The athletics season is in full swing with plenty of events to choose from over the early months of the year. The club took a huge contingent to the Raheny 5 mile and we were well represented at the 10 mile road races in both Trim and Dungarvan. The Lusk vest was also spotted at the Seville Half Marathon and the Donadea 50k. Our Juvenile athletes have been in indoor action and training at the hub has been spiced up with the 6 week winter 3k league. Well done to all and we look forward to the brighter evenings as summer approaches.
Robyn was in fine form at the Dublin Juvenile Championships.
Lusk Action Group’s AGM will take place on Tuesday 11th March at 7.30 in the Cottage Community Centre. All are welcome to attend.
We were very happy to host a meeting last month to facilitate the set up of resident’s associations in Lusk. The Forge estate has been the first of the estates to form and hosted their first committee meeting at the end of February. We wish them the very best of luck. If you would like to get involved with a resident’s association in your estate, please get in touch with us at luskactiongroup@gmail.com and we will direct you.
We received the news in January that Planning permission has been approved for the proposed Recreational Sports Hub at Rathmore Park by An Bord Pleanála. This is the culmination of over ten years of work by Lusk Community Sports Plan 2020 committee, with the support of our public representatives. It will be delivered by Fingal County Council. Work is hoped to be commenced this Spring/Summer. We would like to thank and congratulate Lusk Community Sports Group for their hard work and perseverance over many years to bring these plans finally to fruition, and we look forward to the amazing facilities that are going to be delivered.
A little reminder to all groups and the wider community that the Lusk Autism Friendly Town committee are seeking to have all members of all community groups and businesses trained. This will lead to Lusk becoming an official autism friendly town. Training is very simple to do and takes only an hour or two. Visit www.asiam.ie and search training and accreditation to find out how to make a big difference in the lives of people with autism.
As most of you are aware, construction has starsted on the front of Orlynn Park green by Fingal County Council. This will be called Remount Court and will be an extension of the adjacent estate. It is planned to be completed by March 2026. If there are any issues during the construction site, we are asked to contact construction@fingal.ie
Lusk Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has been an annual centre piece of the town for decades and 2025 will be same. Applications for entry to the parade need to be submitted to Lusk Community Council by 5th March. For all our businesses and community groups in the town, this is a great opportunity to Fly Your Flag for our town. In addition to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Lusk Community Council will also have a programme of music and fun in Lusk Community Cultural Centre on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March. Check out our Lusk Community Council social media for details.
Are you looking for ways to support your local North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind?
Well recently the branch placed a Q.R. code on a large collection dog in Supervalu Lusk so, if you don’t have change to put into the large dog, you can now use your phone to scan the Q.R. code and donate to the North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs.
Picture shows Jenny Supervalu Lusk staff at the large dog. Also, receipt shows what was taken from the large dog at Christmas. Thanks to all customers and staff for their support.
You can contact North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/text 085-7663107, email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com
The Lusk ICA ladies travelled up to the Flagstaff Bistroe Restaurant in Newry for a lovely meal, following which we received a Cead mile Failte at The Teac Mallen in Slieve Gullion Art Centre in Meigh singing and dancing all night long.
We wish the best of luck to the Drama Group who are entering their play “The Big Surprise” in the ICA National Final of the Eleanora Gibbon cup for drama, on Sunday, 9th March in An Grainan. Keep up the good work, ladies.
We highly recommend you join in with us at the Ramblers night, set dancing and storytelling (free night), which is held at 9.00pm every second Tuesday of the month in Murray’s lounge.
The Lusk ICA Guild meet on the First Thursday every month in the Scouts Den (after beavers) at 8:15 PM and we would be delighted to welcome new members to come along.
Saturday 8th February was a big day for Team LSA last month with four athletes competing in the National 50Km Championships at the 15th Donadea 50k. Conditions were a little bit challenging, but it did not stop Team LSA. Eimear Caulfield was LSA’s first female runner to compete in this Championship along with Dino Higgins, Stephan Bueck and Stephen Brennan. Alongside them was an unbelievable crew of supporters on the day!
We are extremely proud of all our members who were involved: from Eimear the first LSA finisher to the support crew who motivated everyone through to the finish line.
For anyone who aspires to running something a little shorter, we have just commenced a new Couch to 5k program - ideal for the complete beginner or those who are returning to running after injury or time out. This seven week program involves committing to running three days per week: Monday and Wednesday at 7pm at Donabate Portrane Community Centre and Saturdays at Donabate Park Run.
Meanwhile, our older Juveniles have had some great success at the recent Leinster Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships: Sinead Farrell progresses to All-Ireland Championships. She was an impressive third scorer on the winning Senior Girls Team. Reuben Capocci qualified for All-Ireland Championships in the Intermediate Boys event, with James Keegan and Leon Capocci both impressing in Senior and Minor Boys respectively.
We’ve had some great success at the recent Dublin Juvenile Indoor Championships in Abbotstown: James Keegan and Reuben Capocci took the title of Dublin 800m Champion at Under 18 and Under 17 respectively. They now progress to the National Championships in Athlone later this month with Liam Handley (Shot Putt), Lea Hubert (High Jump). Reuben also competes in the U17 1500m after his second-place finish in Dublin.
Congratulations to all our athletes and their coaches for their hard work and dedication.
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
This Saturday 8th March - we have a change of place for our walk - we are doing the Brigid’s Walk first in Dundalk - we will honour Patrick at our next walk!
We will meet at the Parish Hall 11 30am - do a car-pool then head up to North Dundalk for our 6/8km walk - then we will head into a good cafe restaurant for food & refreshments!
Last month the Pacers went on a scenic coastal route. They took the train from Donabate to Portmarnock then walked back to Malahide. This is an easy flat walk about 6/8km - we had to use the road as the tide was in on the Portmarnock beach, it was still a lovely walk with good sights & good toilets open in
Portmarnock & in Malahide at the beaches on the way.
It is a great way to spend a few hours on a Sat afternoon - a nice walk, a good chat, finishing with great food! We also get to see new places - a bit of exploring!
Further information from Carolyn 087-284307 or Des 087-7846813
Donabate Parish Hall & The Men’s Shed have come together for a special FREE event for adults with a focus on Irish Music to celebrate Paddy’s Day on Wednesday 12th March from 12noon - 2pm. Light refreshments served. Singin & Dancin welcome from all those attending - or just come & listen! All FREE and for you!
The Plonkers & Parish Hall - had a fantastic event for Valentine’s on a Wednesday in February - it was full of fun - lots of dancin & singin! A large crowd came from a variety of groups in the Parish and as many men as women! We are a Parish with great musical talent - Gerry & the Plonkers are beyond amateur with a number of professional musicians in their midst! Noel (Dowling) brings an added dimension - with sound & lights, like one was at a good wedding! This gives people an opportunity to dance nowadays without waiting on a wedding or a big birthday to happen!
So, let us have a great one for Paddy’s Day - we will celebrate St Brigid too - as we had no event for her! So if you do a bit of Céilí or line dancin’ great - if not, get up and dance & sing anyway. Not alone is it good for the body, but it’s also uplifting for the spirit and a bit of craic on a Wednesday afternoon! They are sometimes joined by Edel (Dempsey) whose long whistle renditions are fantastic & famous!
The Music Makers were on in February also with a special event and it was a great success; hopefully to be repeated and further report is elsewhere in the magazine.
The Parish Office has been looking at Cultural & Educational Camps for the Parish Hall for 2025 at suitable times after successful camps last year and may have some spaces left. Also, if you have any queries re renting for daily activities & classes contact the Parish Office on 01- 8434574
Labour Councillor Corina Johnston has voiced concerns about the reliability of the 33B Bus Service for Donabate, Portrane and The Burrow. “At a recent meeting with the CEO of Go Ahead Ireland I raised my serious concerns in respect of the following: the reliability of the 33B bus service; the current and future of contract; the impact unacceptable cancellations has on commuters in Donabate and the Burrow, Portrane with every second bus servicing this area with commuters late for school, work, college, hospital appointments and having to take a taxi at a huge cost; the need for double decker buses to be utilised on the Donabate peninsula given our growing population to ensure passengers are not left behind; concerns regarding buses bypassing the town centre ; need for improved communication with commuters; need for connectivity between trains and buses.”
Johnston continued; “in response Go Ahead Ireland confirmed: recent service issues as a result of issues with recruitment of mechanics and winter flu; Recruitment process for additional drivers underway; improvement in services over last week with further improvements and return to full services anticipated within 10 days; double decker buses used at peak with ongoing monitoring of service capacity; Go Ahead has entered into a letter of intent with the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a new contract for Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area (ODMA) North and South to commence in October 2025; anticipated Bus Connects roll out in 2026 with every bus to service the Burrow, Portrane with the 33B services operating to and from Dublin Airport, improved connectivity between trains and buses •investigation of buses bypassing Donabate town centre ; communications review underway
Johnston concluded, ”I will continue to raise the ongoing issues with the 33B service with Go Ahead Ireland and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to ensure a reliable bus service is provide for commuters.”
Last year the Donabate Portrane Darkness Into Light walk raised over €21k to help keep the wonderful work being done through Pieta going. This year’s planning and organising is already well underway for the walk which takes place on Saturday morning 10th May at 4.15am in Newbridge House. We had a wonderful group of volunteers and participants join us to deliver what was a moving, memorable and successful event both in terms of bringing our community out and together as well as from a fundraising perspective. We like to keep things simple so for this year’s event we are hoping to exceed the 450 participants we had last year and the amount we raised so we encourage you, your family and friends to sign-up, join us and help make the Donabate Portrane DIL walk another memorable one. The online link to register and fundraise for the walk is open and we encourage people to sign up as early as possible - https://www.darknessintolight.ie/#Signup. We will have an in person registration day in Donabate this year closer to the event for those who miss out online but as with everything the earlier you register the better. Thanks everyone!
The Donabate Portrane Darkness Into Light committee.