8’s team Wednesday 6.30-7.15 and Saturday 10.30- 11.30
U10’s team train every Wednesday 7.15-8.15 & Saturday 10.30-12
U13 girls training every Tuesday and Thursday 6.30pm and Saturday at 10.30.
Adult men’s team are training every Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30 Sponsored by Members First Credit Union.
Our Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others team are training every Monday at 7 p.m.
Media enquiries:
Pamela Kavanagh – 085 8022707 or Pamkavanagh@gmail.com
Swords Tidy Towns has been winning awards for many years as they work during all weathers to keep our community clean. They also put fantastic efforts into decorating Main Street and other areas with summer flower arrangements. Not so well known is an STT member who works on removing the graffiti that pops up with annoying regularity. Delivering a cleaner town on this front is Eric Duffy, a resident of Carlton Court. Given how this work has required constant attention he has a new process for anti-graffiti efforts that he thinks will work out well.
“I first got involved with Swords Tidy Towns when my neighbor, Matt Cullen, chatted to me while he was tidying a flower bed in Carlton Court, he explains. I soon decided to get involved, and after a bit with the litter picking, quickly became passionate about cleaning as much Graffiti as I could.” He is quick to point out that Tidy Towns always earn a lot of respect for wall murals and flower baskets, the work on removing graffiti can go un-noticed.
“Usually when the school holidays begin there is an uptick. I’d say there are only a few kids leaving graffiti but they make the town’s environment look awful.”
Eric has found that a wall might be repainted as soon as he cleans it. “I discovered they throw in the towel once we get to the third round”. In the same breath he worries that what he firmly considers to be vandalism, will surge back into popularity. “I believe we need to encourage the youth to develop their Art through art competitions, a more positive opportunity to show an artistic talent”
As part of a new Council funded project to combat litter and graffiti (ALAG), a mapping and tracking system is being developed for Swords. This offers a new way of identifying areas where graffiti causes a persistent nuisance. This new “public realm awareness” tool is nearly complete. Swords Tidy Towns is one of several Swords based organisations contributing to the design and improvement of this system. Browse www.swordlive.ie to see what is on offer.
The remarkable variety of beautification provided by Tidy Towns over the years is truly inspiring. https://swordstidytowns.com/completed-projects/
“New volunteers are certainly welcome to become part of our team” Ken Duffy, STT Chairperson.
Who are North Dublin Toastmasters?
North Dublin Toastmasters is a club that helps members become more confident by developing a range of social, communication and leadership skills. We provide our members with a relaxed, friendly, fun and professional environment to help them achieve these goals. You can volunteer for a variety of roles at our meetings and each role helps you to develop a varied range of skills. Members get an opportunity to grow at their own pace with no pressure to take on any specific role until they are ready. We also give regular, supportive feedback to help each person achieve their full potential.
Why the name change?
Our club has been established for over 30 years. Until recently, we were known as East Coast Toastmasters. Although we are all proud members of “East Coast” we feel that this name was a little too broad and vague for members looking for clubs in their own location. Whilst we welcome members from all areas and all counties, we believe that “North Dublin Toastmasters” will help potential members find us and give them a better understanding of our location.
Are guests welcome to attend?
We are delighted to welcome any guests who would like to attend our meetings and there is no charge. Most members who join the club first attend as a guest to see how a typical meeting runs. They often join us when they see how our club can help them achieve their own personal goals.
Where and when do we meet?
North Dublin Toastmasters meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month. We alternate between in-person meetings in St Cronan’s Parish Hall, Swords (first Tuesdays) and online meetings (third Tuesdays). Online meetings are another increasingly relevant way to develop and broaden your communication skills.
To get more information about our club you can email NorthDublinToastmasters@gmail.com or phone our President Mick Rock at 0877686069