Pam Lecky, a local crime writer, living in Donabate has just released a brand new crime series: The Clew Bay Detectives, which will be published on the 16th of June.
Set in the fictional village of Glenfinn near Westport along the Wild Atlantic Way in County Mayo, Ireland, the series follows Ali Brennan, a landscape designer with a surprising talent for solving crimes. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered on a remote island in Clew Bay, Ali and her nephew Gavin are drawn into the complex mystery surrounding his murder.
Welcome to Westport, where the wild beauty of Ireland’s western coast hides deadly secrets…
Reeling from a devastating breakup, landscape gardener Ali Brennan escapes to the small coastal town of Westport, hoping its rugged shoreline and quiet rhythms will help her rebuild her life. But peace is short lived when wealthy landowner John Clifford-Murphy is found dead on a remote island in Clew Bay – alone, and inexplicably without his phone or vital medication.
The local Gardaí are quick to rule the death an accident. Ali isn’t so sure… especially when Clifford-Murphy’s widow begs her to look more closely. Joined by her enthusiastic college-dropout nephew, Gav, Ali begins to ask questions the tight-knit community would rather leave unanswered. And when her ex-boyfriend, Detective Aidan Cahill, turns up to inform her that her life is under threat, Ali is forced to confront the past she thought she’d left behind.
As secrets surface, the danger escalates. When Ali herself becomes a target – waking terrified and alone on the shores of nearby lake Doo Lough – it’s clear the investigation has drawn her into something far darker than she ever imagined. Can Ali uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?
The series is published by Storm Publishing with the second book in the series slated for publication in November 2026, and the third in June 2027.
Donabate Portrane Sustainable Energy Community (DPSEC) is a volunteer group working to make our community more sustainable through practical, inclusive events. The group was established in late 2023 by a group of locals passionate about climate action, biodiversity, and community empowerment.
Our objectives include improving the energy efficiency of buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy, helping nature to thrive, and promoting more sustainable consumer behaviour and transport choices.
In 2024, we were delighted to be awarded over €15,000 in Climate Action Funding from Fingal County Council, in partnership with Donabate Portrane Community Centre. With this funding, we were able to purchase items for the Community Centre which help to promote sustainable living and the circular economy. These include a set of reusable cups, a bike repair station, five new bike lockers, clothing rails for swap shops, five sewing machines, and raised beds for growing food.
We also collaborated with the local Scout Den on the most recent Climate Action Fund and are currently waiting to hear if it was successful.
One of our most popular initiatives has been our clothing swap shops, which take place every few months on a Saturday afternoon in the Community Centre. A swap shop is a place where people can bring items they no longer need and take home items they will use, for free. This helps to keep our resources in circulation for longer and reduce the cost of living for families. We have organised special swap shops for Halloween costumes, Christmas jumpers, and at the Portrane Summer Festival.
We also hold repair cafés at our swap shops, where one of our volunteers can help you to repair an old item of clothing, or to practice simple sewing and mending techniques on scrap fabric. We can help with both sewing machine and hand sewing skills.
We have lots more projects in the pipeline (or electricity line!), so keep an eye on our social media to find out what’s happening next- just scan the QR code on this page.
We love collaborating with other organisations like community groups, businesses, public bodies and social enterprises to share knowledge and resources and maximise our ability to achieve our vision. Equally, we are always looking for new volunteers to join the organising committee or provide one-off support for events.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at donabateportranesec@gmail.com or on social media if you would like to collaborate or support our work - we would love to hear from you!
All children in Fingal who are starting primary school in September are being invited to visit their local library to pick up a free book bag and take the opportunity to join the library.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, T.D., together with Minister of State for Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands & Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, T.D., today announced the launch of this year’s My Little Library free book bag for almost 60,000 children starting primary school.
The My Little Library initiative 2026 is expected to lead to tens of thousands of families picking up their book bags and joining their local library. Since its launch, an average of 20,000 4–5-year-olds have joined their local libraries annually.
The books and resources in the book bag, which is available in both English and ‘as Gaeilge’, support children and their parents in the transition to primary school.
From 11th of May 2026, all children completing the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library and pick up a free book bag. The bags will be available throughout the summer. All families will be invited to join the library if they are not already members.
Minister Foley said she was pleased to announce the 2026 My Little Library initiative.
“I’m really pleased to announce the launch of the free My Little Library book bags for all children in Fingal who will be starting primary school later this year. I really do encourage all their families to pick up their child’s free book bag in their local library.
The books are available as Gaeilge and as Bearla. Tá rud ann do gach duine. The books are available in both English and Irish so there really is something for everyone. This is also a great opportunity for young people to join their local library and indeed enjoy the wonder and the gift of reading.”
At the heart of Fingal’s thriving food scene is the Fingal Food Circle, a dynamic network of local food and drink producers. Meet them manning their stalls at Flavours of Fingal (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July) and at Explore Fingal Food Markets throughout the summer.
Taking place on the first weekend of July at Newbridge House and Farm, Flavours of Fingal is the county’s flagship event—and a must-visit for food enthusiasts. Blending the charm of a traditional county show with the energy of a family festival, this two-day celebration brings together everything that makes Fingal special, with food taking centre stage.
Flavours of Fingal features a dedicated food marquee, where Fingal Food Circle members and Fingal Farmers showcase their produce across dozens of vibrant stalls. Highlights include live chef demonstrations by TV chef Erica Drum, alongside talented local chefs, all spotlighting the very best of local ingredients.
Food Circle members love the opportunity to connect directly with fellow food lovers and you can mee them at markets throughout the summer. For details on all Fingal Markets visit www.explorefingal.ie/markets.
Explore Fingal Market Dates – June/July 2026
June
Every Saturday Malahide: Casino Model Railway Museum (10am-4pm)
Saturday 13th Blanchardstown: Millennium Park (12noon-6pm)
Saturday 20th Swords: Swords Castle (10am-3pm)
July
Every Saturday Malahide: Casino Model Railway Museum (10am-4pm)
Saturday 4th/Sunday 5th Flavours of Fingal, Newbridge House and Farm (11am-6pm)
Saturday 4th Blanchardstown: Millennium Park (12noon-6pm)
Saturday 18th Swords: Swords Castle (10am-3pm)
The summer holidays are fast approaching and if you’re thinking about summer camps for ages 3-12yrs, check out Bounce & Beyond Ballyboughal. They have Trampoline, soft play area and sensory room.
Camps are €150 and NSC payments are accepted. Contact LittleBrightStarsbb@gmail.com for bookings while there are still spots available
The weather is getting nice but it’s good to have a hoodie or jacket with you for when the inevitable clouds arrive. We love of Circle Edge Athleisurewear. They have sporty clothes for exercising and running errands but also, half zip & wide leg pant sets which are it is the perfect outfit for when you want to be comfy but also, look chic. They’re an Irish company too, which we love. I am wearing their matching stone set above, it’s fab!
June is busy with graduations and junior/leaving cert exams. If you want to treat your child with a congratulatory or good luck gift, Irish jewellery brand Fíor have stunning jewellery with an Irish twist. We especially love the Grá range and their shamrock ankle bracelets are stunning. Perfect graduation gifts!
Another Irish jewellery brand we love is Lulubelle jewellery. We gifted their ‘Tiny Wish’ necklace to our daughter to wish her good luck with her exams and she loves it. They make personalised jewellery, ideal for gifting someone special, especially Mammies (hint hint!) I have one of their bracelets with my children’s initials and I love it. Perfect for birthday gifting.
With school wrapping up soon, we’ve great suggestions for mini breaks and days out. Bracken Court Hotel Balbriggan has various family packages this summer - some include family passes to Emerald Park and Aquazone. They’re close to Malahide Gardens and Newbridge House & Farm too, which are easily accessible by train.
Pillo Hotel in Ashbourne has a pool and sensory room. It’s a genuinely family friendly hotel with great food and spacious rooms. It’s close to Dublin city centre too, so easy to get to attractions like The National Concert Hall, Wax Museum, Viking Splash tours & Shake Dog for lunch!
We’ve got lots of competitions running on mams.ie like Family Passes to Skypark, Malahide Gardens, Newbridge Farm and Beyond The Trees Avondale and Shake Dog Vouchers. To enter, make sure you’re following us at
www.mams.ie
https://www.facebook.com/mams.ireland/
https://www.instagram.com/mams.ie/
Congratulations to St. Marys Baton Twirlers who won 1st place overall at the 2026 Baton Twirling Ireland ABTI National Championships! This achievement is a true team effort, showcasing the incredible partnership between our dedicated athletes and coaches. Together, we’ve reached new heights.
Here’s how our athletes got on over the weekend in their individual, pair, and team events:18 x 1st Places; 20 x 2nd Places ;17 x 3rd Places;10 x 4th Places; 5 x 5th Places; 1 x 6th Place.
A big thank you to the parents and families for your continued support of our club.
Some members also recently displayed at the BELIEVE Expo in Flemington Community Centre Balbriggan. The club made wonderful connections with other clubs and organisations and potential new members.
You can see more display from St. Mary’s Baton Twirlers at the Balscadden Tractor Run on 21st June.
Fingal Arts Office has officially launched the Creative Places Balbriggan Strategy 2026-2027, together with a brand new funding scheme for Balbriggan called “Making Waves”.
Creative Places Balbriggan is an Arts Council funded project which aims to make the arts more accessible within the community through increased engagement in socially engaged, community-led creative activities. The Making Waves seed funding scheme will support community groups to work with artists to start developing artistic skills and to participate in creative activities through collaboration.
The new strategy focuses on three main pillars of work in the Balbriggan community: Creative Youth, Creative Industry and Climate Action.
Speaking at the launch of the strategy at The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Tom O’ Leary said “I am delighted to launch the Creative Places Balbriggan Strategy 2026-27. Balbriggan has a vibrant and burgeoning arts scene, as we can see from this magnificent venue, The Lark. With the two-year strategy in place, the stage is now set for more creative opportunities for the local community through the Making Waves Seed Funding scheme. I am particularly glad to see Creative Youth as the main pillar of the work going forward, given Balbriggan is the youngest large town in Ireland with approximately one third of its 24,0000 population under the age of 18. Many of these young people will have the opportunity to develop their creative skills and interests through the Creative Places Balbriggan Project.”
Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said “I greatly welcome the new Creative Places Balbriggan Strategy 2026-2027 and the Making Waves Seed Funding scheme. Together with the updated Arts Office plan, new public arts projects in Balbriggan, and the planned studio places at 2-4 Dublin Street. I look forward to seeing Balbriggan develop as a major hub for the arts and creativity in Fingal. The strategic pillars of Creative Youth and Creative Industry align with Our Balbriggan strategy pillars in community development and economic development. The creative focus on Climate Action as a pillar will also be greatly complimented by Balbriggan being the designated Decarbonising Zone in Fingal. The Making Waves Fund will seed fund opportunities within the community to get them creatively involved in these developments.”
The Making Waves Seed Funding Scheme 2026 will provide seed funding for creative programmes that involve community members working collaboratively with an artist to develop new ideas and creative activities. The fund is now open to individual artists, community groups, and community organisations based in Balbriggan. It is also open to any artists outside Balbriggan who are willing to work with a group from the Balbriggan community.
Funding of up to €5,000 per applicant is available. Application will be open from Tuesday, 5 May until Friday, 26 June.
Interested applicants can contact Creative Places Balbriggan coordinator Cormac McDonagh for further information on 087 7141691 or cormac.mcdonagh@fingal.ie
For more information, please read the funding guidelines and strategy here: https://www.fingal.ie/creative-places-balbriggan
The below might seem simple to you and me, but sometimes people forget their common courtesy. As Tom O’Neill recently continued the celebrations of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind turning 50, here are some top tips when meeting people who are blind/visually impaired:
Following planning approval at the Council meeting on 11 May 2026, Fingal County Council has confirmed that the long-awaited Balbriggan community swimming pool project is now progressing towards construction, marking a significant milestone for the town and the wider North Fingal region.
The proposed development consists of a single-storey public swimming pool facility featuring a 25-metre, six-lane pool and a spectator viewing gallery.
Supporting amenities will include village-style, group and accessible changing facilities, showers and toilets, a reception and waiting area, staff offices and welfare facilities, meeting rooms, storage areas, plant and chemical storage rooms, and buggy storage.
In line with Fingal County Council’s sustainability objectives, photovoltaic (PV) panels will be installed at roof level to support energy-efficient operation.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, welcomed the progress:
“This is a very positive development for Balbriggan, Skerries, Lusk and beyond. The pool will provide a high-quality, accessible public facility for families, schools and swimmers of all ages, and represents an important addition to the social and recreational infrastructure of the area. It’s a great day for North Fingal, with an estimated investment of more than €11 million.”
Director of Services, David Storey, emphasised the significance of the project:
“This is a major step forward for Balbriggan and the wider North Fingal area. For a long time, there has been a clear need for a high-quality public swimming facility, and we are now moving closer to delivering that reality. This project is about increasing access, supporting active lifestyles, and providing a vital community resource that will benefit people of all ages for generations to come. It is a strong example of how targeted investment can make a real and lasting difference in people’s daily lives.”
Balbriggan Summerfest recently held a charity football match in memory of Conor Allen and in aid of the Balbriggan Cancer Support Group. The fundraiser was organised on behalf of Conor’s family, who chose the charity in recognition of the vital support they provide to individuals and families in our community affected by cancer.
“Conor was a wonderful young man with a huge love for Balbriggan, for sport and especially for football. He brought people together with his energy, kindness and passion for the game. To honour his memory, we want to make this charity football match an annual event — a day that celebrates Conor’s life while giving back to a cause close to his family’s heart,” the organisers explained.
“We are so grateful for your support, whether through donating, or for coming along on the day. Together, we can remember Conor and make a real difference in our community”