Cllr Rob O’Donoghue tabled a motion at the January Area Committee seeking an update on the environmental screening and plans for the build out of sporting facilities at the Lusk Sports Hub. The report to the motion stated that “an “Appropriate Assessment” process for the proposed Recreational Hub at Rathmore Park in Lusk concluded that the Hub did not “Screen Out”. Accordingly, the Council has arranged for the preparation of a Natura Impact Assessment (NIS) with a view to having the Hub proposals submitted for approval to An Bord Pleanála in Quarter 1 of 2024.” O’Donoghue stated that ‘I am delighted that the assessment was returned quickly, and that the Hub was found to have not ‘screened out’. The clubs and stakeholders on the Lusk Sports Group have been working hard towards the development of the Hub for sporting activities for the best part of a decade and their patience and dedication to the cause is something to be commended. That we have been given a timeline for applying for planning permission to build out the Hub makes me feel as if there is light at the end of the tunnel for this much needed project to service the community in Lusk. It is my fervent hope that this timeline can be realised, and the needs of the committee can come to fruition as soon as possible. As my motion wasn’t taken at the January meeting, I will be keeping the pressure on when I get to speak to the motion in the next meeting in February.’

In January our ICA group paid a visit to Teach Mellon up in County Louth. We also took in the ICA Wicklow Drama festival where we entered a comedy play ‘Charming Affair,’ which was highly praised by the judges. With the support of Fingal Co Co, our Guild hosted a lovely craft day in the scout’s den. In March we held our annual daffodil day fundraising in aid of Cancer Research organised by Antoinette Doran and Roseanna Darby and between daffodil day, the raffle, the baking for our coffee morning we raised the magnificent sum of €5,807. We welcomed our new President Roseanna Darby and thanked our outgoing President Teresa Killoran for her hard work over the past three years. In April a group of us, headed out for a wonderful week to Sorrento Pompeii and the Amalfi coast. In July we attended the ICA garden party at An Grainan on where our President Teresa Killoran won the best dress lady of the day. In August the summer outing was arranged by Marie O’Sullivan- a visit to New Grange. In September a group of us joined the Active Retirement group, and travelled up to Belfast, visiting Parliament Buildings in Stormont, the Ulster Folk Museum, and a tour of Belfast city ending up the day in Carrickdale Hotel for a lovely meal. We also went on an overnight trip to Nevin Maguire’s MacNean House and Restaurant Blacklion Co. Cavan. In October we held a coffee morning in the Top Shop and raised the wonderful sum of €3,230 in aid of the hospice.

#Senator Loraine Clifford Lee hosted our visit to Leinster House and spoke proudly of the hard-working Ladies of Lusk ICA. We enjoyed a week of pre-Christmas & New Year cheer in the Sligo Southern Hotel -our President Rosanna Darby presented Marie O’Sullivan with a thank you gift for organising our trip. Drama rehearsals are underway for the ICA Wicklow Drama festival next January 2024, where we entered a short comedy sketch. While The weekly sea swimmers to Rush are wound down for winter, the ladies continue to work out in the North City Fitness Gym in Rush every Tuesday and Thursday. We also had our Christmas Market, Christmas Party and Bowling night in December. We now look forward to another active year for 2024.

Lusk’s population has grown significantly in recent years. With over 10,000 people now living in the town, we should have more Gardaí serving our area. At present, we have one very active community garda, however I am strongly advocating for an additional community garda to be assigned to Lusk. Skerries is to receive an additional community Garda, and it has a similar population size, we should be expecting the same. There is a strong argument for Lusk to receive an increased allocation of Garda resources, given the increased instances of anti-social behaviour that have been reported. We crucially need an active Garda presence so that residents and businesses feel safe. I welcome the planning application for Lusk Garda Station to be expanded. I have written to the Office of Public Works for a response outlining what these works will entail. I have also made enquiries as to the planned restructuring of stations in North County Dublin and how Lusk will be impacted (for example, I’ve asked if the desk at Lusk Garda Station will be open on a full-time basis). If you want me to share with you the responses I receive on these matters, please email me and I will forward you any correspondence (eoghandockrellfg@gmail.com). Partly, the anti-social behaviour can be attributed to the lack of facilities for young people. On this front, it’s our local authority that has failed us in not planning our community in a more balanced way; whereby housing developments include, for example, community spaces (indoors and outdoors), adequate creche facilities, units for restaurants. While the lack of facilities in Lusk needs to be addressed, this will only partly ameliorate issues around anti-social behaviour; that is why I am advocating for a more visible garda presence in Lusk. In my calls with the Gardaí, they have also reiterated to me the importance of calling 999 when reporting any crime, so that the issues raised form part of the statistics that can be used to inform future decisions on allocation of resources.

The Black Raven Pipe Band Lusk with the support of Fingal County Council are launching a new initiative to offer free Bagpipe and Snare Drum lessons to adults in the area. We have launched our new programme during Fingal Inclusion Week on Saturday 18th November 2023. We are a group with an idea and a dream, one which we know we can achieve again. Proud of our accomplishments, The Black Raven Pipe band are known throughout the country and have had the good fortune previously to compete and win in the World Championships! Work and life schedules being what they are, we have experienced a number of changes over the past number of years.

However, we feel we can carry on the tradition while more accurately reflecting the current composition of the band. A history to be proud of through hard work and perseverance the nucleus of the band was formed. With our strong history in mind, we are also excited and looking forward to embracing our futures… embark with us on the next exciting chapter of the band’s history! Following our 2023 season we are confident that 2024 season promises to be an exciting one for the band as we look to go back to basics and build on our record wins to date and you could be a part of that! Our team are available by contacting the email and phone number below. This programme is aimed at adults who always wished they had the opportunity to learn the bagpipes or snare drum, but never got the opportunity in their earlier years. Remember it’s never too late to learn a musical instrument - you might surprise yourself! So now is the time to come and talk to us and remember classes and instruments are free? Our qualified instructors are waiting for you.

In the meantime, should you require further information, or to apply, you can email us at blackravenpipeband@gmail.com or contact our band secretary on 087 2621312. Closing date for applications is 14th January 2024 limited places are available so book early.

LSA February 2024 LSA Masters athletes have been out in force over the last month. Three teams participated in the Dublin Masters Cross Country Championships with Anthony Sharkey finishing 10th overall out of 465 finishers. Overall our Women’s Over 35 team placed 5th in their category; our men’s over 50 team placed 8th and our Men’s Over 35 team placed 11th in a very competitive category. Superb performances all round meant that LSA was the 8th placed club in the Pat Hooper Memorial Cup, which is a relatively new award in these Championships. Meanwhile our track and field athletes got their Indoor season underway at the National Indoor Championships in Athlone and at the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown. Our Junior athletes have also been out on the track and later this month our Juvenile athletes will take on their Dublin Championships. For anyone who is inspired to get running, we plan to run another Couch to 5k next month. We always welcome new members and volunteers. If you would like to get involved, please contact us - details below: Adult memberships queries please contact lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (from age 7-18) please contact lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA on our social media pages! Contact us on Facebook .facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/ Twitter https://twitter.com/LSARunning Please also visit our website lambaysportsathletics.ie/

In 2021, a new tradition began in Corballis, Donabate. Bryan Kelly Junior and Joey Collins organised a road bowls event on St Stephen’s Day. This is now an annual event that marks and acknowledges long-stating families of (the area or Corballis, Donabate). This competitive game stacks families up against each other with two members representing each family challenging the title. Road bowling (Irish: Ból an bhóthair; also called long bullets) is an Irish sport in which competitors attempt to take the fewest throws to propel a metal ball along a predetermined course/track of country roads. The sport originated in Ireland and is mainly played in Armagh and Cork. The “bullet” or “bowl” (Irish: ból) is a solid iron cannonball of c.18 centimetres circumference and 28 ounces. There are two or more players or teams in a match or “score”. The one with the fewest shots to the finish line wins. For the last couple of years, a “score” has been played on St Stephen’s Day between local Corballis families (Collins, Kellys, Smiths and Davis).

The track starts at the Collin’s Lane and ends just before Corballis farm (Smiths). Expertly stewarded by Bim Collins and Bryan Kelly Snr. This year’s event had a crisp morning, the tide was in on the estuary and the track was in prime condition. The Nevilles were 1st to arrive and the Kellys were last having to travel from the Balcarrick. The 2023 teams and winners were:1st place representing the Davis’s (Richie and Stephen Neville), 2nd place Garth Smith and Joey Collins, 3rd place Cormac, Eddie and Bryan Kelly.
Other teams included Finn and Keith Collins, Daniel Collins and David May and newly invited from Newbridge Avenue Jimmy and James Carolan (who had a tough day 1st time out). The singles event was won by Bryan Kelly Junior.

In January for our first walk of the year we walked 8km of the coastal Green Way - Omeath to Carlingford. We did a car split between the two villages so we could all do the walk - so we started in Omeath with a visit to Cafe Rosa the best cafe ever with coffee & homemade cakes made by Ivan. We then walked along the coast with clear & beautiful views over Carlingford Lough and the Cooley Mountains. After the walk we went to Fitzpatrick’s Bar and Restaurant on the way home, where the food was delicious a great finish to a great day. If you are interested in joining the walking group please contact: Carolyn Smith: on her mobile 087 9284307 or Des Carty: 087 7846813

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed has had a busy New Year. We started a new HSE- sponsored “Healthy Food Made Easy” course on Wednesday mornings for six weeks. Gerry and the Plonkers, our music group, played a free concert in Donabate Parish Hall at the end of January and will perform another free concert there on Wednesday 21st February as part of a two-day event, “Tayleur Tragedy Talks and Tales”, which will commemorate the sinking of the RMS Tayleur at Lambay Island 170 years ago with the loss of nearly 400 lives. We are also planning a visit to the Men’s Shed in Mountjoy Prison. Although work on our allotments continued through the winter, the real work starts soon. If you wish to join us, please call Jim, our PRO, on 086-3694316. We are always open and welcoming to new members.

The Poc Fada Committee would like to thank everyone who participated in the St Pats GAA annual Poc Fada marking the first event of St Pats GAA Centenary year. The weather stayed dry to add to the occasion. Special thanks to Edel Byrne of Fingal County Council and Newbridge house for the use of the grounds and facilities. St Pats GAA Execute for promotion and Insurance. We are very grateful for the attendance and participation of Club Chairman Rory O’Neill. Thanks to everyone who helped on the day, from the Men’s Sheds: Sean Buckley, Des Carthy and Oliver Mc Donald and Photography and online promotion Larry Carolan. St. Pats: Mick Mc Gleenan, Bryan Kelly, Niall O Connor, Daniel Murphy, Cathal Carty, Conor Davey, Paul Kennedy, Alan Quinn, Cormac Kelly and Tim Kelly.

The event saw enthusiastic involvement with 19 Family Teams and 9 Adult Teams competing in the Poc Fada courses. The adult/juvenile longest Poc competition was a particular highlight, filled with spirited fun.

2024 Honor list

Adult Team winners: Richie Seaver/Ruairi Convrey,
Family Team winners: Donagh & Sean Wilkinson
Adult long Poc winner: Niall O’Connor
Juvenile age 9-12 winner: Eoin Quinn
Juvenile age 13-15 winner: Senan Ryan

Thanks to Fiachra O’ Mathuna and his 2012 players who competed among themselves. The placings were: 1. Eoghan Tully and Killian Folco - 2. Donnchadh Elmiger and Josh Ryan 3. Harry Reilly and Hugh O’Mahony

EggHeadz CLG is delivering programmes and support services across Fingal and Dublin. Here is some of what we’re doing: Community Engagement: EggHeadz supporters, volunteers and community members took part in the Christmas Day Dip and Sip event. This event was hosted by Wayne and Eithne Hand of ‘The Carriage’ Coffee Van at Tower Bay, Portrane on Christmas morning. The community raised over €3,000 towards directly supporting our youth counselling service. Thank you to all who supported the event and contributed. Pictured (L-R) is Mairead (Counsellor), Diarmuid Tonra (Fitness Instructor, Fresh Fitness, Donabate Portrane Community Centre) and Sophie Matabaro (EggHeadz). Activities & Events: EggHeadz is proud to announce that we are an official host for Pieta House annual ‘Darkness into Light’ event. Donabate Portrane is now an official participant of Darkness into Light for Pieta House. This a truly uplifting event which takes place in communities nationwide. All members of the community are encouraged to join us on 11 th May 2024 to walk together, enjoy the sunrise together, have a cuppa and highlight mental health in the community while raising much needed funds for Pieta House. Thank You to Sinéad Ronan Wells (Campaigns Events Officer, Pieta House) pictured with Sophie Matabaro (EggHeadz) Youth Camps: Our Spring Camp returns for a third year where we will bring more fun, fitness, outdoor activity, relaxation, sport and therapeutic supports. This inclusive camp takes place over 3 days from 26 – 28 March, book online. Tween & Teen Workshops: A variety of workshops for Tweens and Teens focused on relaxation, health and wellness will take place over spring break. Workshops include jewellery making, kayaking, yoga, wellness workouts, crystal energy, pottery painting, nutrition, meditation and exam anxiety. FREE Youth Counselling - Our Youth Counselling Service is a FREE of charge and confidential service for young people (aged 12-25). Appointments take place weekly in Donabate Portrane Community Centre on Mondays between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Mairead on 086-329 6812 or by email eggheadzcounselling@gmail.com to book an appointment.

NEW Website: EggHeadz is delighted to start 2024 with a NEW Website. Our services have been running for over three years now in the Fingal and Dublin area. Log on to www.eggheadz.ie to read about our impactful programmes and upcoming community events, activities, and educational workshops for the year. For more follow us on social media visit our website or scan the QR code.