When you think of Lawn Bowls what images are conjured up in your mind? Retired /elderly men and women wearing white clothing. A slow paced non- competitive sport. A sport that is only played in Summer. The facts might surprise you! Let me dispel some of these myths. Lawn Bowls is played by all ages, genders, and abilities. It is inclusive, fun, competitive and involves some strategic. Ireland has over twenty-seven clubs who are affiliated to the governing body Irish Lawn Bowls. Lawn Bowls is played on synthetic and grass rinks. There is a growing academy for children/teenagers and young adults called The Leinster Lions. It is a fun way to stay active and get fit. It is played outdoors all year round. There is a social element to the game. It can help with teambuilding as it requires co-operation from team members to win a game. It improves mental health by social interaction. Lawn Bowls is a precision sport. It requires accuracy and strategy. It is like Pétanque but uses different sized and weighted bowls. In the Southern Hemisphere the game is well represented by young adults. Most importantly Lawn Bowls is fun! At Aer Lingus Lawn Bowls club you will receive a warm welcome. We benefit from having a synthetic surface which enables us to play all year round. We play socially and competitively we take part in the ILB Summer and Winter leagues. We are undertaking a Corporate Bowls initiative for the Spring/ early summer. We will hold an Open Weekend on 11th and 12th of May. This is a great opportunity to try the sport. We are also available every Wednesday and Sunday at 11am for our social bowls sessions. Contact us on 0863114540 for more information. We hope you will accept our invitation to take part.

On the week leading up to St Patricks Day at the Shed, we crafted lucky discs, great laughs and chats. What disc did you get? Did you watch out for Swords Women’s Shed at the Swords St Patrick’s Day Parade? We hope you did and were lucky enough to get a keyring, magnet or even a car charm. We also hoped you supported Swords Women’s Shed on that day. The ladies from the Shed did us proud!

An initiative designed to enhance town centres throughout Fingal had been announced, with businesses and groups across the county being encouraged to apply for funding.

The Streetscape Enhancement funding reflects Fingal County Council’s vision as a great place to live, work, visit and do business in. It will help support façade upgrades at commercial premises and community buildings, including shopfront improvements, painting, signage replacement or removal, lighting, and green planting.Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Adrian Henchy, welcomed the new funding programme and added: “It presents a unique opportunity for businesses and community facilities situated along the streets of our towns and villages. I would encourage businesses and community groups to avail of this excellent opportunity to enhance their town centres.” Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said: “This new funding represents a collaborative effort between the local authority and eligible town centre businesses and community facilities within Fingal. This strategic partnership aims to significantly bolster the appearance and prosperity of our town centres, underscoring the Council’s commitment to our communities. “The Streetscape Enhancement Scheme 2024 is now open and is seeking expressions of interest from qualifying commercial and community premises located within areas designated as “Major Town Centre”, “Town and District Centre”, “Local Centre” or “Rural Village” within the Fingal County Development Plan 2023-2029.Under the scheme, up to 50% of the cost of improvements, up to a maximum grant amount of €1,500 per eligible property, is available, subject to terms and conditions. Expressions of interest must be received by Fingal County Council by 12 noon on April 8, 2024. Programme terms and conditions and expression of interest form can be found at fingal.ie Completed expression of interest forms and the required supporting documents should be emailed to townregenerationoffice@fingal.ie or sent by post to Town Regeneration Office, Economic Enterprise Tourism and Cultural Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Fingal, Co Dublin, K67X8Y2.

My Swords was an exciting photography competition designed by Pavilions Food Fair, exclusively for Secondary School students in the Swords area showcasing their creativity and storytelling abilities through photography. Forty-eight students from Colaiste Choilm and St Finian’s Community college embraced the competition led by their teachers Irene Doherty and David Bowe respectively. The Pavilions Food fair with its O’Brien’s Sandwich Café, Bagel Bar and Abrakebabra has been a popular eatery in the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords for over 15 years. It is a preferred choice for breakfast and lunch and according to the students of Colaist Choilm and St Finan’s it has the best loaded fries in town! The business is owed by husband-and-wife team Turlough Flynn & Brid Ryan, and they ran this competition as a thank you to the local community for the support they have received over the past few difficult trading years. The 48 submissions were featured in the restaurant over a weekend and customers were invited to give their public vote on their preferred choice. It generated lots of conversations and interest. The competition culminated in a wonderful exhibition evening where students, teachers’ family and friends gathered at the Pavilions Food Fair to view the submissions and enjoy the awards ceremony. The winning school received a DSLR camera to the value of €500, the overall winner received an Instax Film Printer to the value of €300, the runner up received an Instax Film Camera to the value of €200, The customer choice won restaurant vouchers. The winning submissions are currently hanging in the Pavilions Food Fair in the Pavilions Shopping centre and gaining lots of positive attention. Turlough & Brid hope to run this as an annual event and look forward to encouraging more schools to get involved. The winning school was Colaist Choilm, the overall student winner was Brian McGlade with runners up, Oisin Parks Colaiste Choilm, Grace Cooney St Finian’s Community College, Lillie Bowbrick Hand St Finian’s Community College, Josh McKinney Colaiste Choilm, Lucy McGarvey St Finian’s Community College.

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend at the many ParkRun Ireland locations in Fingal County Council! Lace up your running shoes or take a leisurely stroll with our amazing Walk at Parkrun participants. No matter your pace, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Register now at //parkrun.ie and be part of the action-packed fitness event supported by Sport Ireland. Join our vibrant community and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for an active lifestyle. Get inspired, make new friends, and conquer personal milestones together. Don’t miss out on the excitement!

Rush Cricket Club would like to wish Rush Local the best of luck.The cricket season kicks off in April and Rush Cricket Club are always open to new and old players taking part in the sport in our lovely town of Rush. Formed in 1931 and currently based on the Skerries Road we are an inclusive and welcoming club in the town of Rush offering top class cricket facilities along with a fully stocked bar for our supporters and visiting teams. We offer cricket to all from the ages of four up to as long as you can hold a cricket bat. With a range of Juvenile teams (U7 to U17) and six adult teams made up of 4 Men’s teams and 2 Women’s teams playing in the Leinster leagues. Training for ages 4-11 begins in May which take place every Friday evening from 6.30pm – 8.30pm and weather permitting allows for the parents to stay, spectate, and enjoy a BBQ. We are always looking for parents to get involved also to help man the BBQ, assist mentoring a team or play social cricket with other parents. Rush Cricket Club has steep history in Irish cricket and has helped to produce senior Irish Internationals including Eoin Morgan, Fintan McAllister, Neil Rock and Stephen Doheny and no doubt the next one is not far away. Please contact rushcricket@gmail.com or Patrick Monks (Hon Sec) 083 0752197 for further information on getting involved.

In the heart of Fingal, Rush Boxing Club stands as a testament to the dedication, skill, and triumphs within the world of combat sports. Offering a diverse range of disciplines including Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), this club has become a breeding ground for champions. Among the notable recent success stories are Ellie and Chloe Lawrence, who etched their names in history as Rush Boxing Club’s first female league champions. Their journey symbolizes the club’s commitment to fostering male and female talent. Carson McCarthy’s recent victory in the Dublin championship not only adds another feather to the club’s cap but also propels him into the prestigious All Ireland competition. His success underscores the high-calibre training and coaching provided at Rush Boxing Club, positioning it as a force to be reckoned with in the national boxing scene. The club’s structured class schedule caters to individuals of all ages and skill levels. Junior boxing classes are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:15 to 6:15 pm, ensuring a nurturing environment for young enthusiasts to learn the fundamentals of the sport. For Seniors, the training intensifies from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on the same days, providing a platform for aspiring fighters to hone their skills and compete at higher levels.Rush Boxing Club not only focuses on physical conditioning and technique but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and discipline among its members. The atmosphere is one of mutual support and encouragement, creating a community that goes beyond the confines of the training mats.As Rush Boxing Club continues to produce champions it solidifies its standing where passion, dedication, and skill converge to create a legacy of excellence. Whether you are a beginner looking to embark on a boxing journey or an experienced fighter aiming for championship glory, Rush Boxing Club welcomes all with open arms.New members welcome to join, contact Paul at 086 379 9603.

Ball Busters women’s football club was formed by Amanda Bracken and Tanya Christie, two friends from Lusk with a passion to play competitive football without the restrictions of playing on an actual team. Two mammies that still wanted the buzz of winning a game but having the craic at the same time. One afternoon after chatting through one of their many notions they decided to start up Ball Busters, a social indoor soccer group, and so it began, February 2023, the beginning of something special. On night one, we thought we would have loads of girls but 6 turned up, we thought all we had to do was organise it and people would show but that was not the case. Through hours of hard work and dedication, we have built a WhatsApp group of over 80 ladies, we rent 3 out of the 5 astros in the Soccer Dome in Santry, with upwards of 40 ladies coming each week. We organise outings, have nights away, we have been to Wexford to play Courtown Hibs and have just come back from Bangor where we played 2 teams and won both matches, we have also done a bungee fitness class, we are very much a social group. We have built something that the ladies look forward to each week and keep coming back. For women in sports week, we will have 60+ ladies in the Dome, who all came together for the same reason, play ball, and have fun. We have built a very supportive environment for everyone, all levels are welcome, if you miss a goal no one is going to shout at you. We are so lucky with the mixture of girls we have, they are such a lovely bunch, there is never a cross word between any of us. It has given us all an outlet, something we can do for ourselves. So why not come and join us.

Our first feature this month is about Marram Grass planting on our Sand Dunes. On Sunday the 3rd of March 30 volunteers from Rush Clean Coasts group and from further afield planted Marram grass on part of the Sand Dunes on South Beach in Rush. Coastal Erosion is a constant issue, with the sand dunes disappearing bit by bit. The Marram grass however helps tie the sand together and provides at least some form of barrier to erosion. Aine Lawless from Clean Coast Ireland oversaw the planting process with the volunteers transplanting the grass from densely populated areas to the bare section of dunes. Rush Clean Coasts plan to have a further event later in Spring.

Next is a timely reminder regarding our very popular seed swap event. That is: we will be holding the first of our community seed and plant swap events for 2024 in early April. See our Seed Event flyer for details. Also we remind you of our Sunday Morning Litter Picking - Thank you to Rush Sailing Club for doing a super clean up around their area, and to our usual Sunday morning litter picking volunteers who cover the town. We also had some of the Tiny Towns gang out and about litter picking in the sunshine. If you would like to get involved in any of the above activities or have any questions in general, please drop us a line on tidytownsrush@gmail.com.