Malahide Lions Club was delighted to recently present a cheque for €960 to Aoife’s Clown Doctors. The donation will pay for four visits of the Clown Doctors to either Temple St. or Crumlin Children’s Hospitals in Dublin.
Aoife’s Clown Doctors was set up to provide visits to hospitals by professional clowns, using humour as a form of healing joy to sick children, the staff who care for them and the children’s families. This is done by professional actors working in pairs, meeting the individual children at their bedside and in the waiting rooms and corridors of the hospitals. The clown doctors parody the hospital routine with jokes and antics involving the children, staff and the children’s families.
The charity relies solely on fundraising events, charity partnerships and donations to pay for the clown doctors’ visits.
As well as visiting Temple St. and Crumlin hospitals in Dublin, the clown doctors also visit Galway University Hospital, Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway and Mayo University Hospital. Nearly 2,000 children in these hospitals were visited by the clown doctors in 2024.
The charity was set up in 2005 in memory of Aoife Hendrick from Malahide who sadly died of leukaemia, having spent periods of time in Crumlin Hospital’s St. John’s Ward. Aoife’s parents set up the charity so that Aoife’s legacy would live on through the smiles and laughter of other children.
The students of Portmarnock Community School went ‘Back to the 80s’ over four nights last month with students from all year groups within the school community taking part in the production.
Some familiar faces from previous award-winning school productions featured along with a host of new faces making their stage debut. First year Grace Flanagan of Drama House Ireland took on the role of teacher Sheena Brannigan, while returning to the cast this year were 2nd year Trystan Bruen of Billy Barry fame, 5th year Sarah Brady, and 5th year Ryan Mc Hugh from the Gaiety School of Acting while taking part for her final year was Kate Shalvey of 6th year who has previously starred in the school’s productions of Mamma Mia and Grease.
Director Amy Fidgeon proposed this jukebox musical for its upbeat floor-fillers. She commented that the classic tunes from the 1980s were “nostalgic, yet current because they are so ubiquitous on our radio stations.” She also felt that the storyline was “a classic tale of the troubled teen years” and she is very excited to see this come to life on the stage in Portmarnock Community School. The show featured choreography by Leanne Downey of Showtime and the musical direction of Lauren Gaffney who recently debuted her very own show off Broadway.
Back to the 80s told the story of a group of high school friends as they navigate the ups and downs of teenage life, love and friendship and was narrated by Corey Palmer.
The audience were also treated more than 20 hit songs from the 80s including “Material Girl,” “Wake me Up Before you Go Go,” “Don’t stop Believing,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Man in the Mirror,” “Eye of the Tiger,” “Time of My Life,” and many more, Back to the 80s is a musical for the grown ups: a toe-tapping, hand clapping trip down memory lane.
The Lusk 4 mile road race took place in early March and was a huge success with over 1,000 entries for the 4 mile as well as hundreds more for the Thomas Ashe Dash. Many thanks to all sponsors , club members and the local community who helped in any way.
The men’s race was won by John Travers of Donore Harriers in a time of 18:43 with Annemarie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC winning the women’s race in a new course record of 20:30. The Lusk AC winners were Conor McGuirk and Emma Przymusinska.
There was also success for the club in the recent Leinster Indoor Championships and Nationals. Club members continue to clock up the miles with Half Marathons in Lisbon and Marathons in Brescia, Italy as well as events closer to home. The 40-day 6am 5k challenge started on 5th March and is open to everyone in the community from Lusk NS each morning.
Local man Ian Cortina is currently in training to run a 130km ultramarathon in under 24 hours at the Waterville Trail Running Festival in Waterville, County Kerry on May 3rd, in aid of Fingal Additional Needs.
The challenge is very personal to Ian who explained, “My mother sadly passed away on 7th May 2024 from complications of dementia. A cruel, vicious disease for which there is no cure. One of the last things I promised to her was to complete an endurance event and try to fundraise for a worthwhile cause. The Waterville 130km ultramarathon is held close to the anniversary of her passing, which I feel is a prominent event to aim for and commemorate her memory.”
“As a parent to a child with additional needs, initiatives such as Fingal Additional Needs are invaluable and do so much good for local children and young people who I believe ALL have the right to thrive and grow with equal support and opportunities in life and their local communities,” he added.
The race begins at 4pm on Saturday 3rd May and Ian will have 24 hours to finish the race by running 3 laps, continuously across the Kerry Way. Cut off times are 8 hours per lap - so a 4pm start with the first cut-off at 12 midnight. The second lap cut-off is 16 hours (8am Sunday) and the final lap is to be finished before 4pm on Sunday 4th May.
Fingal Additional Needs offers afterschool programs, camps, and sports activities designed to create safe, fun, and structured environments where kids can thrive, while giving families much-needed support.
“By chucking a few bob in to my fundraiser, you will be helping to cover the cost of equipment, rental spaces, and materials that make their sessions engaging and so beneficial. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my fundraiser. I hope you can help me by donating whatever you can. Simply click the Donate button above. All donations are processed securely,” Ian added.
You can find more information about the race here: https://www.runwtf.com/130km and to donate please go to https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/wtf130
LAG held its annual general meeting on 11 March in the Cottage Community Centre. The AGM was well represented by members of the community and local political representatives, TDs: Robert O’Donoghue and Grace Boland, Councillors: Eoghan Dockrell, Corina Johnston, Cathal Boland and Mark Boland and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee.
LAG would like to thank everyone who attended for their participation. If there are members in the community who would like to get involved in whatever capacity you can to help make a positive difference to our community, please do contact us: luskactiongroup@gmail.com
LAG also had its first committee meeting to commence preparing the next summer festival scheduled to take place on 21 June. The Committee would also very much welcome new members to join the committee to help organise the event. It would also like to invite local businesses to get involved in sponsoring this year’s festival. Contact details for both: lusksummerfestival@gmail.com
A meeting of the Town Centre First Team took place on 13 February. It was agreed that individual community groups within Lusk will commence work to implement some of the individual projects contained within the Lusk town plan, Lusk for Life. As work progresses, we will publish more details of these over the coming months.
In the meantime, full details of the town plan are available on the following Fingal County Council webpage: https://www.fingal.ie/news/lusk-town-centre-first-plan-launched
Hexahydrocannabinol, known as HHC, is a man-made drug chemically similar to the active ingredient in cannabis, THC. It is a new cannabis substitute that can cause severe psychosis, and its harms have led to an “explosion” of addiction presentations in Ireland, according to the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland. HHC is already illegal in a number of countries including the UK, France, Germany, Poland (while legislation to ban this is being currently being drafted in Ireland).
We have received information that HHC vapes are easily available to minors in Lusk. This has been reported to the HSE. Given the dangers involved, we are sharing this information to help build awareness.
We enjoyed a very interesting talk from our local Solicitor Liam Fitzgerald, who attended our recent Guild meeting giving us a very interesting talk on the importance of drawing up a Will and a power of attorney among other topics.
Caroline O Malley and Rosanna Darby had a lovely time in the Cultural Centre to celebrate International Women’s Day, a really nice morning with talks by Patricia Langton and Dr Taaffe.
The Lusk ICA Drama ladies did us proud and enjoyed taking part in the ICA Drama Competition, which was held on 9th March in An Grianan, the play “The Big Surprise” was written and directed Anne Smithers.
Frances Devane from Lusk, was proud and honoured to be presented with the 1st prize by the National President Mary Darcy, (out of 25 entries), in the ICA National final of the Dundee Cake Competition, held in An Grianan on 10th March and sponsored by Gempac Food.
The ladies meet everyday Monday to Friday at 10 AM for a brisk walk, and everybody’s welcome.
The Lusk ICA Guild meet on the First Thursday of every month in the Scouts Den (after beavers)at 8:15 PM and we would be delighted to welcome new members to come along.
LSA members have taken to the roads in the last month with lots of our members taking part in the Lusk 4 mile Road Race and the Bohermeen Half Marathon at the start of March.
In Lusk, James Keegan was the first LSA member home in 23:42 for the 4 miles. Grace Brady was the first female in 31:30.
In County Meath the following weekend, Shane O’Farrell led the twenty seven LSA athletes home, covering the thirteen miles in 1 hour 20:18. Sinéad Kiernan was the first LSA female finisher in 1 hour 39:16.
Meanwhile, the Indoor Track and Field season continues. Our Little Athletics group had a busy day of competition at the Dublin Spraoi Games in Abbotstown. A small group of LSA Under 20 and Masters athletes competed in the Leinster Championships in Abbotstown, The following week our Masters were back in action at the National Masters Championships in Athlone.
Masters athletes Dara Carr (W55) and Enda Gavigan (M60) took double Championships titles in the 60m and 200m at both Leinster and National Championships. Xavier Hubert (M45) claimed the Leinster High Jump title, and a second place finish in that event in Athlone
Our female relay teams claimed Gold and Bronze in the Leinster Championships and went on to mark International Women’s Day with a Bronze. We also had a Mixed Masters Relay Team who claimed Bronze in Athlone.
The Cross Country season concluded with Sinéad Farrell and Reuben Capocci qualifying for the All-Ireland Championships. Huge congratulations to Sinéad who helped her team to victory in the Senior Girls event.
We are very grateful to all the coaches and parents who volunteer their time to help all the members of our club. We always welcome new members.
Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA on our website and social media pages!
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/
Twitter https://twitter.com/LSARunning
https://lambaysportsathletics.ie/
Adult memberships queries:
lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com
Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (7-18):
lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com
Last month there was a great do in the Parish Hall there was singing & dancing thanks to Gerry & the Plonkers Band, and eating delicious sambos made by Cates Cafe & drinking tea & coffee served by the Tea Team! All thanks to the Parish Hall Committee.
It is just great craic to have 6 times a year in the dark months of October, November, December, January, February & March an event like this for adults only on the Peninsula. Witness people meeting for the first time in one photo and all the folk just getting up dancing in another pure craic!
We were delighted to see Louis from Active Age for All committee & Rafe from FCC our hard working Community Officer there, see the two lads chatting at the door!
Sandra, Manager from the Community Centre also came to support - her ‘Memory Cafe‘ which is just fantastic continues on the third Wednesday of the month in one of the Studios from 11-1pm there is anything from poetry so witty … to flower arranging so creative … to singing so uplifting! & delicious refreshments generally homemade don’t miss it!
Other news Music Makers (see other article) Drama Society Play in mid-May always a must & Camps in the Summer starting with Drama in early July for youth.
If you want to request a booking in the hall for daily activities & or events please call the Parish Office on 01 8434574 - the Parish Office takes all requests, wishes & wants in in mid May and in early June works on the Programme of Activities - daily or events - to produce by the end of June a Programme for the year to try to meet the needs of our ever growing community.
A very Happy Easter to all in our community.
If you are a man who enjoys the company of other men, why not join us at Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed? We have a variety of weekly activities, including exercise classes, croquet in Newbridge, music jam sessions and Thursday morning get-togethers from 10am to noon for tea/coffee and a chat at the Sea Scouts’ Den on Portrane Road.
We also have two plots at Turvey Allotments, which need continuous attention at this time of year. We have onions, tomatoes, garlic, cauliflower and broccoli planted, but opted out of potatoes this year, after last year’s disaster with potato blight. Perhaps with the improving weather, we can plan for coffee/tea get-togethers on the decking at one of our plots for members who don’t regularly visit the allotments.
Gerry & The Plonkers, our music group, who as their name suggests don’t take themselves too seriously, have gone from strength to strength, with frequent concerts for community groups. Recently they played at the International Women’s Day Sing-along in Parslickstown House and in Donabate Parish Hall. On both occasions, they were joined by a special guest, Edel Dempsey, on flute and whistles and received enthusiastic responses from the audiences.
In addition to these regular activities, the Men’s Shed also from time to time organise outings to places of interest. As reported last month, a group of members enjoyed a guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol Museum, which is steeped in the history of Ireland from the late 18th century to the early 20th. They saw the cells where Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart Parnell and Countess Markievicz were imprisoned and the Stonebreakers’ Yard where 14 of the 1916 Rising leaders were executed. The Men’s Shed’s next planned outing is to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.
We are always open to new members. So, if you or someone you know is interested in joining us, call our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316.
Last month the Peninsula Pacers did the Balbriggan to Laytown trail walking by the coast - a long walk but enjoyable with scrumptious food in the - Cottage Inn - Italian Restaurant. One can take a circular bus from Laytown to Bettystown every 15 minutes - a great service if one is on a day out!
Our next walk will be our annual city tour - this year for James Joyce & Bloomsday - details in the May edition of the magazine.
Contact Carolyn or Des for further details.
