The Parish Hall programme provides for a variety of activities and events to satisfy as many needs as possible. During the normal week e.g.: Seniors meet twice - on a Wednesday and Friday mornings and enjoy bingo and other activities and a cup of tea and chat. There are also in the Parish Hall, Cards, Bridge, Pilates, Irish Dancing, Drama Classes and Leithinis Trad Music on different days. The special events range from Photo Exhibitions, to Drama Productions, to various Camps, to Music Makers and Craft Fairs! At present the Parish Office is confirming all activities and events from January to July. In 1923 the hall was described as cold and cheerless. Locals organised a football tournament, Cinderella dances and gift sales resulting in a new floor and new piano. The hall became so busy that bookings were hard to get. In 2023 the Parish Hall after refurbishment and a makeover, courtesy of FCC and the Parish Committee is now busy again and bookings are hard to get! We still have no piano but plenty of music is taking place anyway with Leithinis & the Music Makers Men’s Shed! If you wish to book a time and space for weekly or special events including camps, please contact the Parish Office on 01 8434574 immediately to check if there is still any availability. The Parish Hall Committee wishes all their users and the entire community a very happy and peaceful New Year.
Circle VHA is proud to announce its entrance into the Cost Rental sector, commencing with the tenancy of 29 homes at Lanestown View, Donabate, situated in North County Dublin. This partnership focuses on providing long-term, secure rental options, contributing significantly to the provision of high-quality homes in the region. In a significant expansion of its affordable housing initiatives, Circle VHA, a prominent Approved Housing Body, is set to scale up its housing delivery, aiming to provide over 3000 social and affordable homes in the next four years. This ambitious goal builds upon the success of the recently launched rental homes with an additional 700 cost rental homes set to commence construction in 2024. The strategic move solidifies Circle VHA’s commitment to addressing mixed tenure housing needs through innovative solutions. The inaugural Cost Rental homes at Lanestown View represent a pivotal moment for Circle VHA, marking its entrance into the Cost Rental market. This development, in partnership with Cairn Homes, will deliver 29 high-quality Cost Rental homes, forming part of a larger project comprising a total of 72 homes. The mixed-tenure scheme, encompassing both social and Cost Rental homes, offers a diverse range of housing options, including 2-bedroom homes, duplex homes, and apartments, complete with contemporary amenities such as private balconies and communal spaces, enhancing its appeal to prospective residents. This development not only represents Circle VHA’s groundbreaking entry into Cost Rental but also holds the distinction of being the first development along the new Donabate ring road. This road is anticipated to usher in thousands of new homes on the peninsula, marking a significant stride toward meeting the burgeoning housing demand in the region.
The musical narrative of ‘OCEAN CHILD’, is composed by Neil Martin, and is wrought from the tragic sinking of the RMS Tayleur off Lambay Island on January 21st, 1854. This is the world premiere of this newly commissioned work and it will be performed in St Patrick’s Church Donabate for the very first time ever on Sunday 28th January 2024. In this suite, a spoken narrative, drawn from contemporaneous newspaper reports and witness accounts, marries with an original score embracing string quartet, uilleann pipes, harp, flute and concertina. The performers include the world-famous actor Stephen Rea, The West Ocean String Quartet, Louise and Michelle Mulcahy. It was Commissioned by Templebar Trad Fest and made possible through the generosity of Fingal County Council. Remember the time and date: The Concert is at 6pm on the Sunday January 28th in St Patrick’s Church Donabate, tickets on sale Thursday November 16th on tradfest.com
Hi everyone, Corina here, just a note to wish you all a Happy New Year. In reviewing my past year, I want to thank you all for your support. At very short notice I contested the local elections in 2019 and narrowly missed out for the final seat. Although unelected I decided to continue to work and represent the people of the area given the lack of real progress on the provision of vital infrastructure, public transport and public services. I am pleased that on foot of our representations and campaigns we have delivered a number of projects in 2023 all of which we proposed and pursued including:
Duncan Smith TD and I held well attended public meetings on public transport and the need for a Cultural/Arts/Youth Centre. Our proposal will be debated in FCC chamber soon. I have been successful in raising these issues and many more with the assistance of my colleagues. I am keenly aware that while the area will grow in population to over 20,000 in the coming years the necessary infrastructure, school and childcare places and services are not coming quick enough to meet the needs of the people and will continue to campaign at local and national level for these vital facilities.
I can be even more effective on behalf of our growing community if elected a councillor in the upcoming elections.
Fingal TD, Minister Joe O’Brien has welcomed €45m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The grant is €45m announced under the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant. There are also Grants in early 2024 for Early Learning and Childcare Services to expand their capacity by means of internal renovations. Grants from mid-2024 for Early Learning and Childcare Services to deliver larger scale extensions to their premises by the end of 2025. A targeted Grant will deliver thousands of Early Learning and Childcare places in areas of undersupply.
Roderic O’Gorman TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has today announced a €45m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the revised National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP). The purpose of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant is to address capacity gaps by expanding existing provision and investing in the development of new provision where most needed. The primary focus of the Capacity Grant is to increase capacity in the 1-3 age range for full day or part-time care. Places for children under age 1 will also be eligible for funding. The Capacity Grant will be open to Core Funding partner services. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is undertaking a detailed needs analysis of supply and demand for Early Learning and Childcare. This analysis will identify areas of undersupply across the country and will allow the funding to be targeted at areas most in need. Welcoming the announcement, Minister Joe O’Brien said “This funding will enable services to develop new provisions where they are needed, and it will also extend existing services ensuring that capacity gaps are addressed.”
Another step forward in the delivery of projects under the €50m Our Balbriggan Regeneration project was marked recently with the opening of a temporary Pocket Park at 14 Bridge Street. The Pocket Park is part of the mixed-used development planned for the area which will create a vibrant, family friendly location in the heart of the town. With the demolition of 14 Bridge Street now complete, annexes and outbuildings to the rear of 6a-12 Bridge Street (De Bruns) are now also being demolished. The appointment of an Integrated Design Team by Fingal County Council to consider the next stages of development at this location will happen shortly. The plan is to link Millpond Park to a new park entrance at 14 Bridge Street which will facilitate a pedestrian and cycling route down to the transformed Quay Street and Harbour area. The opening of the Pocket Park coincided with Santa’s arrival in the town. Festivities will begin with the lighting of a Christmas tree at St George’s Square at 6.00pm.Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Grainne Maguire,invited those gathered to walk the short distance to the Pocket Park to meet Santa.Members of the cast of North County Dublin’s latest pantomime ‘Beauty and the Beast’ which tool place at The Lark, Balbriggan’s new concert hall, will joined the Deputy Mayor and Santa for the special festive occasion. According to the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, the opening of the Pocket Park is another milestone in the Our Balbriggan Regeneration project. “The Pocket Park forms part of the redevelopment of the DeBruns site, which will transform the area,” he said.The Our Balbriggan leadership group, formed at the outset of the regeneration programme, and chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, plays a key role in helping guide the town’s rejuvenation programme. “It is wonderful see the opening of the Pocket Park in time for the festive season and I encourage locals and visitors to visit the park and enjoy it,” said Professor MacCraith. “These works will form part of the transformation of the town through the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme.” Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said the opening of the Pocket Park stage is another key development in the delivery of the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme.“Fingal County Council is strongly committed to delivering the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme, with the aim of ensuring a great place to live, work and do business,” she said.
EggHeadz CLG is delivering programmes and support services across Fingal and Dublin. Here is some of what we’re doing…
School Engagement: -Secondary School: Our ‘Shape Your Life Through Sport’ programme continues across Fingal and Dublin. Pictured recently at Donabate Portrane Community College as part of Mental Health Month and at St. Finian’s Community College Swords as part of Careers Week.
In-school Primary: programmes have continued to grow and now includes Dublin South Central as well as Fingal and Dublin City. Pictured are children learning basic Physical Literacy skills. After-school Primary: Yoga & Art programmes are enjoyed by primary school children 5-7 and 9-12yrs. Pictured are children learning Strength, Agility, Relaxation and Winter Crafts at Donabate Portrane Educate Together. EggHeadz drop-in evening and weekend classes take place in Donabate Parish Hall and Donabate Portrane Community Centre. See eggheadz.ie for timetable and join us!
Community Engagement: EggHeadz and Cycle Against Suicide took part and supported an evening of live music in St. Patrick’s Church, Donabate in November. The night was in memory of Conor Culleton, the theme of the music focused on mental health and was performed by the extremely talented Sean Collins, with local special guests Andrew O’Sullivan and Eve Doorley. EggHeadz volunteers have completed the Peer Buddy training programme with Cycle Against Suicide.
EggHeadz Inclusion Programmes: EggHeadz support services take place in five different centres for Direct Provision in the Fingal area. Our engagement with the migrant community has been vital for integration and inclusion of young people in local sports clubs. For a second year running we collected and delivered Christmas presents to children and families living in Direct Provision. Thank you to everyone who donated.
EggHeadz Youth Counselling Service - A FREE of charge and confidential service for young people (aged 12-25) by appointment. It takes place on Mondays in Donabate Portrane Community Centre by appointment between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Mairead on 086-329 6812 or by email eggheadzcounselling@gmail.com to book an appointment. For more follow us on social media or visit our website.
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, recently announced €6 million in capital funding under the “Department of Rural and Community Development Local Enhancement Programme 2024”. The Minister said there will be €220,842.98 of this funding allocated to provide capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations across Fingal. There will be a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used, but is not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs. The scheme is designed to ensure local priorities are identified and met, so as to improve and enhance community facilities for all. Announcing the funding today, Minister O’Brien said: “The funding will provide really practical support to smaller community groups in Fingal that are active at a grassroots level to help them to ensure they have the facilities and equipment they need to support their communities”. “These grants will help thousands of community organisations, clubs, men’s and women’s sheds, youth centres and parish halls, to improve their facilities and continue to facilitate the provision of their valuable services to the people in their areas. I am particularly happy to have reserved funding for Women’s Sheds, groups and networks. Many of these groups are providing essential services on a day-to-day basis to those most in need. I hope this funding will help to support the provision of safe warm spaces for those groups to continue to meet and support their communities in both rural and urban areas right across the country”.
Ardgillan College has been very busy in 2023 and it was thoroughly enjoyable. We were thrilled for the class of 2023 on their fantastic Leaving Cert. Results and wish them well in their future endeavours. Conor Murphy was bestowed with the JP McManus Award from The University of Limerick for excelling in his LC having achieved 625 points. Our first years enjoyed a team bonding day in Ardgillan castle. Our lunch time clubs got underway including the brand-new Dungeons and Dragons club. Our sports teams have been busy playing matches in soccer, Gaelic, Hurling, Basketball, Golf, Hockey and Rugby. Our athletes took part in the Cross County Championships. Our Senior French students had a fabulous trip to Paris and took in all the major sights including The Mona Lisa, The Eifel Tower and Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. Senior students enjoyed Flynn Park in Courtlough, the Ploughing Championships and saw Hamlet performed on stage in Dundrum. Our TY’s had fun on trips to Jumpzone, the Ty Expo, the Casino at Marino, the Fingal Xplore Skills Expo and learnt how to drive in Finglas. Our Green Schools Group carried out a litter pick on Balbriggan beach, the Hamilton Road and Curran Park areas. Our 3rd years enjoyed a well-being retreat and our 5th years went on a historical walking tour of Dublin. 6th years frequented the Higher Options Conference and Worldskills event. Our Active Flag group organised a table tennis takeover and we also celebrated MFL week and Coding week. A group of students cheered on the boys in Green against Greece in the Aviva. We also celebrated the opening of our new school library. It was fantastic to welcome our founding Principal Mr. O’Leary back to open the beautiful facility named after him. We are looking forward to the future of inspiring a love of reading amongst students. We wish a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all our students, parents, teachers and friends in 2024.
Representatives from eight cities across the EU visited Balbriggan this week for the first transnational meeting of the URBACT EcoCore project.
EcoCore is one of 30 approved networks under the URBACT IV programme which is co-funded by the European Union. URBACT’s mission is to enable cities to work together and develop integrated solutions to common urban challenges by networking, learning from each other’s experiences and identifying good practices. Fingal County Council is proud to be the first local authority in Ireland to lead an URBACT network which includes partners from Dubrovnik (Croatia), Ormož (Slovenia), Alba Iulia (Romania), Ķekava (Latvia), Santo Tirso (Portugal), Pärnu (Estonia), Villena (Spain) and Tuusula (Finland).
The EcoCore Project is focusing on accelerating the green transition in the partner cities which are all located along strategic transport corridors, as Balbriggan is located on the road from Dublin to Belfast. It aims to build the capacity of small cities in addressing climate change by promoting sustainable economic development, the green transition and helping local stakeholders, particularly businesses, in transitioning to low-carbon energy sources and promoting sustainable mobility options. Network activities will create significant momentum for a green energy transition in each of the partner cities with a special focus on the industrial areas of the cities.
Welcoming delegates to Balbriggan, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, noted: “There is a lot we can learn from collaborating with the cities and towns represented here today and it provides a great opportunity for Balbriggan and all involved. Balbriggan is a town that we are immensely proud of and we’re significantly investing in it, the EcoCore project is part of that journey.” Delegates participated in workshops on the digital innovation hosted by Smart Balbriggan with a demonstration from Manna Drones, a panel on women entrepreneurs with Fingal LEO, active travel projects in Fingal and sustainable mobility options with the Council’s Active Travel Section, how the Council is collaborating with partners through the Fingal Skills Strategy to develop the future talent pipeline and a seminar on regional collaboration with Amanda Smyth from the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor Partnership (DBEC).