In February AAfA ran a very enjoyable trip to the Gaiety Theatre to see the J B Keane play ‘SIVE’ which 21 attended. We would like to sincerely thank Fingal Co Co for the Activity grant for educational and social trips which enabled us to hire a bus for this, and the next two outings. These we hope to run before the summer break so keep an eye on the website for information. We will be celebrating Bealtaine on Tuesday 30 th April from 11am to 12.30pm with Muireann and the Singing and Music class. There will be music, singing, readings and refreshments. Free to all, do come and join us.We will be supporting the EggHeadz group with their ‘Hello How Are You’ event on Wed 15th May.

‘Ageing Dis-Gracefully’ is a four-part workshop run by Peig McManus and Mary Jones which has been hugely successful. In fact, they are running a second series in April, and I have a feeling that this will be repeated. Well done, ladies!

In late February the Parish Hall Committee and Donabate Portrane Historical Society came together to put on a two-day event commemorating the Tayleur Tragedy. In the afternoon of Day 1, we had Music with Sea Songs by Gerry & the Plonkers with Tea and sambos organised by the Parish Hall Committee. In the evening, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Adrian Henchy, opened the event with the lighting of a candle, in remembrance of those lost on the Tayleur. Then Stephen Rae very kindly narrated an eye-witness account from a book written shortly after the tragedy. After this Edward Burke, author of “Bound for Australia”, gave an informative talk on The Tayleur and Laddie De Jong told tales about diving on the shipwreck with Myles Dockrell. Breda Dockrell opened the night and Peader Bates closed it after Willie Cahill sang a few songs of the sea.On Day 2, the Senior Classes in the local primary schools came to a short play co-written and performed by Shona O’Donohoe and Áine Dileen, ‘The Tragedy of the Tayleur 1854’. Áine’s daughter, Ana, played Peggy a young girl emigrating, while Shona’s son Fiach was the ‘Ocean Child’ who was rescued from the ship by a Frenchman played by Jim O Donohoe and given to Jane Dockrell played by Breda Dockrell. Fiach is a direct descendant of Jane’s mother Elizabeth, an amazing connection. Joe Pryme told some diving stories and demonstrated the use of diving equipment. While Edmund showed how the compass baring could be altered by an iron object and Laddie told some tales of diving on the Tayleur. In the evening, Cormac Lowth gave a great talk on the Ships half-model which he had with him from the National Museum. The film ‘A Night to Remember’, based on the Titanic Shipwreck, was shown. There was an exhibition of artefacts on display for the two days; including a bottle of wine! brought up from the wreck by the diver Paul Fogarty. All in all, it was a great two days of history brought to life, involving young and old in the community. Thanks again to all the people who made it such a remembrance of such a sad time.

International Women’s Day 2024 – EggHeadz celebrated Women’s Mental Health, Well-being, Sport and Nutrition at Newbridge House on March 08th. The FREE event was a wonderful morning with an expert panel of speakers and was attended by women from all the local sporting and community clubs.

Suicide or Survive (SOS) Wellness Workshop – EggHeadz hosted a FREE adult workshop which took place on 29th February at Newbridge House. The day focused on helping people understand and take charge of their own mental health.

Art Mosaic Mural - EggHeadz has been selected as a participant for Global Roots international art mosaic mural. Our youth committee will involve every club, young an old as part of this wonderful uplifting positive community project. Mural unveiling is April 22nd.

Parents Support – EggHeadz launched a Connect Café which is a Mental Health Ireland initiative. The group meet weekly on Wednesday’s at 10am at the community centre. Parents are supported FREE by psychotherapist Kim Cromwell. Professional help, advice and neighbourly support is on hand.

Young Adolescents - EggHeadz FREE weekly 5km #mentalmiles social session takes place on Sunday mornings 10am at Newbridge House, led by Jason Dignam, everyone is welcome.

Teen & Tween Workshops - Teen spring retreat focused on Art Therapy will take place over spring break. A FREE two-day workshop with teen trauma expert Ivy Baretto. Book online.

Youth Activities – EggHeadz has been selected by Arch Club Federation to provide weekly classes in Fingal. Tailored for children with Dyspraxia, classes include Fitness, Strength and Conditioning, Mindfulness and Creative Crafts.

FREE Youth Counselling - EggHeadz FREE of charge and confidential counselling service for young people aged 12+ takes place weekly in the Community Centre on Mondays, email eggheadzcounselling@gmail.com to book an appointment.

Darkness Into Light – for Pieta House. The committee are seeking volunteers, so please get in touch to help. This a truly uplifting event which takes place in communities nationwide on 11th May 2024.

Over a single generation, Donabate has grown from a village of 1,100 in 1991 to a town of 9,600 in the 2022 census. Our social infrastructure is hardly coping with our current population. Schools and crèches are full, with recently arrived residents seeking places in Swords. It is increasingly difficult to find venues for new weekly activities and for one-off meetings and events. The proposed extension to the Community Centre will barely satisfy the demand of the existing population. The Tilberry site, 5 hectares owned by FCC on the northern side of New Road about 600 metres from the Town Centre, is the ideal location for an Arts Youth and Community Cultural Centre, school, crèche and affordable and “right-sized” housing, meeting future needs on several fronts. The lack of employment locally results in over-crowded public transportation and commuters turning to cars. With several large planning permissions in the pipeline, the past pace of expansion is set to continue and, unless serious action is taking to address the deficit, the situation is likely to worsen.

Recently, Fingal County Council (FCC) granted permission for 1,020 dwellings at Corballis East. While we appreciate the need for housing, not just for Donabate, but for the greater Dublin area, this decision, unfortunately, is a backward step regarding good planning. It breaches FCC’s own Development Plan and the Donabate Local Area Plan (LAP), which would have allowed for 900 houses on this site. It also fails to address the current and future need for social infrastructure and local employment. The reserved school site in Corballis East is only large enough for a 16-classroom school, but the projected population of this single permission will fill this, with no spare capacity for other planned developments in Corballis. Crèche provision is 35 places below the minimum standard. The developer’s response to the Development Plan objective that “large scale residential developments include a community facility” is a so-called “multi-purpose community use unit” with a measly odd-shaped floor area of 91m 2 , less than the area of a 3-bedrom house. Areas of public open space and back gardens fall short of the Development Plan standards. The developer has counted all 51 single-bedroomed sheltered housing units as both age-friendly and social housing to satisfy two separate requirements of the Development Plan.
The permission granted by FCC also doesn’t follow the LAP’s aspirations regarding number of dwellings, density, dwelling types and building heights. About 900 dwellings should be permitted on this site at the LAP’s target density of 35 units per hectare, not 1,020 at 40 per hectare. The LAP says that most of the dwellings here will be “two storeys in height” and that “family homes will be the primary housing form…(rather than)…apartments and other multi-occupancy units” but less than half are houses and 4 of every 7 dwellings are in buildings of three to five storeys. While FCC’s work in our area is appreciated, e.g. Newbridge Park is second to none and the new Donabate Framework Plan brings new exciting opportunities, it is regrettable that in this instance, FCC has not followed its own policy documents. The Development Plan and the LAP included hard-fought safeguards after extensive community consultation, which have now not been followed. Will our community be willing to engage in future Development Plans and LAPs?

Breda Dockrell (M.Sc. in Recreation Mgt.) and Jim O’Donohoe (B. Arch) former Planning Officers on Donabate Portrane Community Council

Why should the public have confidence and participate in the planning process when objectives in statutory plans are ignored contrary to council policy and the wishes of the public and elected Councillors? Local Area Representative Corina Johnston said, “The Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029 Core Strategy envisages the population of the Donabate peninsula growing to 12720 by 2029. The population was 11783 in the 2022 census. I believe we have already surpassed the council’s estimate. Construction work has commenced on phase one of 1200 units on council land in Ballymastone. An application for 1020 housing units at Corballis East is with Fingal CC and a decision is imminent. In accordance with the Local Area Plan (LAP) almost 3000 houses remain to be built in Donabate which will bring the population to over 20,000.” Johnston added; “The LAP also has an objective for the provision of a purpose-built FCC Multi-Functional Community Facility. But are refusing to date to identify and provide a site for this much needed facility in Ballymastone. Duncan Smith TD and I recently held a well-attended public meeting to raise this issue. The meeting was unanimous in their view that the community facility must be delivered in tandem with the housing. A committee was formed (Crossroads) to campaign for this facility.” Johnston continued; ”At a time when the people of Donabate are without adequate public transport, when some parents have to leave their homes at 6:30am to bring their children to childcare outside our parish, when new parents into the parish are unable to secure school and childcare places for their children in Donabate, is it any wonder people are becoming frustrated and angry with the lack of infrastructure in the area? Childcare facilities are now conditioned in planning permissions and are not being delivered on time and in accordance with the scheduling conditioned in the permission. This is totally unacceptable.” Johnston concluded; “For the future of our Community FCC must identify a site now, before every remaining land is either built upon or planning permission granted. The provision of schools, other necessary infrastructure and amenities should be provided in tandem with development.”

Last month, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed music group, Gerry and the Plonkers, had a special guest appearance at the last of its current series of free concerts in Donabate Parish Hall. Local resident, Edel Dempsey on concert flute and tin whistles, joined the group. As well as accompanying the group playing its usual repertoire of 50s and 60s hits and a selection of Irish songs for Paddy’s Day, she treated the audience to a wonderful rendition of The Lonesome Boatman, ably accompanied by our own Peter Cooney on guitar. The Plonkers will resume their free concerts in the autumn. Although the Plonkers concerts have stopped for the time being, the Men’s Shed has been, and will continue to be, busy on many other fronts. Work on our allotment plots has ramped up, with tomatoes, onions, broccoli, cauliflowers and potatoes being planted. Our weekly exercise classes, croquet sessions in Newbridge and Thursday morning get-togethers will also continue through the summer months.We are always open to new members. So, if you or someone you know is interested in joining us, please call Jim on 086-3694316.

Many parents cannot access childcare facilities in Donabate. In many cases, families are on waiting lists of up to 12 months or longer. More capacity is needed. Parents should not have to travel significant distances to find a creche or afterschool facility for their child. Childcare costs are a significant financial commitment for families. I’ve met parents in Donabate and Portrane that are paying significantly more in childcare costs than in other parts of the country. While recent investment in Core Funding (paid directly to childcare providers) and the increase in the National Childcare Scheme subsidy rate is welcome, fees remain far too high. From speaking with childcare providers in Fingal, it is clear that there is a recruitment and retention crisis in this sector. Many owners say the struggle to find staff has impacted on the quality of service they can provide. Recent surveys published show that childcare staff are actively looking to change careers, citing low pay (and having to work unpaid overtime). What I’ve done so far to help parents in Donabate:

I have written to Fingal County Council requesting that they provide a full list of vacant sites that are earmarked as locations for childcare facilities. Many developments in Fingal were approved on the basis that creches would be built (and in operation) as part of these developments.

I have advocated on behalf of residents, and made representations to Oireachtas members, proposing that changes are made to planning rules to address these shortages of childcare facilities. I also support direct government intervention, whereby the State steps in to build and operate creches.I am holding a public meeting in Lusk community cottage on Wednesday the 10th of April at 7pm to discuss the lack of childcare options for parents in north county Dublin.

I want to demonstrate to policy makers that there is a crisis in the provision of childcare facilities in Fingal. If you live in Donabate and are affected by this issue, please contact me (eoghandockrellfg@gmail.com) about your experience.

To kick-off the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, CCÉ Leithinis members performed in SuperValu in Donabate on Sunday 10th March and we also had our St. Patrick’s themed Irish music slow session for Leithinis members, led by Erin, in Donabate Parish Hall on Friday 8th March. Due to tremendous interest, both from musicians and listeners, the regular Trad Session for experienced musicians will now take place twice per month, on the first and third Tuesdays in the Brook Pub in Portrane. The most recent session on the 5th March was a great success with more than 15 musicians participating. Our Spring term of classes in Traditional Irish Music continues for adults and children (7+) in Banjo, Bodhrán, Button Accordion, Concertina, Fiddle, Mandolin, Flute and Tin Whistle in Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School.

Paul Mulville, Fingal Social Democrats Councillor, has called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to sanction the extension of the public sewage mains to Corballis / Balcarrick, and along Turvey Avenue, on the Donabate Portrane peninsula. Cllr. Mulville stated, “Recently Uisce Éireann came before Council members to provide an update on their investment plans for the Dublin Region, and to take questions from Councillors. I again raised the need for the public sewage mains to be extended to Corballis / Balcarrick, and along Turvey Avenue (towards old Turvey Cottages / Tesco Distribution Centre end). However, for this to happen, Irish Water has confirmed that the Minister needs to approve the inclusion of such a local scheme as part of the multi-annual water programme, and to allocate funding for it. Local residents in Balcarrick / Corballis and along towards the end of Turvey Avenue area have, for many years, expressed a strong desire to be allowed connect onto the public sewage network, a basic standard which many of us take for granted. Ireland has obligations under EU directives to ensure that the disposal of human waste does not have a harmful impact on the environment. As such, it is important that people living in close proximity to public sewage infrastructure should be allowed move away from septic tanks and connect to the mains if they wish to. “This is of particular importance for the Corballis / Balcarrick area, which contains many golf clubs and caravan parks, as well as many residential homes, and in which Donabate beach is located, one of the most popular beaches in Dublin, and also a designated Natura 2000 international site. There are also many homes along Turvey Avenue, as well industrial and business facilities, including the Tesco Distribution Centre, in close proximity to the Rogerstown Estuary and streams which flow into it, and all these residences and facilities need to be allowed onto the public sewage mains to protect Donabate’s natural environment For example, the Tesco Distribution Centre, the largest building in the country by volume, the 11th largest by volume in the world, is not serviced by public sewer. Instead, wastewater generated on site is addressed via an onsite wastewater treatment system, regulated by a trade effluent discharge licence. The Minister needs to step up here for the sake of the natural environment and for the people of Corballis/ Balcarrick and Turvey.”

Acquiring a life-changing brain injury at 28 was not on Sinéad Lucey Brennan’s radar until one day in 2016 “the rug was pulled from under her feet”. Sinéad was unaware she had an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) until she experienced a haemorrhagic stroke. After surgery, she spent 3 weeks in ICU and on discharge realised that services were minimal for neurorehabilitation. She credits her partner, family, friends, healthcare professionals and Headway Ireland for supporting her physical and emotional recovery. Managing people’s expectations during her acute phase of recovery was tough. “I was told I would have no short-term memory for 12 months which was correct and a pen and pad to write things down were essential. It did return but that acute period was tough”. She felt she couldn’t tell people at work about her disability initially. “I was anxious about the impact on my working potential. I tried hard to figure out how to share my story and I didn’t know how to articulate what I’d been through. I masked for too long and this led to burnout. “The office environment had sensory challenges and I educated my HR team to help with the office set up and was accommodated with remote work too.” She worked with Headway Ireland to help routine, planning, organising, and rebuilding her life. Nearly 8 years on, she is a mother to a baby daughter which she “couldn’t have imagined” during her experience. She is running in the local elections for Fianna Fáil in Balbriggan to amplify the lived experience of disabled people. “It’s both the small and the significant issues. It’s access to amenities, public buildings and areas, footpaths and lighting that don’t work for disabled people and with some consultation, they would. It’s the lack of school places and general services for disabled children and adults that spurred me to run. Through her work as a disability advocate, she backed the Neurological Alliance of Ireland’s Brain Awareness Week campaign this month.”