As we enter the winter months, most of the work on Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed’s plots at Turvey Allotments is winding down, apart from planting a crop of winter onions. Despite this, we have a busy schedule ahead.

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed will be hosting an event for Fingal Inclusion Week, involving all of the Men’s Sheds in Fingal, at 11am on Wednesday 13th November in Donabate Portrane Community Centre. This fun day is sponsored by Fingal County Council. There will be gentle exercise, suitable for the age of the expected participants, an inspiration speaker, light refreshments and entertainment provided by Gerry and the Plonkers, the Men’s Shed music group. Men who are not members of a Men’s Shed are welcome to join us. See the poster.

That day will be a busy one for Gerry and the Plonkers, with the group continuing their series of free concerts in Donabate Parish Hall at 12 noon. All adults are welcome and light refreshments will be served. The other dates for these concerts are 4th December, 27th January, 10th February and 10th March, all on Wednesdays at 12 noon until 2pm.

Our annual Christmas dinner is planned for Keeling’s on Friday 6th December. We expect to have the usual singsong led by Gerry and the Plonkers.

As reported last month, a group of members visited the National Ploughing Championships and we have at least one photo to prove it; the rest aren’t for publication, we told!

All of this and our usual weekly activities - exercise classes, croquet, band practice and our Thursday morning get-together for tea or coffee and a chat. If you, or someone you know would like to join us, please call or text Jim, our PRO, on 086-3694316.

Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society is delighted to announce the upcoming performances of the comedy “Sylvia” by A.R. Gurney from the 28th to the 30th of November 2024 (with two performances on the Saturday) in Donabate Parish Hall.

“Sylvia” by A.R. Gurney, directed by Lisa Buckley, is the story of Greg who brings home a sassy female dog he found in the park—or that has found him—bearing only the name “Sylvia” on her name tag.

While on the one side Sylvia offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age, on the other hand she becomes a major bone of contention between him and his wife Kate who is completely immune to Sylvia’s charms.

“Sylvia” is a smart, frisky, and occasionally salty comedy about relationships, growing older and life changes.

On stage we have a combination of familiar faces and new talent, while behind the scenes the production team are working hard to bring the play to the stage.

Performances will be on in Donabate Parish Hall on the following dates and times: Thursday 28th November at 19:30, Friday 29th November at 19:30, Saturday 30th November matinée at 14:30 and Saturday 30th November at 19:30.

Tickets cost €12 per person and can be purchased online on ticketsource.eu or at the door.

Donabate Dramatic Society is also extending an invitation to all people in the community become a patron of the society and support the local arts. The annual fee for patronage is €60 per person and it includes two tickets for to their biannual productions along with light refreshments.

If you want to become a member or a patron of DPDS do not hesitate to contact donabateportrane.drama@gmail.com. And don’t forget to follow Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society on Facebook and Instagram!

Hello! My name is Anna, and I recently moved to Donabate. I care about activities that bring the community together and ensure inclusivity for everyone. As a wheelchair user, I am particularly conscious of the need for accessible infrastructure and activities that allow all community members to participate fully.

I am enrolled in a PLC course in social care and got a distinction in 5 modules last year and I’d love to find any other work experience or voluntary opportunities within the community.

Although I don’t currently play any sports, I used to, and have had the opportunity to try sports like wheelchair basketball. I’d love to get involved in disability-inclusive sports such as Boccia. I am involved in voluntary work down in Malahide Castle at the junior parkrun, a sports event involving kids of all ages and I love going down on a Sunday to help out. Thanks for reading

A picture paints a thousand words they say. See the newly refurbished kitchenette in the Parish Hall in the photographs. Thanks to the Parish Hall Committee with some support from FCC, this has been possible. It has a fridge and dishwasher but most importantly a new Burco boiler with instant hot water for tea and coffee.

It is hoped after Christmas, in the first week or two of January, to repair and revarnish the Main Hall floor to keep it in tip-top condition.

The Parish Hall serves a number of daily activities but take note of some of the special events programmed into their calendar.

Soon the Through the Lens Photography Group will hold their annual Exhibition; then the Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society will have their play on - both not to be missed!

Gerry and the Plonkers will perform in the Parish Hall from 12-2pm on Wednesday 13th November for the adults on the Peninsula, especially older adults. This is a FREE gig and all adults are welcome. Refreshments are provided for all!

Part of the activities the Parish Hall offers is now a Music Makers Club for Donabate and Portrane; this is led by Noel Dowling ably assisted by Sean Collins, with a small support team.

Music Makers is a local music club for anyone aged 18 and over, living locally. In collaboration with the Parish Hall. Music Makers is a blend between an open mic and a music club.

The Music Makers Club will meet once a month, starting Friday, 18th October 2024 at 7.45pm. Whether you’re an aspiring musician, a singer / songwriter or just love music, everyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please email musicmakersph@gmail.com -
Music Makers Club Donabate & Portrane

For any further information re the Parish Hall - please ring the Parish Office on 01 8434574

We’re excited to announce that the Winter Fete is back at Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School! Join us on Sunday, November 24th, from 12 PM to 4 PM for a fun-filled day that the whole family will enjoy!

For just €2 per adult, you can experience a vibrant atmosphere featuring delicious food, local crafts, and a wide range of activities. Children and senior citizens can enter for free!

This beloved annual event is our largest fundraising initiative, and we’ll have a fantastic selection of preloved games, toys, books, and clothes available for purchase.

Don’t miss the chance to engage in friendly competition in our game room, pamper yourself in our beauty room with face painting and hair braids, or enjoy live music performances throughout the day!
There’ll also be an exciting raffle with incredible prizes, including vouchers, hampers, and gift baskets. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the event and at SuperValu on November 9th and 10th, with the draw taking place on the day of the event.

We look forward to welcoming everyone for a day of fun and community spirit.

Members of the Ukrainian community in Donabate have organised to host a special free concert on 17th November in St Patrick’s Church to thank the local people for everything they have done for Ukraine.

The Kobzar Armada was formed the morning of February 24th, when Russia began its large-scale invasion and bombing of Ukraine. The group is composed of the traditional Ukrainan bards, or kobzars, who were executed in 1933 during the Ukrainian genocide by starvation.

The program is in English and Ukrainian, and geared toward sharing Ukrainian culture and cause to local English speakers. This is the Kobzar Armada’s mission.

“So far we have conducted around 500 concerts on the Eastern front, playing for military camps, schools, hospitals, and refugee camps, but also worldwide, using cultural diplomacy, specifically to the countries who are helping Ukraine the most. Help us spread the truth about Ukraine! Help us end the slaughter of innocent Ukrainian lives! Glory to Ukraine and the truly Free World! Thank You!”

Donations are graciously accepted through Paypal, to jurij_fedynskyj@hotmail.com.

Active Age for All croquet players were delighted to accept the kind invitation from Anne Collins, chairperson of Newbridge House Croquet Club, to a fun croquet day in Newbridge Park.

We met on a beautifully sunny Wednesday on the well maintained, historical, croquet lawns of Newbridge House which AAfA are privileged to share with NHCC. The day was meticulously organised by Bernie Andrews ( I think she must have had a say in the weather as well !) with members of both clubs mixed to play together, and a few skills games which were great fun.

We had a wonderful afternoon with lots of laughter, great games and lovely goodies. It was great to make the connection with NHCC and we look forward to many combined events in the future.

Active Age for All is celebrating and welcoming over 35 new members and at the beginning of October had a membership of 270! Most classes are full but you can see where there are spaces on the website www.activeageforall – and if there is a space you are interested in, you can text us on 086 8806808 (TEXT ONLY) and we will contact you and give you a pro-rata price until the end of term.

We have been busy organizing classes and arranging tutors, registration days and supporting many other initiatives that all keep us active, physically and mentally for nearly 10 years now – and all done with volunteers - Everything. If you think you have some administration / organisational / web / computer skills / can-do attitude, we would love to hear from you as there are some spaces available on the committee. We have about nine meetings each year and the summer is free.

Some of our early volunteers moved on to sharing their skills to other groups who all work with the intention of improving what is available to us on the peninsula. Breda Dockrell represented us all on the recreational side on the Donabate Liaison Group and Eilish McDermott represented the cultural side and the Bleeding Pig. After their 5 years on the Liaison Group, they are stepping down and we thank them for looking after our interests… but beware – heavens knows what they will be doing next!

A new exhibit that showcases experiences faced by people from marginalised communities across Ireland has been opened in Swords, as Fingal County Council looks to continue its efforts to combat racist attitudes and behaviours.

The “Building Bridges: Forging Pathways Beyond Prejudice” exhibition is the fourth and final phase of the SALAAM project which was developed in partnership with Fingal County Council and the University of Limerick, Doras, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Irish Network Against Racism.

Opening the exhibition, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, said: “Fingal is a county that not only celebrates its rich diversity but actively fosters inclusion and social cohesion. We take pride in our role as leaders in delivering on our Public Sector Duty obligations. This commitment isn’t just outlined in our strategic plans and policies—it is embedded in the very heart of everything we do. Our goal is to ensure that all who live, work, and visit Fingal feel welcomed and safe”.

Fingal is amongst the most diverse and dynamically growing populations in Ireland and Fingal County Council is committed to social integration and enhancing the quality of life for all the residents as it continues to grow.

Minister Joe O’Brien emphasised: “Fingal continues to ensure that it meets the needs of one of the country’s most diverse populations. In doing so it looks to recognise the vital contributions that non-Irish communities make to our lives every day and reminds us all of the importance of providing welcome & supports to all Fingal residents so that we can continue to build successful & thriving communities that benefit all of us living and working in the Fingal area.”

Featuring eight comics, the collection of heartfelt stories aims to share the often-harsh experiences faced by non-Irish nationals and open up a dialogue that champions diversity, equality and inclusion.
The project lead, Dr. James Carr from University of Limerick, says: “The ‘Building Bridges: Forging Pathways Beyond Prejudice’ exhibition is a poignant testament to the power of visual art as a tool for creating an understanding of our changing environment. It serves as a platform for the unheard by amplifying the narratives and lived experiences of our diverse communities through visual storytelling”.

National Women’s Enterprise Day (NWED) will take place on Thursday, 17th October, and the venue for the biggest event celebrating NWED this year is the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown.

The annual Dublin NWED event, organised by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Fingal on behalf of the LEOs in the Dublin region, is a highlight in the business calendar for enterprising women across the region and offers a unique opportunity to celebrate female entrepreneurship.

The theme of this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day is ‘Making It Happen’ and the programme includes a variety of guest speakers, female entrepreneurs, lively panel discussion, small-business case studies, an exhibition of enterprise support agencies as well as plenty of opportunities to network with other female entrepreneurs and business owners.

Celebrated TV broadcaster Mary Kennedy was announced as this year’s NWED Master of Ceremonies, while a number of inspiring speakers from several business sectors were also unveiled, including Lorraine Heskin (CEO of Gourmet Food Parlour), Oonagh O’Hagan (MD of Meaghers Pharmacy), Fiona Buckley (CEO of She Speaks Agency), and Breda McCague (CEO of Aiming4Awesome).

The ambassadors announced for their respective regions are Michelle O’Keefe, Co-founder of Platform 55 (LEO Fingal); Aisling Tuck, founder of Naked Bakes (South Dublin LEO); Alicia Garrigan, Founder of GirlGottaChange (LEO Dun Laoghaire Rathdown) and Niamh Tallon, Founder of Hersport.ie (LEO Dublin City).

The event will also provide access to valuable information and resources from representatives of key organisations such as the Local Enterprise Office, Enterprise Ireland, Revenue, Intreo, Department of Social Protection, InterTradeIreland, AwakenHub, TU Dublin, TrailblazHER, and Microfinance Ireland.

Registration is at 8.45 am with the opportunity to network over breakfast. The event kicks off at 9.30 am and will conclude with a networking lunch, which finishes at 2 pm.

Speaking at the launch of the NWED Dublin event, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, said: “Fingal is a thriving hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, and I’m delighted to celebrate the incredible women who are driving our region forward. National Women’s Enterprise Day is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the vibrant business community we have here, and to inspire even more women to pursue their entrepreneurial endeavours.”

The event is subsidised by the LEOs in the Dublin Region and a limited number of fully inclusive early bird tickets are available at only €25. Places are limited, so early booking is strongly advised. For further information and online bookings visit www.localenterprise.ie/fingal.

Celebrating 20 years next January, experience TradFest everywhere you go, from the Mountains of South Dublin across Dublin City and to the castles and coastline of historic Fingal.

Now in its third year in Fingal the festival will return to the many unique and historic venues across the region: Malahide Castle, Swords Castle Chapel, The Millbank Theatre, Skerries Mill, Draíocht Theatre and the iconic Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, while increasing its musical footprint in additional new venues: The Lark, Ardgillan Castle, The Abbey Tavern and Donabate Community Centre.

Fingal Acts for 2025 include: Karen Casey - The Women we will rise, Jacqui Martin & Derek Hickey, Tara Breen, Eoghan ó’Ceannabhaín, Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley, Luka Bloom, Ines Khai, Molly O’Mahony, Paudie O’Connor & Aoife Ni Chaoimh, Emma Langford, Stockton’s Wing -Voices from Fingal Mick Hanly with Anto Drennan and Eoin O’Neill, The Henry Girls, Bernadette Nic Gabhann, Frank, O’Rourke & John Feely, Molly Donnery, Brídín, Sorcha Costello, Evelyn Kallansee & Declan Sinnott
There will also be a special celebration of the actor, local resident and TradFest patron Stephen Rea. The Oscar-nominated and multi award-winning actor has for long had a global reputation for his exceptional skills on both stage and screen.

Over four nights in The Lark Theatre, Balbriggan, TradFest will honour Stephen through words and music. Joining Stephen over the 4 nights will be poet Paul Muldoon and musicians Neil Martin, Louise Mulcahy, Matt Molloy, Maighread Ní Dhomnaill, Paddy Glackin and Derek Hickey.

TradFest in Fingal will also celebrate the life of Barney McKenna, original member of the Irish band The Dubliners and Fingal resident across two days and nights in The Abbey Tavern, Howth in January 2025.
Mike Hanrahan and Stockton’s Wing will give a special concert in Donabate Community Centre where they will be joined on stage by the voices of Fingal Choir In line with its audience development objectives, TradFest also will deliver an expanded community programme later this year which will outline a series of new exciting, free community-led events in Fingal.

Whether you’re a fan of live music, or just looking for a night of Irish culture and craic, TradFest is where you want to be in January 2025.